After Linking the Villainess and Male Lead (5 Chapters Left to Complete) - Chapter 26
It was because, the moment he thought of Lucas Aiker, he couldn’t contain his anger and yanked the reins of his horse.
“Why is that, Your Grace?”
The adjutant riding behind quickly approached Kaern and asked.
“…Never mind. Let’s go.”
Kaern’s voice had dropped to an almost imperceptible low.
Having served Kaern for a long time, the adjutant realized at once that his mood was exceptionally foul.
“Yes.”
Glancing at Kaern’s expression, the adjutant gave a brief reply and stepped back slightly.
Having regained composure, Kaern spurred his horse onward.
The horse, as if reflecting its master’s state of mind, broke into a swift gallop the moment it started moving again.
Facing the fierce wind, Kaern made a firm resolution.
He decided he must utterly eliminate every possible source of future instability.
[This is the timeline separator]‘Ah!’
He remembered.
It was war.
Around this time, war had definitely broken out, and Kaern had been away from the capital for quite a while due to his deployment.
How long exactly had it lasted?
I strained my memory, trying to recall the original plot that now felt hazy.
Right.
The war hadn’t ended until more than half a year had passed.
No—that wasn’t quite right.
Kaern had merely returned hastily to the capital in the midst of the ongoing conflict.
There had been a reason compelling Kaern, who was commanding his troops in the field, to return before the war’s conclusion.
Because…
Rumors had spread as far as the borders that Adelia, due to her excessive misdeeds, was to be executed by imperial decree.
But by the time he arrived in the capital to save his only younger sister, Adelia, everything had already come to an end.
In Kaern’s hands then lay evidence proving Adelia had been framed.
Unable to accept the lonely, unjust death of his sister, Kaern ultimately succumbed to uncontrollable fury and launched a civil war to exact revenge on the Emperor and all the nobles.
The war dragged on for a considerable time.
Because this internal conflict erupted while the external war was still unresolved, the once-prosperous lands of the empire were left utterly devastated.
Personally, I would have preferred Kaern’s victory, but unfortunately, the novel concluded with the triumph of the Emperor and the nobles.
As I kept recalling the original story, I suddenly remembered who had killed Kaern to end the war.
It was none other than Marquess Blake Warren.
‘Right. It was Blake Warren.’
Now that I recalled his name, everything became clear.
I remembered exactly what kind of man he was.
‘Didn’t he harbor a deep sense of inferiority toward Kaern?’
In the Loyden Empire, the ducal houses wielded immense power—
so much so that even the Emperor couldn’t freely manipulate them.
Among these great houses, the Lavellion family stood at the very pinnacle.
Thus, it was perhaps only natural that nobles from lesser-ranked marquis or other houses would feel inferior toward such an untouchably powerful figure.
Yet Blake Warren never outwardly revealed this sentiment.
On the surface, he appeared exceedingly gentlemanly and kind-hearted to everyone, and furthermore possessed outstanding ability and pedigree.
Therefore, no one ever realized he harbored such feelings toward Kaern.
Well, in the end, since Kaern died by Blake Warren’s hand, I suppose that man won.
‘Enough thinking about this.’
It only soured my mood for no reason.
After all, the original story had already vanished without a trace.
Though Blake Warren might still carry that inferiority toward Kaern, from now on he wouldn’t be able to lay a finger—even a single hair—on Kaern.
To shake off the uneasy feeling stirred by these memories, I turned my thoughts elsewhere.
‘What did that even mean?’
Was he really serious about marrying me?
Why?
Marrying a young lady from a better house would surely be the path most beneficial to his long-standing family.
Unless…
‘Could he actually have feelings for me?’
No. Impossible.
“Sigh.”
I shook my head firmly, lay back on the bed, and let out a deep sigh.
“Kaern.”
Then, slowly, I spoke aloud the name I hadn’t been able to utter earlier.
“Kaern Lavellion.”
What on earth was he thinking?
“I already miss him.”
Unrequited love truly felt like a thorn caught on one’s fingertip—
seemingly harmless until, all at once, it pricked with pain, reminding you where your heart truly lay.
Because of it, my mind grew tangled, yet my heart fluttered just as it had the first time I saw him.
Though, admittedly, it hadn’t been this intense before.
The only explanation was Kaern’s recent change in behavior.
‘He did say he’d come later… but it’s war.’
If time flowed as in the original story, Kaern should be extremely busy preparing for war right now.
If he left immediately for the border, what would become of us?
My head began to ache slightly from all these thoughts.
At times like this, tending to the garden without thinking was truly the best remedy.
Though far smaller than the Duke of Lavellion’s garden, our garden was also very beautiful, shaped entirely by my own hands.
Since I’d soon depart for studies abroad, someone else would have to care for it, so some preparation was necessary.
After spending several hours in the garden, evening had already fallen.
Indeed, focusing on a task truly helped keep idle thoughts at bay.
After dinner, I settled into the study to read, waiting for Kaern.
But as the night grew late, there was still no sign of him arriving.
“So he really isn’t coming tonight.”
I’d already anticipated this, yet disappointment was unavoidable.
Repeating “just a little longer” to myself, an hour slipped away in an instant.
Outside, I sensed neither carriage nor even the faintest presence of a person.
Eventually, tasting bitterness on my tongue, I lay down on my bed.
Naturally, sleep wouldn’t come.
After all, lying still right before bed was always when one’s thoughts ran the wildest.
I tried hard to fall asleep, yet the more I tried, the clearer my mind became.
‘This won’t do.’
If I stayed in bed any longer, I’d surely stay awake all night—I should go for a walk.
I sprang up from my bed and lightly draped a shawl over my shoulders.
Just as I reached for the door to step outside—
Knock knock.
“Miss.”
Amy’s voice called to me from beyond the door.
Instead of replying, I immediately grasped the doorknob and opened it.
“You’re awake, Miss?”
“Yeah. I couldn’t sleep and was thinking of going for a walk.”
“I see.”
“What is it?”
“Oh—His Grace, the Duke of Lavellion, has just arrived.”
“The Duke?”
“Yes. You told me to inform you whenever he came, no matter the hour.”
Earlier, I’d instructed Amy to wake me even if I were asleep.
“Where is His Grace now?”
“He’s waiting in the drawing room.”
Hearing Amy’s answer, I hurried out of my bedroom.
“Amy, please prepare some warm tea and light refreshments.”
“Yes, of course.”
Glancing at the time, it seemed he’d come straight here right after finishing his duties at the palace.
Worried he might have skipped a meal in his haste to see me, I’d asked Amy to prepare some refreshments.
Then, without a moment’s delay, I rushed toward the drawing room.
‘Oh no.’
Only when I paused at the door to steady my breathing did I realize I was still wearing my nightgown.
For a moment, I considered returning to change—but I couldn’t keep him waiting any longer.
Fortunately, since I’d already put on a shawl for my planned walk, my attire wasn’t entirely inappropriate for receiving a guest.
Adjusting the shawl neatly over my shoulders, I opened the drawing room door.
Contrary to my expectation that he’d be seated on the sofa, Kaern was standing near the window.
“Your Grace.”
At my call, Kaern slowly walked toward me.
“I apologize for visiting so late.”
“No, it’s fine.”
“Were you already asleep?”
Seeing my nightgown, Kaern asked.
“Oh… I wasn’t asleep. I was just about to go for a walk outside.”
“A walk?”
“Yes. I couldn’t sleep.”
“Then let’s go outside.”
“Now?”
“I’d also like some fresh air.”
“Alright, then.”
The tea and snacks I’d asked Amy to bring would have to wait until we returned.
We left the drawing room and walked out of the mansion.
As we stepped outside, I stole a quick glance at his profile.
Just as I’d sensed in the drawing room, he indeed looked quite weary.
‘Did he truly come here without rest, just to keep his promise to me?’
“Your Grace, was everything resolved successfully?”
As soon as we entered the garden, I broke the silence between us to speak.
When male lead is the homewrecker
“I know she doesn’t love him.”
I’ve read the novel below twice already. Girls, I’m highly recommending it to you!
The female lead? Not a good person.
The second male lead? Not a good person.
The male lead? Willingly plays the third party, breaking up the female and second male lead’s relationship despite all the warnings from his friends—so yeah, he’s definitely not a good person either.
Basically, nobody in this novel is simple-minded or without scheming.
The female lead starts off as the male lead’s secretary, but don’t worry—later on, she takes over the company while the male lead steps back to support her. He won’t steal her spotlight, overshadow her, or dull her shine.
I love novels where men are out here snatching wigs, tearing each other down, and going to war just to win the female lead’s affection. And this is exactly that kind of novel. Most of Hai Dai Ran’s works have this dynamic. You’ll see the male characters’ emotions being pushed to the absolute extreme.
There’s even a scene where the second male lead exposes the male lead online for being a homewrecker. The brotherhood immediately gangs up on him, dragging him through the mud. I find it compelling —it completely flips reality on its head, where usually, women are the ones fighting over a man and getting torn apart by the sisterhood.
For me, female leads in the novels I read should only struggle in their careers, not in love. But if the brainless romantics in the story are all men? I have zero complaints.
I’ve pretty much read all of Hai Dai Ran’s novels and even translated all of them—her works are just my thing. I’ll slowly upload everything here. One day, when my website is official, I hope I can invite her to join as one of the star authors.
Here’s the story synopsis:
One-line summary: She is his lifelong obsession, to the point where he was willing to be a third wheel, scorned by society, just to wedge his way into her relationship with her fiancé.
Cold-hearted and indifferent female lead + Scheming and subservient CEO male lead
Intro 1:
“I know she doesn’t love him.”
With blood trickling from his clenched fist, Rong Xiu gazed at the woman before him, his eyes clouded with anguish. Hidden in the wardrobe, he had witnessed Fan Xia – the woman he desperately loved – in an intimate embrace with her fiancé. Yet his heart still yearned for her, defying all reason.
Fan Xia, the elegant and composed assistant, carried something mysterious in her eyes whenever she looked at her fiancé, Wen Lan Sheng. Strange occurrences began to surface – secret meetings with the young Gu Jin Yi, an unexplained withdrawal of 5,000 yuan… Then suddenly, her fiancé’s sister, Wen Jing, violently attacked her.
In this matriarchal society, Rong Xiu had risen to become the chairman of a powerful healthcare conglomerate, breaking through gender prejudices. But for the first time, he willingly stepped into the shadows as the other man, disregarding his friends’ warnings to become her secret lover.
Because he had discovered the truth – Fan Xia wasn’t the pure angel everyone believed her to be. And perhaps, he was the only one capable of helping her execute her mysterious plan…
Intro 2:
Rong Xiu’s biggest regret in life was missing out on Fan Xia.
He secretly loved Fan Xia for 7 years.
Watched her go public with her boyfriend.
Watched her kiss her boyfriend at their wedding.
Until that man blissfully nestled in Fan Xia’s arms, obtaining everything he could only dream of.
The crazy jealousy stripped away his hidden secret love, layer by layer, burning like wildfire.
Fan Xia, how can I have you!
【Reading and Trigger Warning Guide】
1. Female dominant, male submissive, male pregnancy
2. Male lead schemes his way to the top, male competition
_____
Please help me, I want to bring you the best possible things.
If you find any chapter or novel with poor translation and editing quality, let me know by commenting directly under that novel or chapter. I will retranslate it as soon as possible.
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If there is a person checking these comments. Can you please add a word/letter count to the bottom. Also sometimes the comments don’t stay within the chapter you read but throughout the whole book, please fix that glitch. Another, per book- hour limited to how many comments can earn cookies – it’s better you write that somewhere or give a notification to the commenter about that. The notification about the 3/3 free reads glitch too, sometimes it says 3/1,1/3,1/1 or not work. The cookies glitch sometimes too, id have 10 but when I try to unlock chapter it keeps saying I have none. Love yalls work!
If there is a person checking these comments. Can you please add a word/letter count to the bottom. Also sometimes the comments don’t stay within the chapter you read but throughout the whole book, please fix that glitch. Another, per book- hour limited to how many comments can earn cookies – it’s better you write that somewhere or give a notification to the commenter about that. The notification about the 3/3 free reads glitch too, sometimes it says 3/1,1/3,1/1 or not work. The cookies glitch sometimes too, id have 10 but when I try to unlock chapter it keeps saying I have none. Love yalls work!
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