Encountering that butterfly, how many times has it been now?
After seeing it several times, Alicia now felt a sense of familiarity, and unknowingly, she stepped towards the place where the butterfly was.
“Isla?”
“∙∙∙∙∙∙.”
Even in response to Eric’s call, Alicia did not answer, as if bewitched, she entered the maze.
“Just a moment, Alicia.”
Perplexed, Eric followed Alicia into the maze.
After turning a couple of times between the green walls, Alicia reached out towards the butterfly.
Sensing something peculiar just before touching the butterfly, Eric grabbed and pulled her arm.
“Alicia, what are you doing?”
“Huh?”
Only then did Alicia turn her head to look at Eric.
“Why?”
“Why? I called you several times.”
“Did you?”
“It’s dark and narrow; it’s dangerous to come in like this.”
Eric’s words made Alicia smirk, completely unheard.
There was only one thing she heard.
“Oh, so you told me to be careful?”
“Huh?”
With a subtle expression, Eric stared at Alicia.
There was a very subtle sense of unease about the target, but Eric, wanting Alicia to enjoy the banquet without worries, deliberately shook off the unease and grinned.
“Yeah, you should be careful. Especially in a dark place like this.”
“Huh?”
“Isn’t it scary? Suddenly coming into a place like this without hesitation.”
“I’m with you, though.”
“Oh, then are you purposely doing this?”
At Eric’s low-toned, subtly vibrating words, Alicia looked around in bewilderment.
Unlike when viewed from outside, the inside of the green maze had lanterns, yet it was still dim and dark, just as Eric said.
However, rather than being scared, it felt oddly peculiar.
“That’s not it.”
Only then did Alicia try to respond with a sense of injustice, but when she glanced at Eric’s face, which was closer than she thought, she hesitated.
“What were you expecting?”
“Well, that.”
As Alicia took a step back, Eric took a step closer.
“What were you expecting?”
“?”
“I bet it won’t take even a second for you to surrender.”
As Alicia took another step back, Eric took another step closer.
When the distance between them once again became so close that their breaths touched and their noses almost touched, Eric grinned provocatively.
“Still far away? I’m ready to go, you know.”
Alicia felt her heart pounding so intensely that she unconsciously swallowed dry saliva.
She didn’t plan for this, but after regaining her composure, she honestly hoped for something like this.
But seduction? What should she do?
In Alicia’s mind, the contents of the book lent by Jenna passed like a flash.
She remembered all the content, but the problem was not being able to decide what to do among the numerous actions.
Observing Alicia contemplating with hesitant lips, Eric’s mouth curved slightly.
Just a little signal would do.
No, what signal? It was already tempting enough. Was there a need to wait?
Without hesitation, Eric moved closer to Alicia’s lips.
Then.
“Uh······heuh.”
“?”
Somewhere, a strange moaning sound was heard, causing Eric to pause. Alicia opened her eyes, which she had closed.
Sending a gesture to Alicia to be quiet, Eric looked around.
‘Did someone get caught? No way.’
The palace had strict security, so it didn’t seem like there would be intruders, but it was still prudent to be cautious. Moreover, due to the affiliation with the Zero Knights, interactions with divine arts, magic, and sorcery had made Eric and Alicia more sensitive to the energies in that direction, including the strange sensation they had sensed earlier. However, despite thoroughly examining the surroundings, there were no signs of anything unusual.
“Could it be that I’m becoming too paranoid these days?”
Just as Eric’s guard was beginning to relax, another strange sound disturbed his peace.
“Huut[Dash].”
“Aah, a bit more… Uut.”
The eerie sound echoed from beyond the wall. Eric and Alicia, perplexed, froze in their places for a moment.
After remaining silent for a while, the strange noise didn’t seem to be coming only from behind the wall.
Eric and Alicia, who hadn’t properly attended the banquet, were unaware that the dimly lit areas of the palace were already being effectively used as secret meeting places for lovers or those having clandestine rendezvous.
Especially in maze-like gardens like this.
…
Both remained silent for a while. The atmosphere had already become awkward, and the mood was shattered.
“Let’s go back.”
“Sure.”
Just the sound of their voices made it awkward, so Eric quickly took Alicia’s hand and moved away.
As they exited the maze garden to return to the banquet hall and walked a bit further, a familiar voice reached them.
“Alicia. Your Highness.”
“?”
“I was just looking for Your Highness, and it’s fortunate to meet you quickly.”
Chase was approaching the two from the front. Instead of waiting for Alicia, who was about to greet him warmly, Eric asked bluntly.
“Looking for me? Why?”
“Her Majesty is looking for you. So His Highness the Crown Prince is also searching for you.”
“What? Did something happen during my absence?”
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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