He has been reborn.

In his past life, he had no name—only a moniker whispered in the dark corridors of power: El Perro de los Duques (The Hound of Dukes). He was a commoner, a strategic genius who manipulated noble bloodlines like chess pieces. He never wielded a sword; he used droughts, “accidents,” and betrayals. Seven dukes fell by his hand, sparking the civil war that toppled a dynasty. But loyalty is a currency that devalues quickly. When his masters no longer needed him, they offered his head to the mob.

His last memory is the thud of the guillotine’s blade.

Leonardo remembers everything . Every poison recipe, every psychological manipulation, every weakness of the noble houses. Yet, he is trapped in a soft, drooling body that cannot hold a dagger, cannot speak, and can only move by crawling.

Then, a gasp. Light. Warmth. The scent of lavender and iron.

As a toddler, Leonardo causes an "accident" that eliminates his first rival—a visiting baron who was planning a coup. Everyone calls it a miracle. The baby is blessed, they say.

But Leonardo knows the truth. He is not blessed. He is back to finish the job. The only question is: after a lifetime of killing nobles, can he learn to live as one? Or will he become the very monster he once destroyed?

The Cradle of Shadows