Grand Duchess Lariesa reached the Prince’s palace in one stride but was firmly stopped by the servant in charge of entering and exiting the palace.
“Grand Duchess, it will be difficult for you to do this here. The Prince is not currently in the palace, so I cannot report to him.”
“What, what do you mean... Prince, I must meet him!”
She would be leaving this place tomorrow morning. She had to meet her quickly.
She could see the splendid marble arch that marked the entrance to the Queen’s Palace. The vines that announced the arrival of spring were climbing up the arch. Princess Lariesa was lucky when she arrived at the Queen’s Palace. She met Queen Marguerite’s maid, whose face was familiar.
“Bring her here, Madame Carla!”
The Queen’s maid was surprised by the sudden order from Grand Duchess Lariesa, bowed on her knees, ran over, and brought Madame Carla out. Grand Duchess Lariesa’s white, dough-like face collapsed in relief and comfort at the sight of someone she thought was on her side.
“Madame Carla...! Prince Alfonso is here.”
Lariesa shouted urgently.
“I have to meet that Prince. You will let me meet him, right?”
But something was strange. The gentle affirmation that had been coming out so quickly did not come out. Lariesa was consumed by anxiety and studied Madame Carla’s expression. Madame Carla’s face, which had always been kind and like a neighbor or aunt, had changed so subtly that it was difficult to describe.
‘Rejection...?’
Lariesa frantically gathered her bearings. Could it be that Grand Duchess Carla had seen me screaming?
Grand Duchess Carla simply said one thing.
“The Prince has refused to see you.”
Lariesa’s legs gave out, and she collapsed on the floor.
If it had been any other time, Madam Carla would have supported Lariesa. She would have raised her up, asked her kindly what was wrong, and cheered her up.
But Madam Carla went inside without even saying goodbye, and instead, the regular maids came rushing out. They all tried to help Lariesa up.
Not for Lariesa’s sake, but to drag the Grand Duchess back to her quarters.
“Get out! Don’t touch me!”
The maids did not understand Gallico, but that did not seem to be a problem for them. They had no intention of following the Grand Duchess’s orders anyway.
The maids could not bring themselves to drag Grand Duchess Lariesa away, so they surrounded her with their bodies to prevent others from seeing this shameful sight.
Lariesa could not fight them off, and sat on the floor, unable to follow orders, sobbing until her tears ran out. No matter how much she struggled, the curtain of humanity held firm and would not let her go. She would never see Prince Alfonso again. Her world was over.
The next day, Grand Duchess Lariesa of Valoa was confined in a carriage with a pale face and fled from San Carlo as if she was running away.
“Let go of this!! Put this down!! I don’t like it!”
“Give the Grand Duchess the sedative prescribed by the palace doctor.”
The fact that she sat in the carriage without making a fuss and left with a pale complexion was all thanks to the herbs prescribed by the doctor.
Palagio Carlo treated the departing Gallico delegation with all due respect but omitted any official farewell ceremonies for the King or Queen.
Furthermore, Palagio Carlo treated the escorting Sir Elko as if he did not exist. He did not treat him as a prisoner, nor as a knight of his own country leaving for a foreign country.
In every way, it was an ambiguous transfer that seemed like hospitality and not hospitality.
“...”
Ariadne stood next to Queen Marguerite, looking down at the departing Gallico delegation from the highest tower in the Queen’s residence.
It was the very same spire where Prince Alfonso had stood the previous evening. But Alfonso was not there. It was just Queen Marguerite, her shadowy Lady Carla, and Ariadne.
“Ariadne de Mare.”
Queen Marguerite called Ariadne in a calm voice.
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“Your greatest goal has been achieved.”
The Queen said this as she watched the departing Grand Duchess of Gallico. Ariadne hid her slight pain and answered calmly.
“My greatest goal is the safety of His Highness the Prince and Your Majesty the Queen.”
The Queen did not respond to Ariadne’s words and spoke in a calm tone.
“Grand Duchess, His Highness the Prince is not currently permitted to meet with outsiders.”
“I, Grand Duchess Lariesa...”
“Grand Duchess, it will be difficult for you to do this here. The Prince is not currently in the palace, so I cannot report to him.”
“What, what do you mean... Prince, I must meet him!”
The one who came to the rescue of the servant who was being harassed by Grand Duchess Lariesa, who was stammering in Etruscan with a thick Gallico accent, was the Prince’s aide, Sir Bernardino.
“Grand Duchess. His Highness the Prince is recuperating in the Queen’s palace. If you wish to send him a message, I can send it to him, but it would be best not to wait for a reply.”
He is a person who can communicate! Lariesa clung to him with an earnest expression.
“Just a moment...!”
However, just because they could communicate did not mean that the other party would grant Lariesa’s wish. Sir Bernardino was firm.
“The Prince is spending time with his mother and is not accepting any outside visitors. Please respect their time.”
“Grand Duchess. His Highness the Prince is recuperating in the Queen’s palace. If you wish to send him a message, I can send it to him, but it would be best not to wait for a reply.”
He is a person who can communicate! Lariesa clung to him with an earnest expression.
“Just a moment...!”
However, just because they could communicate did not mean that the other party would grant Lariesa’s wish. Sir Bernardino was firm.
“The Prince is spending time with his mother and is not accepting any outside visitors. Please respect their time.”
“There is something I must ask you!”
Despite Lariesa’s desperate cries, Bernardino answered matter-of-factly.
“Unfortunately, it will be difficult, Your Highness.”
Sir Bernardino turned back coldly in front of Lariesa, who was trying to cling on even longer.
“Have a good evening.”
“!”
It was a chilling coldness. Lariesa had never been treated like this since arriving in San Carlo. She gasped for breath as if she was hyperventilating.
However, the thought that she could not end up being misunderstood so terribly by Prince Alfonso kept her going. She could not break down here. If she did that, she would be remembered as a terrible woman in Prince Alfonso’s memory for the rest of her life. Being thought of badly by someone she loved was the thing that Lariesa feared the most in the world.
‘You’re at the Queen’s Palace...?’
At the Queen’s Palace, there was Madame Carla, who had always supported Princess Lariesa. She would do something about it.
Princess Lariesa lifted the hem of her dress and almost ran towards the Queen’s Palace.
‘If I just meet Madame Carla, she will arrange a meeting with the Prince...!’
Despite Lariesa’s desperate cries, Bernardino answered matter-of-factly.
“Unfortunately, it will be difficult, Your Highness.”
Sir Bernardino turned back coldly in front of Lariesa, who was trying to cling on even longer.
“Have a good evening.”
“!”
It was a chilling coldness. Lariesa had never been treated like this since arriving in San Carlo. She gasped for breath as if she was hyperventilating.
However, the thought that she could not end up being misunderstood so terribly by Prince Alfonso kept her going. She could not break down here. If she did that, she would be remembered as a terrible woman in Prince Alfonso’s memory for the rest of her life. Being thought of badly by someone she loved was the thing that Lariesa feared the most in the world.
‘You’re at the Queen’s Palace...?’
At the Queen’s Palace, there was Madame Carla, who had always supported Princess Lariesa. She would do something about it.
Princess Lariesa lifted the hem of her dress and almost ran towards the Queen’s Palace.
‘If I just meet Madame Carla, she will arrange a meeting with the Prince...!’
She would be leaving this place tomorrow morning. She had to meet her quickly.
She could see the splendid marble arch that marked the entrance to the Queen’s Palace. The vines that announced the arrival of spring were climbing up the arch. Princess Lariesa was lucky when she arrived at the Queen’s Palace. She met Queen Marguerite’s maid, whose face was familiar.
“Bring her here, Madame Carla!”
The Queen’s maid was surprised by the sudden order from Grand Duchess Lariesa, bowed on her knees, ran over, and brought Madame Carla out. Grand Duchess Lariesa’s white, dough-like face collapsed in relief and comfort at the sight of someone she thought was on her side.
“Madame Carla...! Prince Alfonso is here.”
Lariesa shouted urgently.
“I have to meet that Prince. You will let me meet him, right?”
But something was strange. The gentle affirmation that had been coming out so quickly did not come out. Lariesa was consumed by anxiety and studied Madame Carla’s expression. Madame Carla’s face, which had always been kind and like a neighbor or aunt, had changed so subtly that it was difficult to describe.
‘Rejection...?’
“The Prince... is not currently meeting any outsiders.”
Thump.
Grand Duchess Lariesa’s heart sank. The 'expression' she had felt at first was only her own premonition, but the content of Lady Carla's words was a clear rejection.
Lady Carla always called Lariesa 'the one who will soon be our family', never calling her an outsider.
Lariesa forgot her pride and clung to her submissively. She was originally extremely arrogant towards her subordinates, but the fact that she had lost the favor she had had made her so miserable.
"Please, please tell him. Princess Lariesa must, finally... no, not finally. I must see Prince Alfonso."
Looking troubled, Lady Carla could not refuse outright. She gathered up the sleeve of her dress that Princess Lariesa was hanging on to and reluctantly said,
"...I will tell the prince, but..."
Grand Duchess Lariesa’s heart sank. The 'expression' she had felt at first was only her own premonition, but the content of Lady Carla's words was a clear rejection.
Lady Carla always called Lariesa 'the one who will soon be our family', never calling her an outsider.
Lariesa forgot her pride and clung to her submissively. She was originally extremely arrogant towards her subordinates, but the fact that she had lost the favor she had had made her so miserable.
"Please, please tell him. Princess Lariesa must, finally... no, not finally. I must see Prince Alfonso."
Looking troubled, Lady Carla could not refuse outright. She gathered up the sleeve of her dress that Princess Lariesa was hanging on to and reluctantly said,
"...I will tell the prince, but..."
"..."
"That will be enough."
Lariesa thought that Alfonso would meet her. There was no logical reason for it. It was just a strange desire.
Madame Carla disappeared into the inner palace to deliver a message to the Prince, and Princess Lariesa, left alone, stood in the palace corridor without any sense of propriety, circling around and waiting. Twenty minutes passed, and she, tired of waiting, looked out of the arched corridor.
In the distance, I could see the section where Queen Marguerite’s inner chambers were located, and the spire built above it.
‘!’
At the top of that spire, a young man with clean skin and hair as beautiful as melted gold was leaning against the window. He was resting his chin on his hand and looking out over the entire San Carlo as if he were looking at a distant mountain.
Prince Alfonso.
Lariesa unconsciously raised both arms and shook them vigorously. However, the golden-haired young man did not even glance in this direction. Lariesa, who had become impatient, could not hold back and shouted.
“Prince—!”
The wind blew gently, and the man’s hair swung in the air.
"That will be enough."
Lariesa thought that Alfonso would meet her. There was no logical reason for it. It was just a strange desire.
Madame Carla disappeared into the inner palace to deliver a message to the Prince, and Princess Lariesa, left alone, stood in the palace corridor without any sense of propriety, circling around and waiting. Twenty minutes passed, and she, tired of waiting, looked out of the arched corridor.
In the distance, I could see the section where Queen Marguerite’s inner chambers were located, and the spire built above it.
‘!’
At the top of that spire, a young man with clean skin and hair as beautiful as melted gold was leaning against the window. He was resting his chin on his hand and looking out over the entire San Carlo as if he were looking at a distant mountain.
Prince Alfonso.
Lariesa unconsciously raised both arms and shook them vigorously. However, the golden-haired young man did not even glance in this direction. Lariesa, who had become impatient, could not hold back and shouted.
“Prince—!”
The wind blew gently, and the man’s hair swung in the air.
Ah, why did that wind only reach him and not me?
Lariesa, who had become impatient, shouted once more.
“Prince Alfonso—!!”
Whether he heard the voice calling him, or he happened to see this direction while turning his head to brush his hair, Prince Alfonso turned his upper body precisely in the direction of the open corridor where Grand Duchess Lariesa was standing.
The delighted Lariesa waved her right hand with all her might. A huge smile appeared on her doughy, frugal face.
“Prince Alfonso—!!”
Whether he heard the voice calling him, or he happened to see this direction while turning his head to brush his hair, Prince Alfonso turned his upper body precisely in the direction of the open corridor where Grand Duchess Lariesa was standing.
The delighted Lariesa waved her right hand with all her might. A huge smile appeared on her doughy, frugal face.
'You definitely saw me. Our eyes met.'
It wasn't Larriesa's mistake. Prince Alfonso definitely saw Princess Lariesa.
However, he turned his upper body around with an expression that was so cold and cruel that he could not even imagine Prince Alfonso could make. The young man's silhouette disappeared from the window of the spire.
"Ahh..."
Although she couldn't see Prince Alfonso's expression clearly, Princess Larriesa instinctively felt 'disgust' that went beyond 'contempt'.
'No way, no way.'
Larriesa barely managed to support her body which was about to collapse on her trembling legs.
"Hmm, hmm. Princess."
At that moment, she heard Madame Carla's voice appear from inside the hallway. He had already arrived a little while ago, but he didn’t seem to have informed Grand Duchess Lariesa of his arrival because she was already screaming. Lariesa’s face turned pale.
“Madam Carla..."
It wasn't Larriesa's mistake. Prince Alfonso definitely saw Princess Lariesa.
However, he turned his upper body around with an expression that was so cold and cruel that he could not even imagine Prince Alfonso could make. The young man's silhouette disappeared from the window of the spire.
"Ahh..."
Although she couldn't see Prince Alfonso's expression clearly, Princess Larriesa instinctively felt 'disgust' that went beyond 'contempt'.
'No way, no way.'
Larriesa barely managed to support her body which was about to collapse on her trembling legs.
"Hmm, hmm. Princess."
At that moment, she heard Madame Carla's voice appear from inside the hallway. He had already arrived a little while ago, but he didn’t seem to have informed Grand Duchess Lariesa of his arrival because she was already screaming. Lariesa’s face turned pale.
“Madam Carla..."
Lariesa frantically gathered her bearings. Could it be that Grand Duchess Carla had seen me screaming?
Grand Duchess Carla simply said one thing.
“The Prince has refused to see you.”
Lariesa’s legs gave out, and she collapsed on the floor.
If it had been any other time, Madam Carla would have supported Lariesa. She would have raised her up, asked her kindly what was wrong, and cheered her up.
But Madam Carla went inside without even saying goodbye, and instead, the regular maids came rushing out. They all tried to help Lariesa up.
Not for Lariesa’s sake, but to drag the Grand Duchess back to her quarters.
“Get out! Don’t touch me!”
The maids did not understand Gallico, but that did not seem to be a problem for them. They had no intention of following the Grand Duchess’s orders anyway.
The maids could not bring themselves to drag Grand Duchess Lariesa away, so they surrounded her with their bodies to prevent others from seeing this shameful sight.
Lariesa could not fight them off, and sat on the floor, unable to follow orders, sobbing until her tears ran out. No matter how much she struggled, the curtain of humanity held firm and would not let her go. She would never see Prince Alfonso again. Her world was over.
***
The next day, Grand Duchess Lariesa of Valoa was confined in a carriage with a pale face and fled from San Carlo as if she was running away.
“Let go of this!! Put this down!! I don’t like it!”
“Give the Grand Duchess the sedative prescribed by the palace doctor.”
The fact that she sat in the carriage without making a fuss and left with a pale complexion was all thanks to the herbs prescribed by the doctor.
Palagio Carlo treated the departing Gallico delegation with all due respect but omitted any official farewell ceremonies for the King or Queen.
Furthermore, Palagio Carlo treated the escorting Sir Elko as if he did not exist. He did not treat him as a prisoner, nor as a knight of his own country leaving for a foreign country.
In every way, it was an ambiguous transfer that seemed like hospitality and not hospitality.
“...”
Ariadne stood next to Queen Marguerite, looking down at the departing Gallico delegation from the highest tower in the Queen’s residence.
It was the very same spire where Prince Alfonso had stood the previous evening. But Alfonso was not there. It was just Queen Marguerite, her shadowy Lady Carla, and Ariadne.
“Ariadne de Mare.”
Queen Marguerite called Ariadne in a calm voice.
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“Your greatest goal has been achieved.”
The Queen said this as she watched the departing Grand Duchess of Gallico. Ariadne hid her slight pain and answered calmly.
“My greatest goal is the safety of His Highness the Prince and Your Majesty the Queen.”
The Queen did not respond to Ariadne’s words and spoke in a calm tone.
“My child.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“I would like you not to see my son for the time being.”
Ariadne took a shallow breath. She had been able to fully understand the
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“I would like you not to see my son for the time being.”
Ariadne took a shallow breath. She had been able to fully understand the
Queen’s intentions during the past ten days or so she had spent in the palace.
Although she had been well-received in the depths of the palace, she had never, even accidentally, encountered Prince Alfonso, who was also staying in the palace. She had also not asked to meet Alfonso. There was no need to upset the landlady she was living with.
Besides, Ariadne needed to spend the next month closely with Queen Marguerite.
Ariadne answered calmly.
“I understand what Your Majesty the Queen said.”
“Not for very long.”
Lady Carla interjected as if making an excuse. As a human, it was a sorry tone to exclude Ariadne who had done so much.
“Two or three months? Just until this incident settles down.”
Ariadne nodded with a smile.
“I fully understand how you feel. I would have done the same thing, Your Majesty the Queen.”
In fact, there was no need to wait two or three months. In a month at the most, Ariadne would become the girl who saved the Queen’s life. If she wasn’t allowed to contact the Prince even with that merit, she would have to consider it a failure in this life.
“Instead, would you invite me to the palace more often?”
Lady Carla glared at Ariadne with a look that said, “Look at this.” If she treated her generously, would she immediately crawl up?
But Ariadne was not intimidated at all.
“I want to prove to Your Majesty the Queen by your side. That I am a helpful person to the 0rince.”
She looked up at Queen Marguerite and smiled.
“Consider this a reward in advance for the success of this plan.”
Queen Marguerite stared blankly at Ariadne. She looked down at the black-haired girl who was half a span shorter than her for a long time, expressionless.
When even the thick-skinned Ariadne began to feel a little nervous, Queen Marguerite smiled and replied.
“Good.”
She tapped Ariadne’s forehead with her fingertips.
“I knew you were reckless from the moment I saw you, but you don’t know how to hide it at all!”
Ariadne smiled back.
“Honesty is my strong point.”
“What a ridiculous girl.”
The atmosphere on the spire quickly became cheerful and harmonious.
“I will call you often from now on. I promise.”
Ariadne smiled brightly. It wasn’t a bad start.
Although she had been well-received in the depths of the palace, she had never, even accidentally, encountered Prince Alfonso, who was also staying in the palace. She had also not asked to meet Alfonso. There was no need to upset the landlady she was living with.
Besides, Ariadne needed to spend the next month closely with Queen Marguerite.
Ariadne answered calmly.
“I understand what Your Majesty the Queen said.”
“Not for very long.”
Lady Carla interjected as if making an excuse. As a human, it was a sorry tone to exclude Ariadne who had done so much.
“Two or three months? Just until this incident settles down.”
Ariadne nodded with a smile.
“I fully understand how you feel. I would have done the same thing, Your Majesty the Queen.”
In fact, there was no need to wait two or three months. In a month at the most, Ariadne would become the girl who saved the Queen’s life. If she wasn’t allowed to contact the Prince even with that merit, she would have to consider it a failure in this life.
“Instead, would you invite me to the palace more often?”
Lady Carla glared at Ariadne with a look that said, “Look at this.” If she treated her generously, would she immediately crawl up?
But Ariadne was not intimidated at all.
“I want to prove to Your Majesty the Queen by your side. That I am a helpful person to the 0rince.”
She looked up at Queen Marguerite and smiled.
“Consider this a reward in advance for the success of this plan.”
Queen Marguerite stared blankly at Ariadne. She looked down at the black-haired girl who was half a span shorter than her for a long time, expressionless.
When even the thick-skinned Ariadne began to feel a little nervous, Queen Marguerite smiled and replied.
“Good.”
She tapped Ariadne’s forehead with her fingertips.
“I knew you were reckless from the moment I saw you, but you don’t know how to hide it at all!”
Ariadne smiled back.
“Honesty is my strong point.”
“What a ridiculous girl.”
The atmosphere on the spire quickly became cheerful and harmonious.
“I will call you often from now on. I promise.”
Ariadne smiled brightly. It wasn’t a bad start.
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