The Puppet Villainess’s Splendid Rebellion - Chapter 52
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 52
The Cardinal’s Chamber was spacious.
The windows were large, and sunlight streamed in beautifully. The walls were engraved with divine emblems, and one side was filled with bookshelves. Thick carpets covered the floor, making my feet sink in. There was also a subtle fragrant scent. It was worlds apart from the pantry-like waiting room I had been confined to yesterday.
‘So there was a proper place for receiving guests after all.’
I snorted inwardly.
A man was sitting in the inner part of the room.
He had lustrous white hair and a gentle appearance. He looked to be around sixty years old. Though he had wrinkles around his eyes, his face looked kind. He had the atmosphere of a clergyman. He held a rosary in his hands. He appeared devout.
When I entered, the Cardinal’s eyes wavered slightly.
But he quickly regained his composure. He stood up from his seat and smiled warmly.
“For Your Highness the Princess to visit such a humble place, it is truly an honor.”
A respectful voice. A perfect smile.
It was the poker face of someone who had lived as a clergyman for ten years.
“May I sit?”
At my informal speech, the Cardinal’s eyes twitched slightly. But he didn’t show it.
“Please do.”
I sat in the chair. The Cardinal also sat across from me.
A moment of silence passed.
The Cardinal was the first to speak.
“Shall I serve you some tea?”
“No need. I’m busy.”
“I see.”
“Aren’t you busy too, Cardinal? Yesterday when I came, you didn’t even show your face.”
“Haha, that’s how it is for a servant of God. Still, I can’t tell you how fortunate I am to be able to meet you like this.”
“Fortunate my ass.”
When I snorted, he pressed his lips together.
His expression remained relaxed.
“Seeing how you immediately responded to my request, I suppose you understood exactly what I meant?”
“…How could that be? This old man is lacking, so I couldn’t understand the true intention behind Your Highness’s words and requested this meeting.”
So he’s playing dumb.
The Cardinal smiled gently and added.
“You mentioned an oracle from 23 years ago, but which oracle are you referring to?”
Finally, we got to the main point. But his voice remained calm.
Even though I was the Princess, his attitude showed he was confident I couldn’t possibly know that fact.
‘Of course, even if I knew, he’d think I have no evidence.’
That was natural.
Not many people even in the Imperial Court knew that the Emperor collected ‘those kinds’ of documents.
“Are you really asking because you don’t know?”
“Yes, I’m not quite sure what you’re referring to.”
The Cardinal shrugged.
“23 years ago was indeed the year I was elected as Cardinal, but what about the oracle then…”
“Yes, that oracle. The decisive oracle that got you to your current position. Was it really handed down directly by God?”
I cut off the Cardinal’s words and asked.
The Cardinal’s smile stiffened slightly. But he quickly recovered.
“Of course it was. An oracle conveys God’s will. There couldn’t be any falsehood, could there?”
“Then should I consider the tribute money that comes in every quarter under the Cardinal’s name, stored in the Imperial archives, as just the Cardinal’s tearful loyalty?”
In an instant, the composure vanished from the Cardinal’s face.
“…What do you mean by that?”
“Oh my, you really didn’t know about this one.”
I grinned broadly.
“Don’t tell me you really thought your deal with His Majesty would only remain verbal?”
The Cardinal’s eyes widened greatly.
“You know, I’m the Princess most beloved by His Majesty. His Majesty allows me to do whatever I want. Even if that includes reading documents in the classified archives.”
“Your Highness, that’s…”
“Oh, and the financial records of funds that entered the Temple that year were interesting too. The sources were a bit strange, weren’t they? There was quite a bit of money that flowed from the Imperial Court.”
“…”
The Cardinal couldn’t say anything. Only his lips trembled. The hand holding the rosary had turned white.
He wouldn’t be able to play dumb anymore.
“And the donation records.”
I continued.
“The amount embezzled over decades was quite substantial. What did you use it for? Personal wealth? Or did you offer it as tribute to the Imperial Court again?”
Silence.
The Cardinal’s face turned pale. Sweat beaded on his forehead. The hand holding the rosary was trembling violently.
Gone was his earlier composure; he looked like a completely different person.
“Your Highness.”
He barely managed to speak. His voice cracked.
“What exactly do you want?”
“You know what I’m asking for.”
I leaned back against the chair. I crossed my legs.
“Guardian registration.”
The Cardinal bit his lips. He seemed to be thinking about something. His eyes darted back and forth.
“B-but His Majesty the Emperor…”
“So, if you listen to the Emperor’s words, what will His Majesty give you, Cardinal?”
“…Pardon?”
“What did the Imperial Family promise to give you? Money? Support? Refined stones?”
The Cardinal couldn’t answer. His mouth just opened and closed.
Of course. Because there’s nothing to give.
“They’re not giving you anything?”
I shrugged with a leisurely attitude.
“Squeezing people dry when you have their weakness, then discarding them when they’re no longer needed – that’s a ruler’s virtue.”
I swung my legs that didn’t reach the floor.
“That secret will burst out eventually anyway. The Imperial Family will discard you the moment you’re no longer useful to them. Why do you think those records remain in that classified archive? How do you think I found out about it?”
The Cardinal’s face grew even paler.
“Your Highness, that’s…! That’s blasphemy against His Majesty!”
“You’ve committed blasphemy against God, yet you seem more afraid of His Majesty than of God?”
The Cardinal couldn’t give any response to my words.
“You know it too, Cardinal, that you’ll be discarded once you become useless. Isn’t that why you’ve been desperately trying to stay in the Imperial Family’s good graces?”
I saw it before my regression. That’s exactly what happened. But I didn’t say that.
“At least I understand the virtue of give and take. How about this? I’ll create an escape route for you. Exactly three years from now, I’ll give you time to launder your funds and pull out before the Imperial Family abandons you. By sharing all the information I know.”
The Cardinal lowered his head. He clasped his hands together and seemed to think for a long while. He set down his rosary and brought his hands together. It looked like he was praying, but he was probably calculating.
After a long moment.
The Cardinal raised his head.
“You’ll really bury it?”
“No secret stays buried forever. I can just… buy you some time?”
Besides, ‘burying’ that matter isn’t something I can do anyway.
“Or I could expose it right now. The choice is yours, Cardinal.”
I smiled wickedly and wiggled my toes.
That incident was supposed to explode three years from now anyway. Cardinal Leonard would be dismissed around that time even if I did nothing.
I wasn’t planning to do anything, but because of that, it was as good as giving this Cardinal three years.
‘This ended up being more like blackmail with a touch of fraud rather than persuasion.’
Well, it didn’t matter.
Blackmail suited my nature better than persuasion anyway.
A long silence passed.
The Cardinal sighed. It was a deep, long sigh. His shoulders sagged.
“…I understand.”
He finally nodded his head.
That’s how it should be.
“I’ll proceed with the registration process this afternoon.”
“Good.”
I stood up from my seat without any lingering attachment.
And looking back at the Cardinal who was still keeping his head down, I added:
“Listen, don’t trust His Majesty too much.”
“…”
“You’ll get burned badly.”
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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