I opened the boxes one by one, showing different candles to various people, including the king. Cylinder-shaped, square-shaped, triangular, red, blue, rainbow-colored, marbled, and so on. The shapes and colors of the candles were diverse. The common feature among the candles was the candle holder with the symbol of the royal family. The side view of a majestic lion standing with two heads, front claws raised, became a metallic candle holder, protruding higher than my height, enveloping the candle in a dazzling light.
“I presented candles of various shapes to the citizens, and the candle holder with the symbol of the royal family has been presented to the Cigarette Kingdom.”
“A kingdom surrounding the citizens…?”
The king’s eyes, which had been fixed on the candles for a long time, brightened.
Feeling satisfied, I smiled calmly.
“How do you find it?”
“It truly looks convincing; the symbol of the royal family won’t easily fade away.”
The king tapped his fingertips on the red candle.
“Try lighting it.”
Following his command, I lit the red candle.
Soon, a faint scent of rosemary herbs filled the reception room.
The king, with both hands folded, closed his eyes comfortably.
“Leave it like that for a moment.”
It seemed like he was savoring the fragrance.
I glanced around while observing the serene king.
Standing next to the king, Marboro, Enoch, and the three princes’ expressions were the first to catch my eye.
Marboro, like the king, had closed his eyes and was savoring the scent.
Despite being much older due to his late birth, his lineage was unmistakable.
It was fascinating how Marboro’s expression and atmosphere resembled the king so much.
Moreover, if the king and Marboro were in the same mood, I couldn’t help but wonder.
“Is there a connection between the scented candles and the untold story of these two people that I don’t know?”
Enoch pretended to be calm, but he seemed subtly bitter. The princes, who couldn’t find a similarity to the king, openly displayed displeasure.
My gaze naturally shifted to the concubines and Daelina. Daelina pretended to be calm, but she didn’t seem to be in a good mood. The concubines also had expressions as if they were chewing on something.
Considering that they were apprehensive about the scented candles melting, it was not surprising.
Since they anticipated what they would find fault with, it was even more pitiful.
I silently praised myself and looked at Laila.
Laila’s beautiful eyes were filled with contentment.
Then, I made eye contact with Philip sitting next to me. His violet eyes were even more elegant, and honey seemed to drip down. A faint smile played on his lips.
Judging from Philip’s atmosphere, this scented candle was a great success.
At that moment, melted wax flowed down the red candle holder.
“Oh! The symbol of the royal family!”
Although the voice was small, Daelina was the first to make a fuss.
“Oh my! It feels like blood is flowing down.”
“I knew it would be like this. Pretending to be confident.”
“In the end, they defile and tarnish the symbol of the royal family with candle wax.”
In succession, the concubines caused a commotion. The king opened his eyes in response to the commotion.
“Is the candle holder defiled?”
Marboro, bewildered, whispered to the king.
“Respected Father, if candle wax passes over the candle holder, wouldn’t it be natural for traces to remain?”
I was moved by Marboro’s appearance.
Openly taking my side, especially against the king.
And that’s speaking to the king himself.
I feel relieved that I avoided a dead flag.
However, the red-haired concubine spoke disdainfully.
“Your Highness, is it acceptable for the symbol of the royal family to be defiled, even if it shouldn’t be destroyed?”
“Is that so?”
The quick agreement from the yellow-haired concubine led the blue-haired concubine to rush to the king with an urgent voice.
“I also think so. Your Highness, please do not forgive that woman.”
The king’s brow furrowed as he observed the candle holder.
“Hmm.”
Then, he looked at me, lips twitching.
It seemed like he was suspicious, doubting whether the symbol of the royal family was really defiled.
A king swaying while contemplating punishing the concubines, it was a pitiful sight of a feeble king.
I sighed inwardly at the sight of a king without a backbone.
But I wasn’t someone to waver like that. I observed their reactions without even a hint of movement.
Then the king gave up speaking and turned his gaze back to the scented candles.
“Oh? Why is this?”
Afterward, Daelina and the concubines sighed and closed their mouths.
They had no choice but to remain silent. The red candle wax just brushed against the candle holder, ignoring their concerns.
The candle holder that should have been covered in hardened wax was very clean.
“Wait. Could this be?”
Only then did Enoch scrutinize the candle holder, blinking his eyes several times.
“This is unbelievable. There’s only one material that can create this.”
The princes picked up other candle holders like Enoch and exchanged bewildered looks.
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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