It was definitely clean when I last visited with Maxium!
Books pulled out haphazardly and without order were scattered across the floor, and notebooks or memo papers were spread out randomly.
There was no way a thief had broken in—so who on earth had done this to this place…!
“Edan?”
I turned around, eyes wide open, and Edan clicked his tongue lightly as if he had made a mistake. In that moment, I knew—it was this man’s doing.
What had he been doing in this secret space to make such a mess…?
Shaking my head left and right as I scanned the room, my gaze suddenly froze on one spot. A black book had fallen to the floor beside the bookshelf. The book, seemingly thrown down with great force, was crumpled mercilessly.
“…”
It was instinctive. I walked toward the bookshelf, picked it up, and found myself unable to say anything.
[The Spell to Resurrect the Dead.]Holding the book, I turned around to face Edan. Meeting my gaze—filled with mixed emotions—Edan lightly frowned, then casually closed the books spread near him and perched himself on the desk.
“I know what you’re about to say.”
His eyes, quietly sweeping over the disheveled books on the floor, slowly rose to meet mine.
“Don’t misunderstand. I never even tried.”
“…”
“I promised you, didn’t I?”
“…”
His red, clear eyes meeting mine showed no wavering.
Of course, I could understand. Seeing this black magic tome lying on the floor like this, I could guess he must have eventually resigned himself to something.
On the day we reunited and returned to the Grand Duke’s Castle, I had told Edan everything about those ten days—the hollow feeling of being erased from the world, the sorrow of not being able to see him, the fear of never meeting again, the pain of thinking he might not remember me. I threw a childish tantrum. And Edan simply held me close and quietly listened.
I had thought Edan must have suffered during the time I was gone. But he kept comforting me, never speaking of his own feelings. So I had only vaguely assumed he must have struggled. Moreover, since those memories wouldn’t be pleasant, I hadn’t dared ask further.
But the traces Edan left in this black magic book…
Maybe I should try something like this… No, I can’t. But if I at least try this…
As if someone had repeated such thoughts hundreds of times… The page describing the resurrection spell was crumpled again and again, then smoothed out, leaving visible creases. I lifted my head and glanced toward the half-open door of the Archmage’s material storage room. That space was also in complete disarray.
I lowered my head again and stared intently at the black magic book. Then I closed it. But the book naturally reopened to that same page.
No matter how many times I closed it, the book returned to that page. It had been pressed open so firmly it seemed as if only that single page existed within the entire book. He hadn’t spoken because he thought I was already suffering enough—but this man had clearly been suffering just as deeply.
Just how much had he agonized? For me, even ten days felt suffocating and unbearable. But he… for three whole years after I vanished like that… How had he endured such a long time? How many sleepless nights had Edan spent here alone? How many impulses had he suppressed…?
With trembling hands, I clutched the book—then let it drop.
It’s okay. In the end, Edan kept his promise to me and never touched the black magic. That’s what matters. Still, my chest ached. What could I possibly say to comfort him? Edan had embraced me countless times whenever I felt anxious. But somehow, that didn’t feel like enough now.
Lost in thought, I felt Edan extend his long arm toward me. Without hesitation, I stepped closer. Edan wrapped one arm around my waist, the other around my shoulders, pulling me fully into his embrace. I nestled into his arms.
“Latieana.”
“Yes?”
“I’m okay.”
“…”
What expression was I making right now? I tried to smile, but surely it wasn’t working. I hugged Edan tightly. After a while, I loosened my arms and met his eyes. Edan was smiling at me—infinitely gentle and serene.
“It’s okay. I could endure it, and I did.”
“But Edan…”
I couldn’t finish my sentence. Tears began falling uncontrollably—not because I meant to cry, but because my emotions were too tangled to control.
Edan’s fingers brushed my eyes, wiping away tears, then gently stroked my cheek with his palm.
“I did think about it. Seriously considered gathering mages and commanding them to break the law.”
“…”
“But I couldn’t do it. Not only could I not imagine you being truly dead, but even if I gathered all the ingredients listed in that book and resurrected someone identical to you… would that person really be you? The Latieana I know is only you—could that resurrected person truly be the real you? That thought wouldn’t leave my mind.”
“…”
“Latieana.”
Edan’s voice slowed.
“Latieana. I told you I’m okay.”
Tears kept falling, choking my throat so I couldn’t answer. I gave a small nod.
“You don’t need to worry about my past three years. It was better than you suffering alone for three years. Since it was me and not you, it was fine. And it wasn’t all bad memories, either.”
“…?”
Seeing me tilt my head in confusion, Edan chuckled softly.
“No one else knew you—but I did. It was actually quite fun. Honestly, even after you returned, I selfishly wished others wouldn’t regain their memories of you.”
“Why?”
“Because everything about you was mine alone to know. And once they remembered, those guys started clinging to you again. Especially that Hillstain fellow—he came again yesterday, did you know?”
“Well, that’s because you’ve been ruthlessly blocking everyone since that day.”
“It’s annoying. Why do they have to remember?”
“Would it have been better if they hadn’t remembered?”
Edan gently stroked my cheek.
“You’ll never understand the feeling of being the only person in the world who knows you.”
On the very day Edan proposed to me, we returned to the Grand Duke’s Castle—and Killian, Hillstain, and Dante were already there.
The moment their memories returned, they came looking for me. So that day, I happily greeted and chatted with everyone—but afterward, Edan strictly blocked all their approaches. They were all like Ruben and Maxium—confused themselves about why they hadn’t remembered me.
For three years, Edan had insisted alone that I existed—and must have been treated like a madman. How must that have felt?
“I really don’t know… Were you truly okay?”
“Yeah.”
Though I still didn’t fully understand, I gave a small nod.
“Edan… thank you for keeping your promise.”
“Then stop crying now. I’m covering you up.”
What? At that utterly non-threatening, non-coercive remark, I burst out laughing. Then Edan slowly lowered his head and pressed his lips against my nape.
“Ah. Damn it.”
His hand, which had been naturally caressing my waist, suddenly tensed as his lips stiffened.
“What’s wrong?”
“Someone’s coming.”
“Who?”
I wiped my eyes with the back of my hand as I sniffled, then stepped into the reception room and looked out the window. Sure enough, someone was pounding loudly on the castle’s main gate. It was a familiar voice.
“La, Lady Latieana! Lady Latieana!”
Bang bang!
“Are you in there?”
Bang bang bang!
“Lady Latieana!”
Good heavens. Smith?
Because the gate was locked, Smith was shouting my name loudly, over and over.
“I completely forgot there was one more annoying guy.”
Edan, standing beside me, glared at Smith with visible irritation. I quickly ran toward the main gate.
“Mr. Smith?”
When I flung open the castle gate, Smith stood there, biting his lower lip, cheeks flushed red, both hands gripping his hat tightly. I knew immediately—Smith had regained his memories too. After blinking in surprise for a moment, I smiled brightly at him.
“Long time no see. Have you been well?”
“Lady Latieana…”
Smith, eyebrows drooping helplessly, gulped hard, then bowed deeply.
“I, I’m sorry!”
“What?”
“I didn’t recognize you last time! After my memories returned, I came several times but you weren’t here, so I thought maybe today you’d be here, so I came again, and so…!”
Smith poured out his words breathlessly. I frantically waved my hands.
“Mr. Smith, calm down!”
“I can’t calm down—that’s why I’m like this!”
“I told you, it’s okay!”
“No! I’m not okay!”
“Ah… but really, you don’t need to apologize.”
“Honestly, I don’t even know why I forgot Lady Latieana. It’s like I lost my mind—but once I remembered, I couldn’t understand why I hadn’t recalled you sooner.”
Really, this isn’t necessary…
“Yes, Mr. Smith. Thank you for remembering me again.”
Only after hearing me say “it’s okay” several more times did he finally exhale in relief. Then, scratching the back of his head, he asked:
“Um, so… Lady Latieana, will you still be working here from now on?”
“No. I plan to live in the North.”
“Th, the North?”
“Yes.”
“Why? Why, why are you suddenly moving to the North?”
Flustered by my abrupt relocation, Smith stammered repeatedly.
“Ah… well, you see.”
Looking at Smith’s wide-eyed expression, I raised my left hand. In the afternoon sunlight, the ring on my ring finger sparkled brightly.
It wasn’t the large engagement ring Edan gave me when he proposed—it was the simple couple’s ring he gave me for daily wear—but because it was embedded with an expensive diamond, it shone brilliantly.
“Mr. Smith, I’m getting married.”
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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