Two

"Bang!"

Bryan shoved Chelsea onto the bed and loomed over her, placing his hand on her swollen belly. His face was emotionless as he issued a warning.

"If you want this child to be safe and sound, don't make things difficult for Ciara."

Chelsea let out a bitter laugh. Just for a moment, she had thought Bryan cared for her and the child growing inside her.

"Difficult? Your Highness, you jest. Ms. Burgess is the prime minister's daughter, raised in the prime minister's residence. I am the crown princess, residing in your residence. How could I possibly go out of my way to make things difficult for her at the prime minister's residence?"

"Hiss..."

As soon as Chelsea finished speaking, the hand on her belly suddenly tightened. The pain caused her to gasp sharply.

"What are you doing? Don't forget, this is your child."

Bryan's eyes were full of malice, and a flicker of disgust passed through them. He bluntly stated.

"You heard what was said in the garden, so let's not beat around the bush.

"Ciara is the prime minister's daughter and rightfully deserves to be made the official princess."

Mentioning status made it clear. This was no longer a simple conflict between wives and concubines, but rather a struggle between the prime minister and the general.

Even though Chelsea was sweating heavily from the pain, she couldn't afford to back down now. To do so would be to admit that the general's strength was inferior to the prime minister's.

"Your Highness is right. As the prime minister's daughter, she cannot be a concubine..."

A trace of joy flashed in Bryan's eyes. He had known that as long as he wanted, this woman, who loved him deeply, would agree.

"Chelsea..."

"Your Highness." Chelsea's smile vanished, and her voice turned cold. "Does that mean that as the daughter of the general, I am destined to be a concubine?"

"You..." Bryan had never seen such defiance from Chelsea before and was momentarily stunned.

Chelsea pushed Bryan off her forcefully, sitting up straight despite his shock. Then she spoke calmly.

"If Your Highness believes that the daughter of the general is unworthy of being the crown princess, you could have said so when my father asked after you awoke. Or perhaps you should have reported to His Majesty for us to divorce or demote me to concubine status..."

Bryan's gaze flickered with guilt, and he quickly looked away.

"Well... Ciara's departure back then wasn't her choice... It was her father who forcibly took her away. It wasn't what she wanted."

"And so?" At that moment, Chelsea finally realized something. She no longer sought even a trace of Bryan's affection or concern and replied expressionlessly.

"Since her father forcibly took her away back then, and she chose to obey his orders, she must now face the consequences of those choices. It is not for others to bear them.

"I owe her nothing, and neither does the child in my belly."

Seeing that Chelsea remained unmoved, Bryan became furious.

"I've made up my mind. If you feel wronged, I will divorce you after you give birth to the child."

Chelsea stared blankly at his retreating figure. All she thought about was the word divorce he just mentioned.

Tears began to fall down her face.

She reached out and gently stroked her large belly.

A child of the royal family would find it hard to survive to adulthood without a mother to protect them.

She could not bear the thought of her child being born without a mother.

But if she was unfairly demoted to a concubine, how could her parents accept that? How could they ever show their faces in public again?

Chelsea didn't want her child to grow up under disdainful eyes without her care. Nor did she want to be demoted to concubine, becoming a laughingstock throughout the city and bringing shame to her parents.

Both paths were blocked. That left her with only one option...

Chelsea looked up, her gaze empty as it settled on the ceiling beam.

If she hung herself with a rope, word would surely spread that Bryan had driven his innocent and pregnant crown princess to suicide for the sake of his first love.

In that case, his reputation would be ruined, the royal family's honor would suffer, and the king would surely be furious, punishing Bryan...

But the Drake family... would suffer the consequences as well!

Three

Chelsea knew she couldn't do it. She had never been much help to her parents, and she had even spent her father's life-saving favor with Talon to cure Bryan's illness.

She couldn't be selfish and drag her parents down with her.

Then she had to...

Chelsea dismissed the servants and discreetly inquired her way to the main hall.

In the main hall.

Bryan had sent the servants away and was dining alone with Ciara.

Ciara stood up to take some soup. When she lifted her head, she saw Chelsea standing in the yard, her face pale.

"Bryan, you don't have to marry Ciara as your official wife. I would be happy to be with you without a name or status."

Ciara said pitifully, placing the soup in front of Bryan.

"But my father worries too much for me. He fears that Ms. Drake, being from a military family, might be too domineering. With her child as leverage, she could bully me if she remains as the crown princess. That's why my father insists that you marry me as the crown princess."

Bryan pulled Ciara's hand toward him, gazing at her with deep affection.

"In my heart, only you are worthy of the position of crown princess. Tell your father that I will welcome you with the status of my wife."

Ciara's eyes shone with joy, but her words were laced with worry.

"Of course, I believe what you said. But my father is concerned that if Ms. Drake refuses, you can inform Mr. Drake, and he will put pressure on her. That won't make things difficult for you."

"It's okay!" Bryan picked up his fork and placed a dish Ciara liked onto her plate, dismissing her concerns.

"The Drake family has served in the military for generations. Their reputation in the army has grown too high, and my father has long been wary of them... Aside from our founding ancestors, have you ever seen a queen come from a military family?"

Bryan's tone was calm, but Chelsea felt as if she had been struck by lightning. She stood there, frozen and unable to move.

She never could have imagined that the Drake family, who had loyally defended the borders, would be viewed with suspicion by the king.

Ciara, having had her fill of Chelsea's misery from the corner of her eye, finally looked up and pretended to have just noticed her.

"When did Ms. Drake here? Don't just stand there. Come join us for a meal."

Bryan quickly turned his head, his sharp gaze fixing on her.

Chelsea met his eyes and hastily suppressed all of her emotions.

"When did you come?" Bryan asked coldly.

"When Your Highness mentioned the royal silk from the palace," Chelsea replied, picking a recent moment, unafraid that Ciara might expose her lie.

Only then did Bryan's icy demeanor soften slightly, and he forced a reluctant smile.

"Since you're here, join us for the meal."

He wasn't sincerely inviting Chelsea to dine, just testing whether she had overheard anything from earlier.

Chelsea carefully navigated the situation, revealing no sign that she had caught on to their conversation.

Seeing Bryan only speaking with Chelsea, Ciara felt annoyed and deliberately handed Chelsea a piece of fish, placing it on her plate.

"Fish is nutritious, and Ms. Drake must be exhausted from carrying the baby. You should eat some."

"Ugh..." Chelsea could not tolerate the smell of fish and immediately retched.

"Chelsea!" Bryan roared. "Even if you dislike Ciara, do you have to go this far?"

"Bryan, I..." Ciara lowered her head pitifully, her voice trembling with a sob.

"Don't be afraid. I'll have them set up a meal in the garden. We'll eat there."

Bryan soothed her gently, but when he turned to Chelsea, his expression was full of disgust.

"You are truly repulsive. From now on, stay in your room and don't come out."

With those words, Chelsea was effectively confined to her room.

Suppressing her nausea, Chelsea called out as Bryan led Ciara away.

"Your Highness grew up in the palace. Don't you know that pregnant women cannot stand the smell of fish?"

Bryan paused.