If this were real, the scandal was of such a magnitude that it required the full weight of the Imperial family to bury it. No wonder the current Emperor had been so strict about his orders for silence. Vanessa was so stunned by the revelation that she barely remembered how she had even ended the conversation. She turned away, her mind a tangled web of heavy thoughts. The tea party had lasted for several hours. By the time she stepped outside, the sky was already bathed in the

[Odette] "If that is the case... Your Highness, would you be willing to teach me how to read and write?" It wasn't difficult for her to feign a look of profound shame. In her previous life, the fact that she was illiterate had been a genuine source of humiliation for her. Even now, the memory of it brought a natural, burning flush to her cheeks. [Johan] "Read... and write?" He looked as though he had been struck. From the shock written across his face, it was clear that Zion

Golden letters floated in the air, above the white light, shimmering like a holographic interface from a game. [ Necklace of the Primal Transcendent ] [ You may perceive the emotions held by others toward the "Master" of this item. ] [ Would you like to set the Master as "Odette Lina von Albrecht"? ] [Odette] "Yes." [ The necklace has been successfully bound. ] [ Please select the emotion you wish to perceive: ] [ 1. Affection ] [ 2. Loathing ] [Odette] "I want to know their

Moonlight filtered through the window, casting a pale glow across the room. Odette lay on the pristine white bed in a thin chemise. After two days of battling a grueling fever, her temperature had finally returned to normal, but she was still drenched in cold sweat. From the soft, rhythmic whimpers escaping her lips, she was clearly trapped in a nightmare. Zion let out a long, weary sigh. Only now, watching the rise and fall of her chest, did it truly sink in that she was ali

The butler, realizing the new maid had an unexpectedly sharp eye for art, immediately reported the news to the Countess. Having long desired to grow her fortune through art but lacking the taste to do so, the Countess quickly took a liking to Malea. [Malea] "My Lady, how could a place as grand as the Albrecht estate have fakes? Your words are so far-fetched, I can hardly believe—" [Odette] "Go and see for yourself. You’ll find cheap imitations everywhere. It’s almost pitiful

The slight burn from the tea was a start, but it wasn't enough. To make her plan work, Odette needed a much more striking injury. Before Malea arrived, Odette glanced at the kitchen table. Bathed in the morning sunlight, various tea leaves were spread out to dry, just as they were every day. Her eyes settled on one pile: the leaves of the Vesuvius red tree. With a swift, practiced motion, she grabbed a handful of the dried leaves, crushed them into a fine powder, and sprinkle

Malea smirked, casually brushing cookie crumbs from the corners of her mouth. [Malea] "Oh my, you appeared so suddenly I made a mistake. I was certain you were still in the dungeon, My Lady." [Odette] "Shouldn't your first words be an apology?" Odette let out a sharp, cold laugh at the girl's boldness. The Head Maid quickly stepped in, her voice dripping with fake concern. [Dolly] "Now, My Lady, don’t make such a scene. It was an honest mistake. The tea is already cold anyway

The moment the footmen finished the injections and left the drawing room, her sobbing stopped instantly. Acting as if she were in pain was second nature to her. During the two years she had spent outsmarting the male leads, she had mastered every kind of performance. Besides, since touching the Night Glory, her temperature had been rising steadily, so she didn't even need to pretend to look flushed and ill. The immediate crisis is over. She stood up and took a seat in one of

Ferdinand was in a foul mood. He was irritated that his mother had locked Odette in the dungeon without his permission, but more than that, he was confused by his own behavior. [Ferdinand] "Mother, why are you being so intrusive! Why are you touching the toy you gave to me?" He couldn't understand why he had lashed out at her with such harsh words. ′Damn it. It’s not like Mother’s outbursts are anything new. I usually keep my cool, so why did I snap like that?′ He had no way

I had spent a lifetime wading through a metaphorical sea of hornets. [Zion] "Since you claim these dreams occur frequently, report back the next time it happens. It doesn't have to be a written account." They arrived at the estate just as he finished speaking. Zion vaulted over the high perimeter wall with effortless grace, his body coiling to leap toward the windows of the manor's upper floors. [Odette] "Wait, Your Excellency. Stop." [Zion] "The room with the north-facing wi

Under normal circumstances, it was an impossible request. To deceive someone regarding their own wealth required the power to manipulate records at a banking level. Furthermore, it demanded a complete understanding of every hidden fund and back-alley transaction her father operated in secret. However, for Zion—the male lead of this world and the Marquis of Kleist, the man who determined the Empire's truths—it was a different story. [Zion] "That is easy enough." [Odette] "And

[Odette] "If no one reported that I was illiterate, then I suppose no one mentioned that I was adopted either." [Zion] "What kind of utter nonsense is this?" It was more than just nonsense; it was the kind of statement that brought his mind to a screeching halt. Illiteracy and adoption—these could not possibly be true. They contradicted every shred of information he had ever received. However, as Odette tapped the edge of the recording stone to play it, his brow furrowed deep

The celebratory atmosphere that followed the victory stalled , replaced by a thick, palpable tension. All eyes were fixed on the man who dominated the arena—the Master of the Grand Duchy himself. At this moment, the most pressing question on everyone's mind was to whom this handsome man, who rivaled Hayden in stature, would present his rose. Declan gazed down at the rose in his hand. Though his expression remained cold and distant, his striking features made the sight look li

Zion Reinhardt von Kleist. Head of the Intelligence Department and an S-class Transcendent. He was a man of chilling aesthetics, possessing silver hair and piercing violet eyes. Known for his ruthless personality, cruel efficiency, and status as a master of interrogation, he was the classic "cold on the outside, warm only to his woman" archetype from the reverse harem game. As Odette organized these facts in her mind, she took a sip of the warm tea provided in the drawing roo

Johan Müller Lützens von Barzeha. The Crown Prince's surname was the same as the name of the Empire itself. His name was as heavy as it was glorious, and as long as it was noble. He had awakened as an S-Class Transcendent at the tender age of four. The young prince, who had been showered with the love of the people for his extraordinary beauty, suffered through the fever of awakening and gained a monstrous ability. "Our Crown Prince has awakened as a Transcendent!" "Surely th

'They said his mana collapse was imminent. He truly like he's at death's door.' The wound on his torso wasn't the only injury. His left arm and leg were broken, twisted at grotesque angles, and the grass around the fountain had been dyed such a deep crimson that its original green was unrecognizable. If he were a normal human, the blood loss alone would have killed him long ago. 'With even a slightly lower corruption level, wounds like these would have healed in minutes.' But