“Indeed, even if one’s memory is lost, basic human nature doesn’t change.”
“And he didn’t recognize your face?”
“No.”
“But he knows how the castle’s funds are being used? Can memory selectively return like that?”
Helena’s point was sharp. Only then did Arnold’s mind cool down.
“Hmm. Either his memory hasn’t returned at all, or he knows everything.”
“If his memory had fully returned, it would be strange for him not to visit his beloved mistress even once.”
“That’s true, Sister.”
Helena reached the most logical conclusion I could think of.
The current Craig is not the Craig she had known for decades. Such a change seemed impossible unless someone was manipulating him from behind.
Cordelia Vasquez. Certainly, that cunning woman must be scheming something.
“She must be planning to use Craig to take over Abrams, after framing me with absurd accusations.”
“Ah, no wonder she’s been clinging to Craig ever since he woke up. Despicable woman.”
“It’s been a year since she married into the family, and she’s useless, unable to bear a son.”
Helena grumbled and cursed Cordelia for a while.
She stopped mid-sentence, struck by a sudden idea. The silence lingered until Arnold asked.
“What’s on your mind?”
“She’s useless anyway, right?”
“That’s true. We brought her in only for her bloodline. If not for that, we would have chosen a woman with better terms.”
“Then we should get rid of her.”
“Excuse me?”
“Why keep someone who’s useless and unnecessary?”
Indeed, she had never been a favored woman from the start. Bringing Vasquez in was the decision of the former count, now deceased.
After getting rid of this troublesome woman, it would be time to bring in a woman who truly suited his tastes.
Helena smiled broadly, a smile tinged with the scent of warm blood. Arnold quickly realized her intentions.
“What method would be best?”
“Shake her up. You’ll soon find something to grab onto.”
“Yes.”
“And since she’s not very cautious, if she falls ill from eating something, people won’t find it strange, will they?”
“Ah.”
Arnold exclaimed lightly.
A mistake by the castle’s chef, adding something that shouldn’t be in the food, does happen from time to time.
“I’ll prepare it.”
“Good.”
“Good day.”
Cordelia was muttering a magical formula while walking through the corridor when an unfamiliar voice caught her attention. She lifted her head and was surprised to see the person.
“Ah, Baron Lancaster.”
“Long time no see, Countess. Have you been well?”
The black-haired man bowed lightly with a friendly smile.
At first glance, he seemed like just another handsome noble, but Baron Lancaster owned the largest trade company in the region.
Holding the financial reins, his influence was significant in the count’s house, to the extent that even Helena couldn’t treat him lightly.
“Indeed. I heard you went to the mines in the south, when did you return?”
“Not long ago.”
Seeing his face reminded her of the nickname he had, ‘Young Raccoon,’ because of his always cunning smile.
Normally, he would have ignored Cordelia and passed by without greeting, but today he seemed keen to strike up a conversation.
“I heard you’ve been spending a lot of time with the count lately.”
“Well, Craig hasn’t fully recovered yet.”
“So the count relies on you a lot. He hasn’t been letting outsiders into the castle, like he used to.”
Cordelia was well aware that ‘outsiders’ referred to Craig’s mistress.
However, Cordelia only smiled with an innocent face, despite her inner turmoil.
‘What’s with this raccoon? Why is he being so clingy today? I’ll get an earful from my teacher if I’m late.’
“The Count has changed a lot. He distances himself from those he was close to and keeps those he never sought before by his side.”
“Really? I don’t know. Craig has always been fickle.”
“Is that so? Coincidentally.”
I couldn’t ask what he meant by ‘coincidentally.’ The Baron’s attendant hurriedly approached and whispered something in his ear.
Lancaster’s expression changed, but it was only for a moment. He resumed his inscrutable smile and politely excused himself.
“Please forgive my rudeness for leaving first.”
“You’re a busy man. I can’t keep you.”
Cordelia didn’t take the encounter too seriously. Her only thought was to not be late for Leonard.
But that day, the world was unusually kind to her.
As she hurriedly dropped a few parchment sheets, a knight — surprisingly not a mere attendant, but an official knight — picked them up with a very friendly smile.
“Here you are, Countess. You’re dazzlingly beautiful today.”
Cordelia awkwardly received the papers from him.
And that wasn’t all. When she arrived at Leonard’s room, a maid, with an unusually kind face, said,
“Little mistress, shall I prepare some refreshments?”
“Uh? No, it’s okay.”
“Then let me know if you need anything.”
Cordelia had been in and out of this room countless times, but it was the first time the maid had been so sweet.
‘What’s going on? Why is everyone acting like this?’
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
