MTL - The General Loves to Collect Little Red Flowers - Chapter 18 Hand-made incense

[COMPLETE] Can a royal Romeo and Juliet find their happy ending?

Ayleth, Princess of Zenithra, is secretly trained in hand-to-hand combat, and collects swear words she doesn't know how to use. During the Festival of Peace, in which every royal son on the continent will be at the castle for a month, she is instructed by her parents to find a husband. Yet, Ayleth has never even been kissed—until the very first ball, when she meets the man in the Lion mask.

Etan is a seasoned warrior, and the Prince of Summitras. He attends the Festival hoping to find a powerful wife who will help him conquer the dark sorcery of their bloodsworn enemies, the Kingdom of Zenithra. But at the very first ball, he discovers the masked woman who captures his heart is the Heir to the evil empire.

Ayleth and Etan face an impossible battle. Will their love survive? Or will their parents' dark dealings keep them apart forever?

[Mature content. No sexual violence.]

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“You…” She stepped back. Then back again, her mouth dropped open. “You… You cannot be…”

“I am,” Etan said, and his hair raked back as he pushed his mask off his handsome face. So handsome her heart raced.

His hair was ebony black, his skin a warm brown that threatened to fade in in the winter months. He stared at her with glittering green eyes, over high cheekbones and a noble nose, his jaw tight and shadowed this late in the day. His chin was high over the pillar of his neck that she’d just touched with its hard lines and steel strength, so different to her own. And his chest... She gasped and covered her eyes. She’d humiliated herself revealing her stupid, childish curiosity.

“No, Ayleth. This changes nothing.”

“How can you say that? It changes everything!” She was horrified to realize she was crying.

“Ayleth, please.” His voice cracked on the plea and she stared at him, shoving her mask up and off, despite how it would pull her hair out of the beautiful twist the maid had managed for her.

His eyes locked on hers and she couldn’t think. She couldn’t breathe.

She had met her One. And he was the son of her bloodsworn enemy.

She stared at him as he stepped forward again, offering both hands, palm up. “Touch me,” he whispered. “Hold my hands. This is real, Ayleth. I don’t know how it happened, but this is real. Please don’t deny it.”

She couldn’t resist. She raised a trembling hand to his cheek, letting her palm catch on the scruff of his jaw. He blew out a breath and put his hand over hers, and that jolt that happened whenever they touched shivered through her again.

“Please, Ayleth.”

“I cannot deny it,” she whispered.

The unruly madame is playing as if she was a Russian matryoshka! Do you think that under the the vest is her real identity? Apologies, but there is still a vest under that vest. And then a couple more vests under that!

Madame! Just how many identities do you have !?

- Description from Novelupdates

This story takes place in Modern China. However, no matter how much things change, in the depths of society, a secret world of syndicates and hidden factions exist.

Yang Chen, a graduate from Harvard who is fluent in English, French, Italian, and German to list a few. He is also capable of fighting and a number of practical skills. Yet he chose to go on the streets to sell fried mutton skewers for a living.

Lin Ruoxi is the CEO of a multibillion-dollar company—Yu Lei International. This company is one of the leaders in the cosmetic and fashion industry. Despite being only 20 years old, her ice-cold demeanor and beauty are well-known and unrivaled in Zhonghai City.

Due to a wild night consisting of a lot of liquor, fate has brought them together to become husband and wife.

And with that, the story begins!

- Description from novelupdates

Alpha Kane is notorious in the werewolf world—a ruthless leader whose enemies tremble at his approach. Known as the “Ladykiller,” he has left a trail of satisfied women, all yearning for a taste of his intense passion. With a reputation for electrifying encounters, he reigns supreme in the realm of desire, leaving a legacy of pleasure in his wake.At 28, Kane has resigned himself to a life of dominance and pleasure, convinced he will never find his mate. That is until fate introduces him to Elena, a captivating and naive young woman whose purity stands in stark contrast to his dark desires. When their paths cross, he is struck by the intensity of their connection but is equally horrified by the idea of tainting her innocence with his brutal needs.Kane grapples with a tumultuous dilemma: Should he protect her from the dark passions that define him, or will she ignite a fire within him that challenges his very identity? As he struggles to reconcile his predatory instincts with the tender bond forming between them, the stakes rise. Can he tame his ruthless nature to embrace the love he never expected? Or will his fears drive them apart, leaving them both unfulfilled?As desire collides with innocence, Elena must decide: will she surrender to the alpha’s intoxicating allure and explore the depths of her own passions, or will she find the strength to confront his demons and demand the love she deserves?In this gripping tale of power, submission, and redemption, witness a love story where dark desires collide with the purity of the heart, challenging the boundaries of pleasure and passion. Will Kane become the prince charming he never thought he could be, or will he forever remain a prisoner of his own dark legacy?