To You, So Noble and Vulgar (Completed Main Story) - Chapter 1
Ariana pondered and pondered again in utter darkness, where not a single sliver of light could enter.
What did I do wrong?
Where did I make a mistake?
I never wanted much. I never asked for anything excessive.
I only wished to be loved.
Mother. My sisters. My husband and his family. And Herald Blenwitt.
I didn’t even desire deep love.
Just a small measure of affection and recognition—that was enough. A smile when I did well, a look of concern when I was unwell—that was all.
I merely wanted what an ordinary person receives as naturally as breathing.
Was that truly such an outrageous desire for me?
Was someone like me never meant to hope for such things?
It had been one year since Ariana was imprisoned in the deepest cell of Rosen Castle’s underground dungeon beneath the Camellia Imperial Palace. Not a single person she had trusted and loved had come to see her.
Tomorrow, tomorrow—surely tomorrow.
Even that hope had long since crumbled into nothing.
The meager meal delivered once every other day had, at some point, dwindled to once every few days.
More unbearable than the gnawing hunger and thirst was the loneliness.
Four vassal states—Dongryeong, Seoryeong, Namryeong, and Bukryeong—encircled the great Camellia Empire at its center.
Ariana was born to Dongje Marquis Russell, ruler of Dongryeong, and Lady Rachel, daughter of Seoryeong’s Seoje Marquis.
Immediately after giving birth to Ariana, Rachel divorced the Dongje Marquis and fled back to Seoryeong, where she remarried Duke Jacob Bronte.
Ariana remembered clearly her days at the Bronte ducal estate in Seoryeong.
Her ever-cheerful mother Rachel, her stern but kind stepfather Jacob, her childish yet cheerful older sister Helena, her younger sister Victoria—mature and refined beyond her years—and her youngest sibling, Joison.
Though the Bronte estate was warm and peaceful, there was no place in it for Ariana.
Ariana also remembered her days at the Albrecht count’s estate.
Her husband Ingou Albrecht, her mother-in-law Laone, and her sister-in-law Elise, who was her age.
They got along well, yet even there, no place was made for Ariana.
Herald Blenwitt, the Third Prince and now Emperor, had been Ariana’s only warmth. From him alone could she find the affection and trust her own family had never given.
—“I admire clever women like you.”
—“I prefer useful women like you over those who sell their smiles and cling to men.”
—“Once I ascend the throne, I shall hold you in high regard. My imperial court shall become your greenhouse.”
She believed those words.
Thus, until he claimed the throne, she became his secret blade, moving in the shadows.
She aided in striking Dongryeong—one of the wealthiest vassal states—and helped draw the reclusive Namje Marquis out of seclusion so his head could be taken.
She never hesitated when helping to strike Dongryeong. The kindness of someone close to her mattered far more than a father she’d never even spoken to.
She gathered intelligence to keep Bukje Marquis—who enjoyed the full trust of both the Emperor and Crown Prince—in check, nearly dying several times in the process.
Captured while acting as a spy, she endured torture—and even that torment felt sweet to her.
Being useful to someone was so important to Ariana that even brutal torture tasted sweet.
Though Prince Herald was the cleverest among the many imperial princes, his chance of ascending the throne had been nearly nonexistent as long as the Crown Prince remained beloved and trusted by the Emperor.
But Ariana walked through filth to create that possibility for Herald, who ultimately succeeded in killing both the Crown Prince and the Emperor and claiming the throne.
Now the imperial court belonged to Herald, yet even the smallest corner of the palace was denied to Ariana.
Ariana couldn’t understand.
She had merely been born. She had merely lived.
Why, then, was the world so cruel to her?
“What did I even do…?”
Her hoarse, cracked voice didn’t sound like her own.
“What more could I possibly have done?”
Ariana covered her face with both hands.
Her bony fingers felt raw and split. Her hair, weakened from malnutrition, fell out in clumps at the slightest touch.
After so long without proper food or water, even tears refused to come.
Creeeak—
The heavy iron door of the underground prison groaned open.
Shuffle shuffle—
The light footsteps were unlike those of the jailer who usually brought her meals.
Even in this despair, a tiny spark of hope flickered to life.
Could it finally be time to leave this place?
Lowering her hands and lifting her head, she saw a noblewoman standing outside the cell bars, holding a lantern.
Though not beautiful, the woman’s joyful smile made her glow.
“Sister…?”
“Not ‘sister.’ Call me Duchess of Decan.”
Helena smiled sweetly, her voice lilting like a song.
“But look at you—what a mess. Even that hair you were so proud of is all gone. People will think you’re a monster.”
Despite her sister’s pitiful state, Helena looked delighted.
Ariana crawled on her knees to the bars and lifted her head. Her remaining pale-blue strands tumbled over her roughened cheeks and shoulders.
“Sister, when can I leave here?”
Helena’s brow furrowed slightly before she kicked Ariana with her foot.
“I told you—call me Duchess.”
Ariana’s starved, weakened body easily toppled over from the noblewoman’s kick.
Looking down at Ariana sprawled on the floor, Helena smiled coldly.
“Well, you’ll be leaving soon enough.”
Color returned to Ariana’s face.
But the hope that had risen after so long was instantly shattered by Helena’s next words.
“If you count leaving in death as leaving.”
“D… dying?”
“Well, of course. Because of you, His Late Majesty the Emperor passed away. And His Late Highness the Crown Prince as well.”
Ariana’s eyes wavered.
Though she had done everything they asked in her desperate search for affection, she wasn’t a fool.
“So there are factions questioning His Late Majesty’s death—and you intend to make me the scapegoat.”
“Scapegoat? You did it all yourself. You sneaked into the Crown Prince’s chambers and stabbed his heart. You poisoned His Late Majesty’s medicine.”
It was true that Ariana had been given the opportunity and information, but she hadn’t killed them with her own hands.
Knowing such excuses would fall on deaf ears, Ariana clutched at her last straw.
“Does His Majesty… say nothing at all?”
At Ariana’s pleading gaze, Helena’s smile turned cruel.
She looked utterly delighted by this moment.
“His Majesty is far too busy enjoying time with Victoria—ah, not Victoria anymore, but Her Imperial Majesty the Empress. He has no time to spare for someone like you.”
“You’re lying… Does His Majesty even know I’m locked away like this?”
“Of course he does. It was His Majesty himself who ordered you imprisoned here.”
Crash—!
A sound of something collapsing echoed.
Ariana slowly lifted her head to look at the ceiling.
But the ceiling was intact, and Ariana knew the sound was merely her own sky crumbling.
Ariana’s sky—no one cared enough to notice it falling.
The more Ariana collapsed into despair, the brighter Helena’s smile grew.
“Why… why are you so cruel to me? What did I even do?”
“What did you do?”
Helena frowned for a moment, then bent down to meet Ariana’s eyes. The lantern’s flame flickered within Helena’s pitch-black pupils.
“Your very birth was your mistake, Ariana.”
“…”
“Mother says seeing you makes her think of the Dongje Marquis and feel sick to her stomach. I feel the same. Every time I look at you, I feel furious and heartbroken for Mother. She was forced into a marriage she never wanted, forced into a pregnancy she never desired—with that dreadful Dongje Marquis.”
Tears Ariana thought long dried streamed down her cheeks.
“You should never have been born, Ariana. But since you were, you ought to have been useful. Isn’t that right?”
At Helena’s gesture, archers hidden in the darkness revealed themselves. Ariana hadn’t even known Helena had brought them.
Helena gave Ariana a sweet smile as she spoke.
“Don’t worry, Ariana. I won’t make your death too terrible. You’ll be recorded as having taken your own life in remorse for assassinating His Late Highness the Crown Prince and His Late Majesty the Emperor. Of course, you’ll be vilified somewhat, but once His Majesty demonstrates excellent governance, the criticism toward you will surely lessen.”
Ariana watched blankly as the cell door opened and the archers entered.
Even as they looped the rope around her neck, she offered no resistance.
She only thought:
It was wrong to wish for love.
It was a mistake to desire affection.
It was a crime to place trust.
Because she, unwanted by anyone, had dared to live—and worse, dared to hope for love—she was receiving this punishment.
Though the rough rope tightened around her throat, Ariana didn’t struggle.
She simply resolved:
If ever given another chance, she would never again strive to be loved. She would never grant her trust to anyone. She would simply carry the sin of her birth upon her shoulders and live.
‘But such a chance will never come.’
In her final moment, Ariana smiled bitterly at her own foolish wish.
Though her skin was cracked and her hair gone, a gentle smile spread across her lovely face.
Helena felt a chill—but it passed quickly.
Ariana’s small body stilled, and her pained gasps and moans faded away.
On April 20th of the year Latan 222—the birthday no one remembered—Ariana, former wife of Count Albrecht of Seoryeong nobility, took her own life in the dark underground prison, repenting for the assassination of the Crown Prince and Emperor.
In September of Latan 222,
Bukje Marquis Cyrus Karha declared Bukryeong’s independence, proclaimed himself emperor, and founded the Arcana Empire, simultaneously raising an army against the Camellia Empire.
On April 20th of Latan 224,
The Camellia Empire, already crumbling from Dongryeong to Seoryeong, fell completely. The heads of Emperor Herald and Empress Victoria were hung upon the walls of the Camellia Imperial Palace.
Their crime: the assassination of the late Emperor and Crown Prince—exactly two years to the day after Ariana’s death.
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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Aaaaa I can’t keep track of the names, how sad 😭😭😭
I finally found the chapter corresponding to chapter 42 of the manhwa!
Here’s a mother who refutes the “instinctive motherhood” notion.