Ariadne was controlling her expression, but her feelings were complicated. In the meantime, since Queen Marguerite had protected Ariadne and Alfonso, who were hiding in the closet, she seemed to have some expectations.
“...I.”
At first, Ariadne clearly wanted the position of a Princess, and even more so, a Queen. That golden crown that was snatched away by Isabella right in front of her. Alfonso was just a tool for that.
Then, at some point, Alfonso seeped into her heart. His constant, affectionate consideration. Kind blue eyes that looked at her. A gentle personality that never got angry at anything.
And there was Queen Marguerite’s benevolence. She wanted to be acknowledged. She was a child worthy of her son. And she wanted to give back. As much as she had received. She wanted to become someone worthy of Alfonso, Queen Marguerite’s son. As great as they were.
Ariadne said.
At first, Ariadne clearly wanted the position of a Princess, and even more so, a Queen. That golden crown that was snatched away by Isabella right in front of her. Alfonso was just a tool for that.
Then, at some point, Alfonso seeped into her heart. His constant, affectionate consideration. Kind blue eyes that looked at her. A gentle personality that never got angry at anything.
And there was Queen Marguerite’s benevolence. She wanted to be acknowledged. She was a child worthy of her son. And she wanted to give back. As much as she had received. She wanted to become someone worthy of Alfonso, Queen Marguerite’s son. As great as they were.
Ariadne said.
“...I have no wishes.”
Would it be a lie if she said she had no wishes? She wanted to be next to Alfonso. She wanted to stand next to him forever, feel his body heat, his breath. However, what she was saying now was not insincere.
Would it be a lie if she said she had no wishes? She wanted to be next to Alfonso. She wanted to stand next to him forever, feel his body heat, his breath. However, what she was saying now was not insincere.
“I’m just trying to put things back right.”
To save your life and protect Prince Alfonso’s throne.
“I won’t lie. If someone were to give me the crown of the Princess tomorrow, I wouldn’t refuse. I want it. But that’s not my primary goal.”
Queen Marguerite was looking down at Ariadne with mysterious eyes. Ariadne felt a little discouraged, but she pulled herself together. In fact, who would understand her inner thoughts just by hearing such empty words? Other people in the world are not mind readers.
Queen Marguerite answered slowly.
Queen Marguerite was looking down at Ariadne with mysterious eyes. Ariadne felt a little discouraged, but she pulled herself together. In fact, who would understand her inner thoughts just by hearing such empty words? Other people in the world are not mind readers.
Queen Marguerite answered slowly.
“I’ll wait and see.”
Ariadne answered without hesitation.
“Just wait and see. You won’t regret it."
“What!”
The Grand Duke Odes jumped up from his seat after receiving the secret report from Count Le Vien delivered by the hand of the envoy.
“I sent you far away to marry a good person, and what? Why did you do something like this?!”
He read the report over and over again, but unfortunately, the words written in it were clear.
"The Grand Duchess of Lariesa asked the Duke of Mireille to kill the second daughter of Cardinal de Mare.
The Duke of Mireille died in the process.
There is evidence that the Grand Duchess of Lariesa asked the Duke of Mireille to kill her."
Ariadne answered without hesitation.
“Just wait and see. You won’t regret it."
***
“What!”
The Grand Duke Odes jumped up from his seat after receiving the secret report from Count Le Vien delivered by the hand of the envoy.
“I sent you far away to marry a good person, and what? Why did you do something like this?!”
He read the report over and over again, but unfortunately, the words written in it were clear.
"The Grand Duchess of Lariesa asked the Duke of Mireille to kill the second daughter of Cardinal de Mare.
The Duke of Mireille died in the process.
There is evidence that the Grand Duchess of Lariesa asked the Duke of Mireille to kill her."
It was a letter.
“Why did this crazy bastard do this with his own hands!”
The Grand Duke Odes raged.
“No, it would have been better if he had died. He must have tried to enslave my daughter. Now that he’s dead, he can’t open his mouth.”
He asked the envoy who had come as a messenger.
“Do you know what happened to that letter?”
“Why did this crazy bastard do this with his own hands!”
The Grand Duke Odes raged.
“No, it would have been better if he had died. He must have tried to enslave my daughter. Now that he’s dead, he can’t open his mouth.”
He asked the envoy who had come as a messenger.
“Do you know what happened to that letter?”
“Your Highness, I’m sorry, but I don’t know what happened to that letter. Let me tell you the situation before I leave. We searched through the Duke of Mireille’s belongings thoroughly, but they were not found, and they were not found on the Duke of Mireille’s body.”
That was fortunate. The day that damned letter appeared was the day his daughter’s lifeline was cut short.
“Surely this content was not reported to the Palace of Montpellier?”
If Leo III found the letter, he could have locked Lariesa up in the Etruscan palace prison, but the Grand Duke Odes and the Kingdom of Gallico would have nothing to say.
If Philip IV learned of the existence of this letter, he would have done anything to stop Leo III’s offensive.
If it were Philip IV, he would have sent someone to assassinate Lariesa before the diplomatic disadvantage of having Lariesa’s letter made public and blamed it on the Etruscan Kingdom.
“The Count of Le Vien has done a very good job. Fortunately, there was no sign that the Duke of Mireille knew about this letter, and he is nevertheless keeping a close watch to prevent them from communicating with Montpellier.”
At that moment, the secretary of the Grand Duke Odes appeared and handed the Grand Duke Odes a thick bundle of parchment.
“Your Highness! I have a document for you to see. It is a personal letter secretly sent from the Etruscan kingdom.”
The Grand Duke Odes frowned and picked up the bundle of letters.
“Is it His Majesty Leo III?”
It was unlikely that Leo III would write to the Grand Duke Odes, but if the Grand Duke Odes had any letters from the Etruscans, it would have been from Leo III.
“No, Your Highness. It is Her Majesty Queen Marguerite, your sixth cousin.”
The Grand Duke Odes opened the letter from Queen Marguerite with an expression full of suspicion. They were not exactly sixth cousins who had much contact with each other.
And when Grand Duke Odes had read all the letters, he exclaimed in astonishment.
“What is the latest news from the Etruscans?”
“It’s not a confirmed fact, but according to intelligence from the sect, there are rumors that the Etruscan Kingdom is planning to attack fiercely, claiming that the death of Duke Mireille is the fault of the Kingdom of Gallico.”
Grand Duke Odes looked at the parchment in his hand once more.
“The fault of the Kingdom of Gallico? What fault!”
That was fortunate. The day that damned letter appeared was the day his daughter’s lifeline was cut short.
“Surely this content was not reported to the Palace of Montpellier?”
If Leo III found the letter, he could have locked Lariesa up in the Etruscan palace prison, but the Grand Duke Odes and the Kingdom of Gallico would have nothing to say.
If Philip IV learned of the existence of this letter, he would have done anything to stop Leo III’s offensive.
If it were Philip IV, he would have sent someone to assassinate Lariesa before the diplomatic disadvantage of having Lariesa’s letter made public and blamed it on the Etruscan Kingdom.
“The Count of Le Vien has done a very good job. Fortunately, there was no sign that the Duke of Mireille knew about this letter, and he is nevertheless keeping a close watch to prevent them from communicating with Montpellier.”
At that moment, the secretary of the Grand Duke Odes appeared and handed the Grand Duke Odes a thick bundle of parchment.
“Your Highness! I have a document for you to see. It is a personal letter secretly sent from the Etruscan kingdom.”
The Grand Duke Odes frowned and picked up the bundle of letters.
“Is it His Majesty Leo III?”
It was unlikely that Leo III would write to the Grand Duke Odes, but if the Grand Duke Odes had any letters from the Etruscans, it would have been from Leo III.
“No, Your Highness. It is Her Majesty Queen Marguerite, your sixth cousin.”
The Grand Duke Odes opened the letter from Queen Marguerite with an expression full of suspicion. They were not exactly sixth cousins who had much contact with each other.
And when Grand Duke Odes had read all the letters, he exclaimed in astonishment.
“What is the latest news from the Etruscans?”
“It’s not a confirmed fact, but according to intelligence from the sect, there are rumors that the Etruscan Kingdom is planning to attack fiercely, claiming that the death of Duke Mireille is the fault of the Kingdom of Gallico.”
Grand Duke Odes looked at the parchment in his hand once more.
“The fault of the Kingdom of Gallico? What fault!”
“I don’t know the exact details yet..."
He began to tremble, wondering if his daughter’s crime had already been revealed.
“When was this letter written? Didn’t Queen Marguerite lose patience and tell Leo III about the existence of the letter?!”
What the Archbishop of Montpellier knew to be the fault of the Kingdom of Gallico was ‘the Duke Mireille’s unauthorized espionage in a foreign palace,’ but it didn’t matter to Grand Duke Odes at the moment. Grand Duke Odes stood up from his seat.
“This is not the time to be doing this. I must meet His Majesty Philip IV immediately!”
“I will bring the carriage, Your Highness.”
“We must bring Lariesa back quickly.”
Even though she had caused an accident, she was his own blood relative.
“It may tarnish her reputation to go all the way down to the lower village and come back unmarried, but it is a hundred times better than being locked up in a foreign prison.”
He began to tremble, wondering if his daughter’s crime had already been revealed.
“When was this letter written? Didn’t Queen Marguerite lose patience and tell Leo III about the existence of the letter?!”
What the Archbishop of Montpellier knew to be the fault of the Kingdom of Gallico was ‘the Duke Mireille’s unauthorized espionage in a foreign palace,’ but it didn’t matter to Grand Duke Odes at the moment. Grand Duke Odes stood up from his seat.
“This is not the time to be doing this. I must meet His Majesty Philip IV immediately!”
“I will bring the carriage, Your Highness.”
“We must bring Lariesa back quickly.”
Even though she had caused an accident, she was his own blood relative.
“It may tarnish her reputation to go all the way down to the lower village and come back unmarried, but it is a hundred times better than being locked up in a foreign prison.”
“Is there any chance?”
A servant came in hastily and reported.
“The carriage is ready.”
A servant came in hastily and reported.
“The carriage is ready.”
“Let’s go!”
The Grand Duchess Lariesa had been shut in her quarters these days, not moving an inch. She had barely eaten and had not slept at all.
‘What if the world finds out that I was the reason Duke Mireille died...?’
She had a pale face, and with hellish imaginations, she did not get up from her bed even afternoon.
“Grand Duchess Lariesa.”
A voice was heard from outside the room. It was Count Le Vien. Lariesa did not answer.
Perhaps it was because he was used to it, Count Le Vien did not blink and continued to say what he had to say.
“An order has come from the home country.”
Lariesa opened her eyes wide. It was coming.
***
The Grand Duchess Lariesa had been shut in her quarters these days, not moving an inch. She had barely eaten and had not slept at all.
‘What if the world finds out that I was the reason Duke Mireille died...?’
She had a pale face, and with hellish imaginations, she did not get up from her bed even afternoon.
“Grand Duchess Lariesa.”
A voice was heard from outside the room. It was Count Le Vien. Lariesa did not answer.
Perhaps it was because he was used to it, Count Le Vien did not blink and continued to say what he had to say.
“An order has come from the home country.”
Lariesa opened her eyes wide. It was coming.
What on earth did my father and His Majesty Philip IV decide? Did they abandon me...?
“An order to return.”
Lariesa shivered under her bedclothes. For the first time in ten days, she spoke to Count Le Vien. Her voice was hoarse and broken.
“...What does that mean?”
“It is an order from His Majesty Philip IV to suspend the marriage negotiations and return to the home country.”
Lariesa could not stand it any longer and threw off the blanket and ran out. She opened the door with a bang, and her eyes were sunken and she was very thin.
“An order to return.”
Lariesa shivered under her bedclothes. For the first time in ten days, she spoke to Count Le Vien. Her voice was hoarse and broken.
“...What does that mean?”
“It is an order from His Majesty Philip IV to suspend the marriage negotiations and return to the home country.”
Lariesa could not stand it any longer and threw off the blanket and ran out. She opened the door with a bang, and her eyes were sunken and she was very thin.
“I understand what you’re saying! So what does that mean? I... I cannot marry Prince Alfonso?!”
Count Le Vien answered bluntly. Ever since Princess Lariesa had caused a major accident this time, Count Le Vien had not been courting her.
“It’s just a temporary suspension. The home country did not explicitly state that negotiations had broken down.”
Lariesa cried at Count Le Vien’s answer.
“That’s exactly what you said! They want me to come all the way to this foreign land and live in a foreign palace for nearly half a year and then return to Gallico empty-handed?! I can’t do it! I can’t do it, no matter what!”
Count Le Vien answered bluntly. Ever since Princess Lariesa had caused a major accident this time, Count Le Vien had not been courting her.
“It’s just a temporary suspension. The home country did not explicitly state that negotiations had broken down.”
Lariesa cried at Count Le Vien’s answer.
“That’s exactly what you said! They want me to come all the way to this foreign land and live in a foreign palace for nearly half a year and then return to Gallico empty-handed?! I can’t do it! I can’t do it, no matter what!”
“It’s His Majesty the King’s orders.”
Count Le Vien barely suppressed the urge to scold Lariesa, “Consider yourself lucky, you idiot Princess.”
Lariesa’s father, Granr Duke Odes, had made many political sacrifices to return to his home country with Lariesa.
Philip IV remained silent even after receiving intelligence that the Etruscan Kingdom would blame the Kingdom of Gallico for the death of the Duke of Mireille. This was different from his usual sensitive reaction to political pros and cons.
Grand Duke Odes, who had taken off the label of 'the noble family most friendly to the crown', frowned and insisted that negotiations should never proceed for the sake of the honor of the Kingdom of Gallico - in fact, for the sake of his own daughter's salvation.
Philip IV, who depended on the cooperation of Duke Odes of Valoa for various internal affairs, had no choice but to take a step back, declare a temporary suspension of negotiations, and send the delegation home.
Philip IV remained silent even after receiving intelligence that the Etruscan Kingdom would blame the Kingdom of Gallico for the death of the Duke of Mireille. This was different from his usual sensitive reaction to political pros and cons.
Grand Duke Odes, who had taken off the label of 'the noble family most friendly to the crown', frowned and insisted that negotiations should never proceed for the sake of the honor of the Kingdom of Gallico - in fact, for the sake of his own daughter's salvation.
Philip IV, who depended on the cooperation of Duke Odes of Valoa for various internal affairs, had no choice but to take a step back, declare a temporary suspension of negotiations, and send the delegation home.
'It was a great loss, even for His Majesty Philip IV.'
Philip IV could not send the delegation home empty-handed, now that Duke Mireille was dead. He insisted that no matter what the circumstances were with the Etruscan Kingdom, the Gallico Kingdom must hand over the body of the man who had taken Duke Mireille's life. It was a battle of pride.
After a long debate, the Etruscan Kingdom gave in and decided to hand over Sir Elko, who was supposed to have killed Duke Mireille, to Gallico. He was to be taken to Gallico along with the Gallico delegation.
If the Duke of Mireille had committed a crime, there would have been no justification for accepting Sir Elko, and since it was something that absolutely had to be accepted to save the face of a King who had only recently ascended the throne, Gallico could not help but be in a disadvantageous position in the negotiations.
In exchange, the Kingdom of Gallico agreed to reduce the border trade tax rate from the previous 80% to 65%. It was a huge expense.
'This time, it went as Grand Duke Odes wanted. However, His Majesty the King will definitely take revenge on the Grand Duke at some point.'
Count Le Vien looked down at the Grand Duchess, who had burdened her lord with a dough-like appearance, with a cold gaze. Feeling the contemptuous gaze of her subordinate, Lariesa shuddered involuntarily.
"We will leave tomorrow. Have the maids pack our luggage."
"...Tomorrow?"
"We would like to leave today, but since there are many people and the Grand Duchess is here, we have decided to leave tomorrow morning. There is no time to delay. We must get out of the border as quickly as possible."
Lariesa wanted to cling more but she felt it was useless and hung her head weakly.
Philip IV could not send the delegation home empty-handed, now that Duke Mireille was dead. He insisted that no matter what the circumstances were with the Etruscan Kingdom, the Gallico Kingdom must hand over the body of the man who had taken Duke Mireille's life. It was a battle of pride.
After a long debate, the Etruscan Kingdom gave in and decided to hand over Sir Elko, who was supposed to have killed Duke Mireille, to Gallico. He was to be taken to Gallico along with the Gallico delegation.
If the Duke of Mireille had committed a crime, there would have been no justification for accepting Sir Elko, and since it was something that absolutely had to be accepted to save the face of a King who had only recently ascended the throne, Gallico could not help but be in a disadvantageous position in the negotiations.
In exchange, the Kingdom of Gallico agreed to reduce the border trade tax rate from the previous 80% to 65%. It was a huge expense.
'This time, it went as Grand Duke Odes wanted. However, His Majesty the King will definitely take revenge on the Grand Duke at some point.'
Count Le Vien looked down at the Grand Duchess, who had burdened her lord with a dough-like appearance, with a cold gaze. Feeling the contemptuous gaze of her subordinate, Lariesa shuddered involuntarily.
"We will leave tomorrow. Have the maids pack our luggage."
"...Tomorrow?"
"We would like to leave today, but since there are many people and the Grand Duchess is here, we have decided to leave tomorrow morning. There is no time to delay. We must get out of the border as quickly as possible."
Lariesa wanted to cling more but she felt it was useless and hung her head weakly.
"...I understand."
Count Le Vien nodded and left the room.
Princess Lariesa sat on the floor and stared blankly into space for a moment.
Sister Susanne’s death. The opportunity that had rolled into her. The Golden Prince. She ruined it all. With her own two hands.
“No!”
Princess Lariesa suddenly grabbed her head with both hands and screamed. She could feel the maids waiting outside the room gossiping, but Lariesa was too focused on one thing to pay attention to that.
“That can’t be! That can’t be!”
Count Le Vien nodded and left the room.
Princess Lariesa sat on the floor and stared blankly into space for a moment.
Sister Susanne’s death. The opportunity that had rolled into her. The Golden Prince. She ruined it all. With her own two hands.
“No!”
Princess Lariesa suddenly grabbed her head with both hands and screamed. She could feel the maids waiting outside the room gossiping, but Lariesa was too focused on one thing to pay attention to that.
“That can’t be! That can’t be!”
She would meet the Golden Prince himself and hear his story. Wouldn’t he tell her? He didn’t really hate her that much, and he was sorry for saying such harsh words. He was just playing around with the cardinal’s illegitimate child, and he was going to meet his truly noble spouse.
“Maids! Maids!”
Lariesa called the groomed maids and roughly ordered them.
“Bring my dress now.”
They lowered their heads in fear of what might happen and quickly brought three dresses to Lariesa to choose from. Lariesa chose the most gorgeous one and wiped her tear-stained eyes as she chose all the cosmetics and jewelry.
“I’m going to see the Prince.”
“Maids! Maids!”
Lariesa called the groomed maids and roughly ordered them.
“Bring my dress now.”
They lowered their heads in fear of what might happen and quickly brought three dresses to Lariesa to choose from. Lariesa chose the most gorgeous one and wiped her tear-stained eyes as she chose all the cosmetics and jewelry.
“I’m going to see the Prince.”
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