Chapter 3
The clamor outside the castle gradually faded into dead silence.
Only old steward Morsen was directing a few pale-faced servants as they dragged the headless corpses toward the distant wasteland. The fifty Spartan warriors stood motionless like tireless statues around the castle, turning the once drafty and broken fortress into an impenetrable iron barrel.
Inside the master bedroom, the fireplace burned brightly.
Alice curled up in the corner of the bed, wrapped tightly in a thick wool blanket, yet her body still trembled uncontrollably.
She had personally witnessed through the window how her usually gentle and refined husband had coldly pinned that terrifying scar-faced bandit to the ground like slaughtering a chicken. That ruthless, brutal side of him overlapped with the wild passion he had shown her in bed last night, making her feel both terrified and strangely safe.
In this chaotic world, marrying a fierce wolf was far better than marrying a sheep waiting to be slaughtered.
Click.
The door lock turned.
Victor pushed the door open and entered. He had already changed out of his bloodstained clothes and was now wearing a loose silk robe. His damp black hair hung casually over his forehead, making him look less murderous and more dangerously charming.
"Afraid of me?"
Victor walked to the bedside and looked down at the frightened little quail.
Alice's breath hitched. She instinctively wanted to shrink back, but when she met his deep, night-like eyes, she inexplicably shook her head. Then, as if possessed, she crawled closer and gently rubbed her cheek against his palm like a docile kitten.
"I… I just didn't expect my husband to be so heroic."
"Heroic?" Victor chuckled softly, his fingers sliding across her delicate neck. "In this world, those who aren't ruthless enough have long since had their bones rot in the mud. I did what I did so that you — and our future children — can live like proper human beings."
At the word "children," two rosy blushes instantly appeared on Alice's pale cheeks.
Victor didn't rush into action. Instead, he flipped his wrist.
In his palm appeared a milky-white pill emitting a faint, pleasant fragrance. Strange light swirled across its surface. Even a commoner with no knowledge of magic could tell at a glance that this was no ordinary item.
[Primary Marrow Cleansing Pill: Removes impurities from the mother's body, strengthens the foundation, and greatly optimizes genetic inheritance.]
This was the system's reward — and the cornerstone of House Pompey's rise.
Victor knew very well that although Alice was beautiful, she came from a merchant family with average bloodline. Without improvement, the children she bore might be decent thanks to the system's "many children" bonus, but they would hardly reach the monstrous "born with talent and divine strength" level.
And his eldest son — Victor Pompey's firstborn — had to be a monster.
"Eat it," Victor brought the pill to her lips.
"Husband, this is…" Alice smelled the exotic fragrance and felt every cell in her body craving it.
"A secret medicine from an ancient eastern kingdom. Its value… should be enough to buy ten Riverruns," Victor casually exaggerated the value, making Alice dizzy. "Eat it, and you will become even more beautiful. You will also give birth to the strongest heir for me."
Hearing "buy ten Riverruns," Alice nearly bit her tongue in shock. But under her husband's unquestionable gaze, she obediently opened her red lips and took the pill into her mouth.
The pill melted instantly upon touching her tongue, turning into a warm current that surged through her limbs and bones!
"Mmm…"
Alice let out an uncontrollable soft moan. She felt as if her body had been thrown into a hot spring. Every pore was breathing, and the accumulated coldness and impurities inside her were rapidly being expelled.
A few moments later.
Victor looked at his wife with a flash of amazement in his eyes.
Originally, Alice had been a beautiful 90-point merchant's daughter with fair but somewhat dull skin. Now, after the marrow cleansing and bone tempering, her skin looked like the finest mutton-fat jade, faintly glowing with light. Her features had been subtly refined, and her entire being now radiated an ethereal, almost immortal aura. She even carried a noble grace that only highborn ladies usually possessed!
[Ding! Detected companion "Alice" aptitude has been upgraded!] [Current Evaluation: A-rank (Ice Skin and Jade Bones)!] [Conception Success Rate Adjusted: 100%!] [Expected Offspring Talent: S-rank (High probability of awakening special bloodline)!]
Seeing the updated data on the system panel, Victor nodded in satisfaction.
This was exactly the effect he wanted.
This was the perfect mother for the first-generation heir of House Pompey.
"Husband… I feel so hot…" Alice's eyes were hazy. She didn't know what had happened, only that her body felt light and full of energy she couldn't release. The way she looked at Victor was almost dripping with desire.
The corner of Victor's lips curled into a domineering smile. He leaned down and pressed her beneath him.
"Good. Being hot is exactly what I want."
"Alice, remember this night. What you are about to carry in your belly… will be the future king of the entire Westeros continent."
The bed curtains fell, concealing the spring scenery filling the room.
…
For Victor, this night was a "battle" he had to win.
Under the terrifying boost of the [Dragon Kidney], he felt tireless. And after the marrow cleansing, Alice's physique had become much stronger, allowing her to barely withstand his stormy conquest.
It wasn't until the sun was high in the sky the next day that Victor opened his eyes, feeling refreshed and invigorated.
[Ding!] [Congratulations, host! Seeding successful!] [Life embryo has been successfully formed!] [Gestation Countdown: 9 months.] [Congratulations on receiving stage reward: Basic Internal Affairs Points × 10, Random Life Skill Book × 1 (Awarded: Primary Steelmaking Technique).]
Looking at the system notification, the ambition in Victor's eyes burned fiercely.
It was done!
The eldest son with S-rank potential was now in place!
And this Primary Steelmaking Technique… In a Westeros dominated by bronze and low-quality iron, this was the ultimate cheat code for wealth and power!
He got dressed and walked out onto the balcony.
In the square below the castle, the fifty Spartan warriors were training, their killing intent soaring.
Not far away, a few bold commoners were cautiously peeking at the terrifying "corpse tower" piled at the road entrance, their eyes filled with awe and fear.
"Morsen!"
Victor called down.
The old steward immediately trotted over, his face glowing with a vitality and confidence never seen before — the confidence of a family that finally had a true backbone.
"My lord!"
"Prepare the carriage and horses," Victor said, gazing toward the north — the direction of the Kingsroad.
Now that things at home were stable and the seed had been planted, it was time to go "hunting."
He had heard that King Robert's massive caravan was slowly making its way toward Winterfell like a snail, and a certain Sansa Stark — still in her loli phase — was full of fantasies about southern knights.
"I'm going to meet an important person," Victor adjusted his collar, his eyes showing the sharp gaze of a hunter spotting prey. "And along the way… bring back the second lady of House Pompey."