It was strange. Liz thought she had woken up from a dream, but it still felt like a dream.
“What is that…”
However, at that moment, the horn sounded again, this time clearer. And… and…
For some reason, it seemed necessary to check the situation outside.
Liz walked to the window at the maximum speed possible.
“……!”
The pupils of Liz looking out of the window were filled with astonishment. She tilted her head for a moment, then blinked her eyes vigorously, as if trying to wake up from a dream.
However, it was reality.
A wave of red light surged along the main road outside the palace between the trees. Occasionally, golden light was visible.
It was the imperial guard. The imperial guard was moving out of the palace!
‘No way…’
She wanted to believe that they weren’t going to the Turen Province.
Hersis had clearly promised!
Liz had promised to do as she said. He was not a man who would break a promise. So, no. It can’t be…
‘But if that’s not the case, there’s no way such a large force would go out.’
Liz turned abruptly from the window.
“I have to meet Her Majesty. I have to ask her something when I meet her.”
Until she confirmed that they were not being dispatched to the Turen Province, she couldn’t just stand still.
Liz took brisk steps. Rosa stuck by her side, not to grab Liz but to protect her in case she stumbled.
Liz opened the door wide herself.
But Rosa was right.
‘Her Majesty cannot go out.’
Clang, clang.
In front of Liz’s eyes, the spears crossed.
“Forgive us, Empress.”
Beyond the crossed spears, the commander of the imperial guard bowed as if his head was touching the ground.
“His Imperial Majesty ordered us to safely escort you inside.”
“……!”
Portraits were present wherever the candlelight passed.
The Grand Duke slowly walked from left to right, savoring the faces of the past emperors.
His steps paused for a moment in front of a white-haired man. It was his father.
He had a more severe expression than any other emperors.
It seemed as if the Grand Duke knew what he was going to do and was scolding him.
“Do not glare at me like that, Father.”
With a smiling face, the Grand Duke spoke.
“You are the one who gave birth to me, aren’t you?”
As the gaze in the portrait became sharper, the look in the Grand Duke’s eyes softened.
The candlelight, flickering over the portrait, revealed another painting.
A man with blonde hair and gentle blue eyes. The Duke’s gaze became tender as he looked at him.
“Brother.”
The Grand Duke whispered.
“Do you know what your biggest mistake is?”
There was a faint tremor in his voice.
“I gave hope to a brother with no hope.”
The darkness was silent. Besides the Grand Duke, there was no one in the space.
However, as if the former emperor was responding to his words, he remained silent for a while and then spoke.
“When Father passed away and you ascended to the throne, you should have rejected me. Or you should have cursed and struck me for having such humble bloodline. If that had happened, I would have known my place and lived accordingly.”
But the former emperor elevated him.
He cherished his younger brother, rewarded him, and made him praised by the people.
“Everything is your fault, brother. You should have bestowed favor on a relative and made him aware of the qualities of a ruler while looking at others. Do you know how cruel it is to awaken the ambition in a man whose limits are set and who can’t rise any further?”
The Grand Duke bit his lips, clenching his jaw. Still, his face was more humane than when facing his father.
He turned his gaze away. Then, he moved a few steps to the side and illuminated another painting.
The protagonist of this portrait had black hair and golden eyes…
“Sister-in-law.”
It was the former empress.
“Hersis resembles sister-in-law quite a lot.”
He said with a disgustingly affectionate tone.
“You don’t know how fortunate I considered that fact.”
‘If she resembles you, no matter how much trouble the country is in, it wouldn’t have reached this point.’
The corner of the Grand Duke’s mouth that thought so dug into his cheek. A wicked smile gradually intensified.
“And now it seems to be even more fortunate. Sister-in-law.”
He moved the candle. The candlelight illuminated both the empress and the son who resembled her.
“Soon, you will be able to meet a beautiful son who resembles sister-in-law. How about that? Are you pleased?”
At that moment, a knock accompanied the opening door, and someone approached slowly.
The Grand Duke’s secret agent, Aaron.
“Your Highness, a messenger has arrived from the Grand Duchy. The soldiers are ready.”
‘It will take about three and a half days to reach the palace.’
The Grand Duke estimated the date in his mind and nodded.
“Go up quietly without causing trouble. Split the force even more finely than now so that it won’t be noticeable.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
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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