“You’re becoming indifferent to yourself. When you show signs of gradually sinking.”
Benjamin Visennov spoke in a whisper.
“I despise that part of you, Charlotte.”
Benjamin’s words were ambiguous.
‘Why is he saying such things…’
Charlotte wiped the sweat off her neck. Cold sweat had dripped down.
Benjamin left the room.
After that, the court physician visited.
She drank two bowls of herbal-infused water. It was more potent than grinding bitter leaves and drinking the juice.
“The herbs are of good quality. Keep drinking.”
Charlotte scowled at the bitter taste.
“I always wonder what this is made of…”
“It’s a herbal remedy that boosts your energy.”
“I know it’s the herbal medicine I take when I catch a cold, but this is too strong.”
“Good medicine is naturally bitter.”
Aaron took the bowl and offered Charlotte a piece of candy.
“Is there anything troubling you?”
Charlotte sucked on the candy, then Aaron asked,
“Someone told me I’m becoming indifferent. I don’t know what I did to make them feel that way.”
“Your Majesty might not know, but I have a feeling I do.”
Aaron mumbled as he cleaned up the bowls.
“Look back on those who watch over you. Then, you will know.”
The bedroom was silent. A warm stove had been lit.
She combed her long hair and took deep breaths. Warmth spread deep into her lungs.
‘I feel like I had a long dream.’
Charlotte pressed her temples.
“Seems like I don’t remember anything.”
Charlotte stretched her arms and yawned. The tense muscles in her neck relaxed.
As she leaned on the sofa, someone knocked on the door.
“Your Majesty, your grandfather from the Windsor House is here.”
Charlotte donned her shawl and invited him in.
“Have you eaten?”
“Yes. What time is it? Are you alright?”
“Yes. There’s nothing to worry about.”
Leandro looked around the room, which smelled of herbs, and swallowed.
“No injuries, then…”
“As you’ve probably heard, I’m not injured. I think I fainted because of the rain. I unnecessarily worried grandfather.”
“Ah, unnecessary worry, what are you saying…”
Leandro’s hands trembled as he held Charlotte.
“You have no idea how shocked I was when I heard the news this morning. You fainted in the rain again? What’s going on? You fainted at the hunting grounds, and now this?”
“Grandfather.”
“No, it’s fine. You’re not injured. That’s all that matters.”
After that, they exchanged various pleasantries.
Leandro listened to snippets of the story and gently stroked the back of Charlotte’s hand.
“If you had taken after your mother, insects would dislike you. Are you alright?”
“Katarina took good care of it, so it’s fine.”
“It’s a relief you have someone by your side. That puts us at ease.”
“What about Uncle Aster?”
“Your uncle has also become quite busy due to the New Year Festival.”
Afterwards, Charlotte saw Leandro off.
She then spent most of her time in her bedroom.
Charlotte tapped on the chessboard in front of her. She moved the queen and tilted her head.
‘What did I forget?’
Something slowly dissipated.
“Shall we bathe together?”
Benjamin’s drained expression from staying up several nights prompted this suggestion.
“The court physician said that soaking in warm water relaxes muscles.”
“…You refused, saying it was against palace etiquette.”
“Your Majesty has said that the old laws are outdated.”
A bitter scent unique to cigarettes wafted from Benjamin.
‘He smokes when he’s on edge.’
Cigarettes had their own potency.
It was a fact she had naturally come to realize as their time together increased.
He began to unbutton his shirt.
There were no words.
His eyes met hers. He closed his eyes again and massaged his neck.
A sinister nuance subtly seeped into his dark eyes.
“Then I’ll bite all the children.”
The chamberlain led the maids out.
“Come here.”
Benjamin looked down at Charlotte.
“You drive people mad.”
It’s cruel to torment someone who’s already suffering.
Steam rose from the bathtub.
Charlotte, dressed in a white negligee, stepped into the water.
The tub overflowed. She glanced down and arched her back.
Soap bubbles frothed up. As she leaned back, she felt an arm around her waist.
“Has your waist always been this thin?”
“Um, it’s the same.”
“You’ve lost weight.”
“It might feel different because we’re in the water.”
Charlotte leaned against him and exhaled.
“Your arms are thin, too.”
“Really?”
His arm brushed against her.
Charlotte swept her red hair to the side. Strands floated on the water.
“Why did you smoke a cigarette?”
“Is the smell still lingering?”
“No. Now it’s the scented oil…”
“I thought it had completely dissipated.”
“It’s faint but gone.”
Benjamin massaged Charlotte’s head. Her long hair tangled like vines in his fingers.
“Being sensitive makes people around you tired.”
Benjamin always distanced himself from Charlotte when he smoked.
“Don’t come near me when I smell like cigarettes, Charlotte.”
Charlotte laid her head on his shoulder.
After that, they continued their soft-spoken conversation.
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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