Snow fell gently from the dark sky, yet that night felt colder than death itself.In the distance, the Maxwell family castle stood majestically beneath the gloomy heavens, a symbol of the honor and power possessed by Duke Maxwell, a man who had never known the meaning of defeat.For generations, the Maxwell family had been entrusted with protecting the kingdom. The heirs of the family would inherit the title of Duke and serve as trusted retainers to whichever Emperor sat upon the throne.But that night, all of that power, honor, and pride had collapsed alongside Maxwell's body as he lay helplessly on the cold floor, enduring a burning pain that spread from deep within him.His ceremonial armor could protect him from blades, but it could do nothing against an attack from within his own body.The poison was working quickly.Blood trickled from the corner of his lips, staining the white snow that had blown through the cracks of the great doors.Before him, the door to the chamber stood w

His eyes then caught his reflection in the mirror across from the bed.His face was young.There were no lines of age.And on the bedside table...The silver sword lay there, clean and completely unscathed.The door opened.A woman entered carrying a bouquet of fresh flowers.Her long black hair flowed freely down her back, crowned with delicate flowers. Her eyes were as gentle as an evening sky, matching the soft-colored hanfu that made her appear both graceful and enchanting."Good morning, my husband," she said with a sincere smile."Did you sleep well?"Maxwell stared at her, completely frozen.That smile.That voice."Liora..."His voice trembled between shock and disbelief.The woman looked startled."Maxwell? Why are you looking at me like that? Did you have a nightmare?"Maxwell did not answer.He immediately rose from the bed and pulled Liora into his arms.He held her tightly, feeling the warmth of her body, then simply stared at her for a long moment as though afraid she mi

Maxwell returned to his study room after leaving the imperial garden. Throughout the journey, his mind kept returning to his conversation with Consort Shera, especially the subtle change in her expression when she realized that Maxwell no longer treated her the way he once had.For now, however, Maxwell chose to keep his suspicions to himself.He could not afford to act recklessly.If he had truly been given a second chance, then every step he took from this point onward had to be carefully calculated. Even the smallest mistake could alter the course of the future, and Maxwell still did not know how much had already changed simply because he had returned to life.As soon as he entered his study, he closed the door and walked toward the large desk in the center of the room.The room was exactly as he remembered it from his previous life. Wooden bookshelves covered the walls, military documents were neatly arranged across the desk, and several maps of the empire's territories lay spread

He could not understand why his mother was at Liora's residence so early in the morning. Before he could enter, however, Liora's voice came from inside.“No, Mother. I dare not.”Her voice was calm, but there was a trace of restrained emotion beneath it.Maxwell remained still. What?Inside the room, Liora was kneeling on the cold marble floor. Both hands rested against the hard surface to support herself, while a bowl filled with herbal medicine sat before her.Liora knew exactly why the medicine had been brought to her.Every wife of the Maxwell family was required to drink the contraceptive herbal medicine after a night with the Duke. It had been a family rule for years, especially because the Duchess Dowager did not want any woman giving birth without her approval.But last night had been different.For the first time in a long while, Liora had felt that Maxwell had truly been her husband. She still carried the warmth of yesterday night in her heart. The love and desire.That was

“Consort Shera, I need to report something.” The palace servant approached Shera's private pavilion with hurried steps, his expression tense as he bowed before her. Shera was sitting beside the tea table, surrounded by several attendants. She had been in a pleasant mood only moments earlier, but the servant's anxious expression immediately caught her attention. “What is it?” she asked. The servant swallowed nervously before lowering his head. “I have just witnessed something at Madam Liora's residence.” Shera's eyes narrowed. “What happened?” “The Duke went there himself and took Madam Liora away.” Shera's fingers tightened around the teacup in her hand. "What?" The servant took a careful breath b