Latest Chapters
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169. ‘What in the world is this feeling…?’ It wasn’t simply the confusion of having a would-be stepfather who was the same age as her lover. She had already vented most of that awkwardness when she pulled at that guy’s hair. What was age, after all? If anything, her mother deserved praise for her boldness. Yet Seraphie still found herself ill at ease. She wanted to graciously accept her mother’s romance, but this vague unease would not disappear. “Sir Felikia, your…
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111.1 K • Ongoing
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170. “What on earth is going on here!” The son, who heard the news belatedly, stormed in, seething with barely suppressed rage. “An accounting audit! At this rate, everything will be discovered—” “Herba!” At the count’s command, the young heir flinched. “…Watch your tongue.” The count, at last regaining his composure, signaled to his son. Only then did the heir of Baglosa realize he had entered without closing both doors behind him. He hurriedly shut the doors…
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111.1 K • Ongoing
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171. An emergency meeting was convened at once. In truth, the only attendees were Serapi and Luni, plus Orkis and Karl, who had been outside demonstrating sword techniques for the children. Batisa discreetly excused herself. “Grandmother, honestly!” Serapi complained, rubbing her aching jaw. “How could you tell me such important news only now!” “Just wait until you’re my age. You start forgetting important things every now and then.” Lady Kia reproached her in…
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111.1 K • Ongoing
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172. “So, you’re planning to kill Count Loria in front of your grandmother.” Crack—the firewood split with a sharp sound. “…That’s unexpected.” Orkis lowered his axe, picking up the freshly split logs and stacking them to the side, where a fair pile was already accumulating. “I never thought I’d hear you speak of killing someone.” “Don’t you like it?” While Orkis split the firewood, Serapi sat crouched beside him, watching with idle curiosity. “Like it?…
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111.1 K • Ongoing
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173. “That’s not what I meant.” Seraphie denied it with a serious expression. Still, fully understanding the room for misunderstanding in what she’d said, she let out an embarrassed cough and corrected herself. “Even without a confession, sometimes things just naturally progress.” “Wouldn’t it be better to be clear about it, though?” “If you want to get technical, we did say it once when we were pretending to date…” “Is that the same thing as this?” This…
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111.1 K • Ongoing
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174. “In his eyes, you really are a precious glass doll. He never left your side, except for the brief moments your mother was here.” “……” “Reminds me of my late husband.” He could be so passionate as well. With those words, part serious and part jest, the room fell silent once more. Left alone, Seraphie quietly covered her face with both hands. She felt as if her temperature was rising again. An exquisite dizziness swept over her, and her heart began to beat faster and…
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111.1 K • Ongoing
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175. “Your ears are red.” Seraphie forced herself to suppress her laughter. “Can I touch them?” “Why are you like this today…” Orkis grumbled, running a hand down his face. Nevertheless, he obligingly lowered his upper body toward her. Seraphie reached out cautiously. His reddened ears were hot, the heat palpable even before she actually touched them. Her fingers paused in the air, then lightly brushed the edge of his ear. “…Whew.” His hunched shoulders flinched;…
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111.1 K • Ongoing
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176. “How could I possibly leave someone so lovable alone…?” He pressed gentle kisses to her slender nape. Then, to the spot he’d just grazed with his tongue, he slowly sank his teeth. “How could I possibly leave you be?” The sensation of his teeth worrying her skin drew a faint sigh from Seraphie. She wanted to kick him away, but for that, he was simply too dear. ‘It’s my fate, then.’ I’m utterly caught in his grasp. The damnably sweet temptation continued,…
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111.1 K • Ongoing
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177. While the family was away, the Loria estate was kept immaculate by the servants. The gardens, adorned with vibrant seasonal flowers, seemed to await praise from the returning family. But despite the staff’s efforts, those who returned offered not a word of compliment. The lady of the house and her son came back as cold corpses, shrouded in silence. The one who returned alive—Count Loria—was no different. In the end, instead of a welcome-home celebration, a funeral was held in the…
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111.1 K • Ongoing
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178. Rising from her seat, Seraphie fetched an old notebook. Inside were the names of the four noble families whose daughters had maligned her that day. Seraphie had refused their investment in the Divine Treasure mining project, and had also instructed the Kia Company to avoid any collaboration with their families. “Countess Tifeon.” As she opened the notebook, she saw a name written with barely suppressed anger. “Viscountess Gramene, Countess Baglosa, Baroness Rodo.” “Wait,…
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111.1 K • Ongoing
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179. At the threshold of summer, the Empire grew greener by the day. Yet the Baglosa estate, in contrast, only grew deeper in shadow. An unannounced audit had exposed a multitude of crimes. The discovery of double books caused an enormous uproar—tax evasion, money laundering, embezzlement of public funds, and even the suspicion of funds with unclear origin. Their monopoly on the tea trade had been stripped away by the Kia merchant guild. With assets frozen, there was no way to stave off the…
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111.1 K • Ongoing
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180. “The Mage Tower will accompany you.” Seraphie glanced at Orkis, seated beside her. Sensing her meaning, Orkis gave a small nod. “Mages affiliated with the Mage Tower will travel with the Kia merchant convoy to conduct experiments with communication magic. They will be the ones to suppress the factory.” “Communication magic…,” murmured one of the Glake, recalling something heard in passing. “A spell that allows you to converse over long distances?” “That’s what…
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111.1 K • Ongoing
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181. For such a perilous incident—a carriage nearly veering off the road—the outside world was remarkably serene. The passersby hurried along, oblivious as though nothing had happened. The horses were calm. There was no sign of damage to the road or buildings anywhere. ‘…Did something really even happen?’ Ex, embarrassed to find himself agitated alone, sheepishly scratched the back of his neck. “I apologize.” Startled by the sudden sound, he turned to find a cleric…
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111.1 K • Ongoing
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182. “Was my analogy a bit too cruel? Still, this punishment will serve as a good warning for us.” Count Loria finished speaking and turned to the Crown Prince with a question. The Crown Prince, who had remained silent until now, slowly opened his mouth. “I agree. Now that all the facts of the crime are out, dragging it out any further would just be a waste of time.” “But the trial isn’t even over yet. There could be other crimes revealed, so we should be cautious about stripping…
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111.1 K • Ongoing
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183. According to Luni, Count Baglosa’s daughter was engaged in a standoff with the Validus staff at the mansion’s gate. She had come recklessly, demanding to see Seraphy, and her insistence was witnessed by Karl, who was waiting at the house, as well as by Orkis and Luni, who arrived just in time. “……” Seraphy pressed her hand to her forehead. Just hearing the account of events was enough to bring on a headache. “No one followed her, did they?” “Sir Orkis and Karl…
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111.1 K • Ongoing
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184. “Before Seraphy became head of the Validus family…” Luni began, then abruptly closed her mouth and beckoned Orkis and Karl over with a vigorous wave. She asked them, “Would it be fair to call it worse than garbage?” “Wasn’t it even lower than that?” Karl replied. “That’s true, but isn’t that a little too blunt…” Luni said, sounding half-apologetic. The three of them held their discussion more earnestly than ever. “……” Having heard it all, Seraphy…
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111.1 K • Ongoing
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185. “What does it look like I’m holding right now?” Seraphie, who had wisely kept her mouth shut, glanced at the stack of documents in Luni’s hand. Among them, a dusky blue envelope caught her eye. “…A newspaper bill?” “It’s my certificate of title from the Emperor, you damned superior!” Luni threw the letter at Seraphie’s face with all her strength. The sharp smack it made was quite satisfying. Only then did Seraphie notice the seal on the envelope. That…
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111.1 K • Ongoing
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186. Tok, tok. With every tap of Seraphie’s fingers, Lady Baglosa held her breath, her body trembling in tiny spasms. This was a scenario she had never anticipated. No matter how high and mighty Validus had become, to her eyes, Seraphie was still just a scrawny, unimpressive woman. ‘And yet…!’ Why was she forced to bow her head, unable to meet her gaze, holding her breath lest she even make a sound, suppressing her ragged breaths to the barest whisper? The humiliation and shame…
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111.1 K • Ongoing
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187. For a while, the public was abuzz with the tragedy of the Baglosa family. Because all attention was focused on the sensational incident, the investigation into the whereabouts of Count Baglosa’s missing daughter only gained attention later. Regrettably, Lady Baglosa was discovered dead two days after the incident. “She was found early this morning, out on the outskirts of the capital.” “I heard the body was completely burned…” “Burned to death? That’s…
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111.1 K • Ongoing
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188. “Are we certain that the corpse is Lady Baglosa?” At the crown prince’s question, the messenger nodded with solemn gravity. “The hair on the corpse is dark green, and the bone structure also indicates a woman. Additionally, there is a mark on the partially burned thigh that identifies her as Lady Baglosa.” “A mark?” “She was born with a large birthmark on her thigh, which Lady Baglosa’s nurse has confirmed.” “……” With an inscrutable expression, the…
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111.1 K • Ongoing
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