Quick Transmigration and Childbirth: The Target is Not Human

"Your Highness, why did you open the window again?" Angie entered from outside the palace carrying the medicinal soup, quickly stepping forward to close the half-open window tightly. "The chief physician said that you've only just recovered and are still very weak. What if you catch a cold again if you get chilled?"

Five months have passed since the person I was trying to woo disappeared.

Princess Xia Yangyang, who was not worthy of the title, also benefited from the misfortune. She lay weakly in bed every day, drinking tea and watching dramas with the system. Even if she was lazy and gluttonous, she would not break her persona. Even the queen had no chance to find fault with her.

While Anji leaned out to close the window, Xia Yangyang leisurely planned to float back to bed, only to be surprised to see a gorgeous light blue dress lying on the bed.

She paused for a moment, her fingertips trembling as she pointed at the dress: "Why did you bring the evening gown?"

Angie hesitated for a moment, then said carefully, "The chief physician said that your body is now able to perform some simple activities. Tonight, the palace is hosting a masquerade ball, which was originally prepared for King Baholy, but King Baholy said that if you don't attend, he won't participate either..."

"Then he shouldn't participate."

"The Queen has instructed you to attend..."

Xia Yangyang lifted her dress, sat on the edge of the bed, her arm casually resting on the table beside her, her fingertips tapping the surface briefly: "This King Baholis has been living and eating in Saint Sveta for five months. What about his own people? Doesn't he have any shame?"

Angie looked troubled: "King Baholis really likes the customs and culture of Saint Sveta. When he came, he brought the king plenty of gifts and gold coins. Those gold coins are enough for the royal family's expenses for several years... Everyone in Saint Sveta knows that the treasury has been empty for more than a year or two. It has been maintaining its dignity by raising taxes year after year, and the people are full of complaints."

To put it nicely, it's gifts and gold coins; to put it bluntly, it's money to buy a princess.

Baholis had already sent such a generous dowry before the princess was even married off; what would happen after the marriage? With such a powerful patron, neighboring countries would no longer dare to look down on Saint Sveta.

No wonder the king and queen dared not disobey his demands in the slightest.

Xia Yangyang touched her left neck; despite using the most precious wound medicine, a light red scar remained there.

She thought of King Baholith's aged face, now over sixty, and felt a wave of nausea. "Angie, do you want me to pander to him?"

"Baahul is a better refuge than St. Sveta." After hesitating for a while, Angie knelt down in front of the princess and spoke her mind. "King Baahul is willing to spend a fortune for you, which proves that he loves you. Moreover, among many kingdoms, Baahul's unparalleled wealth and military strength prove that he is a wise and powerful ruler. If you marry him, you may live a happy life. Even if you are unhappy, it can't be worse than it is now."

"Ha, that's impossible." Xia Yangyang pursed her lips, her eyes as clear as needles. "Everyone in the city knows that I was attacked by orcs. Even the border count wrote a letter of condolence. Has King Baholli ever come? He didn't even send anyone to ask. He doesn't take Saint Sveta seriously, let alone me."

Angie opened her mouth, wanting to argue but not knowing what to say, because what she said was just self-deception and comfort.

"As for that money, it was just used to shut the king and queen up. In these five months, King Baholli has been to the taverns and brothels of St. Sveta. He got a maid in the palace pregnant, and my father turned a blind eye when he found out. After the maid had an abortion, he kicked her out of the palace."

Angie's heart skipped a beat, and her eyes widened suddenly: "How did you know—?!"

"How would I know?"

"..."

"Where in this world is there a wall that is completely airtight? There are too many people and too much gossip in the palace. Not to mention these things, whether it's a dog that peed in the corner of the palace or a cat that stole fish under the shade of a tree... as long as it's something a person does, the wind will always reach my ears."

Actually, it was all said by the system, but it was really annoying that Angie was hiding these things. She said these things to let Angie know that she had her own informants and information channels.

Having his secret exposed, Angie knelt on the ground in shame: "I didn't tell you because you were already injured and needed to rest, and I didn't want you to get angry again... It was my fault, Your Highness, please punish me."

The air inside the hall was silent for two seconds.

"I didn't say I was going to punish you."

Two hands were placed on Angie's round, thick arms, gently helping her up from the ground. Angie looked at the princess in front of her, flattered and surprised.

"Your Highness..."

"You are my most trusted servant, Angie." Xia Yangyang brushed away non-existent dust from her shoulder and looked at her sincerely. "You've seen it too. I don't want to be a coward anymore. Being timid won't bring peace. If we continue to endure, all that awaits us is death. If you really care about me, please don't protect me in the way you used to."

Angie's eyes reddened, as if she were risking her life. She picked up her dress and said resolutely, "Then I'll find an excuse to decline the ball. Your Highness, please rest well."

The system suddenly announced: [The target's coordinates have been updated. They're currently in the palace, but might appear at a crowded place like a ball.]

Xia Yangyang stopped mid-nod abruptly and grabbed Angie's arm: "Wait."

"What's wrong, Your Highness?"

"Get me dressed; I'm going to the ball."

*

The palace ballroom was converted from the grand hall.

The floor was paved with smooth marble, polished to the surface like a mirror, and a crystal chandelier hung in the center of the dome, with hundreds of candles suspended from it.

At one end of the ballroom was a small orchestra pit, where musicians dressed in gorgeous costumes held various instruments, and enthusiastic and cheerful melodies echoed throughout the hall.

Perhaps it was the thrill and sense of the unknown brought about by the veiled appearance that made the nobles in the central dance floor dance boldly and unrestrainedly.

The gentlemen wore long robes embroidered with gold thread, while the ladies wore flowing skirts adorned with pearls and gemstones, and they huddled together in pairs.

At the front of the ballroom is a two-story-high platform where the king and queen sit on their thrones. On either side of the platform are white railings and a spiral staircase leads down to the first floor.

The entire ballroom was filled with luxury and laughter, the air thick with the scent of candles, the aroma of fine wine, and the perfumes of the nobles.

Xia Yangyang arrived late, and like any close mother and daughter in the world, she sat to the left of the Queen.

After disappearing for five months, the princess made her first public appearance. Angie dressed her up to be exceptionally radiant. The light blue skirt was wide and fluffy, and layers of tulle draped gently as she sat, making her look elegant and noble, as if the brilliance of the entire palace was concentrated on her.

Xia Yangyang lowered her eyes and looked down at King Baholis in the center of the dance floor.

He held the hand of a beautiful noblewoman on each side, his cheeks brimming with lewd grins, his obese belly almost bending the waists of the noblewomen in his arms.

This is undoubtedly a public insult to the royal family and a contempt for her status as their fiancée.

Several noble ladies ascended the high platform to chat with Xia Yangyang. In the original owner's memory, they were the queen's close confidantes, tailor-made for her. As a princess of a country, it wouldn't do to be alone and taciturn all day long.

"Your Highness." They lifted her skirt.

Xia Yangyang stood up and returned the greeting: "Miss Anlia, Miss Mavis, it's a pleasure to have you at the ball. Did you enjoy yourself?"

"The ball was absolutely wonderful!" Miss Anlia exclaimed dramatically, then sadly grabbed her hand. "We heard that Your Highness was injured, and it was the work of a despicable, lowly orc... Are you alright? We were all very worried about you!"

"As you can see, I'm fine. I think the outside world has exaggerated the severity of that incident..."

Following her established persona, Xia Yangyang wore a robotic smile as she conversed with the two noble ladies.

For someone who is neither good at dancing nor appreciates much classical music, even this NPC-like dialogue is much better than the boring and tedious sitting in a chair.

Suddenly, a strange sensation came from behind, like a sharp knife silently slicing across her skin, making her heart race.

She subconsciously stopped speaking, tilted her head slightly, and quickly scanned every corner of the hall.

The candlelight flickered, shadows danced, and people continued to twirl and dance in the dance floor; everything seemed so peaceful and ordinary.

System: [The target of your strategy is also here.]

Although the danger level had decreased considerably, Xia Yangyang still felt a vague unease about seeing this guy again after so long: [What do you think he's planning? This is a public ball; he can't possibly be carrying out some kind of massacre here.]

System: [If he wanted to kill someone, he would have done it already.]

Xia Yangyang: [That's true.]