The moment their swords first clashed, their strength was evenly matched.But as they briefly parted and clashed again, Count Wyden’s sword flowed like water, slicing toward Yezar’s waist.
Yet Yezar quickly adjusted his stance, blocking Count Wyden’s sword.The sharp sound of swords colliding and rebounding echoed in their ears.
Yezar defended with near-perfect precision, pressing with raw power,while Count Wyden, like flowing water, sought openings for a counterattack.
“It’s the first time I’ve seen swordsmanship look so elegant.”
Unlike Count Wyden’s burly frame, his swordsmanship was astonishingly clean and beautiful.The flawless movements and the swift, curving strikes drew instinctive admiration.
“Eric’s getting excited again. It’s been a while since he’s found someone to match him—he’s like a fish in water.”
“But Duke Ferhaem is smiling too, isn’t he? They both must love swordplay. Look how much fun they’re having sparring.”
“It feels like watching a swordsmanship tournament. Who do you think will win, Julietta?”
At that question, I answered without thinking.
“Whether they win or lose doesn’t matter, I think.The moment of clashing blades must be so thrilling for them.”
It was beautiful. Count Wyden’s swordsmanship, sharp and precise, aimed for vital points with no wasted motion,while Yezar’s swordsmanship, perfectly defending every attack, tightened like a noose.
“Still, I think Yezar will win.”
As they exchanged blows, the outcome became clearer.Count Wyden kept attacking, but Yezar’s sword blocked every move.
If he left even the slightest opening, Count Wyden would be done for.
And as I predicted, the moment Count Wyden’s balance wavered slightly,Yezar’s sword darted toward his neck.
He stopped just before contact, and Count Wyden let out a wry laugh, admitting defeat.
“No helping it. I’ve lost. Now I see why Duke Ferhaem inherited the dukedom so early.”
“Thank you for the compliment. Your swordsmanship is still beautiful. It’s a style I can’t replicate.”
Their handshake, acknowledging the outcome, was a pleasant sight.The thrill coursing from my toes through my entire body made me glad I watched.
“As Julietta said, Duke Ferhaem won. Were you rooting for his victory the whole time?”
“I’m sorry to Yezar, but I was watching Count Wyden’s beautiful swordsmanship.It’s not about brute force or thrusting—it’s like a work of art. I couldn’t take my eyes off it.”
At that, Count Wyden, walking toward us, burst into laughter.
“Well, I’m honored that the duchess praises my swordsmanship.I wonder if Duke Ferhaem might be jealous of me.”
“I don’t get jealous over such things…”
As Yezar spoke, turning his head away, Count Wyden clapped his back heartily, as if seeing something rare.
“Hahaha! Newlyweds sure are passionate. Never mind the jealous Duke Ferhaem.Duchess, have you ever learned swordsmanship?”
Count Wyden asked something unexpected. I hesitated for a moment.I wasn’t hiding it, but was it okay to admit it openly?
“If I said I had learned…?”
“Good heavens, Julietta, you’ve trained with a sword?”
“Oh my, no wonder you easily guessed who’d win the duel.”
I brushed off the ladies’ excited reactions lightly.It was only natural.
The man who had just displayed beautiful swordsmanship was asking me.
“Would you like to spar with me?”
A challenge to cross swords. Back at the Orbetian estate, I enjoyed swordsmanship as a hobby.I started it out of boredom, but it unexpectedly suited my taste.
The moments of moving my body, sparring, and training were exhausting yet exhilarating—I couldn’t stop.
Since coming to the Ferhaem dukedom, a desire grew within me.It started after crossing swords with Yezar.Watching well-trained knights’ swordsmanship up close made me want to learn more,to stand as an equal against Yezar. That thirst was unbearable.
“I want to spar. Not with a wooden sword, but a real one, even just for a moment.”
Having seen their intense clash, how could I stay still?
“Wait, Julietta, a real sword? Eric’s a musclehead and can’t hold back! It’s definitely dangerous.”
Katrin tried to stop me, but I didn’t listen.Count Wyden, chuckling, shrugged and said,
“I’m fine with a real sword, but what does Duke Ferhaem think? Is it alright?”
The other ladies gasped and urged Yezar to stop me.But Yezar, having sparred with Count Wyden himself, surely understood my feelings.
Our eyes met squarely. He grimaced but soon answered,
“It’s fine. But since my wife isn’t a formal knight, please stop if she might get hurt.”
Having sparred with me before, he knew I’d say that.I smiled with joy, but Count Wyden seemed unnerved by Yezar’s fierce gaze.
“If I accidentally injure her, I’ll fear for my safety at night.”
“More than the night, it’s your future you should fear. Of course, I’m joking.”
For a moment, I thought he was serious and considered backing out.Count Wyden, scratching the back of his neck hesitantly, handed me his sword.
“Alright, then, Duchess, let’s have a spar. Your hands are those of a knight.”
He was sharp-eyed, noticing that already.
“May I change into comfortable clothes? This dress isn’t suitable.”
Katrin sighed heavily.
“I have clothes, but are you really sure about this?”
“Yes, I’m sure.”
Berry looked at me with concern.
“What if you get a scar on your face?”
“Count Wyden will be careful, won’t he?”
Finally, Sina said to me,
“I know you’re serious, but wouldn’t a wooden sword do?”
“A wooden sword won’t suffice. I’ve already seen a real sword duel.”
A wooden sword would be safer, but it would diminish the beauty of the swordsmanship I saw.I wanted to face Count Wyden up close and match his moves.That’s likely why Yezar allowed it.
He knew he couldn’t break my stubbornness.
Having changed into proper clothes, I took the sword Count Wyden offered.I drew it from its sheath, examining it slowly.
“It’s nice. A well-maintained sword.”
Satisfied, I swung it, and Count Wyden said,
“I never imagined the duchess had trained with a sword. Was it a secret?”
“It was a secret from my father. I didn’t train to become a knight.At first, it just suited me. But then, I simply loved the sword.”
It was a hobby, but I wielded the sword passionately.No matter how exhausting, it didn’t matter. I loved it.
“I see. I’ll spar as if training a knight.”
“Thank you. Please do it so the ladies watching won’t worry.”
“Katrin calls me a musclehead, but if I couldn’t control myself, I wouldn’t be a knight.”
He took his stance confidently. A thrilling excitement coursed through me.How beautiful would his swordsmanship be up close?
“Come, Duchess.”
He beckoned with a gesture. Smiling, I charged at him.Our swords clashed fiercely.
Clang—! The sound, like a beautiful chime, rang in my ears.
“Ugh. You’re stronger than you look.”
“I hear that a lot.”
I replied casually, but his pushing strength was no joke. My wrist tingled.As our swords clashed again, a fierce gust arose.
As sand swirled, making me squint one eye, he lowered his stance.His sword came at me naturally, like flowing water.
It almost felt like his sword was bending.It traced a smooth arc, sharply targeting my openings.
“Ah, as expected. It’s even more beautiful up close. So thrilling.”
The size difference between Count Wyden and me was significant.I twisted my waist and neck to dodge a strike aimed at my head, but some hair was cut.Gasps came from the distance.
“Whoops. Katrin’s going to scold me.”
While he glanced aside in surprise, I swung my sword.His stance wasn’t fully set, and as I pressed with force, I felt him give way. Dust rose briefly.
“You need to focus, Count Wyden.”
At my cheerful voice, he gave a wry laugh.
“Well, I’ll be. You’re not even fazed.”
“Hair grows back, doesn’t it? I don’t even care about that.”
Leaping forward, I aimed for his neck, and he hastily blocked, tilting his head back.As I tried to press with force, he pushed my sword away.
Pushed back a few steps, I caught my breath.
“If I train like I do with knights, I might end up losing.”
“That’s your fault for not focusing, Count Wyden.”
Catching my breath, I charged again, pressing forward.Attacking swiftly with relentless speed was my strength, even praised by Yezar.
“You attack so fast, and there’s no gap between your moves. Did the duke train your stance?”
Count Wyden asked with a playful smile.
“Yes. He’s a capable teacher. So stop joking, Count Wyden. It’s not fun.”
At my serious gaze, he answered with his sword.
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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