Light Novels

"Just keep the change." "Oh, my, thank you, milady." The aroma of freshly baked hot cornbread was sweet in the air. I parked my bicycle in front of the bakery, cradled a bag of warm bread in my arms, and strolled towards the department store across the street. Even though Astoria Street was considered safe, leaving a bicycle or any luxury item unattended on the side of the road could invite theft. There was still some time left before my appointment. It was a relief that the bakery was still in business. A place where my mother and I used to stop by during holidays when I was young... The taste had changed a bit, but the nostalgia was comforting. The streets were already tinged with a Christmassy atmosphere. Taking a big bite of cornbread, I admired the beautifully decorated shop windows, the bustling gift shops, groups of giggling students, and couples strolling arm in arm. "Whoah!" Out of nowhere, someone grabbed my hand and started running, causing me t...

If he wanted to know my intentions... it might be simpler if he pushed me to reveal the nature of my scheme. The compassion in his voice and the genuine mixture of bitterness and concern in his gaze left me unsettled. "How do you perceive it, Your Highness? Whatever it is, rest assured, it won't harm you." "Do you think I'm just idly consumed by such worries, no matter what the reason for my visit?" "Regardless of why Your Highness chose to visit me..." "I'm concerned about you. That's the sole reason." Are you truly concerned about me? A wry smile involuntarily curved my lips. So, what do you intend to accomplish by meeting me like this? "Thank you, Your Highness, for your consideration, but..." "Frequently, it's said that greed is akin to cancer—a cancer that can consume one's spirit and leave them hollow." Assad's words trickled out slowly, his eyes narrowing. "No matter how many graves you ...

𝕍𝕠𝕝𝕦𝕞𝕖 𝟙𝟙: 𝔸 𝔹𝕝𝕠𝕠𝕕𝕪 ℂ𝕙𝕣𝕚𝕤𝕥𝕞𝕒𝕤 "Then we'll stick to the table arrangement like this. But what if it snows on that day?" “It won't snow or rain, don't worry. Have you made sure to secure all the fir trees?” “Yes, the carpet samples you mentioned also arrived…” “Miss Sasha, what should I do if the photographer can only come on one day, which happens to be only Sunday?” “Miss Sasha, I got a response from the police department, and they said they received an encouraging gift…” As Christmas Eve and the Duke Serpente's wedding approached day by day, the chaos escalated. With the main ceremony and reception planned at the hotel, I was once again dealing with the stress of organizing an unprecedented event, similar to the opening ceremony. Count Orsini's side wanted Serpente to take care of most things, and as for the groom-to-be, he practically left everything in my hands. Alfonsina even jokingly threatened (?) that she wouldn't pick a w...

Every occupant of the pub halted their activities simultaneously and turned their attention to the Duke of Flame and Fury, who was now perched on a chair. What's this about? I wondered, suppressing the urge to giggle, as Lethias cleared his throat and swallowed hard. And then, finally, he began. "As you all know, I have a fiancée." 'He's just rubbing it in,' 'Is he showing off again?'—a chorus of playful jeers and comments filled the air. Nevertheless, our Bear remained undeterred, forging ahead with his speech without a hint of embarrassment. "Feeling envious, are we? Well, it's too soon for that, because we're getting married this winter! And guess what? It's on Christmas Eve!" Just then, Yann, who was skillfully carrying a brimming glass of beer in both hands, struggled for a moment to regain his balance. He muttered in a bewildered tone: "Yeah... Is this a shotgun wedding?" "Whoa, what kind of nonsense are you s...

Despite her infamous status as a stepmother, Adriana stood beside her younger brother throughout the funeral, looking pale and melancholic. On the other hand, Juan, faced with the death of his biological mother, appeared surprisingly impassive. From the memorial service to the conclusion of the burial, he didn't shed a single tear. "Ducal Prince." As mourners gathered around Adriana to offer their condolences, Juan leaned against a wall overlooking the Parke area of the cemetery, sipping wine. When I approached him, he lifted his gaze and regarded me with hollow eyes. "What words of comfort can I offer... It must be a difficult time for you." "...Thank you." His reply was curt, and Juan lowered his arms from the wall, straightening up. The intense and eccentric demeanor he often exuded had vanished. "She wasn't going to survive much longer anyway." "I heard she had pneumonia..." "True, but her health had many complications....

Yann's eyes, reminiscent of Valentina's, met mine again. I smiled and got up, holding an empty basket. He rose as well. “I've noticed for a while now that a shady-looking guy is lurking around here. Is it safe to just ignore him?” “Please.” “Whatever the case, stay cautious. If anything happens to you, two certain individuals will really end up killing me.” “Those two individuals being…” “Who do you think? Naturally, it's my friend and Noona.” Just then, the bishop, who had been observing the church where love and kindness flowed with a contented smile, approached us. “I will pray for the protection and blessings of the saints for the Serpente duchy.” "Oh, thank you, Bishop.” “I saw you distributing gifts to the children. Your inner beauty is as radiant as your external appearance. You'll surely find your place in Heaven.” Can one see that? Heaven or Hell, does it really matter? Oh God, on the day of your judgment, let me be with just one person. After a while,...

The powerful feeling of a foreign body hitting me caused me to thump into the wall again. Benya's thing was about the size of a human forearm. It's remarkable how I managed to accept it the other night. Benya stretched over my shoulder, grasped both of my wrists and began to move, his other hand grasping my waist. The depth of joy that rapidly pierced me was astounding. I let out a sigh, hoping he'd stop and then continue. “Ahh! B-benya, take it easy! Ah, oh, uh... Hng…!” My body jerked once more as the strength in the hand that clutches my wrist intensified. My arms moved on their own, and I wrapped them around his neck and clung to him. While his thing was still inside me, Benya cuddled me and placed me on top of the chest of drawers with my underwear. My cheek was touched by a warm hand. I bit his thumb and grinned with tears in my eyes. His delicate blue eyes lit up with a smile. "You're so cute I'm dying." “R-really? More than Wendy?” “Why are you com...