Chapter 47 I couldn’t look away—I stared at Perfoné, stunned. But his face was unreadable. There was no confusion, no suspicion, no anger. He didn’t look at me with the gentle eyes I remembered, nor with the warm smile that used to be mine. He looked at me the way one looks at a stranger—or…
Chapter 46 “The red gemstones in this bracelet—they’re Sidhevan’s eyes.” A collective gasp escaped the room. Sidhevans, often called the “mermaids of the sea,” had crimson eyes so rare that just one was worth a high noble’s entire yearly budget. This bracelet held several. Terran, the guild master, glanced from the dazzling bracelet to the…
Chapter 45 Tears welled up in his pale blue eyes, the color of hydrangea petals. Seeing the only person who truly knew my parents’ past brought my father’s face vividly to mind—and my late mother’s too. My father never spoke about her death. Not how she died, nor why. The only memory I had was…
Chapter 44 “…” “Can you just get to the point? Why did you want to see me?” “…Who are you?” He stammered slightly, maybe because he didn’t know my name, or maybe out of sheer confusion. He bit his lower lip hard and asked, “Why do you have Bernice’s face?” He didn’t seem interested in…
Chapter 65 Doppelganger. Originally, it was a German urban legend about “meeting someone who looks exactly like you leads to death,” but in fantasy games, it’s interpreted slightly differently. It exists in a shapeless form, like a slime, until it encounters a target, at which point it copies their appearance and attacks. Most fantasy games…
Chapter 64 “Hooo…” “Why the sigh? Something troubling you?” “That’s what being an adult is all about. A constant stream of worries.” “Hmph. Being an adult sounds tough.” Two days had passed since the events at the World Tree. Karpe was feeling conflicted. The moment he’d confirmed the contents of the stone coffin, Karpe had…
Chapter 63 As I stepped inside the World Tree, a notification window popped up as if it had been waiting for me. [You are the first player to enter the World Tree.] [As a reward, you have been granted the title “World Tree’s Blessing.”] [World Tree’s Blessing] Stamina +2, Mana +2 Stamina and Mana recovery…
Chapter 43 “Well, I guess it’s about time… I returned to the Duke’s mansion.” The words slipped out as I walked towards the shop, causing Alan, who was beside me, to stop dead in his tracks. “Returned?” Alan repeated, his tone questioning, clearly noticing the odd phrasing of my statement. Right, in this situation, “returned”…
chapter 22 Act 4 – White and Black As the “Welcoming Spring” ball, nominally, ended, the capital began to warm up significantly. In high society, picnics and hunts were slowly beginning to take place. It was also the time when the gardeners became busy, preparing for the increasingly beautiful gardens. The new gardener at the…
chapter 21 Catching sight of Albert slipping away, Juju barely managed to suppress a sharp exhale. When she had greeted him as the guest of honor at the ball, Albert had seemed momentarily flustered. She couldn’t precisely read his thoughts. Was he surprised by the beauty of this body, or had his uncanny insight reminded…
chapter 20 As the ball progressed, the atmosphere in the Crystal Hall grew increasingly lively. True to its name, the white rock crystal that paved the floor constantly emitted light. The guests’ extravagant attire, surrounded by reflected light, appeared even more luxurious. Among them, Count Keitel and his party truly captivated everyone’s attention. In the…
chapter 19 Two carriages were deployed for their entry into the Imperial Palace. Ruslan and Juju rode in the first, with Nadia and the other servants in the second. As Juju boarded the carriage, she turned to look back at Angela. In the meantime, Angela had smoothly acquired the position of house physician and blended…
chapter 18 The patrons of the tea house all eyed each other warily. Nadia was right; this was no elegant salon. Laborers and those who toiled at the roughest jobs were its main clientele, seeking cheap meals or gathering for card games. Or perhaps to use the bed chambers upstairs. Juju subtly glanced upward through…
chapter 17 An audience with the Emperor is no simple matter. One schedules it far in advance. Yet, there’s no guarantee it will happen precisely on time. Affairs of state are unpredictable; priorities shift, often leaving one waiting indefinitely, only to be turned away empty-handed. Ruslan understood this principle well and didn’t get his hopes…
chapter 16 Act 3 – A Land of Mice As the rumors suggested, Duke Richt’s mansion in Zehd was bustling with activity day after day. Architects, job seekers, and social climbers hoping to ingratiate themselves with the new power behind the ducal throne flocked to the estate. During her lifetime, Annelise had rarely visited Zehd….
Chapter 42 They could never be Irina’s family again. Alexis sighed. His gaze drifted slowly towards the drawer where the medicine bottles were kept. His decision to bring Irina back to the ducal estate had nothing to do with April’s carriage accident. It was because his heart was hardening, leaving him with only a year…