Chapter 1

I was originally a Moon Rabbit in the Celestial Palace of the Nine Heavens. By a stroke of luck, I saved a minor deity who was trapped in a deadly illusion.

For two thousand years, I fed him my heart’s blood to keep him alive. Moon Rabbit blood is the ultimate healing nectar in the heavens, and because of it, his power reached god-like levels.

I never imagined he was actually the lost second prince of the High King. He had been framed and trapped in that dark void for centuries.

Thanks to my two thousand years of nurturing, he returned to the golden throne and became the new High King. He fell deeply in love with me, moved by my sacrifice.

"Elara," he whispered, "once our child is born, I will crown you as my Queen in front of all the realms."

When I grew weak with pregnancy pains, he didn't hesitate. Even as the High King, he climbed the three thousand holy stairs on foot just to pray for my medicine.

But while he was gone, Seraphina, a goddess who had obsessed over him for ages, arrived. She led thirty thousand soldiers to flatten my palace.

She did it all because his robes smelled like me.

"So, you’re the little pet who seduced the King?" she sneered. "Is that why his bed smells like your cheap palace?"

She ordered her men to burn my home to the ground. Then, she captured me, intending to tear me apart and turn my body into a dish for the King’s birthday banquet.

Even the tiny, living soul in my womb wasn't spared. She turned my unborn child into a bowl of broth.

Before Caspian left to get my medicine, he had leaned down to kiss my belly. His voice was thick with tenderness. "By the time I get back, our little one will be ready to meet the world."

His eyes were full of love and the promise of a happy future. I hid my pain and smiled back at him. "The baby and I will be right here waiting for you."

As a Moon Rabbit, my spiritual power was low, but every inch of my body was a rare treasure. I was essentially a walking miracle of healing.

When I found Caspian in that illusion, he was a broken spirit on the verge of fading. I didn't think twice; I cut my own chest every day to feed him.

When he finally woke up and told me his true identity, our bond had already turned into a secret marriage. Soon, I was carrying his heir.

The moment he took the throne, he wanted to announce me as his Queen. But I was worried about the baby, so we agreed to wait until after the birth.

Caspian loved me more than life itself. He humbled himself to climb those holy stairs just to ease my pregnancy aches.

But the second he was gone, Seraphina stormed into my home. She didn't come alone; she brought an entire army.

"Level this place," Seraphina commanded her men. "Drag out that shameless rabbit who thinks she can sit on a throne."

"The Heavens have rules. If every low-life creature thinks they can seduce a King, there will be chaos. I’m doing the King a favor by getting rid of her."

I was so close to my due date and far too weak to fight. I hid in the shadows, praying she wouldn't find me.

"Burn it!" Seraphina screamed when I didn't appear. "Smoke that rat out of her hole!"

The fire spread instantly. Thick smoke filled my lungs, forcing me out. The soldiers grabbed me immediately and threw me at her feet.

I trembled, clutching my stomach. "Princess Seraphina, attacking a palace is a crime. You’ll pay for this..."

"Shut up!"

A soldier backhanded me so hard my vision blurred. "Everyone knows the Princess is the one the King will crown at the banquet. She can do whatever she wants with a common rabbit like you."

I fell to the floor. Seraphina stepped on my hand, grinding her heel into my skin. "Exactly. Even if I kill you, I’m the future Queen. Who would dare stop me?"

Her eyes dropped to my swollen belly, and her face twisted with rage. "You little slut. You didn't just seduce him; you dared to carry a mongrel in your womb? You’ve disgraced the entire Celestial Realm."