“Is there something you would like to tell me?”
“No, that’s not it. I just thought you must be going through a lot.”
At that moment, Icar’s rigid voice was heard, having left the dining room first.
“We have a long way to go, so let’s stop.”
“Yes.”
Reneb followed Icar and Dehan, moving her steps.
However, contrary to what she said, Selma was waiting in front of the castle gate. Even her hair was dyed silver.
“Did you have a good meal?”
“Yes, thanks to you. I heard you were not feeling well, is it okay for you to be out like this?”
Reneb asked with concern, to which Selma avoided eye contact and spoke.
“It’s not that big of a deal. Thank you for worrying.”
Her reaction was strangely sharp compared to yesterday. Then, the butler standing next to her intervened.
“I have informed the master about the two of you visiting, but it seems difficult for him to return today…….”
Bein and Dehan are the emperor’s closest aides.
That they happened to visit the Grand Duke of Julevern was like a golden opportunity for him.
Building a rapport with the emperor’s closest aides would have significant advantages.
Whether plotting entry into the capital’s politics, or asking for a favor in business. He didn’t even realize that the person who introduced himself as Dehan was the emperor himself.
That’s why Icar was in such a hurry to leave.
“Tell His Majesty that he received enough assistance from the Grand Duke of Julevern.”
Upon Icar’s casual comment, Selma bowed her head in relief.
(This is a time delimiter.)
After leaving the Grand Duke of Julevern’s domain and riding for a while, the distant castle wall began to appear.
Knights were lined up around the solid wall.
“We’ll arrive at the palace in about three or four hours.”
Dehan, who had returned after watering the horse, said.
“That’s wonderful news.”
Rubbing her sore buttocks, waist, and thighs from being beaten on the saddle, Reneb nodded.
Icar was staring sharply at Dehan and Reneb.
“Why do you say that? Sir Dehan.”
When Dehan asked cheerfully, one of Icar’s eyebrows twitched.
“Do you have something to say?”
Dehan straightened his hands respectfully and asked.
Icar looked alternately at Reneb and Dehan with a discontented glance.
Then he said,
“I have a place to go, so it would be best to part here. Sir Bein, safely escort the Duchess of Siren to the palace.”
“Yes, don’t worry.”
Dehan answered, bowing.
Icar, who had been staring at Dehan, leapt onto his horse.
“Peace be with you until we meet again.”
“Thank you for escorting us. Sir Dehan.”
Icar turned the horse’s head and looked back quickly. Reneb, who was watching his receding figure, turned her head.
“Sir Bein, shall we set off now?”
“That would be good. It would be best to arrive at the palace before the sun sets.”
“Alright.”
As Dehan said, they arrived at the palace of Bashuker after riding for about three or four more hours.
‘So many jewels are produced….’
Reneb’s mouth fell open as she looked around the corridors of the Bashuker Palace.
The rumor was an inch from the truth.
While the scale was slightly less than the Paradigm Palace, it could not compare in terms of splendor.
Reneb was overwhelmed inside the Bashuker Palace, and Dehan repeatedly apologized.
“I’m sorry. We planned to finish the guest room construction before your arrival, but there was a delay in the supply of materials…….”
She already knew. That’s why she would have to stay in the garden for a while.
“If you are truly sorry, you should hope that the construction ends quickly.”
Walking beside Reneb, Dehan had been wearing a robe over his head since before they entered the palace.
It looked suspicious enough.
But nobody stopped him. Dehan seemed nervous that if someone who recognized him spoke, Icar’s lie would be exposed.
Reneb looked at Dehan once again with a compassionate gaze.
“Lord Vain must be tired as well, thank you for guiding me this far.”
“It’s nothing. I’m sorry for the discomfort of your journey and for everything else.”
Had they chosen the official route, the journey to Bashuker would have definitely been much more comfortable.
But if they had moved according to the official schedule, who knows how the two men of Seirenga, and Lucius and the Empress might have interfered.
“Don’t say that. The construction will end soon, and I have arrived safely.”
Reneb said, with a faint smile and a nod. By Dehan’s side, she instructed the maid to take good care of Her Majesty and bowed her waist deeply.
“Then, rest well.”
“Lord Vain, you have worked hard.”
Turning her body, Reneb momentarily watched Dehan and then opened the door to her assigned bedroom.
Sunlight flooded through the large windows, and the white tone of the walls and ceiling matched the furniture.
Though Reneb had encountered many valuable things while living as an Empress, she was still astonished.
Despite understanding the apologetic Dehan, the bedroom was incredibly spacious and luxurious.
It was on par with the former Empress’s bedroom, supporting Icar’s statement that they would not host the guests.
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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