Without a plan, and scolding herself for feeling this way, Bianca clasped her hands together.
“What is it?”
“I want to take over the management of Barlock.”
“The management?”
Gillian inquired as he took off his wet coat and handed it to his lieutenant.
“If it’s not the entire territory, just the castle will suffice.”
Lest she appear presumptuous, Bianca quickly added to her words.
“The castle’s management.”
The look from the lieutenant standing beside Gillian was rather sharp.
Apparently, he thought that Terumina’s princess was finally revealing her true colors.
But Bianca was okay with that.
This level of suspicion was natural, and she had a way to convince him.
“I may have lived as a nameless princess, but I was also a ‘castle’s lady.’ Though it’s gone now, I managed Rosebena Castle since I was thirteen.”
Gillian nodded, but he did not give permission.
Instead, he carelessly stuffed his gloves into his pocket and merely extended his hand, indicating that they should go inside.
“The castle’s management is originally the lady’s responsibility.”
Bianca pronounced this carefully so that it wouldn’t sound too arrogant.
“But do you really have to?”
You proposed, didn’t you?
You said you were waiting for an answer.
Numerous words came to mind, but they all sounded resentful, so Bianca silently shook her head as her reply.
“I don’t want to put you, BBianca, through hardship.”
Thud.
The sound of the wet sole of his shoe hitting the floor was quite heavy.
It was not easy, so Bianca was not disappointed by Gillian’s rejection.
Rather, if he had easily agreed, that would have been more strange.
Leaving everything else aside, they were enemies.
A young duke who lost his father to the emperor, and a princess offered as a sacrifice to the emperor.
Their relationship could never be purely personal.
Even if Gillian wanted her, even if she opened her heart.
The path of Duke Barlock, who commanded a huge army, could be different.
The sharp gaze of the lieutenant standing beside Gillian meant just that.
So Bianca had to speak in the most ambitious voice she could muster.
“If the sudden transfer is burdensome, how about you just try entrusting it to me during your honeymoon? What do you think?”
“A test? What do you mean, ma’am?”
The unexpected answer came not from Gillian but from his lieutenant.
“Hello, ma’am. I am Creta, Duke Barlock’s lieutenant.”
“Hello, Sir Creta.”
At Bianca’s response, Creta’s eyes briefly widened, then he smiled.
“No one has ever thought of me as a knight.”
‘All of Barlock’s men are knights.’
It seemed that Lise had listened well to Rafin’s words.
“Such a distinguished person?”
She seemed so pleased that Bianca even trembled with excitement.
“My lady, thank you for recognizing me. And I fully support you exercising the estate’s administrative rights.”
“Oh, my.”
Bianca’s heart fluttered slightly at the unexpected support.
“You don’t have to. It’s a nuisance.”
Gillian’s voice seemed displeased, as if he was annoyed by Creta’s interruption, but Bianca had no intention of missing this opportunity.
“It’s not that I can’t do it, if you’re worried, leave it to me.”
Please.
Bianca looked up at him, holding her hands together and raising them to her chin, looking desperate.
“Please.”
Gillian’s ears suddenly turned red, as if he was embarrassed.
She briefly wondered if this was okay, but Bianca didn’t back down.
She wanted to help him.
There was no immediate way to atone for him or anything to set him free.
But she only hoped that he wouldn’t be troubled by the estate’s documents when he returned from his official business.
“If you insist.”
“I want to do it.”
Bianca cut off Gillian’s words and jumped in to finish the sentence before he could refuse.
For some reason, Creta’s face was getting brighter.
Gillian didn’t answer, but the look on his face was so contemplative that Bianca stared at him intently.
How much time had passed in this suffocating silence?
“Instead, if it becomes too much, you must quit at any time.”
“Of course.”
“If you get annoyed, don’t hesitate to tell me.”
“Yes.”
“Then, Creta, hand over the documents.”
Huh?
“Not to the Duke, but …”
“Yes, I accept.”
Creta was smiling broadly.
“It didn’t matter to the Duke who did it.”
Somehow, Creta’s words, mixed with tears, made Bianca feel slightly awkward.
“You must have been… tired.”
Creta didn’t answer but glanced at Gillian instead.
That was answer enough.
“I’ve been eagerly waiting for a butler to come, I think I’ll really live now.”
Creta’s words were sincere.
“I will bring it soon. The documents are already prepared, as I planned to transfer them immediately when the butler arrives.”
As if it were true, Creta quickly brought a mountain of documents to Bianca.
It was the estate’s operating documents for the past three years, as Bianca had requested.
There was everything from castle repairs to the wages of the servants and the inandout of food and maintenance costs for the Duke’s family’s dignity.
It was hard to believe that Creta, so pale and thin, had managed all this on her own.
Now Bianca understood the joyful expression on her face when she asked for administrative rights.
“What a remarkable person.”
As she checked the documents one by one, Bianca suddenly discovered something strange.
Duke Sylas Barlock had died not long ago.
But the cost of maintaining the Duke’s dignity had been for only one person.
For three years.
Male lead Asks for a Divorce Every Day
It’s not often you come across a plot like this in the female-dominant genre — make sure to check it out!
This is a novel I’m planning to reread as well.
The male lead is strong, skilled in martial arts, and not the usual fragile type you often see in matriarchal novels.
Meanwhile, the female lead is a scientist—rational and logical. Even when she falls for the male lead, she doesn’t let her emotions cloud her decisions.
If you push through the first few chapters, you’ll gradually find the story really intriguing.
It has a mix of mystery, detective elements, and romance.
The author’s writing style is like crafting a puzzle—except they deliberately leave out a few pieces, making it hard to predict what happens next, yet keeping you hooked.
In the end, everything will come together and be explained.
One-sentence summary: Wife, stop playing with beakers and look at me!
In a laboratory accident, research scientist Zhu Wansheng accidentally travels to a matriarchal world. The original owner of the body is an eighteen-year-old only daughter of a wealthy rouge merchant, already married with a handsome young man.
Zhu Wansheng grins: Nice! She always said she was heaven’s favorite granddaughter. After a life of toil in her previous life, she can enjoy blessings in this one.
However, her joy lasts no more than three seconds as bad news arrives: the original owner’s family is about to go bankrupt, and her husband wants a divorce.
Even worse, she’s stuck with a research system full of restrictions.
Zhu Wansheng: ? Is this the destiny of a research dog?
——
Faced with this mess, Zhu Wansheng pours herself a bowl of wine to drown her sorrows. In her drunken haze, her husband arrives.
His figure is imposing, holding a long sword, with a dignified air that captivates Zhu Wansheng.
Gu Yingqing, however, looks at the alcohol-reeking Zhu Wansheng with undisguised disgust and coldly asks, “Divorce or not?” The intoxicated Zhu Wansheng mumbles vaguely, “I think… it’s not… it’s not… impossible!”
——
The next day, after sobering up, Zhu Wansheng is full of energy, rolling up her sleeves ready to make a big move. As for yesterday? She has no memory of it.
Zhu Wansheng is ambitious; a research dog fears nothing!
Upgrading rouge, extracting fragrances, producing perfumes, researching lipsticks… all shall bow to the power of modern technology!
The original owner’s dying rouge shop is revitalized. Her mother is pleased and with a wave of her hand, passes on the family business to her. As she takes control and her experimental results gain popularity, it’s the pinnacle of her life…
——
But there are always those who can’t stand to see her doing well. Jealousy, scheming, assassination attempts – they want nothing less than her life.
The person who has always kept his distance from her suddenly holds her tightly in his arms, eyes full of concern.
She is unharmed, but he falls into a pool of blood…
Zhu Wansheng feels guilty, “I can grant you one wish.”
Gu Yingqing tentatively circles his arms around her, carefully resting his head in the crook of her neck, pleading softly, “I regret it. Can we not divorce?”
Zhu Wansheng: ? When did I agree to a divorce?
[Small Theater]
The newly developed rouge is beautifully packaged, and Zhu Wansheng is eager to try it.
Gu Yingqing suddenly appears: “My lady, may I apply it for you?”
Cool fingertips lightly brush her lips. His Adam’s apple bobs as he leans in for a light bite.
Zhu Wansheng: ?
Gu Yingqing: It smells so good, I wanted to taste it…
On a warm spring day, Zhu Wansheng tries a new perfume: “Spring Night.” Gu Yingqing corners her against a wall.
Warm breath lingers on her neck.
“My lady, from now on, may I test the fragrances for you?”
[Humorous female scientist vs scheming live-in son-in-law male lead]
[Touch the gear icon in the bottom right corner of the screen to move to the next chapter if you want.]
