The White Stoat Princess (5 Chapters Left to Complete) - Chapter 1
My subordinate and friend, the kingdom’s greatest genius magical engineer Yulnisia, often said things like this.
“As expected, the future of food is insects. As soon as we get back, I need to research how to make insects delicious without the disgust.”
Why does she always bring this up right at mealtime?
As I gnawed on the dried turnips we’d been rationed, images of grasshoppers, butterflies, and all sorts of insects being cooked flashed through my mind. Instinctive revulsion made me shake my head.
“That might be pushing it, Yul.”
“Then is Princess satisfied with the current situation of stacking turnip on turnip?”
“……”
Of course not.
The war had been dragging on for years. Not a war between humans, but a fight against other races trying to drive us out of the territory where our kingdom stood.
Born with a heart full of fire mana, I was dragged onto the battlefield and handed a sword long before coming of age. The most painful thing on the battlefield, no matter what anyone says, is the food.
At first we at least had bread and soup, but now supplies were so scarce, so we roasted dried turnips and ate them like bread. Naturally, they tasted awful.
“Look at this plump grub. If you roast it, it’ll be savory and chewy. I stake the name of the kingdom’s greatest magical engineer on it.”
It wasn’t just empty talk; Yulnisia started poking the ground with a stick to dig up grubs. I answered with a retching sound.
“I’m still not eating it.”
I’ve already spent most of my life on battlefields—how much more miserable can it get? Having to eat bugs now? As I shook my head firmly, Yulnisia grinned.
“In a life-or-death starvation situation, even Princess won’t have a choice.”
“No, I’d rather just starve to death.”
“When the moment actually comes, you won’t be able to do that.”
“……”
What’s with her? Why is she so desperate to make me eat insects?
I narrowed my eyes and glared at Yulnisia, but in the end I just snorted.
“It seems the prolonged war has finally put holes even in our clever Yul’s brain. We need to end this quickly and go home so I can feed you proper meat.”
At my reply, the other knights who had been listening to our conversation burst into quiet laughter. After swallowing a mouthful of tasteless turnip bread in one gulp, I clapped my hands.
“The end is not far now. Everyone, let’s keep our spirits up.”
Indeed, the war was finally showing signs of ending. Once we drive them beyond those walls, we will reclaim all our original territory.
‘Defending a fortress won’t be easy either… but it’ll still be far better than this.’
Remembering the path we had walked so far, I bit my lip. One week at the earliest, one month at the latest. That was our goal.
We were gazing at the fortress we were about to recapture when it happened. Yulnisia fidgeted with her fingers and asked.
“Princess, what do you want to do most when the war ends?”
“Hmm.”
Having spent nearly my entire life on battlefields, nothing came to mind even when asked what I wanted. Truthfully, even the taste of food from the palace had grown faint.
What could someone like me possibly do if I returned to the palace? Probably…
“When I return, I’ll probably get married first. I’ve kept my fiancé waiting far too long.”
They’ll tell me to finally fulfill my duty as princess. A political marriage, in other words.
And before I left for the war, the royal family had already chosen my fiancé.
‘I can barely remember his face or name now. But I’m sure he’s still waiting for me.’
It wasn’t a bad feeling to know someone was waiting for my return. The moment I smiled faintly—
“…Marriage?”
A sharp voice rang out from the other side. When I raised my head, a handsome knight with moonlight-silver hair and vivid blue eyes was frowning at me.
It was Espen, the magic swordsman who possessed the second-strongest mana in our army after me.
Born with ice mana from a fallen noble family, he too had been forced onto the battlefield. Perhaps because our manas were opposites, we never quite got along. At his incredulous tone, I smirked and countered.
“Why, Sir Espen? Is it so strange that a rough woman like me has a fiancé?”
At my words, the surrounding subordinates immediately protested loudly.
“Rough woman? Princess Marian is the hero of this country!”
“That’s right. We’re only here because Princess is with us.”
I let their words pass through one ear and stared straight at Espen. His brow furrowed deeper and deeper, and then—
“……”
He threw away the turnip bread he was eating and stood up from his seat. Anyone could see he was furious. I shrugged.
“What’s with him?”
Is he seriously upset that I’m getting married now too? As I stared dumbfounded at his retreating back, Yulnisia shook her head and answered.
“Sir Espen has always been a bit crooked. He’s probably grumbling about how we’re talking nonsense in the middle of war.”
“Ugh. I really can’t stand Sir Espen’s way of thinking. War is exhausting enough as it is—how are we supposed to stay tense all the time?”
“I think so too.”
Since the topic of after the war had come up, we gathered around the campfire and quietly discussed what we would do once we returned.
“When I get home, I’m going to eat my wife’s cooking until I burst.”
“I want to soak leisurely in warm water.”
In truth, we all knew. The homeland we were returning to after many years might not be the way we hoped. Yet we closed our eyes and dreamed. Of the eternal happiness, like the ending of a fairy tale.
“Ah, I wish the war would end soon.”
That wish of mine came true not long after. Though in a way I never wanted.
A blizzard so fierce it blinded us enveloped not only the fortress but the entire area. Holding my flame-wreathed sword upright, I shouted at the man standing at the center of the storm.
“Sir Espen!”
His already pale skin had turned bluish as if frozen, and his bloodshot eyes were dyed red.
The state that those who wield mana fear most.
Berserk.
The mana normally contained in his heart was now pouring out like a storm, freezing enemy and ally alike without distinction. Fighting through the blizzard toward Espen, I yelled.
“Snap out of it! You’re in berserk right now! The only one who can stop a berserk is yourself!”
Whether he couldn’t hear me, the snowstorm leaking from Espen’s heart only grew worse. From behind me, Yulnisia—who had activated a shield with her magical tool—shouted.
“Princess, it’s no use! We have to kill Sir Espen!”
Since the source of mana is the heart, if Espen’s heart stops, this snowstorm will stop too. But I couldn’t do it.
“I can’t! You’re telling me to kill my comrade?”
“Once berserk starts, there’s no other way!”
I gritted my teeth.
“Sir Espen!”
Espen was an unpleasant fellow. No matter what I said, he would nitpick and nag.
But.
“Marian.”
His red eyes captured me. The rumbling voice, almost like the wind, seemed to say he was no longer the Espen I knew.
“I’ve always wanted to call your name.”
And now what kind of joke was this? Having transformed into something close to a magical beast, the words he spoke were more human than ever.
As if he were finally confessing his true feelings.
‘Damn it, is there really no way to stop this?’
The war is almost over. We can finally go home.
‘Berserk in the final battle.’
Tears welled up from frustration. But because of the harsh blizzard, they froze into tiny ice shards and scattered the moment they formed.
My eyes stung from being scratched by the ice fragments. The moment I squeezed them shut—
Something shockingly cold, like pressing a block of ice to my eyelids, rubbed against my eyes. Startled, I opened them to find Espen—somehow having approached—gently touching my face with his hand.
“Stay by my side forever like this…”
At those words, I let out an empty laugh. It felt like fate.
‘So in the end, I was destined to die on the battlefield.’
I can’t leave Espen in his berserk state. If I do, he’ll become a disaster that freezes everything around him.
The best way to subdue him is to overwhelm him with my fire mana, which is his opposite.
If I also go berserk, both he and I will vanish. Without dragging anyone else into it.
“…Fine. If that will satisfy you.”
“Princess! No!”
Yulnisia’s anguished scream rang in my ears. Afraid my resolve would weaken if I looked back, I deliberately closed my eyes. The moment cold arms wrapped around my waist and pulled me close, flames like lava erupted from my heart.
‘Live happily, everyone.’
Praying for their safety, I melted into the flames and disappeared.
That moment, I died. I’m certain of it.
[This is the timeline separator]When I opened my eyes, the world was completely white. At first I thought I had awakened in snow-covered mountains, but later realized it was an illusion caused by towering white birch trees reaching toward the sky.
After blinking and lying there for a while, I raised my body. My head felt heavy and I was dizzy, as if about to vomit.
‘Wasn’t I dead?’
If I’m not dead, then where is everyone?
Yulnisia! Where are you!
“Kyuu kyuu kyuu kyuu!”
‘Gasp.’
I had tried to call Yulnisia’s name, but a strange sound came out of my mouth.
‘What sound just came from my mouth?’
I flinched and slowly opened my mouth.
“Kyuu kyuu.”
‘Gasp!’
Again, a weird cry emerged. Panicking, I tried to stand up—
‘W-what are these small, chubby front paws? And why am I naturally standing on all fours?’
I… I’ve turned into a beast?
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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MANGA DISCUSSION
1 Comment
Chapter Comments (2)
Poor her. If i was her, I can’t eat insects too. Ugh disgusting
He’s cute. Both of them met like a fate hahaha
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Blairwoods
Omg espen. You shouldn’t get berserk, just say you love her! Poor marien