Forging The Path To Godliness - Chapter 59 - Rising Reputation

(Alternative title: I Can Cut Through Anything)...After dying from overwork, Riven is reincarnated into a war-torn world where holy power and arcane magic clash for dominance. Born into poverty and orphaned at twelve, he survives with his younger sister by scavenging weapons from the corpses of fallen soldiers.That is, until he finds a gravely wounded woman in front of his house.Moved by a strange sense of compassion, Riven saves her life—unaware that she is the infamous Mad Queen, a ruthless monarch who slaughtered her entire royal bloodline.In return for his kindness, she teaches him how to wield a sword—an art that awakens a terrifying power within him: the ability to cut through anything.But power comes at a cost. Her gaze shifts from gratitude to obsession. And now, bound by a twisted marriage to a queen whose love is as dangerous as her blade, Riven must decide: will he run from her... or embrace the madness she offers?---Author's NoteHi everyone, I’m a new author here.To be honest, I got tired of the same old harem tropes—stories where the male lead collects girls like trophies without any real emotional depth. So I decided to write something different.This is a dark fantasy romance centered around one woman only: a yandere queen whose love is as dangerous as her power.Yes, the story contains R-rated scenes—expect some heat.But it’s not just about that.This novel will dive into:Deep character development,The twisted yet intimate relationship between Riven and the Queen,A complex world filled with arcane powers and divine magic,Royal politics and war,And Riven’s journey to become the strongest swordsman in the world.As a beginner, I genuinely welcome any feedback, comments, or even low ratings. Whether you give me five stars or just one, it’ll help me improve—and I truly appreciate it.Thank you for reading.I hope you enjoy the madness.

Theodora is the Queen of Polis, a city-state that lost the war against the most powerful empire in the continent.

She is sure that they'll execute her immediately but, somehow, she survives the meeting with the Emperor, and she finds herself... Married?

Tossed in a new world without connections and allies, she has to either accept her fate or lose the chance to help her people once again.

She soon finds out that her new husband knows more about her than she does herself, and that his purposes are often far from what she expects.

A fallen queen that doesn't know how to be anything else. A handsome Duke who's the cause of her ruin. And their efforts to find some happiness in a marriage that's been forced on them.

WARNING: there are contents not suitable for a sensitive audience.

The smut scenes are half-censored at the beginning, but the amount and details will increase after a few dozen chapters (according to the Queen's mood .-. )

***

«I'm sorry for lying to you, your grace...»

«You're a Duchess. No one will dare to consider your words a lie: if you say that you were painting souls, then it's the truth.»

«I will remember it.»

«No, you have to understand it, Theodora. You're not a prisoner, but my wife. I'll protect you when you need it, and I'll help you with any issue you have. You're not just a Duchess in the name. You're my Duchess.»

«It's hard to believe in such a short amount of time.»

«For now, stop shaking like a chicken. I won't hurt you.»

***

IntroductionQiankun Wenqing Valley: After Tang San successfully defeated the God of Destruction, he planned to take action himself and begin taming Huo Yuhao...Suddenly, a mysterious black hole appeared, sucking all the creatures from the Douluo Continent and the God Realm into the plane cracks!Then, a comparison live broadcast appeared, revealing the vastly different lives of two Huo Yuhaos!Huo Yuhao in the Original World: As a child, he was bullied by the Duchess and Dai Huabin. During his time at Shrek Academy, he was deceived and manipulated. Even though he had a girlfriend, he could only look at her but never touch her! His surname was even changed in the finale! Controlled by Tang San like a mere pet, his life was nothing but tragedy.Huo Yuhao in the Parallel World: From a young age, he took control of his own fate—beheading the Duchess, defeating Dai Huabin, and escaping the Duke’s palace with his mother! He saw through the corruption of Shrek Academy in time and led everyone to flee together. As an adult, he took revenge personally, killing the scumbag Duke White Tiger! He destroyed the seal Tang San had placed on Wang Donger’s body, allowing her to give birth to a child, and when Tang San came to settle the score, he cut him to pieces...Original Timeline Huo Yuhao: “After comparing myself with him, I finally realize what a failure my life has been. I want to be like him. I refuse to be a coward any longer! Tang San, die!”Disclaimer: This is translation

The Wilds relentlessly reclaim all things. Humanity shelters within their ever-dying cities. Mages create the only path forward.Tala had to fight tooth and nail in the Magic Academy to forge a path to power that was her own. She knows it’s her duty to use that power to serve humanity, defending them against the creatures of the untamable wilds. However, she skipped a few steps in her education, like apprenticing to someone who actually knows what they’re doing.Now, Tala has to balance learning as fast as she can with paying off the veritable mountain of debt the Magic Academy dropped on her shoulders for the opportunity; not to mention staying alive.Even though she should only be a Mageling, the world considers her a Mage. Bless the stars she directed most of her magic toward survival.