The night was shrouded in pitch-black darkness.
“Damn it, what’s wrong with this horse!”
A man, hurrying his steps in the moonlight, lashed out in annoyance as he pulled the reins, but the horse stood immovable.
Neighing in pain, the horse still refused to move forward.
It was just as the man was about to whip the horse again.
“Count, why not rest a bit? We’ve been riding all day, and it’s too dark to see anything now…”
When the servant cautiously suggested this, Count Randel crinkled his mustache in irritation.
“We are close to the demon swamp, we must leave quickly! If you don’t know, just keep quiet!”
The count, still fuming and seemingly unsatisfied, glared at the black carriage following him, grumbling.
“If we were escorting Princess Bridget, we wouldn’t have to take this route!”
It was a historic event, the marriage alliance between the Alcan Empire and the Heyworth Kingdom. Count Randel, who had hoped to play a role in this event, was furious upon learning that the bride was Princess Annette, known as the ‘seed of the demon.’
Instead of a grand envoy, he found himself with only one servant and four knights, sneaking through the dangerous demon swamp towards the Alcan Empire, like a fleeing criminal.
The count spat toward the source of this predicament.
“Cursed junk!”
Startled, the servant exclaimed, “Count!” but the count boldly retorted, “Did I say anything wrong?”
The servant responded with an awkward smile instead of an answer.
Princess Annette, who had overheard their conversation, slowly lifted her head, which had been resting against the carriage window.
‘Junk, huh…’
Wasn’t that a wrong description?
Princess Annette Heyworth, unable to wield a sword, was soon to become no different than a useless object.
Reflecting cynically on her situation, she glanced down at her left hand.
Just a month ago, this hand had held a sword, almost inseparably for half her life.
But now…
Annette glanced briefly at the scar crossing her wrist and awkwardly clenched and unclenched her empty fist.
Despite the severe injury that had left a deep scar, she no longer felt pain or inconvenience in her daily life.
Was it because she was indeed the ‘seed of the demon,’ or because of her extraordinary healing abilities?
‘Maybe one day, I might be able to wield a sword and generate sword energy again.’
Even if not sword energy, Annette had plenty of ways to face demons.
‘Or perhaps start from scratch.’
Glancing briefly at her intact right hand, Annette sighed, looking down.
There was no need to think deeper now.
Because she was soon to be…
“Still, you’re to become the Grand Duchess of the Alcan Empire. Everyone knows how much the Emperor values Duke Hargzent. Be careful not to make a mistake, or the alliance might break.”
“I wouldn’t say such things in the empire. Don’t worry.”
The count assured his servant, but his sarcasm did not stop.
“But it seems the empire was desperate for a Grand Duchess. To accept such a ‘seed of the demon’ as a princess, based on the noble lineage in the proposal! They said it’s of the prestigious Richel family…”
“What are you saying now?”
Startled by the servant’s thoughtless words, the count jumped.
“So you’re saying Princess Bridget is not more noble than the seed of the demon? Are you implying that the Empire targeted her from the start for marriage?”
This was a precaution, lest the knights escorting them overhear the conversation and report back to the kingdom.
Having never left the Heyworth Kingdom in his life, the man had no reservations about insulting Annette and feared incurring the current queen’s displeasure, even to the point of mocking the Empire’s Duke.
“What’s the use of being a war hero and royalty if Duke Hargzent has become so disfigured by demon blood that he looks monstrous? I heard he always covers his face with a black mask!”
At this, Annette, who had been looking down, raised her eyes, her brow furrowing.
Despite fearing Queen Esther, it was audacious for a mere count from a small country to mock the Duke of the Empire.
The Alcan Empire’s royalty, believed to be blessed by the gods with powers unlike other humans. Duke Hargzent, the Emperor’s beloved brother and right hand, was the ruler of the Empire’s northern border region.
Even at a glance, it was clear that neither she nor Bridget were in a position to vie with such an individual…
“I hate it! I’d rather die than marry such a monster!”
Annette closed her eyes tightly, recalling Bridget’s screams and tears.
One week ago.
Summoned by the King of Heyworth, Annette headed to the audience chamber.
There, she hesitated upon seeing the King holding an envelope bearing the Alcan Royal Crest and Bridget weeping at his feet.
Queen Esther was beside Bridget, stroking her back and trying to persuade her.
“Bridget, think about it. It’s not all bad. To be part of the mighty Alcan Empire…”
“His face is hideous! How can Bridget live with such a monster for life, waaaah!”
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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