“Why should I congratulate a woman who is pregnant with my husband’s child? It’s absurd for a servant to come and congratulate me, his wife, on the pregnancy.”
“Well, that’s true…”
Grania was not entirely wrong.
It was not reasonable for a servant to come to his wife, especially the Empress, and ask for congratulations.
But to Ermedillin, what Valliere said or did didn’t matter.
From Ermedillin’s point of view, she was not Henri’s wife. She had no intention of becoming his wife either.
So, what’s the big deal about a mere congratulation?
That’s why she could easily overlook any insults or annoyances.
But it’s not the same for the people around her.
The precious people who decided to trust this terrible villainess.
If they are hurt, she will repay it with a pain far worse.
Even if it means never reconciling with Valliere.
Everyone who looked at Ermedillin had a determined expression.
They all seemed to agree with Countess Grania.
“Thank you for saying that. Thank you for considering me as His Majesty’s wife.”
What more could she say? Given the circumstances, it was impossible to explain everything.
When Ermedillin forced a smile, Belelest took her hand.
“Who else would we consider as His Majesty’s wife besides you, Your Highness? Even if Count Bellian thinks of himself as His Majesty’s wife, to me, the Empress is only you, Ermedillin.”
In the original story, the Elenian House was one of the families that contributed most to deposing the Empress, along with the Batistian House.
They had joined hands with the Duke of François and gathered the will of the aristocrats to dethrone Ermedillin and execute her.
The future that Belelest could not possibly know, a future that has already happened.
In Ermedillin’s eyes, she saw sincerity in the warm gazes of Belelest, Biella, Liena, and Countess Grania.
If things were to go as in the original story, their eyes should be filled with contempt and hatred.
Just as Pellio and Biella had initially been.
Ermedillin had this thought as she met their gazes.
‘Could I possibly survive?’
However, aside from practical calculations, she was grateful for their sincerity. The minds that worried her heart might be hurt felt beautiful and appreciated.
“So, as befits an empress, let’s forget the trivial matters and focus on work again.”
Upon Ermedillin’s words, everyone discreetly went back to reading the documents, preparing to raise their voices again.
Even this attitude felt like elegant consideration to Ermedillin.
‘Everyone seemed cold and arrogant at first, but they were kind kids.’
After leaving the palace.
Pellio, with a heart on the verge of bursting, headed straight for Roberto’s house.
Roberto, seeing Pellio’s unusual expression, immediately realized it had something to do with Ermedillin.
“What are you going on about today? Speak calmly, don’t jump around like last time.”
“Do you know that Ballier is pregnant?”
“Yeah, I heard.”
“At first, I was displeased that the concubine was carrying His Majesty’s child.”
“Don’t most think so? Especially the highranking nobles. Regardless of acceptance, the child is illegitimate.”
Roberto’s words didn’t seem to bother Pellio, who furrowed his brow.
“What does her origin matter to me? I was just displeased because I thought Her Majesty the Empress would be heartbroken.”
“And?”
“Today, while I was at Her Majesty the Empress’s residence, that woman came and acted insolently. She said the Empress didn’t congratulate her on her pregnancy…”
“What? Has she lost her mind? Is she sane?”
“Of course. I thought so at first, too. But when I thought about it…”
Pellio wore a meaningful smile and paused for a moment.
“What’s with you? Your expression is ominous. What are you thinking?”
“If His Majesty wishes to make the child that woman is carrying the heir, then he would naturally make Ballier the Empress, wouldn’t he?”
“Hey, you, don’t tell me…”
Roberto, who sensed Pellio’s thoughts, stared at him with a hardened face.
“It was a political marriage, anyway.”
“Get a grip! Do you think the Emperor and Empress can divorce just because they want to? If it were that easy, the previous Emperor would have already divorced and welcomed a new wife!”
Right. Divorce here is not easy.
Unless one party has made an enormous mistake that could serve as grounds for divorce, it’s very difficult for a divorce to be finalized.
Even the Empress, strictly speaking a part of the royal family, would not easily lose her privileged status.
Ermedillin in the original novel was able to abdicate because her crimes were heinous enough to merit execution.
“Yeah. There was no solid reason before. But His Majesty has a child with the concubine now. Couldn’t this be used as grounds for divorce? All citizens of the temple, regardless of their status, are obliged to be faithful to their spouses!”
Thump!
Roberto, unable to listen any longer, struck the back of Pellio’s head hard.
“You’re utterly insane. ‘The Emperor is having an affair, so I want to break up!’ Even if you say that, the regent would not easily grant a divorce, and we don’t even know what Her Majesty the Empress is thinking. Aren’t your delusions too excessive?”
Initially shouting, Roberto lowered his voice, realizing how dangerous their conversation had become.
Pellio muttered as he rubbed his sore head from Roberto’s scolding.
“She said it doesn’t matter… that it’s none of her business…”
“So? You think Her Majesty the Empress would want a divorce just because she said it’s none of her business? Do you not know what she went through to get to that position?”
Even if it was a friend’s word, it had become unbearable for Roberto, who asked in a harsh voice.
“I know. Of course, I know.”
“Fine. Let’s say it couldn’t be helped that you were moved. But stop there. Don’t dream absurd dreams. You’re not some girl smitten with her first love…….”
“If we have to get technical, I am a young man in love for the first time.”
Roberto, drained of energy by Pellio’s honest answer, let out a meaningless laugh.
“Huh? You’re joking in a situation like this?”
Morning came after the night, and Ermedillin was somehow uneasy.
She regretted the words she had spat at Valliere, but she was also troubled that Bellest had heard Valliere’s verbal abuse.
Ermedillin planned to apologize cleanly first, and then order Valliere and Bellest to apologize as well.
“Your Highness, there’s really no need to go! What was said wasn’t wrong either!”
Runi and Mago, holding a large flower basket together, narrowed their eyes in displeasure at the situation and glared at the beautiful flowers.
“What was said is correct. ‘Tool’, however, is hardly a dignified term, is it not?”
“What dignity? She started it! Her Majesty the Empress is gracious and kind, but moments like these are truly frustrating!”
“It’s not frustrating.”
Ermedillin smirked and pulled Runi down to sit by her neck with one arm.
“This is precisely why I am the Empress, and Valliere is the Queen.”
Runi immediately wiped the displeased expression from her face and nodded.
“Indeed, it is so.”
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
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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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