Ariadne was very busy for the next two or three days. Many household chores had piled up while she was staying at the palace. She paid the merchants for daily necessities, made contracts for the next year, tore down and repaired old things, and paid the wages of the household. So she had no time to think about the palace when she received a call from the palace first.
“Lady de Mare... has refused to receive the letter.”
Alfonso could not believe his ears at the servant's message.
“What? Did you convey it properly?”
“Yes. I delivered it to her directly, but she refused... The messenger asked her two or three times to deliver it to Young Lady right away.”
“Did she know that it was a letter I sent?”
“The messenger said that he definitely said that the letter was sent from the Prince’s palace.”
“Do she have any more words?”
“I heard she doesn’t want to be contacted for the time being...”
It was like a bolt from the blue that she didn't want to contact him. After his subordinates finished reporting and left, Alfonso sat on the bed in a daze.
“That’s ridiculous...”
For the first time in his life, he risked everything. He put aside his duties, his subordinates, and his future, and looked only at her. But all he got in return was a cold rejection.
'Was it my fault for being inadequate?'
Because he was not trustworthy? Because he could not protect her completely from danger? Because his power base was not solid?
“Madam Carla!”
Four days after Ariadne returned home, the Queen's confidant, Madame Carla, came to the de Marais mansion in person.
“If you had come first and given us the notice, we could have treated our guests more generously.”
Ariadne now greeted Madame Carla in the reception room of the hostess she was writing about. She said so, but the rose tea from Gaeta that she had brought out in a hurry was a high-quality product that was hard to find in the market. However, Madame Carla answered stiffly without even taking a sip of the rose tea.
“You came not as a guest but as a messenger, so you were treated as a guest.”
She took a letter out of her bosom and handed it to Ariadne. Ariadne opened the letter and checked its contents. It was an invitation. “To Miss Ariadne de Mare, I will be hosting a small banquet at the Queen’s Palace next Saturday. I would like you to come and grace the occasion. - Queen Marguerite,” Madame Carla said rudely.
“You said you wanted to be in Her Majesty the Queen’s inner circle, didn’t you? Her Majesty the Queen has been very careful. The number of people invited is not large. The seating arrangements are also very close. Consider it an honor.”
However, Ariadne was contemplating something entirely different. Queen Marguerite was poisoned to death at a small banquet held in the palace.
'It hasn't even been that long yet, has it already?'
However, Princess Lariesa returned to the Kingdom of Gallico due to an unexpected incident, and the engagement never took place. The detailed timing and such were also subject to change.
“By any chance, what about the attendees?”
Madam Carla snorted, wondering if a child who was not even a little bit shy could possibly be acting picky while looking at the faces of the other attendees.
“Are you going to match the attendees now? If someone you don’t like shows up, you’re saying you won’t go or something like that?”
Ariadne denied it with a bitter smile.
“No, there’s no way that’s true.”
It was a common behavior among the high society ladies to harass the person they were photographing, but Ariadne had neither the thought nor the time to do so. She made a vague excuse.
“I was wondering if there was anything I should be particularly careful about saying or wearing. Is it possible that Countess Ruby or the Countess will be attending the dinner?”
Madame Carla's complexion darkened immediately.
“Well, this time it had to turn out that way.”
Queen Marguerite did not like attending the same events as Countess Rubina. It was a natural human thing, but it was considered immoral for a Queen who had to preside over public affairs. So, in the case of official events presided over by Leo III or the high mass held once a month, Queen Marguerite had no choice but to attend with Countess Rubina. However, in the private gatherings held by the Queen, Countess Rubina was completely excluded.
“This time, His Majesty Leo III and... It seems that things have turned out that way. As a gesture of reconciliation, His Majesty the Queen has invited Countess Rubina.”
The relationship between Leo III and Countess Rubina had been going on for over 20 years. A government that had been in power for such a long time was quite something, but Leo III and Countess Rubina were not as affectionate as they used to be, with milk and honey flowing from their eyes, and the relationship where they wanted to pick all the stars and moons. It was just that Countess Rubina’s very existence irritated Queen Marguerite and the King did not love Queen Marguerite enough to expel her, who was familiar to him and the mother of his illegitimate child, and Queen Marguerite’s acknowledgment that Rubina was just a way to save face for the King.
“Nothing bad will happen. She’s old enough now, so she wouldn’t do anything crazy.”
Ariadne bit the tip of her tongue, almost shouting 'No!' She had become excited without realizing it. In her previous life, Queen Marguerite had died in a rare place where Countess Rubina was present. That's why Countess Rubina was immediately identified as the mastermind behind the assassination. The assassination attempt is this Saturday!
Four days after Ariadne returned home, the Queen's confidant, Madame Carla, came to the de Marais mansion in person.
“If you had come first and given us the notice, we could have treated our guests more generously.”
Ariadne now greeted Madame Carla in the reception room of the hostess she was writing about. She said so, but the rose tea from Gaeta that she had brought out in a hurry was a high-quality product that was hard to find in the market. However, Madame Carla answered stiffly without even taking a sip of the rose tea.
“You came not as a guest but as a messenger, so you were treated as a guest.”
She took a letter out of her bosom and handed it to Ariadne. Ariadne opened the letter and checked its contents. It was an invitation. “To Miss Ariadne de Mare, I will be hosting a small banquet at the Queen’s Palace next Saturday. I would like you to come and grace the occasion. - Queen Marguerite,” Madame Carla said rudely.
“You said you wanted to be in Her Majesty the Queen’s inner circle, didn’t you? Her Majesty the Queen has been very careful. The number of people invited is not large. The seating arrangements are also very close. Consider it an honor.”
However, Ariadne was contemplating something entirely different. Queen Marguerite was poisoned to death at a small banquet held in the palace.
'It hasn't even been that long yet, has it already?'
However, Princess Lariesa returned to the Kingdom of Gallico due to an unexpected incident, and the engagement never took place. The detailed timing and such were also subject to change.
“By any chance, what about the attendees?”
Madam Carla snorted, wondering if a child who was not even a little bit shy could possibly be acting picky while looking at the faces of the other attendees.
“Are you going to match the attendees now? If someone you don’t like shows up, you’re saying you won’t go or something like that?”
Ariadne denied it with a bitter smile.
“No, there’s no way that’s true.”
It was a common behavior among the high society ladies to harass the person they were photographing, but Ariadne had neither the thought nor the time to do so. She made a vague excuse.
“I was wondering if there was anything I should be particularly careful about saying or wearing. Is it possible that Countess Ruby or the Countess will be attending the dinner?”
Madame Carla's complexion darkened immediately.
“Well, this time it had to turn out that way.”
Queen Marguerite did not like attending the same events as Countess Rubina. It was a natural human thing, but it was considered immoral for a Queen who had to preside over public affairs. So, in the case of official events presided over by Leo III or the high mass held once a month, Queen Marguerite had no choice but to attend with Countess Rubina. However, in the private gatherings held by the Queen, Countess Rubina was completely excluded.
“This time, His Majesty Leo III and... It seems that things have turned out that way. As a gesture of reconciliation, His Majesty the Queen has invited Countess Rubina.”
The relationship between Leo III and Countess Rubina had been going on for over 20 years. A government that had been in power for such a long time was quite something, but Leo III and Countess Rubina were not as affectionate as they used to be, with milk and honey flowing from their eyes, and the relationship where they wanted to pick all the stars and moons. It was just that Countess Rubina’s very existence irritated Queen Marguerite and the King did not love Queen Marguerite enough to expel her, who was familiar to him and the mother of his illegitimate child, and Queen Marguerite’s acknowledgment that Rubina was just a way to save face for the King.
“Nothing bad will happen. She’s old enough now, so she wouldn’t do anything crazy.”
Ariadne bit the tip of her tongue, almost shouting 'No!' She had become excited without realizing it. In her previous life, Queen Marguerite had died in a rare place where Countess Rubina was present. That's why Countess Rubina was immediately identified as the mastermind behind the assassination. The assassination attempt is this Saturday!
Knock knock.
When Ariadne was about to chime in with Lady Carla, someone knocked on the door. It was the postal servant.
“What’s going on when I have guests?”
Ariadne asked the postman in a slightly stern voice. It was not proper for a servant to intrude while there was an important guest.
“I think an important letter has arrived, Miss.”
The servant handed Ariadne a letter. There was nothing special about the envelope. Ariadne realized in an instant. It was a letter from Alfonso. The thickness of the letter, the quality of the paper, everything was from the Prince’s palace.
“I’ll check later, later. We have guests just now.”
Ariadne pushed the newly arrived letter onto the side table as inconspicuously as possible so that Madame Carla would not find out who it was from. But the postman was terribly oblivious.
“The Prince’s palace is waiting downstairs. Would you like to reply right away?”
At the mention of the 'Prince's palace', Madame Carla's eyebrows immediately rose. Ariadne sighed deeply inwardly and pretended to be surprised on the outside.
“What? There was nothing written on the outside, so I had no idea! Is this a letter from the Prince’s palace?”
She had no talent for acting at all. A cold sweat ran down Ariadne's back. But to her annoyance, the servant looked at Ariadne with an expression that said, "All anonymous letters that reach you, young lady, are from the Prince's palace. What are you talking about?"
'Shut up, please shut up!'
Fortunately, the servant heard the voice in his heart and stopped making excuses.
“Should we just say there is no reply?”
Ariadne answered, biting her lips tightly.
"Yes."
But Madame Carla was not an easy person.
“...Lady de Mare.”
"Yes?"
“Are you going to receive that letter?”
“What’s going on when I have guests?”
Ariadne asked the postman in a slightly stern voice. It was not proper for a servant to intrude while there was an important guest.
“I think an important letter has arrived, Miss.”
The servant handed Ariadne a letter. There was nothing special about the envelope. Ariadne realized in an instant. It was a letter from Alfonso. The thickness of the letter, the quality of the paper, everything was from the Prince’s palace.
“I’ll check later, later. We have guests just now.”
Ariadne pushed the newly arrived letter onto the side table as inconspicuously as possible so that Madame Carla would not find out who it was from. But the postman was terribly oblivious.
“The Prince’s palace is waiting downstairs. Would you like to reply right away?”
At the mention of the 'Prince's palace', Madame Carla's eyebrows immediately rose. Ariadne sighed deeply inwardly and pretended to be surprised on the outside.
“What? There was nothing written on the outside, so I had no idea! Is this a letter from the Prince’s palace?”
She had no talent for acting at all. A cold sweat ran down Ariadne's back. But to her annoyance, the servant looked at Ariadne with an expression that said, "All anonymous letters that reach you, young lady, are from the Prince's palace. What are you talking about?"
'Shut up, please shut up!'
Fortunately, the servant heard the voice in his heart and stopped making excuses.
“Should we just say there is no reply?”
Ariadne answered, biting her lips tightly.
"Yes."
But Madame Carla was not an easy person.
“...Lady de Mare.”
"Yes?"
“Are you going to receive that letter?”
She spoke in a garbled tone.
“Don’t forget the promise Young Lady made to our Queen.”
It was a message to send a clear message to the Prince by refusing to receive the letter. Ariadne briefly considered protesting, saying, "Her Majesty the Queen clearly told me not to contact him for the time being, she didn't tell me to break up with her son!" but she quickly gave up.
“Don’t forget the promise Young Lady made to our Queen.”
It was a message to send a clear message to the Prince by refusing to receive the letter. Ariadne briefly considered protesting, saying, "Her Majesty the Queen clearly told me not to contact him for the time being, she didn't tell me to break up with her son!" but she quickly gave up.
The assassination attempt on Queen Marguerite was scheduled for this Saturday. In four days, she would be receiving state treatment anyway. If she held out here and the dinner invitation was canceled, it would be a major accident. Ariadne sighed lightly and answered.
“What Madam said is correct.”
She handed the letter she had left on the table back to the servant.
“Send it back.”
"Yes."
Ariadne glanced at Madame Carla, who still had her eyes wide open, and added a word.
“I... told him that I didn’t want to be in contact with him for a while.”
“I will do so.”
The servant took the letter and left the drawing room.
'Alfonso, please wait a little longer.'
Ariadne swallowed her regret inside.
“What Madam said is correct.”
She handed the letter she had left on the table back to the servant.
“Send it back.”
"Yes."
Ariadne glanced at Madame Carla, who still had her eyes wide open, and added a word.
“I... told him that I didn’t want to be in contact with him for a while.”
“I will do so.”
The servant took the letter and left the drawing room.
'Alfonso, please wait a little longer.'
Ariadne swallowed her regret inside.
***
“Lady de Mare... has refused to receive the letter.”
Alfonso could not believe his ears at the servant's message.
“What? Did you convey it properly?”
“Yes. I delivered it to her directly, but she refused... The messenger asked her two or three times to deliver it to Young Lady right away.”
“Did she know that it was a letter I sent?”
“The messenger said that he definitely said that the letter was sent from the Prince’s palace.”
“Do she have any more words?”
“I heard she doesn’t want to be contacted for the time being...”
It was like a bolt from the blue that she didn't want to contact him. After his subordinates finished reporting and left, Alfonso sat on the bed in a daze.
“That’s ridiculous...”
For the first time in his life, he risked everything. He put aside his duties, his subordinates, and his future, and looked only at her. But all he got in return was a cold rejection.
'Was it my fault for being inadequate?'
Because he was not trustworthy? Because he could not protect her completely from danger? Because his power base was not solid?
Prince Alfonso could not figure it out at all. Ariadne had never asked him for anything. If she had asked for anything, it would have been an expression of affection or to distance himself from the Princess of Lariesa. She had never wanted anything, power, money, or even jewels. Alfonso wanted to run to her right now and ask what she had done wrong, and beg her to hold his hand and whisper her love to him like before so that he could feel her body temperature, smell her body, and touch her cheek. But Ariadne’s intentions were clear.
'I don't want any contact with you.'
If she had acted even a little vaguely, Alfonso would have stormed the front gate of the de Mare mansion and laid siege. But Ariadne, his girlfriend, didn’t want that. Alfonso buried his head in the desk and closed his eyes in a gloom that felt like the world was ending.
'I don't want any contact with you.'
If she had acted even a little vaguely, Alfonso would have stormed the front gate of the de Mare mansion and laid siege. But Ariadne, his girlfriend, didn’t want that. Alfonso buried his head in the desk and closed his eyes in a gloom that felt like the world was ending.
***
The day of the decisive battle dawned. Ariadne opened her eyes at dawn with a strange excitement.
'It feels similar to the day before the Apostle of Asereto.'
Even then, she was trembling because she wasn't sure of her success. However, success comes to those who prepare. Although time was short, she was fully prepared. In her previous life, Queen Marguerite was assassinated by arsenic injection at a luncheon attended by Countess Rubina.
'The food that was laced with arsenic was probably the water that Her Majesty the Queen was drinking.'
At formal dinners, everyone eats the same food. It is rude to serve food different from that of the host. If it had been in the food itself, it would not have been just Queen Marguerite who would have been poisoned, but all the invited guests who attended the dinner would have been poisoned.
'Your Majesty the Queen, do not share the water you drink with your guests. Drink it only for yourself.'
Queen Marguerite was very sensitive to cold, so she always carried lukewarm water with her and drank it with citron pieces. It was half medicine, and objectively it was not tasty, so she did not serve it to guests. It was not impossible to apply arsenic only to the dishes used by the Queen, but arsenic had to be mixed well with liquids to cause poisoning.
'The first thing to check is the water Her Majesty the Queen drinks. The second thing to check is the stew served with the meal.'
Ariadne sent Sancha and Giuseppe to search all the gypsy areas and held tightly in her hand the sulfur spring concentrate she had barely managed to obtain. It was a method of detecting arsenic that was almost unknown in the central continent, and she had learned of its existence when she had personally blocked several assassination attempts on Cesare in her previous life. When properly refined sulfur spring concentrate was mixed with a substance containing arsenic, a bright yellow precipitate was produced.
'I can do it.'
Knock knock.
'It feels similar to the day before the Apostle of Asereto.'
Even then, she was trembling because she wasn't sure of her success. However, success comes to those who prepare. Although time was short, she was fully prepared. In her previous life, Queen Marguerite was assassinated by arsenic injection at a luncheon attended by Countess Rubina.
'The food that was laced with arsenic was probably the water that Her Majesty the Queen was drinking.'
At formal dinners, everyone eats the same food. It is rude to serve food different from that of the host. If it had been in the food itself, it would not have been just Queen Marguerite who would have been poisoned, but all the invited guests who attended the dinner would have been poisoned.
'Your Majesty the Queen, do not share the water you drink with your guests. Drink it only for yourself.'
Queen Marguerite was very sensitive to cold, so she always carried lukewarm water with her and drank it with citron pieces. It was half medicine, and objectively it was not tasty, so she did not serve it to guests. It was not impossible to apply arsenic only to the dishes used by the Queen, but arsenic had to be mixed well with liquids to cause poisoning.
'The first thing to check is the water Her Majesty the Queen drinks. The second thing to check is the stew served with the meal.'
Ariadne sent Sancha and Giuseppe to search all the gypsy areas and held tightly in her hand the sulfur spring concentrate she had barely managed to obtain. It was a method of detecting arsenic that was almost unknown in the central continent, and she had learned of its existence when she had personally blocked several assassination attempts on Cesare in her previous life. When properly refined sulfur spring concentrate was mixed with a substance containing arsenic, a bright yellow precipitate was produced.
'I can do it.'
Knock knock.
A cautious knock rang out in the room, and Sancha opened Ariadne's room and came in.
“Miss, the carriage is ready.”
She stood up after carefully wrapping the white porcelain bottle in her bosom.
“Yes. Let’s go.”
“Miss, the carriage is ready.”
She stood up after carefully wrapping the white porcelain bottle in her bosom.
“Yes. Let’s go.”
Support Novellate!
Comments
Post a Comment