Ariadne had only two or three cards she could use right now.
Fortunately, Ariadne's letter received a positive reply. The offer she had made in the letter was also accepted.
"I have an urgent matter to meet you... If it's okay with you, I'd like to invite you to my house today. If you find the de Mare mansion inconvenient, I don't mind going to your house."
The other person invited Ariadne to his own house rather than visiting the de Mare mansion. That was why Ariadne was currently walking in the corridor of the capital city mansion of the Baron de Castiglione.
'Camellia de Castiglione.'
She was the one who had a huge fight with Isabella and started the rumor that Isabella was the mistress of the most notorious man in the capital city.
'You must be scared of Isabella, calling me here instead of coming to my house.'
Ariadne had no idea how Isabella's swearing had made such rapid progress that it had driven Camellia, who had grown up beautifully, into a panic.
Camellia did not come down to the reception room for a long time, whether she was getting ready to greet the guest who had suddenly arrived or trying to fight. Ariadne decided to think about it in a relaxed way. She must be getting ready.
Click.
The drawing room door opened, and the servant of the house, wanting to follow the royal example, shouted out in a long, dignified tone.
“Lady Camellia!”
Ariadne shook her head internally. No, fool. If you want to do it royally, you have to shout before the door opens, and you wouldn’t do that unless it was a formal party.
However, she didn’t show her feelings at all, and with a cheerful face, she stood up from her seat to greet Camellia.
“Camellia!”
“Ariadne.”
Camellia greeted Ariadne with a bright smile on her pretty, round face.
“It’s been a while. You’ve been so polite. You haven’t contacted me often.”
“Thank you for accepting my sudden contact. I knew it was rude, but I did it anyway.”
Camellia was wearing a simple indoor dress and her face was almost bare. She didn’t take a long time to get dressed up or wash up, she just stalled and came down late.
“We got into a fight.”
The tea and snacks were also coming out late.
“You fought with Isabella, not me? Why are you like this?”
However, today’s goal wasn’t to fight Camellia. Her goal was to pick a fight with Camellia, or more precisely, Camellia’s father.
Ariadne asked how things had been, complimented Camellia, and asked how things were going these days. Ariadne’s social skills, honed in her previous life in the palace, had blossomed in this life.
Camellia was still just a young girl who had just turned twenty. Her lips, which had been pursed shut, slowly relaxed at the skill of praising and asking for attention with the sincerity of an old noblewoman.
“I really like the violet perfume I bought this time.”
“Where did you get it? Camellia has really great taste. I think you're two seasons ahead of everyone else.”
The current trend in San Carlo was the rose perfume from Gaeta.
Camellia originally used only rose perfume from Gaeta, and among them, she used only the Gaeta rose concentrate that her father imported directly from Gaeta. It was a top-quality product that was not available in many places.
“My father has cut off his business with Gaeta. The violet perfume comes from Assereto in the south! He will buy a larger quantity next season. He told me to wear it a lot until then.”
“Oh my. Can you give me some too?”
“If Miss Ariadne does that, my father will be happy!”
Ariadne was the undisputed greatest talent in San Carlo, and everything she wore and used was the greatest hit in San Carlo, or in Etruscan history. When Ariadne de Mare wears something, it is the best publicity.
And there was a reason why the Baron of Castiglione was selling violet perfume in the market. He had cut off his business with Gaeta.
'First, father.'
Cardinal de Mare was a high-ranking cleric with access to the palace. He might be able to offer a word or two of advice to Leo III.
'But father is also, after all, an agent of the Holy See and a stranger in de Carlo's court.'
Considering his position as a diplomat, it was uncertain whether advice such as 'do not send the Margrave of Gaeta back to his fiefdom', which corresponded to internal affairs, would be effective.
'Second, Alfonso.'
Ariadne was able to advise Prince Alfonso, 'do not send the Margrave of Gaeta back to his fiefdom.' However, after that, Alfonso had to persuade Leo III.
'...Will His Majesty the King really listen to Alfonso now?'
Prince Alfonso had fallen out of favor with Leo III for murdering the Duke of Mireille. Even if Alfonso were to make cheese from cow's milk now, Leo III would not have heard of it.
'The third... should I call this the third?'
The person who had recently emerged as a conduit for spying on Ariadne's central politics was Raphael de Baldessar.
'It might be effective if I ask Raphael to tell the Marquis Baldessar.'
The Marquis Baldessar was a close associate of Leo III's who was heavily promoted, a member of the Lesser Curia Regis and happened to be in charge of internal affairs.
'If he were to argue that the Marquis of Gaeta was suspicious and should not be sent back to his fiefdom, His Majesty the King would listen.'
However, all Ariadne knew was what would happen in the future. The Marquis of Gaeta had not yet betrayed.
If an enemy appeared on the border and a sane person advised to keep a sane lord in the capital, he would probably abandon his adviser. As Ariadne racked her brain, a person suddenly came to mind.
'If that's the case...!'
Ariadne quickly wrote a letter and called the mailman.
"Hello."
"Yes, my lady."
"Deliver this letter to the address written here right away. Don't just come. Wait until you get a reply and then come back."
"Yes!"
Cardinal de Mare was a high-ranking cleric with access to the palace. He might be able to offer a word or two of advice to Leo III.
'But father is also, after all, an agent of the Holy See and a stranger in de Carlo's court.'
Considering his position as a diplomat, it was uncertain whether advice such as 'do not send the Margrave of Gaeta back to his fiefdom', which corresponded to internal affairs, would be effective.
'Second, Alfonso.'
Ariadne was able to advise Prince Alfonso, 'do not send the Margrave of Gaeta back to his fiefdom.' However, after that, Alfonso had to persuade Leo III.
'...Will His Majesty the King really listen to Alfonso now?'
Prince Alfonso had fallen out of favor with Leo III for murdering the Duke of Mireille. Even if Alfonso were to make cheese from cow's milk now, Leo III would not have heard of it.
'The third... should I call this the third?'
The person who had recently emerged as a conduit for spying on Ariadne's central politics was Raphael de Baldessar.
'It might be effective if I ask Raphael to tell the Marquis Baldessar.'
The Marquis Baldessar was a close associate of Leo III's who was heavily promoted, a member of the Lesser Curia Regis and happened to be in charge of internal affairs.
'If he were to argue that the Marquis of Gaeta was suspicious and should not be sent back to his fiefdom, His Majesty the King would listen.'
However, all Ariadne knew was what would happen in the future. The Marquis of Gaeta had not yet betrayed.
If an enemy appeared on the border and a sane person advised to keep a sane lord in the capital, he would probably abandon his adviser. As Ariadne racked her brain, a person suddenly came to mind.
'If that's the case...!'
Ariadne quickly wrote a letter and called the mailman.
"Hello."
"Yes, my lady."
"Deliver this letter to the address written here right away. Don't just come. Wait until you get a reply and then come back."
"Yes!"
***
Fortunately, Ariadne's letter received a positive reply. The offer she had made in the letter was also accepted.
"I have an urgent matter to meet you... If it's okay with you, I'd like to invite you to my house today. If you find the de Mare mansion inconvenient, I don't mind going to your house."
The other person invited Ariadne to his own house rather than visiting the de Mare mansion. That was why Ariadne was currently walking in the corridor of the capital city mansion of the Baron de Castiglione.
'Camellia de Castiglione.'
She was the one who had a huge fight with Isabella and started the rumor that Isabella was the mistress of the most notorious man in the capital city.
'You must be scared of Isabella, calling me here instead of coming to my house.'
Ariadne had no idea how Isabella's swearing had made such rapid progress that it had driven Camellia, who had grown up beautifully, into a panic.
The Baron de Castiglione's mansion was a flashy remodel of an old house purchased in the capital city about 20 years ago. The old, prestigious family's frame was covered in gold, marble, and murals of the nouveau riche, overwhelming ordinary people but also making their hearts suffocate a little.
'It's just like my house.'
Ariadne had no choice but to admit it. The de Mare Mansion also underwent extensive renovations around the same time Cardinal de Mare arrived in the Etruscan territory.
Although Cardinal de Mare’s tastes were slightly more refined than Baron de Castiglione’s, it was basically a luxurious building built with a generous amount of gold in the style of the time. A feast of gold coins where those who failed to find a place in the capital pitifully showed off.
Ariadne, who was led to an empty reception room where the host had not yet arrived, sat on a chair covered in gorgeous velvet and thought.
‘Inferiority complex. A desire to take revenge on those who have trampled on them. That’s the emotion I’m going to touch on today.’
'It's just like my house.'
Ariadne had no choice but to admit it. The de Mare Mansion also underwent extensive renovations around the same time Cardinal de Mare arrived in the Etruscan territory.
Although Cardinal de Mare’s tastes were slightly more refined than Baron de Castiglione’s, it was basically a luxurious building built with a generous amount of gold in the style of the time. A feast of gold coins where those who failed to find a place in the capital pitifully showed off.
Ariadne, who was led to an empty reception room where the host had not yet arrived, sat on a chair covered in gorgeous velvet and thought.
‘Inferiority complex. A desire to take revenge on those who have trampled on them. That’s the emotion I’m going to touch on today.’
Camellia did not come down to the reception room for a long time, whether she was getting ready to greet the guest who had suddenly arrived or trying to fight. Ariadne decided to think about it in a relaxed way. She must be getting ready.
Click.
The drawing room door opened, and the servant of the house, wanting to follow the royal example, shouted out in a long, dignified tone.
“Lady Camellia!”
Ariadne shook her head internally. No, fool. If you want to do it royally, you have to shout before the door opens, and you wouldn’t do that unless it was a formal party.
However, she didn’t show her feelings at all, and with a cheerful face, she stood up from her seat to greet Camellia.
“Camellia!”
“Ariadne.”
Camellia greeted Ariadne with a bright smile on her pretty, round face.
“It’s been a while. You’ve been so polite. You haven’t contacted me often.”
“Thank you for accepting my sudden contact. I knew it was rude, but I did it anyway.”
It was a conversation that crossed thorns like, “Why did you suddenly show up today and act friendly when you didn’t contact me?” “If I were to see you, you should see me, so what can I do?”
Camellia was wearing a simple indoor dress and her face was almost bare. She didn’t take a long time to get dressed up or wash up, she just stalled and came down late.
“We got into a fight.”
The tea and snacks were also coming out late.
“You fought with Isabella, not me? Why are you like this?”
However, today’s goal wasn’t to fight Camellia. Her goal was to pick a fight with Camellia, or more precisely, Camellia’s father.
Ariadne asked how things had been, complimented Camellia, and asked how things were going these days. Ariadne’s social skills, honed in her previous life in the palace, had blossomed in this life.
Camellia was still just a young girl who had just turned twenty. Her lips, which had been pursed shut, slowly relaxed at the skill of praising and asking for attention with the sincerity of an old noblewoman.
“I really like the violet perfume I bought this time.”
“Where did you get it? Camellia has really great taste. I think you're two seasons ahead of everyone else.”
The current trend in San Carlo was the rose perfume from Gaeta.
Camellia originally used only rose perfume from Gaeta, and among them, she used only the Gaeta rose concentrate that her father imported directly from Gaeta. It was a top-quality product that was not available in many places.
“My father has cut off his business with Gaeta. The violet perfume comes from Assereto in the south! He will buy a larger quantity next season. He told me to wear it a lot until then.”
“Oh my. Can you give me some too?”
“If Miss Ariadne does that, my father will be happy!”
Ariadne was the undisputed greatest talent in San Carlo, and everything she wore and used was the greatest hit in San Carlo, or in Etruscan history. When Ariadne de Mare wears something, it is the best publicity.
And there was a reason why the Baron of Castiglione was selling violet perfume in the market. He had cut off his business with Gaeta.
‘The Margrave of Gaeta shouted at me to drive that dirty merchant out of my lands.’
The cause of the trouble was his suggestion to commercialize and sell the Gaeta Rose, the emblem of the Count of Gaeta.
The proposal of the Baron of Castiglione, who was ahead of his time, to make the Gaeta Rose a logo, put it on fabrics as a pattern, and even engrave it on perfume bottles, sounded like 'let's sell off our ancestors' to the ears of the old noble Count of Gaeta.
Furthermore, the Baron of Castiglione offered '10% of the profits' in exchange for the use of the Gaeta Rose, the family crest, which made the Count of Gaeta even angrier.
How dare you sell the faces and names of our ancestors, and you take 90% and we take 10%? You dirty swindler!
The cause of the trouble was his suggestion to commercialize and sell the Gaeta Rose, the emblem of the Count of Gaeta.
The proposal of the Baron of Castiglione, who was ahead of his time, to make the Gaeta Rose a logo, put it on fabrics as a pattern, and even engrave it on perfume bottles, sounded like 'let's sell off our ancestors' to the ears of the old noble Count of Gaeta.
Furthermore, the Baron of Castiglione offered '10% of the profits' in exchange for the use of the Gaeta Rose, the family crest, which made the Count of Gaeta even angrier.
How dare you sell the faces and names of our ancestors, and you take 90% and we take 10%? You dirty swindler!
Count Gaeta thought to himself, and shouted at the Baron of Castiglione mixed with verbal abuse, telling him that he was lucky that he had not been beaten with a whip and driven out, and then chased him out of the castle. It was the level of cruelty that the soldiers grabbed his limbs and threw him into the moat.
All business connections were cut off. The distribution rights for the highest grade Gaeta Rose went entirely to the commoner Boccanegra Company.
He thought it would be less shabby, so he traded with a Baron, but when he got all the way to the top, he decided to trade with a commoner merchant who would bow down to him.
Baron Castiglione gnashed his teeth, but there was not much revenge a mere Baron could take against the Margrave of Gaeta, a prestigious family that even held military power among the old nobles. The wealth and power of the old nobles came from their lands, and dealing with merchants was just pocket money.
“How and under what circumstances would you spray violet perfume? I’m sure Baron Castiglione has a promotional method in mind.”
“Well, well. I’m not sure about that...”
“Maybe I could meet the Baron and ask him in person?”
Ariadne threw out a bait. Ask!
But Camellia hesitated and did not answer right away.
“My father has been busy with construction work lately...”
Ariadne was furious. Why are you hesitating so much?
“This is a chance to completely drive the roses of Gaeta out of the market. I’m sure the Baron will be pleased.”
Ariadne decided to make a bold move.
“I have always admired the business acumen of the Baron Castiglione. Camellia, we who are new to the capital always have to attract attention by doing something new and exciting. I think it would be great to meet Baron Castiglione, who was the best at this in my father’s generation and broaden my horizons.”
After much thought, Camellia came to a conclusion.
“...I’m sorry.”
Camellia’s decision was to reject Ariadne’s request. Her father really hated her talking about business.
Camellia wanted to be her father’s obedient daughter, and she had no intention of going against her father’s wishes for Ariadne, whom she was not particularly close to.
“That would be a bit difficult. Even if it was about Gaeta...”
At that moment, a clear voice was heard from the hallway.
“Gaeta? Why Gaeta?”
Suddenly.
A middle-aged man with a goatee opened the door to the living room without even knocking and came in.
“Father!”
Camellia’s cheeks turned red.
“Oh, really, how rude you are in front of a guest!”
If someone else had done that, she would have scolded him sternly. However, her father, who held her money and her lifeline, was behaving like that, so she couldn’t bring herself to stop him.
But Baron Castiglione paid no attention and turned to Ariadne.
“What happened to Gaeta?”
Ariadne smiled inwardly.
“I got it.”
Ariadne, having told Baron Castiglione the plan, set off on her way home with a satisfied heart. She was about to return after telling him all she knew about the weaknesses of the Margrave of Gaeta.
Of course, there was no evidence that the Margrave of Gaeta was preparing a coup in his cellar or that he had previously conspired to take all of Gaeta’s lands and give them to Gallico. If there had been such solid evidence, she would have immediately told Leo III to summon the royal court.
Ariadne only told him that the Margrave of Gaeta was half Gallico, that his wife was also Gallico, and that his children spoke Gallico more comfortably than Etruscan. She just added one more piece of information to it.
'His Majesty has always questioned the competence of his vassals who have gone to the fiefdom. Wouldn't His Majesty be very pleased if we told him that it would be better for a great central nobleman to return with him and help the lord make the right decision, rather than sending the lord of Gaeta back to the fiefdom alone?'
All business connections were cut off. The distribution rights for the highest grade Gaeta Rose went entirely to the commoner Boccanegra Company.
He thought it would be less shabby, so he traded with a Baron, but when he got all the way to the top, he decided to trade with a commoner merchant who would bow down to him.
Baron Castiglione gnashed his teeth, but there was not much revenge a mere Baron could take against the Margrave of Gaeta, a prestigious family that even held military power among the old nobles. The wealth and power of the old nobles came from their lands, and dealing with merchants was just pocket money.
“How and under what circumstances would you spray violet perfume? I’m sure Baron Castiglione has a promotional method in mind.”
“Well, well. I’m not sure about that...”
“Maybe I could meet the Baron and ask him in person?”
Ariadne threw out a bait. Ask!
But Camellia hesitated and did not answer right away.
“My father has been busy with construction work lately...”
Ariadne was furious. Why are you hesitating so much?
“This is a chance to completely drive the roses of Gaeta out of the market. I’m sure the Baron will be pleased.”
Ariadne decided to make a bold move.
“I have always admired the business acumen of the Baron Castiglione. Camellia, we who are new to the capital always have to attract attention by doing something new and exciting. I think it would be great to meet Baron Castiglione, who was the best at this in my father’s generation and broaden my horizons.”
After much thought, Camellia came to a conclusion.
“...I’m sorry.”
Camellia’s decision was to reject Ariadne’s request. Her father really hated her talking about business.
Camellia wanted to be her father’s obedient daughter, and she had no intention of going against her father’s wishes for Ariadne, whom she was not particularly close to.
“That would be a bit difficult. Even if it was about Gaeta...”
At that moment, a clear voice was heard from the hallway.
“Gaeta? Why Gaeta?”
Suddenly.
A middle-aged man with a goatee opened the door to the living room without even knocking and came in.
“Father!”
Camellia’s cheeks turned red.
“Oh, really, how rude you are in front of a guest!”
If someone else had done that, she would have scolded him sternly. However, her father, who held her money and her lifeline, was behaving like that, so she couldn’t bring herself to stop him.
But Baron Castiglione paid no attention and turned to Ariadne.
“What happened to Gaeta?”
Ariadne smiled inwardly.
“I got it.”
***
Ariadne, having told Baron Castiglione the plan, set off on her way home with a satisfied heart. She was about to return after telling him all she knew about the weaknesses of the Margrave of Gaeta.
Of course, there was no evidence that the Margrave of Gaeta was preparing a coup in his cellar or that he had previously conspired to take all of Gaeta’s lands and give them to Gallico. If there had been such solid evidence, she would have immediately told Leo III to summon the royal court.
Ariadne only told him that the Margrave of Gaeta was half Gallico, that his wife was also Gallico, and that his children spoke Gallico more comfortably than Etruscan. She just added one more piece of information to it.
'His Majesty has always questioned the competence of his vassals who have gone to the fiefdom. Wouldn't His Majesty be very pleased if we told him that it would be better for a great central nobleman to return with him and help the lord make the right decision, rather than sending the lord of Gaeta back to the fiefdom alone?'
The Baron of Castiglione was of low rank and thus did not have free access to the court. He could only occasionally attend the King's meetings from the back when the entire Curia Regis was in session, and even then only on days when his business was an important topic.
However, he had many friends, and he had already melted down the powerful people who could whisper in the King's ear into gold.
'The vengeful, neglected merchant will now do his best to bring down the Margrave of Gaeta.'
It was a perfect omen to tell him that he might catch His Majesty's eye. When you have money, you want power. Right now, the Baron of Castiglione will see nothing.
'It's a shame I can't speak up.'
However, he had many friends, and he had already melted down the powerful people who could whisper in the King's ear into gold.
'The vengeful, neglected merchant will now do his best to bring down the Margrave of Gaeta.'
It was a perfect omen to tell him that he might catch His Majesty's eye. When you have money, you want power. Right now, the Baron of Castiglione will see nothing.
'It's a shame I can't speak up.'
She must have scored some points with Leo III.
Ariadne really wanted to be a member of the court nobles' council. She had to find someone to say what she wanted to say, and even if she succeeded, she wouldn't be able to enjoy the fruits of her labor.
'Shouldn't the position be given to those who do well?'
Ariadne shook her head after thinking that far. For every action, there was a reaction.
If the Count of Gaeta, furious after his recent defeat, were looking for someone to blame, it would be Baron Castileone, not Ariadne.
Hiding behind had its own advantages. She sat in the luxurious silver carriage and leaned her head against the cushions.
"Indeed!"
Ariadne's prediction turned out to be correct.
"Yes, you're right. We should assign a central official as an advisor when the Count of Gaeta returns!"
What was less unfair to Ariadne was that the Baron of Castiglione could not take the position of 'Leo III's favorite who made an outrageous proposal' himself.
Count Contarini, the father of Camellia's fiancé Ottavio, who had taken on that role at the Baron's request, received Leo III's loving gaze.
"Who should I send...?"
Leo III's eyes sparkled after a moment of hesitation.
"Oh, yes!"
It was the same gaze Leo III gave when he did something outrageous. It seemed that the selection had been made in his mind.
Ariadne really wanted to be a member of the court nobles' council. She had to find someone to say what she wanted to say, and even if she succeeded, she wouldn't be able to enjoy the fruits of her labor.
'Shouldn't the position be given to those who do well?'
Ariadne shook her head after thinking that far. For every action, there was a reaction.
If the Count of Gaeta, furious after his recent defeat, were looking for someone to blame, it would be Baron Castileone, not Ariadne.
Hiding behind had its own advantages. She sat in the luxurious silver carriage and leaned her head against the cushions.
***
"Indeed!"
Ariadne's prediction turned out to be correct.
"Yes, you're right. We should assign a central official as an advisor when the Count of Gaeta returns!"
What was less unfair to Ariadne was that the Baron of Castiglione could not take the position of 'Leo III's favorite who made an outrageous proposal' himself.
Count Contarini, the father of Camellia's fiancé Ottavio, who had taken on that role at the Baron's request, received Leo III's loving gaze.
"Who should I send...?"
Leo III's eyes sparkled after a moment of hesitation.
"Oh, yes!"
It was the same gaze Leo III gave when he did something outrageous. It seemed that the selection had been made in his mind.
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