After Prince Alfonso left, Ariadne lived more diligently than before. She woke up at the appointed time and ate steadily, whether she felt good or not. The fact that she would vomit later was a problem.
She kept to the exact schedule, attended all the social events that she couldn’t miss, and studied in the remaining time.
Recently, she looked up the part about miracles and wonders in theological books. It was a part that was often disparaged as a story that was more about unofficial history than academic value or a story that was meant to guide children or those who were not well-educated, but she wasn’t reading it for theological purposes anyway.
‘A bright halo that settled on my fingertips.’
The sparkling halo that Ariadne had seen continued to shine slightly even after settling on the tip of her right hand. If anyone saw it, it was a faint sparkle that would have been like sprinkling decorative diamond dust on her fingernails.
However, no one but Ariadne could see the light.
“Yes? I don’t know the difference between your right hand and your left hand...”
Starting with what she showed Sancha, her people like Anna and Giuseppe, the priest of the Basilica of Saint Ercole—Cardinal de Mare didn’t even try because he didn’t seem to have any faith—and even the old gypsy who saw her bravery in Campo de’ Spezia, no one saw the halo of light on her fingertips.
“The prices are almost like store prices?”
Ariadne added, and business was booming. Giuseppe was amazed at how the young lady had figured out the market prices of the shops in the lower streets, and he continued to report.
“The small one is more like a store, but the large one is more like a mansion than a store. The one in front is a warehouse in Centro Anima, and the one behind is a nobleman’s mansion in Bocca della Giano. There are no really large warehouses inside the Castel San Carlo.”
Bocca della Giano was a high-class residential area for the nobility, and the de Mare mansion was also located there. The area was high because there were many gentle hills, and the surrounding area was all high-class residential areas for the nobility, so it was safe. Centro Anima was a bustling commercial area along the Tiber River, right in the center of San Carlo.
“The small ones in particular are right on the river, so it seems that the prices are high because it is easy to load cargo onto ships.”
Giuseppe was feeling embarrassed that he couldn’t find a suitable warehouse in a cheap place like Campo de’ Spezia or Comunale, but Ariadne was glad to hear this. The small warehouse Giuseppe had found was perfect. In the event of an emergency, the small warehouse could quickly transport grain via waterways, and the large warehouse would be perfect for defense.
“Let’s go there.”
“The first one?”
Ariadne laughed loudly in front of Giuseppe, who was bewildered.
“No, the second one. Go and pay the deposit right now. I’ll use the remaining money to hire people to guard the warehouse, so please find out about that too.”
“Is it enough to bring in outside workers, or do we have to hire our own people?”
Ariadne thought for a moment.
“For now, I only need about two years. If there’s a suitable outside worker, I can hire them. But loyalty is absolutely necessary.”
In a situation where public security is in chaos and food is more valuable than gold, if the security personnel run away from the warehouse, it will be a complete disaster.
“Contract the warehouse right away, and report to me after you’ve checked out the personnel.”
“Understood, Miss.”
After sending Giuseppe away, Ariadne started to think. The warehouse was ready and Giuseppe would prepare the personnel. Then, all that was left was gold to buy wheat. Ariadne had to get this herself.
“Where can I get the money?”
She didn’t have any cash on her, so she had to borrow it. She needed at least 20,000 ducats (about 20 billion won), and 100,000 ducats (about 100 billion won) if she wanted to spend as much as she wanted.
However, she had collateral.
“The Heart of the Blue Deep Sea.”
At least 24,000 ducats (about 24 billion won), and if she was generous, 40,000 ducats (about 40 billion won), or even more.
However, the heart of the blue deep sea had one fatal weakness.
‘If they find out that I put that up as collateral, or if by any chance they lose the ownership...’
Leo III would not leave her alone.
‘I need a trustworthy merchant.’
The merchant she knew best who could lend her a large sum of money was Baron Castiglione, Camellia’s father.
But could she really trust him?
“I’ll have to find out.”
Ariadne stood up.
Prince Alfonso was slowly ascending north on his white horse. It had been only a day since he had left San Carlo.
‘Ariadne.’
It was fortunate that he could see her before he left. It was not a situation to laugh, but Alfonso lowered his head and laughed a little.
When he first heard her voice, he thought it was a hallucination. However, even though he thought it was a hallucination, he couldn’t help but look back.
The joy Alfonso felt when he saw her standing on the ramparts.
‘She also...’
The fact that Ariadne had not completely closed her heart, that this affection was mutual, triggered Alfonso's heart. It felt like fireworks were going off in his head.
Ariadne, seen from afar, looked shabby from running in a hurry, but Alfonso didn't find it jarring at all.
No, she was even more lovable because of that. Thinking of her, who always took care of herself thoroughly, running to the castle walls without even getting her hair done in the morning, made him feel both sorry and cute.
'Hurry up, let's finish everything up and go back.'
It took about a month for the party with the carriage from San Carlo to Montpellier. If they ran at full speed on horseback, the schedule could have been shortened by half, but with the Prinoyac Mountains in the middle, it was practically impossible. Alfonso looked at the long road with a frustrated heart.
"Your Highness, shall we rest here today?"
Said his aide Bernardino.
"Already?"
"This is the last town we will come to today. If we go further from here, we will have to sleep out.”
Alfonso nodded reluctantly.
The Prince’s party was small. There were nine knights directly under the Prince, his aide Bernardino, fifty knights of the guard assigned by the King, the Count of Marquez, a few palace servants, and some porters.
“We will be back in no time, so why bother with so much luggage!”
It was Leo III’s boast. In the end, they packed their luggage into three carriages and set off. However, Alfonso thought his father’s prediction was overly optimistic.
‘Will we really be able to return as quickly as my father thinks?’
The Prince shook his head to shake off the thought. There was no use worrying now. He would have to see what would happen in Gallico.
“Your Highness. You seem to have a lot on your mind.”
A sturdy spotted horse followed Alfonso’s tall white horse.
“Sir Manfredi.”
Since Raphael de Baldesar left the Prince’s Knights, it was Sir Antonio de Manfredi who had been the leader of the knights. He was the second son of Count Manfredi and a young knight who had joined the military because his family heir would be his brother.
She kept to the exact schedule, attended all the social events that she couldn’t miss, and studied in the remaining time.
Recently, she looked up the part about miracles and wonders in theological books. It was a part that was often disparaged as a story that was more about unofficial history than academic value or a story that was meant to guide children or those who were not well-educated, but she wasn’t reading it for theological purposes anyway.
‘A bright halo that settled on my fingertips.’
The sparkling halo that Ariadne had seen continued to shine slightly even after settling on the tip of her right hand. If anyone saw it, it was a faint sparkle that would have been like sprinkling decorative diamond dust on her fingernails.
However, no one but Ariadne could see the light.
“Yes? I don’t know the difference between your right hand and your left hand...”
Starting with what she showed Sancha, her people like Anna and Giuseppe, the priest of the Basilica of Saint Ercole—Cardinal de Mare didn’t even try because he didn’t seem to have any faith—and even the old gypsy who saw her bravery in Campo de’ Spezia, no one saw the halo of light on her fingertips.
‘What could it be?’
It didn’t hurt or cause any discomfort. But she did think it might be useful.
If it’s something that shines white, it must have healing powers! She thought and went to the stables and put her fingertips on the injured horse, but nothing happened. But it didn’t seem to make any animal friends.
She almost got kicked by the horse for trying to touch it. She gave up on becoming a Princess in the folktale and decided to put the insoluble problem aside for the time being.
‘While Alfonso is away, I’ll do what I can.’
He would fight his battle. She would wait for Alfonso while she fought her battle. Ariadne promised Alfonso that when she met him again, she would not be ashamed of him.
Now the harvest of the autumn wheat sown in the fall was approaching. The great plague broke out in late summer.
If they were lucky, they would harvest the spring wheat before the plague, but conservatively, the autumn wheat that came out this spring was likely to be the last wheat that San Carlo would be able to harvest in full for the next two years.
“We must gather as much as possible.”
Ariadne called to Giuseppe. He came up and knocked on the study door.
“Come in, Giuseppe. How is the storage arrangement I asked you about?”
“We can store about 50,000 cantaros (about 5,000 kilograms) at the Bergamo farm. Besides, I found a warehouse outside the Castel San Carlo that could hold 150,000 cantaros (about 15,000 tons), and the annual rent here is 20 ducats (about 20 million won).”
“Are there any other places?”
Giuseppe hesitated and spoke, a little surprised as if he had expected Ariadne to choose the first option. In his opinion, the first option was much better than the second.
“I looked for a warehouse inside the castle, but if I go here, I’ll have to store it in two places. One can store 30,000 cantaros, and the other can store 120,000 cantaros. However, the rent is quite expensive for a warehouse, so I wonder if it’s a good idea...”
It didn’t hurt or cause any discomfort. But she did think it might be useful.
If it’s something that shines white, it must have healing powers! She thought and went to the stables and put her fingertips on the injured horse, but nothing happened. But it didn’t seem to make any animal friends.
She almost got kicked by the horse for trying to touch it. She gave up on becoming a Princess in the folktale and decided to put the insoluble problem aside for the time being.
‘While Alfonso is away, I’ll do what I can.’
He would fight his battle. She would wait for Alfonso while she fought her battle. Ariadne promised Alfonso that when she met him again, she would not be ashamed of him.
Now the harvest of the autumn wheat sown in the fall was approaching. The great plague broke out in late summer.
If they were lucky, they would harvest the spring wheat before the plague, but conservatively, the autumn wheat that came out this spring was likely to be the last wheat that San Carlo would be able to harvest in full for the next two years.
“We must gather as much as possible.”
Ariadne called to Giuseppe. He came up and knocked on the study door.
“Come in, Giuseppe. How is the storage arrangement I asked you about?”
“We can store about 50,000 cantaros (about 5,000 kilograms) at the Bergamo farm. Besides, I found a warehouse outside the Castel San Carlo that could hold 150,000 cantaros (about 15,000 tons), and the annual rent here is 20 ducats (about 20 million won).”
“Are there any other places?”
Giuseppe hesitated and spoke, a little surprised as if he had expected Ariadne to choose the first option. In his opinion, the first option was much better than the second.
“I looked for a warehouse inside the castle, but if I go here, I’ll have to store it in two places. One can store 30,000 cantaros, and the other can store 120,000 cantaros. However, the rent is quite expensive for a warehouse, so I wonder if it’s a good idea...”
Ariadne wrinkled her nose at the mention of two places. If the warehouses were divided, in case of an emergency, her people would have to split into two groups to protect the grain.
However, outside the castle was not an option. In just one month after the Black Death broke out, public order would be in shambles, and food would become the most valuable item in all of San Carlo. There was no guarantee that food stored in the outer warehouses would not be easy prey.
“How much is the rent?”
“The small ones cost 80 ducats (about 80 million won) a year, and the large ones cost 130 ducats (about 130 million won)...”
However, outside the castle was not an option. In just one month after the Black Death broke out, public order would be in shambles, and food would become the most valuable item in all of San Carlo. There was no guarantee that food stored in the outer warehouses would not be easy prey.
“How much is the rent?”
“The small ones cost 80 ducats (about 80 million won) a year, and the large ones cost 130 ducats (about 130 million won)...”
“The prices are almost like store prices?”
Ariadne added, and business was booming. Giuseppe was amazed at how the young lady had figured out the market prices of the shops in the lower streets, and he continued to report.
“The small one is more like a store, but the large one is more like a mansion than a store. The one in front is a warehouse in Centro Anima, and the one behind is a nobleman’s mansion in Bocca della Giano. There are no really large warehouses inside the Castel San Carlo.”
Bocca della Giano was a high-class residential area for the nobility, and the de Mare mansion was also located there. The area was high because there were many gentle hills, and the surrounding area was all high-class residential areas for the nobility, so it was safe. Centro Anima was a bustling commercial area along the Tiber River, right in the center of San Carlo.
“The small ones in particular are right on the river, so it seems that the prices are high because it is easy to load cargo onto ships.”
Giuseppe was feeling embarrassed that he couldn’t find a suitable warehouse in a cheap place like Campo de’ Spezia or Comunale, but Ariadne was glad to hear this. The small warehouse Giuseppe had found was perfect. In the event of an emergency, the small warehouse could quickly transport grain via waterways, and the large warehouse would be perfect for defense.
“Let’s go there.”
“The first one?”
Ariadne laughed loudly in front of Giuseppe, who was bewildered.
“No, the second one. Go and pay the deposit right now. I’ll use the remaining money to hire people to guard the warehouse, so please find out about that too.”
“Is it enough to bring in outside workers, or do we have to hire our own people?”
Ariadne thought for a moment.
“For now, I only need about two years. If there’s a suitable outside worker, I can hire them. But loyalty is absolutely necessary.”
In a situation where public security is in chaos and food is more valuable than gold, if the security personnel run away from the warehouse, it will be a complete disaster.
“Contract the warehouse right away, and report to me after you’ve checked out the personnel.”
“Understood, Miss.”
After sending Giuseppe away, Ariadne started to think. The warehouse was ready and Giuseppe would prepare the personnel. Then, all that was left was gold to buy wheat. Ariadne had to get this herself.
“Where can I get the money?”
She didn’t have any cash on her, so she had to borrow it. She needed at least 20,000 ducats (about 20 billion won), and 100,000 ducats (about 100 billion won) if she wanted to spend as much as she wanted.
However, she had collateral.
“The Heart of the Blue Deep Sea.”
At least 24,000 ducats (about 24 billion won), and if she was generous, 40,000 ducats (about 40 billion won), or even more.
However, the heart of the blue deep sea had one fatal weakness.
‘If they find out that I put that up as collateral, or if by any chance they lose the ownership...’
Leo III would not leave her alone.
‘I need a trustworthy merchant.’
The merchant she knew best who could lend her a large sum of money was Baron Castiglione, Camellia’s father.
But could she really trust him?
“I’ll have to find out.”
Ariadne stood up.
***
Prince Alfonso was slowly ascending north on his white horse. It had been only a day since he had left San Carlo.
‘Ariadne.’
It was fortunate that he could see her before he left. It was not a situation to laugh, but Alfonso lowered his head and laughed a little.
When he first heard her voice, he thought it was a hallucination. However, even though he thought it was a hallucination, he couldn’t help but look back.
The joy Alfonso felt when he saw her standing on the ramparts.
‘She also...’
The fact that Ariadne had not completely closed her heart, that this affection was mutual, triggered Alfonso's heart. It felt like fireworks were going off in his head.
Ariadne, seen from afar, looked shabby from running in a hurry, but Alfonso didn't find it jarring at all.
No, she was even more lovable because of that. Thinking of her, who always took care of herself thoroughly, running to the castle walls without even getting her hair done in the morning, made him feel both sorry and cute.
'Hurry up, let's finish everything up and go back.'
It took about a month for the party with the carriage from San Carlo to Montpellier. If they ran at full speed on horseback, the schedule could have been shortened by half, but with the Prinoyac Mountains in the middle, it was practically impossible. Alfonso looked at the long road with a frustrated heart.
"Your Highness, shall we rest here today?"
Said his aide Bernardino.
"Already?"
"This is the last town we will come to today. If we go further from here, we will have to sleep out.”
Alfonso nodded reluctantly.
The Prince’s party was small. There were nine knights directly under the Prince, his aide Bernardino, fifty knights of the guard assigned by the King, the Count of Marquez, a few palace servants, and some porters.
“We will be back in no time, so why bother with so much luggage!”
It was Leo III’s boast. In the end, they packed their luggage into three carriages and set off. However, Alfonso thought his father’s prediction was overly optimistic.
‘Will we really be able to return as quickly as my father thinks?’
The Prince shook his head to shake off the thought. There was no use worrying now. He would have to see what would happen in Gallico.
“Your Highness. You seem to have a lot on your mind.”
A sturdy spotted horse followed Alfonso’s tall white horse.
“Sir Manfredi.”
Since Raphael de Baldesar left the Prince’s Knights, it was Sir Antonio de Manfredi who had been the leader of the knights. He was the second son of Count Manfredi and a young knight who had joined the military because his family heir would be his brother.
“It’s a pain, it’s a pain, and it only gets more complicated when you think about it. Let’s go easy.”
Alfonso laughed lightly and held the reins tightly.
“You’re right.”
“Sir Elko should come back soon, I’m going to melt my bones.”
After Sir Elko, who had been taking care of all the dirty work on Alfonso’s side, was taken to the Kingdom of Gallico, all the miscellaneous work fell to Sir Manfredi. He was close to being a bum and was suffering from overwork despite his fate.
“No one wants Sir Elko’s safe return as much as I do.”
“Weren’t you two on bad terms?”
Born into a noble family, the sociable Sir Manfredi and the humble and reserved Sir Elko were like oil and water to each other.
“Anyone who can help me with my chores, even a cat’s paw, is more than welcome.”
Sir Manfredi chuckled.
“He is a cat, after all.”
“I will keep it a secret from Elko.”
“I am very grateful.”
He paused for a moment and then added,
“Even if he is someone I do not like, we have been through thick and thin together.”
“...”
“...I hope he is safe.”
“...Yes.”
With a heavy heart, Prince Alfonso looked at the path leading to the Prinoyac Mountains.
Alfonso laughed lightly and held the reins tightly.
“You’re right.”
“Sir Elko should come back soon, I’m going to melt my bones.”
After Sir Elko, who had been taking care of all the dirty work on Alfonso’s side, was taken to the Kingdom of Gallico, all the miscellaneous work fell to Sir Manfredi. He was close to being a bum and was suffering from overwork despite his fate.
“No one wants Sir Elko’s safe return as much as I do.”
“Weren’t you two on bad terms?”
Born into a noble family, the sociable Sir Manfredi and the humble and reserved Sir Elko were like oil and water to each other.
“Anyone who can help me with my chores, even a cat’s paw, is more than welcome.”
Sir Manfredi chuckled.
“He is a cat, after all.”
“I will keep it a secret from Elko.”
“I am very grateful.”
He paused for a moment and then added,
“Even if he is someone I do not like, we have been through thick and thin together.”
“...”
“...I hope he is safe.”
“...Yes.”
With a heavy heart, Prince Alfonso looked at the path leading to the Prinoyac Mountains.
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