“I appreciate your concern for my partner, Duchess Hertia.”
“It seems you do not fully understand my words.”
“I think I do. I am always grateful for your meticulous care for my future.”
“……Very well, Lady. Please move along.”
Detecting that causing discomfort to Bialet in such a setting would only reflect poorly on herself, the Duchess of Hertia simply waved her fan more vigorously.
Bialet’s lips curved into a soft arc as the interaction concluded more smoothly than expected.
Then, the doorman’s booming voice announced from beyond the door,
“His Majesty the Emperor, Her Majesty the Empress, and His Highness the Crown Prince of the Marta Empire are entering.”
The orchestra lifted their trumpets, and a harmonious piece filled the banquet hall.
As they entered, the nobles began to glance between Ivan and Bialet, noting her dress made from the same fabric as the Crown Prince’s attire – a creation of the royal chief designer.
Bialet was relieved she wasn’t part of any group at the moment.
Soon, the ailing Emperor delivered an opening speech at his only son’s birthday banquet.
During this time, Bialet approached Ivan, who was standing alone at the upper balcony. Today, she was to be known to the public as his fiancée and needed to be by his side.
“To the holy glory of the Marta Empire.”
Ivan, seeing her approach and greet him, smiled casually and clapped his hands playfully.
“The dress suits you very well, Lady.”
Glancing at her dress, Bialet returned his compliment with a soft smile,
“I am overwhelmed by Your Highness’s praise.”
“Lady, soon the way the world looks at you will change.”
“…….”
“May today be a day of gifts for you.”
‘Or perhaps the worst day.’
Hiding a smirk behind her fan, Bialet maintained a composed facade.
Finally, as the Emperor’s speech concluded, Ivan extended his hand to her,
“Let us depart now, Lady.”
As Bialet gazed at Ivan’s hand, she gave him a special, soft smile and responded.
“Of course, Your Highness.”
They ascended to the stage where everyone could see them, and Ivan began to speak.
“I thank everyone who has come here today.”
With the arrival of the Crown Prince and Bialet, the guests ceased their murmurs, and silence filled the banquet hall.
“It brings me great joy to announce this news at the banquet.”
Everyone was curious about the situation but remained silent, waiting for him to speak.
“The Lady I am engaged to is Bialet Ruschev of the Ruschev family.”
Bialet quietly observed the nobles looking up at her from below the stage.
Shocked by this news, they doubted their ears and began to murmur in confusion.
Geizen appeared displeased with the situation, while Rosalyn, beside him, looked on in surprise, unable to close her mouth.
Among another group of influential figures, the Duke of Ruschev was seen with tears in his eyes, as the plan he had envisioned was finally coming to fruition.
Bialet, looking at her father, wore a bitter smile.
In the banquet hall filled with envious and resentful gazes, her attention was drawn to someone who was staring at her persistently.
‘Sion…’
At the end of that gaze was Dension, standing alone.
The deep, thoughtful blue of his eyes was gone, replaced by a look of bewilderment as he stared at her.
Bialet couldn’t take her eyes off Dension’s troubled gaze, lost in thought.
She understood what was going through his mind just by looking into his eyes.
Initially, his expression was one of shock and confusion, but it gradually turned to resentment and anger, eventually showing disappointment and a sense of betrayal.
Now, he probably saw her as just another power-hungry noble, no different from the rest.
Despite it being far from the truth, Bialet couldn’t offer any explanation to him.
She couldn’t expose her vulnerability in a place where everyone was watching.
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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