The Mastermind Duke

Adrian Blaze, who had received the title of god of war, was betrayed by his own race. Betrayed by his own friend and the world, he was on his last breath when his two weapons, the trident of destruction Demios and the divine sword Yuriel starts revolving around him as he dies. But when he opened his eyes he had regressed to his 12 year old self. "hahaha" Adrian laughed as a devious smile appeared on his face "O you great 7 empires, who betrayed me and collaborated with the demons. The world shall see what happens when the world's strongest warrior turns into your foe" Adrian walked towards the wooden door and opened it as his word resounded "Lets begin my revenge!!" Now witness the journey of the betrayed hero who shall conquer the world and Go against even the gods if it means achieving his goals. Author's Note------------- if you decide to read this then please don't drop before chapter 34 as I am also improving my writing and it can be a bit slow paced in the start but please cut me a slack. now if you have any suggestions about anything you want to see ahead in the novel you can comment. I will make sure to read them. now the schedule will be - 2 chapter releases on every sunday and i will release bonus chapters according to the support from the viewers. i will update here or in the chapter's beginning if there is any news to pass on. have a good time. ^..^

Hi some of yall might recognize the cover, this is the redo of my old novel that I decided to stopped writing, I felt horrible for months after disappearing. Now I decided to continue and finish it. I hope my old readers come and find this book again. Below is the synopsis. A story of a boy name Vesper Nine who lives in a magical medieval world, dreaming of becoming a dragon knight to protect the land of Astafel from abyssal creatures and wicked dragons but after awakening his true power, the reality between worlds began to collapse. What kind of power does this boy hold to be able to bring such chaos?

Ayaka died at a very young age after refusing the Grand Duke of Sollaine Kingdom orders. She’s a servant at first but later on ordered to seduce the King to obtain his people and use it against the Emperor of Westeria. But Ayaka didn’t do what she was told. Instead, she was accused of killing the King’s son and was beheaded. Before she closed her eyes, she wished for a next life full of happiness.The moment she opened her eyes again everything changed. Ayaka became the eldest daughter of the Kestramore’s Kingdom Duke, Valeraine Thornfield. However, Valeraine is engaged to the Grand Duke of Sollaine Kingdom son, the people who murdered her. She will do everything in her new life to punish them even if it means to play a game with the new Emperor of Westeria, Eryx Vincent Seraphinius.

"The masterminds are cooler than heroes," I mutter as I stare at the chess pieces before me. It is easier to be the one who sits in the shadows and moves the pieces, likewise deciding the flow of the game. Heroes will foolishly sacrifice their lives for the good cause and villains will sacrifice the world for their own gain, but masterminds will use both the heroes and villains to their own benefit. Why, you ask? Well, that's because I've lost my life once while trying to be a hero so, I don't want that anymore. I'd rather be a mastermind who molds the world as per my convenience and live peacefully. Because, why not? *** [Defender of Divine Glory says you are the hope of this world.] What? [Goddess of Wisdom believes that you will be the one to save the world.] Wait, what?! [Propose the Grand Duke the idea of a fake marriage.] And, why would I do that?! [Stop the assassination of Prince Eric.] Why would I save him?! [The candidates for the throne are:... Who will you choose?] Ah! I give up... It seems like a curse that anyone who wishes for a slacker life in Isekai will have to go through the most troublesome things. In my past life, I died because of one rookie mistake but after being transmigrated in the world of fantasy I've gotten an opportunity to start afresh, but unlike the protagonists who look for their love and glory, I'd rather make money and live a life of a slacker. I have magic, I have power and I have money, what else do I need? Well, that was the plan but this damn system is getting on my nerves. I mean who in their sane mind would want to mess with the complicated royal family and political affairs? But that's not all though. I've also become the saviour of this world. Things just can't be anymore worse! Besides, the penalty of failing this quest is... [Failure: Destruction of the World.] It seems like if I screw up in selecting the right person then the destruction that is going to befall the world won't be stopped. If I speak of my reward then it's this vague thing. [Reward: Fulfillment of any wish.] "If that's the case then, I'd rather choose the person who would be the best fit for the throne." And that's how I decided that I would become the Kingmaker.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Please be known that this book wouldn't have made it this far without the support my dear writing buddy Rachel E. Canton who is a great writer of SINS OF THE SERAPHIM - https://www.webnovel.com/book/sins-of-the-seraphim_26438336605116805 and Derek J. Perna To Rachel & Derek, Thank you for everything! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ When the last heir of Ardel lost everything, fate would bring her to her rightful protector. Anna Adhemar, the forgotten princess, found herself betrayed by the Regent. Hunted by the Bargesians and the ruthless slave traders, she desperately fled for her life. Rescued by a mysterious man, her newfound safety was short-lived as she succumbed to a potent aphrodisiac. Then, she awoke in the arms of the fearsome Knight Commander of Gerhard, stripped bare, in a foreign kingdom. Fear, confusion, and a sense of profound devastation enveloped her. But the man before her declared, "I am your husband. I married you last night." Then, with unwavering determination, he vowed, " You're my woman now. No one can hurt my woman." --- Kyren Raychard, the Crown Prince who had chosen to forsake the throne and became celibate, led the Knights of Gerhard to safeguard his kingdom’s border from slave trading activities. Outside his camp, he found Anna poisoned and delirious. The healer informed him of the only cure, of which he must race against time to give and honour her. For the first time, he felt an overwhelming instinct to protect and claim her as his own. Unaware of his deepening affection, he belatedly realised his feelings as he stood on the brink of losing her. Bound by a soul-binding spell, their fates intertwined…

In a post-apocalyptic world, you'll find four main types of people. Those who fight with all their might are "the hunters." The ones who leech and exploit others are "the pests." The predators, who see everyone as prey. And lastly, we have "the survivors," the resilient ones who never give up. Everyone often fits into one category, but it's hard to determine which one Maya falls into. She's not exactly a fighter, considering leaving her room was a chore even before the apocalypse. A predator? No way—she's always been a pushover. You might think she's a survivor, but that's laughable. She'd rather die from starvation than resort to scavenging. So, how should we categorize her? leeche? Nope. Perhaps a new category is needed: "The Lost"—those struggling to find their place in a shattered world."

A university student gets transmigrated into a fantasy world now he must find a way to get back to Earth, after he grows up of course...

A 22-year-old Susanna Brown is thrust into the pages of a novel she once read. Now living as Duke Alexei Xavier Brown's wife whom her husband will kill her. Determined to rewrite her fate and secure her place as a wealthy noblewoman, Susanna is on a mission to win Duke Alexei's trust and love. Duke Alexei, scarred both physically and emotionally from a gruelling two-and-a-half-year war, is plagued by a deep, unrelenting agony. The last person he wants to find solace in is his new wife—a spy sent by the king to spy on him. Yet, despite his resistance, he finds himself inexplicably drawn to her. As Susanna and Alexei navigate a web of deception and intrigue, their clashing motives bring them face-to-face with formidable challenges. With the royal family plotting against them and their own emotions in turmoil, will they overcome the treacherous obstacles before them and find true love? Or will they fall victim to the very fate written in the novel?

"If you don't have a system, then you don't have a class, and if you don't have a class, you don't have any limits, Cassius." Cassius's fake system said. *** My name is Cassius Blackwood, I am the illegitimate son born between the greatest swordsman in the empire, and the master of the Magic Tower. Yes, the one people expected to be a 1-in-a-million genius. As a result, I grew up in a house full of love and kindness despite being illegitimate. That is, until my tenth birthday when I failed my awakening ceremony. You can imagine how people started treating me after that. My parents, who had high hopes for me, abandoned me. After 10 years of training in hopes of awakening, I succeeded. But only as a "systemless hunter." And as we know, it's impossible to succeed as a hunter without a system. When 'The Blackwood Trial' took place, which is meant to determine the next head of house Blackwood, as everyone expected, I was the first to die. So, why did I go back to when I was 10 years old right before my awakening ceremony? *** Tags: #transmigration (the MC isn't the transmigrator) #regression ( the MC is obviously the regressor) #reincarnation #no-harem #romance #singlefemalelead #revenge #evil #cruel #mage #swordsman #returnee #fantasy-empire #dungeons #system( Fake system) #cultivation (done differently) #rarebloodline #action #fantasy #secretidentity join my discord: https://dsc.gg/Rerian long link: https://discord.com/invite/wARbcq8kzG

things you see on tv, and dream about is things you should hide from now, they are real

Transmigrating into a new world, Violet found out that she is inside a book and just got 'sold' to be the wife of the story big villain. 'My husband is ignoring me? I don't mind since he's rich! I can enjoy my life to the fullest!' Yet, "I say, Sir Duke, didn't you told someone to inform me that you will never care about me?" "Did I? Wife, someone must be trying to sabotaging our happy marriage. I never did that. Also, call me husband. Sir Duke sounds too formal. Or better yet, call me hubby." "Duke. Grey. Lancester! Can you behave more appropriately?" "Wife... " "No! Don't give me that puppy eye look." He's the monster. She's his personal tamer.

The most powerful and advanced race in the Chaos universe has sent its state-of-the-art research ship into space to search for inhabited planets and, if necessary, colonize them. Years later, on their way back home, their sensors caught a strange energy fluctuation coming from the black hole they passed near. Therefore, they changed direction and got as close to the black hole as possible. At that moment, the lightning energy suddenly released from the black hole hit the research ship. The ship, whose all systems suddenly shut down, lost its balance and was pulled into the black hole. After a while, the ship started working again, but it was too late. They could not escape from the black hole due to their insufficient energy, but sensors discovered that there was a wormhole inside the black hole. The ship heading to that point passed through the wormhole at the last moment and reached a very small universe. When they began to examine the new universe closely, they were immediately spotted by the local races and a war broke out between them. They lost the war because their advanced weapons were useless in this universe. And the new owner of the ship became the clan of Ahzab the Immortal. About 20 years later, all the clans who wanted to take over the ship united and declared war on Ahzab's tribe. Ahzab's clan managed to escape from this green world by ship, but suffered many casualties. When they left the black hole with the ship and reached the universe of chaos, there was no trace of those following them. However, the condition of the ship was not very good. They set out for the nearest habitable planet. After many problems the ship quickly entered the atmosphere and it hit the earth and sank into the ground . Time passed quickly and years later, the immortal Ahzab's clan join a new student.

A powerless woman’s worst nightmare is marrying someone against her will. When those who are supposed to protect her betray her in the vilest of ways, Leonor is forced to marry a Duke known for his cold nature and repulsive appearance. After a miserable childhood, it shouldn’t have been a surprise to her that her future was never truly in her hands in the first place. Duke Desmond de Montclair was nobody before the war. He garnered the King’s favor by doing the impossible in battle. Unfortunately, any achievement is eclipsed by his appearance and unbearable personality. In a kingdom that idolizes beauty, there is no room for someone like him. At first, Leonor finds life with the Duke to be what she’s used to - walking on eggshells and never speaking what’s truly in her heart. Eventually, things slowly start to change as the Duke learns about the horrors she faced while living with her family. His power becomes the key to her revenge. However, in a moment where she feels cornered, Leonor confesses to the Duke that she’s in love with someone else. The progress she has made with the Duke comes crashing down around her. Will her magic abilities be enough to convince the Duke not to throw her out? If she can make herself useful to him, perhaps she can gain his sympathy somehow…

The duke of cold Northern region comes to reign in the abandoned palace. The abandoned palace still has someone there. The Emperor Consort who was left behind faces the duke with calm face and conflicted heart. Many things are to be settled including the heart of those who are going to reside in the palace...

Prince Alaric of Ravendale has always lived a charmed life, wielding power and wealth with no sense of humility. Wicked, proud, and nearly unredeemable, he’s known for his haughty disregard for anyone beneath his station. But fate takes an unexpected turn when he meets Aveline, a poor orphan in his kingdom, who challenges his worldview and ultimately captures his heart. Their journey together is filled with moments of hilarity, tension, heartbreak, and redemption, showing that love can blossom in the most unlikely of hearts.

On his 20th birthday, Asher's mother confessed something he never expected. After the truth was revealed, she died giving her last blessing to him. That's when Asher found himself all alone, confused about his own identity and worrying about his future. What did she say? -He was someone special? -Someone people would come after? She said he was coming from a very rare but also a very special race called omega where men could get pregnant. Was it real? At first, Asher strictly refused to accept his mother's confession. But in the end, he had to believe it. Because it was the bitter truth. If he was really coming from such a rare race, and had such a special body, did he have to live all his life hiding so he wouldn't get caught and become someone's plaything? Was that the only way to avoid getting the bad ending his father got? Why was he even born as someone like this?! He just wanted a peaceful life. So, it wouldn't be as dangerous as his mother said if he just forgot he was special and lived like a normal person, right? People would not notice. Alas, it's been a long time since people last saw an omega and they must be believing no omega exists now. At least that's what he thought... He thought people might have forgotten about his existence and he would not have to face any problems in the future.  Whether he was special or not, he still became a target. When he was kidnapped and auctioned as a slave, he regretted ignoring his mother's last advice. "Don't trust anyone easily. Your safety is in your hands and protecting yourself is your duty." He could only blame himself and expect for the worst if his special identity was to get revealed and meet the same end as his father did. However, his fate gave him a second chance along with a huge surprise which changed his life for the better. Hopefully, Asher was saved by the so-called 'bloodthirsty monster' duke and brought to his mansion to babysit his spoiled 10-year-old little sister who threw tantrums declaring she wants Asher to pat her head and comfort her. Just to babysit this adorable, little girl.  He was safe. His secret was also secured within himself. Thanks to that chaotic sister and brother, Asher's life slowly took new turns and continued with almost no obstacles...till some point. The surprise? The duke happened to have some kind of a 'strange' illness that had no cure. Not long after when Asher discovered it, he ended up becoming the perfect cure for his illness. But how? -Remember? He was 'special'! Where would his specialty as an omega lead his life to? What kind of mysteries would he have to encounter with this duke wishing comfort from him?  Will the duke's 'strange' illness ever get healed? How would their story flow to that perfect happy ending with the twist of love landing in the middle of their 'just a deal'? ________________ Note:  This story continues in a historical timeline. Similar to omegaverse, but not the same omegaverse universe. Magic, revenge, dukes, royal families, curses, spells, heats, ruts... (The book cover is from Pinterest. Respect to the artist.)

Jamie Wentworth is brilliant, isolated, and tired of living as the forgotten son in a powerful family that sees him only as a tool. He’s a genius who’s saved his father’s empire more times than anyone will admit, yet his intelligence has become his curse, chaining him to a loveless home and a relentless life. When he learns of a phenomenon known as The Simulation—a place where people disappear into an alternate reality of powers, danger, and epic quests—he’s drawn to it like a moth to flame. But the Simulation isn’t what Jamie expected. He enters as “Ghost,” a critically injured figure with no memories, no allies, and a fractured past. Equipped with a mysterious “Deck of Cards” skill, he’s able to toggle between roles—Extra, Villain, and the greyed out Protagonist. Each card grants him a persona with unique powers and risks, but swapping between them exacts a heavy toll on his body and mind. Forced to start as the weakest player in a ruthless prison world, Jamie must use his wits and courage to survive against those who’d see him fail. In this new world, he’ll uncover secrets, make dangerous allies, and unlock powers that will take him far beyond anything he’s known. To survive, Jamie will need to outplay scheming npcs, merciless factions, and his own dark legacy as he unravels the mystery of “Ghost”—and the truth of his own soul. But in the Simulation, there’s one rule above all: If you die here, you die in real life. The deeper he dives, the more he realizes this is his only chance at freedom… and his greatest gamble yet.

In a world where only the sharpest minds survive, Sora Hayashi stands as an enigma—a brilliant, calculating high school student with a ruthless approach to achieving his goals. Known for his unmatched intellect and cold-hearted tactics, Sora has just entered one of the most prestigious academies, a place notorious for breaking the weak and corrupting the strong. As Sora navigates the Academy’s twisted labyrinth of mind games and psychological tests, he manipulates his rivals and outwits his instructors, leaving behind a trail of bewildered opponents and crushed spirits. But in this dark, high-stakes game, every move is watched, every weakness exploited. With each victory, Sora is drawn deeper into the Academy's web, where powerful figures may be just as ruthless—and just as brilliant. *The Mastermind's Game* is a tale of intellect and survival, a psychological thriller where alliances are fragile, trust is a weapon, and mercy is a weakness. As Sora plays his cruel, calculated game, the question remains: will he remain the ultimate player, or become the ultimate pawn?

"I will not be your mistress." She spoke, whispering, with her mouth a sigh away from his. He swallowed hard and nodded, agreeing with her even as he closed the distance between them, kissing her to madness, leaving nothing to sanity. Bethany Fitzgerald hated the very idea of marriage and stood against it with everything she was. Charles de Norcrosse had to marry the insufferable Lady Cossington, for it was the will of his late father and he must abide by it. But when fate moved in favour of the Duke of Carlisle and the daughter of an impoverished Land Baron, very little can be done to fight against it. (Loving Her Duke is the first book of the British Blood Trilogy. Second is Hating Her King.)

Aki Yuuto's life was riddled with troubles, he pushed himself to the brink of exhaustion everyday to become the shining prodigy in everyone's eyes and for what! After all of his efforts he was not only isolated, but scorned! Isn't this too much( ╥﹏╥) First Life: "We don't want to hang out with you anymore Aki, just being in your presence makes us depressed in comparison to ourselves and you." Aki's "friends" say "Get out of the house! We raised you till you were 18 and you didn't give us anything you unfilial son! You've never been one of us." Aki Yuuto, the genius, kicked out of his house the day he turned 18 by his cruel family members. Poor Aki was even put to work as a servant on top of all of his personal work when he lived there! Second Life: I'm away from everyone, I'll be my true self! Using my smarts, I'll pursue my dream of finally being able to sleep and eat whenever I desire! However... Ikemen 1: "Let me hug and cuddle you (ㆆ _ ㆆ)" Ikemen 2: "Stop looking at everyone else. Look at me and compliment me (¬_¬)" Ikemen 3: "Could you play with my hair? (ᵔᴥᵔ)(ᵔᴥᵔ)" Ikemen Group: "Stop playing with him and love me!!" Aki: "Ehhh? ...... let me sleep" ( -_-)

A guy named Ronin who usually earns via gaming and lives with his lover. Suddenly a few events had occurred resulting his lover being framed as a mastermind of a conspiracy. As the story continues we see how beings from upper dimensions and several other masterminds were involved to create those circumstances where Ronin being a pawn of their game . So, that's a story of a BOY who wanted to escape the nets , get back to his home and live happily with his lover. //////// A medium-tier story with simple plot ! Nothing else ! Read and have fun (⁠^⁠^⁠)

In a world ravaged by chaos and tyranny, a legendary figure known as the Omnipotent Warrior emerges. Gifted with extraordinary abilities, he possesses the power to manipulate the elements, heal the wounded, and foresee events. As dark forces threaten to plunge humanity into despair, he sets out on a perilous quest to unite disparate factions and empower them to stand against oppression. Along his journey, he faces formidable foes and inner demons, battling not just for the fate of nations, but for the essence of hope itself. In the end, he learns that true power lies not only in strength, but in the bonds of unity and sacrifice.

A baby left on the doorstep of a Duke after the Duke and his wife received a vision of the child's true parentage they formed a pact to raise Zagreus son of Hades the prince of the underworld.

There are 4 Duke's In the Holy Empire And John Well Is One Of The Duke's But Out of The 4 Dukedom Well's Are The Weakest So Much So That Even Some People Question If There are a Dukedom Now Our MC John Well, Gets a Humiliation System With That Maybe He can Save His Dukedom From Collapsing? "WARNING" This novel will have mc humiliated by character's Involving #Incest #Cuckold #Femdom #NTR #netorare #netorase #Clean ups #sph #Chastity Cage #Forced Feminization #Bdsm # Cbt#Harem If You are Not Into That Stuff Please Kindly Leave and Let Others Enjoy

MY SOUL IS WHAT YOU CRAVE THE MUST, WHAT YOU CRAVE SOO HAD THAT MADE YOU RUIN MY FAMILY. I'M LOST IN THE UNFORTUNATE BUT ALLURING TEMPTATION. I CRAVE MY RUIN LOSING MY BREAKTHROUGH. THE ALLURING FALLING ANGEL AND THE CONDEMNATION OF THIS WORLD. I KNOW THE CONSEQUENCES OF MY ACTION BUT THE RUIN OF THE WORLD SHOULD STOP WITH ME AND YOU. TAKE ME AWAY SAITANI Crystal is the only daughter of the king of Celestial. The fight between the Dimontees and Celestial was spreading without a hope of stopping. The once holy land of Celestial has now become a land where evil and doom roams about. When the queen of Celestial, Crystal's mother lost her life to the unbreakable curse cause by the Dimontees. Crystal strive to stop the oppression of the Dimontees and safe her kingdom from evil, to do so she had to get married to the prince of Aling Zu the devil himself.

In her past life, she was the perfect substitute for a noble lady, discarded in the most cruel manner once she had outlived her usefulness. In this life, she is a woman of unparalleled status, renowned across the world, both cunning and carefree, yet feared by all in the martial world. At the age of four, standing in the grand hall, to protect her weak but dearly beloved brother, she stained her hands with blood and swore to the heavens, "I will shoulder the responsibilities of this world for him, and I will bear the calamities of this world for him!" Ten years later, a woman dressed in plain clothes like the snow under the moon, of breathtaking beauty, emerged in the martial world, beyond the reach of imperial power. "What I desire, what I set my eyes on, shall be mine." In the royal capital of Pan City, at the Martial Arts Assembly, heroes gathered from all corners of the land. Upon the high platform, with just one stunning glance and a casual smile, she captured the hearts of countless admirers and stirred the envy of others. As chaos and war swept the land, as the imperial star faded and warlords rose, the Princess of the Cheng Dynasty drew her sword, abandoning the freedom of the martial world to take to the battlefield. With her sword gleaming in battle and her spirit unyielding, can she protect her country and its people, and uphold the vows she made? Watch as she, a woman from another world, captures the hearts of both men and women, shines in this tumultuous age of heroes, and writes her own legend! Self-introduction: Feng Xianyue: “There is something in this world that surpasses love and freedom, something worth sacrificing everything to protect. I am Feng Xianyue, the Xihe Princess of Feng Nation. They are my responsibility and duty!” Lan Yixuan: “What I desire most in life is perhaps to get a good night’s sleep, to forget everything and live in peace. Your arrival was unexpected, and my desire is no longer just to take lives without bloodshed, but to—have you!” Xuanyuan Hao: “I want both the throne and the woman, but if I must choose one day, I will choose the throne. As for her, I will cherish her in my heart for the rest of my life—no regrets.” Bai Zhanfeng: “Only a woman who can match me in battle is worthy of my affection. Xianyue, is it? I declare that from this day on, you are my woman.” Jun Pinyu: “With my skilled hands, I can cure all ailments and relieve the most bizarre poisons, but who can cure this lovesickness that afflicts me?” Feng Jiulan: “Yue'er, I only wish for you to live a simple life as the most ordinary of people. It’s my fault as your brother that you have suffered.” The heroine is powerful, with both strength and influence, and the story is one of everlasting love between one man and one woman.

[The Genius in the Game] A young Japanese prodigy, obsessed with academics and entirely unfamiliar with games or RPGs, suddenly finds himself transported to a mysterious, game-like world. With a system interface at his disposal, he must learn to navigate this new reality, where his intellect and knowledge from his previous life become his greatest strengths. As he journeys through this magical world, he forms deep connections with those he meets, particularly a lonely warrior who becomes his close companion. Together, they face formidable challenges, from battling dangerous creatures to solving ancient puzzles, all while the system continues to guide and empower him. Determined to learn more about this world, he decides to enter an academy in a distant kingdom, where his intelligence sets him apart from other candidates. Despite his lack of familiarity with the world’s customs and history, he quickly adapts, using his unique perspective to overcome obstacles and build relationships. As he uncovers the secrets of this world, he strives to become a true hero, using his genius mind to change his fate and the fate of those around him.

Tanpa sadar Lavia sudah menjadi villainess seperti yang ada di novel aslinya dan juga ada variabel aneh bagaimana bisa duke yang merupakan sub male lead dan juga villain menjadi muridnya?

'No one knows what follows after death.' Life was but a blur for Zen, and when he came to, he found himself thrown into hell, forced to pass trials of sorts with nothing but a trait he lied about, teammates he didn't know if he could fully trust, and his wits. Zen only had one goal, and it was to know more about himself. If he was sent to hell, then he knew very well that something was waiting for him that could answer the questions he never had throughout his life, and while he's doing so... Nothing shall hinder his path. To Hell! ------------------ Release Rate: 2-3 soon