《Struggling to Survive in the Dark Matriarchal World》 Chapter 1: Lore Islan Upon opening his eyes for the first time and finding himself reclining on a bed adorned with silk coverlets, Lore was thoroughly confounded. He vividly remembered that prior to losing consciousness, he had been on his way home. At that moment, the careening large truck hurtled straight towards the unsuspecting little girl. His body instinctively reacted: He dashed forward, seizing the little girl''s hand and yanking her towards himself. However, in the very next instant, the large truck toppled over and crashed down perpendicularly beside Lore. In the final second before losing awareness, Lore seemed to have shoved the little girl away with all his might. He believed himself to be beyond hope, yet he hoped that the little girl would be safe. "Could it be that I''m still alive?" Lore raised his hand to massage his temples, struggling to sit up from the bed and casting a glance around. The decor was entirely unfamiliar. The interior design of the room resembled that of the medieval era. Every piece of furniture and utensil exuded an air that was alien to the modern age. There was a colossal bronze mirror on the classic dressing table. On the wooden table were an array of exquisite vials. A subtle fragrance permeated the air, yet the source of the aroma eluded detection. Although the room was not spacious, its elegance was such that one felt as if ensconced in a dream. "Was I rescued by some affluent family?" Lore first flexed his hands and feet slightly. Discovering that he was not missing any limbs, he heaved a sigh of relief. But then he discerned something amiss. His hands had, for some inexplicable reason, become soft and fair, bearing a striking resemblance to a girl''s hands. When he touched his face, it was astonishingly smooth. And most significantly, upon sitting up, the jet - black tresses that cascaded on either side reached down to his waist. Were it not for the reassuring presence of his penis, Lore would have thought he had transformed into a girl. "Surely it can''t be that I''ve truly time - traveled? Impossible, surely not." Lore mused inwardly, struggling to rise from the bed. The moment his feet touched the ground, he was immediately overcome with a dizzy spell. "This body is incredibly frail." Although in his heart he already comprehended that something extraordinary had transpired and that he had most likely time - traveled, Lore still refused to capitulate. He staggered towards the dressing table, and then he froze in his tracks. Reflected in the mirror was a beauty with vermilion lips and pearly teeth, features as delicate as a painted portrait. With a complexion as fair and delicate as ice and snow, and a slender, fragile frame that seemed ill - equipped to withstand the slightest adversity, one couldn''t help but be filled with a sense of compassion. The lustrous, flowing long hair reached down to the waist. At first glance, Lore was unable to determine whether the beauty in the mirror was male or female. What was even more astonishing was that this was himself? The instant he beheld his own visage in the mirror, his temples began to throb violently. Lore laboriously raised his right hand to press his temple, and his entire body slumped to the ground. Some fragmented images suddenly flashed through his mind. I am, I am Lore, no, I am Lore - Islan, the sole heir of the Islan family that safeguards the border of the duchy. The images flickered through Lore''s mind like scenes from a motion picture. In the scenes, the young Lore - Islan trailed after his parents. His mother was the Baroness Islan. The family''s mission was to defend the border of the Duchy of Sinthorn. As a child, Lore was as adorable as a porcelain doll, accompanying his mother on the city wall, gazing out at the distant land blanketed in a mantle of snow. Subsequently, the Blood - Red Kingdom on the other side of the border instigated the Eternal Night War. Lore''s parents perished in the conflict. Among the direct descendants of the family, only his aunt and Lore remained. This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author''s work. Having always been shielded by his parents and leading a carefree life, Lore had never witnessed the malevolence of human nature. Before long, the loyal servants around him were banished, and the power was usurped by his aunt. Lore himself was imprisoned and prohibited from venturing even a single step beyond his residence. The venomous gaze of his aunt flashed through his mind. Lore finally recollected the entire sequence of events: At yesterday''s dinner table, his aunt regarded Lore with that malevolent and covetous stare time and again. Eventually, she couldn''t restrain herself and reached out to caress Lore''s face wantonly, murmuring: "Soon, Lore. You are my finest creation, the most flawless gift. Once I present you to the Grand Duke, I can..." For an extended period, Lore had been held captive by his aunt. She stringently regulated his daily diet. Initially, she was rather surreptitious about it, but after seizing power, his aunt no longer made any attempt to conceal her intentions. She added powder derived from the rhizomes of Datura stramonium to Lore''s daily sustenance. Simultaneously, she depleted the Islan family''s savings to procure the incense and ointment used by the Secret Abyss Cult for making sacrifices, and applied them to Lore day in and day out. All of this was aimed at fashioning Lore into the most perfect gift. In seven days'' time, on the occasion of the Grand Duke of Sinthorn''s birthday, Lore would be offered as a gift to the Grand Duke. The current Grand Duke of Sinthorn, Elisa, was extremely ruthless. She governed the duchy with brutality and bloodshed. It was rumored that she was insatiably lustful and had a penchant for beautiful young boys and girls, yet her methods were exceedingly cruel. No one who had been favored by her was known to have survived. The drug concocted from Datura stramonium roots was called Dream - Drunk, a prohibited substance in the duchy. Generally, it was employed by nobles to discipline their servants. Consumption of this drug rendered the body weak, yet the physical desires gradually accumulated, and it could also promote the development of certain body parts. If one consumed it over an extended period without engaging in sexual intercourse, they could still resist the physical urges. However, once they experienced sexual relations, they would be completely enslaved by the potency of the drug and become prisoners of their desires. Lore was seventeen years old this year. Under his aunt''s manipulation, Lore had been consuming the drug for a full eight years. By now, the situation had deteriorated to an irreparable extent. Nearly every night, Lore would toss and turn in bed, attempting to endure the flames of desire consuming his body. The Secret Abyss Cult, also known as the Celestial Body Cult, worshipped the demons dwelling in the abyss and was a notoriously infamous cult recognized by the duchy. The incense and ointment from this cult had the capacity to enhance the body''s aptitude. Originally, these were the magic potions used by the cult to create sacrifices. The spices from the abyss were said to be capable of altering the flesh and blood of ordinary mortals, endowing even the most unremarkable individuals with the miraculous ability to attract the demons of the abyss. After undergoing special preparation, this drug could transform an ordinary - looking mortal into a rare beauty. This drug was extremely precious and not available for purchase on the market. It could truly effect a complete transformation of a person. As for the side - effect, it was merely a negligible one - making Lore more prone to attracting blood - thirsty demons. Evidently, his aunt was unconcerned about this. After all, as long as she presented Lore to the Grand Duke, she would receive rewards sufficient to catapult her to great heights. As for Lore''s fate, she couldn''t care less. Recalling his aunt''s revolting expression and tone, and the sensation of her filthy fingers, Lore, who had come to his senses, couldn''t help but shudder and even felt a physical urge to retch. "Damn it. A female - dominant world is bad enough, and it''s a hellish start." Lore struggled to his feet and regarded his breathtakingly beautiful reflection in the mirror with a bitter expression. Not to mention others, even Lore himself found his beauty somewhat unreal. If someone in his previous life had possessed such looks, regardless of their gender, it would surely have triggered a worldwide sensation. "This drug is extremely potent." Presumably, believing Lore to be completely under her control, his aunt had not concealed the matter of the drug. The former self had a weak disposition. After losing the protection of his parents, he had not resisted and had allowed his aunt to tyrannize him, resulting in an extremely dire situation. After his aunt declared yesterday that she intended to offer him to the Grand Duke of Sinthorn, the former self returned to his room. In despair, he chose to take his own life by consuming poison that would enable him to pass away peacefully in his sleep. This was the final and only act of resistance the former self could muster under his aunt''s oppression. Wait, how had the former self managed to obtain the poison under his aunt''s watchful eye? Lore detected a blind spot. He exerted himself to recall. It seemed to have been through a maid. Yes, the maid Annie, the only servant left behind by his parents who had not been banished by his aunt. It was also with her assistance that Lore had procured the poison. "Right, Annie. Annie is on my side," Lore reflected, furrowing his brow slightly. Due to the previous recollection, his temples began to ache faintly once more. "Since I''m here, passively awaiting my fate is not in my nature." Lore sorted out the sequence of events and began to contemplate a solution. The former self, being powerless to resist, had chosen to take his own life. He was different. If he were bullied like this, he would, even in death, bite off a piece of the other person''s flesh, making the other person feel the pain. Chapter 2: The Maid Annie Subsequent to Lore''s aunt seizing the reins of power, the aged servants within the family, including those who had once been intimate with Lore, were successively ousted by her and supplanted with a cohort of her loyal adherents. At present, the only acquaintance from the past with whom Lore can still make contact is none other than Annie. Annie serves as the steward of the Islan family and attended to Lore''s parents. For some inscrutable reason, even to this day, his aunt has refrained from expelling her. She is also the sole remaining person in this household upon whom the previous incarnation of Lore could rely. Lore reseated himself upon the bed. At this juncture, his body was enfeebled to such an extent that the prospect of fleeing from the Islan family''s manor in the Thornshire was wholly unrealistic. Indeed, in order to partake in the birthday celebration of the Grand Duke of Sinthorn in seven days'' time, Lore had already been conveyed to the Thornshire by his aunt. As a baroness family within the duchy, the Islan family possessed their own familial properties here as well. They were merely awaiting the passage of seven days to present Lore, all packaged, to the Grand Duke. I must contrive a means to get in touch with Annie. Such were Lore''s musings. Precisely at this moment, the firmly shut door was rapped upon. "Master, are you awake?" The languid and husky voice was unmistakably Annie''s. "Sister Annie, I''m awake. Do come in post - haste." Lore''s spirits soared. He had just been pondering how to establish contact with Annie, and lo and behold, it was this uncomplicated. Upon uttering these words, Lore was startled by his own voice. It was the first instance since his awakening that he had heard his voice, which was dulcet and delicate. Resembling that of a youth yet to enter the stage of voice - change, the long - term suppression of his physical desires lent his voice a faintly quivering cadence, tinged with a subtle, almost imperceptible allure. Good heavens! My voice is even more remarkable than those voice - mimicry masters of my previous life. This is my bona fide natural voice. Lore couldn''t help but let his thoughts roam freely. Outside the door, having received Lore''s response, the person pushed open the door. A tall woman, attired in a knee - length, jet - black gown and a white lace apron, entered with a graceful and unhurried gait. It was Annie. Annie was garbed in a quintessential maid''s ensemble. Her legs, sheathed in black stockings, delineated a long and curvaceous arc. Judging solely by her countenance, she could be accorded a rating of seven. Although not as breathtakingly beautiful as Lore, she was nonetheless comely. Her figure was yet more alluring and voluptuous, beyond reproach. Lore''s gaze unavoidably lingered for a brief moment on the magnificent swell of her bosom, after which he somewhat sheepishly averted his eyes. Little did he know that this action was also noted by Annie, who subtly curved the corners of her mouth into a clandestine smile. "Master, there is a scent of sedative on you," Annie remarked as she neared the bedside, her nose twitching slightly. Abruptly, she stooped down and brought her visage close to Lore''s neck, as if inhaling gently. A faint aroma of roses wafted forth, and her slightly labored breath tousled his hair. Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit. "Too, too close..." Lore dared not stir for the moment. The fragrance of the roses set his heart aflutter. Having long - term ingested the Datura stramonium drug, he was incapable of withstanding the excessive proximity of the opposite sex. As if cognizant of Lore''s condition, Annie straightened up once more, her deportment immaculate. With a tinge of solemnity, she declared, "Master, I ought to have apprised you that your present constitution cannot tolerate sedatives. One misstep and you might slumber for an extended period and fail to awaken. You ought not to have deceived me." Annie''s eyes clouded over momentarily and then reverted to normal. "There are but seven days remaining until the birthday of the Grand Duke of Sinthorn. You ought to cherish your health all the more." Something amiss here. Could Annie be in league with my aunt? Lore''s heart plummeted, and he resolved to test her. Consequently, Lore stared fixedly at Annie, his exquisite eyes brimming with helplessness and sorrow. The gaze of such a beauty would surely touch even the most obdurate of hearts. "Sister Annie, I erred. I ought not to have taken the sedatives, but I am frightfully terrified. Can you convey me away from this place? I have no desire to be proffered to the Grand Duke of Sinthorn." Lore''s eyes welled with tears, and his words were replete with deep - seated emotion. "Master, within the Duchy of Sinthorn, none can defy the Grand Duke. None." Annie fixed her gaze on her young master''s delicate countenance, her eyes downcast, and intoned softly. "Ever since the Grand Duke of Sinthorn singled you out, there has been no recourse. The acting family head is merely acting in obedience to orders. The Islan family cannot decline the Grand Duke of Sinthorn''s behest. As the legitimate son of the late baroness, you ought to shoulder the responsibility." "Is the responsibility I must shoulder to consume aphrodisiacs daily and transform into the Grand Duke''s plaything?" Perceiving that Annie had no intention of assisting him in escaping, Lore, with tears in his eyes, spoke in a somewhat despairing manner. "Master, the Islan family cannot gainsay the Grand Duke." Annie merely reiterated her earlier statement, yet a peculiar smile abruptly materialized on her visage. She slightly narrowed her eyes and minutely scrutinized her young charge. Lore remained oblivious. After being rebuffed by Annie once more, Lore exclaimed in exasperation, "Then am I simply to perish? I am the heir of the Islan family!" Upon hearing this, Annie at last curbed her smile and regarded her young master''s stunning visage intently. It bore traces of anger, yet somehow failed to inspire awe. Instead, it resembled a little cat bristling its fur, rendering it endearing. After a momentary silence, Annie at length spoke slowly, "Master, had you attained this realization earlier, perhaps matters would not have deteriorated to the present state." Lore was taken aback, staring blankly at Annie. Annie extended her hand and gently caressed Lore''s hair, saying softly, "It is well, Master. I shall render you assistance. It is not yet too late. Once you are truly proffered to the Grand Duke, then there will indeed be no hope." Could it be that Sister Annie has always been on my side? Merely because the previous incarnation, for the sake of the continuance of the Islan family, elected to capitulate to my aunt? Such were Lore''s thoughts, and he couldn''t refrain from inquiring, "Then, Sister Annie, do you currently possess a means to aid me?" Annie did not respond forthwith but instead counter - questioned,"Master, do you know why the acting family head has never banished me?" Indeed, why had all the other servants been replaced, yet Annie remained? Lore couldn''t help but let his imagination run wild. After a moment of silence, he finally heard Annie disclose the mystery. "Master, the reason our Islan family was able to thrive on the border of the Eternal Night and be ennobled for our military exploits lies fundamentally in the fact that we possess our own family''s guardian spirit." Annie gently divulged the long - concealed secret, "The late baroness departed too precipitously and was unable to personally bequeath this legacy to you." "Guardian spirit?" Lore was startled. From the memory fragments bequeathed to him by the previous incarnation, in this world, there were vampires, the church, and knights galloping on the battlefield. Could it be that his own family was also extraordinary? "Indeed. A guardian spirit that can only be summoned by those bearing the Islan bloodline. If you place your trust in me, Master, this very night, I shall assist you in summoning your own guardian spirit. Although it may be incapable of contending with the Grand Duke of Sinthorn, it can at least safeguard you and enable you to depart from the Thornshire." Annie looked at Lore, speaking earnestly. In her resplendent eyes was reflected Lore''s breathtaking visage, and deep within, it seemed as though unfathomable darkness was churning. Chapter 3: The Guardian Spirit of Islan "Guardian spirit, huh?" Lore muttered to himself. These words seemed to hold some sort of magic. The Islan family had its roots on the border of the Eternal Night. Generation after generation, they had safeguarded the duchy''s border, the Eternal Night Great Wall. On the other side of the Eternal Night Great Wall lay the Blood - Red Kingdom ruled by vampires. There, humans and other alien races were merely kept as livestock, living in eternal darkness, never seeing the sunlight. Before the Eternal Night War, the two races, separated by the Great Wall, had enjoyed peace for centuries. Most people believed that the vampires had become content with the status quo and would no longer cross the Great Wall. That was until that queen ascended the throne, and her blood - red gaze once again turned towards the human realm. Lore, newly arrived in this world, had only fragmented memories left by his predecessor about this world. He vaguely knew that in this world, there were powerful knights galloping freely on the battlefield, guarding the duchy; there were vampires that fed on blood and lurked on the other side of the Great Wall, shunning sunlight; there were withered undead, aimlessly wandering on the snow that never melted throughout the year... Yet, peculiarly, in his memories of his own family, there was no such thing as a guardian spirit. Had his predecessor''s parents protected him too well? "Sister Annie, of course I trust you... But how on earth can I summon the guardian spirit?" Lore vaguely sensed something amiss, but at this moment, he had no other option and could only place his trust in this housekeeper maid left by his parents. "Master, I''ll assist you," Annie whispered into Lore''s ear, her breath soft. Black mist swirled in her eyes. "Today, as long as you follow my lead, I won''t let you be taken away by the Grand Duke." Towards the end, her voice had grown so faint. A fleeting daze flashed in Lore''s resplendent eyes, as if he hadn''t quite caught what Annie was saying. His consciousness began to blur, and his body gradually grew feverish. Unable to hold himself up, he slumped weakly to one side, only to be caught precisely in Annie''s embrace. Annie took the opportunity to sit on the bedside and cradled the doll - like, dazed Lore in her arms. She tenderly stroked Lore''s increasingly warm cheeks. Her fingertips gently grazed Lore''s delicate eyelashes, teasing them slightly. Watching the young master''s dazed expression, her cherry - red lips slowly curved into a smile. "Nearly there. After nurturing you for so long, you''re finally about to reach maturity..." Annie caressed Lore''s exquisitely beautiful face, her eyes intently fixed on Lore''s tender lips. "I can''t let that madwoman from Sinthorn claim you by force." She gently brushed Lore''s long eyelashes, closing them bit by bit. Then, she slowly lowered her face and gently pressed her lips against Lore''s cherry - red ones, gently rubbing them. ... Lore seemed to have a dream. In the dream, a rich aroma of roses permeated the air. He was walking alone in the Islan manor. Although there was clearly no one around, he felt as if something was stealthily observing him. Lore walked in a daze, passing through the courtyard, the corridor, and reaching the spiral staircase. But instead of ascending, he spiraled downward. Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website. Was there a basement in the manor? Lore thought subconsciously. The shadows around him began to wriggle, and whispers continuously drifted out from the shadows. They were words he had never heard before, like the gnashing of a wild beast''s teeth or the scraping of metal, harsh and unfamiliar. Strangely, gradually, Lore seemed to understand their words. "He''s still young..." "How alluring..." "A scrumptious sacrament..." Lore suddenly felt a chill run through his entire body. In the dream, he kept descending, and the spiral staircase seemed to lead to an abyss, stretching on endlessly. Until, until he came to the door of a stone chamber. The stone door had already been pushed open, and there were flickering candle flames within. "Ah, Master, you''ve arrived." There was someone quietly waiting in the stone chamber. "I have awaited you for a long time." Lore entered the stone chamber. The ground was damp and cold. Countless white candles were placed on either side of the path, leading him towards a high platform. On the high platform, a figure in a hooded robe awaited him. "Who are you?" Lore softly inquired. In the dream, his voice was tender and cold, tinged with the innocence of a child. Was this, was this an event from Lore''s childhood? "Master, I am the guardian spirit of Islan," the black robe trailed on the ground, and the face was entirely concealed beneath the hood. The young Lore spoke coldly. Even though he was but a child, his delicate features already foretold that he was destined to grow into a beauty capable of toppling kingdoms. What was even more remarkable was that at this moment, Lore exuded a cold and majestic aura, utterly different from the gentle and submissive demeanor he would later display in the memory fragments. "My name is Lore, Lore - Islan," the indifferent words flowed from Lore''s lips, with an unyielding air of authority."I am Islan." A faint laugh emanated from beneath the hood."Then, Master, have you come to conclude a contract with me?" "I have indeed come for this very purpose." The dream - Lore spoke calmly, with not a ripple in his resplendent eyes. "Reveal your hood." "As you wish." The hood was slowly pushed back, and the charming and delicate face hidden in the shadows gradually came into view. The purple eyes were deep and otherworldly, making one unable to resist being entranced. Even Lore had to admit that in his two lifetimes, he had never beheld such a beautiful woman. She looked like a girl of merely sixteen or seventeen years old, yet she carried a strange air of maturity. Her alluring figure was completely hidden within the robe. Just by looking at her face, one couldn''t help but imagine what a stunning figure was concealed beneath the robe. Her features were so exquisitely beautiful that they seemed almost unreal, as if there was a layer of mist swirling around them. In it, anyone seemed to be able to discern the visage of the most beautiful person in their heart. The quality education Lore had received in his previous life had taught him that so - called beauty was a transient concept. In some eras, plumpness was deemed beautiful; in some, delicacy and slenderness were favored; in some, heroism and masculinity were prized. But the woman before him, her face might well be described as"beautiful under any circumstances." Not only that, but even the figure beneath the robe could be said to possess the same quality: she was the very essence of beauty. This was a beauty transcending the mundane. This could surely not be a human. Just by gazing at this transcendent beauty, Lore already felt his thoughts slowing down, making it increasingly difficult to think. Yet, his body involuntarily spoke. "Is the guardian spirit of Islan the legendary Goddess of Beauty?" It was incredible that the young Lore at that time could still maintain his lucidity and engage in normal conversation. "Precisely," the peerlessly beautiful woman smiled, and for a moment, it seemed as if the candle flames ceased to flicker, and the dim stone chamber brightened. "The Goddess of Beauty has long fallen from her pedestal. You are but a demon that has usurped the remains of the Goddess of Beauty." The young Lore''s tender voice reverberated in the stone chamber, yet he was uttering blasphemous words and astonishing secrets. As if her identity had been exposed, the peerless face of the woman before him seemed to crack, with hideous fissures appearing one after another. Black mist billowed out from them, and the purple eyes transformed into deep, pitch - black voids, sending a shiver down one''s spine. "Master, you are truly very bold." The demon''s voice turned hoarse. Countless black mists seeped out from beneath the robe, gradually filling the entire stone chamber. The small figure of the young Lore was also engulfed by the mist. "Even so, you still dare to come and conclude a contract with me?" "I have indeed come for this very purpose." The black mist filled the entire stone chamber. From within the black mist emerged the boy''s tender yet resolute voice, followed by a spine - chilling laugh.