Within a Hollow Heart - Chapter 97: Volume 2, : "The Silent Watchers"

It was a life without regret. My parents were in good health, and I wasn’t homey enough for me to combine my studies and part-time jobs.

Interpol Chu Nanzhi traveled to the last years of the Dahe Empire, and became a wicked woman hated by thousands of miles and eight villages and a vicious mother of four little ones.

But on the first day after transmigrating, she encountered a catastrophe of extermination. She used her past life director to help the original owner’s husband get rid of the crime, and saved herself and the four little ones.

Back home, Lin Jinxiao and the four little ones still hated her and were always wary of her.

Looking at Lin Jinxiao and the four little ones who were sick in bed, Chu Nanzhi didn’t want to give up the truth, and decided to wait until Lin Jinxiao recovered from his injury, reconcile with him, and promised to take care of the little ones temporarily.

Because of being highly valued by the county magistrate and wealthy households, Chu Nanzhi took advantage of this time to become a proficient detective and supported her family by investigating cases. She assisted the county magistrate in solving many cases and gradually changed the attitude of her neighbors towards her.

Later, Chu Nanzhi proposed to make peace with Lin Jinxiao, but the four little ones refused at first.

She went out to handle a case, and the four little ones were afraid that she would never return, so they chased after her: “Mother, we want to go with you,”

When she came to Beijing to meet her, the county magistrate took her hand and refused to let go: “You are already the mother of four children.”

One day, when Lin Jinxiao became the emperor, he put his arms around Chu Nanzhi and said, “You have been trying the case for so many years, so stay in the palace and try it on me, I have grievances!”

- Description from novelbuddy

Sirens: a name derived from an ancient creature, used to describe those who could charm, lure, control, and heal others by singing.

Subjected to live the life of a siren, Aria had experienced, seen, and heard many horrific things. Broken beyond repair, Aria resigned herself to death, when suddenly…

The Grand Duke, Lloyd Cardence Valentine, arrived and whispered, “Should I kill everyone here?”

“If you need me, just call me. Your song will always reach me, wherever you are.”

In the end, Aria called the devil, bringing death to all those present, along with herself.

“Let’s fall down to hell together.”

And with that, Aria breathed her last and died… only to return to her 10-year-old self.

Now that she had a second chance at her life, Aria was determined to change her fate, as well as the cruel fate of her saviour, Grand Duke Valentine.

And so… Aria proposed to him with a marriage contract.

She sold her soul to the devil and vowed to protect him.

The young duke took the contract from her hand.

“So, where should I stamp the seal?”

* * *

“You said you’d divorce me within 10 years.”

The grown-up villain leaned in, hovering his head before he kissed her tenderly over her crown.

“Now that we’re adults, we should sign another contract.”

«Until death do us part.»That was our vow.And she kept it... by driving her sword through my chest.I was a hero. A symbol. The one chosen by the gods to free humanity.I fought for her. For us.But in the end, it wasn’t the demons who killed me.It was the woman I loved.Helena betrayed me.I fell with my heart shattered and my blood burning between my fingers.But death wasn’t the end.I woke up in another body, in another world...No, not exactly.I woke up inside the very story she wrote.And now, I am Daven von Riesenhart:the bastard son of a marquess, a noble outcast with a name no one respects, and a life I never asked for.I no longer believe in ideals, in gods, or in happy endings.I won’t fight for others.I won’t die for anyone.This time, I’ll live only for myself.And if surviving means deceiving, betraying, or destroying...so be it.Even if it makes me the villain of this story.