Don't Obsess Over A Married Woman (Completed Main Story) - Chapter 1
The Duke of Dieren is dead.
The cause was falling from the balcony while severely drunk.
He was only forty years old—an unjustly young age—but not a single person mourned or grieved his death. Not even his young wife or any of his three children.
‘If anything, I thought he should have died even sooner.’
Since he was doomed to divine punishment anyway, wouldn’t it have been better if it had come earlier?
And I, who am entertaining such thoughts…
…I am none other than his wife.
Liselotte Karin Dieren.
With violet-tinged black hair, snow-white skin, and violet eyes, I was once regarded as one of the most beautiful women in high society.
But when has a noble marriage ever been decided by looks alone?
In truth, it was sheer, overwhelming luck that someone born into a baronial family like me became a duchess—everyone saw it that way.
Even though I was eight years younger than the Duke and, moreover, only his second wife.
Furthermore, the Duke already had three children—of course, none sharing a single drop of blood with me, all born from his first marriage.
Nevertheless, for the past ten years since our marriage, I have cared fairly well for those children.
That doesn’t mean I’ve done anything extraordinary for them. I merely prevented the devilish Duke of Dieren from beating them.
Though he was my husband, the Duke… no, that wretch wasn’t even worth calling a mongrel.
Let’s set aside his incompetence and alcoholism.
He never hesitated to unleash every form of verbal abuse and physical violence upon his family—especially upon his own children, who should have been the most cherished and protected.
During our marriage, I often imagined this scenario:
‘If some miracle sent me back into the past…’
But that’s a meaningless hypothetical. In reality, I could have annulled this marriage at any time over the years through divorce.
I simply never acted on it.
Indeed, even if I were sent back to the past, I wouldn’t avoid this marriage. And just as I’ve endured until now, I would once again live as the Duchess of Dieren.
Not because I covet the title of duchess.
The Duke’s lands and wealth? In truth, nearly all of it was built by me after our marriage.
What I cannot abandon…
…are the children.
Though not born from my womb, I embraced them wholeheartedly as my own, and have come to cherish them deeply.
As an adult—and as their mother—I will protect them.
Just as I always have, until they finally reach adulthood and walk their own paths.
My current goal is to ensure my eldest son safely inherits the dukedom.
According to imperial law, the minimum requirement to inherit a title is reaching adulthood…
‘So I have three years left.’
I don’t think it’ll be easy. The name “Dieren” is a tempting morsel that every predator eyes hungrily.
And now, with the Duke’s death, the once-mighty House of Dieren stands as defenseless as an empty house—certainly a feast for vultures.
Especially since their target is me—a widow suddenly left alone.
After all, whoever marries me stands to claim everything Dieren possesses—
the ducal lands, the family fortune, even the title itself.
‘Though I never anticipated a situation like this…’
Unconsciously, I tucked my parched lips inward.
“I have no interest whatsoever in the dukedom. Nor does Dieren’s wealth mean anything to me. And this isn’t about some childish romantic game. I simply…”
Before me stands a man of unnervingly ethereal beauty.
His radiant silver-white hair—like spun light—teases my vision alongside a languid, hypnotic smile.
“It would be enough if I could become someone permitted to kiss your hands, your feet, and your lips.”
At a breathlessly close distance,
his low, velvety voice brushes against my skin with every uttered word.
“In return, I shall continue protecting you and your children, just as I have until now. After all, without me, you’re all fated to die within two years—so I believe this is quite a favorable proposal.”
“…”
“What do you say, my lady?”
His gentle tone clashed violently with those unnaturally crimson, eerie eyes that seemed to pierce straight through me.
Perhaps because of that, a dull ache spread through my chest.
An unreal beauty that stirred my heart merely by proximity, despite my complete lack of emotion.
If I don’t stay focused, I’ll lose myself without even noticing.
I must never forget—I’m a married woman with three children to care for.
[This is the timeline separator]My wretched husband died on the very day the social season began.
Imperial Ballroom.
Nobles who had returned to the capital after months in the countryside eagerly exchanged gossip to relieve their boredom. Most of it revolved around an attractive foreign nobleman and trivial rumors about his estates.
My husband, the Duke of Dieren, and I arrived at the banquet hall just in time. As expected, nobles immediately swarmed around us.
“We heard the news—the ducal lands yielded another bountiful harvest this year?”
“My, Duchess—you only grow more beautiful with each passing year.”
“How are the Duke’s three children doing?”
The House of Dieren, wealthy and powerful with vast lands and high status,
had recently grown so influential that even the imperial court took notice. Naturally, my husband was in an exceptionally good mood.
Yes—he had waited eagerly for this very day for months, wanting to flaunt before the nobles the increased wealth and prestige he’d gained over the past year.
But that good mood didn’t last long, shattered by an inconsiderate remark from someone who failed to read the room.
“Yet, didn’t the House of Dieren achieve such prominence only after the Duke remarried Duchess Liselotte? Could it be true, as rumored, that the Duchess is the true steward of the ducal lands? Heh heh heh.”
My husband’s face instantly twisted in rage—his pride clearly wounded.
I hurriedly tried to smooth things over, but his anger had already boiled over beyond control.
He seized my wrist and dragged me into a lounge. Fortunately—or perhaps unfortunately—it coincided with the start of a waltz, so the lounge was empty.
“Let go of my arm this instant! Have some sense, dear!”
“Have some sense? Are you daring to give me orders, my lady?”
“That’s not what I meant—ah!”
In that moment, he roughly threw me onto the lounge floor. My high heels gave way, twisting my ankle, and I tumbled helplessly onto the marble surface.
“Hah! Whether it’s you or anyone else—you all treat me, the Duke, as a joke!”
Boom! Crash! Furniture, walls, and doors around us groaned under his furious kicks.
“Who dares say someone else rules my lands in my place? The Dieren lands, the ducal title—everything belongs to me!”
I had no intention of denying that.
Regardless of what anyone said, my husband was the Duke of Dieren—and ultimately, all glory would be his, process aside.
But even in moments like this, I couldn’t bring myself to flatter him just to soothe his mood—especially not with the sharp pain radiating from my sprained ankle.
Seeing my silence, he apparently thought he’d crushed my spirit. With a cold glare, he smirked cruelly.
“So you’d best remember this, my lady. While I still deign to treat you with respect, it’s wise to behave like a pretty doll. You understand what I mean, don’t you?”
Respect? Since when did treating someone like a pretty doll count as respect?
I disagreed with every word—but the timing was terrible.
Apparently pleased by my disheveled state as I struggled to stand, his anger seemed to subside slightly. He scoffed mockingly.
“That’s enough for you to have shown your face at the ball. Since you seem unwell, go back to the mansion.”
“Wait. I have matters to attend to with the nobles today…”
“Your only duty is to smile prettily like a flower and wait at home for your husband.”
“What did you say?”
“I’ll send a maid in an hour—don’t go wandering around the ballroom on that ankle.”
His intention was unmistakable.
He couldn’t bear even a shred of attention shifting from himself to me.
Without waiting for my reply, he abruptly left the lounge, leaving only his pronouncement behind.
The sound of his footsteps faded away, matching the cheerful waltz drifting from the ballroom. Helpless, I could only let out a hollow laugh.
Honestly.
‘His character…’
I hadn’t expected an apology for shoving me or acting roughly—but I did hope he’d at least help me up. Who knew he’d just storm off like that.
Anyway, I suppose I’ll have to follow his words for now: wait here in the lounge until the maid arrives to escort me home. My ankle keeps swelling—I should at least rest comfortably in the meantime.
Just as I tried to rise…
“Are you all right?”
A man’s melodic voice filled the empty lounge. Simultaneously, a gloved hand appeared before my eyes.
I thought no one else was here?
My gaze instinctively followed the glove upward—and I realized I was about to be far more startled than I’d prepared for.
He was a man with dazzling, silver-white hair that seemed almost otherworldly.
How could anyone be born with such a hue?
It was as if finely ground diamond dust had been sprinkled over him, casting an ethereal glow. Even his long, curtain-like eyelashes, drooping as he bowed slightly, shared that same luminous color. His features were as exquisitely carved as if crafted by a deity over years of meticulous work.
Only his eyes struck a different note—
hauntingly crimson, almost bewitching.
“May I help you up?”
But that unsettling color vanished the moment he lowered his eyes and smiled. Had I imagined it?
As I studied him more closely, he looked slightly embarrassed, as though realizing his forwardness.
“My apologies. I was resting here due to a headache and missed the chance to intervene.”
“Oh.”
So he must have overheard everything.
Only then did I realize what I should’ve checked the moment I sensed another presence in the lounge. Judging by his reaction, I already knew the answer without asking.
Because of my husband’s abominable behavior, what a disgrace this is.
“…Never mind. I’d appreciate your arm to help me stand.”
“With pleasure.”
Surprisingly, he did something entirely unexpected.
The instant I felt his arms cradling my back and knees, my feet left the ground, lifting me effortlessly.
“…!”
I had no time to react. By the time I came to my senses, I was comfortably settled onto the lounge’s spacious couch, nestled in his arms.
“Please wait a moment, my lady. Your ankle appears quite swollen.”
And that wasn’t all. After checking my ankle again, he cleared a space on the lounge’s refreshments and fashioned an ice pack.
“Would it be alright if I examined it myself?”
“No, that won’t be necessary.”
However kind his help, a married woman couldn’t possibly bare her skin before a stranger.
I politely declined his offer. He smiled gently, as if expecting that, and handed me the ice pack.
Placing it on my ankle dulled the pain somewhat. Honestly—
receiving this kindness from a stranger, when it’s something I’ve never once gotten from my husband.
“By the way, I don’t believe we’ve met before in the capital’s social circles.”
Once things had calmed, I spoke to him again.
“I am Liselotte Karin Dieren, Duchess of Dieren.”
Only after introducing myself did I hear the name of the man seated a step away.
“My apologies for the late introduction. I am Count Alphon, Joseph Obreim Alphon. Please call me ‘Sir Joseph.’ Indeed, this is my first time in the capital.”
Despite being foreign, his manners mirrored our own social customs closely. Sir Joseph followed imperial etiquette, lightly kissing the back of my hand.
“Alphon… I’ve never heard that name before. So you must be the exceptionally handsome foreign noble the ladies have been gossiping about.”
“Handsome? I’m flattered—but I’ve heard that… rather often.”
“You’re not very modest, are you?”
“If I were modest, I’d offend those around me. I suspect, Duchess, you’re in a similar position.”
Now that I looked closer, he wasn’t just breathtakingly handsome—he was also quite cheerful. I nearly forgot my earlier argument with my husband and almost smiled despite myself.
Moreover, from a slight distance, Sir Joseph’s broad shoulders and tall stature became apparent—his smile truly charming.
“Since you’re new to the capital, you should return soon to mingle with other nobles in the ballroom. Is your headache better now?”
“Much better, thanks to you, Duchess.”
Even his polite flattery was disarming.
The more I looked at him—bowing slightly with a playful, sweet smile—the more captivating he became. I even found myself comparing him to my husband.
No, that comparison would be unfair to Sir Joseph. My husband’s posture was always crooked from arrogance, though his face was passable—whereas Sir Joseph stood with admirable straightness.
‘He must be in his mid-twenties?’
Then he’s certainly married by now.
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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Chapter Comments (5)
Inline Comments (70)
My husband, Duke Dieren, Carlos Nikolai, met his absurd end that very night.
Hmmm not a ploy then? Next guess is regression orrrr he maybe has dreams about her?
“It would be best if you put your children to bed early once you return home ton
Suspicious…. very Suspicious of him. My guess is he knows a ploy is afoot
"'Regressor' would be a more accurate term. Having rewound time several times, r
Has he seriously rewound time several time already. Was he always trying to save the family or is that a recent development from the previous timeline
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It’s good so far I just hope the story can deal with heavy trauma properly
Soo all this talk about the dungeons being a maze and very dangerous was for what???
Aww this is such a tesrjerker of a chapter 🥲🥺 . Now she knows they love her ( they made it obvious though)