Panda_Novel

In the mystical city of Yūrei-no-Machi, where destiny is dictated by enchanted playing cards, the legendary Kagura Mei reigns as the Scarlet Queen. Gifted with the power to alter fate with a single draw, Mei is both feared and worshiped, her decisions shaping the rise and fall of empires. But when the exiled prince Ryūji Takeda seeks her aid to reclaim his lost throne, Mei finds herself caught in a dangerous game against unseen forces who seek to control fate itself. As treachery weaves through the shadows and the boundary between destiny and free will blurs, Mei must wager everything—including her own heart—to uncover the truth behind the cursed deck that holds the world’s future.

Scarlet Queen Of Fate

The night was thick with the scent of incense and tension as Yue Rin stepped onto the rooftop overlooking the western district. Below, the streets were alive with whispers of rebellion, the people growing restless under the Emperor's rule.

A voice called out from the shadows. "You cannot escape your fate, Yue Rin."

She turned sharply, eyes locking onto the figure of an old acquaintance—Zhen Xiu, the man she had once trusted. Now, his allegiance was unknown.

"I never intended to escape it," Yue Rin replied, her fingers tightening around the hilt of her concealed blade. "Tell me, Zhen Xiu, where do your loyalties lie?"

The city held its breath as their fates intertwined once more, secrets unraveling in the darkness of the night.

Zhen Xiu stepped forward, the dim moonlight revealing the sharp angles of his face, his expression unreadable. "You should not have returned, Yue Rin. There are forces beyond your control now."

She narrowed her eyes, refusing to let old emotions cloud her judgment. "Then tell me, Zhen Xiu, what are you doing here? Have you come to warn me, or to betray me?"

A flicker of hesitation crossed his face, but it was gone as quickly as it came. "The Emperor has sent his best men to root out any who would oppose him. Minister Zhao has named you a threat. If you do not act soon, you will find yourself cornered."

Liang Wei, who had been watching from the shadows, stepped forward. "And why should we trust you? Last we heard, you were working for Zhao."

Zhen Xiu let out a bitter chuckle. "I was. Until I realized that his thirst for power would lead to the destruction of everything we once fought for."

Yue Rin took a slow, deliberate breath. "Then prove it. Help us take Zhao down."

For a moment, the night was silent, the only sound the distant murmur of the city below. Then, with a solemn nod, Zhen Xiu said, "Very well. But you must be ready for what is coming. The Emperor will not stand idly by."

As they retreated into the shadows to plan their next move, Yue Rin knew that the battle ahead would determine the fate of the empire. And she was ready to face it.

Shadows of the Past