Whispers of Shikiban:The king walks among us - Chapter 39 --

“I DON'T WANT TO DIE A SECOND TIME!!!”___Ellen Summers' life turns upside down after a freak accident lands her in a strange world. She wakes up as Ellen Winters, the antagonist in an online novel she once read. No longer an orphan and poor, she now has a loving father and finds herself surrounded by wealth.But in the novel, Ellen Winters meets a tragic fate, dying at the end after being abandoned by her husband, Mason Coldwell, who still harbors feelings for his ex-girlfriend, Aubrey. Determined to escape this cruel destiny, Ellen decides to rewrite her story. She fights to keep Mason and Aubrey apart, knowing the heartbreaking consequences that await if they reunite.However, as she tries to change her fate, Ellen unexpectedly begins to fall for Mason. Just as she starts to believe in a future together, an unforeseen terror disrupts her plans. Ellen wonders if her attempts to alter the storyline have unleashed something darker.Can Ellen truly change the course of fate and find happiness with Mason, or will the shadows of the original story prove too powerful to overcome? And will they survive the terrors that threaten to engulf them?

**COMPLETED**“I am not worthless. I deserve to live. I will survive!”In a world where women are treated as mere ornaments and pawns, she woke up in the body of an abused Lady, with no memory of who she is.In a land that forbids magic, she finds out that she is someone with magical powers. The kind that is a threat to the Brute Emperor who is conquering all lands.And as her memory returns, she figures out that she is the once-great knight who suffered Damnatio memoriae after betraying the King she swore an oath to serve.A woman as a Knight? Ah, she had to pretend to be a man to be a Knight!Why did she go that far to be a Knight? She didn't remember.And why did she betray her king? She didn’t remember.And now, the one she shares the body with- Lady Felixa got married(?) to the direct descendant of the King she betrayed. Refusing him is not an option.She learns that the story of the Knight who betrayed the King had versions. In one version, the Knight was the Hero. There are still people who believe that the Hero will be born again to save them from the Brute.If she is the Knight, is she the Hero people are waiting for? But wouldn't that put her in odds with the Brute who is now her husband?Along with the magical power she has, she has to hide her identity as the fallen Knight from her husband – The Brute, while trying to act as the submissive Lady Felixa whose body she is occupying.To survive!But why is the Brute looking at her weirdly? He even acts weird making her feel weird.And what’s with him showering her with gifts one day and trying to get her practice swordsmanship with him the other?What secret does he hold?And who is this other Knight from her memory?

Sophia Alcott, the daughter of Earl Alcott, lives a lonely life as a maligned and infamous shut in, with nothing to do but to work on her skills as a budding apothecary in the dusty storeroom she’s forced to call home.That is until she suddenly wakes up one day and finds herself in the body of an even more infamous villainess (one who actually earned her reputation) locked up in a tower.Although the only clue she has about how this happened is a cryptic note, instead of despairing about her new situation, she’s in awe at just how luxurious the treatment she’s receiving in this ‘prison’ is compared to how she had to live before.Meanwhile, back at Earl Alcott’s mansion, all hell is about to break loose.That’s because…

Xu Shulou dreams she’s a character in a bizarre storybook.The male lead is Long Aotian, a man with a “Dragon Overlord” script: treasures fall into his lap, beauties vie for his heart.The first heroine is his delicate junior apprentice sister. The second, the Demon Sect’s saintess. The third… the fourth…Where does Xu Shulou rank? She flips through the plot and realizes—despite being Long Aotian’s official fiancée, she’s nothing but a disposable pawn.In the story, her sect elders dote on her fragile junior sister.“Shulou, yield this treasure to your sister. She’s weaker and needs it more.”“Shulou, don’t be unreasonable. Your gentle sister deserves care.”Even Long Aotian prefers the junior sister. He’s a flirtatious mess, forcing Xu Shulou to compete with other women, her jealousy twisting her into a villain. Meanwhile, the junior sister blossoms into a pristine lotus.But Xu Shulou refuses to play along.When the script demands she and her junior sister be kidnapped, Long Aotian saves the “weaker” girl, saying, “Shulou, you’re stronger—you’ll understand.”In reality? Long Ao Tian arrives just in time to see Xu Shulou slaughter the villains, scoop her sister into her arms, and vanish into the sky—without sparing him a glance.When demons attack, the story expects Long Aotian to leave his fiancée and lovers in the sect’s care. The elders protect only the junior sister, letting Xu Shulou be humiliated.In reality? The elders sneer: “Our senior sister dominates the cultivation world. Why would we need you to worry about her?”When the story’s Long Aotian coaxes the Demon Saintess into betraying her clan for him…In reality, the Saintess timidly asks Xu Shulou: “You’re a righteous heroine. I’m a hunted demon. Why would you want to befriend me?”In the script, Xu Shulou claws at other women in jealous rage.In reality, she’d rather live in peace—until Long Aotian pushes too far. Then she draws her sword.In the story, Long Aotian reigns supreme, surrounded by beauties.In reality, Xu Shulou steals his allies, hoards his treasures, and occasionally beats him up—while he sulks.“My sword saves the world and shields the innocent. It’s not for fighting over men.”“See? Dreams lie. I’m the one holding the Dragon Overlord script.”