“Lariessa de Valoa.”
Alfonso's voice was quiet. But she could feel vivid anger inside.
“Don’t cross the line.”
Lariesa was so surprised by the unfamiliar attitude of Prince Alfonso that she stopped the force she was about to use in front of him. But his words were so disappointing! Don't cross the line!
“Not to anyone else, but to me! Are you telling me to draw a line and not cross it? I am the woman who will be your rain! The two kingdoms are negotiating!”
“And the signature section of that contract is still blank.”
Alfonso clenched his teeth against the harsher words he had intended to say to Lariesa, and conveyed his message in refined language.
“Don’t act like you did anything.”
The shocked Lariesa stumbled and lost her balance. This was a sandstone building, and if it had fallen, it could have caused serious injury. But Alfonso just crossed his arms and looked at Lariesa coldly.
'Oh my God, I almost fell, but you didn't even catch me...!'
Her heart sank. Lariesa had come to the Etruscan kingdom over the high Prenoyac Mountains in her frail body just to meet Prince Alfonso. She was also of noble birth. Although she was not a direct descendant of the royal family, perhaps this negotiation would grant her the right to the throne. In principle, a person with the right to the throne did not cross borders. When she thought about this, Laryesa exploded with anger.
“We are destined to be together! My father and loyal guardian of the royal family, the Grand Duke Odo, and His Majesty Philip IV of Gallico want it!”
She had also heard about the terms of negotiation presented by the Etruscan Kingdom in the marriage negotiations.
“Do you really think the Etruscans could establish themselves in the central continent without the cannons of Gallico?”
Boom!
The corridors of the sandstone Winter Palace in Taranto shook with a shattering noise. Alfonso, unable to bring himself to hit the woman, stomped his feet in anger.
“Lariesa de Valoa.”
He glared fiercely at Princess Lariesa and said.
“You are not the daughter of a monarch. You are just a card on the negotiating table.”
Lariesa had expected something along the lines of, "Don't interfere with me until I'm married." She was about to say, "As time goes by, you will eventually be mine, so don't be so mean." But Lariesa was startled by the anger that came from a direction she had never expected, and she stared blankly at Alfonso with her eyes wide open.
“No one can say that to the Etruscan royal family. I have no idea not only your proud father but also your 8th cousin, Philip IV, whom you are so proud of.”
The story was that even the Grand Duke of Valoa or the King of Gallico could not command, or even threaten, the Etruscan heir to the throne.
“A sovereign country is not dependent on other countries. The sovereignty of a country can only be represented by the monarch. It is impossible for you, who is not a monarch, nor even my people, to command me that the Etruscans should be like this or the Etruscans should be like that, no matter what flimsy authority you have on your back.”
Alfonso glared at Lariesa with eyes shining blue with anger.
“The reason I do not immediately beat the Grand Duchess and drive her out of the border is, firstly, because you are a guest of the Etruscan, and secondly, because I feel sorry for you.”
Ever since Alfonso decided to reject Lariesa, he felt sorry for her. Anyway, she believed in the marriage talk with the woman who lived in another country and came all the way to this far away country. If the marriage talks don't go through, her reputation will be tarnished.
“I hope this little sympathy disappears before my eyes before it fades away, and the next time we meet, I hope you come with a good understanding of where the ‘line’ is.”
Alfonso looked straight at Lariesa and spoke clearly.
“Grand Duchess Lariesa de Valoa, who is not yet my fiancée.”
And then he took long strides and left the hallway. In the hallway of the red sandstone Winter Palace of Taranto, there was only a devastated girl standing there.
“Lariesa de Valoa.”
He glared fiercely at Princess Lariesa and said.
“You are not the daughter of a monarch. You are just a card on the negotiating table.”
Lariesa had expected something along the lines of, "Don't interfere with me until I'm married." She was about to say, "As time goes by, you will eventually be mine, so don't be so mean." But Lariesa was startled by the anger that came from a direction she had never expected, and she stared blankly at Alfonso with her eyes wide open.
“No one can say that to the Etruscan royal family. I have no idea not only your proud father but also your 8th cousin, Philip IV, whom you are so proud of.”
The story was that even the Grand Duke of Valoa or the King of Gallico could not command, or even threaten, the Etruscan heir to the throne.
“A sovereign country is not dependent on other countries. The sovereignty of a country can only be represented by the monarch. It is impossible for you, who is not a monarch, nor even my people, to command me that the Etruscans should be like this or the Etruscans should be like that, no matter what flimsy authority you have on your back.”
Alfonso glared at Lariesa with eyes shining blue with anger.
“The reason I do not immediately beat the Grand Duchess and drive her out of the border is, firstly, because you are a guest of the Etruscan, and secondly, because I feel sorry for you.”
Ever since Alfonso decided to reject Lariesa, he felt sorry for her. Anyway, she believed in the marriage talk with the woman who lived in another country and came all the way to this far away country. If the marriage talks don't go through, her reputation will be tarnished.
“I hope this little sympathy disappears before my eyes before it fades away, and the next time we meet, I hope you come with a good understanding of where the ‘line’ is.”
Alfonso looked straight at Lariesa and spoke clearly.
“Grand Duchess Lariesa de Valoa, who is not yet my fiancée.”
And then he took long strides and left the hallway. In the hallway of the red sandstone Winter Palace of Taranto, there was only a devastated girl standing there.
***
The ‘amazing secret’ that Maleta had promised had not been revealed at all. It wasn't because Maleta was trying to be sparing with her words, but because she couldn't control the intensity and volume, so she was pouring them all out at once.
“Lady Isabella doesn’t have a clothing store where she does business these days. Oh, she has a dressing room, but she gets her headdress from somewhere else... How angry she must be when her business with the Collezione clothing store is rejected! Just before she was imprisoned, it seemed like she had at least moved to Al Peto, but the Marquis de Baldessar was a regular at Al Peto, so when the time slots overlapped, she got angry because they didn't take reservations! Oh, they say she has been acting evil in her room since she was imprisoned, but I deliberately don't go near her...”
It was hard to understand because she was talking nonsense, and even if Ariadne opened her ears and listened, it wasn't very informative.
“Miss Isabella has small breasts. It’s made of breast pockets and is pure cotton!”
There were some interesting stories occasionally, but that was it.
“Master Ippolito likes buttocks. If I lie down and crawl like this...”
There was also some completely unnecessary information. Her brother's sleeping preferences, were something Ariadne would never need to know. Sancha frowned behind her.
“Master Ippolito, his penis is small, perhaps because his father is different. It’s so small—when he swings it around and gets all cocky, I really want to hit him!”
Ariadne, who had been listening to Maleta's story as it flowed, suddenly interrupted her.
“Wait a minute, say that again.”
“Master Ippolito, his penis is small...?”
Maleta thought Ariadne wanted a specific number, so she raised her hand to give an estimate. Ariadne stopped Maleta again, who was spreading her thumb and middle finger to about half a span.
“No! Not that, but before that.”
“What was it... Oh, Master Ippolito has a different father?”
“Yeah! That. Tell me more about it.”
Maleta squinted her eyes. Strictly speaking, no one had ever told her that 'Ippolito's father was not Cardinal de Mare'. It was something Maleta had pieced together from the stories she had heard here and there, but she couldn't quite remember who had told her what exactly to make that conclusion. She glanced at Ariadne.
“Lady Isabella doesn’t have a clothing store where she does business these days. Oh, she has a dressing room, but she gets her headdress from somewhere else... How angry she must be when her business with the Collezione clothing store is rejected! Just before she was imprisoned, it seemed like she had at least moved to Al Peto, but the Marquis de Baldessar was a regular at Al Peto, so when the time slots overlapped, she got angry because they didn't take reservations! Oh, they say she has been acting evil in her room since she was imprisoned, but I deliberately don't go near her...”
It was hard to understand because she was talking nonsense, and even if Ariadne opened her ears and listened, it wasn't very informative.
“Miss Isabella has small breasts. It’s made of breast pockets and is pure cotton!”
There were some interesting stories occasionally, but that was it.
“Master Ippolito likes buttocks. If I lie down and crawl like this...”
There was also some completely unnecessary information. Her brother's sleeping preferences, were something Ariadne would never need to know. Sancha frowned behind her.
“Master Ippolito, his penis is small, perhaps because his father is different. It’s so small—when he swings it around and gets all cocky, I really want to hit him!”
Ariadne, who had been listening to Maleta's story as it flowed, suddenly interrupted her.
“Wait a minute, say that again.”
“Master Ippolito, his penis is small...?”
Maleta thought Ariadne wanted a specific number, so she raised her hand to give an estimate. Ariadne stopped Maleta again, who was spreading her thumb and middle finger to about half a span.
“No! Not that, but before that.”
“What was it... Oh, Master Ippolito has a different father?”
“Yeah! That. Tell me more about it.”
Maleta squinted her eyes. Strictly speaking, no one had ever told her that 'Ippolito's father was not Cardinal de Mare'. It was something Maleta had pieced together from the stories she had heard here and there, but she couldn't quite remember who had told her what exactly to make that conclusion. She glanced at Ariadne.
Miss Ariadne was extremely focused. It was the first time she had shown interest since she had entered the room today. She had to catch this.
"That is... I overheard a conversation between Master Ippolito and Madame Lucrezia, and Master Ippolito asked, 'So who is my father?' He said so.”
The question Ippolito actually asked was who Arabella's father was, but in Maleta's mind, it was mixed up with Lucrezia's answer, causing confusion.
“Madame Lucrezia slapped Master Ippolito and said, ‘Who am I to go through all this trouble for? She got angry and said something similar to ‘Shut up and live!’”
The details were wrong, but considering the overall context, the answer wasn't that wrong.
“Didn’t you hear who it was?!”
“No, I only stop there...”
Maleta, who was afraid that Ariadne would crush her when she heard this, rolled her black eyes.
“Miss. If you take me back to the mansion, I will stick close to Master Ippolito and try to find out.”
Ariadne looked out the window for a moment. Maleta was not yet able to look at the situation she was in objectively. Ippolito probably never wants to even look at Maleta's face again, and considering Lucrezia's temper, it's a miracle that she survived and sent her out of the house.
"That is... I overheard a conversation between Master Ippolito and Madame Lucrezia, and Master Ippolito asked, 'So who is my father?' He said so.”
The question Ippolito actually asked was who Arabella's father was, but in Maleta's mind, it was mixed up with Lucrezia's answer, causing confusion.
“Madame Lucrezia slapped Master Ippolito and said, ‘Who am I to go through all this trouble for? She got angry and said something similar to ‘Shut up and live!’”
The details were wrong, but considering the overall context, the answer wasn't that wrong.
“Didn’t you hear who it was?!”
“No, I only stop there...”
Maleta, who was afraid that Ariadne would crush her when she heard this, rolled her black eyes.
“Miss. If you take me back to the mansion, I will stick close to Master Ippolito and try to find out.”
Ariadne looked out the window for a moment. Maleta was not yet able to look at the situation she was in objectively. Ippolito probably never wants to even look at Maleta's face again, and considering Lucrezia's temper, it's a miracle that she survived and sent her out of the house.
When Ariadne heard that Maleta had been taken away by Lucrezia's new maid and her household men, she thought there was a half chance that Maleta had died inside the house as she sent her out.
“You were lucky to have escaped from that house with your life.”
Ariadne reminded Maleta. But again, Maleta only read the negative side of half a glass of water. Maleta, realizing that Ariadne had no intention of taking her back to the mansion, begged desperately.
“You may not trust me, Young Lady, and I understand that. But I was the maid who helped you adjust to the de Mare mansion when you first came here. This time, I will take good care of you! I will be loyal! I can do it!”
There was also a question of loyalty. But now the biggest blind spot in her plan was the fact that Ippolito would not have her by her side no matter what Maleta did to him. However, there was no need to correct Maleta’s illusion.
“There are conditions.”
At Ariadne's words, Maleta raised her head and shouted passionately.
“Yes, yes! Anything!”
“You, do you remember when my hook broke at the debutante ball?”
Maleta's face turned pale. Ariadne continued speaking with the kindest expression on her face.
“I’m not here to punish you. That was Isabella’s doing, wasn’t it?”
Up to this point, it was possible to agree. Maleta nodded enthusiastically.
"You're right! That's right! Lady Isabella used Lady Ariadne's 'hook'! She put it through Maria!”
Ariadne's smile became a little brighter.
“Was Maria in on the same thing?”
Maleta realized she had made a mistake.
“No, no. Maria just went with what was recommended. She took it without even knowing what it was.”
The only person who could testify was Maleta. If there were two, the price would be lower. Isn't irreplaceability the only quality that can command high wages? In some ways, Maleta was very smart. And it was also true that Maria didn't know the whole story.
“I am the only one who knows that Lady Isabella ordered me to ‘make a hook out of silver mixed with lead!’”
'Maria didn't even see the end of Lady Isabella's dress,' Maleta added.
"I will testify. I will testify in front of His Eminence Cardinal de Mare, without leaving out a single detail!”
Ariadne laughed. Maleta, this guy is so talkative.
“Instead, please make me Master Ippolito’s wife!”
'...The assessment that words make sense is canceled.'
Ariadne almost touched her forehead. Maleta was too greedy. No matter how hard she flew and crawled, it was impossible. It was obvious that Ippolito would fight to the death. But there was another, more important fact. The long-held dream of Cardinal de Mare and Lucrezia was to marry Ippolito to a titled heiress. Then, de Mare’s name would be given eternal lands and titles. Cardinal de Mare and his wife would never recognize Maleta as Ippolito’s first wife. But still, there was no need to tell Maleta everything straight away.
“I will decide based on your performance.”
Ariadne laughed heartily.
“If the results I want come true, I will tell my father that I must marry you to Ippolito. I am currently holding all the authority in the household, so I am like the mistress.”
Ideally, both parties should reach a satisfactory outcome in one transaction. Only then can transactions continue. However, it was an effort that only needed to be done with clients who were worth continuing to do high-quality business with. Ariadne had no intention of seeing Maleta face-to-face for so long.
“Think about how you can best persuade the Cardinal with your testimony.”
“You were lucky to have escaped from that house with your life.”
Ariadne reminded Maleta. But again, Maleta only read the negative side of half a glass of water. Maleta, realizing that Ariadne had no intention of taking her back to the mansion, begged desperately.
“You may not trust me, Young Lady, and I understand that. But I was the maid who helped you adjust to the de Mare mansion when you first came here. This time, I will take good care of you! I will be loyal! I can do it!”
There was also a question of loyalty. But now the biggest blind spot in her plan was the fact that Ippolito would not have her by her side no matter what Maleta did to him. However, there was no need to correct Maleta’s illusion.
“There are conditions.”
At Ariadne's words, Maleta raised her head and shouted passionately.
“Yes, yes! Anything!”
“You, do you remember when my hook broke at the debutante ball?”
Maleta's face turned pale. Ariadne continued speaking with the kindest expression on her face.
“I’m not here to punish you. That was Isabella’s doing, wasn’t it?”
Up to this point, it was possible to agree. Maleta nodded enthusiastically.
"You're right! That's right! Lady Isabella used Lady Ariadne's 'hook'! She put it through Maria!”
Ariadne's smile became a little brighter.
“Was Maria in on the same thing?”
Maleta realized she had made a mistake.
“No, no. Maria just went with what was recommended. She took it without even knowing what it was.”
The only person who could testify was Maleta. If there were two, the price would be lower. Isn't irreplaceability the only quality that can command high wages? In some ways, Maleta was very smart. And it was also true that Maria didn't know the whole story.
“I am the only one who knows that Lady Isabella ordered me to ‘make a hook out of silver mixed with lead!’”
'Maria didn't even see the end of Lady Isabella's dress,' Maleta added.
"I will testify. I will testify in front of His Eminence Cardinal de Mare, without leaving out a single detail!”
Ariadne laughed. Maleta, this guy is so talkative.
“Instead, please make me Master Ippolito’s wife!”
'...The assessment that words make sense is canceled.'
Ariadne almost touched her forehead. Maleta was too greedy. No matter how hard she flew and crawled, it was impossible. It was obvious that Ippolito would fight to the death. But there was another, more important fact. The long-held dream of Cardinal de Mare and Lucrezia was to marry Ippolito to a titled heiress. Then, de Mare’s name would be given eternal lands and titles. Cardinal de Mare and his wife would never recognize Maleta as Ippolito’s first wife. But still, there was no need to tell Maleta everything straight away.
“I will decide based on your performance.”
Ariadne laughed heartily.
“If the results I want come true, I will tell my father that I must marry you to Ippolito. I am currently holding all the authority in the household, so I am like the mistress.”
Ideally, both parties should reach a satisfactory outcome in one transaction. Only then can transactions continue. However, it was an effort that only needed to be done with clients who were worth continuing to do high-quality business with. Ariadne had no intention of seeing Maleta face-to-face for so long.
“Think about how you can best persuade the Cardinal with your testimony.”
Ariadne said to Maleta.
“I’ll make room for you in the house. I promise.”
“I’ll make room for you in the house. I promise.”
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