Chapter 3:
Standing in the center of the grand chief's court, I lifted my head and met my so-called father's gaze with quiet resolve.
"Mia told me about your decision to annul your engagement with Jude," he said, voice laced with a poorly concealed mock concern.
I turned briefly toward Mia and caught her smug expression. She was already basking in her victory. A faint smirk touched my lips as I returned my attention to Father.
"I'm not in good health," I said calmly. "If Jude were to marry me, he'd become a widower far too soon. I've come to accept that reality."
My words held truth—but not the whole truth. While my health had improved since arriving in this body, its delicate appearance remained unchanged. I didn't even need to fake looking fragile.
"Oh dear," Mother sighed, her voice syrupy with false sympathy. "At last, you're being sensible. Your sister is far healthier. She should marry Jude and bear the next generation. You can't even handle a pregnancy."
Mia's smile widened, pride swelling in her eyes as if she'd won a prize. She turned to Father with feigned grace.
"Father, Jude won't refuse me. We should begin marriage talks with his family soon."
"Yes, yes," Father agreed, almost instantly. As if I had never existed at all.
Just like that, I was erased.
It mirrored exactly how the original Pearl had lived: useful only when they needed her, discarded and hidden when they didn't. She was locked away under the guise of protecting her health, left to rot behind closed doors.
This engagement had only ever happened because of Pearl's late grandmother. She believed marrying Pearl off early would secure a bloodline before her illness claimed her. Now, they'd rewritten the story to serve themselves.
With nothing more to contribute, I turned to leave—only to bump into a messenger at the entrance.
"My apologies," he muttered before stepping past me. Then, turning to the court, he bowed sharply. "Chief Lord, the Beast Realm grants you two more days to deliver your unmarried daughter. If she is not delivered by then, the deal you forged will be considered void."
Father blinked. "Ah... I forgot the deadline was so near."
"Chief General," one of the other council members spoke, voice tight with worry, "if Lady Mia marries Jude, Pearl is the only one left. But the agreement with the Beast Realm demands that your daughter bear children for their kind. Their female fertility is in decline—but Pearl's condition... she's too frail to survive such a task."
The tension in the room thickened. Then Mia's voice sliced through the silence.
"So what do you expect Father to do? I'm the healthy one. I should carry on our family line. Pearl is sick—she'll die soon anyway. Let her sacrifice herself for the sake of our family and humanity. Or would you rather see our bloodline die out, just so you can replace my father?"
The courtroom went still.
Even I stared at her, surprised—not by the venom in her voice, but by the fact she spoke it out loud. Unlike the Anitas of my previous life, who wore fake smiles and stabbed backs in silence, Mia didn't bother to pretend. I appreciated that. At least she was honest in her cruelty.
"Mia!" Mother's voice rang sharp and loud, a weak attempt to scold her daughter.
But I saw the truth in their eyes. They agreed with her. She had only voiced what they all thought.
How talented they were—actors worthy of the highest praise. Pretending to be concerned, to love me. If the real Pearl were still alive, I would pity her. Then again, their distance is what allowed me to take her place unnoticed. They never truly knew her.
Well then, let's play.
I lowered my head and looked toward the Chief.
"Please, don't scold Mia," I said softly. "She's right. I've been nothing but a burden. You've spent so much on me over the years. Since I've called off the engagement with Jude, that makes me the unmarried one. Let me go to the Beast Realm. I owe it to you—for all the love and care you've given me since birth. Let me repay that debt."
The words dripped with irony, but none of them caught it. Real parental love wouldn't need to be paid back. If they truly cared, they would've stopped me at the word 'debt.' But instead...
"If you insist," Father replied almost immediately. "Then you'll leave today. The journey to the Beast Realm takes five days, and the time they've granted us is short."
The council nodded in unison.
Of course. Just as I expected.
They were quick to trade one of their own as a bargaining chip. And they call the beasts monsters?
I stood there for a moment, taking it in. I thought they would at least offer me time to prepare—but no. I was being shipped off like livestock.
"What the fuck..." I muttered under my breath.
"Lady Pearl, this way," the messenger gestured respectfully.
I glanced up at his face and caught the look of pity in his eyes.
So, are the beasts feared that much? I wondered, my certainty wavered. Doubt crept in like a shadow—but then I looked back.
At them.
My hypocrite of a family.
Without another word, I followed the messenger.
Let the beasts be monsters. They couldn't be worse than the ones I'm leaving behind.
What life awaits me now?