Her pulse throbbed beneath her skin where his gaze rested. Odette could track every frantic beat. Karl noted her tension, a lazy smile spreading across his lips. [Karl] "Am I that repulsive? This seems like a small price to pay compared to the agony I suffered when my Master abandoned me." For a fleeting second, his voice carried a hint of self-mockery. [Odette] "I told you to move, Karl." The soft trace vanished instantly, replaced by a predatory glint in his eyes. [Karl] "H

Since Karl was a Transcendent, he had to crave Purification. It was his nature. If he rewinds time, this Purification disappears. He might stop the regression just to keep this feeling. Odette hid her trembling hands and gently stroked his back. She poured every ounce of her focus into the Purification. [Karl] "……Hmm." Karl had only been a Transcendent for two years. No Calamities had appeared since his awakening, so he had no reason to use his powers. Because of this, Odette

He dismissed the knight’s theory with a cold wave of his hand. [Kalart] "If that were the case, someone would have spoken up. I met with both men after they fell ill. Why would they stay silent until the moment of their deaths?" [Knight] "Oh......?" The knight’s eyes darted back and forth. He searched for an answer, but the Prince’s logic stood firm. If someone had cursed them to keep them quiet, they would have screamed the truth out of sheer spite before the end. [Knight] "

[Arad] "Lady Elona." He stroked her cheeks, his touch filled with regret. [Arad] "Please understand that this involves the safety of the Crown Prince. I want to tell you everything." She suddenly cut to the heart of the matter. [Elona] "Hmm. Doesn't Roserikta already know?" His eyes widened at the unexpected remark. Though he was startled, Elona loved his honesty. He could never hide a secret; his face revealed everything. He wouldn't even be able to flirt with someone else.

The Water of Life sprite, which had been dancing enthusiastically, vanished without a trace. Not a single stain remained on the page where she had poured the liquid. [Roserikta] "Just one more word. You could have left just one more word. Something so important." If the sprite had danced less violently, the effect might have lasted another minute. [Roserikta] "Unbelievable. To think a potion would get so carried away by dancing." As she muttered in frustration, the clump of h

She shook her head. Her voice, now a raspy scrape, sounded painful even to her own ears. [Roserikta] "Clobell is...... there." [Kalart] "I will send someone to bring her back." His words cut through the air like a blade. His expression held no warmth. Usually, he only wore this cold, indifferent mask when he wasn't with Roserikta or Clobellina. Having grown accustomed to his rare gentleness, his sudden icy tone felt like a physical blow. [Roserikta] "Are you going back to the

The status window cast a sharp glow across the pitch-black dungeon. This artificial light allowed Odette to see clearly. Behind rusted bars stained with old blood, Karl sat bound in heavy chains. He was a different man from the one she knew two years ago. A feral, decadent energy clung to him. His frame had grown massive, almost monstrous. A crooked, mocking smile rested on his lips. He looked more dangerous now than the moment he decapitated her in her previous life. He radi

Shock jolted her. [Paula] "What? That makes no sense. Saintess Charlotte chose me?" [Gustav] "You know the Saintess joined the Albrecht family through adoption. As a lady of the house, she requires a lady-in-waiting and she specifically requested you." [Paula] "But why......? I was never a lady-in-waiting. I was a maid." Her expression went blank. The news articles already detailed Charlotte's rise as the Albrecht daughter, alongside the deaths of Ferdinand and Rolf. But this

Odette created the opening for Ferdinand's escape from the prison carriage. Four D-class Transcendents had volunteered for the transport mission. Among them was a mole she recruited. Allow Ferdinand to escape before they get too far from the estate. The man came from a poor home and suffered under Ferdinand's command. He insulted the man's mother daily, fueling a deep hatred. When Odette shared her plan to end Ferdinand's life, the man accepted the deal instantly. He would ne

Ferdinand stood on the brink of collapse, his body a map of deep gashes and heavy blood loss. His physical shell could no longer endure the forced release of his power. With a wet cough, the dense swarm of insects thinned. Only a handful remained—the meager amount a D-class Transcendent could typically control. [Ferdinand] "Damn it. Nothing goes my way." He wiped the blood from his mouth with the back of his hand. [Maximilian] "Waaaaah!" Maximilian’s cry pierced the air. Ferd

A middle-aged High Priest carefully poured holy water over the infant. The solemn voice of the priest echoed through the garden, competing with the steady splash of the fountain. [High Priest] "Under the protection of the World Tree and in the name of the Holy Spirit, I baptize you." Maximilian smiled, his hair damp and glinting in the light. He knew nothing of the world. With these words, the final step of the ceremony concluded. The High Priest signaled the end, and the Cou

[Ferdinand] "This is nonsense! I can't lose my family name for a crime I didn't commit!" He demanded a lawyer from behind the bars of the City Watch station. He insisted the exile was illegal and threatened a lawsuit. The guards ignored his shouts. The Emperor, the Pope, and Count Albrecht had reached a total agreement. The Imperial Court would never accept his case. [Guard] "You absolute idiot! The Imperial Court already signed the papers. What are you talking about? A lawsu

Ferdinand sat behind the iron bars of the City Watch station. He ignored the mockery of the guards and the other criminals. Though his son always provoked his anger, Ulrich felt a sharp pang of grief watching him crumble. Ferdinand sobbed, his spirit entirely broken. [Ferdinand] "I... I won't go to the casino anymore." He had left the house with such arrogance, treating his father like a fool. Now that his father possessed no power to help him, the boy begged for mercy. If Fe

Odette sat by the window in a rosewood dress. She smiled at the chaos outside the gates. [Holy Knight] "What are you doing, Young Lord Albrecht!" The knights scrambled in confusion. A swarm of wasps blocked their path, leaving them helpless. The sight amused Odette. Some knights ran to call the Imperial Guard. Summoning wasps. How foolish. Odette laughed at Ferdinand. He had trapped himself. Autumn wasps were in their prime, after all. The knights struggled to clear the insec

Ferdinand gripped Rolf’s neck until the butler’s face turned a deep, bruised purple. Only then did he hurl the man to the gravel. [Rolf] "Cough, ack! Cough!" Rolf gasped for air, his lungs burning. Ferdinand knelt low before him, looming like a street thug ready to shake down a victim. A mocking grin twisted Ferdinand's face. Though he was a high-ranking nobleman and a Transcendent, he carried the undeniable stench of a common criminal. [Ferdinand] "Now, give me your excuses.

Before that day arrived, Ferdinand's actions for the week followed his usual, destructive pattern. On Monday, he lost a fortune at the gambling tables. The loss ruined his mood. On Tuesday, he belatedly read the news about Charlotte's adoption. Rage toward the Count consumed him. In his fury, he shattered several glasses at Wolfgang's casino. On Wednesday, he complained to his only poker friend, Viscount Köndel, about his father's blatant disrespect. Köndel, acting the part o