

Catherine Spence, the former Empress Dowager,was murdered, and the emperor’s stepson performed daily blood rituals to summon her spirit. Three years later, she is reborn—not as the empress, but as the emperor’s overlooked and unloved consort, giving her a second chance at life… and at reclaiming what was stolen from her.

Modern-day gamer Leo Kane dies suddenly after an all-night gaming session and wakes up in another world as Grecan's most feared assassin, Cipher. Upon awakening, he's hired by Imperial Guard officer Hugo Spence to kill a woman named Lady Brooks. Intending to take the money and slack off, Leo's plan collapses when he's captured by his target, Poppy Brooks, who discovers his assassination mission. After Leo bravely drives off a group of bandits, Poppy's view of him changes. When she later learns that Leo once saved her life, their relationship begins to thaw, sparking a bond neither expected in a world built on blades and secrets...