Drop!! ～A Tale of the Fragrance Princess～ - Volume 05, Act 53: Binding Hope and Path Forward

Elia is a poor university student until the night she’s taken to the world of the Anima—ruled by humans whose ancient hearts pulse with the blood of animals. There she’s forced into a battle to the death. But when Elia survives, and refuses to kill her final opponent, the King must either kill Elia himself, or take her as his mate.

Reth, the brutal King of the Beasts with the blood of lions, shocks everyone when he chooses the weak, human Elia to become his Queen. He promises her every comfort of his wealth and position—but he is clear: She will not warm his bed. He chose her to defeat those that were trying to corner him into blending his Leonine line with the Wolves.

Elia needs the help of the Anima to become stronger and rule them well. But the vengeful Wolves see only a weak human that brought them shame. As Elia and Reth grow closer, the wolves are determined to destroy her. Will Reth and Elia admit their feelings for each in time to fight for the Kingdom—and their lives—against the villainous wolf-tribe? Or will the wolves kill Elia and steal the throne?

[Mature content - no sexual violence]

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He stalked towards her, chin low so the shadow cast by his hard jaw cut across the thick fur collar of his vest. His hair had fallen over his eyes in the scuffle, so he peered at her through it like a lion in the grass. With each step, his graceful, rolling gait reminded her of a predator stalking its prey. Despite the forest floor littered in twigs and leaves, he didn’t make a sound.

“Wh-who are you?” Elia stammered, backing away, her hands up. He met her step for step until she came up hard against the tree behind her—and didn’t stop until he loomed over her, so broad his shoulders and chest made a wall in front of her. She could feel the heat rising off his skin in the cool, night air.

“I am the Leonine King.” His voice was a dark, husky gravel. Behind him a chorus of wheezes, howls, and chirps of agreement rose from the people watching. “And you are?”

“Elia,” she breathed.

“Elia,” he growled, leaning in closer, bringing with him the scent of pine and rain and the musk of something distinctly male. “I am Reth.” He said the name with a strange, guttural roll in his throat. “I am King of Beasts. I am Clan Leader, and I am Alpha of WildWood.” Several snarls rose from the crowds behind him then, but he ignored them.

Elia swallowed as he leaned in until the scruff on his jaw rasped her cheek. “I am the King,” he said, “And you will be my mate.”

The forest behind him erupted.

The new book “Elder Kinston Has Been Tricked Again” has been published, and everyone is welcome to check it out. It tells the story of the female protagonist's rebirth that shocks the dubbing world, featuring adorable kids and sweet romance!He is a cold and noble business emperor, and there is only one woman he pays attention to. Yet, this woman just looks down on him, trying to find ways to distance herself from him.“The only man you can care about is me.” The president's eyes were bright, quite beautiful.She protests!Unfortunately, the protest is ineffective. He loves her but refuses to let her bear their child. Her heart turns to ashes as she resolutely leaves.Six years later, a little girl holding a piggy bank appears before him, “Can you be my temporary daddy for a day? I can give you all my allowance.”Temporary daddy? To hell with it, those eyes of hers are exactly like his!

Teela married King Heavenly because she loved him, but life in the Heavenly household was anything but euphoric. Lettie, her hard-as-nails mother-in-law, treats her like an unpaid servant. The family treats her like an outsider. King treats her like a shadow, transparent and forgettable.When Lettie presses Teela to prove her value to the family or get out, Teela has a decision to make. But she’s not leaving without a fight.King Heavenly rules Heavenly Industries with an iron fist, but he leaves his home life to his mother to manage, and that includes the management of his boring little wife. Teela has never complained. She’s never done anything interesting, for that matter. She’s just one more responsibility in a long line of responsibilities that King shoulders on a daily basis, and that is exactly how he treats her — as a responsibility that he’s delegated to his mother.Suddenly Teela steps out of the shadows and into a fight with him and his whole family, and King is baffled by the ruthless actions of his now daring wife. He’d always heard that vengeance is a dish best served cold, but Teela is coming in hot!

[Factory-Courtyard Life • Face-Slapping Matches • Hidden-Advantage Revenge • Rising Star at Work]Tian Xiang’s fiancé is stolen by her cousin—no big deal, plenty of fish in the sea.Then glowing words appear above the cousin’s head: “Reborn Heroine.”Tian Xiang blinks—she’s inside a 1970s harem-novel world where every character wears a flickering label:Big Villain • Tragic Second Male • White Lotus • Evil Mother-in-Law • Villain #1, #2, #3… and above her own head?“Silly-Sweet Cannon-Fodder.”Well, not anymore.Using her real-life job as a factory-union clerk, Tian Xiang rewrite her life script.She warns the other “harem extras,” sabotages the original male lead, and—oops—earns herself the new tag: “Ultimate Villainess.”The novel insists villains end in ruin.Tian Xiang’s reply: “If I’m going down, we’re all going down.”Meng Cheng’an—once a literal background prop, now upgrading in real time:Background NPC → Major Villain → Obsessed Lover → Yandere Husband → Shamelessly Devoted Spouse.The more chaos Tian Xiang stirs, the faster his labels evolve—until the final tag reads:“Her Partner-in-Crime—For Life.”