After teatime ended, Idel’s weary steps led her to the royal garden.
She needed to return to the ballroom, but in her current state, it was downright impossible. Time to collect her thoughts was necessary.
Could it be due to her lack of social interaction lately? Idel was not accustomed to the twofaced speech of noblewomen.
Understanding their speech and engaging in conversation was difficult, but what made it even more draining was the blatant hostility directed towards her.
With smiles, they spat out words as sharp as hidden daggers in soft fabric. Even if not outwardly shown, their words were laced with sharp hostility.
Feeling the raw disdain in their eyes, she felt as though she had returned to the Fleur’s discrimination.
‘Am I…’
Still an unwelcome presence?
The loneliness she had always had to swallow alone now enveloped her.
Inside the gazebo of the royal garden, Idel sat listlessly, staring at the sky. Her expression became blurred like the cloudy moonlight.
That was when it happened. A neatly folded handkerchief was offered to her.
“Ah…”
Drawing a soft breath, Idel looked at the person who had given her the handkerchief. In the dim moonlight, it was difficult to recognize who it was.
“Are you okay?”
A gentle voice, filled with warmth, touched her ears.
Thump. Upon hearing that voice, a man’s face filled with surprise and concern came into clear focus, accompanied by the tears that had suddenly fallen.
“Reynion… Your Highness?”
“What happened?”
Holding the handkerchief, he looked at her face with concern. He wanted to wipe the tears that were streaming down her pale cheeks himself, but he seemed hesitant, fearing it might be rude.
“Thank you.”
Idel accepted the handkerchief and quickly wiped the tears from her cheeks.
“It’s nothing. Something got into my eyes.”
“Are you sure you’re okay?”
“Yes, I’ve caused you unnecessary worry.”
Closing her moist eyes gently, Idel forced a smile.
Reynion swallowed the words that were lingering in his mouth.
Actually, he had been in the royal garden before her. During his stroll, he had noticed Idel walking in the garden.
‘Idel…?’
She looked terribly tired after teatime. Observing her listless, heavy footsteps, he had approached her.
Lost in deep thought, Idel only stared vacantly at the distant sky. As her tearfilled eyes gradually reddened, he found himself offering the handkerchief.
Only then did she notice him. And then she skillfully hid the sorrow she had been swallowing alone.
‘Who exactly are you?’
Even after learning that she was a Duchess, the enigma that shrouded her inner self deepened his confusion.
That confusion transformed into a desire to get to know her better.
‘Even if we’re just friends…’
He couldn’t deny his growing feelings for her.
‘Even though we can’t be more than friends…’
He wanted to understand her, share thoughts, and one day even comfort the mysterious sadness she hid.
To do so, he needed to approach her truthfully. Even if he couldn’t reveal his feelings that went beyond friendship.
“I want to reintroduce myself. My name is Reynion Biel de Lisandro. I am the 3rd prince of the Lisandro Empire and I have come to study at the Euphiter Empire University. I apologize for not informing you earlier.”
“I also didn’t elaborate on my status. If I startled you, I’m sorry. We met as equals at the university, and I wanted to keep it that way.”
“Has our relationship changed now that we know each other’s status? Are we not friends who share thoughts at the university?”
“No, of course not!”
“Then please see me as Reynion, not as the Crown Prince of Lysandro. I would also like to regard you as a friend I first made here, rather than the Duchess of Elyos.”
“Prince Reynion…”
“Please call me Reynion.”
“……Understood. I will call you Reynion.”
At Idel’s agreement, Reynion smiled warmly and nodded. Idel’s expression also softened, satisfied with the new friendship they defined.
“Do you know how glad I was to have a likeminded friend like you, Idel, while studying abroad alone in a foreign land? That’s why I couldn’t reveal my identity. I was worried you’d find our relationship uncomfortable because of it.”
“I see. I did suspect that you were a noble, Reynion. But I didn’t know you were the Crown Prince of a neighboring empire.”
“I heard the Duchess of Elyos attended the same college, but I never imagined it would be you. I should have read the newspapers more often.”
“You seem to prefer reading books over newspapers, Reynion. I did read the book you recommended last time. It was about societal changes in the perception of women.”
“I actually thought of you, Idel, after reading that book.”
“Even now, knowing that I am the Duchess of Elyos… is that thought still valid?”
Idel asked Reynion, recalling the animosity she felt from noblewomen during tea time.
Though she had expected it, the noblewomen’s sense of privilege was strong. She pondered whether it’s unacceptable from her position as a highranking noble to lead the societal role change for women.
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.]
