“Your Highness...”
Aide Bernardino greeted Alfonso with a pale expression as he emerged from Leo III’s audience chamber.
“What did you talk about with His Majesty the King?”
“His Majesty told me to go to Gallico.”
“Yes?!”
Leaving the dumbfounded aide behind, Alfonso strode down the hallway leading to the King’s inner chambers. Bernardino followed him with a brisk walk.
“Are you going?”
“How could I disobey the King’s orders?”
Prince Alfonso’s voice seemed to be filled with both irritation and resignation. It was a voice that strangely resembled his deceased mother’s.
“If you will, the departure date will be...”
“Tomorrow.”
“Yes?!”
To Bernardino, who was surprised once again, Alfonso gave an order that would surprise him for the third time.
“Bring my horse."
“What did you talk about with His Majesty the King?”
“His Majesty told me to go to Gallico.”
“Yes?!”
Leaving the dumbfounded aide behind, Alfonso strode down the hallway leading to the King’s inner chambers. Bernardino followed him with a brisk walk.
“Are you going?”
“How could I disobey the King’s orders?”
Prince Alfonso’s voice seemed to be filled with both irritation and resignation. It was a voice that strangely resembled his deceased mother’s.
“If you will, the departure date will be...”
“Tomorrow.”
“Yes?!”
To Bernardino, who was surprised once again, Alfonso gave an order that would surprise him for the third time.
“Bring my horse."
“Yes? Right now?”
If the departure was tomorrow, the Prince had to pack his bags and select his entourage right away. Alfonso saw Bernardino’s expression and answered with a bitter smile.
“You seem to have a lot of questions for me right now, but I don’t know what you want to know. Go ask Count Marquez. He is in charge of the negotiations for this trip to Gallico. He will know Father's intentions better than I do.”
If the departure was tomorrow, the Prince had to pack his bags and select his entourage right away. Alfonso saw Bernardino’s expression and answered with a bitter smile.
“You seem to have a lot of questions for me right now, but I don’t know what you want to know. Go ask Count Marquez. He is in charge of the negotiations for this trip to Gallico. He will know Father's intentions better than I do.”
Whether Leo III would send the Prince to the Kingdom of Gallico alone or arrange for him to bring a splendid escort of knights was entirely up to Leo III. Confirming that was the beginning of all preparations.
And rather than Prince Alfonso, who had just come out of the closet to irritate his father, asking about it would be better to ask Count Marquez indirectly.
“Where are you going, Prince?”
Bernardino paused and then added.
“You’re not running away, are you...?”
“It’s one of the options.”
Since hearing the news of Queen Marguerite’s death, Ariadne has been vomiting every single day. She vomited whether she ate or not.
“I don’t know why at all...You can only assume you're because she’s worried a lot...”
The doctor who examined her said that she didn’t have any particular ailments, and turned his head away from the unexplained illness.
“I heard that many of the girls who admired Her Majesty the Queen have been suffering from nervous breakdowns since Her Majesty the Queen passed away.”
Ariadne, who had become a fangirl of Queen Marguerite in an instant, let out a hollow laugh. Well, if you look at the main point, that might be true. After all, the person she admired so unilaterally passed away.
“It’s best to be at ease. I’ll make you a sedative, so take it. It’s a prescription that combines valerian, St. John’s wort, and a few other sedatives. It’s especially effective for gastrointestinal problems caused by neurosis.”
The doctor wrote down several herbs on the list of parchment. He blew on the parchment to dry the ink and added.
And rather than Prince Alfonso, who had just come out of the closet to irritate his father, asking about it would be better to ask Count Marquez indirectly.
“Where are you going, Prince?”
Bernardino paused and then added.
“You’re not running away, are you...?”
“It’s one of the options.”
***
Since hearing the news of Queen Marguerite’s death, Ariadne has been vomiting every single day. She vomited whether she ate or not.
“I don’t know why at all...You can only assume you're because she’s worried a lot...”
The doctor who examined her said that she didn’t have any particular ailments, and turned his head away from the unexplained illness.
“I heard that many of the girls who admired Her Majesty the Queen have been suffering from nervous breakdowns since Her Majesty the Queen passed away.”
Ariadne, who had become a fangirl of Queen Marguerite in an instant, let out a hollow laugh. Well, if you look at the main point, that might be true. After all, the person she admired so unilaterally passed away.
“It’s best to be at ease. I’ll make you a sedative, so take it. It’s a prescription that combines valerian, St. John’s wort, and a few other sedatives. It’s especially effective for gastrointestinal problems caused by neurosis.”
The doctor wrote down several herbs on the list of parchment. He blew on the parchment to dry the ink and added.
“It will make you sleep like a mouse, so try to avoid taking it during the day and take it before bed.”
Now that Sancha had learned to read and write, she looked at the prescription and spoke to Ariadne with a bright face.
“Most of the herbs are at home, Miss. We only ran out of mugwort, but it’s common, so I can buy it right in the city. Should I buy it now and have it delivered this evening?”
Ariadne also received the prescription and looked at it. Ariadne had become well-versed in most herbs while living in the palace, which was a royal palace. It was a common tranquilizer, and no prescription seemed problematic on the list.
She nodded and handed the parchment back to Sancha.
“Yes, let’s do that.”
Ariadne gave the order to the doctor.
“Thank you for your hard work, Sir. Sancha, give the doctor a royal visitation and bring him here.”
“Yes! Miss. Sir, this way.”
Sancha guided the doctor to the family’s carriage waiting downstairs, and on the way, she went out with him and quickly bought the best mugwort from the city.
After Queen Marguerite’s poisoning, Sancha did not do anything carelessly if it was something that went into Lady Ariadne’s mouth. Although all the staff at the restaurant were trustworthy people, she kept watch over them while they were cooking and when they were taking the food out to the restaurant, and if it was medicine like today, she did the entire process of boiling it herself.
Although Lady Ariadne was not a big shot who would be exposed to political poisoning like the Queen, she could not rest easy because there were two poisonous snakes in this house.
Could it be that the lady was also anxious about food and couldn’t eat well?
It was Sancha’s small consideration for the lady who would vomit if she ate anything. Thanks to that, Ariadne, who went to bed earlier than usual, was able to take the doctor’s prescription without worry. It was a thick liquid made by boiling herbs in a goblet.
Sancha’s consideration was another.
'Lady! Happy 16th birthday.
P.S. I bought the cookies with my salary.
Next to the goblet glass, there was a pretty sugar cookie. It was a hit product of 'La Montan Confectionery'.
Sancha fell in love with La Montan Confectionery (not Giuseppe) after Giuseppe bought her cookies once. She gave Ariadne her favorite as a gift.
It was Sancha’s small consideration for the lady who would vomit if she ate anything. Thanks to that, Ariadne, who went to bed earlier than usual, was able to take the doctor’s prescription without worry. It was a thick liquid made by boiling herbs in a goblet.
Sancha’s consideration was another.
'Lady! Happy 16th birthday.
P.S. I bought the cookies with my salary.
Next to the goblet glass, there was a pretty sugar cookie. It was a hit product of 'La Montan Confectionery'.
Sancha fell in love with La Montan Confectionery (not Giuseppe) after Giuseppe bought her cookies once. She gave Ariadne her favorite as a gift.
A faint smile spread across Ariadne's lips. Sancha was the first person since her late mother to truly celebrate her birthday.
'Thank you, Sancha.'
Today was Ariadne's first birthday since her return. With her current status, she could have thrown a grand birthday party that would have put the word tea party to shame. Over a hundred people must have searched the San Carlo social circle like hyenas for invitations to Ariadne de Mare's birthday party.
However, since it was the mourning period for Queen Marguerite, she couldn't do that, and she didn't want to. Ariadne's birthday, which she didn't tell anyone around her, was celebrated simply with only Sancha's congratulations.
She took a sip of the yellow liquid. It smelled bad, but it wasn’t as bad as she’d thought. She took a bite of the sugar cookie next to her and the sweet taste spread through her mouth, making her feel much better.
Ariadne emptied her goblet, hugged her cushions, and curled up on the bed.
“It doesn’t seem like much has changed...?”
'Thank you, Sancha.'
Today was Ariadne's first birthday since her return. With her current status, she could have thrown a grand birthday party that would have put the word tea party to shame. Over a hundred people must have searched the San Carlo social circle like hyenas for invitations to Ariadne de Mare's birthday party.
However, since it was the mourning period for Queen Marguerite, she couldn't do that, and she didn't want to. Ariadne's birthday, which she didn't tell anyone around her, was celebrated simply with only Sancha's congratulations.
She took a sip of the yellow liquid. It smelled bad, but it wasn’t as bad as she’d thought. She took a bite of the sugar cookie next to her and the sweet taste spread through her mouth, making her feel much better.
Ariadne emptied her goblet, hugged her cushions, and curled up on the bed.
“It doesn’t seem like much has changed...?”
She didn’t feel any relief, but she didn’t fall asleep right away as if she’d been hit in the back of the head.
“It would be nice if my thoughts could stop...”
Ariadne thought absentmindedly, looking at the canopy over her bed.
***
The Prince, who left the palace at dusk, dressed in clothes that wouldn’t catch anyone’s eye and even covered himself with a hood in late spring, arrived at... the Mansion de Mare.
Alfonso, who had come here without a plan, hesitated for a moment in front of the main gate. He wasn’t in a position to officially visit the Mansion de Mare right now.
It was because of Ariadne.
First, he was cautious that Ariadne might be embroiled in a scandal when it became known that Prince Alfonso had stopped at Cardinal de Mare's residence before leaving the country. He regretted sending a message to Cardinal de Mare that he would visit him, but it was already too late. Now was not the time for a respectable visitor to enter someone else's home.
And secondly, he had still kept Ariadne's words in mind that he would 'not contact her for the time being'. After she had so firmly rejected him, he had not heard from Ariadne again.
'Ari... is probably disappointed in me?'
Alfonso had mistakenly thought that Ariadne had closed her heart to him since the incident where Duke Mireille attacked Ariadne because he had not been able to finish Princess Lariesa's affairs neatly.
'I could not protect her properly...'
Although he succeeded in physically stabbing the Duke of Mireille in the back, Alfonso ended up just sitting back and watching the political mess that followed. His deceased mother and Ariadne did the cleanup themselves. Alfonso hung his head on the small road near the de Mare mansion, feeling that it was proof that he was a child.
He hadn’t grown an inch. He had come to hear Ariadne’s opinion. He wanted to borrow her wisdom on whether he should follow the King’s will, how to resolve Gallico’s request for an engagement, how Gallico would react, and how he should deal with him.
He had always consulted with his mother when he had a problem and made a decision after consulting her. Wasn’t he using Ariadne as a substitute for his mother before his mother had even cooled down?
“Haha, hahaha...”
Alfonso laughed to himself on horseback like a crazy person. This is the worst, this is stupid. A fool who has nothing but bloodlines and can't do anything with his own hands.
Swish...
Although he succeeded in physically stabbing the Duke of Mireille in the back, Alfonso ended up just sitting back and watching the political mess that followed. His deceased mother and Ariadne did the cleanup themselves. Alfonso hung his head on the small road near the de Mare mansion, feeling that it was proof that he was a child.
He hadn’t grown an inch. He had come to hear Ariadne’s opinion. He wanted to borrow her wisdom on whether he should follow the King’s will, how to resolve Gallico’s request for an engagement, how Gallico would react, and how he should deal with him.
He had always consulted with his mother when he had a problem and made a decision after consulting her. Wasn’t he using Ariadne as a substitute for his mother before his mother had even cooled down?
“Haha, hahaha...”
Alfonso laughed to himself on horseback like a crazy person. This is the worst, this is stupid. A fool who has nothing but bloodlines and can't do anything with his own hands.
Swish...
Just in time, a heavy rain that was embarrassing to call spring rain began to hit the ground. Prince Alfonso was startled and straightened his posture. There was something in his arms that absolutely should not get wet.
That part served as Alfonso's excuse. It was too late to return to the palace. By the time he got there, he would already be soaking wet. The only option left for him was to enter the de Mare mansion.
However, his deepest feelings were...
'I want to see Ari.'
Tomorrow, he would leave on a long journey, not knowing when he would return. He would never let it happen, but if by any chance it didn't go as planned, he would be married when he returned to Etruscan.
He wanted to see her before that. He wanted to confess to her.
You are the only woman who filled my heart, you are the only master of my mind and body, please trust me and wait for me. I won't mess it up this time. I would never let go of your hand.
Alfonso tied his horse in a corner of the road where not many people went and headed towards a remote corner instead of the main entrance of the de Mare mansion. There was a side door leading to the backyard of the de Mare mansion.
Under the pouring rain, Alfonso gently pushed the oak door that was barely big enough for one person.
Clang.
It was locked.
He reached into his bosom and took out a medium-sized key. It was the key to the side door that Ariadne had given him at Arabella’s funeral.
He chuckled at himself for taking the key, put it in the lock, and turned it. I had intended to go in from the beginning. If you don’t let me in, then at least the back door.
Kirik.
This side door was probably less well-maintained, so it opened with a slight cracking sound. Alfonso pushed his flexible body through the gap in the slightly open door and entered the de Mare mansion.
There was no sign of people, perhaps because of the heavy rain. It was now evening when the sun had completely set and the sky was dark. It was time for the family to finish dinner and go up to their rooms.
Alfonso looked for Ariadne’s room. He had only been in the room once, briefly, for her debutante, but he remembered it clearly. He will probably never forget it.
The sunlight poured in through the arched window that took up an entire wall, and Ariadne cried in his arms while being bathed in that sunlight... It was truly beautiful enough to touch the heartstrings.
That arched window was so large that it was noticeable even in the luxurious de Mare mansion, so it could be seen at a glance from outside. It was dark inside, but a light source as bright as a single candle was visible beyond the curtains.
Knock!
Alfonso picked up a pebble the size of a fingernail from the floor and threw it at Ariadne’s window.
However, there was no sign of life in the room. Alfonso, who was a little impatient, found a slightly larger pebble than before and threw it at Ariadne’s window again.
Knock!
This time, the sound was so loud that even Alfonso was startled, but as expected, there was no reaction in the room.
‘Is it because it’s mixed with the sound of the rain...’
The sound of the heavy rain was certainly loud. Alfonso hunched over a little more anxiously.
Right now, he was curling up as much as possible to protect the paper in his arms so that it wouldn’t get wet. But if he got caught in this heavy rain any longer, there wouldn’t be anything left intact whether he curled up or not.
At that moment, the small door of the mansion in Alfonso’s sight opened slightly. Alfonso’s eyes widened.
The one coming out of that door was a maid he had never seen before. She came out of the side door and ran straight to a shabby annex that looked like a stable. It seemed like she was going on an errand.
‘She left the door unlocked.’
The maid didn’t even bother to lock the door, probably because she was planning on coming back right away.
Alfonso got up from the grass where he had been hiding, ran to the side door where the maid had come out, and grabbed the handle.
Click.
The doorknob turned smoothly.
‘That’s it!’
Alfonso slid inside, shouting with joy.
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