The reality didn’t even feel real. Yet, the blood flowing from Terot’s neck was so vivid that Ustia tearfully gazed at her, unable to make a sound.
Guardro, who was guarding behind Ustia, let out a heavy sigh. The punishment that the sinner would receive anyway would be death. However, he had never thought of carrying out such actions in front of Ustia like this.
Exhaling another heavy breath, Guardro gestured towards the knights. It meant to transport the body of the criminal.
The knights moved quickly. And just as they left the entrance of the Empress’s Palace with the body of the criminal, Ustia’s voice, which had sunk into despair, echoed through the air.
“Where are you taking her?”
Guardro silently looked at Ustia. Ustia still couldn’t lift her head or raise her fallen body.
Guardro, who finally exhaled, ordered the maids standing by Ustia to take her into the bedroom. Then he dismissed the remaining palace servants.
Ustia could barely sit on the bed with the support of the maids. Guardro also gave orders to the two maids supporting Ustia.
Although only the two of them remained at last, Ustia’s lips didn’t easily loosen. However, an answer to Ustia’s question had to be given clearly.
With a heavy heart, Guardro began to speak.
“Your maid committed an unpardonable crime of attempting to poison the Crown Princess. Even though she took her own life, the gravity of the crime is not light. To prevent further unrest, punishment according to the palace law is clearly necessary.”
At the formal tone of Guardro’s continued words, Ustia suddenly raised her head. Then, she looked at Guardro as if she couldn’t believe it.
“Do you mean to say that you would even kill someone who is already dead?”
Ustia’s voice trembled more than before. The weight on Guardro’s heart grew even heavier.
“Your maid vowed to cover up this incident with her life, so I won’t ask for any more punishment from you. However, you mustn’t cause any more unrest. As you mentioned, from now on, you will have to live in even greater secrecy. Even if we don’t ask for the crime, this incident will follow the Empress like a stigma.”
“I don’t care about that. If you want to harm me, even take my life for this incident, feel free to do so. There is nothing left in life; I have no regrets. But not Terot, Your Majesty. How can you say you will kill someone who is already dead?”
“…”
“Terot has already met a miserable end, Your Majesty. Admitting her own sins in front of everyone, trembling in fear, would have been painful enough. So please, I beg you to retract your words about killing Terot once again. I earnestly request this, Your Majesty.”
Ustia vehemently criticized Guardro while hanging pitifully. However, Guardro never turned to look at Ustia.
“I can only say what is necessary in terms of procedures. You must have been surprised; now, rest deeply.”
Coldly delivering his final words, Guardro harshly supported Ustia and left. Watching the back of the Emperor in this manner, Ustia gritted her teeth.
Her entire body boiled with uncontrollable anger. Her heart pounded roughly as if it would explode at any moment. An unbearable force filled her entire body.
Ustia breathed heavily. Then, she grabbed the area around her heart that had started to beat wildly as if about to go on a rampage.
How long did it last? From the depths of her body, tremendous power began to surge like an explosive force. The darkness flowing from Ustia’s body quickly filled the bedroom and seized Guardro’s ankles.
“W-what is this…!”
In the suddenly pitch-black view, Guardro looked around with a surprised expression. The Empress’s bedroom, which had been filled with familiar furniture just a moment ago, was now entirely soaked in darkness.
Guardro, startled, instinctively turned backward. Then, the moment he discovered Ustia still sitting on the bed, Guardro could only retreat in fear.
Ustia, who was shedding tears with an innocent look, had eyes that were completely dyed red, as if staring directly at him.
The terrifying gaze of Ustia, so dreadful that it sent shivers down his spine, was precisely fixated on him.
As if any moment now, it would strangle his breath.
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.
[Touch the gear icon in the bottom right corner of the screen to move to the next chapter if you want.]
