Prologue
“A witch beguiles people—she must not be allowed to live.”
It was a proverb every citizen of this country knew by heart.
But a peculiar exception to that saying was unfolding within the Duke’s household.
On a night drenched in heavy rain, a small birthday party was being held at the Bartolomeu Ducal Estate.
“Milady, happy ninth birthday.”
Cecile gasped in awe at the large, ornate birthday cake presented by the butler and the chef.
“It’s so pretty! Thank you so much.”
“Oh, it’s nothing. For you, Milady, I’d make a hundred of these if you asked.”
“You look absolutely beautiful today, Milady.”
A maid beamed as she tidied Cecile’s dress.
Boom! Crash!
A sudden roar of thunder cracked the air, so loud it made everyone’s ears ring and shattered the warm, cheerful atmosphere.
At that very moment, a man appeared at the second-floor landing.
Hair like raven’s feathers glistened under the chandelier light. Golden eyes glared down coldly. His face was flawless, as though sculpted by a master artisan from marble.
The King of the Underworld.
The Giant of the Criminal World.
The Head of the Empire’s Largest Crime Syndicate.
The Father of Crime.
All these titles pointed to a single man.
Raven V. Bartolomeu.
As soon as he appeared, the room fell into stunned silence. The once lively guests all held their breath.
“Your Grace.”
Everyone bowed with the utmost respect.
His presence filled the air with tension—except for one person.
“Duke!”
Cecile dashed toward the stairs, her dress fluttering like a banner.
She threw her arms around the Duke’s waist just as he finished descending. Her dress was wrinkled beyond repair, but she didn’t care.
“I missed you so much!”
The Duke looked down at Cecile with his typically cold expression. But when she nuzzled her cheek against his waist, a barely visible smile tugged at the corner of his lips.
“I’m glad I wasn’t late.”
He spoke gently as he lifted her into his arms. Cecile leaned into him naturally, as if she belonged there.
As she rested in his arms, she felt the stares of astonishment and disbelief from the gathered guests. And she thought to herself—
“Yes. If a witch is someone who bewitches others and leads the masses to ruin, then the one most suited for such a witch is the Empire’s greatest villain.”
Only Cecile knew the truth—that she was no ordinary nine-year-old girl.
Her name was Cecile Winona Lynn Obedien. Once the most powerful and unmatched genius dark sorceress, feared enough to nearly devour half the continent.
“If I must survive in this country as a witch… then I’ll use whatever I must.”
Behind her sweet, angelic smile, Cecile hid a calculating mind.
“Even if it’s the very man who killed me in my past life.”
To avoid the miserable fate she once met, she needed the help of the very man who had once taken her life—Duke Bartolomeu.
That was why she had come to the Bartolomeu estate.
Cradled in the arms of her mortal enemy, Cecile smiled sweetly. Because that was exactly what she needed right now.
