My father was right. Word of the mate change could not get out. If Klaus and the others found out, a lot of trouble would probably occur.

Having solved a big issue, I was in a much better mood and had a smile on my face when I came out of the sacred ground.

Unexpectedly, I ran into the Beastfolk I least wanted to see when I was in such a good mood.

"Rhea, why did you go to the sacred ground? Were you there to pray for your marriage?"

A coquettish voice rang, and I looked up to see my younger sister, Rola, looking all clueless.

"I envy you. You are going to marry Klaus and the others soon," Rola said and began to cry.

Before I could react, someone began yelling.

"Rhea, did you bully Rola again? As the Holy Maiden, how could you be so vicious?" The person slapped me hard in the face as he cursed. The surrounding white tiger aura proved that it was Klaus, my favorite among the three.

"She has always been spoiled. Relying on her status as the Holy Maiden, she keeps bullying Rola. She even made Rola kneel in ice water a few days ago. The thought of an evil Beastfolk like her marrying us disgusts me!" The owner of this voice was Orion. He cautiously held Rola in his arms as he looked at me indignantly.

The next moment, I heard a bird chirping overhead. It was Asher. He barely spoke. Even when the Eagle Clan forced him to communicate with me, he just scoffed. Now, he took out a cape as if presenting a treasure and gently covered Rola with it. I recognized that it was made from the softest feathers of the Eagle Clan.

"Rola is weak, so it's better to use this. Rhea, we are all here today. We will not hold you accountable for what happened a few days ago. Believe it or not, we will not show up at the wedding ceremony three days later if you bully Rola again!"

I got back on my feet, touching the scars on my body as I looked at the four Beastfolk.

Not long ago, I wove red ropes for them at the sacred ground, praying for the wedding ceremony.

I fantasized about governing the Beast World with them and building a paradise for everyone to live in peace.

I never expected Rola to suddenly barge onto the sacred ground. She was not the Holy Maiden. As soon as she stepped in, she was expelled from the sacred ground and thrown into the icy lake at the entrance.

When I got the news and rushed out to save her, she had been taken away by Klaus and the other two.

Worried about Rola, I went to see her with the elixir that even I was reluctant to use.

As soon as I arrived at her cave, I saw Klaus scatter the elixirs that I desperately wanted but could never have all over the floor like trash. Orion transformed into his beast form, hugging Rola in his arms to keep her warm. Asher, who barely said a word to me, was chattering nonstop.

I stood there and listened to their conversation like I was under a curse.

"Don't worry, Rola. After the wedding, our clans will join forces to start a war and pull her down from the position of Holy Maiden."

"Yes, if this doesn't work, we still have a backup plan. Do not worry. We only recognize you as the Holy Maiden. You are the Beast Lady. Rhea's just a lowly Beastfolk who can only survive by relying on us. We'll only feel relieved when she dies."

Rola leaned into Orion's arms. "You don't have to do this for me. I know you like Rhea. If only I were half as good as Rhea, I would have the qualifications to compete with her for you. You don't know how sad I felt whenever I think of Rhea marrying you."

Rola cried so pitifully that Klaus and the other two were distressed.

Especially Klaus, who knelt right in front of Rola and swore to the heavens. "I, Klaus, swear that I will only love Rola for the rest of my life. If I break my promise, I will be struck by lightning and die a miserable death!"

Rola was shocked. She then shyly kissed Klaus on the face. The remaining two Beastfolk saw this and competed to swear first.

A dazzling glow lit up. It was the highest-level oath array of the Beastfolk. Every word spoken would come true, and this was supposed to appear at my wedding ceremony with them.

My heart was ripped apart as I left the elixir behind.

I was the Holy Maiden and the future Beast Lady. I had always been the one to choose others. Since they did not love me, why should I degrade myself?

My thoughts came flooding back, and I met Klaus's eyes, which were filled with smugness and pride.

I forced a smile. They said they would not hold it against me, but they blamed me for Rola's falling into the ice lake and even slandered me just because she said so. Now they even want me to apologize to them.

It was completely unreasonable.

I raised my head and slapped Klaus hard in the face with even greater force than Klaus did.

Rola screamed and ran up to Klaus. "Rhea, how could you hit Klaus? Klaus, does it hurt?"

Any other time, Klaus would have been ecstatic with Rola caring so much about him, but Klaus only stared at me without blinking. He was furious, as if I had done something unforgivable.

"How dare you hit me? Rhea, I think you lost your mind!"

I scoffed and shook my wrist nonchalantly. "As an ordinary Beastfolk, you should be prepared to be beaten if you hit the Holy Maiden; as my future mate, you defended another female for no reason, do you think you were beaten unfairly?"

Confusion flickered in Klaus's face. He did not expect me to refute him. Though I was marrying these three Beastfolk, there had to be an order. I would make my favorite, my chief mate.

Not only would I live with him, but he would also get more attention and resources from me. The title was crucial. Otherwise, I would not have drawn lots to decide who would be the chief mate.

Everyone knew that I liked Klaus, and they all assumed that I would choose Klaus.

After I slapped Klaus, the remaining two Beastfolk came over at the same time.

Embarrassed, Klaus asked hoarsely, "Rhea, what do you mean by this? Aren't you afraid that I will not marry you?"

I sneered. "So what? If you do not come, don't I still have the other two? Or are they not marrying me too? Then you deserve a beating even more!

A mate is not something you can just be when you feel like it. If you have guts, why not confront me in front of my father?

Rola, if I remember correctly, Father has also chosen a mate for you, yet you are all cozy with my future mates now. Do you not like the Beastfolk that Father chose for you? If you do not like him, I will give Klaus and the other two to you!"

Klaus's face was already red before Rola responded.

After being chosen as my future mates, Klaus and the other two were respected by the Beastfolk wherever they went. Even their clans kept recommending them to be the leader.

Especially Klaus. Everyone knew I loved Klaus very much.

Klaus was seriously injured while he was out and needed the snow lotus from Mount Heavenly. I transformed into my beast form and crawled through the snow for three days and three nights before I brought the snow lotus back to save his life. I even almost died because of this.