?Chapter 158:


    Makenna’s POV:


    “An assessment?”


    I was taken aback. Why had we suddenly been asked to undergo an assessment?


    Alice nodded. Her expression was one of severe difort, as though she was battling a headache. “Only the sex ves who pass this assessment will remain in the pce to participate in the uing hunting event. Those who fail will be expelled from the pce.”


    “Expelled from the pce?” I felt a squeeze in my heart.


    “Yes.” Alice continued in a serious tone. “It’s rumored that those who fail won’t just be expelled—there will be harsher punishments.”


    She looked up at me earnestly and continued, “If the king finds a sex ve displeasing, her family and friends might suffer too. Makenna, we have to pass this test.”


    Frowning deeply, I asked in bewilderment, “Why is there suddenly an assessment?”


    Up until now, no one had spoken of any assessment during our training sessions.


    Alice chuckled bitterly. “Actually, this is somewhat because of you, Makenna.”


    “Me?” My eyes widened in astonishment. “How does this involve me?”


    Alice exined, “You’re the only sex ve who has caught the princes’ attention. The king wants to keep those who can charm his sons. After all, our role is to bear the princes’ children. He won’t keep us if we can’t garner the princes’ favor.”


    Her words plunged me into a deep quiet, and a wave of sadness swept through me.


    Alice was right. We had been brought here as mere vessels for childbirth. Our autonomy and self-respect were secondary to producing babies for the princes. A heavy silence fell over us, and the air turned solemn.


    Lily’s eyes moved back and forth between Alice and me. She then said, “It’s alright. Both of you are capable. I’m sure you’ll make it through the assessment.”


    While Alice might have been fretting about failing, my thoughts were elsewhere.


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    Perhaps… this assessment could be my opportunity to flee the pce.


    I had made too many enemies here, including Kristina and Bryan, the pervert.


    Now that I hadpletely offended Bryan, I doubted he would let me off easily. My best bet was to seize this opportunity to run away. Once outside, I would be free from the pce’s confines. In the vast world, Bryan would no longer be able to touch me.


    Alice hinted that my family could suffer repercussions too if I failed.


    I scoffed at the thought. Recalling the actions of my father, my stepmother, and the ugly faces of Frank and Jessica, I found myself almost eager to see them face troubles.


    Did they not always im we were family? I wondered if they would maintain that fa?ade by then.


    If things yed out as I hoped, leaving the pce would allow me to enact my revenge, effectively killing two birds with one stone.


    I took a deep breath to center myself and then turned to Alice. “Do you know what they will test us on in the assessment?” I inquired.


    Alice replied, “There are supposed to be three parts. The first part tests physical strength—only the strong can bear children. The second part measures intelligence—only the clever can have clever children. The third part…” Alice suddenly paused, hesitating.


    I asked eagerly, “What’s the third part?”


    With a worried frown, Alice continued, “The third is to assess our bodies’ ability to conceive.”


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