Chapter 3 The Forbidden Method Of Pregnancy

• Three days later.
• For the first time in the history of Olympus, two weddings were held simultaneously. And I knew perfectly well that this was Elysia’s way of humiliating me.
• After all, up to this moment, everyone believed that she was the winner.
• And she clearly believed it too.
• Dressed in an extravagant wedding gown, she slowly walked toward me.
• “Go ahead and enjoy yourself while you can, Daphne. From today onward, your fate is to be trampled beneath my feet.”
• Smiling smugly, she winked.
• “Let me tell you a secret. I already know the future. One day, my husband will become the King of Olympus, and I will be the Queen of Olympus.”
• She lowered her voice as she leaned closer.
• “As for you and your damn husband, you’ll be nothing more than filthy sewer rats, hiding in the gutters for the rest of your lives.”
• Glancing at Darius as he approached, she pursed her lips and deliberately raised her voice.
• “If I were you, I’d rather die than marry a useless man with no divine power from a declining family like that.”
• She shook her head.
• “Your marriage to Darius is nothing short of a disgrace to the Aurelis family.”
• Mocking laughter echoed from the surrounding gods, and even Edvane stepped forward.
• “Come on, sweetie, don’t say such things.”
• She gently stroked Elysia’s golden hair and shrugged.
• “Not everyone is fortunate enough to marry a powerful man from such a prestigious family as yours.”
• Edvane glanced at me and clicked her tongue.
• “For someone as useless as Daphne, being able to marry Darius is already a stroke of luck. You should respect her decision.”
• On the surface, Edvane appeared to be defending me, but every word that left her lips was as sharp as a blade.
• I looked at Elysia, my gaze devoid of the slightest trace of warmth.
• “A High Priestess with no manners, belittling others on her wedding day, that is the true disgrace to the Aurelis family.”
• Grasping the hand of Darius, who had just arrived, I clenched my jaw and stared at Elysia.
• “Say sorry to him, Elysia.”
• Seeing that I refused to back down and had instead escalated the situation to this extent, Elysia visibly faltered for a moment. However, she quickly regained her composure and lifted her chin.
• “Sorry? For what? Is he even worthy of it?”
• I replied coldly,
• “If you insult someone, then you apologize, regardless of their status, Elysia. Don’t behave like someone so utterly uncultured.”
• The gazes of those around us shifted constantly between Elysia and me, as though it was the first time they had witnessed such a public confrontation on a day as special as this.
• The atmosphere instantly grew tense.
• “Never, Daphne! If you want me to apologize, then I’d rather die!”
• Elysia roared in fury before turning on her sandal and storming away. Edvane shot me a glare, then hurried after her.
• Looking up at Darius, who let out a soft chuckle, I noticed that the gentleness in his eyes had deepened even further.
• The wedding proceeded smoothly. Since it was a sacred ceremony, Elysia naturally did not dare cause any trouble.
• After taking our vows before the Sacred Flame, Darius and I officially became husband and wife.
• “Daphne, from this day forward, you will always be beneath me. When I become the Queen of Olympus, perhaps I’ll be kind enough to let you serve as my foot-washing servant.”
• As she stepped onto Theron’s golden chariot, Elysia finally could not resist mocking me one last time. I pretended not to hear her, simply boarding Darius’s golden chariot and returning with him to his palace.
• ...
• The noise gradually faded into the distance, and the chariot soon came to a stop before the Solar Palace. The servants were already standing in two orderly rows before the palace, bowing their heads respectfully.
• “Welcome home, my Lord, my Lady.”
• As soon as they finished their greeting, they immediately knelt in reverence.
• Darius raised his head and looked at me, a gentle smile spreading across his face.
• “From today onward..."
• He spoke clearly and authoritatively to all the servants.
• “Lady Daphne is the mistress of the Solar Palace. Everything she says carries the same authority as I do.”
• After a brief pause, he added,
• “Anyone who dares offend her will be dismissed from the Solar Palace immediately.”
• Darius’s declaration made all the servants bow to me in unison with utmost respect, while my heart suddenly tightened.
• In my previous life, after returning to the palace, Theron had walked straight inside without sparing me a glance. As time passed, he became increasingly cold toward me.
• The servants quickly noticed his dislike of me and began treating me with a certain degree of casual disrespect.
• Darius, however, had barely returned to the palace before immediately establishing my authority among the servants, ensuring that I received their absolute respect.
• Looking up at Darius with a smile, I suddenly felt that perhaps this marriage was far better than I had expected.
• Afterward, Darius led me around the palace, introducing me to each of its rooms. He even gave me the master bedroom of the palace while he slept in the adjoining guest room.
• “Daphne, I know this marriage was unexpected for both of us, and I don’t want to rush you.”
• Gently stroking my head, he lowered his voice.
• “You don’t have to force yourself to be intimate with me. I’ll wait until you’re ready.”
• My heart suddenly began beating faster in my chest.
• This unprecedented respect made my heart grow warmer.
• Life with him was peaceful and comfortable, and a month soon passed, bringing us to the Festival of Eternal Blood.
• That morning, as Darius and I returned to my family home, I saw Elysia and Theron approaching from a distance.
• Elysia wore a soft white silk gown, a laurel wreath resting atop her head, while a gleaming laurel necklace adorned her neck.
• Elysia gently rested a hand on her stomach and slowly walked forward, stopping directly in front of me.
• “Daphne, I win. While there’s still no sign of a child in your womb, I’ve already been pregnant for half a month.”
• Elysia arched a brow smugly, lightly stroking her stomach with satisfaction.
• “The day this child is born, Theron will awaken the throne and become the King of Olympus, and I will be the Queen of Olympus.”
• I looked at her, and a sudden chill ran down my spine.
• Elysia’s haggard appearance...
• The pallor of her complexion...
• The decline of her divine power, the chaotic aura surrounding the fetus...
• And the pink birthmark that had suddenly appeared on her arm...
• They were all things I had once seen described in an ancient text that had been sealed away for thousands of years.
• A text that recorded a forbidden method of pregnancy, one outlawed throughout the entire divine realm of Olympus.
• A method that forcibly induced pregnancy by sacrificing the mother's life force, allowing the fetus to drain away her divine power and vitality.