The Grandmaster Strategist - Volume 2, Chapter 3: Prelude to the Storm

Princess Anastasia of Orsenia is regarded as the kingdom’s treasure. However, she carries a heavy secret— she is diagnosed with an incurable illness. She is fated to die before she turns 18.

For years, her parents desperately searched for a cure but to no avail. That is, until a mysterious letter arrives, claiming that the only way Anastasia can escape her cruel fate is to send her to a monster:

King Caspain, the ruler of Sorvando, a vampire kingdom.

The letter prophesizes that Anastasia will live, only if she makes that bloodthirsty King fall in love with her. However, Anastasia knows it’s nearly an impossible task. Sorvando is filled with dangers. And she is only but a weak human.

Yet, her will to live won over her fear. No matter how cruel the king may be, Anastasia will still try to win his heart.

Now, if only she can keep her own heart from falling for him as well.

***

[Excerpt]

“Cas-pian…”

And he looked back to see that she was biting her lower lip as though she greatly enjoyed that kiss.

He smirked again and whispered in his deeply seductive voice, “I like my name even more ever since I started hearing it from your beautiful lips. And I like it even further when you say it in that hushed tone.”

Anastasia had no idea what Caspian was hinting at yet.

So he dropped some more hints, “Wife, weren’t you asking me what the first night meant? Let me show you.”

Shennugou is an old and infertile place. It’s hard to find a woman to marry here.

The Li family is extremely poor. With only four bare walls for a home, they don’t even have a woman to manage the household.

The Heavens had mercy today, Li family’s oldest son had saved a woman at the market and brought her back home.

Li Man was killed by her mother-in-law and transmigrated. She was almost hanged on the first day, but, fortunately, she was rescued by the Li brothers.

This doesn’t mean that her destiny is over.

The language didn’t make sense at first, she discovered that, here, standard Mandarin sucks.

- Description from Novelupdates

Alexander Blackwell has always been a man of taste, charm, and relentless ambition—traits he inherited alongside the world’s largest fortune. When his legendary father, a trillionaire who built an empire from nothing, passes away, Alexander wakes up to a reality most could only dream of: unlimited power, endless wealth, and a blank canvas to shape his legacy.But Alexander isn’t content with simply inheriting the Blackwell name; he’s determined to redefine it. From purchasing private islands to creating monuments of vanity, hosting the most exclusive events, and launching ventures that blur the line between brilliance and indulgence, he sets out to make himself unforgettable.To Alexander, ambition and excess go hand in hand. After all, what’s the point of having everything if you’re not building something bigger? What’s the point of having it all if you aren’t living like it?Disclaimer:This work is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental. All trademarks, brand names, and other proprietary rights mentioned or depicted are the property of their respective owners and are used for illustrative purposes only. This work is not affiliated with or endorsed by any brand, company, or individual mentioned. All rights reserved.

At dawn.The light of dawn lingered, hesitant to arrive, while the remnants of the setting sun had long faded into darkness. Within the city shrouded in thin mist, the hidden churches in the shadows, veins clinging to the cracks in walls, the gnawing sounds echoing from the sewers, and the murmuring shadows...A lantern bearer strolled forward.