“……!”
Liz’s face, staring at the laid Virgin Road in front of her, was tense and frozen with tension. Everyone in the divided seats turned to look at Liz. Despite memorizing the guest list so thoroughly, it was of no use at this moment. It was because no one’s face was clearly visible.
The only distinct figure on the end stage of the Virgin Road was the appearance of Hersis standing on it. The golden belt, crossing the chest of his elegant black attire, received the same brilliant baptism of the sun as his eyes.
The forehead revealed under the neatly raised bangs highlighted his appearance so beautifully that no one in this world could match him. He wasn’t smiling. The royal law stated that the marriage of direct royal bloodline members should be conducted solemnly, so smiling was not allowed.
‘At least that’s something I can do too.’ Liz was so tense at the moment that she couldn’t even smile if someone prompted her to.
“Now, shall we go… huh? Niece…?”
Count Clemence, holding Liz’s hand, said. According to the royal law, the paternal uncle had to be called because simultaneous entry to the wedding was not allowed. Moreover, their relationship was extremely awkward due to the lack of intimacy and the discord with Liz’s mother. It became even more awkward when he respectfully used honorifics, shaking with nervousness.
“Yes, Uncle.”
When the man holding her hand trembled even more than her, Liz became even calmer.
Liz took a deep breath and moved slowly.
She knew that everyone was looking at her. Every movement she made echoed because there was no music playing, as the royal law required a solemn atmosphere without calling for an orchestra.
Someone began to sob. She couldn’t look at them, but she could tell who it was.
In this silent and solemn wedding, the only comforting music was the weeping of someone.
‘Thank you for coming, Mirabel.’
After a while, when they were halfway there, Hersis descended from the stage.
He walked toward her and received Liz at the two-thirds point. Liz felt his warm body temperature under the gloved hand. Only then did Liz feel relieved.
Uncle Clemence also seemed relieved and was about to let out a deep sigh of relief, but he stiffened again after receiving the Emperor’s nod.
As he staggered back to his place, Liz clasped fists with Hersis.
Feeling the solid and strong arm beneath the clothes, she couldn’t help but smile.
‘Oh, I wasn’t supposed to smile.’
Remembering the wedding etiquette again, Liz lowered her gaze.
The two walked together to the remaining Virgin Road and arrived in front of the officiant.
The officiant, Jayden Calton, was the highest priest in the Grand Temple. Although his clothes were similar to Hersis’s, the color of the ribbon tied around his waist was different. It was red.
“I will first ask the two of you.”
The Chief Priest glanced alternately at Hersis and Liz with an indifferent gaze and a flat tone, then hastened to speak.
“Do you have any sins to confess before the marriage? If so, speak them out.”
The wedding ceremony followed the order Liz had learned over the past few days.
“None.”
Hersis answered without a hint of hesitation.
“None…”
Liz followed with an answer, but her tone was not as confident as Hersis’s. She still wasn’t sure whether changing fate unintentionally would be considered a sin or not.
“Then, let the wedding proceed.”
With a more blunt tone, the Chief Priest continued speaking.
“Does Emperor Hersis Castriano Roscarlan de Belcmere agree to take Aristea Eleanor de Berium as his wife?”
“I agree.”
“Does Aristea Eleanor de Berium agree to take Emperor Hersis Castriano Roscarlan de Belcmere as her husband?”
“I agree.”
After hearing such obvious answers, the Chief Priest made the final declaration with a dry expression.
“In the name of the goddess Anteia, I declare that the two have become a couple witnessed by everyone here.”
It was good that there was no lengthy ritual. The marriage vows were surprisingly simple, as if it were the end.
The Chief Priest finished his role by making sure the couple understood some marital duties and that divorce was strictly prohibited in the temple.
It was a smooth wedding.
The weather was warm and clear, the wind blowing just enough to tickle feathers. The flowers decorating the venue emitted a fragrant scent, and the butterflies fluttering above were the only carefree guests in this solemn wedding.
It was a peaceful moment, so bright that one might doubt if a solar eclipse would ever occur.
“Now, take a step forward together for a hopeful future.”
Even the Chief Priest’s dry command couldn’t spoil this perfect moment.
Thunderous applause erupted from the audience. Despite being outdoors, it felt as if the celestial bow was trembling indoors.
However…
“I feel like I forgot something.”
At Hersis’s words, the applause subsided instantly.
For the first time, a sense of confusion appeared in the Chief Priest’s eyes.
‘Forget? Forget what?’
Liz’s eyes also showed curiosity. But Isar Balderion seemed to know. A long sigh could be heard from that side, saying, ‘Whew.’
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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