The moment he thought of Lucas Aiker, Kaern couldn’t contain his anger and pulled sharply on the reins of his horse.
“Why are you doing this, Your Grace?” the lieutenant riding behind him quickly approached and asked.
“…Never mind. Let’s go,” Kaern’s voice was lower than ever.
The lieutenant, who had served Kaern for a long time, realized his mood was not good.
“Yes,” the lieutenant replied shortly and stepped back slightly, watching Kaern’s mood.
Regaining his composure, Kaern spurred his horse into motion.
The horse, reflecting its master’s emotions, galloped at a swift pace.
Kaern, facing the fierce wind, firmly resolved to eliminate all the unsettling elements that might arise.
‘Ah, that’s right.’
It was war.
Around this time, a war had broken out, and Kaern had been away from the capital for quite a long time.
How long was it again?
Trying to remember the contents of the original story, now fuzzy in my memory.
Yes, it was more than half a year before the war ended.
No, that’s not quite right.
Kaern had returned to the capital in the middle of the war.
There was a reason why the commander of the troops had to return even before the war ended.
Because…
Rumors had spread to the border that his only sister, Adelia, notorious for her wicked acts, was going to be executed by imperial decree.
But when Kaern arrived in the capital to save Adelia, everything was already over.
In Kaern’s hand was evidence that Adelia had been framed.
Unable to accept his sister’s lonely and unjust death, Kaern, consumed with uncontrollable anger, started a civil war seeking revenge against the emperor and all the nobles.
The war dragged on for a long time.
With the external war still ongoing, the internal conflict devastated the once-prosperous imperial lands.
As much as I wished for Kaern’s victory, sadly, the novel ended with the victory of the emperor and the nobles.
Recalling the original content, I remembered who ended the war by killing Kaern.
It was Duke Blake Warren.
‘Right, it was Blake Warren.’
Recalling his name clarified who he was.
‘He had a terrible inferiority complex towards Kaern, didn’t he?’
In the Loiyden Empire, the power held by ducal families was substantial.
Even the emperor couldn’t easily manipulate these powerful dukes.
Especially among them, the Laveryeon family stood at the pinnacle.
It was only natural for the duke and other nobles to feel inferior to such a powerful entity.
But Blake Warren never showed this outwardly.
Externally, he was a gentleman to everyone, kind, and also possessed outstanding abilities and background.
Therefore, no one knew he harbored such feelings towards Kaern.
Well, in the end, since Kaern was killed by Blake Warren, I guess the man won.
‘Stop thinking about it.’
It only makes me feel worse.
The original story no longer exists.
Although Blake Warren may still feel inferior to Kaern, he wouldn’t be able to touch a hair on Kaern’s head in the future.
To shake off the unsettling feelings brought by these memories, I thought about something else.
‘What did that mean?’
Does he really want to marry me?
Why?
Marrying a lady from a more prestigious family would be more beneficial for the lineage he has long protected.
Or…
‘Does he really have feelings for me?’
No, that can’t be.
“Sigh.”
I shook my head vigorously and lay down on the bed, letting out a deep sigh.
“Kaern.”
Then, I slowly uttered the name I hadn’t been able to call out earlier.
“Kaern Laveryeon.”
What on earth is he thinking?
“I miss him already.”
Unrequited love felt like a thorn caught at the tip of my finger. It made its presence known with a jolt of pain, reminding me of its existence.
This thought cluttered my mind, yet it also brought a flutter to my heart, like when I first saw him. But lately, it had been more intense than before.
The reason could only be Kaern’s changed behavior lately.
‘He said he would come later, but… it’s war.’
If time flows as in the original story, Kaern must be incredibly busy preparing for the war.
What will happen to us if he immediately heads to the frontlines?
I felt a slight headache coming on with all these thoughts.
When this happens, tending to the garden without any thoughts is the best remedy.
Our home garden was far less grand compared to the Laveryeon Duke’s estate, but it was beautiful with my touch all over it.
Since I would be leaving for study abroad, the garden would need someone else’s care, so some preparation was necessary.
After spending several hours in the garden, evening had arrived.
Focusing on work indeed helped keep unnecessary thoughts at bay.
After dinner, I read in the study, waiting for Kaern. But as the night grew late, there was no sign of him.
“Maybe he can’t come today after all.”
Though I expected this, I couldn’t help feeling disappointed.
Repeating ‘just a little longer’ in my mind, an hour flew by quickly.
Still, there was no sound of a carriage or any sign of people outside.
Finally, I lay down on the bed, feeling a bitter taste on my tongue.
Of course, sleep didn’t come. Lying down right before bed is when the mind races the most.
But I tried to fall asleep, and as I tried harder, my mind became clearer.
‘This won’t do.’
If I kept lying there, I might stay awake all night, so I decided to go for a walk.
I quickly got up and draped a shawl lightly over my shoulders.
Just as I was about to open the door to go outside.
Knock, knock.
“Miss.”
Amy’s voice came from outside the door.
Instead of responding, I immediately grabbed the doorknob and opened the door.
“Miss, you’re awake?”
“Yes. I couldn’t sleep, so I was thinking of taking a walk.”
“Oh, I see.”
“But what brings you here?”
“Oh, Duke Laveryeon is here.”
“The Duke?”
“Yes. You asked me to let you know whenever he comes, no matter the time.”
“Where is he?”
“He’s in the parlor right now.”
Upon hearing Amy’s answer, I quickly headed out of the bedroom.
“Amy, could you please prepare some warm tea and snacks?”
“Yes, I understand.”
It seemed like Kaern had come straight to me as soon as he finished his business at the palace.
Worried he might have skipped his meal in his hurry, I asked Amy to prepare some refreshments.
Then I hurried to the parlor.
‘Oh no.’
As I paused to catch my breath at the door, I realized I was still in my pajamas.
I contemplated going back to change, but I couldn’t make him wait any longer.
Fortunately, I had already draped a shawl over my shoulders for the walk, so I wasn’t in an indecent attire.
I neatly adjusted the shawl on my shoulders and opened the parlor door.
Contrary to my expectation of him sitting on the sofa, Kaern was standing near the window.
“Duke.”
As I called him, Kaern slowly walked towards me.
“Sorry for visiting so late.”
“No, it’s fine.”
“Were you sleeping?”
Kaern, noticing my pajamas, asked.
“No… I wasn’t sleeping, just about to go for a walk outside.”
“A walk?”
“Yes. I couldn’t sleep.”
“Then let’s go outside.”
“Now?”
“I would like to get some fresh air too.”
“Okay. Let’s do that.”
It seemed we would have to enjoy the tea and snacks Amy was preparing later, upon our return.
We left the parlor and walked out of the mansion.
As we stepped out, I stole a glance at his profile.
As I sensed in the parlor, he looked quite exhausted, as expected.
‘Did he really come here straight without rest just to keep his promise to me?’
“Duke. Did everything go well with your work?”
I broke the silence between us as we entered the garden.
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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