“The Ferber expedition will be postponed for a year.”
“We will do so.”
Everyone wore puzzled expressions at the Duke’s suddenly softened demeanor.
The Emperor alone calmly led the meeting.
“You all should assist the commander in preparing for the Ferber expedition from now on.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
With satisfaction evident in the Emperor’s nod at the ministers’ responses, he brought up the next topic.
“Rather than that, let’s discuss the current war.”
The Emperor raised both elbows on the table.
Clasping his hands together, he looked at Aaron, the protagonist of the conquest of the three southern nations.
“The Southern Three Nations conquest war that we’ve been preparing since the reign of the previous emperor. From Royeni to Kirens, and Ioventi. Through this war, the three southern nations are now completely subjugated to our empire.”
Although his words were formal and well-mannered, a peculiar joy glimmered in his ashen eyes.
The Emperor, looking at the woman sitting somewhat discreetly next to him, continued.
“The hero who led us to victory in the war, Duke Bergen, has returned. Shouldn’t we celebrate the victory with a grand banquet?”
The ministers nodded at the Emperor’s words.
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
The process had been forgotten, leaving only the result.
The downfall of Royeni and Kirens.
The unfulfilled peace treaty.
The tragedy of the Ioventi royal family.
Everything disappeared into oblivion, leaving only the victory of the empire.
“The victory ceremony will be held in a week. Prepare for the celebration to be more magnificent and smooth than ever.”
After declaring it clearly, the Emperor leaned slightly to the side and gestured a woman with his hand.
At the Emperor’s gesture, the woman leaned toward him, bringing her ear closer.
After a moment, the woman raised her head with a stern expression.
Upon which, the Emperor whispered into her ear again.
This time, the woman nodded faintly.
What could they be talking about?
Their overly friendly behavior, showcasing their camaraderie, was quite annoying.
His brother and her.
Aaron’s eyes, watching the two, flashed wickedly.
A brilliant light illuminated the corridor with pillars.
Statues made of white marble, candlesticks held by fairies, walls embroidered with gold.
As befitting a nation occupying half of the continent, various parts of the Strelitz Palace displayed the pinnacle of splendor.
However, to the woman passing through, it seemed unimportant.
Tap-tap.
As if committing a crime and fleeing, the woman lowered her head deeply and briskly lifted her feet.
The veil fluttered in her desperate steps to escape.
Like the broken wing of a bird.
Why is she running away?
Aaron chased after the woman to shake off the dreadful feeling.
As the meeting concluded, while the Minister of Finance complained to the Emperor about difficulties.
The woman left the chaotic conference room alone.
The woman walking towards somewhere suddenly began to run at some point.
Unable to endure the incomprehensible situation, Aaron quickly caught up and blocked her way.
Thunk.
Unable to match the speed at which the woman was running, she collided with Aaron as if embracing him.
“Ah, excuse me.”
Even in that short chase, the woman seemed exhausted, gasping for breath.
Shallow panting brushed against Aaron’s chest.
“Regina?”
Aaron softly called the unfamiliar name.
“Why are you in such a hurry?”
As if avoiding the light, the woman covered her face with a veil.
Without offering any response, Aaron, without hesitation, pressed her further.
“Let’s put aside other matters for a moment and have a talk.”
Aaron, with a stern gaze, looked down at the woman who had rushed into his chest.
Her seductive eyes had a gentle curve, but her pupils were chillingly cold.
The woman, without checking who she collided with, still had her head deeply bowed.
The joints of her fingers protruded as she firmly clutched the veil.
There was no ring on that hand.
“I have something I want to ask Miss Regina.”
Aaron approached the woman as if enveloping her.
The shadow of a tightly woven net thrown by a hunter to catch prey was cast over the veil.
Although the woman tried to step back, Aaron was faster.
Bending down at the waist to bring his forehead close, Aaron whispered.
“Why are you Regina?”
The question carried by Aaron’s warm breath grazed the woman’s ear.
Startled, the woman raised her downcast eyes to look at him.
The moment their eye contact crossed through the white veil.
Aaron’s feelings tumbled into an abyss of unknown depths.
Her blue eyes were trembling as if filled with fear.
Why?
“Why are you shaking?”
Moreover, looking at me.
Instead of running away like this, you should run towards me and embrace me.
You should have said it was tough without me.
You should have come running, begging to get me back, saying that Ioventi was taken away because that foolish Oriavi got involved with Ferber.
And you should have whispered that you missed me and kissed me.
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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