Men of the Harem (137 Chapters Left to Complete) - Chapter 1
“I carefully considered what you all said.”
When La Til opened her mouth, the surrounding area fell deathly silent.
The golden crown atop her head, the magnificent red cloak draped over her shoulders, the opulent royal scepter in her hand—La Til clearly felt where their gazes landed.
She was now the Emperor. No one who had ever pointed fingers at her could dare oppose her openly anymore.
Standing at the highest point, La Til felt a rush of euphoria. Hyacinth… you bastard. Yes. Is this the very feeling for which you abandoned me?
“You are absolutely right. The stability of the imperial house stems from solid heirs. I fully understand your suggestion that I should quickly take a consort.”
A faint smile appeared at the corner of Duke Atraxi’s lips. He had early on pledged his support to La Til, securing his place as a meritorious subject. He was certain—La Til would soon utter the name of his son, Ranamun.
Ranamun was flawless in lineage, appearance, and ability; moreover, with a father who was a meritorious subject, who else but Ranamun could possibly become the spouse of this young Emperor?
At that very moment—Duke Atraxi wore a triumphant smile; his faction wore pleased yet slightly regretful expressions; and the opposing and neutral factions all wore bitter faces.
“Therefore, I have decided first to take several concubines.”
From the Emperor’s lips came words that instantly shattered all their expectations. Duke Atraxi, who had been smiling, and the ministers with their varied expressions—all now stared up at La Til with identical looks of utter disbelief.
Concubines? And not just one—but several?
No one immediately grasped her meaning.
La Til kindly elaborated once more for their sake.
“For now… I’ll take about five or so.”
The previously deathly silent hall erupted into noise at those words. Everyone murmured in astonishment at this unexpected declaration from their new Emperor. Five concubines?
It was utterly unthinkable. Duke Atraxi, flabbergasted, objected immediately.
“Though there have been several Empresses in history, all kept only a single Imperial Consort. While many had rumored secret lovers, none ever openly took concubines—so why now…?”
“Fifth Emperor Trasishu, renowned for his pure devotion, had five concubines, and Eleventh Emperor Aintra had six, Duke Atraxi. On average, past Emperors had fifteen concubines. Those known for their… romantic inclinations even kept over twenty.”
“But…!”
“Why should I not take concubines when every other Emperor has? Like them, I shall take at least five concubines, no less.”
The ministers’ mouths gaped wide open. They stared at their Emperor, panic-stricken as she openly declared her intention to form a harem.
La Til swept her gaze around the nobles, whose eyes still held stunned disbelief, and lifted the corners of her lips in a faint, mocking smile.
“Was it not always you ministers who argued that if an Emperor kept only one Empress, the maternal relatives would grow overly powerful—and thus, for balance of power, other concubines must be accepted?”
Everyone fell silent. It was true. Not just them—every minister throughout history had made exactly that argument.
La Til added with a playful wink,
“Surely you, too, would prefer that I take multiple concubines? That way, you might even compete to become the Emperor’s in-laws, wouldn’t you?”
This time, reactions split again. Duke Atraxi’s face darkened further, while those of the opposing faction, who had been frowning, now relaxed slightly.
Indeed—if the Emperor took only one official husband, the Imperial Consort would undoubtedly be Duke Atraxi’s son.
Yet, if the Emperor took multiple concubines… perhaps they, too, might gain a chance to grasp power. And should an heir be born from the Emperor and one of their own…!
Seeing the ministers’ eyes begin to gleam with greed, La Til quietly smiled to herself.
‘Hyacinth. I’ll send emissaries to your country as well to select my concubines. This time, choose the men who will become mine—with your own hands. Now it’s your turn to feel the same humiliation I felt. You too.’
Year 517 of the Hwai Calendar, First Year of Emperor Latrasil Tariyum’s Reign.
The Harem is Declared.
[This is the timeline separator]Year 511 of the Hwai Calendar.
The Crown Prince of the Tariyum Empire was Lean, La Til’s elder brother. Lean was a prince admired by every noble and looked up to by all commoners. His mother was an Empress from a great noble house, and his path ahead was smooth and assured.
“He shall become the wisest sovereign if he ascends the throne—or, if he becomes a scholar, he will surely surpass me!”
The Grand Sage’s exclamation to his disciples after speaking with Lean had become common knowledge.
Conversely, hardly anyone knew that the Grand Sage, when faced with La Til’s bold and impertinent questions, had sighed and called her “material fit for a tyrant.” To the people, La Til was merely Lean’s younger sister—one among many imperial princesses.
La Til herself paid little mind to the Grand Sage’s words about her. She admired and loved her brother and eagerly looked forward to the world he would build. The mere thought of competing with him for the throne seemed horrifying.
Besides, the future La Til dreamed of was one impossible to achieve as Empress: to marry her beloved Hyacinth and become Empress of neighboring Carissen.
“What is this?”
“A ring.”
“But it’s grass?”
“I made it myself. The commoners here craft them this way, they say.”
“Your country’s people must be poor…”
“No, it’s charm. Give me your hand.”
When La Til only blinked and failed to offer her hand, Hyacinth took it himself and gently slipped the grass ring onto her finger.
“It’s surprisingly pretty…”
“Right?”
“Mm.”
As La Til beamed, gazing at a white flower, Hyacinth leaned forward and kissed her forehead lightly.
“I love you, La Til.”
“…Me too.”
La Til grinned brightly at Hyacinth. His gentle brown hair matching his kind nature, his refined features, and his mysterious gray eyes—she adored her beautiful lover deeply.
She still remembered vividly the day he visited the imperial palace to pay his respects, shortly after arriving in Tariyum as a foreign student.
The moment their eyes met, Hyacinth gave her a soft smile—and La Til fell for him instantly. When he confessed, her heart pounded wildly with joy.
Their time together only grew happier. They never even quarreled. She believed Hyacinth was the soulmate the heavens had prepared just for her.
Thus, for two years, their feelings for each other only deepened.
However, Hyacinth’s study abroad, originally planned for five years, ended unexpectedly early. His half-brother, Prince Heum, had seized the opportunity during Hyacinth’s absence to instigate a rebellion.
Just before hastily returning to Carissen, Hyacinth made a promise to La Til.
“Even if we’re apart, my heart won’t change. You will always be the only woman in my heart.”
“Hyacinth… can’t I go with you? I want to help you!”
“No, La Til. I hate parting with you too—but it’s far too dangerous.”
Wiping away her tears, Hyacinth whispered the same words over and over.
“I’ll surely ascend the throne, and I’ll send the grandest possible envoy to formally ask your father for your hand. Please wait for me.”
La Til waved until Hyacinth’s carriage vanished from sight.
From that day on, she visited the temple for prayer without fail, two hours every day. She pleaded only for Hyacinth’s safety—that he wouldn’t be killed or injured by the rebels.
She never prayed that his heart wouldn’t change. She trusted him completely. She couldn’t even imagine him betraying her love.
La Til constantly listened for news from Carissen. Whenever she met ministers handling foreign affairs, she always pressed them for updates.
“Is the war still ongoing? When will it end? Is Hyacinth in a favorable position now?”
Perhaps it was due to her devoted sincerity.
Two years later, news reached the Tariyum Empire: a new Emperor had ascended the throne in Carissen. The new Emperor’s name was Hyacinth Carissen—a young sovereign had risen.
[This is the timeline separator]“Are you really that happy?”
The nursemaid teased, but La Til merely grinned widely with pure joy.
“Mm. Wouldn’t I be?”
Now that Hyacinth had safely become Emperor, only their marriage remained.
Though two months had passed since his ascension, she wasn’t worried that the betrothal envoy hadn’t arrived yet.
Of course—he’d need to stabilize the realm first. It wouldn’t be right to feel disappointed over a delayed envoy. As a future Empress, shouldn’t she exercise such patience for her country?
“True. The two of you together looked absolutely splendid.”
“Really? Did we?”
“Yes. A perfect match, through and through.”
La Til smiled brightly and opened a book—this one on imperial governance.
“While Hyacinth secures his position, I’ll study harder. Once I become Empress, I’ll manage welfare and culture. I’ll help run the palace, too. I need to learn a lot.”
“How admirable.”
“Right?”
“Someone like Your Highness should become Empress for our empire too…”
The nursemaid sighed deeply.
“The Crown Prince shows no interest in women—only books.”
“So what? I’m the same.”
“But Your Highness still practices martial arts and has love affairs while reading—while the Crown Prince does nothing but read day and night. That’s the problem.”
“I suppose that’s true.”
La Til chuckled softly and turned a page. Her eyes rapidly skimmed the dense text. She felt impatient—she wanted to study so much that Hyacinth would be amazed, and time felt desperately short.
Then, one day—
At last, the long-awaited envoy from Carissen arrived. Upon hearing the news, La Til rushed out of her room and hurried straight to the audience chamber.
Because the Tariyum audience chamber was open on three sides (except where the throne stood), she could overhear the envoy’s report without pressing her ear to the door.
“Your Highness?”
“Shh!”
As the princess suddenly approached, startling the royal guard, La Til gestured for silence and slipped behind a large pillar at a distance where she could still clearly hear the conversation.
The envoy and her father exchanged formal pleasantries—congratulations on the new Emperor’s ascension, hopes that the two nations would continue to share eternal glory, just as their predecessors had wished, and so on.
Then, finally, the topic of the Emperor’s marriage arose.
‘This is about me! He’s going to ask for my hand!’
La Til covered her mouth with both hands to stifle a cry and leaned in to listen.
“Thus, we humbly request that His Majesty the Emperor of Trium also dispatch congratulatory envoys to Carissen to bless the new Imperial Couple’s future.”
But the marriage news from the envoy’s mouth was nothing like what La Til had hoped for. Her eyes widened in shock. A new Imperial Couple? They wanted blessings?
“…So he’s getting married. Who is the bride?”
“The noble Lady Aini, daughter of Duke Daga.”
Lady Aini? Who was that? The bride… wasn’t me? Her head spun. La Til stared blankly into space, dazed.
‘Was my name Aini all along?’
For a moment, even such madness crossed her mind. But… no. She bit her lip. She couldn’t believe it—even though she’d clearly heard it with her own ears.
‘Could the envoy have changed messages midway?’
Unaware of La Til and Hyacinth’s relationship, her father merely offered polite congratulations.
La Til finally fled the spot, running straight to her room, burying her face in her bed and sobbing.
“Your Highness? Good heavens! Your Highness—what’s wrong?”
Alarmed, the nursemaid asked anxiously, but La Til had no strength to answer. Only after a long while did she wipe her tears and finally speak.
“Nurse! Hyacinth… Hyacinth is marrying another woman!”
“What? That can’t be! You must have misunderstood something, Your Highness!”
The nursemaid waved her hands dismissively.
“Everyone knows how devoted he was to you—surely you must have misheard the envoy’s words about your betrothal!”
“No. I even heard the bride’s name—Aini.”
Only then did the nursemaid’s eyes widen as well.
La Til buried her face back into her pillow.
[This is the timeline separator]‘Shock… traitor. Scoundrel. Bastard. Trash.’
La Til sat precariously on the windowsill, staring blankly at the blue sky. How could this happen? It had been only two years since they’d sworn eternal love beneath this very sky.
When the wind tousled Hyacinth’s hair, she used to laugh softly, reaching out to brush it back. Then his mysterious gray eyes—briefly hidden—would reappear, filled with affection.
‘Hyacinth…’
But now it was all over.
Hyacinth had decided to marry a noblewoman from his own country and had announced it by sending envoys abroad. He surely hadn’t sent them only to Trium—every nation must have heard the news by now. If it was announced internationally, the marriage was undoubtedly already finalized.
‘Has his heart changed? Does he no longer love me?’
Feeling utterly desolate, La Til closed her eyes and thumped her forehead against the windowsill.
‘If only I’d prayed for his heart to stay unchanged—not just for his victory.’
Maybe she’d prayed too hard for his triumph. Now she felt burning rage—was this a side effect? La Til sniffled. Which would hurt more: hearing he’d been wounded in the throne struggle—or that he’d betrayed her after winning?
“Good heavens! Your Highness! What are you doing, sitting so dangerously!”
“It’s not dangerous, nurse—unless they used shoddy construction.”
“What if the wind blows hard?”
“I’m not light enough to be swept away.”
“Your Highness isn’t that heavy.”
“I wish my worries weren’t so heavy either.”
La Til muttered gloomily and leaned her head back against the windowsill.
“And Hyacinth is a bastard…”
Just then, the nursemaid suddenly glanced around the empty room.
“What are you doing?”
When La Til asked, puzzled, the nursemaid discreetly pulled a letter from her robes and handed it over.
“Here, Your Highness.”
It was an elegantly wrapped letter with a pale blue tint.
“What is it?”
La Til took it limply and examined it—yet found no sender’s name.
“It’s anonymous. Why give this to me?”
“One of the envoys earlier secretly asked me to deliver it to you. It seems to be from Lord Hyacinth.”
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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Well, I expected that she would take concubines from other countries as they helped her with ascension.
The revenge against Hyacinth is quite harsh. A man wouldn’t expect something like that, especially one as narcissistic.
Well, it’s quite fun. It’s interesting and light to read. Feelings of the characters are exposed clearly. 👍🏻