“As you can see.”
Just as I was about to pass with a mere nod, Enrique urgently grabbed my wrist.
“From now on, it’s really dangerous. The Empress can sense the demonic energy and can tell the location of the demons. She allowed me to accompany her because of that… but originally, she would have never let you come this far.”
Well, that makes sense. Which Empress from any country would set foot in a swamp? Honestly, more than half of those joining this expedition were pushed into it against my will. However, regardless of the argument, no one could stop me from doing what I wanted.
“It seems like the Emperor still looks like he needs permission.”
“That’s not the…!”
As if wanting to vent his anger, Enrique raised his voice. Unusually so. But as soon as the atmosphere began to tense, Merem approached, blocked my way, and stood in front of me.
“The Empress does not wish to hear. Save your excessive concerns.”
“Step aside. I have nothing to say to you.”
“If you release my wrist first.”
Well-versed as Merem, mixing polite and informal speech appropriately in response to Enrique’s rudeness, he continued. Even if he were to strike a noble from another country, could he send him to prison? Since I was standing firm, they couldn’t concoct a wicked plot to execute Merem.
As Enrique, there was nothing he could do but endure Merem’s actions, even if he didn’t like it.
“If you have time to worry about me, please defeat one more monster.”
I freed my wrist and tried to leave. However, just at that moment when I turned my back with Merem.
“…?”
Thunk.
Enrique clumsily grabbed my wrist again. Even though I refused once, he couldn’t seem to understand, and I looked at his eyes with a frustrating irritation.
“Let go.”
The knights started to watch cautiously as the atmosphere grew more intense. Why create such a confrontational situation when it wouldn’t be good for anyone?
“This seems to be the only way you’ll look at me properly.”
“What kind of victim-like words are those? If you need affection, call a doctor. I’m tired, so call the government.”
I don’t know. How would it have been if I had decided to love Merem before firmly establishing my feelings? Looking closely, Enrique’s golden hair and the demon blood splattered on his clothes were visible. If Enrique had quickly attacked only the essentials to deal with the demon, he wouldn’t be able to overturn that much blood. That’s… probably traces of venting anger. Or maybe he didn’t even have that level of cognitive ability. He seemed a bit unstable lately.
“But do I know that?”
I’m no longer concerned. I once again shook off Enrique’s hand, staring firmly at him.
“…Because you’re my husband. So you can worry…”
Enrique shook his head, muttering vaguely. A phrase I didn’t want to hear and didn’t want to be heard.
“Or maybe he doesn’t even have that level of cognitive ability.
He seemed a bit unstable lately.
‘But do I know that?’
I no longer care.
I firmly brushed off Enrique’s hand, who was staring at me persistently.
“…Because he’s my husband. So, he can worry…”
Enrique shook his head, muttering something.
A phrase I didn’t want to hear and didn’t want to be heard.
Breathing becomes difficult.
It’s natural to know that rejection is obvious, but it’s because of the jealousy that the new rejection is suffocating.
Knowing one’s own inadequacy, it’s surely an illness that won’t be cured.
Enrique turned away, staring blankly at Leonarda, no, Astaroth’s back, and weakly clenched his fist.
“Your Majesty, will you have your meal?”
“It is done.”
“But, Your Majesty….”
The knights who were watching the confrontation once again suggested the meal.
However, Enrique couldn’t swallow anything.
Regret for what he missed was tripping him up.
A thorn protruding into the throat made it impossible to swallow anything.
“As the Empress said, it’s more important to defeat one more monster.”
Enrique, with a bitter smile, murmured self-deprecatingly. Then he headed towards the temporary tent.
He needed a place to hide, no matter where it was.
He didn’t want to show a weakened appearance in front of that child who was alive with the love of the Empress.
Or… he didn’t want to see it.
The affectionate gaze of Astaroth looking at Merem Kwon.
The gentle touch stroking from time to time.
The sweet voice saying everything is precious.
All of that was originally mine.
“How can this happen!”
Just when he thought he was finally alone, Dmitry rushed in.
Enrique suppressed his anger, pressing hard on his temple.
“The Empress is too much. How can she treat that young one so cheaply? He disrespected the Emperor!”
“It is done. I will rest alone for a while, so don’t come in.”
“Your Majesty is too soft. Just give me the order. Where else is there a space where I can scold this unpleasant guy as much as this swamp?”
Excited Dmitry blabbered loudly.
His appearance was just like an excited bulldog.
Enrique, displaying his last bit of patience, issued a short command.
“I will rest.”
“Yes, yes. Your Majesty.”
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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