The woman answered right away, like it was the most natural thing in the world. "Then keep having children. It took hundreds of years for the heir of the Phoenix Seal to finally appear, and so many people are watching her. Even if I don't care about the second-tier nations, there are still many people and forces in the top-tier ones who want to take her."
"I could have taken the Phoenix Seal early this time, maybe even gotten the Divine Vein Key. But in the end..." The woman glared at the man with hatred and malice. "The mission failed because of you. You'll take full responsibility. From now on, this body of yours will be used to atone for your failure."
"If the child you give birth to is also useless, then keep going. Just keep giving birth. It's easy enough to draw a little of her blood, and your body, after being altered by the fertility pill, will be the most suitable for childbearing."
The woman's face twisted into a wicked smile. The man looked at her and slowly began to smile too.
But the next second, he suddenly thought of something. He remembered how Elara had held him in her arms a few days ago, back when he was still in a child's form, patiently teaching him about traditions and manners.
"A father is to blame when a child goes astray..."
"No one is born purely good or purely evil..."
"Every child has no say in how they are born, but they can work hard to change their future..."
He looked at the vicious woman in front of him. Her face was twisted with cruelty, but those words from Elara echoed in his mind. He couldn't help himself and suddenly spoke, "Mother."
The woman's smug, twisted smile froze the moment she heard the word "Mother." It was like he had struck her where it hurt the most. Her whole body contorted in disgust.
The man acted as if he hadn't seen her reaction. He stared at her stiff face and asked curiously:
"But Mother, I'm not her husband, and she's not my wife. So by your logic, wouldn't the child I give her be just like me, a mixed-blood?"
"You hate mixed-bloods the most, don't you? Wasn't having me already bad enough? And now you want me to make more mixed-blood children? Don't you ever have nightmares?"
"Shut up!"
"Shut up! You useless mixed-blood trash! Mixed-blood trash!"
The woman seemed to go mad. She suddenly snatched the punishment whip from the old man who had been silently standing to the side. With all her strength, she lashed it down on the man.
"You're not allowed to call me Mother! I'm not your mother! I'm not!"
"You're just a mixed-blood! Letting you live was already the greatest mercy I gave you! How dare you call me that! How dare you?!"
The sound of the whipping echoed through the gloomy house for a long time. The man's bitter laughter mixed with the woman's hysterical screaming.
She kept beating him until she had exhausted all her strength and fury. Only then did she throw down the whip, glanced in disgust at the bloodied man in front of her, and spoke coldly:
"You've taken the fertility pill. Go back and stay by that woman's side for three months. After that, the child will start forming in your belly. When the time comes, I'll have Bertram come get you. Don't disappoint me again. If you do, you won't want to know what'll happen."
She smoothed her clothes and returned to her elegant, noble appearance. Without even glancing at the man again, she walked out of the house with big, confident steps.
Only after the woman left did Bertram straighten up and walk over to the man lying in blood. He looked down and said:
"Don't try to defy the master, Your Highness. She will soon become Petunia's imperial consort. Your identity must stay hidden. Don't make her angry again."
"I'll come pick you up in three months."
After everyone in the secluded house had left, the man was finally taken down from the torture device.
He looked at his torn-up hands and feet, then at his filthy body soaked in blood. The corners of his mouth suddenly lifted, and he let out a strange laugh.
"Hehehe... hahaha..."
That woman who refused to be called his mother hated mixed-blood children so much. In that case, he might as well have a few more of them.
As for the divine bloodline she wanted, that wasn't going to happen.
After all... if a child goes astray, the blame falls on the father.
Now that he had turned into this kind of person, she shouldn't get to live as she pleased anymore.
And the child in his sister's belly... he wondered what kind of expression she would make once she found out.
Would she hate the little mixed child inside him too, or would she be kind to him for giving her a child?
Hehehe... hahaha...