by Cgwest
In the kingdom of Valedryn, every noble child receives a prophecy at birth. Some are destined to become heroes.Some become kings.Some become saints. And a very unfortunate few are marked as Villains. When starving orphan Lucien Vale tries to steal bread from a noble carriage, he expects prison—or execution. Instead, the girl inside saves him. Lady Seraphina Ashbourne, the youngest daughter of one of the empire’s most feared ducal houses, offers him food, shelter… …and a job. “From today onward,” she tells him with all the arrogance of a spoiled noble child, “you belong to me.” Lucien becomes Seraphina’s personal butler at the age of ten. There’s just one problem: Years later, Lucien discovers the truth. Seraphina is the future “Villainess” fated to die in nearly every prophecy, political timeline, and historical vision recorded by the empire’s seers. And somehow— Lucien remembers fragments of those futures. In every version of history, she dies betrayed, hated, or executed. So Lucien makes a decision: If the world insists on turning Seraphina into a villainess… Then he’ll become the terrifying shadow behind her throne. A butler trained in swordsmanship, assassination, etiquette, battlefield tactics, and forbidden magic. A servant willing to fight heroes, nobles, demons, and even fate itself— Just to keep his lady smiling.
