MTL - Little Cardamom - Chapter 18

After being imprisoned in the basement by her mother for ten years, she ended her cruel and tragic life in death when they forced her to hand over the key to the hidden treasure. Getting reborn in her teenage years, she woke up in the bed of that terrible and powerful man. This time, she must take revenge on her enemy, and now she must live.

Zaiyila thought she had suffered enough—betrayed by her own mother and sold into marriage with a wealthy, aging man. But on the night of her pre-wedding ceremony, everything takes a dark and unexpected turn. A swarm of deadly snakes descends upon the gathering, killing her groom-to-be and throwing the hall into chaos. Fear spreads as the people recognize the serpents as the servants of the enigmatic and terrifying Snake King, Everett.When Everett himself arrives—a striking, horned man of unmatched beauty and power—Zaiyila finds herself drawn to him in ways she cannot explain. Despite the fear he inspires in others, she feels an unshakable connection to him, one that transcends the realm of logic. The moment she defies the fearful kneeling of the crowd, she unknowingly seals her fate.Taken into Everett’s domain, Zaiyila is forced to confront not only the dangerous, supernatural world she’s been thrust into but also the awakening desires she cannot deny. As she unravels the truth about her past and her connection to the Snake King, she must decide—will she resist the pull of destiny, or will she embrace the darkness and passion that Everett offers?A tale of betrayal, power, and an irresistible bond, Bride of the Serpent King explores the fine line between fear and desire, fate and choice.---

Under the turning of the gears of fate, Ji Aier, a girl from an orphanage, was adopted by the Ji family at the age of ten. Since then, she has started a life deeply connected to Ji En as both an adopted daughter and a maid. Ji En, the young master of the Ji family, grew up with her. In the years of youth, a budding affection quietly sprouted between them. Skipping school, the first menstrual period, the first kiss, those youthful experiences made their feelings gradually deepen amidst bickering and dependence. However, as they grew older, Ji En got a girlfriend named Ouyang Xue, and Ji Aier was plunged into embarrassment and pain. After Ji En went abroad, Ji Aier discovered that she was pregnant but was sent away by the Ji family.Seven years later, the red thread of fate tied them together again. Ji En returned to the country and found Ji Aier. But at this time, they faced even more misunderstandings and obstacles. Ji Aier was living with twins and concealed the existence of the children, which became a fuse for the conflicts between them. At Ji En's wedding, Ji Aier suddenly appeared and then left, making the situation even more chaotic. Moreover, Ji Aier's experiences of being kidnapped, placed under house arrest, and her complicated relationship with Raymond made this relationship even more unpredictable. Raymond, a mixed - race person with a mysterious background, reached out to help Ji Aier when she was most helpless. His appearance not only brought warmth and assistance to Ji Aier but also filled Ji En's heart with jealousy and anger.On the road of love, they were constantly tested. The tragedy of a car accident took the life of their daughter, and Ji Aier disappeared, plunging Ji En into endless pain and self - blame. When they met again, the unexpected rejection at the wedding, Ji En's poisoning, and Ji Aier being wrongly accused as the murderer, a series of events pushed their love to the brink of despair. But will the truth finally come to light? Can Ji Aier clear her name? Can their broken love be restored? In this bumpy journey of love, where will they go from here?

"There was a time in my life where I struggled to breathe. A time where I felt suffocated everyday, but then I met you."

-Turning the gears of fate.

A drop of ink can penetrate the walls, even the walls you took too long to build.

After losing her first love due to a traffic accident, Ibuki Sumire transfers to Tokyo. She wanted to escape, to run away from everything that happened. To start over in a place that didn't have him. But a series of clues lead her to investigating the case behind the accident.

In that place she learns about the masks people wear. The masks people wear to disgui se their feelings. Sometimes you have to look past what you see on the surface.

There she meets him, the person who helps her move forward. But Sumire quickly learns how alike they are. His cold personality is different than the kindness she is used to. However, he is the only one who understands her feelings.

It keeps going around in circles, like a drop of paint. Round and round - an endless stream of pain and lies. But, that stream ended the moment she laid her eyes on his paintings.

Such rich and vibrant colors, it felt like his emotions exploded. Yet, in the corner of his studio, she found it. The real him, a sakura painting of two people walking hand in hand.

A gentle and sweet feeling, something she has never felt before.

[Commissioned Cover by: Vatarison]