Sister, I'm the Queen This Life (330 Chapters Left to Complete) - Chapter 223
“Let’s have a little talk.”
The moment Cardinal de Mare returned from the royal palace and spoke his first words, Ariadne had a premonition.
So it’s finally come.
She forced a calm smile and replied,
“What is it, Father?”
But Cardinal de Mare was no amateur either.
“I’ve left all household affairs entirely to you, but perhaps that burden was too heavy for a young girl to bear.”
He spoke gently.
“Let me take a look at how things have been managed, and I’ll teach you what needs teaching. Bring me the ledgers. Let’s review them together in my study.”
Oh-ho. So that’s how you’re playing it.
From those few words alone, Ariadne already understood what Cardinal de Mare intended to discuss.
Pope Leo III had almost certainly mentioned the grain stores, and now the Cardinal was searching for a way to dip his spoon into that pot. He must have assumed that since Ariadne had no personal funds, the capital used to buy the grain came from the family coffers—and now he planned to inspect the ledgers under the pretense of helping her, secretly looking for exploitable entries to pressure her into handing over the profits.
It was disappointing yet somehow expected. Perhaps the disappointment stemmed from having harbored even the slightest hope in her father.
Ariadne resolved to simply think kindly of him. It would be absurd to start expecting more from him now.
Back in Lucrezia’s time, Cardinal de Mare had routinely barked, “Lu—cre—zi—a!! Bring me the ledgers!!” as regularly as meals—but now, he was sprinkling a bit of nicety onto the conversation, clearly deciding she had matured enough to warrant this subtle approach.
The Male lead Always Seduces Her with His Beauty (Matriarchy)
Xin Jiao Zhou is the leader of the world’s premier sect. She has just experienced betrayal from all sides, was poisoned in an assassination attempt, and faced death squad attacks while the poison was taking effect. After finally clearing out the scum from her sect, she was drugged again while trying to detoxify.
After waking up from a night of unconsciousness, she gained a “beautiful and kind-hearted” husband.
Xin Jiao Zhou: “???”
He fell ill.
She came to see him, bringing breakfast.
As she put down the breakfast and was about to leave, his hand slipped while holding the spoon. “Clank!”
She turned around upon hearing the noise.
He looked up at her, his eyebrows drooping: “My hand… has no strength.”
“Shall I… feed you?” she asked tentatively.
He opened his mouth cheerfully: “Ah—”
Thinking she was drowning, he jumped in without hesitation to save her, but nearly drowned himself. In the end, it was she who swam over to rescue him, giving him air underwater.
After emerging from the water, his ear tips turned red. He lightly brushed his cheek, tucking his sideburns behind his ear, revealing delicate, pink-tinged ear tips. He lowered his gaze, too embarrassed to look at her.
Xin Jiao Zhou: He’s truly beautiful, kind-hearted, and adorable.
A certain someone when disciplining subordinates behind the scenes: “If they don’t obey, just kill them.”
What’s that? She might already have someone she cares about in her heart? A certain someone: Find out who it is, kill them, and then there won’t be anyone.
What? She met a man by the riverside? What? That man even hurt her? A certain someone: Whichever hand hurt her, chop off his entire arm.
Love at first sight without realizing it, gradually falling in love, slowly getting closer…
Family and national grudges, schemes and desires, good and evil, crime and punishment, she and he face the future together, seeking justice with passion!
A naturally dark female lead who could accidentally destroy the world but is actually an honest person VS a weak, pitiful, and helpless but skilled fighter, beautiful white-cut black male lead
My heart is not of stone, how steadfast is your love? — Tao Yuanming “Imitating the Ancients (No. 3)”
— Reading Guide —
Cold female lead & dramatic black lotus with hidden yandere traits male lead
I’m still curious of what Alphonso meant by the last chapter
I’m still curious of what Alphonso meant by the last chapter
So Alphonso is misunderstanding now?