Strategic Marriage with the Mad Villain - Chapter 105
‘No. If I let my guard down, I don’t know when Reus might shamelessly approach me again.’
It seemed right to keep my distance as much as possible until I heard a proper explanation. Having finished my thoughts, I naturally headed towards the stairs, passing by Reus. Seeing that his footsteps didn’t immediately follow, it seemed he was quite shocked again.
‘I guess I’m getting a bit used to seeing Reus looking cowed…’
But that didn’t mean I felt good about it, or found it satisfying. Rather, the whole situation of being angry at Reus was very uncomfortable.
Who would want to be angry at someone who sacrificed their daily life to stay by your side without leaving for even a moment when you were so sick you couldn’t even leave your bed?
Thinking about everything Reus had done for me until now, I could forgive most things.
‘Except for eliminating the ship route, of course…’
Anyway, since I didn’t like this situation either, I wanted to talk things out and resolve the situation as peacefully as possible if I could.
But seeing how he trembled at even small things while absolutely refusing to open his mouth, it seemed better not to expect such a method from the start.
We entered the dining room while maintaining our distance. The servants couldn’t hide their disappointed looks upon seeing us coming in far apart.
‘Is it just my imagination that everyone except me seems to be of one mind?’
For now, I sat down while trying hard to ignore the servants’ gazes. Reus, who entered the dining room belatedly, also took his usual seat.
And then silence continued for a long time. It was very quiet except for the sound of servants’ footsteps and dishes touching the table.
I hadn’t thought we usually had that much conversation before meals, but apparently that wasn’t the case.
‘It feels like we’ve gone right back to just after getting married.’
The difference from then was that now it was Reus who wanted to speak, not me.
As the meal started in this very uncomfortable state, only the clattering of utensils could be heard for quite a while.
‘It’s suffocating…!’
In this stifling atmosphere, my thought that it would be better to at least eat together was gradually changing. Feeling like I couldn’t eat at all like this, I finally opened my mouth first, unable to bear it any longer.
“Are you… very busy today?”
Reus’s expression immediately brightened, as if he was glad I spoke to him first.
“Not particularly busy.”
“Is that so?”
Finally seeing signs that our relationship might recover, I could feel the servants also subtly listening in on our conversation.
“Then how about having tea time outdoors after the meal, for a change?”
“…”
But Reus immediately shut his mouth. I couldn’t help but let out a small laugh at how ridiculous it was.
‘So he wants to be with me like before, but has absolutely no intention of opening his mouth about Belliata.’
Thanks to Reus who ultimately didn’t say anything, the atmosphere quickly froze over.
The servants were restless, but I thought that was rather fortunate.
‘Thank you for completely erasing even my feelings of pity.’
My desire to eat together was already fading, so this worked out well.
I continued eating without bothering to point out Reus’s behavior. And when I felt sufficiently full, I carefully put down my utensils.
Unlike yesterday, I set them down so gently that they made almost no sound, but Reus still visibly flinched.
“Reus.”
“…Yes, Roel.”
“How about we eat separately for a while?”
Reus’s face stiffened for a moment before he put on a pitiful expression like a drenched puppy.
If he had made that expression before refusing to talk, my heart might have softened a little, but not now.
I smiled as if asking if he was really going to keep acting like this, for the very last time. Reus’s eyes seemed to waver slightly, but soon his gaze dropped.
“Then finish your meal and go, Reus.”
Ridiculously, Reus didn’t try to stop me this time.
[This is the timeline separator]Not wanting to return to my bedroom right away, I headed to my old office that I hadn’t used in a while.
I thought I might as well handle the mountain of letters that had piled up, since I hadn’t managed to leave. Soon after, Dewin came to my room carrying letters.
“Your Highness. Here are… the things you requested.”
When I didn’t say anything else, Dewin looked troubled and didn’t know what to do with himself before speaking again.
“I, I’m sorry, Your Highness…”
It was the same expression and tone as that slightly strange day.
‘I shouldn’t have just brushed off that feeling of déjà vu back then.’
There was no point in blaming anyone now, but it was true that I felt a little resentful towards Dewin.
“I didn’t think you would deceive me so completely. I thought at least Dewin wouldn’t do that…”
“I have no words to say even if I had ten mouths, Your Highness…”
After sending away Dewin, whose face was turning increasingly ashen, I examined the letters one by one.
“So many have piled up…”
Since they were letters that came when I was sick, most of them were concerned about my health rather than invitations.
Though I wondered when I would ever reply to all of these, I was able to focus quickly thinking it was better than sitting around idly or wandering aimlessly around the Grand Duke’s castle.
‘If I had just escaped well in the first place, this wouldn’t have happened.’
As I was looking through the letters with some resignation, I discovered a letter from Shanette.
“Huh? Was this overlooked?”
I heard that Reus handles the letters coming from Shanette or those that absolutely need replies. Yet Shanette’s letter was mixed in with letters from other people.
When I checked why, it seemed the letter had only arrived at the Grand Duke’s castle recently. It must have gotten mixed in because Dewin gathered the letters that arrived just yesterday and brought them to me right away.
“That works out well. She must have been worried, so I should reply directly this time.”
I slowly read through Shanette’s letter.
[The autumn wind is getting a bit chilly, are you taking good care of yourself?This autumn seems especially cold. I hope you’re keeping yourself warm so you don’t catch a cold, Roel. It’s nothing much, but I’m sending along some things I think you might need.
By the way, my worries are growing day by day. Reus says you’re far from recovery, and he won’t even let you go to the Grand Duke’s castle… I wonder if we should look for famous doctors at this point…]
“No, this man really!”
I flared up for a moment at the mention of Reus’s words as I was reading the letter carefully.
Far from recovery, he says!
Do people outside the Grand Duke’s castle still think I’m bedridden? Judging by Shanette’s string of worries that followed, it wouldn’t be strange if I was known to still be at death’s door.
But what’s even more ridiculous in this situation is that Reus probably said that because he sincerely thought so.
“Sigh… Let’s calm down first.”
I barely managed to calm my heart and continued reading the rest of the letter. Then I found a notable part.
[We were supposed to go volunteer at the orphanage together around this time, but I feel very empty without you, Roel.]“Volunteering at the orphanage…”
After reading the letter to the end, I slowly began to write a reply.
That there was nothing to worry about, and according to the attending physician’s opinion, my physical condition had almost returned to normal and I was currently able to carry out daily life without any difficulties. That even going out wouldn’t be a problem at all if it wasn’t too long of a travel time.
“So… if it’s not a difficult task, I could even volunteer at the orphanage as promised…”
As far as I remember, on the day Shanette was supposed to go to the orphanage, Reus had a separate schedule.
So I hinted that I wanted to participate in the volunteering, with the intention of trying it even if I had to go out, in case the Grand Duke’s castle couldn’t bring in Theron.
‘I should have at least one backup plan in case of failure.’
And at the end of the letter, I added that even if I couldn’t volunteer at the orphanage together, I wanted to visit her as soon as possible.
This perfectly written letter should be secretly delivered to Dewin, who conspired with Reus to deceive me.
[This is the timeline separator]As I was checking the letters, I noticed darkness falling outside the window.
Thinking this should be enough for today, I tidied up and left the office. And after taking just a few steps, I found Reus leaning against the wall.
‘How unusual of him to leave me alone.’
Reus, who had been quietly watching me for a moment, slowly approached.
“Roel, you shouldn’t push yourself so suddenly like that.”
“All I did was sit and check letters.”
“You don’t need to reply to every useless letter.”
“Useless letters? They’re all letters that people took the time to send. Because you won’t let me leave, I can no longer put off replying…”
“If it bothers you, you can order me to do it. From now on, I’ll check all the other letters and reply to them all.”
As if you’d tell them like you told Lady Shanette that I’m far from recovery so please refrain from visits and letters?
“Why should I trust you?”
Reus couldn’t give any answer to my sharp retort. I guess he does have a shred of conscience after all.
“Isn’t it uncomfortable for you to be like this with me?”
“…”
“Reus. It’s about time you told me, isn’t it?”
“If I tell you… you’ll run away.”
I’m going to run away whether you tell me or not… What could the reason be that he’s hesitating like this?
“It’s not like you’re never going to tell me, right?”
“…”
“Right, Reus…?”
No answer.
It seems this man still hasn’t come to his senses.
“Fine. If you have nothing to say, then don’t.”
“Roel-”
Reus must have been urgent, as he grabbed my hand as I was about to leave.
“I was wrong. Please don’t go…”
I won’t fall for that look anymore. Pretending to be sorry with that expression, but who knows what scheme you have behind your back!
“I’m really disappointed in you.”
“…”
“Don’t follow me.”
Leaving Reus, who froze stiffly as soon as he heard my words, I left the corridor just like that.
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
[Touch the gear icon in the bottom right corner of the screen to move to the next chapter if you want.]