Taming the Empire's Cursed Villain のすべてのチャプター: チャプター 1 - チャプター 10

​The ride to the Blackwood Estate was a blur of freezing fog and a racing heartbeat. Every gallop of my black stallion echoed the ticking of a countdown in my head. Five years. I had exactly five years before the guillotine of my fate fell again, but the first thread of that noose was scheduled to be tied tomorrow night at the Imperial Gala. I had to sever it tonight. ​The estate was carved into the jagged cliffs of the Dragon’s Tooth mountain on the outskirts of the capital. It was an imposing silhouette of dark spires and impenetrable walls against a starless night sky, looking more like a maximum-security fortress than a noble residence. No sane person dared to approach it. It was the undisputed domain of the monster. ​I pulled the reins, bringing my exhausted stallion to a halt before the massive wrought-iron gates. Instantly, shadows detached themselves from the high stone walls. Two knights in pitch-black armor, their faces hidden behind heavy, horned visors, crossed their hal

​The silence in the grand ballroom was so absolute it felt like a physical weight pressing down on everyone's shoulders. Not a single soul dared to breathe. The Royal Guards, elite soldiers trained to protect the Emperor at all costs, stood completely frozen, their hands trembling violently on the hilts of their drawn swords. ​Duke Kaelen Blackwood did not just walk into the room; he commanded it. His heavy, leather-clad boots echoed against the polished marble floor, each step a slow, deliberate strike that resonated in the chests of the terrified nobility. He completely ignored the Emperor, who was sitting stiffly on his golden throne. He ignored Crown Prince Arthur, whose face had gone from confident arrogance to a sickening shade of pale. ​Kaelen’s violet eyes, burning with a dark, territorial possessiveness, were locked solely on me. ​I stood my ground, my heart hammering violently against my ribs. In my deep crimson gown, I felt like a blazing beacon in a sea of cowards. When

​"A tracking spell?" I repeated, looking down at the heavy black diamond resting on my finger. Instead of the cold grip of terror that Kaelen likely expected, a genuine, dark laugh bubbled up from my throat. ​In my past life, Crown Prince Arthur had used spies and royal informants to track my every move, ultimately leading me to a snowy execution. Now, the most dangerous man in the empire was binding my soul to his, ensuring that no one could ever take me from him. ​I looked up to meet Kaelen’s glowing violet eyes. "If I wanted to run away, Duke Blackwood, I wouldn't have walked into your training pavilion in the dead of night. If binding my soul to the North is the price for my revenge, then consider it paid." ​Kaelen’s expression shifted. The wicked, mocking smirk vanished, replaced by a look of intense, predatory fascination. He leaned back against the plush velvet seat, his massive frame radiating a suffocating but strangely comforting heat. ​"You are a very strange creature,

​The massive weight of Kaelen’s body was heavy against me, pinning me to the thick woolen rug before the fireplace. The shattered stone chamber fell into an eerie, suffocating silence, broken only by the howling Northern wind sweeping through the empty window frames where his dark magic had shattered the glass moments ago. ​I didn't dare to move. Kaelen’s face was buried tightly in the crook of my neck. His scorching breath—which only seconds ago belonged to a violent, mind-shattered beast—was now remarkably steady, striking my icy skin in a rhythmic, calm pattern. The terrifying muscle tremors that had wracked his frame had entirely subsided. ​I stared up at the dark stone ceiling, and despite the burning, agonizing pain throbbing in my bruised wrists, a dark, bitter smile crept onto my lips. ​In my past life, I was the delicate, sheltered daughter of the wealthy Vanguard estate. I had spent my youth wearing pastel silks, suppressing my voice, and striving to be the flawless, subm

​The courtyard of the Northern Fortress transformed into a scene of terrifying efficiency within minutes. There were no blaring war horns, no grand speeches, and no massive troop formations. Kaelen didn't need to mobilize an entire army to send a message; he only needed his elite. ​Twenty Shadow Guards stood perfectly still in the freezing courtyard, their pitch-black armor absorbing the pale morning light. Beside them were the legendary Northern Shadow Steeds—massive, terrifying beasts that resembled warhorses, but with eyes that glowed like burning red coals and hooves that left scorch marks on the icy cobblestone. ​I stood on the stone steps overlooking the courtyard. I was no longer dressed in the delicate, restrictive silks of a capital noblewoman. The Northern maids had outfitted me in sleek, dark leather riding gear, reinforced with lightweight silver chainmail. A heavy wolf-fur cloak, identical to Kaelen’s, draped over my shoulders. On my right hand, the Blackwood signet rin