Chapter 01 — Reborn

Stellan Von Krausse, Crown Prince of Atlanta. At twenty-three, his seat on the throne was all but guaranteed — earned through his own accomplishments and the political clout of his mother, the Empress, whose family had been the imperial house's most loyal supporters for generations, their power rivaling even the Emperor's own.

His mother had raised him on knowledge and strength. He was a formidable warrior, equally skilled with sword and magic, unmatched by anyone in the empire. When war erupted at the borders, he marched with the army his father had granted him. At just seventeen, he proved himself both on the battlefield and as a commander, leading his forces to victory. The war lasted three years, and he returned triumphant, presenting his father with the enemy emperor's crown — and his head.

After the war, he set about consolidating his power. His older half-brothers, sons of the concubines, never stood a chance. Some were exiled, others executed when their schemes were exposed, and several concubines were expelled from the palace entirely. No one dared oppose Crown Prince Stellan. Yet even at the peak of his power, his downfall began — all because of a woman.

The woman was the wife of his half-brother Harry Roman, son of the first concubine. Harry had never competed for the throne; he'd inherited the title of Marquis from his maternal grandfather, who had no other heirs. Harry arrived at the palace newly married to Agnes Olsen, a beautiful young woman with an angelic smile. Stellan wanted her immediately. She'd been his childhood love, and the moment he saw her again, those old feelings came rushing back.

Whenever the opportunity arose, Stellan approached Agnes, playing the gallant gentleman, whispering sweet words that left her confused. She insisted she loved her husband, yet couldn't resist the crown prince's seduction.

Before anything reckless could happen, Agnes and Harry returned to the marquessate. Their marriage seemed perfect — until Harry suddenly changed. He went from loving to irritable, cold and distant. When Agnes told him she was pregnant, he was overjoyed at first, but one night he came home accusing her of infidelity, calling the child in her womb a bastard. She swore the baby was his. He didn't believe her, and under that relentless pressure, she lost the child. She was devastated, and to finish destroying her, Harry brought his mistress into the mansion — a woman who played the victim at every turn, blaming Agnes for fabricated falls and false assaults. When Agnes saw her husband taking the mistress's side, she'd had enough.

She fled the mansion and sought out the one person she knew would protect her: Stellan. He didn't hesitate, spiriting her away to a country house outside the capital where he looked after her and seized the chance to grow closer. But soon Harry came searching for her, claiming his mistress had deceived him — that it was she who'd planted the idea of Agnes's infidelity. He'd grown distant because of her lies, and when he'd told the mistress he was cutting things off because his wife was pregnant, she'd insisted the baby wasn't his and led him to a restaurant where Agnes was dining with a man she embraced in farewell. That alone was enough to convince Harry of his wife's betrayal.

Agnes swore the man was her brother. She told Harry it was too late — she was giving the crown prince a chance now, the one man who'd actually believed her. But Harry refused to give up, begging for forgiveness, until the scorned mistress attacked Agnes with a dagger. Harry threw himself in the way, taking the blade meant for his wife.

Agnes nursed Harry through his unconsciousness. When he woke, she stayed at his side until he healed, and moved by his willingness to die for her, she decided to give him another chance.

Stellan didn't take it well. He'd done everything to protect her — had even risked his position as heir to help her divorce. When she left with her beloved marquis, Stellan followed, intercepting them on the road. He attacked Harry's guards and took Agnes by force.

After leaving Harry unconscious, Stellan carried Agnes away. When the marquis came to, he reported what had happened to the Emperor. At first the Emperor didn't believe it, but Harry gathered allies and pressured the Emperor into withdrawing his support for Stellan and dispatching a squadron to help recover Agnes.

When they finally tracked Stellan down, the two men dueled. Harry was outmatched from the start and took heavy wounds, so Agnes begged for his life, promising she'd go with Stellan willingly. Stellan was elated — she finally understood they were meant for each other. But when he stepped forward, she drove a magic dagger into his heart, one that sealed all his mana and prevented any recovery. Stellan died in the arms of the woman he loved. Agnes and Harry returned to the capital with his body and the knights' testimony that Stellan had attempted to murder the marquis and held Agnes prisoner.

The council convened with the Emperor, and since the crown prince's actions had tarnished the imperial reputation, the Emperor had no choice but to pardon Harry. With the court's support, Harry fought for the throne through intense political maneuvering, intrigue, and danger, eventually securing his place as crown prince and ascending to become emperor. He achieved his happiness with the woman he loved.

"What a pathetic end for someone who'd clawed his way to the top," he murmured to himself.

Stellan stood before the mirror. An attractive face — dark hair that made his yellow eyes stand out, and a well-built body. How had this man squandered everything, letting himself become obsessed with a woman whose only asset was a pretty face? She wasn't even particularly intelligent or powerful. But none of that mattered now. Here he was, inhabiting Stellan Von Krausse's body through some unexpected twist of fate, and behind him, a pair of shadows rose from the floor, their eyes gleaming white. He smiled — a slow, wicked curve of his lips — because even without his demon body, he still had his power.

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