MTL - Tattoo - Chapter 23

He was supposed to be just a guardian.But love doesn’t follow rules.After losing his mother, 18-year-old Kai finds himself under the roof of his cold, powerful stepfather, Sebastian Vaughn. What begins as silence turns into lingering glances, late-night tension, and a love Kai can’t run from—even if he tries.But Bast isn’t just any man. He’s possessive, broken, and hiding dangerous secrets… including an ex-lover who wants to destroy everything. As feelings grow, so do the risks.How do you escape a man who says he’s your everything—your father, protector, friend… and lover?

Betrayed and left for dead, Richard Blackwood—formerly known as the world renowned hero Astralis—awakens a decade later to find the world has moved on, and an imposter now wears his mantle. Disguised as a rookie in the Mage Guild, he quietly hunts for answers.'If my little sister is levelled above me, then what about everyone else? How much stronger have the bastards who betrayed me grown while I was dead?'Richard must grow stronger once again, and rise much higher than the S-Rank.'What the fuck? I almost die, and I get a power up?'Not harem.

People in the World of Naruto: Drinking Makes You Stronger
 Author: Half a Piece of OrangeYouyu, a man who found himself transported into the Naruto world, awakened a rather unusual system:The more he drinks, the stronger he becomes!• Raikage: “What?! I have the strongest defense—wait, why did Youyu just slice through me while drinking?!”• Hiruzen Sarutobi: “That guy’s a monster. I’ve never seen him train, only drink... yet he still cut me down in an instant.”• Madara Uchiha: “Dancing? Tch. That drunk bastard swayed his way over and chopped me up!”• Obito Uchiha: “Damn it! Even space-time jutsu can’t stop that drunk maniac!”Youyu: “My hobbies? Drinking... and cutting people down.”

It’s been 11 years since I’ve lived for others and not for me.

The moment I cried out wanting to get away from my exhausting life, I opened my eyes in the body of some Count’s 20-year-old daughter.

Since this happened, I decided to live my life freely as a single woman.

But…

“I need a lady to act as my fake wife for a certain period of time.”

“A contract marriage?”

“The term is one year. When the time is up, I’ll give you divorce with no strings attached.”

The Duke of the Empire whom I had happened to meet at a ball was hitting on me.

Turns out he’s no other than the Emperor’s beloved brother, Duke Scade!

Hold on, it’s just going to end in a clean divorce with no strings attached?

“You should also give me alimony. Give me one of the best lands of the Ducal household with 10 years’ worth of profit.”

“…..What?”

“If you don’t want to do that, then we cannot get married.”

This time I’m going to live a life taking care of the things I need first!

***

“I’ll escort you since it’s late.”

Where to? My bedroom is just around the corner.

“Tonight, I’ll do my best.”

No, I don’t need you to do that.

“Did you just look at that man?”

Excuse me, Duke, you said it’s for a limited time only, so why do you keep obsessing over me?