She looked up at Prince Alfonso as if she had seen a ghost.
“Alfonso...?”
“Yes, it’s me. Ariadne. I’m here.”
Alfonso hurriedly took Ariadne into his arms. He knelt down on the floor, placed her head on his thigh, and stroked her hair.
“Are you okay? Was everything okay?”
On Ariadne's face, bruises from being beaten by an unknown man were now beginning to appear. On her neck and shoulders, a deep red color was slowly mixing with the bluish color. Her top was torn all the way down to her shoulders, exposing her neck and upper back.
“What is this...!”
“...Alfonso, we’re in big trouble.”
He thought Ariadne was just talking nonsense because she was so flustered.
“No, don’t worry, I’m here.”
Prince Alfonso also knew how the situation would look to the world. A young girl was taken away by a man she did not know, and she came back with her clothes torn and bruised. The society of San Carlo would surely gossip about what kind of evil had happened. There would be no in-laws to take her as a daughter-in-law, and her parents would probably send her to a convent. But that was only if she was discovered.
“I killed that guy. Now I can’t go around saying anything. No one has seen him. No rumors will spread. It’s okay. Let’s quietly go home and recuperate for a month or so. I’ll be able to get through it without any problems.”
“...Alfonso. Do you know that guy?”
"No?"
Prince Alfonso then turned to look at the fallen man. The man, of medium height and unusually large build, was lying face-first on the floor, wearing the uniform of a palace coachman.
“That guy...He looks like Duke Mireille...”
Ariadne, dragging her sore feet, approached the fallen Gallican and put her finger under his nose. Alfonso also stood beside Ariadne and stared intently at the dead man's face.
“This man spoke in Gallican.”
Ariadne explained carefully.
“He didn’t speak Etruscan, but he seemed to understand it without any problem. Like... a diplomat.”
“...Let’s check if it’s really the Duke of Mireille.”
Alfonso spoke in a grave voice. He looked up at the sky. The slender crescent moon had long since set and disappeared. Only the dazzlingly bright stars shone down on the two young lovers.
“... It could just be someone who looks similar. Let’s just look through his belongings first.”
Alfonso could not help saying so, even though he knew that his words were most likely vain hopes. As he searched through the dead man's bosom, he prayed that this man was not the Duke of Mireille, but a real coachman who could be thrown into the Tiber river without political repercussions.
'Please, please...!'
Prince Alfonso's fingertips caught something like a piece of paper as he searched the dead man's chest. He quickly untied the dead man's clothes and took out the paper he had been holding in his bosom. Prince Alfonso unfolded the paper and folded it three times. It was a kind of contract written in Gallican.
Prince Alfonso gasped for breath. He could not believe his eyes. He thought Lariesa was eccentric. He did not think she had a good personality. But he could not have imagined that she would do something like this.
“What the...!”
At Alfonso's groan, Ariadne, who was right next to him, grabbed the paper. Alfonso tightened his grip, thinking that Ariadne would be very surprised if she found out about this, but Ariadne wanted to know. She finally took the paper and read its contents.
“Kill or harm Ariadne de Mare... Lariesa de Valoa...”
Like Alfonso, Ariadne’s eyes widened in shock. She had never dreamed that she could read such intense malice toward her in just three lines. In the arms of the Duke of Mireille, where the letter from the Grand Duchess of Lariesa came from, there was also the Duke of Mireille’s seal. It was a gold ring with the bear and cross emblem of the Duke of Mireille’s family, which he had taken off his finger and kept in his arms for a moment to hide his identity. The body lying before their eyes was undoubtedly the Duke of Mireille.
“Alfonso...?”
“Yes, it’s me. Ariadne. I’m here.”
Alfonso hurriedly took Ariadne into his arms. He knelt down on the floor, placed her head on his thigh, and stroked her hair.
“Are you okay? Was everything okay?”
On Ariadne's face, bruises from being beaten by an unknown man were now beginning to appear. On her neck and shoulders, a deep red color was slowly mixing with the bluish color. Her top was torn all the way down to her shoulders, exposing her neck and upper back.
“What is this...!”
“...Alfonso, we’re in big trouble.”
He thought Ariadne was just talking nonsense because she was so flustered.
“No, don’t worry, I’m here.”
Prince Alfonso also knew how the situation would look to the world. A young girl was taken away by a man she did not know, and she came back with her clothes torn and bruised. The society of San Carlo would surely gossip about what kind of evil had happened. There would be no in-laws to take her as a daughter-in-law, and her parents would probably send her to a convent. But that was only if she was discovered.
“I killed that guy. Now I can’t go around saying anything. No one has seen him. No rumors will spread. It’s okay. Let’s quietly go home and recuperate for a month or so. I’ll be able to get through it without any problems.”
“...Alfonso. Do you know that guy?”
"No?"
Prince Alfonso then turned to look at the fallen man. The man, of medium height and unusually large build, was lying face-first on the floor, wearing the uniform of a palace coachman.
“That guy...He looks like Duke Mireille...”
Prince Alfonso's eyes widened. Prince Alfonso originally intended to bury this incident. A serious crime that broke through the strict security within the palace would be treated as an attempted assassination of a key person. The person behind it would be properly tracked down, the circumstances of the case would be clearly revealed, and the perpetrator would be severely punished. If the target was different, the security of the nation could be shaken if the perpetrator had aimed for the monarch's life. In most cases, an assassination incident would become a major incident, and the palace and the city of San Carlo itself would be closed, and the city would be quickly swept in a dragnet style to prevent the perpetrators and any possible accomplices from escaping. That was the standard method for tracking down the assassin.
However, if this incident became a big deal, rumors would inevitably spread about what had happened to Ariadne. Even if nothing had happened, the San Carlo society would not believe it. The middle-aged, pot-bellied Duke from the neighboring country who kidnapped the young lady and took her to a secluded place, the young lady who was beaten by him and left bruised, and the Duke who was killed by the sword of the Prince, that is, the young lady's boyfriend. The drama they were going to write was clear and obvious.
"No way..."
The future of the young lady who lost her chastity was obvious. If she did not take her own life under the semi-force of her family, then a monastery. Ariadne's father was never the kind of person who would protect his daughter against public opinion. Even if Alfonso missed the chance to track down the assassin who was a political criminal, he could not do something that would end Ariadne's social, and perhaps even physical, life.
"No way..."
The future of the young lady who lost her chastity was obvious. If she did not take her own life under the semi-force of her family, then a monastery. Ariadne's father was never the kind of person who would protect his daughter against public opinion. Even if Alfonso missed the chance to track down the assassin who was a political criminal, he could not do something that would end Ariadne's social, and perhaps even physical, life.
However, if the dead person was the representative of the Gallico delegation, the Duke of Mireille, the incident could not be buried.
“Is he really dead...?”
“Is he really dead...?”
Ariadne, dragging her sore feet, approached the fallen Gallican and put her finger under his nose. Alfonso also stood beside Ariadne and stared intently at the dead man's face.
“This man spoke in Gallican.”
Ariadne explained carefully.
“He didn’t speak Etruscan, but he seemed to understand it without any problem. Like... a diplomat.”
“...Let’s check if it’s really the Duke of Mireille.”
Alfonso spoke in a grave voice. He looked up at the sky. The slender crescent moon had long since set and disappeared. Only the dazzlingly bright stars shone down on the two young lovers.
“... It could just be someone who looks similar. Let’s just look through his belongings first.”
Alfonso could not help saying so, even though he knew that his words were most likely vain hopes. As he searched through the dead man's bosom, he prayed that this man was not the Duke of Mireille, but a real coachman who could be thrown into the Tiber river without political repercussions.
'Please, please...!'
Prince Alfonso's fingertips caught something like a piece of paper as he searched the dead man's chest. He quickly untied the dead man's clothes and took out the paper he had been holding in his bosom. Prince Alfonso unfolded the paper and folded it three times. It was a kind of contract written in Gallican.
"You are to kill or otherwise harm Ariadne de Mare, illegitimate daughter of Cardinal de Mare of the diocese of San Carlo, in the Etruscan kingdom.
March 18, 1123, Lariesa de Valoa."
"What?"
"What?"
Prince Alfonso gasped for breath. He could not believe his eyes. He thought Lariesa was eccentric. He did not think she had a good personality. But he could not have imagined that she would do something like this.
“What the...!”
At Alfonso's groan, Ariadne, who was right next to him, grabbed the paper. Alfonso tightened his grip, thinking that Ariadne would be very surprised if she found out about this, but Ariadne wanted to know. She finally took the paper and read its contents.
“Kill or harm Ariadne de Mare... Lariesa de Valoa...”
Like Alfonso, Ariadne’s eyes widened in shock. She had never dreamed that she could read such intense malice toward her in just three lines. In the arms of the Duke of Mireille, where the letter from the Grand Duchess of Lariesa came from, there was also the Duke of Mireille’s seal. It was a gold ring with the bear and cross emblem of the Duke of Mireille’s family, which he had taken off his finger and kept in his arms for a moment to hide his identity. The body lying before their eyes was undoubtedly the Duke of Mireille.
Alfonso hugged Ariadne tightly.
“...Ari, I’m sorry.”
He held her in his arms and whispered in her ear.
“It’s all because of me... It’s because of me that you...”
Princess Lariesa, unable to control her feelings for Prince Alfonso, went wild and attempted to do something unforgivable to Ariadne. In the end, it was all his fault. Large tears flowed from Alfonso's eyes, which he closed in sorrow.
“I can’t even properly protect my woman... What the..."
He stroked Ariadne's hair again and again, shedding tears of regret.
“I had no idea that the Grand Duchess of Gallico could be so vicious. I had no idea that she would act so quickly. I never dreamed that the Gallico delegation would do something so outrageous. I...”
He was about to say, 'I let my guard down', but then he chose his words again. Letting his guard down was a term used to describe when someone who would normally be prepared acts carelessly. Alfonso had no choice but to admit it. If he could go back to yesterday, he would have done the same thing. He really couldn't have imagined that the Princess of Lariesa could do something like this.
“...I was incompetent. It’s all my fault.”
Alfonso hugged Ariadne and stroked her head repeatedly. Ariadne herself, however, was not aware of any of this. She was not sad but rather dazed, or more accurately, her emotions were beaten and stopped, and she was assessing the situation.
'If it becomes known that the Duke of Mireille is dead, His Majesty Leo III will close the gates and try to track down the gang.'
Princess Lariesa's note will be revealed in the process.
'No, His Majesty Leo III might try to bury Princess Lariesa's note quietly. After all, Gallico's gunpowder is still intact. He might try to cover up the fact that Duke Mireille died in Etruscan territory in exchange for keeping the Princess' note safe. I'm the one in trouble, not Lariesa.'
The Duke of Mireille was killed by Prince Alfonso. If they are to find out 'why' he died, that is, to properly determine right from wrong, and prove that Prince Alfonso was not a madman who slaughtered a delegation from a neighboring country, they must inevitably find out what the Duke of Mireille was trying to do. He was trying to do something bad, so Prince Alfonso had no choice but to swing the hammer of justice to save the poor girl.
'My name will be mentioned there.'
The level of interest in this incident was too high to justify bringing up a fictional character, such as Prince Alfonso accidentally discovering the Duke of Mireille trying to do something bad to a passing palace maid. The discussion would be intense, and if even the slightest error in probability were found, the Gallico Kingdom would never accept the Etruscan Kingdom’s explanation. From Leo III’s point of view, the best strategy was to reveal all the facts without lies. It would be another thing if he could get a fake maid to give a false statement that wouldn’t fall apart, but Leo III was definitely not a great man who would take risks out of sympathy for Ariadne.
'Father won't be of any help.'
It was not a problem that Cardinal de Mare could solve by exerting his power. Would the father, who had not even saved Isabella’s reputation in the Campa affair, really do everything he could to help his daughter, Ariadne, who he cared about even less?
“...Ari, I’m sorry.”
He held her in his arms and whispered in her ear.
“It’s all because of me... It’s because of me that you...”
Princess Lariesa, unable to control her feelings for Prince Alfonso, went wild and attempted to do something unforgivable to Ariadne. In the end, it was all his fault. Large tears flowed from Alfonso's eyes, which he closed in sorrow.
“I can’t even properly protect my woman... What the..."
He stroked Ariadne's hair again and again, shedding tears of regret.
“I had no idea that the Grand Duchess of Gallico could be so vicious. I had no idea that she would act so quickly. I never dreamed that the Gallico delegation would do something so outrageous. I...”
He was about to say, 'I let my guard down', but then he chose his words again. Letting his guard down was a term used to describe when someone who would normally be prepared acts carelessly. Alfonso had no choice but to admit it. If he could go back to yesterday, he would have done the same thing. He really couldn't have imagined that the Princess of Lariesa could do something like this.
“...I was incompetent. It’s all my fault.”
Alfonso hugged Ariadne and stroked her head repeatedly. Ariadne herself, however, was not aware of any of this. She was not sad but rather dazed, or more accurately, her emotions were beaten and stopped, and she was assessing the situation.
'If it becomes known that the Duke of Mireille is dead, His Majesty Leo III will close the gates and try to track down the gang.'
Princess Lariesa's note will be revealed in the process.
'No, His Majesty Leo III might try to bury Princess Lariesa's note quietly. After all, Gallico's gunpowder is still intact. He might try to cover up the fact that Duke Mireille died in Etruscan territory in exchange for keeping the Princess' note safe. I'm the one in trouble, not Lariesa.'
The Duke of Mireille was killed by Prince Alfonso. If they are to find out 'why' he died, that is, to properly determine right from wrong, and prove that Prince Alfonso was not a madman who slaughtered a delegation from a neighboring country, they must inevitably find out what the Duke of Mireille was trying to do. He was trying to do something bad, so Prince Alfonso had no choice but to swing the hammer of justice to save the poor girl.
'My name will be mentioned there.'
The level of interest in this incident was too high to justify bringing up a fictional character, such as Prince Alfonso accidentally discovering the Duke of Mireille trying to do something bad to a passing palace maid. The discussion would be intense, and if even the slightest error in probability were found, the Gallico Kingdom would never accept the Etruscan Kingdom’s explanation. From Leo III’s point of view, the best strategy was to reveal all the facts without lies. It would be another thing if he could get a fake maid to give a false statement that wouldn’t fall apart, but Leo III was definitely not a great man who would take risks out of sympathy for Ariadne.
'Father won't be of any help.'
It was not a problem that Cardinal de Mare could solve by exerting his power. Would the father, who had not even saved Isabella’s reputation in the Campa affair, really do everything he could to help his daughter, Ariadne, who he cared about even less?
Furthermore, even if Cardinal de Mare had the will, he could not overcome his ability. Leo III was interested in the gunpowder of the Kingdom of Gallico. No matter how much skill Cardinal de Mare had now, he could not overcome the gunpowder of Gallico or the threat of a declaration of war.
'Why can't we just throw him into the Tiber River??'
Ariadne pondered for a moment, following the de Mare family motto, 'Nothing happens that no one knows about.'
'The whole of San Carlo will be turned upside down.'
If Duke Mireille were to go missing, the Kingdom of Gallico would protest sternly, and Leo III would be terrified and loot not only the palace but the entire city. If even a swollen corpse were to surface in the Tiber River, it would be overturned once more. Even to the eyes of an ignorant person, the Prince’s power was by no means such that he could kill a key figure and cleanly dispose of the aftermath while avoiding his father’s eyes. Furthermore, at least Princess Lariesa knew that Duke Mireille had gone to capture Ariadne and been killed. What if Princess Lariesa were to speak?
'Why can't we just throw him into the Tiber River??'
Ariadne pondered for a moment, following the de Mare family motto, 'Nothing happens that no one knows about.'
'The whole of San Carlo will be turned upside down.'
If Duke Mireille were to go missing, the Kingdom of Gallico would protest sternly, and Leo III would be terrified and loot not only the palace but the entire city. If even a swollen corpse were to surface in the Tiber River, it would be overturned once more. Even to the eyes of an ignorant person, the Prince’s power was by no means such that he could kill a key figure and cleanly dispose of the aftermath while avoiding his father’s eyes. Furthermore, at least Princess Lariesa knew that Duke Mireille had gone to capture Ariadne and been killed. What if Princess Lariesa were to speak?
A rational and intelligent person would have kept his mouth shut, but it was difficult to say that Princess Lariesa was smart, even in empty words. It was a ball that could fly anywhere.
'100% caught.'
Ariadne laughed in vain. No matter which way she chose, there was no way to hide it perfectly. She had come back from the dead. She had lived for the past year or so, calculating all the variables. She had made a name for herself in society, had established herself in her family, and had finally managed to get rid of her stepmother. And now, at the behest of some idiot driven mad by jealousy, she was headed to a convent.
'100% caught.'
Ariadne laughed in vain. No matter which way she chose, there was no way to hide it perfectly. She had come back from the dead. She had lived for the past year or so, calculating all the variables. She had made a name for herself in society, had established herself in her family, and had finally managed to get rid of her stepmother. And now, at the behest of some idiot driven mad by jealousy, she was headed to a convent.
She couldn’t help but laugh in vain. Her shoulders shook slightly as she chuckled. Alfonso, mistaking Ariadne for crying, hugged her tightly.
“Let’s go to Mom.”
Prince Alfonso whispered to Ariadne.
“If it’s Mom, she’ll have a good idea.”
Queen Marguerite certainly had some power that could move without the King's eyes. If she were determined to take the damage and put forth all her efforts, she could at least make a breakthrough in this case. It was possible if Queen Marguerite would cooperate fully. The only hope they had left was Queen Marguerite.
'But will Her Majesty the Queen really make a sacrifice for me?'
If the truth is revealed in detail, the only one who will be harmed is Ariadne de Mare. Her son will be able to escape unharmed. It is hard to find a loyal and capable subordinate. The Queen has no reason to sacrifice her subordinates and power to help Ariadne.
'If I were Her Majesty the Queen, I would do nothing.'
It was a natural choice for a rational person. In addition, although Ariadne did not know it, Queen Marguerite was not very favorable about taking Ariadne as her daughter-in-law. However, Alfonso had faith in his mother.
“Oh my God, there is no way to just ignore someone who is in trouble without doing anything wrong.”
"Yes?"
Ariadne thought it was an overly romantic assessment of Prince Alfonso's mother. Where in the world is there such a politician?
“Let’s go to Mom.”
Prince Alfonso whispered to Ariadne.
“If it’s Mom, she’ll have a good idea.”
Queen Marguerite certainly had some power that could move without the King's eyes. If she were determined to take the damage and put forth all her efforts, she could at least make a breakthrough in this case. It was possible if Queen Marguerite would cooperate fully. The only hope they had left was Queen Marguerite.
'But will Her Majesty the Queen really make a sacrifice for me?'
If the truth is revealed in detail, the only one who will be harmed is Ariadne de Mare. Her son will be able to escape unharmed. It is hard to find a loyal and capable subordinate. The Queen has no reason to sacrifice her subordinates and power to help Ariadne.
'If I were Her Majesty the Queen, I would do nothing.'
It was a natural choice for a rational person. In addition, although Ariadne did not know it, Queen Marguerite was not very favorable about taking Ariadne as her daughter-in-law. However, Alfonso had faith in his mother.
“Oh my God, there is no way to just ignore someone who is in trouble without doing anything wrong.”
"Yes?"
Ariadne thought it was an overly romantic assessment of Prince Alfonso's mother. Where in the world is there such a politician?
All the royal families of the Central Continent were skilled politicians. Those who were not were all killed.
“I'm sure she'll find a way somehow.”
Ariadne nodded, although she did not agree at all.
“...Yes, if that’s what you think, then let’s go.”
There was no expectation. She was just caught in a trap and had no way out of this situation on her own. If there was even a glimmer of hope, it was right to go there. They dragged the Duke of Mireille’s body into the grass and roughly covered it with dirt and grass. They had to send their men to find it again quickly before anyone found it.
“I'm sure she'll find a way somehow.”
Ariadne nodded, although she did not agree at all.
“...Yes, if that’s what you think, then let’s go.”
There was no expectation. She was just caught in a trap and had no way out of this situation on her own. If there was even a glimmer of hope, it was right to go there. They dragged the Duke of Mireille’s body into the grass and roughly covered it with dirt and grass. They had to send their men to find it again quickly before anyone found it.
Rustle.
Alfonso, who heard the sound of leaves being stepped on, quickly raised his head and looked around. Ariadne, too, belatedly realized something was strange due to Alfonso’s vigilance and looked around.
“Didn’t you hear anything?”
“...I didn’t hear it.”
But the surrounding area was all very low shrubbery. The small bushes, which reached only to the height of the knees, were neatly and roundly managed, and the surrounding area was visible at a glance. It might be possible for a child, but for an adult, there was no place to hide.
“It was something like a cat.”
Ariadne urged Alfonso.
“It’s dangerous to delay here. Let’s hurry and leave. Nothing good will come of being witnessed.”
Alfonso nodded. It was absolutely right. He supported Ariadne and walked through the back alley of the palace toward the Queen's palace.
“Didn’t you hear anything?”
“...I didn’t hear it.”
But the surrounding area was all very low shrubbery. The small bushes, which reached only to the height of the knees, were neatly and roundly managed, and the surrounding area was visible at a glance. It might be possible for a child, but for an adult, there was no place to hide.
“It was something like a cat.”
Ariadne urged Alfonso.
“It’s dangerous to delay here. Let’s hurry and leave. Nothing good will come of being witnessed.”
Alfonso nodded. It was absolutely right. He supported Ariadne and walked through the back alley of the palace toward the Queen's palace.
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