In the swaying carriage up to San Carlo, Princess Lariesa watched Prince Alfonso’s procession with eyes as anxious as the carriage itself. Watching wouldn’t make a difference, but she felt like she would go crazy if she didn’t do that.
“Don’t act like you’re something.”
“You are not the daughter of a monarch, but a mere card on the negotiating table.”
“Lariesa de Valoa, not my fiancée.”
Larissa returned to her lodgings that day and cried bitterly.
'I have offended Prince Alfonso!'
Will this marriage work?
It would be the general mindset of someone in a political marriage to worry about whether or not it would work out. In any case, their relationship was closer to a transaction. However, Lariesa felt even greater pain from the thought that Alfonso would hate her.
'What will Prince Alfonso think of me? Will he look at me with disgust? Will he think I'm bad, ugly, and worse than my sister? Will he feel sorry for me? 'Oh, if only Grand Duchess Susanne had come.' Ha...'
After her thoughts reached that point, she could no longer bear it. Princess Lariesa summoned Count Levien and tormented him until he was on the verge of death.
“Count Levien Bien! What will happen to this marriage now?”
“Your Highness, Your Highness, this is not something you should think about...”
'What will Prince Alfonso think of me? Will he look at me with disgust? Will he think I'm bad, ugly, and worse than my sister? Will he feel sorry for me? 'Oh, if only Grand Duchess Susanne had come.' Ha...'
After her thoughts reached that point, she could no longer bear it. Princess Lariesa summoned Count Levien and tormented him until he was on the verge of death.
“Count Levien Bien! What will happen to this marriage now?”
“Your Highness, Your Highness, this is not something you should think about...”
“What if the Prince has fallen in love with me?!”
Looking at Lariesa, who was sobbing like a horse in pain, Count Levien let out a deep sigh rising from his stomach and began to comfort his lord's daughter.
“Your Highness, this marriage is a political one anyway. The wishes of the parties involved are not important. The person you should please is His Majesty Leo III, not Prince Alfonso.”
“But if we get married, the person I’ll be living with is Prince Alfonso! What if he treats me badly? What if he takes a mistress and doesn’t come to see me as soon as we get married?”
It was a very possible scenario, considering the behavior of Leo III, Prince Alfonso's father. But Count Levien was no amateur. He was already a gifted orator, and under the harsh training of the Princess of Lariesa, he was becoming an expert at pacifying people. He must not feed anxiety.
“The Kingdom of Gallico will never sit idly by. Oh, I know what you’re going to say. But the Kingdom of Gallico 20 years ago and the Kingdom of Gallico now are different.”
The terrible Duke of Oed would not be able to stand by and watch his daughter being singled out for revenge.
“I wonder if the Prince is doing this to me because he has another woman in mind?”
Lariesa had deliberately pushed the black-haired woman she had seen at the masquerade far away from her mind. Of course, Lariesa was not a complete fool. And even the most foolish of women had sharp instincts. There was definitely a sense of foreboding deep in her heart.
However, to calm her down, she would tell everyone she met, "Count Cesare's fiancé is truly lucky," and "Isn't that couple a good-looking one?" Even when her conversation partner was Leo III, she couldn't help but bring up the story of Cardinal de Mare's second daughter and Cesare out loud, and she was so unstable that she couldn't help but believe it as fact.
“Your Grace, Princess Lariesa! Don’t think like that!”
Count Levien strongly denied it. He had to break Lariesa’s cycle of repeating negative thoughts and sinking into sadness. Besides, he was a reasonable man. Prince Alfonso had a reputation in diplomacy for being cautious and thoughtful. He did not think that such a man, especially an heir to the throne who was about to have a political marriage, would be so reckless. If there was a woman he liked, he could have taken her as his mistress.
“Your Grace, Princess Lariesa! Don’t think like that!”
Count Levien strongly denied it. He had to break Lariesa’s cycle of repeating negative thoughts and sinking into sadness. Besides, he was a reasonable man. Prince Alfonso had a reputation in diplomacy for being cautious and thoughtful. He did not think that such a man, especially an heir to the throne who was about to have a political marriage, would be so reckless. If there was a woman he liked, he could have taken her as his mistress.
“Prince Alfonso is not a man without circumstances. And this time, the Grand Duchess has crossed the line. Any man would be angry. It is the worst thing for a man to have his wife criticize him for his abilities or circumstances. It is even more so when the wife is wealthier or more powerful.”
Lariesa cringed even more at the words of blame. When Princess Lariesa sank deeper into herself instead of getting angry, Count Levien realized his mistake and hurriedly comforted her.
“Poor Princess, don’t be too sad. Is there anything in this world that cannot be undone?”
Count Levien desperately recalled the virtues of the Grand Duchess of Larriesa.
“Isn’t the Grand Duchess a kind person?”
It was a somewhat depressing reality that the only thing one could say to praise the virtues of a marriageable young woman was 'kind', but in reality, she was, to put it nicely, affectionate and at least generous to those she liked.
“How about praising Prince Alfonso a lot and taking good care of him?”
The best strategy a woman can adopt when she can't get a man to like her rationally is devotion. The more excellent the man's character, the better this strategy works. The moment regret turns to pity, even a woman without rational charm can find a place in a man's heart.
“Marriage is a done deal anyway. Just settle down next to him and treat him well for a long time. Then, the husband usually opens his heart to his wife. Prince Alfonso is a good person. I’m sure you two will become a good couple.”
Even after preaching up to this point, Count Levien, who still felt strangely uneasy, added a word for everyone's safety.
“And from now on, there should be no groundless suspicions or endless jealousy. Those are poisonous to relationships.”
Having obtained the comfort of having the answer set by the machine by robbing Count Levien like this, Princess Lariesa faithfully followed Count Levien’s advice. She was not the type of person who listened to others well, but the clash with Prince Alfonso that day was extremely shocking for Lariesa.
Not being loved by the person she loved was like the end of her world. Living in a world of black and white, Lariesa treated Prince Alfonso with all her heart and all her strength. However, from that day on, Prince Alfonso never showed more than the minimum courtesy required by social norms. Watching Princess Lariesa sitting in her carriage, going back and forth between heaven and hell, or more precisely, sitting in the inferno of her own making, Count Levien carefully brought up a story to cheer her up.
“Your Highness, have you heard that there will be a spring festival when you go up to San Carlo?”
“Spring Festival?”
“Yes, there are balls and street festivals. Young men and women become the daffodil spirits and spring nymphs and become the mascots of the festival.”
He whispered to Princess Lariesa, who had a puzzled expression on her face.
“I have received word from the Etruscan staff. They want you to prepare yourself for the ball as Prince Alfonso’s partner.”
March 25th was the feast day of the Annunciation, commemorating the conception of Gon. In addition to the religious feast of the Annunciation on March 25th, San Carlo held a grand traditional spring festival for a week starting seven days before the Annunciation.
“Your Highness, have you heard that there will be a spring festival when you go up to San Carlo?”
“Spring Festival?”
“Yes, there are balls and street festivals. Young men and women become the daffodil spirits and spring nymphs and become the mascots of the festival.”
He whispered to Princess Lariesa, who had a puzzled expression on her face.
“I have received word from the Etruscan staff. They want you to prepare yourself for the ball as Prince Alfonso’s partner.”
March 25th was the feast day of the Annunciation, commemorating the conception of Gon. In addition to the religious feast of the Annunciation on March 25th, San Carlo held a grand traditional spring festival for a week starting seven days before the Annunciation.
San Carlo prepared for the spring flower festival by planting tulips and daffodils in each square by region. San Carlo had countless squares, each of which had a well at its center and served as the center of the community. The local residents chose a young man, the 'Daffodil Spirit', and a beautiful girl, the 'Fountain Nymph', for each square and presented them with a laurel crown and a bouquet of tulips. The nobles considered it an honor to have their daughter become the 'Debutante of the Year' at the debutante ball held every April, but for commoners, becoming the Fountain Nymph at the spring festival was the greatest honor.
It was a fun festival where the streets were filled with people asking who the fairies of the square would be this year. Even if you weren't a handsome man or woman who would be a candidate for a fairy or spirit, there was a lot to enjoy at the 'Spring Festival'. The square and the alleys leading to it were filled with food stalls and street vendors selling food and souvenirs. People enjoyed the festival in small groups, enjoying snacks and flower bouquets.
“The fairy of the spring water, did you say that I would become the fairy of the spring water?”
Larissa could not hide her excitement and asked Count Levien.
“The spring water fairy is chosen by the commoners, so they don’t select it separately at the palace ball held on the first day of the festival. After all, isn’t the core of the spring festival the palace ball held by the nobles?”
He skillfully appeased Princess Lariesa.
“It has been confirmed that the Grand Duchess will be dancing the first waltz at the ball with Prince Alfonso, so the Grand Duchess is effectively the star of the spring festival.”
Lariesa was momentarily disappointed when she heard that she would not have the chance to become the fountain fairy, but her face soon brightened when she heard that it was confirmed that she would become Prince Alfonso's partner.
“Yeah, what’s important isn’t the title.”
The chance to be with Prince Alfonso, the chance to change his mind, was important. Princess Lariesa promised to become a partner at the beautiful ball and secure a place by Prince Alfonso's side.
“The fairy of the spring water, did you say that I would become the fairy of the spring water?”
Larissa could not hide her excitement and asked Count Levien.
“The spring water fairy is chosen by the commoners, so they don’t select it separately at the palace ball held on the first day of the festival. After all, isn’t the core of the spring festival the palace ball held by the nobles?”
He skillfully appeased Princess Lariesa.
“It has been confirmed that the Grand Duchess will be dancing the first waltz at the ball with Prince Alfonso, so the Grand Duchess is effectively the star of the spring festival.”
Lariesa was momentarily disappointed when she heard that she would not have the chance to become the fountain fairy, but her face soon brightened when she heard that it was confirmed that she would become Prince Alfonso's partner.
“Yeah, what’s important isn’t the title.”
The chance to be with Prince Alfonso, the chance to change his mind, was important. Princess Lariesa promised to become a partner at the beautiful ball and secure a place by Prince Alfonso's side.
***
Ariadne's face brightened for the first time in a while at the news that the palace was returning from Taranto. Sancha, who had placed a vase of daffodils on the side table in Ariadne's room, smiled and complimented her master.
“Miss, when you smile like that, you look as bright as a daffodil.”
“Sancha, even joking. If you say that, I’ll believe you.”
“You can believe it because it’s true.”
“Your flattery keeps growing day by day. Oh, by the way, when did you say you were going to visit the Collezione costume shop?”
It's time to dress for the spring social season.
“It’s this afternoon. Today’s schedule is... I’ve already arranged the dress you’ll wear to the mass next week, so just check the size, and you need to choose the dress you’ll wear to the ‘Spring Festival’ ball the week after next.”
“Miss, when you smile like that, you look as bright as a daffodil.”
“Sancha, even joking. If you say that, I’ll believe you.”
“You can believe it because it’s true.”
“Your flattery keeps growing day by day. Oh, by the way, when did you say you were going to visit the Collezione costume shop?”
It's time to dress for the spring social season.
“It’s this afternoon. Today’s schedule is... I’ve already arranged the dress you’ll wear to the mass next week, so just check the size, and you need to choose the dress you’ll wear to the ‘Spring Festival’ ball the week after next.”
Ariadne had already decided on the dress she would wear for next week's Mass. Next week's Mass was to celebrate the safe return of the courtiers to San Carlo. It was the first time the courtiers and those who had remained in San Carlo had met. In other words, it was the first time she had met Alfonso since the previous kiss.
'I want to look pretty to Alfonso.'
Ariadne, who realized what she was thinking, opened the window wide with her face flushed.
“Miss! Just leave it alone! I’ll open it!”
"No."
Ariadne asked with a slight frown.
“Should I go up a size?”
She was trying to eat better these days than before. But Sancha glared at Ariadne with a look of bewilderment.
“Why are you increasing the size when you eat so much!”
“...I eat more than before.”
“Should I go up a size?”
She was trying to eat better these days than before. But Sancha glared at Ariadne with a look of bewilderment.
“Why are you increasing the size when you eat so much!”
“...I eat more than before.”
“It’s like fifty against one another.”
Ariadne pouted at Sancha’s assertion.
I tried. Will Alfonso recognize my efforts?
He was kind, so if he heard about the various schemes Ariadne had tried to increase her food intake, he would definitely tell her that she had suffered, that she had worked hard, and that she had done well. But what if Alfonso said that it was not enough?
Then he would feed her directly, like before, with their lips touching each other...
Ariadne’s face turned bright red at this thought, and she fanned her face with her hand. These days, no matter what Ariadne did or thought about, her thoughts always ended with Alfonso.
Now, she had no choice but to admit it. She was in love.
***
“Thanks to the guidance of Saint Erasmus, our earthly King, His Majesty Leo III, and the royal family of de Carlo have safely returned home, as our prayers have been..."
A grand homecoming mass was held, presided over by Cardinal de Mare. The royal family and the court nobles, who had been in Taranto during the winter, enjoyed the beautiful spring weather of San Carlo, dressed like spring flowers, and filled the Basilica of Saint Ercole.
Today, although they wore the guise of mass, it was mainly a day to observe others and show off their own health. The person who made the most of this opportunity was none other than Isabella de Mare. The people who found Isabella at the high mass could not help but murmur.
“Look at Isabella de Mare! The atmosphere has completely changed.”
“Is she awake?”
“No way. Where is her true nature?”
“But, I heard she recently lost her mother. She's still young, so if the shock is severe, she could definitely change.”
Isabella originally enjoyed wearing brightly colored dresses. She was a true fashion leader in San Carlo, wearing colorful pastel-colored dresses made of thin and light materials every day. Today, Isabella was wrapped in thin black satin. The width of her skirt had also changed from her original favorite, a gorgeous and wide hoop style to a narrow and simple style that only raised the waistline. Her neckline, which had been cut deep to the point of embarrassment, was completely covered with a pure white veil. Combined with the veil covering her head, she looked incredibly pious and sincere.
“Oh, how pitiful.”
“But her natural beauty never goes away. Even though she's dressed in mourning clothes and dressed up so plainly, she still stands out!”
“Isn’t she prettier now?”
“It was definitely a bit excessive before.”
Isabella was actually closer to the typical beauty that San Carlo pursued. San Carlo traditionally did not consider someone who was overly decorated as beautiful. When she quietly gave off a pitiful air, those who originally disliked her began to feel sorry for her and their hatred eased, and those who did not like Isabella before began to look at her again. Isabella quietly bit her lips under her veil as she received sympathetic gazes.
'I'll have to lie flat for a while.'
As soon as her confinement was lifted, Isabella, who had been planning to spread a rumor in the San Carlo society that "the Marquis of Campa's mistress was actually Countess Bartolini," changed her course after her mother's death. For once, sympathetic public opinion had emerged. There was no need to recall the rumor that had already passed at this point.
'I'll restore it to its original state at any time. A real mistress should hear the words 'mistress.'
She bowed her head even more deeply, pretending not to care about her surroundings.
“Look at Isabella de Mare! The atmosphere has completely changed.”
“Is she awake?”
“No way. Where is her true nature?”
“But, I heard she recently lost her mother. She's still young, so if the shock is severe, she could definitely change.”
Isabella originally enjoyed wearing brightly colored dresses. She was a true fashion leader in San Carlo, wearing colorful pastel-colored dresses made of thin and light materials every day. Today, Isabella was wrapped in thin black satin. The width of her skirt had also changed from her original favorite, a gorgeous and wide hoop style to a narrow and simple style that only raised the waistline. Her neckline, which had been cut deep to the point of embarrassment, was completely covered with a pure white veil. Combined with the veil covering her head, she looked incredibly pious and sincere.
“Oh, how pitiful.”
“But her natural beauty never goes away. Even though she's dressed in mourning clothes and dressed up so plainly, she still stands out!”
“Isn’t she prettier now?”
“It was definitely a bit excessive before.”
Isabella was actually closer to the typical beauty that San Carlo pursued. San Carlo traditionally did not consider someone who was overly decorated as beautiful. When she quietly gave off a pitiful air, those who originally disliked her began to feel sorry for her and their hatred eased, and those who did not like Isabella before began to look at her again. Isabella quietly bit her lips under her veil as she received sympathetic gazes.
'I'll have to lie flat for a while.'
As soon as her confinement was lifted, Isabella, who had been planning to spread a rumor in the San Carlo society that "the Marquis of Campa's mistress was actually Countess Bartolini," changed her course after her mother's death. For once, sympathetic public opinion had emerged. There was no need to recall the rumor that had already passed at this point.
'I'll restore it to its original state at any time. A real mistress should hear the words 'mistress.'
She bowed her head even more deeply, pretending not to care about her surroundings.
***
It was poor Ariadne who suffered the damage from Isabella’s change of course. Ariadne had no intention of wearing mourning clothes for her “mother” after her funeral unless she was mourning Arabella. Lucrezia was the cardinal’s lover, not his official wife. No matter how much she clung to the titles “mother” or “lady” at home, or how people treated her as if she were their legitimate wife, this fact did not change.
Cardinal de Mare and Lucrezia de Rossi were merely imitations of a family, not a legal family. If they were not legal family, there was no need to wear mourning clothes. Ariadne’s attitude was reasonable. It was not her own dogmatism.
Cardinal de Mare, of course, had not shown any sign of being in mourning, and even Ippolito had appeared today in a nobleman’s banquet dress with splendid purple embroidery. The general atmosphere of the entire de Mare mansion was that they did not openly mourn Lucrezia. But this morning, Isabella had struck first. She was a pitiful and innocent young lady in black mourning clothes who had lost her mother. Ariadne, who stepped into the hallway wearing a gorgeous crimson silk dress like a rose, had a gut feeling the moment she saw Isabella.
If she went out like this, she would be compared directly to Isabella and would hear things like she was unfilial, that she was an illegitimate child, and that there was nothing she could do about being an illegitimate child. In the end, Ariadne had no choice but to go upstairs and change into a neat black dress. The flowery rose dress she had chosen in anticipation of meeting Alfonso again went back into the closet.
Fortunately, San Carlo had limited the period of mourning to less than one month by royal edict. When a member of the royal family died, the entire nation had to wear mourning clothes, and San Carlo was the city that led the fashion of the entire Central Continent. This policy was taken because the fashion industry, which is a major axis of the economy, was severely hit when sales of fabrics were limited to blacks for several years.
'I guess I'll be able to wear colorful dresses again around the time of the royal ball.'
She counted the days dryly and pulled down the thick net covering her face. Clothes were not important. Ariadne’s thoughts were already drifting to the letter that had arrived from Alfonso a few days ago.
'I guess I'll be able to wear colorful dresses again around the time of the royal ball.'
She counted the days dryly and pulled down the thick net covering her face. Clothes were not important. Ariadne’s thoughts were already drifting to the letter that had arrived from Alfonso a few days ago.
“Dear Ari, I am so happy that I can finally return to San Carlo. Everyday life in Taranto, even on objectively spectacular days, is dull and dull, like the third or fourth day of autumn. Every step I take toward you feels light and joyful. When I return, we will first meet at the grand mass, and after that, there will be the royal ball and the ‘Spring Festival’. I will look for a place and location where we can meet naturally. Once we return to San Carlo, the time it takes to exchange letters will be much shorter, so I am very excited!... (continued).”
Alfonso and Ariadne agreed not to pretend to know each other at the grand mass. Lariesa was still holding out in San Carlo. In addition, Queen Marguerite, who still did not agree with her son's opinion, and Isabella, who was obviously burning with jealousy, would also be keeping a close eye on Ariadne. To love quietly, without attracting anyone's attention, in secret. That was their promise.
Ariadne walked slowly through the main gate of the Basilica of Saint Ercole and walked elegantly inside.
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