Chapter 67 - The Libertine's Secret Love Partner
Sister, I'm The Queen In This Life
What Isabella's eyes, shining in the dark, caught was another sparkling object.
Where all the main characters left, a sparkling red ruby and green topaz Fleur-de-Lys bracelet was left behind. Isabella looked around and quickly ran out to pick up the bracelet. She then hid herself in the garden again.
It was something she wanted so badly, but she didn't know it would come into her hands like this. She thought that she might be questioned later about why she had this bracelet, but Isabella put it aside to think about it later.
The jewel she wanted is right in front of her, but there is nothing to see?
Isabella was not a materialistic person enough for her to leave it behind.
'Strange luck.'
Isabella stroked the bracelet with her hand. As expected, there was no way the item she picked up was okay. As it fell, the six legs that were supposed to hold the red ruby in the center shook loosely, as if the eggshell had been damaged. Isabella instinctively raised her thumb and gently pressed the red ruby. Then Ruby was thrown out of her egg cunt by the force of Isabella's fingers.
"Oh!"
Isabella was startled by that, picked up the ruby that had fallen on the floor, and carefully placed it in her purse along with the bracelet.
"It's annoying."
After the bracelet broke, Isabella suddenly felt dirty. Isabella had evidently considered herself lucky to have picked up the bracelet by this time and was on her way back to the grand ball, but as she left the remote Queen's Palace and walked alone through the garden, she became furious.
'I can't believe I'm so lucky just because I picked up a bracelet that wasn't even in good condition! Since when did Isabella de Mare become so mean?'
The Prince's attention was something Isabella had only dreamed of, Isabella's greatest wish in life was to become Crown Princess. It wasn't that she didn't try. She always carried Prince Alfonso's handkerchief, which she had previously obtained from Ariadne, in an attempt to somehow tie things up with the Prince.
But her half-sister, who was no better than Isabella, was a country bumpkin and wasn't pretty, took it all away. She grabbed the Prince's attention, and even Count Cesare's attention, which was naturally hers! She had to be that lucky to be lucky!
'Count Cesare's marriage proposal was originally mine!'
Although Count Cesare never sent an official letter to Isabella, he continued to send comments to her father, Cardinal de Mare, about marriage with Isabella. The intention to propose was not just Isabella's mental victory.
As the stories became more and more specific and the tone became harsher, the de Mare family also hurriedly brought Ariadne up from the Bergamo farm. No matter how you think about it, Count Cesare's courtship ended abruptly right after or around Ariadne's debutante ball.
As her thoughts reached that point, Isabella felt a strong anger welling up deep within her heart. When she first realized that the Prince was interested in Ariadne at the debutante ball, she was first embarrassed, and only then, offended. It is said that at that time, she did not feel the anger burning from the realm of her instincts like she does now.
'Did I like Count Cesare that much?
Isabella thought for a moment and then shook her head. This was not a feeling of fondness for Count Cesare, but rather a feeling of loss for those with vested interests who had been robbed of what they had. It was good to have a Prince, but it was useless to have one, having Count Cesare taken away was a completely different story.
Uncontrollable anger boiled over like wildfire.
'Damn Ariadne...!'
She feels a little sad when someone else acquires something she didn't originally have.
If others go any further than that, they will end up admiring or jealous of that other person. But if someone took what was mine, it would be a declaration of war. Human beings naturally do not forget the resentment of losing their possessions longer than the death of their father.
'Everything was fine when she wasn't there! What on earth is she doing that makes her look like this?'
Isabella made up her mind. Se would get Count Cesare back. She strengthened her resolve to steal Count Cesare's attention again. She liked the power she had over others. She therefore wanted Prince Alfonso, whose status was nobler than that of Cesare. But now she suddenly became so greedy that Cesare's handsome, sculptural face, his deep blue eyes, his light attitude, and his ability to change the atmosphere around him were unbearable.
"Yes, the only thing is that Count Cesare has no chance of inheriting the throne, but everything else is lacking, right?"
Half of his lineage was indisputably noble, he was financially very wealthy, and he also had a lot of indirect influence that could move others, such as his presence in the social world or his ripple effect. Isabella did not particularly want to have an army, military power, or tax collection rights. She just hoped that others would not ignore her, that there would be no one better than her in the room, and that she would be able to vent her feelings by ignoring others when she felt like it.
'If it's about Count Cesare... He's perfect for me, right?"
All she had to do was to get the man's attention that she once had. And her half-sister, who didn't know the subject, had to be scolded.
'Ariadne, I won't leave you alone!"
***
Ariadne and Alfonso were walking inside the maze-like garden in awkward silence. Ariadne was striding ahead with her quick steps, but she had no destination.
She was just spinning around in a labyrinth-like garden. Alfonso noticed that Ariadne was the guy anywhere in particular, but he patiently followed her steadily, three steps behind her.
"Ari...!"
Alfonso, who had been walking for a while, could not bear the awkward silence and was the first to break the silence.
"Lariesa is the second daughter of the Grand Duke of Valoa. As Cesare said, she visited San Carlo as part of the arranged marriage."
Ariadne, who turned around, did not answer. There was a moment of hellish silence. But Alfonso did not give in and gathered courage and called her name once again.
“Ari.”
The girl who turned her back didn't even move. On the outside Ariadne maintained her composure, but inside her, uncontrollable emotions were churning like a turbulent sea.
"Lariesa"
Ariadne found herself feeling intense jealousy over the fact that Alfonso called the other party in his arranged marriage 'Lariessa' rather than 'Grand Duchess of Valoa' or even 'Grand Duchess Lariesa'.
She bit her lip in embarrassment. What is that?
That's quite possible.
'Emotions are a luxury, emotions are a luxury.'
Ariadne repeated it over and over again. She would never love anyone. In her last life, her love for Cesare became a fetter that consumed her life. She would not repeat the same mistake in this life.
Prince Alfonso was nothing more than a tool. She loves him or something, but she shouldn't have committed herself to him. She couldn't afford it. Everything except survival was secondary.
"Alfonso,"
In response to Ariadne, Alfonso straightened his posture.
"Yes, talk. I'm listening."
He hesitated for a moment and, despite his caution, added another word.
"Are you angry because I didn't tell you about Grand Duchess Lariesa in advance...?"
It took great courage to face and admit that one's actions may have caused discomfort to others. Alfonso was boldly taking a big step forward in his relationship. However, Ariadne, who was only focused on protecting herself by wearing the shell, accepted Alfonso's courage as cowardly bravado.
"Alfonso, why would I be angry about something like that? Aren't we good friends?"
Ariadne turned around and faced Alfonso, but her expression was completely hidden behind the enamel mask. In that state, she answered in the most plain voice she could muster.
"Congratulations on getting married to a good girl. You will become the son-in-law of the Grand Duke of Valoa."
Alfonso had no choice but to keep his mouth shut. He wanted to talk to her.
GrandbDuchess Lariesa is a bit of a strange person, does Ariadne know what she did today?
She doesn't know, he doesn't really want to marry her. If they find out about Grand Duchess Lariesa's personality, wouldn't Father and Father pass on this national wedding to them?
But her hedgehog-like hard thorns were forcefully pushing him away. Were his feelings his own? Was it just his illusion to think he and Ariadne were looking at the same place together? Does she not want him?
The person who was special to Alfonso for the first time in his life was now telling him that she was not that special person to him.
Alfonso was always in the opposite situation. The so-called 'golden Prince', with his handsome appearance, gentle personality, outstanding achievements, and noble status. People who didn't even know his name chanted his name, craved his attention, and wanted his affection. He had many people who crossed the line. On the contrary, he was never once refused a favor, no matter how trivial. So Alfonso had never even imagined a situation like 0this.
Alfonso forgot what she said and just looked at her. In a situation like this, is it the virtue to step aside like a gentleman and respect her wishes, or...?
Alfonso clenched his fists.
***
The more Isabella thought about it, the more angry she became. Something was definitely wrong with her. There was no doubt that Ariadne was using a strange trick. Ariadne was sucking honey while holding bread in both hands, and she was happy because she had only picked up a bracelet. It was something that could never have happened.
"That treacherous girl must be acting like a fox!"
Did she mean to launch a vulgar hand-to-hand attack? It certainly must have been so. The only thing to show off to Ariadne was her body, and there was no way to explain this abnormal situation other than a hand-to-hand attack.
'Prince Alfonso and Count Cesarenare not even interested in me who is so pretty and cute, but they are hanging on to the ugly Ariadne!'
This could not have happened under fair competition. There must be a conspiracy that Isabella doesn't know about. Isabella was angry at herself for picking up and carrying the bracelet, which she considered insignificant, to the extent that she did not even realize that her Ariadne was gone.
Should she break this bracelet and throw it away...?
It was then.
"Ah! Ah!"
"Uhm, stay like that."
A strangely sticky moan was heard in the ears of Isabella, who was furious. It was the voices of a man and a woman.
'What is this again?'
Isabella muffled her footsteps and approached the source of the sound. It was a day when she discovered a lot of strange things. There was a small bench in the clearing that she peeked through the grass, and on it, a man and a woman, their clothes disheveled, were tangled together.
She could see the woman's fair skin, and the man was about to take a stab at the woman.
'OMG!'
Isabella covered her mouth. It wasn't just because the man and woman were entangled in the manly pose. The woman had her mask on and it was hard to see because it was hidden underneath the man, but the profile of the man, who was heavily intoxicated and was hastily trying to undo his clothes, was clearly the Marquis of Campa.
'There's a crazy woman playing around with that Marquis de Campa?"
If Cesare de Como was famous in San Carlo as a 'bad man', the Marquis de Campa, in his late 30s, was famous as a 'bad man'. As the only heir to the wealthy writer of Campa, he married a noble noblewoman as soon as he inherited the family. The Marchioness of Campa, who had been renowned for being obedient and faithful during her maiden days, did not last more than a year after marrying him. She died. There were sordid rumors circulating about the cause of her death. Nevertheless, since he could not leave the position of mistress of the family empty without an heir, the Marquis of Campa soon looked for a position for his second wife.
While marriage talks were in full swing, an incident occurred where the Marquis of Campa was watching a major service in the royal palace and a nobleman sitting next to him molested his youngest daughter. She was a young girl before her debut. Because of this, the child's father, Count Rinaldi, challenged the Marquis of Campa to a duel. Although Count Rinaldi has now retired to a secondary position, he was a martial artist with deep knowledge of original swordsmanship.
The Marquis of Campa narrowly escaped the duel by giving Count Rinaldi a large sum of money, enough to buy a luxurious house in downtown San Carlo, as a consolation gift. In the end, the Marquis of Campa's marriage talks broke down and he married the daughter of a fallen nobleman who was almost a commoner.
This time she was a young wife, sixteen years younger than him.. The Marquis de Campa's second wife died of puerperal fever in childbirth two days before her fifteenth birthday. This time, there was a rumor that the Marquis de Campa had 'killed' his young wife by contracting syphilis while traveling in and out of Carampan. The credibility of the rumor was very high. That's because, just a few days after the death of the second Marchioness of Campa, the Marquis of Campa beat up Cortizan in Carampan.
This time, he was caught on the spot for using violence while trying to tell the truth, so he was in no position to get away with it. He again prevented this incident by giving a large amount of compensation to the brothel pimp.
After that, no one invited the Marquis de Campa to any social events. He was excluded not only from the tea parties of noble ladies but also from the salons of gentlemen. Naturally, he did not call the Marquis de Campa, even at the royal court.
The Marquis de Campa was unable to attend the royal ball, but today was a large-scale masked ball, so he seemed to have managed to hide his identity and blend with the crowd.
Isabella rubbed her eyes again and looked at the man and woman entwined. If this was rape, no matter how character-broken Isabella was, she was willing to save the woman by screaming.
However, no matter how you look at it, judging from the woman's sweet voice and coquettish gestures, it seemed like she was enjoying it even more. Judging by her size and body line, she was not a minor who had been tricked into being seduced but was clearly an adult woman.
'No, who on earth is that crazy woman?'
Isabella squinted her eyes and tried to see the woman's face. The woman was wearing a black 'Moretta Mutto' mask, and as she let out her puffy voice, she lost the clasp over her mouth, revealing her face.
'Crazy!'
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