Chapter 5 +25 Bonus I covered Charles ' mouth . " Aren't you hoping that I'll recover , Charles ? I want to have hatchlings with you . " Even with my assurance , he couldn't rest easy . He went all the way to the Sacred Valley and scoured countless medical texts before he finally convinced himself that my body wouldn't be ruined just by carrying a hatchling . Knowing that I could only recover by giving birth , Charles started practicing what he learned from " the birds and the bees " night after night . Under his insistence , I learned the zilant clan's secret art . I ended up growing healthier little by little . Half a year later , Father summoned the entire merfolk clan for a reunion during the Midsummer Festival . Together , we offered prayers to the heavens , asking for the blessing of a sacred beast . When Charles and I made our appearance , my cheeks were rosy and full . Several unmarried mermen kept sneaking glances my way , but no one dared to approach me with him sitting next to me , stone- faced . Charles kept filling my plate during dinner . He was on the verge of feeding me personally , only to stake his claim on me . Amused at his jealousy , I tugged at his hand, reminding him not to pay them any mind . My cousin , Alila Frost , teased and winked at us . " You really do spoil Claire - she has bloomed into a beautiful flower in just half a year . If I weren't a female myself , I'd be tempted to marry her too . " Before he could even speak , Rosalie showed up with her swollen belly . She sneered , " Beautiful flower or not , she's still a sickly thing who can't bear any hatchlings . There won't even be anyone to grieve for her when she dies . " She even tried to matchmake Charles after insulting me . " Even though Alila already has three husbands , I'll still put in a good word for you if you want to join her household . " Alila waved a dismissive hand . " Heavens no - my men are all green - eyed monsters . You're about to deliver , aren't you , Rosie ? But why have I heard that the serpent of yours has already taken up with a fox ? " Word is he's trying to bring her into the palace as a concubine . And rumor has it she's also pregnant . Is that true , Rosie ? " Rosalie's expression darkened . She wasn't expecting Alila to expose her scandal . After all , what decent beast would take a mistress while his wife was heavy with children - let alone get the mistress pregnant as well ? Of course , I already knew that Jasper wasn't anything decent from the start . The serpent clan already had a horrible reputation , and he was the worst of the lot . 1/3 Chapter 5 +25 Bonus Rosalie refused to admit it . " That vixen is the one who's trying to seduce Jasper . She thinks faking a pregnancy will get her into the family . What a joke ! " Unable to win against Alila's sharp tongue , she turned her anger on me instead . Rosalie rubbed her belly and said , " Clarie , I'm about to give birth , yet you're still not pregnant . Should I get the royal physician to brew you some fertility tonic ? " She smugly made her way over , only to slip and knock against her swollen belly . She clutched her belly with a pained cry , with blood spreading across the floor beneath her . Father grew anxious and quickly summoned the royal physician . " Make sure both the princess and the hatchlings are safe ! " Because of the fall , Rosalie went into premature labor . It was a painful labor , seeing that she was carrying seven hatchlings . Her screams filled the place for six long hours before Jasper finally showed up , looking disheveled . With a darkened expression , Father ordered Jasper to his knees to beg for Rosalie's mercy . He was eager to defend her , yet he failed to notice the murderous glint in Jasper's eyes . However , I found myself deep in thought after hearing her wails . In my past life , carrying a sacred beast nearly cost me my life . I was in pain for a whole week . Just as I was about to lose consciousness , I heard the royal physician exclaim , " The sacred beast is here ! " I fainted . And when I woke up again , my sacred beast hatchling was already sound asleep in my arms , looking impossibly adorable . A warm pair of hands covered mine as Charles held me close . " Did it scare you ? I told you - we shouldn't try for a hatchling . Just look at how painful that sounds . " " It won't be , " I replied . In my past life , Rosalie gave birth to five hatchlings . After that , she even got out of bed and had a merry feast . Her smooth labor could only be credited to the zilant clan's secret art . Rosalie's cries went on for the entire night before Father eventually waved us away . After heading back with Charles , I was eager to try for a hatchling . However , he pushed me away and told me to stop it . He then told me that he would return to the Sacred Valley so that I could calm down . I yanked at his hand angrily , " Do you despise me now ? Do you regret getting chosen by me , Charles ? " Discover our latest featured short drama reel. Watch now and enjoy the story!