Trapped in the Beastworld Breeder System (BL)-Chapter 57: This pretty damsel is a villain?

It had been a full week since Aries woke from his three-month-long slumber, and during that short span of time, countless rumors had begun to circulate within the palace, and even more so throughout the kingdom.

The King himself had grown impatient. Curiosity, suspicion, and political pressure all weighed heavily on him, and thus he sent word that Aries was to enter the courtroom as soon as possible. Ironically, the messenger assigned to deliver this summons lingered helplessly in the kitchens instead, dust and smoke clouding his vision as the chaos within made it impossible for him to speak up at once.

Lucien could be seen at the heart of it all.

The sleeves of his garments were rolled up to his elbows, exposing strong forearms dusted with ash. Black coal smudged his face in several places, sweat clung to his skin, and beads of perspiration rolled down his temples and jaw. His hands were damp, slightly wrinkled from heat and water alike, trembling faintly as he worked.

At that very moment, Lucien was vigorously doing his best to help Aries prepare a meal—frying the meat exactly the way Aries preferred, after carefully applying what he believed to be the correct amount of salt.

That, unfortunately, had been the problem from the beginning.

After Aries had patiently given his instructions, Lucien relayed them to the maids. He watched over them as they tried day and night to prepare something edible. Yet each attempt only grew worse than the last. By the sixth day, Lucien had finally snapped, rolling up his sleeves and declaring with grim resolve that if he did not do it himself, his mate might very well die of hunger.

And so, here he was.

Watching the rice closely so it would not burn. Frying vegetables with meticulous care. Turning the meat repeatedly, timing each motion with strained concentration. His hands were full, his attention divided, and the sight of the Second Prince toiling in the kitchens quickly became the talk of the entire kingdom.

Many within the realm did not know that the supposed human was, in truth, the mateless mate of the Second Prince. Instead, they whispered among themselves that Aries must have charmed Lucien using human witchcraft—after all, history claimed humans were capable of such things. Others speculated that the Second Prince was deliberately keeping the human close, hoping to extract spells from him that might help locate his destined mate.

Because of this, countless wolfkins became eager to gain access to the palace. Some even hoped to lay their complaints before the human himself, believing perhaps foolishly that their grievances might be mysteriously resolved.

Meanwhile, as all of this unfolded within the kitchen walls, Lady Kiria moved with deliberate grace through the palace halls.

Dressed extravagantly, as befitted a favored consort, she walked down the familiar lane leading to her old quarters—the very chambers where Aries now resided. Silk trailed behind her, jewelry chimed softly with each step, and her expression was carefully schooled into one of cool composure.

Inside the room, which was well furnished and decorated with delicate, feminine accessories, a lone male figure could be seen on the floor. Aries sat upon a mat, stretching his body slowly and methodically. Each movement was deliberate, careful, as though he were reacquainting himself with his own strength.

After each stretch, he would rise briefly, take a sip of juice from the table nearby, then return to the mat once more. Just as he finished another turn and paused to rest—lifting the glass to his lips—Lady Kiria entered the room without announcement.

Aries froze.

Surprised by the sudden intrusion, his eyes instinctively swept over the unfamiliar woman, traveling from her face to her extravagant attire and back again. At the same time, Kiria’s own gaze moved over him just as openly.

’Who is this pretty damsel?’ Aries thought, his eyes lingering despite himself.

Lady Kiria, for her part, did not hide her scrutiny either. She assessed him from head to toe, and to her own displeasure, she found herself both surprised and unsettled.

Though Aries had grown leaner from his prolonged illness, it was not a sickly thinness. Only those who had known him before would notice what he had lost. Instead, his current form appeared refined, almost ethereal. Seven days of fruit-only meals had given him a strange freshness, one that irritated Kiria beyond reason.

His skin, pale and milky, seemed to glow more brightly than her own. His silver eyes drew her in against her will, and his curly silver hair—soft, untamed, and far too appealing only fueled her rising anger. Even the shape of his eyes, well-formed and calm, seemed to mock her.

The more she looked, the more her irritation intensified.

Aries, still watching her, suddenly felt a chill crawl down his spine. For the first time since awakening, and since discovering the existence of his Wolf Mandate, his vision shifted.

[Enmity Detected]

[Host must be cautious.]

[Wolf Beast: Lady Kiria, Consort of the Wolf King.]

[Threat Level: Hostile Intentions Confirmed.]

’I thought this thing doesn’t work unless I pay CE,’ Aries thought hurriedly, his mind racing. ’But that doesn’t matter now... So the system is saying this pretty damsel is a villain? What did I even do?’

Before he could process it further, Kiria’s voice cut through his thoughts, only deepening his confusion.

"And if it isn’t His Majesty’s esteemed guest," she said coolly, "the one who now occupies my quarters. Who else could it be?"

"Erm... I’m lost here," Aries muttered under his breath. 𝒻𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝘯𝘰𝑣ℯ𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝘮

Lady Kiria looked him up and down, then hissed softly. Aries could only stare at her in absolute shock, unable to react as he struggled to understand who she was and why she radiated such hostility.

She spoke again, her tone sharp. "Just as I thought. You lack manners. Is this how you receive a guest who comes to visit?"

At her words, a quiet snicker escaped Aries’s lips. In that moment, he was certain, this woman had not come with good intentions.

He lifted his hand and wiped away the sweat coating his forehead, then placed the glass of juice back on the table. Rising slowly, deliberately, he walked to the chair nearby and seated himself—offering her nothing.

Only then did he look up at her fully.

"So," he said calmly, "I wonder who truly lacks manners here and who appears dull."

He crossed his legs, resting his hands elegantly upon his lap. "Is it the one who calls herself a guest while remaining an unknown figure, a mere stranger whose intentions I do not know? Or is it the one who enters uninvited and fails to greet the owner?"

He tilted his head slightly. "Or perhaps," he added coolly, "it is both. Dull and stupid alike."

Color rose rapidly to Lady Kiria’s face. Her composure cracked as she spat, "You—how dare you!"

"Lady Kiria," Aries replied smoothly, the name the system has mentioned rolling down his lips, his confidence unwavering, "I don’t think you should disgrace yourself before me like this. As you can see, I have only just awakened. How exactly am I meant to offer you a proper reception?"

Her eyes widened. "You... so you know who I am? You know I am Consort Kiria, yet you still sit instead of offering me a seat? Do you not fear for your head at all?"

"I do fear my head," Aries answered evenly, "but I fear my health even more. I have only just recovered. Would it not be unwise of you to demand the seat I am currently using, when the floor remains perfectly available?"

"You—!" she shouted again. And proceeded to do more, but...

Before she could finish, the door opened.

Lucien stepped into the room, and all attention snapped to him at once.

"What is going on here?" His voice rang loud and clear as his gaze settled firmly on Lady Kiria.