Sister I am the Queen in This Life [Novel] Chapter 165

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Translator: Harry Potta
Chapter: 165
Chapter Title: A Promise for the Future
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After Prince Alfonso’s departure, Ariadne lived more diligently than ever.

She rose sharp at the appointed time and forced herself to eat, whether her stomach agreed or not. Vomiting later was a problem for later.

She adhered to a precise schedule, reviewing the day’s tasks, attending every unmissable social event, and carving out any remaining time to study.

Lately, she had been poring over theological texts, focusing on the sections about miracles and wonders. It was a part of theology often dismissed as historical apocrypha or stories meant to edify children and the uneducated, rather than for its academic value, but she wasn’t reading for the sake of theological enlightenment anyway.

‘A bright halo descending upon my fingertips.’

The glittering halo Ariadne had seen continued to shimmer faintly even after settling on the tips of her right fingers. To an onlooker, it was a sparkle so faint it might be mistaken for decorative diamond dust sprinkled on her nails.

But other than Ariadne, no one else could see the light.

- “What? I don’t see any difference between your right hand and your left, my lady…”

Starting with Sancha, she had shown it to her people like Anna and Giuseppe, to the priests of the Grand Basilica of San Ercole—she didn’t even bother with Cardinal de Mare, who seemed to lack any faith whatsoever—and even to an old Gypsy fortune teller in Campo de’ Spezia renowned for her skills. No one could see the halo on her fingertips.

‘What could have caused this?’

It wasn't painful or uncomfortable. But she had a feeling it might be useful for something.

*If it’s something that shines white, it must be a healing power!* Thinking this, she went to the stables and held her fingertips out to an injured horse, but nothing happened. It didn't seem to grant her the ability to befriend animals, either. She only managed to annoy a temperamental horse and nearly got kicked by its hind legs.

She gave up on becoming a fairytale princess and decided to set aside the unsolvable mystery for now.

‘While Alfonso is away, I will do what I can.’

He would fight his battles. She would fight hers while waiting for him. Ariadne vowed that she would not be ashamed of herself on the day she met Alfonso again.

The harvest season for the autumn-sown winter wheat was approaching. The great plague would break out in late summer.

If they were lucky, they might be able to harvest the spring wheat before the plague erupted, but taking a conservative view, the winter wheat harvested this spring would likely be the last full harvest San Carlo would see for the next two years.

‘I have to buy up as much as I can.’

Ariadne summoned Giuseppe. He soon came up and knocked on the study door.

“Come in, Giuseppe. How is the search for the warehouses I asked about?”

“We can store about 50,000 cantaro at the Bergamo farm. I also found a warehouse outside the walls of San Carlo that can hold 150,000 cantaro. The annual rent for that one is a mere 20 ducats.”

“Are there any other options?”

Giuseppe, who had expected Ariadne to naturally choose the first option, hesitated slightly before speaking. He thought the first option was far superior to the second.

“I looked for warehouses within the city walls as well, but if we go with that, we’ll have to store the grain in two separate locations. One can hold 30,000 cantaro, the other about 120,000. But the rent is quite expensive for a warehouse, so I’m not sure it’s a good idea…”

At the mention of two locations, Ariadne wrinkled her nose. If the warehouses were separate, her people would have to be split into two groups to guard the grain in an emergency.

But outside the city walls was not an option. A month after the Black Death broke out, law and order would surely collapse, and food would become the most precious commodity in all of San Carlo. There was no guarantee that grain stored in an outlying warehouse wouldn't become an easy target for looters.

“What is the rent?”

“The smaller one is 80 ducats a year, and the larger one is 130 ducats…”

“That’s almost the price of a storefront.”

A successful one at that, Ariadne added silently. Giuseppe, wondering when his lady had become so knowledgeable about the market rates for commercial properties, continued his report.

“The smaller one is something like a storefront, but the larger one is more of a mansion, which is why it’s so expensive. The first is a warehouse in Centro Anima, and the second is a nobleman’s residence in Bocca della Giano. There aren’t any truly large-scale warehouses inside the walls of San Carlo.”

Bocca della Giano was a high-class residential district for the great nobility, where the de Mare estate was also located. Situated on high ground with many gentle hills, it was secure, surrounded by the estates of other powerful nobles. Centro Anima was a bustling commercial district in the very heart of San Carlo, situated along the Tiber River.

“The smaller one is particularly expensive because it’s right on the river, making it convenient for loading cargo onto boats.”

Giuseppe looked apologetic for not finding a suitable warehouse in a cheaper area like Campo de’ Spezia or Comune Nuova, but to Ariadne, his words were welcome news. The small warehouse Giuseppe had found was perfect.

From the small warehouse, they could quickly move grain via the waterways in an emergency, and the large warehouse was perfectly situated for defense.

“Let’s go with those.”

“You mean the first option, my lady?”

Ariadne laughed heartily at the bewildered Giuseppe.

“No, the second. Go and pay the deposit right now. With the remaining funds, I’ll hire men to guard the warehouses, so look into that as well.”

“Will external hires suffice, or should they be our own people?”

Ariadne considered for a moment.

“I only need them for about two years. If there are suitable external hires, we can employ them. But their loyalty must be absolute.”

If security collapsed and food became more precious than gold, it would all be for naught if the guards themselves robbed the warehouse and fled.

“Sign the contract for the warehouses immediately, and as for the personnel, look into some options and report back to me.”

“Yes, my lady.”

After dismissing Giuseppe, Ariadne began to rack her brain. The warehouses were secured, and Giuseppe would arrange for the personnel. All that remained was the gold to purchase the wheat. This was something Ariadne had to procure herself.

“Where am I going to get this money?”

She had no cash on hand, so she would have to borrow it. She needed a minimum of 20,000 ducats, and if she wanted to spend freely, 100,000.

But she had collateral.

‘The Heart of the Deep Blue Sea.’

It could fetch at least 24,000 ducats, 40,000 if she got a generous offer, or perhaps even more.

However, the Heart of the Deep Blue Sea had one fatal weakness.

‘If anyone finds out I used it as collateral, or if, by some chance, I lose ownership of it…’

Leo III would not let her off lightly.

‘I need a trustworthy merchant.’

The most prominent merchant she knew who could arrange such a large sum was Camelia’s father, Baron Castiglione.

But could she truly trust him?

“I’ll have to find out.”

Ariadne rose from her seat.

***

Aboard his white horse, Prince Alfonso slowly made his way north. A full day had passed since he left San Carlo.

‘Ariadne.’

He was glad he could see her before he left. It was hardly a laughing matter, but Alfonso lowered his head and smiled slightly.

When he first heard her voice, he thought it was an auditory hallucination. Yet, even thinking it was a figment of his imagination, he couldn't help but turn back.

The sheer elation Alfonso felt when he saw her standing on the city wall.

‘She also… me…’

The realization that Ariadne had not completely closed her heart, that this affection was mutual, pulled a trigger in Alfonso’s own heart. It felt as if fireworks were exploding in his head.

From a distance, Ariadne had looked disheveled from rushing over, but to Alfonso’s eyes, it wasn't the least bit jarring.

No, in fact, it made her all the more lovely. The thought that she, always so meticulous about her appearance, had rushed to the city wall without even properly preparing for the day was both pitiable and endearing.

‘I must finish everything quickly and return.’

The journey from San Carlo to Montpellier would take about a month for a party with carriages. Riding at full speed could cut the time in half, but the Prinoiac Mountains stood in the way, making it practically impossible. Alfonso gazed at the long road ahead with a sense of frustration.

“Your Highness, shall we rest here for the night?”

His aide, Bernardino, reported.

“Already?”

“This is the last town we’ll pass today. If we go any further, we’ll have to camp in the open.”

Alfonso nodded reluctantly.

The prince’s retinue was modest. It consisted of nine of his personal knights, his aide Bernardino, fifty Royal Guard knights assigned by the king, Count Marquez, and a few palace servants and laborers to carry the baggage.

- “I’ll be back in a flash, why would I need a lot of luggage!”

That had been Leo III’s bold declaration. In the end, they had set off with their belongings packed sparsely into three carriages. But Alfonso thought his father’s prediction was overly optimistic.

‘Can I really return as quickly as my father thinks?’

The prince shook his head, clearing his thoughts. Worrying now was pointless. He would only know what would happen in Gallico when he got there.

“Your Highness. You seem to have much on your mind.”

A sturdy, dappled horse pulled up alongside Alfonso’s magnificent white steed.

“Sir Manfredi.”

It was Sir Antonio de Manfredi, who had been acting as the leader of the knights ever since Raphael de Valdesal had left their ranks.

He was the second son of Count Manfredi, a young knight from a prestigious family who had joined the military since the family title would go to his older brother.

“The more you dwell on it, the more of a headache it becomes. Let’s try to take it easy.”

Alfonso smiled faintly and tightened his grip on the reins.

“You’re right.”

“I’ll be worked to the bone if Sir Elko doesn’t return soon.”

Since Sir Elko, who had always stuck close to Alfonso and handled all manner of unpleasant tasks, had been taken to the Kingdom of Gallico, all the miscellaneous chores had fallen to Sir Manfredi. Once something of a libertine, he was now unexpectedly swamped with work.

“You won’t find another person who wishes for Sir Elko’s safe return more than I do.”

“Weren’t the two of you not on good terms?”

Sir Manfredi, born into a noble family and highly sociable, and Sir Elko, of humble origins and reluctant to open up to others, were like oil and water.

“At this point, I’d welcome a cat’s paw if it could take some of these chores off my hands, let alone Sir Elko.”

Sir Manfredi chuckled.

“He is a bit like a cat, isn’t he?”

“I’ll keep that a secret from Elko.”

“Your grace is boundless.”

He paused for a moment before adding.

“Even if he’s a fellow I don’t like, we’ve shared our share of hardships together.”

“…”

“…I hope he’s safe.”

“…Yes.”

With a heavy heart, Prince Alfonso gazed at the narrow path leading into the Prinoiac Mountains.