Marilou Gagné

Hi everyone!
          
          Sorry for the delay with the next chapter. I’m calling a short hiatus—just until things calm down a bit.
          
          If you're curious about the tea, here it is (and it helps me vent a little too):
          I was a freelance language assistant in Japan and doing well... until the Olympics. English learning boomed, and schools opened everywhere. But after the pandemic hit and the Olympics flopped, many schools closed or barely survived—and the job market collapsed.
          
          That’s when things got worse. New companies promised good pay and visa support, but deducted everything—housing (often their own properties), insurance, transport… In the end, I was working 60+ hours/week for less than minimum wage, stuck and isolated.
          
          Hoping for stability, I joined a new school led by a wealthy woman. It sounded great. It wasn’t. She exploited us and treated us terribly. That was the last straw.
          
          So, I’ve made a big decision:
          I’m starting a literature club—a space to read, write, and enjoy immersive language learning. I’ll finally use my linguistics and literature background to build a safe, creative, and fun environment. I even plan to use Wattpad stories for reading activities.
          
          It’s a fresh project, and I truly hope it works. I’d love to build a peaceful life doing what I love: reading, writing, and helping others grow.
          
          ✨ If you'd like to support me, I just opened an Instagram for this journey:
          @blossom_of_literature
          A small pat on the back would mean a lot 
          
          Thank you for sticking with me! I’ll be back with new chapters—stronger and more inspired.
          
          Wish me luck!

Hey everyone! I hope you're all doing great! 
          I finally finished the next chapter, and I’m so excited to share it with you!
          
          This chapter marks the last moment of calm before we dive into a whole new arc. From the next one onward, the story will shift gears: Aurelia will begin adapting to life in the Northern Empire, moving away from political intrigue and focusing—alongside Hanna—on earning the Emperor’s blessing so she can finally return to Darius.
          
          Meanwhile, Darius won’t have it easy either. As Aurelia tries to build a bridge between kingdoms, he’ll be forced to face the wrath of Eika’lan itself… as revolution brews in the shadows.
          
          I hope you’ll enjoy this final peaceful chapter before the storm rolls in! 
          
          Thank you again, from the bottom of my heart, for your support and for following me through this novelist journey. It means the world to me. 
          Take care, and see you in the comments! ✨
          
          https://www.wattpad.com/1551888977-i%27ll-never-give-in-in-the-stillness-we-hold-on

Thank you so, so much for adding The Graveyard Song to your recommended ongoing reading list. It means the world! Thank you, thank you!! I hope I can keep you entertained...

Thank you so much for your patience!
          I’ll be writing the next chapter tonight !
          
          In the meantime, I’ve gone back and edited the first four parts of the story. A huge thank you to @RedPetal49 for the thoughtful and constructive comments—they really helped me move through the process more smoothly and confidently 
          
          Some chapters have changed quite a bit  I just hope the edits are for the better!
          
          I truly hope you enjoy the read, and please don’t hesitate to leave a comment—feedback helps so much with improvement and motivation 
          
          Take care and happy reading! ✨

Hello everyone!
          First, I want to sincerely thank each and every one of you who supports me by reading my story. It truly means the world to me. Writing is a hobby I cherish—it brings me comfort and lightens my daily routine. Your encouragement lifts me up in ways I can't even begin to express!
          
          This chapter came together smoothly, and I’m genuinely excited because we’re now entering the arc where Aurelia heads to the Northern Empire alone, leaving Darius behind in Eika’lan… I’m planning for it to be emotional and intense—as always (or at least, as much as I can manage! ^^; )
          
          But before diving deeper, I’ve decided to go back and edit the earlier chapters. When I started this story, I already had everything mapped out in my mind. However, reading through the first chapters recently, I noticed they were a bit dense and could use some light editing. This is the first novel I’ve ever written, and I made myself a promise to see it through—completing it is one of my personal life goals.
          
          Also, English isn’t my first language ^^; Writing this story has been a wonderful learning journey. I’ve discovered so many new words, and thankfully, being an avid reader helps me phrase and nuance things more easily. I’ll continue to adjust little things that bother me here and there, and I truly hope you’re enjoying this journey as much as I am.
          
          Take care, and thank you again for your amazing support! 
          
          https://www.wattpad.com/1546881552-i%27ll-never-give-in-the-blessing-and-the-battle

Hey everyone!
          Sorry for the short hiatus. As I mentioned in my last announcement, things have been a bit complicated lately, and I haven’t had the same time or stability I had last month. Thank you so much for your patience and support.
          
          I hope you’ll still enjoy this chapter—I decided to publish it even though a few parts still feel a little “off” to me.  Sometimes, it’s better to stop overthinking and just let the story live its own life, right? 
          
          This chapter dives deep into Darius’s internal conflicts. You’ve seen how calculating he can be… but now that the chessboard is fully set, and every misstep could mean checkmate, even he starts to feel the pressure.
          
          Also… Aurelia finally gets some sleep (YASSS!)—a small breath of peace before the next storm hits.
          
          Meanwhile, the five envoys communicate the latest turn of events to the Northern Emperor, and one law might just change everything about the freedom they’re fighting for.
          
           If you enjoyed the chapter, please vote and let me know your thoughts in the comments—I love reading them and hearing your interpretations! 
          
          https://www.wattpad.com/1545915282-i%27ll-never-give-in-every-path-bleeds

Hi everyone,
          First of all, I’d like to sincerely apologize for the delay in publishing this chapter. Life has been a bit overwhelming lately, and I’ve had a lot on my shoulders—but I’m deeply grateful for your patience and continued support.
          
          This chapter was especially intense to write. It marks a turning point for Aurelia, where power, pain, and defiance collide in a very public, very dangerous game. I hope you’ll feel the weight of every word and the tension of every glance, as much as I did while writing it.
          
          Thank you again for walking this journey with me. Your comments, theories, and love for these characters mean more than you know.
          
          Now, without further ado—
          https://www.wattpad.com/1538021057-i%27ll-never-give-in-the-moment-before-the-avalanche

My new chapter is one I’ve been eager to share, and it brings some unexpected turns. Aurelia faces a deep inner conflict that forces her to confront everything she thought she knew about herself. After a tense conversation with Marianne, she begins to question her path, and the weight of her own emotions threatens to unravel her.
          
          But not everything is as it seems. The chapter explores more than just her struggle. The choices she makes, and the silent forces around her, set the stage for something much bigger.
          
          There’s a subtle tension, a shift in the air, that promises more than just emotional turmoil. What will happen when everything Aurelia once believed in starts to crumble? The answers are coming, but they won’t be what you expect.
          
          I can’t wait for you to dive in and discover the unexpected twists waiting inside.

I’ve been super busy lately, but I finally released a new chapter! 
          Thank you so much for your patience and continued support!
          
          In this chapter, tensions rise as Eika’lan prepares for the looming threat from the Northern Empire. While civilians are hidden underground and defenses are reinforced, Aurelia refuses to rest—until Marianne takes matters into her own hands. Meanwhile, Darius reflects on the painful path that brought him here: his mother’s tragic fate, the Emperor’s manipulation, and the choices that cost him everything.
          
          As past and present collide, both leaders must confront their truths to shape what comes next.
          
          If you enjoy the chapter, don’t forget to vote and leave a comment—it means the world to me! 
          
          Happy reading! ✨

Thanks for following! I hope you enjoy reading my DARK HUMAN!