The Dead Villainess Is Pregnant With The Male Lead's Child (Completed Main Story) - Chapter 1
On a dark night, at the outskirts of the capital where no one passed by.
Veronica, cloaked in a robe, opened the door of a lone, dilapidated hut and stepped inside.
Despite its shabby exterior, the hut’s interior was neat and tidy.
The only thing out of place here was the single golden-haired woman lying straight on the bed—dead.
Veronica approached the bed and took the corpse’s hand.
The body, already stiff and cold, felt icy to the touch.
“Thank you.”
Veronica tightly closed her eyes and prayed for the dead woman’s peace.
If there is another life, may your suffering be halved and your happiness doubled.
Opening her eyes once more, Veronica began to undress.
It was the vibrant pink dress gifted to her by the Emperor three months ago for her twentieth birthday.
Wearing the final dress of Veronica, the Imperial Princess—beloved by the Emperor and the entire Imperial Household, and the center of every citizen’s affection and attention—was a dazzling garment whose shimmer left nothing to be desired.
‘Of course, it will soon turn to ashes.’
Veronica stripped the corpse and dressed her in the very pink gown she had just removed.
She placed her own necklace, earrings, rings, and bracelets onto the dead woman’s body as well.
She hoped those who discovered the burned remains would harbor not even the slightest suspicion that Princess Veronica had died.
Now bare of her finery, Veronica put on the clothes she had brought.
Not an expensive noblewoman’s dress, but simple attire fit for a commoner man.
Lastly, she reached into her pocket and pulled out a violet mana crystal piercing imbued with a transformation spell.
The moment she inserted the piercing, her sun-like golden hair turned into moonlit silver, and her ruby-red eyes shifted into transparent green like peridot.
‘The scar looks quite convincing.’
Veronica’s gaze, as she checked her reflection in the mirror, settled on the burn mark running from beneath her right cheek, across her jaw, down to her neck—and the tattoo covering it.
The geometric vine-like tattoo meant to conceal the scar pleased her well enough.
‘So I end up getting a tattoo this way—the very thing I never dared do in my past life.’
Though it was merely an illusion and not real.
Heh. Despite this being such a pivotal moment in embracing a new life, her heart felt strangely light—as if she couldn’t help but smile.
“Farewell. Thank you. I’ll repay this kindness someday.”
She bowed deeply one last time to the woman who would soon become ash along with her own name, then stepped out of the hut.
Tied to a tall tree by the roadside stood a single horse.
‘Onyx has already come and gone. As precise as ever.’
Satisfied with her planner’s flawless execution, Veronica’s lips stretched into a long, pleased smile.
Mounting the horse, she pulled a small, round box—about the size of a fist—from her pocket and opened the lid.
The violet mana crystal button inside glowed faintly.
Veronica pressed it down firmly, without hesitation.
Boom! Kaboom!
Whoosh!
Flame! Whoosh!
The hut exploded, its roof blasted skyward as the entire structure was engulfed in fire.
A brilliant pillar of crimson flame fiercely embroidered the black night.
Leaving the burning hut behind, Veronica galloped away swiftly on horseback.
Her long silver hair fluttered in the wind, glinting under the moonlight.
“Goodbye, Veronica! Goodbye, Death! May we never meet again!”
This was truly the end. At last, she had broken free from the original story.
For three long months, she had lived breathlessly, waiting only for this day.
Veronica’s face shone brightly.
A smile bloomed fully on her lips.
“A new life… a new hope… exists, surely!”
The future, now freed from the original plot brimming with preordained misfortune, would be one of ‘life’ instead of ‘death,’ and ‘happiness’ instead of ‘misery.’
Her heart swelled with bright hope and boundless possibilities.
Hope and possibility—
things she’d never even dared imagine just three months ago.
[This is the timeline separator]Fitting for an Imperial Princess blessed wholly by the goddess, the sky was perfectly clear without a single cloud, and the sun shone with exceptional radiance.
“Happy birthday, Your Highness!”
“Long live Her Royal Highness the Princess! Long, long live!”
The glass carriage bearing Princess Veronica, celebrating her twentieth birthday, rolled slowly down Central Avenue through the capital.
Imperial citizens had gathered in crowds along the thoroughfare just to catch a glimpse of their beautiful Princess.
“Long live Her Royal Highness Princess Veronica!”
“Wow! Her Highness waved to me!”
“She’s truly beautiful!”
“Like an angel!”
Men and women, young and old alike, endlessly cheered and praised the Princess’s beauty.
The excited voices of the people surged like waves, rising and falling with Veronica’s every movement.
Each time she turned her head, switched hands waving, or frowned slightly against the glare of the sun, the pitch of their cheers rose higher.
The glass carriage reached the Golden Plaza before the main gates of the Imperial Palace.
Crown Prince Jonathan, who had been waiting by the central fountain, personally opened the carriage door.
“Veronica, happy birthday!”
“Thank you, Brother.”
Escorted by Jonathan, Veronica stepped down from the carriage and waved once more to the crowd.
Her abundant golden hair fluttered in the breeze, brilliantly shimmering in the sunlight.
Her flawless, porcelain-white face was filled with a lovable and cheerful smile.
Orchestral music filled the plaza, and colorful confetti danced through the air.
The eyes of the Imperial citizens, brimming with love and devotion, never left Veronica.
“May Your Highness live ten thousand years!”
“May Your Highness live ten thousand years!”
“May Your Highness live ten thousand years!”
The people began chanting in unison.
Veronica stepped lightly onto the platform erected before the central fountain.
Onlookers likened her to a butterfly fluttering gently through a flower garden.
Reaching the highest point of the platform, Veronica opened her mouth to address the crowd gathered for her sake.
“People of the Athernadam Empire, thank you so much for coming to celebrate my birthday!”
Her soft, gentle voice resonated throughout the plaza.
This was thanks to the small orb-shaped volume-amplifying magical artifact she held.
“May the blessing of abundance bestowed by Goddess Artheon be with all your households!”
Wah! The crowd erupted in cheers.
“May the blessing of love given by Goddess Selena dwell within your hearts!”
Wah! With every word Veronica spoke, the people cheered anew.
“The blessing of victory from Goddess Tess… um…”
Veronica faltered mid-sentence, stumbling over her words.
Though she’d practiced repeatedly the night before and thought she had it memorized, her nerves must have made her forget the rest.
Her wavering eyes turned to Jonathan standing beside her.
He let out a soft sigh and leaned in close to whisper into her ear.
“The blessing of victory.”
A warm smile lingered on Jonathan’s lips, but his eyes clearly held reproach and disdain for his foolish younger sister.
Can’t you even manage this properly?
Honestly, at least admit you’re clueless.
If eyes could speak, that’s exactly what they’d say.
Her slender hand holding the magical artifact trembled violently, and her slumped shoulders stiffened rigidly.
Veronica, smile! Hurry and continue speaking! Everyone’s watching! Jonathan commanded silently with his eyes once more.
Obediently, she forced the corners of her mouth into a wide, strained smile.
“May the blessing of victory bestowed by Goddess Tess be with our nation, the Athernadam Empire!”
Waaah! Waaah! The crowd went wild.
The very air of the plaza vibrated with their ecstatic cheers.
“Long live Her Royal Highness the Princess!”
“Long, long live Her Royal Highness the Princess!”
Though every loving gaze and voice in the crowd was directed solely at Veronica, she herself could not enjoy any of it.
Still tense from her earlier mistake, she remained stiff as ever.
Just then,
The elderly head steward, his hair snow-white, arrived with a tray bearing two glasses of champagne.
His face—normally famed for never losing its smile—was rigid and tense, which looked strangely unfamiliar.
‘Even the steward must be nervous.’
Veronica found slight comfort in knowing she wasn’t the only one anxious.
With a somewhat lighter heart, she accepted the champagne glass Jonathan offered her.
Amidst the roaring cheers, the Crown Prince and Princess lifted their champagne glasses high toward the crowd and clinked them together.
Clink! A clear, ringing sound echoed from their meeting glasses.
Veronica immediately downed her champagne in one gulp.
Although she didn’t particularly like alcohol, she’d been taught that on special occasions like this, one must finish the drink in the glass all at once.
Now it was Jonathan’s turn.
Just as Jonathan moved to bring his glass to his lips, having confirmed Veronica had emptied hers—
“Ugh!”
A deep groan escaped Veronica’s throat as her body lurched violently.
An excruciating pain twisted through her entire body, and this horrific agony swiftly stole away her consciousness.
Crash!
The glass she’d held dropped to the ground, and immediately afterward, Veronica collapsed onto the shattered glass fragments.
“Veronica!”
Jonathan cried out in shock and panic, but received no reply.
He quickly scooped Veronica into his arms.
Her small, delicate form went utterly limp in his embrace.
Seeing their Princess collapse unconscious, the crowd descended into panic.
“Oh no! Your Highness! Your Highness!”
“What’s happened to Her Highness? Why is she like this?”
“What do we do?!”
“Could it be… poison?!”
At first, people were simply confused, but they soon began piecing together what had happened.
“Poison! It’s poison! The champagne was poisoned!”
“Her Royal Highness drank poison! It’s poison! It’s a conspiracy!”
Faces in the plaza flushed red with fury, and tears brimmed in their eyes.
Some sobbed quietly; others wailed and raged.
The festive, joyous atmosphere that had filled the air just moments ago vanished completely, replaced by an atmosphere of chaos and confusion shaking the entire plaza.
Jonathan, still holding Veronica, hurried into the carriage, which immediately galloped toward the Imperial Palace.
People poured out prayers toward the carriage vanishing into the palace.
“Please, Your Highness, be safe!”
“Oh, Goddesses! Please grant mercy and protect our beloved Princess!”
“Save our Princess, please!”
Yet none of them saw it.
None with tear-filled eyes brimming with fervent worry saw it.
None with eyes fixed skyward, murmuring heartfelt prayers, saw it.
The faint smile curling at the lips of the Crown Prince, cradling his lifeless-looking younger sister.
That cold, blood-tinged smile.
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
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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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MANGA DISCUSSION
1 Comment
Chapter Comments (142)
Full disclosure, I started this because the little prince in the cover looks so cute!
What are these monsters disguised as imperial family?
Killion seems better than other regret full ML’s but let see
Inline Comments (417)
Gasp! Was it really that obvious? Veronica’s voice trembled slightly in panic.
Did you just ask if it was obvious? Were u even making effort to appear like og Veronica?
"It’s fortunate you’ve finally realized, even if late. You’re simply too dim-wit
I think the Empress character has a narcissistic mother personality — she uses her daughter as a mirror for her own glory and doesn’t see her as an independent person
All the way back to his room, Killion grumbled to himself.
Awww this makes me feel sad for my younger siblings
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VKotaku28
Shitty family alert! Man I hope the true victim found happiness elsewhere