My mother pulled me inside the house and warned me in a low voice, “In Valtherra, people have always believed in omens and signs. If anyone finds out you gave birth to two beasts, they’ll call you a witch and burn you for it. Elena, go to the palace and be a queen. Leave the beasts here. I’ll take care of them.”

If I had known back then that he was the king of Valtherra, I never would have been reckless enough to get involved with him.

At this point, a royal decree could not be defied. Whether I wanted to or not, I had to go.

I said goodbye to the two leopard cubs as tears streamed down my face, then set off for the palace with the guards.

After half a month of travel, we finally arrived.

A maid led me to a chamber and told me to wait. The king would arrive shortly.

The room had painted glass windows, marble floors, and gleaming gold ornaments. Yet I was not in the mood to admire any of it.

The longer I was away, the more I missed the cubs. I kept wondering if they were alright.

Maybe I missed them too much, because I started seeing things.

I thought I saw two leopards vault over the high palace walls and land right in front of me.

Then, they spoke.

“Mama, we finally found you.”

“Mama, why did you leave us behind?”

The shock hit me so hard that I stumbled and fell to the floor. Staring at them, I asked in a trembling voice, “Are you monsters?”

When I was little, I had heard stories that some monsters would look for a pregnant woman and be born through her womb. That was how they turned into humans.

Judging by how they looked, something must have gone wrong during the process. That was why they came out of me still in leopard form.

The cubs came closer and nuzzled against my skirt.

“We’re not monsters. We’re your children.”

“Mama, I’m so hungry. We followed your scent the whole way. We kept running without stopping. I’m so tired.”

Then, he collapsed right beside me.

The journey from my village to the palace was hundreds of miles. They were not even a month old, yet they had run all day and night to find me.

My heart ached for them. I scooped them both into my arms and called for a maid to bring fresh goat’s milk so I could feed them.

After the two little ones had eaten and drunk their fill, they curled up in my lap and fell fast asleep.

I stroked their fur absently, trying to figure out what to do next.

If I told the king that these two were our children, he would probably have me executed on the spot.

Not everyone was as open-minded as I was.

Besides, he was the King of Valtherra. Even if he was willing to accept two animals as his sons, the court would not. The people would not either.

While I was still racking my brain, a guard announced from outside the door that the king had arrived.

I quickly stuffed the cubs into the bed, straightened my dress, and went out to greet him.

“Elena Foster, Your Majesty.”

Julian Valen stood before me in black-and-gold royal robes with a golden crown securing his hair. He carried himself with an authority that commanded respect without him saying a word. Paired with that handsome face of his, he was even more captivating than before.

Back then, it was that face that had done me in. I had let myself be swayed by it, ignored my mother’s warnings, and insisted on bringing him home to save him.

Julian reached out and helped me to my feet. A teasing smile crossed his lips.

“These formalities don’t suit you.”

I kept my head down and said quietly, “Back then, I didn’t know you were the king. I was disrespectful.”

Julian took my hand and held it tight.

“Whether I’m king or not, I’m still your husband. I preferred you the way you used to be—lively, unrestrained.”

Even if he preferred it, I did not dare act that way anymore. The wrath of a king would cost lives. That was no joke.

Julian looked down at my stomach. There was something like grief in his eyes.

“I heard about the child. It was my fault. If I had brought you here sooner, maybe that wouldn’t have happened.”

As soon as he said that, little cries came from the bed.

Julian looked toward the bed with confusion.

“What was that sound?”

My voice came out stiff as I explained, “Th-They’re just cats. I got two along the way to keep me company.”

He stepped closer to the bed.

“I remember you used to hate cats. What kind of cats managed to win you over? Let me see.”

I quickly stepped in front of him.

“No!”

Julian looked at me with a frown. “Why not? Unless those aren’t cats at all?”

“They are! They are cats. It’s just that they’re not used to strangers. I’m afraid they might hurt you.”

Julian chuckled and pulled me into his arms.

“It’s fine. I’ve sustained worse wounds than anything two little cats could manage.”

He reached for the covers.

I was just about to drop to my knees and confess everything.

Suddenly, a maid rushed in.

“Your Majesty, Miss Lyra has fainted. She’s been calling your name.”

At that, Julian withdrew his hand and hurriedly said, “I’ll check on Lyra first. I’ll come back to you later.”

As I watched him leave, I let out a quiet breath of relief. However, at the same time, something bitter rose in my chest.

Who was Lyra?

Was she important to him?

It did not take long before I found out.

The next day, I was inside my chamber feeding the little leopards.

Lyra Vale walked in wearing a fine gown, followed by several maids in a grand procession.

“So, you’re the village girl who saved Julian.”

I met her gaze calmly. “I am.”

She warned me sharply, “Julian brought you into the palace out of gratitude, nothing more. If you dare to covet a place that isn’t yours, don’t blame me for the consequences you’ll face.”

My lips curled into a faint sneer. “If you really have any influence here, then convince His Majesty to revoke his decree. Threatening me won’t change anything. The position of queen was granted to me by His Majesty. Whatever he gives, I accept. I don’t have the right to refuse.”

Lyra glared at me, furious.

“You’re sharp-tongued, peasant. Using Julian to intimidate me? Just you wait. I’ll have him shut you away in some forgotten wing!”

I did not take Lyra’s threats to heart, but for the first time, I began to think about leaving the palace.

I could tell Julian had feelings for me. Otherwise, he would not have gone to such lengths to bring me all the way from my village or promise to make me queen.

However, maybe those feelings were only temporary.

He was a king. He ruled an entire kingdom, and he was surrounded by countless beautiful women.

I was just one of many.

Once his interest in me faded, I would be trapped in this gilded cage until I died.

Then, there were my little leopards, who were a danger in themselves.

They had grown bigger over the past few days. Their appetites had grown with them. If anyone ever discovered they could speak like humans, they would be seen as monsters and killed.

For my freedom and the safety of my cubs, I decided to leave the palace. I had to leave Julian.

Three days later, while Julian was away performing a royal rite, I set fire to my chambers and slipped over the palace walls with the cubs.

As I stared at the flames rising from the palace in the distance, my mind drifted away for a moment.

‘Goodbye, Julian,’ I thought.

The little leopards nuzzled affectionately against my feet.

“Mama, let’s go.”

I crouched down and gathered them into my arms.

“Alright, let’s get out of here. From now on, we can go anywhere.”

However, when I turned around, Julian was standing right there with a group of guards.

He looked at me and at the leopards in my arms. Then, he walked toward me.