Certainly, here’s the English translation:
To Sepia, Demios was still a benefactor.
But there was no love between them.
He had suspected that there would be no emotional exchange even before becoming the Empress.
So, Demios tried to fulfill the Empress’s duties as he wished. But why?
Sepia eventually had to admit the truth with her own words.
“We are no longer lovers. We are not in love.”
Even though she didn’t want to speak words that would conclude their memories.
Sepia forced a smile.
Her hands and feet were cold. Even though the room was warm like this.
Despite Sepia’s words to end the memories of the past, he remained silent.
So, she felt even more resentful.
“…Please leave now. And please refrain from sudden visits.”
Yes. What’s the point of asking about inexplicable behavior at this moment?
As Demios had warned Sepia before, she only hoped that he would fulfill his duties as Emperor.
“Why the Duke of all people?”
“Is that such an important issue?”
Even in response to such a baffling question, he sent a look that refused to answer.
By now, it wasn’t a matter of proving whether Roxan was really in charge of the government.
In fact, it wasn’t that Demios hated the Duke, but rather, he had a ridiculous thought that he secretly admired and was obsessed with him.
“The words you mentioned earlier, about the Duke’s past, was that it?”
“Yes.”
Demios nodded his head.
It was as if it was only natural to keep his distance from the Duke with such an unfortunate past.
“I don’t believe in unverifiable records.”
“If it’s evidence, it exists. The Duke’s humor…”
“If you know that, I know it too. But has anyone seen the Duke hunting and killing an animal? Or has anyone seen a witness who saw him drawing strange pictures? The only thing is that the Duke’s humor and the picture of the corpse were found in his room. Perhaps the Duke’s humor was fabricated to make it look that way.”
The Emperor fell silent.
After hearing about Roxan’s past from a maid, Sepia was able to hear more related stories from those who had worked in the palace at that time.
The residents of Yeongji had pointed to the Crown Prince as the devil, but no one had seen the boy’s actions firsthand.
“Why are you so obsessed with the Duke?”
“…I’m obsessed with the Empress.”
He growled as if he couldn’t bear to hear it.
Demios, who blinked his eyes sharply, denied it.
“I worry about the Empress.”
“Why? Even if I really make the Duke a part of the government, wouldn’t it be fine as long as I fulfill my responsibilities as the Empress? Like Your Majesty wishes.”
It wasn’t a provocation, but a sincere expression.
However, this statement shattered Demios’ patience.
“…Haha.”
Roxan smiled.
His cold and dangerous face was as beautiful as the surface of the moon.
“But we are tied as husband and wife. Sepia.”
“What…”
Since becoming the Empress, it was the first time he had called her by her name.
Sensing that something was wrong, Sepia instinctively tried to step back. But Demios’ hand grabbed her chin and cheek faster.
The crimson irises that met up close were so dark that they looked almost black.
“The Empress often forgets that her husband is the country.”
Demios feigned a sad expression as if he found that fact very pitiful.
But even his awkward acting looked too dangerous to be deceived by.
She tried to turn her head, but the face held in place didn’t move at all.
Chills ran down her spine.
Certainly, here’s the English translation:
Sepia’s tension seemed to amuse him as he stroked her cheek with his index finger.
“Hmm? Isn’t that right? Why no response? My Empress has a very haughty side.”
A light hum spread ominously.
It was Demios who pressed her chin to prevent her from speaking properly.
With eyes of incomprehension, Demios approached Sepia as if he intended to extract an answer from her.
With each step he took, Sepia took a step back.
But escaping for a long time within limited space was impossible.
“Ugh…!”
She stumbled, and the sofa was there behind her.
Sitting down as if about to fall, Sepia looked up at him.
The authoritative position was a new threat to her.
Demios, looking down at Sepia beneath him, savored her like a cornered beast.
“I’ll say it again. The government is the government. You are my wife and the Empress.”
He gently caressed Sepia’s cheek, his fingers lingering as if savoring a taste. He then repeated the motion, softly sweeping through her long blonde hair.
Although his attitude had become noticeably gentler, he held Sepia’s chin firmly to keep her head from lowering.
It was a warning not to avoid his gaze.
You are my husband. That fact was stamped in his eyes.
From in front of Sepia, who was saying such things, his handsome face suddenly contorted.
At first glance, it seemed as if Demios had been hurt in the eyes, but Sepia still thought there was nothing she could do.
“You were the one who showed me the truth, Demios.”
She hadn’t denied the fact that they were Demios and a married couple.
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.
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