MTL - Hail the King - Chapter 52 Four forces

Despite having found Mingxi, the Zhao family continued to favor the fake daughter, saying that Mingxi was not as kind nor as graceful as Zhao Yuan.

Mingxi didn’t mind. She continued to work hard to please her family although they would always say that she was trying to rob their attention away from Zhao Yuan.

Until she died because of a terminal illness.

It was then that she realized that Zhao Yuan was the actual lady blessed by luck while she was merely this novel’s evil supporting character with a tragic ending.

Zhao Mingxi who was given a second chance at life was bitterly disappointed. She no longer cared about her family. Screw her family and her fiancé. She immediately packed her bags and left home, off to complete the task given by the system named ‘Becoming Friends With Fashionable and Valuable Characters’.

After she left, the house suddenly became cold and quiet.

By right they should feel at ease, but–

Her parents, her indifferent elder brother, her brash younger brother, Chen Liyao who was used to her pursuits were all successively feeling… unused to it?

He lived like a king, died like a grandpa... and woke up as a bratty villain inside a fantasy novel.Nice.Born into the mighty Arkanveil family, he’s expected to grow up spoiled, arrogant, and doomed. But sorry, fate — he’s got better plans.Armed with a broken Proficiency Panel, two god-tier Traits, and the mind of a seasoned conqueror, he’s here to rewrite the script.Demigods plotting. Councils scheming. Demon Emperors laughing.They’re all just EXP waiting to happen.Pretending to be a clueless baby genius, he secretly trains, conquers, and stacks power like a final boss.Because this time, the EX-Rank Villain isn’t playing to survive.He’s playing to win.The world’s greatest families have no idea what’s coming. But hey... they’ll find out soon enough.“EX-Rank problems require EX-Rank solutions.”

Born and raised as a nameless shadow guard for his kingdom’s crown prince, his life’s purpose was to be used and discarded at the whims of his liege.

And his meaningless life ended when the gaze of a princess lingered on him for too long. The crown prince had him beheaded without a second thought, as if throwing out trash.

Transmigrating into the body of a baby girl, the nameless shadow finally had a name, a family, and a place to call her own. Throwing away his past, the shadow guard was now called ‘Emilia’, and walked on a new path to seek fulfillment.

It was not meant to be, however, as the girl whom she had loved with all her heart and soul ended up mercilessly plunging a dagger through Emilia's love-struck heart at the highest point in her life.

The crowd clamored at the ‘deserved death of the villainess’, and at that moment, the shadow could only wonder… why?

Why am I always the one to dedicate myself fully to someone, only to be thrown away like trash in the end?

And thus, as her soul floated away while cursing in resentment, ‘Emilia’ vowed to herself that in her next life she shall never be the one to fully dedicate herself.

Whatever she likes shall be held in her palm, and shall never escape.

The moment the vow was made, a self-proclaimed villainess system proposed to partner with her, to explore and conquer the worlds through their anchors—the heroes and heroines.

And by cultivating this energy, she shall one day go back. Back to the world she was born as ‘Emilia’ in, and face the so-called heroine once more.

The second time they meet, Emilia won’t be the one drowning in regret!

...

Author's Note: The heroines are not just trophies she’s collecting, only to be forgotten once she collects them. Each of them will remain relevant throughout the story. And it won’t become a mess, promise!

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN A DEVIL FALLS IN LOVE?***Alice was told that she was cursed.Perhaps she didn't need to be told. It was as clear as day.The only thing she wanted was MONEY. And she would do anything to get it.Even if it meant pretending to be her twin sister to change her fate.For one year.She didn't mind being a fake and marrying the Wildfire Heir. He would barely be around, she had been told.'He doesn't seem like much trouble,' she had also been told.'The third son, on the other hand, is crazy. Stay away from him.''As for the second son... avoid him at all costs.''Do not cross his path.'But she did. She crossed his path. In fact, she went right into his path herself.And as if that wasn't bad enough, the groom was changed at the last minute.To the Second Son!He was as hot as he was cold.A terrifyingly sexy man who looked like the man she always saw in her dreams. Was this all merely a coincidence?But that wasn't all. She hadn't expected pretending to be her sister to be this tough. First of all, she missed a very important detail: her sister was a Lawyer. She, on the other hand, was only familiar with “You have the right to remain silent...”Secondly, her sister was picky. She was vegetarian. She didn't drink. And... she was bullied? And just maybe... there was more to her sudden disappearance.Her life was about to get much more complicated. Especially with those scary blue eyes watching her every move like a predator on a mission.One year.Was the benefit worth it—worth putting her life on the line to deceive the Wildfires?She might die before the year was over.****“Women like powerful men, Boss. They like to feel powerless when they are with a man.”Hades had initially scoffed, but the idea had wormed its way into his mind.So when he saw her coming from the opposite direction, he decided to test this theory on her.Women liked to feel powerless?As soon as she saw him, her gaze sharpened, wondering why that madman was looking at her with a determined glint in his eyes. Should she run away?But he was already in front of her.“What are you—”He scoops Alice off the ground in one swift motion and drapes her over his shoulder like a sack of flour.All shocked eyes turned to the scene, but no one dared say a word, as they froze mid-air.“HADES!! YOU IMBECILE! PUT ME DOWN THIS INSTANT!” She thrashes wildly, kicking her legs and flailing her arms.Hades, however, remains unfazed, carrying her out of the place with a triumphant smirk.He didn't believe in love theories, but he had a feeling she would be falling in love with him after this.At the other end, three of his underling watched the scene.“I think Lady Boss is enjoying it. She looks… happy.” One noted.The other underling tried to stare intently at Alice's upside-down face. “I think so... I've never seen her look so bubbly around the boss.”The third underling was watching, slack-jawed. He facepalmed dramatically. This wasn't what he meant when he told them women liked to feel powerless.Meanwhile, Alice... (Still screaming)***EXCERPT II:“She is not answering your calls and told you to STOP calling her. Boss, I think your little bride might be mad at you.”He snorted. “You are so clueless.”“What's your insight, Boss?”“If she keeps rejecting my calls, it only means one thing...”They all leaned closer to hear his powerful insight.“She wants my physical presence,” he said with a smug look.One of them wanted to say he didn't think so, but he was too scared to say anything.“Should I go. Should I not go?” He contemplated with a bored look on his face.“GRANT HER WISH, BOSS!”The other clueless henchmen echoed passionately.He smirked. “If you say so,” and then he stood up. “Get the car.”****Pleasee add to your library.A bit of dark and fluffy romance.18+Comedic.Makes you sit in the edge as Alice tries her best to never get caught (quite futile)See you in the comment section!