Chapter 4: Fluffy Rebellion

Deep within the secluded, cold quarters of the Eastern Wing, six-year-old Prince Valen sat cross-legged on a low velvet settee, his black panther ears twitching.

As the eldest of the four imperial children, Valen bore the burden of looking after his younger brothers. Beside him on the carpeted floor, four-year-old Rynan, a cheetah beast-child with spiky golden-spotted hair, was currently aggressively wrestling three-year-old Soren, the snake cub.

Soren’s dark greenish-black scales glinted along his tiny tail as he hissed, trying to coil around Rynan’s ankle, while Daerys, the five-year-old dragon cub, sat in the corner silently gnawing on a wooden block, his small red horns poking out through his silver locks.

Valen sighed, an adult-like sound coming from a six-year-old. His dark furred tail flicked in annoyance.

He had heard the rumors from the servants earlier that morning: his father, King Leonidas, had arrived at the palace. For a brief, fleeting moment, a spark of hope had ignited in Valen’s chest. But as the hours dragged on, that spark died out, just as it always did. Papa rarely came to visit him.

So why did he expect different?

"Get off me, snaky!" Rynan pouted, rolling over and trying to pin Soren’s tail down.

"Stop biting my leg, cheetah boy!" Soren hissed back, his tiny fangs bared in a cute attempt at intimidation.

Valen was about to step in and separate the two before someone lost an ear, but mid-stand, his small black nose twitched.

A scent drifted through the heavy oak doors. It was a fragrance of sweet roses and exotic garden blooms, but underneath it lay something else.

Mama?

Valen froze, his purple eyes widening. He turned his head toward the entrance just as the doors swung open.

Stepping into the nursery was his mother, Empress Karina. Standing a half-step behind her was General Aldric, a face Valen had seen far more times than those of his own birth parents combined.

But it wasn’t the presence of the General that made Valen stop breathing. It was his mother’s.

She wasn’t crying. Her eyes weren’t red-rimmed from sobbing, nor was she stumbling into the room to grab them into suffocating hugs while wailing about their fathers. She stood tall, her gown trailing behind her, her hair falling gracefully over her shoulders.

And she was smiling.

It was so alien, that Valen instinctively took a step back, his dark panther ears pinning flat against his head. He looked down at the floor, his tiny fists clenching the fabric of his trousers.

What is she doing here? What does she want now?

Meanwhile, Karina’s heart practically melted into a puddle of goo the moment her eyes landed on the four little boys.

She loved children!

Oh my god, Karina thought, her internal voice screeching in adoration. They are so sweet and precious! Look at those little ears! Look at the tiny dragon horns! They look like little plush toys!

[SYSTEM ALERT: CUB IDENTIFICATION COMPLETE]

[Target 1: Prince Valen (Age 6) - Panther Beast Cub (Eldest)]

[Target 2: Prince Daerys (Age 5) - Dragon Faction Cub]

[Target 3: Prince Rynan (Age 4) - Cheetah Beast Cub]

[Target 4: Prince Soren (Age 3) - Snake Clan Cub (youngest)]

Cheshire’s voice echoed softly in her mind, accompanied by small glowing blue name tags hovering over each child’s head.

[SPECIAL MISSION UNLOCKED: Maternal Redemption]

[Objective: Restore your relationship with your children.

Current Relationship Level: Hostile / Distrustful.

Reward: +100 Yandere Points, Access to Modern Snack Inventory.]

Karina didn’t need the system incentive to tell her what to do. The terrible neglect these poor tiny toddlers had suffered broke her heart. Slowly, she lowered herself to the ground, sinking her expensive, heavy burgundy gown directly onto the carpet so she was at eye level with them.

"Hello, Valen," Karina said softly, keeping her voice sweet and warm. "Hello, everyone. How are you all doing today?"

The room fell silent. Rynan and Soren stopped wrestling mid-tumble, staring at her with confused eyes. Daerys froze with the wooden block still pressed against his lips.

Valen, however, didn’t fall for the gentle act. He took a protective step in front of his younger brothers, his purple eyes, so painfully identical to his father’s, narrowing.

"Do you want something?"

Karina’s breath hitched slightly, but she maintained her gentle smile, shaking her head.

Wow, what a blunt child.

"No, sweetie. No, I don’t want anything. I just came to see you."

Valen didn’t budge.

Karina tilted her head, trying a different tactic. "Tell me... do you boys like sweets?"

Four-year-old Rynan’s ears perked up instantly. The cheetah cub’s golden eyes sparkled, and his mouth opened to speak. He gave a enthusiastic nod. "Sweets?!"

"Rynan, no!" Valen snapped sharply, shooting his younger brother a warning glare before turning his sharp gaze back to Karina. "We don’t want anything from you."

The huge amount distrust in the six-year-old’s voice made Karina’s heart break.

The former Karina had been such a pitiful, self-absorbed mother, leaving these helpless children to feel like every interaction was a trick or a bargaining chip.

If only she could have a word with the former Karina, and show her a piece of her mind!

You poor baby, she thought, swallowed down the lump in her throat.

"Come on," Karina urged gently, leaning forward a bit with her hands resting openly on her lap. "I’m serious. I’ll get you every sweet you could possibly want. Pastries, chocolates, honeyed fruits...."

"No!"

A sharp voice interrupted her. Five-year-old Daerys stepped out from the corner. "Go away! We don’t want you here!"

"Daerys, it’s okay—" Karina started, reaching out a soft hand toward the dragon cub to soothe him.

Before she could touch his shoulder, Daerys lunged forward like a little feral wildcat. His sharp teeth clamped down hard on the meat of her palm.

"Ah! Oww!" Karina gasped, pulling her hand back instinctively, though she held herself back from shoving the child away. She cradled her hand, where a small set of bite marks was already turning red.

Behind her, the senior head nursemaid of the nursery, a stout woman who had been standing near the wall, stepped forward, her face twisted in sneering annoyance.

"You insolent little monster!" the servant barked, lifting a hand as if to smack Daerys on the shoulder. "How dare you bite Her Imperial Majesty! You truly are as uncivilized as your—"

"Don’t you dare talk to my children like that!"

The roar that erupted from Karina’s throat caught everyone off guard.

The servant froze mid-stride, her hand trembling in the air, her face draining of all color. General Aldric’s hand instinctively dropped to the pommel of his sword in shock, his eyes widening as he stared at the Empress.

Karina pushed herself up from the floor, her dark red hair whipping around her face as she stepped directly between the terrified servant and the four little boys.

"You are a hired servant of this imperial palace," Karina hissed as she glared down at the trembling nursemaid. "Your sole job is to care for the princes. If I ever hear you raise your voice, insult, or threaten to lay a hand on my sons again, I will personally see to it that you are thrown into the imperial dungeons before sunset. Do you understand me?!"

"I-I... Y-Your Imperial Majesty... I deeply apologize!" the woman stammered, dropping to her knees and pressing her forehead against the floorboards, shivering violently.

Karina didn’t give her another glance. She turned back around, her terrifying aura vanishing in an instant as she looked at her four dumbfounded children.

She knelt back down, completely ignoring the sting in her bitten hand. She looked directly at Rynan, who was peeking out from behind Valen’s back.

"Now," Karina said, her tone suddenly bright and cheerful, as if she hadn’t just threatened to execute a palace servant two seconds ago. "Who wants to come with me to get some sweets?"

Rynan didn’t hesitate for another second. He broke away from Valen’s grip, his little cheetah tail wagging wildly behind him as he scurried forward and grabbed a handful of Karina’s dark burgundy skirt.

"I want sweets, Mama!" Rynan chirped, looking up at her with big, shiny eyes.

Karina’s smile broadened, and she gently patted the little cheetah cub’s head. She stood up, holding Rynan’s tiny hand, and glanced back at Valen, Daerys, and Soren, who were still shocked.

"The offer stands for the rest of you, too," Karina said softly, her eyes lingering on Valen. "Whenever you’re ready."

The six-year-old turned around, thinking to himself.

"Whatever"