MTL - Villain’s Strategy - Chapter 8

“I cannot come to you with my problems when you have the weight of the kingdom on your shoulders. I would rather suffer in silence so I do not bother the king-”“Your husband,” Tobias corrected Hazel, placing his hands on her shoulders to comfort her as her eyes filled with tears. It pained him that he had not noticed how much the palace had been slowly breaking her. “I am your husband first. Do not hide your sadness from me,” he said, wiping away a single tear that slipped away with his thumb.…Hazel Wallace never thought she would make it far when she was picked to enter the selection for the next queen. In a surprise turn of events, she finds herself tangled up with the future king, Tobias Castro.Hazel once thought she would be strong enough to survive living in the palace walls. As queen and with Tobias by her side, she had nothing to fear. That was until the crown was placed on her head. Soon she realised the dangers in the palace and how not even the queen was safe from scheming men and women.Each day she spent in the palace, Hazel felt like a piece of her was slowly breaking away. Eventually, Hazel wanted nothing more than to run out of the palace, but after betrayals from people she thought she could trust, Hazel sought to become the person she was before entering the palace and get revenge on those who sought to take away her crown.Tales of Castro Nobility story timeline order -The King’s Unbreakable WifeThe Knight’s Mysterious MaidThe Duke’s Masked Wife

Life in a noble house isn’t all luxury.Luan Meskevela never expected to wake up as the third son of a powerful duke. But when he’s transported into the world of Sigil Online, he finds himself gifted with two rare and powerful Sigils—abilities that make him a force to be reckoned with.Now, Luan's got more than wealth on his mind. He’ll charm a priestess, exploit a merchant guild, and maybe even befriend a spirit or two—if it gets him a better vintage of wine. With a mix of charm, wealth, and newfound power, he courts beautiful women, explores the world around him, and builds connections that could shape his future. Yet, beneath the surface, political intrigue and family rivalries threaten to disrupt his carefree life.In this new world, Luan plays for the thrill, not just for power. But as he enjoys the perks of his life, he soon realizes that every decision has consequences, and the people around him may not always be what they seem.

The Six Prefectures of Zhongbo were ceded away in surrender to the external enemies, and Shen Zechuan was taken into custody in the capital, reduced to *a drowning dog loathed and condemned by all. Xiao Chiye followed the scent of the furor and made his way over. But instead of setting others on him, he kicked Shen Zechuan with his very own leg that rendered the latter an invalid. Who would expect this invalid to turn around and bite him in a counterattack until he was all drenched in blood? That was the start of an epic feud between both men who tear at each other every time they come face-to-face with one another.

“Fate wants to bind me here for life, but this is not the path I choose. The yellow dust engulfed my closest kin whole. I have no wish to bow in submission to an illusory fate. The imperial edict couldn’t save my troops, and the imperial court couldn’t fill the stomachs of my mounts. I’m no longer willing to lay down my life for them all. I want to conquer that insurmountable peak. I am going to fight for myself.”

1v1, HE, HE, HE.

◆ Main Couple: Xiao Chiye (gong) x Shen Zechuan (shou)
◆ There’s a yuri cp that are both important characters.
◆ Gong is even more of a scoundrel than the various gege in the author’s earlier novels.

Note: a drowning dog is someone who is down and out having lost favor or power.

- Description from Novelupdates

Apollo Leone tried to prolong his life as best as he could. But alas, he couldn’t escape the grasp of death. Even with his talent and being the wealthiest person on Earth, he died on a hospital bed. All his money, power, and influence vanished with his last breath.However, fate proved to be playful.Who would have thought there was a place after death that is neither Hell nor Heaven? There, he met a faceless woman named Aster, who granted him a new life on another planet where strength reigns supreme.But on one condition...Wait?! I have to live my life as a beggar?!Known as the most wealthiest person to have ever live and the person at the very top, how will he adjust to this new world where people can summon meteors, punch through mountains, and cut the sea in half?Beggar Cultivation System Activated!“You received 1 Alm Point!”“You received 1 Alm Point!”“You received 1 Alm Point!”......“You received 100 Alm Points!”“Do you want to advance to the next stage?”“Yes!”