He didn’t want to passively witness family conflicts again and regret it later. After finishing the pre-dinner ritual, he headed quickly to the Flower Garden, where the family gathering was taking place.
“What’s that supposed to mean! The Grand Duchess is heading to the Fairy Forest to hold a coming-of-age ceremony!”
Having arrived late to the family gathering, he turned pale upon hearing the news that Idel had gone alone to the Fairy Forest.
“Roselin! You can’t be…”
Looking at Roselin, who was avoiding his gaze, Viscount Fleuret’s suspicion grew thin. There was a corner to be probed in the current situation.
Without any prior notice, Roselin, who had come to the estate unannounced, finally made sense of why she had asked such a question.
[Dash] Father, I’m here! [Dash] Roselin, what’s going on with the estate that made you suddenly come here? [Dash] I wanted to see Father’s face and… I have something to ask.With a charming smile, Roselin looked at him, lowering her voice as if inquiring about an important secret.
[Dash] Father, do you happen to know about a scent that reacts only to a specific person? [Dash] What…?Viscount Fleuret’s mouth hung open at Roselin’s question. Flustered, he asked her with a trembling voice.
[Dash] A s-scent that reacts only to a specific person… What on earth are you talking about? [Dash] I wondered if there’s a reason why Sister doesn’t have a scent… if she wasn’t born with such a scent. [Dash] …!In an instant, Viscount Fleuret’s heart sank.
‘She couldn’t possibly be asking about the contents of the family records…!’
It was only earlier this year that he himself finally learned the contents of the records. The reason he became aware of the unique scent known as the prophecy of the fairies and the curse of binding between the early Imperial family and the Fleuret family was… precisely because of Idel.
Although at first, it was driven by a sense of guilt for not protecting the woman he loved and a sense of responsibility for the child left behind… he had never thought that Idel, who lacked the scent, was not his daughter.
It was because of his belief that the woman who dedicated herself to him with devotion and affection, and the mother of Idel, would never commit adultery.
Moreover, as Idel grew up with an upright character and keen insight, he had secretly made efforts during his estate inspections to find out if there were cases of Fleuret family members without a scent like Idel, despite knowing that he would face opposition from the family.
Eventually, while searching in the hidden study of the Viscount’s mansion, he discovered the family records containing the early history of the binding relationship between the Imperial family and the Fleuret family.
⌜The former Emperor Uypeter regarded the prophecy of the fairies predicting that his descendants and the descendants of Fleuret would be inevitably bound as a curse weakening the power of the Imperial family.⌟
The records considered the binding relationship between the early Emperor Uypeter and the Fleuret family as a curse and documented the history of caution exercised by the early Imperial family toward the Fleuret family.
⌜The binding relationship between the Imperial family of Uypeter and the Fleuret family is mediated by a special scent. It is an inevitable connection made only through a scent imprinted on each other exclusively.⌟
The scent of the Fleuret descendants, as the owner of the scent, could only be sensed by the descendants of Uypeter, the object of the binding curse.
‘Could it be that Idel doesn’t have a scent because he was born as the owner of this scent…?’
Just as he was harboring suspicions after reading the contents of the ancient book, he received the shocking news that Idel and the Grand Duke would be married.
‘Could it be that the Grand Duke is the target of the binding…!’
If Idel and the Grand Duke were in a binding relationship, and if this fact were to be known to the Imperial family… the Fleuret family, which had been safe until now, as well as Idel, could be in danger.
Considering it an encounter that should never happen, he hurriedly went to find the Grand Duke.
[Dash] I’ve decided to grant her freedom three years from now. [Dash] What does that mean…? [Dash] Yeah. This is a contractual marriage. It’s a contract carried out for mutual needs. [Dash] So, it’s just a contract… Are you saying that the marriage will proceed without any emotions? [Dash] Emotions? What does the Viscount mean by emotions? [Dash] Your Excellency… I heard that you expressed affection for Idel in front of others. [Dash] Ah… I plan to publicly announce her position as the Grand Duchess. As you may know, the power of the Grand Duchess comes from the firm support of the Grand Duke.The Grand Duke, who stated with a cold expression that his relationship with Idel is merely contractual, did not seem to be the target of the binding. Therefore, he was relieved, but…
‘There is still the possibility that Idel is the owner of the scent.’
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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