The oncequiet Esper Castle soon became bustling as it prepared to welcome unwanted guests. Security was significantly increased.
“…….”
After lunch, as Irene was heading to the library, she looked down at a fully armed knight passing by the window. From his appearance, it looked as if he was not on guard duty but rather going to a battlefield.
Irene was well aware that the relationship between the temple and the Esper family was not good.
Specifically, it was the temple that persecuted the Esper family, spreading all sorts of bad rumors that the family members had blood tainted with evil magic or enjoyed killing.
So, it was understandable that Carlos hated and guarded against the temple, but was there really a need for full armor?
If the priests sent by the temple saw this, they might misunderstand that the Esper family wanted to wage war against the temple.
“Why is that, Miss?”
As Jessie, who was walking ahead, asked, Irene shook her head.
“It’s nothing.”
That man must have his reasons for doing this. Though worried, Irene, who was ignorant in such matters, thought it was not her place to speak and headed again towards the library.
Upon arriving at the library, Jessie asked,
“Will you stay in the library until evening today?”
“I think so.”
“Then, may I leave for a while? I have something to do.”
It was a real reason this time, not an excuse. Jessie was busy too, because of the unexpected visitors.
“Of course. Go on.”
“I’ll be back soon. You must not go anywhere before I return.”
After admonishing her, Jessie left.
Entering the library, Irene naturally sat on the sofa. On the coffee table lay a book she had left off reading the day before.
It was a romance novel.
Irene looked for books about love, such as romance novels, after hearing that she had to pretend to love Carlos.
Because she had never been in love before. Because she didn’t know how to act.
Because only someone who has loved and been loved could do that.
Acting poorly would not only fail to deceive the priests but also hinder her from clearing the accusation of being a witch. So, Irene did her best to study what love was.
Although she studied to understand what love was, the more she studied, the more it felt like falling into a maze.
Because loving someone was a difficult task. Because each person expressed love differently.
“I must express it actively, right?”
Since she had to show the priests that she liked Carlos.
However, if she expressed it too actively, it would appear artificial, so she had to adjust the strength accordingly…
“It’s too hard.”
I wonder what that man is thinking.
Irene suddenly became curious about Carlos’s plans. She wanted to watch what he did and follow it.
“Shall I ask him in the evening?”
What if it becomes awkward after asking?
Knock, knock, a light knocking sound awakened Irene from her reverie.
“Come in.”
She thought it was Jessie, but to her surprise, the person who opened the door and came in was Dewey.
“The master is looking for you.”
…Ah, it’s not Dewey, it’s Duse.
They looked so alike that she couldn’t distinguish between them at a glance.
“Let’s go.”
Although his tone was polite, the look in Duse’s eyes as he looked at Irene was cold. It was mixed with irritation and contempt.
Why is this man like this…
“Do you hate me?”
Oops, she should have just thought it in her mind.
Unaware that she had blurted it out, Irene covered her mouth and glanced at Duse.
Fortunately, there was no change in Duse’s expression. The annoying look remained the same.
“Let’s go.”
After Duse said that, he went out of the library first. Perfectly ignored, Irene followed him, her ears reddening with embarrassment.
After walking for quite a while, Duse stopped at a room located at the end of the west corridor on the 4th floor.
This place… is the Duke’s bedroom.
Recalling a fact Jessie had told her before, Irene looked a little surprised at the elaborately patterned door.
Duse glanced at her and then knocked.
“Master. I have brought her.”
“Come in.”
끼익, Duse opened the door, and it seemed like she was motioning Mayana to come in quickly.
Irene didn’t feel like entering another person’s bedroom, especially a strange man’s, but she had no choice but to step in.
As she entered the bedroom, she saw Carlos sitting comfortably on the sofa, and Dewey standing upright behind him.
The hardening of Dewey’s face, who was kindly nodding at Irene, was when he discovered Duse following her.
A strange yet heavy atmosphere flowed between the two.
Caught between them, Irene looked bewildered, looking back and forth at Dewey and Duse. Were the twins not on good terms?
“Have you studied a bit?”
When Carlos asked, Irene finally looked at him.
“Jessie says you’re reading romance novels diligently.”
Jessie said that too? Irene laughed awkwardly.
“I am studying hard.”
“Love doesn’t come by studying.”
“…….”
“But it’s better than not doing anything.”
Carlos responded indifferently, then snapped his fingers. It meant to come closer.
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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