Azphira Tales

The Count was holed up in his office. He was busy trying to cover up his own scandal with the story of "Mad Witch Doly." He contacted every newspaper to spread more sensational news about her. He persuaded them to pull articles about the Invisible Count. He co-opted Doly's lawyer so that her testimony of the actual situation would be useless. He sent a separate letter to the judge to ensure a private trial. He would have needed ten bodies to handle it all. During that time, O

His move was faster than the sound of the chains hitting the deck with a thud. [Karl] "Do not touch Master." A low, threatening voice made Ferdinand's skin crawl. [Ferdinand] "Ugh, urgh! How dare you touch a noble's body? A slave bastard no different from livestock—" But he couldn't continue speaking. Because Karl bent his arm further, pushing it to a situation where the bone would break at any moment. This crazy bastard. How is he so brutally strong? [Odette] "Karl, he is my

[Becker] "Don't touch me! I said I'm pregnant! I'm sure it's a son!" Sasha, who had momentarily frozen at Mrs. Becker's shocking statement, barely managed to scream with a pale face. [Sasha] "Don't spout bullshit!" [Becker] "Call a physician. Because it's true I'm pregnant. It's been two months! We spent nights together every single time without a single empty date, so how could I not conceive?" [Sasha] "It's a lie!" Sasha reflexively retorted. However, her eyes were already

Every morning, the morning paper and Bible verses to be transcribed were sent into the monastery. Not a single person came to visit the Countess at the monastery, and her only means of contact with the world was the newspaper. Thus, she naturally learned of the Count's affair. As soon as she saw the news, anger surged within her, and she wanted to leave the monastery immediately, but there was absolutely no way to escape. If only someone, anyone, would get me out of here. Whe

[Rudolf] "W-What did you say?" [Odette] "However, I couldn't possibly decide which of your chokers to open. So, discuss it between you soulmates and decide. I will follow your decision." At that, Doly and Rudolf, faces pale, slowly turned their heads toward each other. Tension-filled gazes were exchanged. Wondering what the other was thinking, Rudolf swallowed hard. Gulp. [Odette] "Your relationship is strong enough to promise marriage, isn't it? We arrive at the port tomorro

The next day, two headlines in the morning paper heated up Athena Island. One was a heartwarming article about Odette, the Empire's greatest villainess, saving and treating the residents of Athena Island. The other was a scandal involving Count Albrecht, who had been revered as a model of nobility and an ideal man of character. Of the two news items, the one that garnered an overwhelmingly explosive reaction was undoubtedly the latter. In scandals of this nature, the woman us

Why, why... why isn't the woman Odette? The woman, who had been wearing a dress, quickly returned to a decent appearance just by lowering her skirt hem. However, the man still had his trousers off. This meant it was difficult for him to tidy up his clothes immediately. [Reporter] "Look over here!" Moreover, the man, flustered and clumsy, even tumbled to the floor with a thud. But he was not the most flustered person in this place. That person was Rudolf. H-How is the Count he

[Mueller] "We barely managed to crawl to the shelter, but there were no herbs, no physicians. A calamity occurred just when the only physician on this island had gone inland. My wife came to her hometown for recuperation because she was pregnant, and to think something like this would happen….." There was no sign of deception in his expression. If his story were true... why on earth did Charlotte do such a thing? Odette was confused. His wife dying at the shelter was an event

[Reporter] "Oho." The calamity specialist reporter's eyes shone as if he had caught a scoop, and he snapped photos of the scene. Put me down. I have no intention of returning to the Summer Palace yet. Just as she was about to spit out those words, she shut her mouth at the status window that appeared before her eyes. [Johan's Loathing decreases by 2.] [Johan's Loathing: 3] Because with just that action, his Loathing had decreased by 2 more. Now if I lower it by just 2 more, i

[Zion] "Damn it. Albrecht, please, stop startling people. What were you doing here?" A tremor could be felt in his voice as he belatedly descended to the ground. It was a voice unfamiliar even to Johan, who had known him for a long time. It sounded as if he had barely managed to save something precious from being lost. [Odette] "I came out for a seaside stroll... and got swept up in the calamity. I apologize for causing trouble." She was trembling uncontrollably. At that sigh

[Karl] "Do not strain yourself trying to speak. It is useless. Your memory will soon vanish anyway." As he spoke, his eyes glowed red. [Karl] "A weak and incompetent father. To think this could only be used on the Fenrir clan." His eyes shone crimson like a demon's. His lips could be seen moving, but his words were inaudible. [Karl] "Do not worry. It is not a great command. It simply makes you unable to remember this moment." Her mind buzzed. Doly vaguely intuited that she ha

Startled, she straightened her body. [Patient] "Uh, miss? Where are you going?" The patient called out in bewilderment as Odette walked away as if possessed, but she had no time to look back. Thud, thud. She headed straight for the shelter door. And the moment she took a step toward where the woman stood. Clang, clang, clang, clang—! The bell tower, which shouldn't have been ringing, began to toll furiously again. SCREEEEEEECH! Simultaneously, a sound like a death rattle tore

The dinner banquet ended well past 9 PM. When she returned to her room, Doly pulled out the red cufflinks and showed them to her. [Doly] "The Master orders you to come to the Exotic Garden immediately." [Odette] "Strange. Why did Father speak to you separately? He was with me at the banquet until just now; he could have called me himself." [Doly] "Well. Perhaps he has something private and urgent to say?" She answered nonchalantly. Odette tilted her head deliberately. She fou

[Rudolf] "But baby, we need to confirm that first. You can bring that woman out of her room, right?" [Doly] "Bringing her out is easy. But she has been strangely cunning lately, you know? She won't try to leave unless she has a justifiable reason." She spoke sullenly. [Rudolf] "If it's a reason, we just need to make one. The Count's ruby cufflinks—you have them, don't you, baby? Can't you just show them to her and say it's the Count's order?" Cufflinks adorned with a bright r

[▶ The people who agree with the rumor about the Vicious Villainess have vanished!] [▶ Vicious Villainess (Rumor Removed/▼ Decrease of 2)] [▶ The people who agree with the rumor about the Selfish Purifier have decreased! (12 people → 11 people)] [Current Bad Reputation You Possess: ▶ Vicious Villainess (0 people / ▼ Decrease of 32) ▶ Selfish Purifier (11 people / ▼ Decrease of 4) ▶ Arrogant Flower of Society (8 people / ▼ Decrease of 18) ▶ Ignorant Lady with an Empty Head] It

If she was a 99, Odette was a 100. If she could be described as "flawless," Odette was "perfect." Odette adhered to the standard in every aspect. She wanted to win, needed to win. But she could not win. The angle of that girl’s fingertips, the flow of her gait—they were always slightly more perfect than her own. Struggling to surpass her, she came to resent Odette. Yet, as much as she resented her, she came to understand her. She realized that Odette must have undergone even