RedCatty
  • DAILY COOKIES
  • BECOME GOLD MEMBER
  • GOLD MEMBER ZONE
  • CONTACT ME
Advanced
Sign in Sign up
  • DAILY COOKIES
  • BECOME GOLD MEMBER
  • GOLD MEMBER ZONE
  • CONTACT ME
  • Genres
  • Tags
Sign in Sign up
Prev
Next
Trending
1117113

Disguised as a Male Servant in the Duke’s House

September 22, 2024
Chapter 70 Chapter 69
1127585

The Bad Husband

October 8, 2024
Chapter 50 Chapter 49
1152913

I Abandoned My Husband

October 8, 2024
Chapter 52 Chapter 51
1156295

So in Love, I Might Go Crazy

October 8, 2024
Chapter 22 Chapter 21
1136667

How To Ruin The Original Work

September 22, 2024
Chapter 70 Chapter 69

The Terminally-Ill Duke Clings to Me Every Night - Chapter 27

  1. Home
  2. The Terminally-Ill Duke Clings to Me Every Night
  3. Chapter 27
Prev
Next

Akkia, who had followed Theo, stood in front of the room and scanned the inside. An old wooden desk, a small bed by the window, and a worn-out sofa.

It was an extremely sparse room. As neither of them was particularly short, the small room felt cramped.

‘How are two men supposed to sleep in a place like this.’

Akkia was grumbling inwardly when Theo, who had finished arranging the bedding, gestured to him.

“Elder brother. You can sleep here on the bed!”

‘There he goes with that elder brother talk again.’

When did they become close enough for him to call him elder brother? The duke clicked his tongue briefly and approached the bed.

The bed, which could barely fit one person, looked much smaller than it had from the doorway. Surely they weren’t suggesting two grown men sleep together in this tiny single bed.

Akkia’s narrowed eyes landed on Theo.

“Surely we’re not both sleeping here together?”

“Ah no. I’ll sleep on the sofa here, so don’t worry and sleep comfortably!”

The sofa looked like it could barely seat two people. It seemed far too small for someone as large as Theo to sleep on.

Perhaps noticing Akkia’s gaze, Theo smiled brightly without showing any sign of discomfort.

“Don’t worry about me and lie down comfortably!! Think of it as your home.”

‘My home isn’t this small.’ The words rose to Akkia’s throat, but he awkwardly lifted the corners of his mouth.

Thanks to Leah introducing him as her assistant, he had gone from duke to commoner.

‘Well… this is new.’

Where else would he receive such treatment? Besides, Akkia had followed them to Tren without any prior notice.

Lying on the bed at Theo’s insistence, Akkia looked at Theo. The young man who had arranged Akkia’s bedding was now preparing his own spot on the sofa.

“I’ll put out the light.”

Akkia nodded slightly, and Theo blew out the candle that had been illuminating the room.

Darkness swept into the room. The only light came from the sliver of moonlight through the narrow window.

At Haidern Manor, he had never slept comfortably, always thinking someone might threaten him at any moment.

Even the jujube tea Leah brought couldn’t prevent his anxiety and insomnia.

But here it was different.

This shabby, humble orphanage strangely gave Akkia’s heart peace. Just as drowsiness was overtaking him and he was about to close his eyes.

“Elder brother. Are you asleep?”

Akkia opened his half-closed eyes at Theo’s voice calling him. Seriously considering pretending to be asleep, he reluctantly opened his mouth.

“No.”

“That’s good. You know, it’s been so long since I’ve slept with someone like this.”

Akkia snorted at Theo’s words, which sounded as if he was too excited to sleep.

Was sleeping with a man really so thrilling? Theo’s voice continued, sounding flushed as if he were worked up.

“Since you’re older than me, I’m sure you have more experience?”

‘Experience?’

Akkia’s eyebrow twitched. He wasn’t sure what kind of experience Theo meant, but he figured he probably had more of whatever it was than this youngster.

“I suppose so.”

There was an enormous difference starting from their birth as prince and commoner. Theo let out a sigh at Akkia’s response.

“Then… you must have that experience too.”

“That experience?”

“You know. Dating experience!”

“Of course…”

‘I don’t have any.’

Akkia’s lips closed tightly as he was about to answer arrogantly. It was the first time anyone had asked about his dating experience, and the duke was feeling flustered.

From the start, romance had been a luxury for someone whose life had been threatened since childhood.

But he couldn’t honestly tell this youngster that he had never dated a woman.

“Of course?”

Theo’s voice, full of anticipation, urged him to answer. After a moment’s hesitation, Akkia’s mouth moved on its own.

“I do.”

“I knew it! I thought you would, elder brother.”

Hearing Theo’s admiring words, Akkia’s face contorted.

‘What am I doing right now.’

To think this is what he was doing after sneaking out of the mansion. Just as a sense of self-loathing was about to wash over him.

“Then of course you must have done that too…?”

“Done what?”

“You know, that thing… that…”

What on earth was he trying to say this time? Uneasiness welled up at Theo’s shy questioning.

“A, a kiss!”

“…What?”

“Since you’ve dated, of course you must have kissed someone you love! And surely, you’ve also… slept together.”

Sadly, not at all. He hadn’t even properly held a woman’s hand, let alone kissed…

Ah. He had held a hand.

He recalled grabbing Leah’s hand back at the mansion. Of course, it wasn’t with any affectionate meaning.

“The older guys at my workplace said a woman’s lips are like a warm peach. They say it’s very soft and hot and sweet. And also…”

Though he couldn’t see, it was clear Theo’s naive face must be burning red. As if it was too much to listen to anymore, Akkia cut off Theo’s words.

“So what are you trying to say?”

“Well… The thing is, I have a concern these days.”

“Your concern?”

“Ah, no! It’s my close friend’s concern. Oh, I misspoke.”

Akkia felt like he could already guess what this concern was about before even hearing it.

The common repertoire of ‘It’s my close friend’s story.’

He had never seen a concern that actually turned out to be about a friend when it started with words like these.

“You see, my friend likes his childhood friend. They’ve grown up like siblings since they were very young. But it seems the girl doesn’t see my friend as a man at all…”

Akkia laughed dryly, dumbfounded. Anyone could see the childhood friend girl was Leah.

‘No wonder he’s been overly attentive since earlier.’

He frowned as if something was bothering him. But unaware of the duke’s state, Theo continued speaking.

“Do you think it would be alright for my friend to confess his feelings? Or would it be better to take more time and approach slowly? Oh, but the childhood friend girl got a job in a faraway city, so they can’t meet often.”

It seemed Theo hadn’t noticed he had said ‘my feelings’.

“So, I was thinking.”

Theo hesitated, unable to finish his sentence. Akkia sensed something not good in Theo’s hesitation.

“Don’t tell me you’re thinking of doing something cheesy like a proposal?”

“Th-that’s right… I really want to convey my feelings this time. If she accepts, I’m even thinking of going to the territory where that friend works! Oh, no. It seems my friend is thinking about it. Haha.”

As expected. Hearing the anticipated words, Akkia twisted his lips.

A proposal? If she accepts, you’ll get married and set up house in Haidern territory?

‘This is ridiculous.’

The more he thought about it, the more absurd it seemed.

Although he hadn’t experienced romance firsthand, he could at least give some advice. But he had no intention of giving proper counseling.

‘What should I do about this.’

After pondering his answer for a moment, he spoke.

“I know how to seduce women.”

“Wh-what?”

“First, try not to stand out too much.”

“Huh?”

Theo’s eyes widened in surprise at the unexpected answer. Before the youngster could question it, Akkia continued speaking.

“Everyone gets annoyed if you stand out too much. So it’s better not to be too noticeable. Then something like wistfulness might develop, you know?”

“If that’s the case, I’ve already succeeded halfway since I’m far from her eyes!”

Theo was bright and cheerful at Akkia’s casually made-up words.

“That’s right. And women don’t like men who only look at one person.”

“What?!”

“They prefer men who’ve dated around a bit. They don’t like inexperienced guys. So try to show yourself being friendly with the village women as much as possible.”

Only then did Theo tilt his head dubiously. Seeing Theo’s expression, Akkia looked at him with narrowed eyes and asked.

“Hmm… You’re talking about Leah, right?”

Theo bolted upright in surprise at the unexpected question.

“H-how did you know!”

“How could I not know? It was written all over your face.”

Though it was dark, he could tell Theo’s face had turned red.

“Y-yes. I actually like Leah.”

Then for over ten minutes, he rambled on about why he came to like Leah. The duke listened with one ear and let it go out the other, letting out a regretful sigh.

“But what should we do about this.”

“Wh-why?”

“From what I know, Leah is seeing a man in Haidern territory.”

“…What?!”

Theo’s voice trembled finely, as if he had received a shock. It was quite a pitiful sight, but Akkia’s mouth showed no sign of stopping.

“They seem to suit each other well? The man is quite handsome. He also seems capable enough to take responsibility for Leah.”

He never knew he could lie this well.

The more he spoke, the more Theo’s shoulders drooped.

“I had no idea…”

Seeing Theo on the verge of tears, Akkia felt a twinge of conscience and got up to pat his shoulder.

“There are many women in the world, so don’t be too disappointed. You’ll find a good match someday.”

While swallowing the words ‘But it won’t be Leah.’

Dark night. Unable to sleep, Akkia was strolling in the garden.

It had been over an hour since he finished comforting Theo, and sleep had long since fled. For a moment, he closed his eyes and recalled when he left the mansion.

[As you ordered, I told the head maid that the duke is suffering from the flu. Coincidentally, Bayern has also left on vacation, so none of the mansion staff will enter the duke’s bedroom.] [Well done. You’ll have to suffer a bit in my place.]

As it happened, this was the time when Bayern regularly took his vacation.

Not only the butler, but several staff members had also left on vacation. It was the optimal time for him to quietly slip out of the mansion.

But he couldn’t leave the room empty. He ordered his subordinate to pretend to be him and stay in the room.

No servant would dare enter the duke’s bedroom without permission. Being isolated in the bedroom with a severe flu would be even more reason.

[Why exactly are you going?]

When he expressed his intention to make an unofficial visit to Tren, he couldn’t forget the face of his subordinate looking at him.

‘The reason…’

In truth, Akkia couldn’t define this impulsive choice himself. When Leah said she was going on vacation to Tren, he made the decision as if possessed by something.

‘It was unlike me, I admit.’

It was practically his first act of rebellion. As he was walking through the garden lost in these thoughts.

“Your Grace?”

A familiar voice stopped him in his tracks.

The remaining of this chapter has been hidden to reduce the risk of translation theft. Click here to reveal full content.

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

NOTE: You’re bound to regret it if you skip this novel. Read the review & spoiler to find out what you might be missing!

Link to read the Review & Spoiler

Link to read the novel

[Touch the gear icon in the bottom right corner of the screen to move to the next chapter if you want.]

 

Prev
Next

YOU MAY ALSO LIKE

1156283
Divorce? For Whose Benefit?
September 23, 2024
1147553
If You Wish For My Death
September 22, 2024
1132946
Rather Than Be Taken, I Will Take
September 22, 2024
1119360
Oh No, I Possessed a Male Character!
September 22, 2024

Comments for chapter "Chapter 27"

MANGA DISCUSSION

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

*

*


The reCAPTCHA verification period has expired. Please reload the page.

Redcatty

Sign in with Social Media

Continue with Google

The reCAPTCHA verification period has expired. Please reload the page.

← Back to RedCatty

Sign Up with Social Media

Continue with Google

The reCAPTCHA verification period has expired. Please reload the page.

← Back to RedCatty

Locked Chapter

Please login first. After successfully logging in, click "reveal full content" again.