You must be well aware of the Duke’s curse already.
Just then, Duke Clint put down his teacup and rummaged in his pocket, pulling out a glass bottle filled with medicine.
“I came to give you this. I will give it to you now in case I forget.”
“I will pass it on to the Duke.”
Nelia, who had received the medicine bottle, stared at the white pills for a moment.
In the past, they might have misunderstood that there was another secret in their relationship, but now it’s clear.
That they are brothers and close friends who care for each other.
‘I feel sorry for Duke Hart without reason.’
How unpleasant he must have been, given that I thought of him in such a way with my cousin.
As she was lost in thought, the voice of Viscount Clint came to her.
“It seems like Miss Nelia has recently started to stay in this mansion.”
Nelia perked up her head.
“Hhow did you know?”
She had definitely asked Duke Hart to keep this fact a secret…! Or maybe the servants here had let it slip?
It didn’t seem like that, considering that everyone kept their mouths tightly shut, just as the Duke said.
“Duke Hart recently ordered a canopy bed from his house.”
Viscount Clint laughed as if it was amusing.
“There’s no way the Duke would use such a bed.”
Nelia kept her mouth shut.
So the rumor had spread like this.
“Oh, don’t worry, Nelia. I’m the only one who knows about this. The owner of the furniture store asked if Duke Hart was getting married, and I found out, but I deflected it well.”
“…Thank you.”
It was only then that Nelia could feel relieved.
But soon, Viscount Clint asked with a sharp look.
“Then, can I ask one thing?”
“Yes?”
“Why did you suddenly start to stay here?”
At the unexpected question, Nelia’s eyes momentarily wandered in midair. She was short of reasons to sidestep it.
Part of her thought.
‘Viscount already knows everything, so why not tell him the truth.’
She wanted to share her thoughts with Viscount Clint about the situation.
Recently, Duke Hart was having a hard time because the efficacy of the medicine had decreased, and she happened to find out about the Duke’s secret and decided to help. But it’s too daunting. She had no idea where to start.
Nelia sighed and answered.
“In fact… I saw the Duke turn into a snake.”
“Is that so.”
Viscount Clint was more placid than she expected.
As if he had anticipated it.
Nelia found his attitude strange, but for now, she had to continue speaking.
“But… somehow, the Duke who had turned into a snake returned to human.”
Viscount Clint, who had been listening seriously, widened his eyes slightly.
“He turned back into a human…?”
“Yes, he said it was the first time he had returned so quickly.”
Viscount Clint gazed at Nelia intently.
“It’s really amazing. There was never such a thing in his life.”
“That’s why… I decided to stay here for a while and find out why Duke Hart turned back into a human.”
Nelia fiddled with her fingers and kneaded the sofa seat.
“In fact… I’m worried. No matter how much I think about it, that day seems to be a coincidence, but the Duke’s expectations seem high.”
Viscount Clint smiled.
“Miss Nelia, you don’t have to worry about that. Even if there are no results, Duke Hart is not one to blame others.”
A moment of bitterness flashed across his smile.
“I became close to Duke Hart as a playmate in his childhood. Duke Hart was a particularly quiet and timid child when he was young.”
It was quite surprising considering his current personality that manipulated people.
“The reason why the Duke was timid was because of a curse that turned him into a snake. Even though it was controlled by taking a potion, living a life concealing such a big secret wasn’t easy.”
Nelia nodded her head.
“It seems likely…”
She was currently staggering under the weight of that secret herself, so how much more so for Duke Hart, the person directly involved.
“And I’m not sure how much Duke Hart has told you… but there are often times when he can’t control his personality when he turns into a snake.”
This was what Duke Hart had said. She had been doubtful when he said it, but it had become truth through Clint’s words.
“That part is probably the part that Duke Hart finds most painful.”
Nelia felt slightly uncomfortable.
The Duke was feeling sorry, but she wondered if she hadn’t been too harsh on him.
The image of Duke Hart from earlier, looking deflated, overlapped in her mind.
“I know it’s a shameless request, but I hope you can comfort him in that aspect, Miss Nelia. He’s a person with many wounds.”
Nelia swallowed her dry saliva.
“Yes… I’ll try.”
Finally, Duke Clint showed a bright smile.
“I feel reassured with you by his side, Miss Nelia.”
“As I’ve said, there’s not much I can do.”
“Don’t say that, Miss Nelia. Having someone who understands him in this wide world can be a huge comfort.”
Duke Clint was a person who radiated a truly good energy. Thanks to him, many of the worries she had recently were resolved.
“I’ve delivered the medicine and gave some advice, I should get going now.”
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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