The Duke's Masked Wife - Chapter 56

[By the Author that brought you “Martial God Regressed to Level 2”]The Swordmaster, who unified the continent and vanquished the Demon King with nothing but his sword, thought he would live out his days peacefully in a world of tranquility.One day, however, he awakens 1,000 years later in the body of a distant descendant.In a world where magic is now held in higher regard than the sword, the empire has crumbled, and the imperial lineage has fallen into ruin.“More importantly, what is this pathetic excuse for a body?”He now inhabits the body of Kaylen, once known as a “walking slime”.With the demonic realm invading once again, he makes a vow:“Since I’ve mastered the sword, I might as well master magic too.”Thus begins the return of a transcendent being, armed with unparalleled magic and absolute swordsmanship, destined to save the world!

In a galaxy ruled by warlords, guilds, and ancient tech cults, Kai Zareth is just another debt-ridden scavenger—until a legendary system descends upon him.“One Trader per 10,000 light years. One chance to rise.”Selected by the Cosmic Trade Nexus, Kai becomes the sole wielder of the Galactic Exchange System, a multidimensional platform that allows him to buy and sell across parallel worlds, forgotten realms, and alien civilizations.With only 12 hours to complete his first trade—or lose everything—Kai scrambles to make deals in a universe where information is power and one wrong barter could cost your life.From selling enchanted goblin toothbrushes in toxic slums to outwitting rival system users and forging alliances with forgotten races, Kai must build his empire item by item, realm by realm.But in a galaxy where traders kill for profit and system users are hunted like prey, being the Merchant Sovereign might be a bigger curse than a blessing.

[TRIGGER WARNING: Mature Content + Dark Themes]EXCERPT:“Axel, no. We… can’t do this!” I jolted back when he pulled up my skirt.As if to retaliate, he grabbed my wrist and yanked my body to his. “We can do whatever I say we can do, María José.”“I’m your brother’s reject. Do you even hear yourself right now? He didn’t want me, Axel. What does that make me to you?”“I don’t care about Álvaro’s foolishness. It's his loss for losing a woman like you.”“Okay, I must confess. I'm not worried about him either. It's Rosa… you're getting engaged to my sister in a month!”“Let me remind you, María José—I don’t give a fuck about that, either.”No matter how hard I jerked, he wasn’t letting me go. And part of me—so, so foolishly—didn’t want him to.______Having spent her life avoiding the spotlight, María Jośe never imagined she’d be the one to bring shame to her esteemed De la Vega family. With beauty as captivating as a field of lilies, she is the prized daughter of an ambitious father who cares more for his reputation than his children’s happiness.When Álvaro Montenegro, the arrogant heir to the Alpha title, sets his sights on her as his chosen Luna, María Jośe is desperate for a way out.But everything changes when the Moon Goddess answers her prayer in the most unexpected way: María Jośe discovers she is an Omega—wolfless and the lowest rank in the pack. Once held in awe, she is now shunned; a source of shame to her father and a target for ridicule in the pack.As her life turns upside down , María Jośe's hatred for the pack grows. The only solace she finds is in her growing, forbidden bond with Axel Montenegro—Álvaro’s older brother, who has turned his back on the pack to live as Beta.These two developed a love-hate friendship born from their shared disdain for the pack’s cruelty, which slowly evolves into a passionate, secret romance.But when Álvaro discovers Axel’s interest in María Jośe, jealousy ignites within him and he suddenly wants María Jośe as his own.Love, vengeance, and betrayal all brewed into a whirlwind of drama, desires, and deadly comebacks. Will María Jośe rise from the ashes of her former life, or will she be consumed by the power struggles of the pack she despises? Will she give in to the oldest brother who is scared of commitment or the younger one who fiercely seeks redemption?

“So….you’re saying you don’t want to marry me? Why? Didn’t you want this to happen?” The man asked in a cold voice as he tried to control his raging emotions.

He is the Crown Prince of the country and is destined to become Emperor one day. When all the nobles and aristocrats want to marry off their daughters to him, this woman wants to break off their engagement?

Is she nuts? Is she mocking him? Or…is this a new scheme of hers to gain his attention?

Because there is no way she will want to break this political marriage with the Royal Family. She is a power-greedy and scheming woman after all.

The girl noticed the suspicious and detesting expressions of the man but answered curtly with a polite smile, “ Your Highness, The reason is simple. It’s because I don’t want to die!”

Just break it off ya brat! She scowled inwardly.

The man was lost at the mysterious words of the woman sitting in front of him. Is she trying to pull another scheme?

‘ Yeah. I definitely lost my mind.’ The girl showed a pretentious smile while looking at the icy cold expressions of the man and cried inwardly.

Marrying this man means giving her neck to him on a fancy plate. Which idiot would happily jump into this?.....

Not me!

Become a villain? Bish, I’d rather write my own fate!