I initially thought the compliment he gave when we first met about my beauty was just a courtesy greeting, but now it didn’t feel light.
Helcyon was also attracted to my appearance.
I looked at Helcyon in front of me, calming my bewildered mind.
Noble marriages were a business. Helcyon was thoroughly explaining the conditions of our marriage in a businesslike manner.
That’s why he could casually talk about it at this dinner table.
Without any preparations like a bouquet or a proposal ring to win my favor.
‘I never expected I would have such thoughts…’
I didn’t want to marry someone without a sincere heart towards me.
I already had a lifetime’s worth of wealth and a sturdy background as a member of the Brellopf family. Furthermore, I was recognized as the continent’s top weapons merchant and a talent in magical engineering.
No matter how good Helcyon’s conditions were, I didn’t want to enter a loveless marriage.
‘Even if they say love has an expiration date, I don’t want to be bound by the institution of marriage without that fiery passion.’
As commonly said, love didn’t provide sustenance, and it wasn’t something you could confirm with your eyes.
People’s hearts could change over time.
But…
Unconsciously, I found myself looking at Ascan’s face.
Ascan had risked his life for me a long time ago. Having experienced such intense love, no matter how good the conditions Helcyon offered, it didn’t appeal to him.
“I understand His Majesty’s intention well. However, the marriage customs of the Arwen Empire differ from the Kalua Empire in that we marry only one woman.”
Although the Kalua Empire didn’t consider polygamy a flaw, the Arwen Empire adhered to monogamy.
Of course, some noble families in the Arwen Empire engaged in extramarital affairs. Still, it was an unofficial matter that couldn’t be openly disclosed. The difference was quite significant.
Moreover, the Kalua Empire already had Empress Seruna. No matter how good Helcyon’s conditions were, it would be impossible to avoid invisible conflicts.
Such married life was something I absolutely rejected from my side.
“If Your Majesty could give me some time to consider, as the position of the empress is a sudden proposal for me.”
My refusal was firm, but I couldn’t do it right away.
It was nothing less than a marriage proposal from the emperor of the Kalua Empire. At least pretending to consider and giving an answer was proper etiquette.
It seemed Helcyon also thought he couldn’t get a definite answer in this situation, as he readily nodded.
“Sure. Marriage is an important choice for a woman, so you should take enough time to think about it. If there’s anything more you want, feel free to ask. I’ll be waiting for your positive answer.”
Instead of giving an answer, I gracefully nodded my head, showing respect.
I already knew, but once again, I felt that Helcyon saw marriage as a perfect business.
As Helcyon and I were conversing, he looked at Ascan, who was sitting silently, and said, “Count Atreus, I heard that Lady Brellopf is currently staying at your mansion. Is that true?”
Ascan, who had maintained silence until now, answered with a deeper voice than usual.
“Yes, it’s true.”
“Since Lady Brellopf has been brought to the Kalua Empire by you, it would be considered that you’ve fulfilled your duty perfectly until her safe return. Don’t you agree?”
What does he mean?
I looked at Helcyon and Ascan with a puzzled expression.
Ascan’s gaze darkened. I couldn’t guess what it was, but he seemed to be touching on something.
“Are you saying…”
At Ascan’s words, Helcyon responded with a smiling face, “Count Atreus, please ensure Lady Brellopf’s safety. It seems the empress’s side caught wind of my proposal.”
Ridiculous!
I was on the verge of standing up and confronting him.
If Empress Seruna knew, it meant the Manoco family also found out. There was no doubt that Seruna and the Manoco family felt a sense of betrayal. They had gone to great lengths to make Helcyon the emperor, and now he was scheming to bring in a new empress.
Although I hadn’t accepted Helcyon’s proposal, how Seruna and the Manoco family, now aware of this fact, would react was unknown.
They might even send an assassin tonight to eliminate me.
‘Is he playing games with me?’
Anger surged at the thought that my life was in danger without my knowledge.
I had many words to pour out to Helcyon, but I restrained myself, clenching my thighs. I couldn’t afford to be disrespectful to the emperor of a nation.
Annoyingly, Helcyon casually replied in a dismissive tone, “There’s no need to worry too much about Lady Brellopf. I’ll ensure her safety.”
“Thank you for your kind words, Your Majesty.”
Internally, I felt a volcanic rage, but outwardly, I maintained a calm expression as much as possible.
Ascan, looking at me in such a situation, replied quietly, “My mission was to bring Lady Brellopf to the Kalua Empire. The subsequent safety doesn’t seem to fall under my jurisdiction.”
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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