Kulu’s face went through a rapid, sickening transformation—from protective fury to a haunting, fragile uncertainty. He looked at Hana as if she were a demon sent to dismantle his entire reality, then slowly turned his head toward Lira.

​The silence on the ridge was suffocating. Even the wind seemed to stop whistling through the red rocks.

​"Lira..." Kulu’s voice was barely a whisper, stripped of all the princely arrogance he’d displayed moments ago. "Tell this human... tell her she lies. Tell her that my devotion means everything to you."

​Lira froze. This wasn’t part of her script. She was used to Kulu doing the fighting, the fetching, and the pining from a safe distance while she kept her pedestal high. Being put on the spot—especially in front of the massive, dark, and dangerous Dragon King—made her saintly mask twitch.

​Lira looked at Kulu, then her gaze involuntarily slid back to Caspian.

Caspian, for his part, was standing behind Hana like a silent mountain of obsidian, his arms crossed over his broad chest. He didn’t even look at Lira; his eyes were fixed on the back of Hana’s head, filled with a mix of awe and possessive pride.

​"I..." Lira started, her voice soft and trembling. She clutched her white robes tighter over her stomach. "Kulu, you know I value your... protection. But to ask for a choice? Here? My heart is heavy with the child, and you know my nests are already occupied."

​Lira had several mates—established, high-ranking Falcons who provided for her. But Kulu wasn’t one of them. She liked his status, his protection, and the way he followed her like a dog, but she had never once considered letting him mark her.

He was too hot-headed, too useful as a servant to ever be promoted to a mate.

​Hana didn’t miss the hesitation. She weaponized it instantly.

​"She’s quiet, Kulu," Hana’s voice cut in, cold and merciless. "Look at her. She’s not struggling with her heart; she’s struggling to find a lie that keeps you on your leash without having to actually touch you."

​"Shut up!" Kulu barked, but he didn’t turn to Hana. His amber eyes were wide, pleading with Lira. "Lira, please. Just one word. Tell them I am more than just a guard to you."

​Lira bit her lip, her watery grey eyes darting to the Elders, then to Caspian. She was looking for a way out, an escape from the social trap Hana had laid.

​"Kulu," Lira said, her voice dropping into that tragic, saintly tone. "I have always told you... My life is complicated. I cannot simply cast aside my duties or my other mates just because you are feeling... insecure."

​Insecure. Hana almost laughed. This was the ultimate gaslighting technique.

​"Insecure?" Hana stepped closer to Kulu, her voice a low, dangerous murmur. "You almost died because you were distracted by her five minutes ago, and she’s calling your devotion ’insecurity.’ She won’t choose you, Kulu. Not because she can’t, but because you’re more valuable to her as a fool who doesn’t know his place."

​Kulu’s wings drooped, the razor-sharp edges softening as his spirit began to sag. He looked at Lira, really looked at her, and saw that she wasn’t reaching for him. She was standing back, her hand on her belly, already looking at the Elders as if asking them to end this embarrassing scene.

​"The deal was simple," Hana stated, turning to the Elder. "He couldn’t prove it. She won’t choose him. Not now, not ever."

​Hana turned back to Kulu, her survivor’s grin widening.

​"It looks like your Prince has some heavy lifting to do," Hana stated. "Kulu, get to work. Since you love serving her so much, you can start by serving me. You’re going to carry every single one of those crates out of that lookout. Personally."

​Kulu stood frozen, the ’Vengeful Prince’ looking like a broken child.

The Elders looked away in shame, and Lira... Lira just let out a soft sigh of relief that the attention was off her, turning her back to walk toward the caves without a second glance at the man who had almost burned to ash for her.

> ​[QUEST COMPLETE: THE VENGEFUL PRINCE]

> Reward: Access to the hidden cache granted.

> Bonus: +5,000 Karmic Points for breaking a Prince.

> [CURRENT BALANCE: -1,183,380]

Hana watched the once-arrogant Prince Kulu stand in the dust, his crimson wings dragging on the ground like broken kites. The Elders were whispering in hushed, shamed tones, and Lira had already vanished into the shadows of the cave, likely looking for a mirror to check her saintly reflection.

​Satisfaction curled in Hana’s chest. She had won. She had dismantled the threat without losing a drop more blood. But just as she turned toward the steel hatch of the bunker, the blue light of the system flared with a violent, urgent flicker.

​A high-pitched ding echoed in her skull, making her wince. She did not have a good feeling about this.

> ​[HIDDEN CHAIN QUEST TRIGGERED: REPARATIONS OF THE SOUL]

> Description: You have successfully broken a Prince. Now, you must fix the void you created. A kingdom cannot be built on broken glass alone.

> ​Objective: Accept Kulu as your third mate and establish the Primal Bond.

> Time Limit: 12 Hours.

> ​Reward: +50,000 Karmic Points & ’Prince’s Loyalty’ Passive Skill.

> Failure Penalty: 5 Days of lower-body paralysis & -10,000 Karmic Points.

​Hana’s jaw dropped. She went completely still, her gaze locking onto the empty air where the window floated.

​"Are you kidding me?" she hissed under her breath.

They wanted her to take in ’another’ mate? And it was the falcon that had dared to insult her? The one she hated?

As if the two she had weren’t already a massive headache. And failure was five days of paralysis?

In a world where things were literally trying to eat her or mate with her every five minutes, being unable to move her legs was a death sentence. And 10,000 points? She had just managed to scrape her way up from the bottom.

Why was this fucking system doing this to her?!

AUTHOR’S Q&A SESSION!!

Today, our guest is our very own female lead. The wicked survivor, Hana!

Author: So, Hana, a lot of readers are complaining that you’re too mean to your mates. Do you have anything to say about that?

Hana: (scowls) Let me ask you something. If you grew up in a household that treated you like garbage, was used as bait for zombies, and then had to still your heart just to survive the apocalypse, would you like the fact that you were dropped in an unfamiliar world and asked to do all sorts of weird quests, like mate with a man you don’t even know or carry their child? Am I supposed to be all happy and giddy just because they’re handsome and treat me well?

Author: Huh... (cleaning sweat) Now that you mention it, it doesn’t really make sense.

Hana: Right? I can’t be nice just because people want me to be. Being nice is a vulnerability. And everything out there is out to hunt me.

Author: Hm, I see. Then, what are your future plans? Do you think you’ll start being nice to your mates once they’ve gained your trust fully?

Hana: (folding her arms) I don’t know, and I don’t really care. But if they’re able to get me to drop my guard and smile nicely at them, then know that I’ve started liking them.

Author: Obviously, haha.

Hana: Are there any more questions? I’m tired, and the system is just giving me more headaches.

Author: Ah, yes, there is one. (Flipping the question cards) A reader was curious. What are your thoughts on your unborn child? Even if you don’t like anyone but yourself, will you come to like the harmless child?

Hana: ...

Author: Hana?

Hana gets up and walks out without a word, leaving the author hanging with that question.

Author: Ah, okay, folks. It seems like Hana doesn’t want to answer that. Let’s call it a wrap from here and see you in the next Q&A session. If you have any questions, drop them in the comment section and let us know who you want to be interviewed next. Thank you.