Recarnation of the villainess.

The atmosphere in the imperial chamber was suffocating.

Heavy curtains blotted out the sunlight, casting the room in a murky shade of red and black. Golden incense holders shaped like snarling beasts burned something thick and herbal. The scent clung to Adam's senses, making it hard to tell if it was meant to calm... or to mask blood.

The Emperor sat on his throne like a shadow carved from obsidian—too still, too silent.

Adam stood before him, hands behind his back, spine straight.

"You've become… unruly," the Emperor said at last. "Publicly sparring with your wife, parading her through the training grounds like some sideshow attraction."

Adam didn't flinch.

"She's not an attraction. She's learning."

"She's a noble lady," the Emperor growled, slamming a ringed fist onto the armrest. "Or have you forgotten that your marriage was already an act of rebellion?"

Adam's jaw tightened.

"You married her to contain her," the Emperor hissed. "I let you have your little obsession to leash her influence. Not encourage it. And now you dare to—"

"To support her?" Adam interrupted, voice like ice. "Yes."

The Emperor's eyes flared. "You insolent—"

"You taught me loyalty to blood," Adam continued coldly. "She is my wife. And more than that, she is capable."

A silence. Heavy. Simmering.

Then the Emperor leaned back, smiling coldly. "So be it."

Adam narrowed his eyes.

"You want freedom so badly?" the Emperor said. "You shall have it."

He snapped his fingers, and a royal decree was placed in front of him by a servant, sealed with black wax.

"I hereby grant you a kingdom," he said mockingly. "Your own land to rule. Isn't that what rebellious sons dream of?"

"…Where?" Adam asked quietly.

"In the north," the Emperor said, the smile deepening. "A dead region. Frozen rivers, no crops, barely a village left. Wolves will be more loyal than the people. The fortress is crumbling, the walls older than your bones. You wanted independence? Try surviving in the snow."

Adam didn't move.

"And your wife," the Emperor added, "may join you. Or stay here. Perhaps I'll arrange a more suitable match for her once you freeze to death."

Adam bowed slightly.

"I accept."

"You dare thank me?" the Emperor sneered.

"I thank you for the chains you've just broken."

---

Later that evening…

Salira was bent over her workbench, goggles perched on her nose, sparks dancing as she adjusted a trigger on her newest invention—the weapon from the blueprint Adam had taken. The room was quiet, the faint ticking of gears the only sound.

Adam watched silently from the doorway, arms crossed.

The weapon was sleek. Mechanical. A handheld launcher that adapted to pressure and wind resistance. Nothing short of genius.

"...You're early," Salira said, removing her goggles. "Did His Royal Grumpiness finally toss you in the dungeon?"

Adam stepped forward. "He gave me a kingdom."

Salira blinked. "He what now?"

"In the north. Frozen. Empty. Abandoned."

She straightened. "Wait... seriously?"

He nodded.

Salira set the device down. "That's—That's basically exile, Adam."

"Yes."

"And you accepted?"

"Yes."

"…Do I get to bring my lab?"

"Yes."

"…Do I get to rule over the sheep?"

Adam's expression finally twitched. "...If you want."

She grinned, arms crossed. "Then let's pack."

Adam paused. "You're not… mad?"

She tilted her head. "Why would I be? Cold doesn't scare me. And honestly? I'm kind of excited to build a kingdom from scratch. You bring the weapons, I'll bring the blueprints."

Adam stared at her, quiet for a moment.

"…You're remarkable," he murmured.

Salira blinked. "…That's the first compliment you've given me that wasn't about explosives."

Adam: "It still counts."

---

Suddenly—

Time froze.

The ink mid-drip. The spark mid-jump. Adam mid-step.

Everything paused.

Salira looked around. Her breath caught.

She knew this.

> "...No way…"

She turned slowly—toward you.

Right through the glass screen.

Direct eye contact.

She smirked.

> "Hey. Yes, YOU. The one reading in bed at 2 AM. The one saying 'just one more chapter.'"

"I see you."

"If you're loving this chaos, why not drop a Power Stone? Leave a comment? Maybe add this to your library? Go on, you're already invested."

"Because Chapter 20? Ohhh. You are NOT ready."

She winked, leaned forward with a mischievous grin...

And BOOM—

Time snapped back.

Adam blinked. "What were you saying?"

Salira: "Nothing. Just... reminding myself that the future's gonna be insane."

Adam: "It usually is."