Count Cesare went down to the dungeon where Countess Rubina was imprisoned. By order of Leo III, Countess Rubina had been moved to the largest and most luxurious room in the dungeons.
However, it was still a dungeon. Not even one ray of sunlight could enter, the moisture on the stone walls was damp, and the bone-chilling chill could not be erased even by a fox fur coat.
Kirik.
“Cesare?”
Countess Rubina, whose only visitor was her son, immediately answered with delight at the sound.
“...Yes, it’s me.”
Count Cesare answered slowly. His aquamarine eyes had sunken in.
“How is it going, His Majesty the King is going to let me out?”
“...”
He quietly rested his forehead against the iron bars of the prison. The cold iron cooled his swollen face.
“Cesare? Hey, speak, Cesare!”
Count Cesare just stood there silently. Soon, he pulled his face away, straightened his posture, and looked at his mother.
Countess Rubina thought she sensed an indescribable chill from her son.
“I’ll go. Take care of your health for the time being.”
He turned around and walked away.
“Hey, Cesare! Where are you going, Cesare!”
Lariesa asked her companion, half relieved and half worried.
“Is there really no one preparing for marriage?”
“Yes. No one, other than the person who was originally engaged and preparing for marriage, has been preparing for marriage, Your Grace.”
Worried about Lariesa’s lack of social skills, the Grand Duke and Grand Duchess took in a daughter from a lower-class noble family as their daughter’s companion after Susanne died.
Just as in San Carlo, Grand Duchess Lariesa was not the type to make friends easily, even in Montpellier. Even though she was a high-ranking person who would benefit from hanging out with her, most of the noble ladies gradually avoided the Grand Duchess.
The few who tolerated and stuck with Lariesa were the type who only cared about her, and the person in front of her was exactly that kind of person.
“Did you check on it properly? Did the Lady of Besancon and the Lady of De La Ruire really not show any special signs?”
Lariesa named the names of potential rivals who had distant blood ties to the royal family or who were high-ranking family members. The person shook her head.
“Of course, I checked on both of them first. The Lady of the Duke of Besancon is likely to be engaged to the Count of Anje soon. The Lady of the Marquis of De La Ruire is really lamenting these days. She’s getting old, but she still hasn’t found a husband. She's really pissed that the Lady of Besancon is getting married first.”
Even though she was the first to mention Lady Besancon and Lady De La Ruire, Lariesa was furious when her companion said that she had found out about them first.
“Do you think those two are on the same level as Your Highness? Besancon and De La Ruire are not even close to the great Valoa family.”
“What do you mean, you little brat?”
“Huh?”
“Aren’t you not getting proper news because you go to high-ranking noble houses in such unsophisticated attire? It’s not like my parents don’t pay you enough?”
“Ah...”
There was nothing wrong with her companion's attire. However, that didn’t matter. Lariesa felt relieved when she saw her facial expression suddenly darken, and Lariesa gave the order to leave.
“Get out.”
“Yes...”
Larissa, who was left alone, was lost in thought. If it weren’t for Besancon or De La Ruire, then the only one left would be Princess Auguste.
However, she was a cousin of Prince Alfonso, so she could not marry the Prince according to the law of the Holy See that forbade marriage within the sixth degree of kinship.
'...Special permission from the Pope.'
However, it was possible if there was special permission from the Pope. It was something that Lariesa herself almost received. After Philip IV adopted Lariesa as his daughter and made her a Princess, he planned to send her to the Etruscan kingdom.
'I should go into the palace.'
If she looked at how Princess Auguste was doing, she would know something. Her father told her mother to refrain from Lariesa's going out, but her mother was lenient and had many excuses to enter the palace.
Furthermore, Princess Auguste had given Lariesa a special tip when she left for the Etruscans.
'Be sure to visit the Montpellier palace with the 'Golden Prince.'
At the time, she thought it was just a kind remark to ask her to bring her husband and show him when the marriage was successful. But now that she thinks about it again, something seems suspicious.
'Sister Auguste.'
Prince Alfonso cannot yield to anyone. Princess Lariesa clenched her fists in a combative manner.
Ariadne made an appointment to meet with the Bocanegro Company. To be exact, she set the date unilaterally and went in.
“There are many.”
“Yes.”
She answered Giuseppe dryly. She brought Giuseppe as an escort, and she brought along thirty security guards she had trained. She looked more like the boss of a gang of villains than the daughter of a cardinal.
However, it was still a dungeon. Not even one ray of sunlight could enter, the moisture on the stone walls was damp, and the bone-chilling chill could not be erased even by a fox fur coat.
Kirik.
“Cesare?”
Countess Rubina, whose only visitor was her son, immediately answered with delight at the sound.
“...Yes, it’s me.”
Count Cesare answered slowly. His aquamarine eyes had sunken in.
“How is it going, His Majesty the King is going to let me out?”
“...”
He quietly rested his forehead against the iron bars of the prison. The cold iron cooled his swollen face.
“Cesare? Hey, speak, Cesare!”
Count Cesare just stood there silently. Soon, he pulled his face away, straightened his posture, and looked at his mother.
Countess Rubina thought she sensed an indescribable chill from her son.
“I’ll go. Take care of your health for the time being.”
He turned around and walked away.
“Hey, Cesare! Where are you going, Cesare!”
***
Lariesa asked her companion, half relieved and half worried.
“Is there really no one preparing for marriage?”
“Yes. No one, other than the person who was originally engaged and preparing for marriage, has been preparing for marriage, Your Grace.”
Worried about Lariesa’s lack of social skills, the Grand Duke and Grand Duchess took in a daughter from a lower-class noble family as their daughter’s companion after Susanne died.
Just as in San Carlo, Grand Duchess Lariesa was not the type to make friends easily, even in Montpellier. Even though she was a high-ranking person who would benefit from hanging out with her, most of the noble ladies gradually avoided the Grand Duchess.
The few who tolerated and stuck with Lariesa were the type who only cared about her, and the person in front of her was exactly that kind of person.
“Did you check on it properly? Did the Lady of Besancon and the Lady of De La Ruire really not show any special signs?”
Lariesa named the names of potential rivals who had distant blood ties to the royal family or who were high-ranking family members. The person shook her head.
“Of course, I checked on both of them first. The Lady of the Duke of Besancon is likely to be engaged to the Count of Anje soon. The Lady of the Marquis of De La Ruire is really lamenting these days. She’s getting old, but she still hasn’t found a husband. She's really pissed that the Lady of Besancon is getting married first.”
Even though she was the first to mention Lady Besancon and Lady De La Ruire, Lariesa was furious when her companion said that she had found out about them first.
“Do you think those two are on the same level as Your Highness? Besancon and De La Ruire are not even close to the great Valoa family.”
“What do you mean, you little brat?”
“Huh?”
“Aren’t you not getting proper news because you go to high-ranking noble houses in such unsophisticated attire? It’s not like my parents don’t pay you enough?”
“Ah...”
There was nothing wrong with her companion's attire. However, that didn’t matter. Lariesa felt relieved when she saw her facial expression suddenly darken, and Lariesa gave the order to leave.
“Get out.”
“Yes...”
Larissa, who was left alone, was lost in thought. If it weren’t for Besancon or De La Ruire, then the only one left would be Princess Auguste.
However, she was a cousin of Prince Alfonso, so she could not marry the Prince according to the law of the Holy See that forbade marriage within the sixth degree of kinship.
'...Special permission from the Pope.'
However, it was possible if there was special permission from the Pope. It was something that Lariesa herself almost received. After Philip IV adopted Lariesa as his daughter and made her a Princess, he planned to send her to the Etruscan kingdom.
'I should go into the palace.'
If she looked at how Princess Auguste was doing, she would know something. Her father told her mother to refrain from Lariesa's going out, but her mother was lenient and had many excuses to enter the palace.
Furthermore, Princess Auguste had given Lariesa a special tip when she left for the Etruscans.
'Be sure to visit the Montpellier palace with the 'Golden Prince.'
At the time, she thought it was just a kind remark to ask her to bring her husband and show him when the marriage was successful. But now that she thinks about it again, something seems suspicious.
'Sister Auguste.'
Prince Alfonso cannot yield to anyone. Princess Lariesa clenched her fists in a combative manner.
***
Ariadne made an appointment to meet with the Bocanegro Company. To be exact, she set the date unilaterally and went in.
“There are many.”
“Yes.”
She answered Giuseppe dryly. She brought Giuseppe as an escort, and she brought along thirty security guards she had trained. She looked more like the boss of a gang of villains than the daughter of a cardinal.
Boccanegro Company had to watch with their eyes wide open as thirty or so young men forced their way into their courtyard, took their places, and stood there arrogantly.
“Are you here, Lady de Mare?”
A handsome young man came out to greet Ariadne and her party. He was a boy who looked to be around twelve or thirteen years old.
“Hmm.”
The boy nodded at Ariadne’s affirmation.
“Mr. Caruso, the representative of Bocanegro Company, is waiting inside.”
When Ariadne did not respond, the boy bowed briskly.
“I will guide you.”
Ariadne also had a bit of a conscience, so she placed the thirty guards in the courtyard of the Bocanegro Company building and went into the office of the company president with only Giuseppe.
“Are you here, Lady de Mare?”
A handsome young man came out to greet Ariadne and her party. He was a boy who looked to be around twelve or thirteen years old.
“Hmm.”
The boy nodded at Ariadne’s affirmation.
“Mr. Caruso, the representative of Bocanegro Company, is waiting inside.”
When Ariadne did not respond, the boy bowed briskly.
“I will guide you.”
Ariadne also had a bit of a conscience, so she placed the thirty guards in the courtyard of the Bocanegro Company building and went into the office of the company president with only Giuseppe.
The company building that the boy guided her around was surprisingly simple. It was the same when she stood in front of CEO Caruso’s office. The CEO’s office was located across from the white walls that had been simply plastered and the door of an old oak tree.
Ariadne tilted her head at the unexpectedness. In her previous life, CEO Caruso had been a man overflowing with gold.
Knock knock.
The boy knocked on the door and spoke in a clear voice.
“The Lady de Mare has arrived.”
His voice was unusually clear and beautiful.
“Tell the guest to come in.”
After hearing the answer, the boy opened the door without hesitation.
Kirik.
Inside was an office filled with bright sunlight. The bright and spacious room was not at all like a tobacco smuggler’s office. It was clean but modest.
There were no antiques or fancy furniture, but instead, it was filled with sturdy desks and chairs that had been worn.
Ariadne’s attire was the complete opposite. She did not particularly enjoy fancy clothes, but today she was dressed up as if she were going to a ball. Her deep rose-colored silk dress, made by the Collezion costume shop, was decorated with garnets of the same color in a grid pattern, making it look extravagant.
Her hair was braided high, more like a lady’s than a young lady’s, and she wore a topaz tiara, a gift from the late Queen Marguerite. She wore a large red ruby necklace around her neck.
“Welcome.”
CEO Caruso got up from his seat and greeted Ariadne. Ariadne smiled leisurely and walked into the room, accepting his hospitality.
“It’s nice to meet you, Mr. Caruso.”
It was a very hasty appointment, but she didn’t thank him for clearing his schedule. It was a power struggle. Despite that, the man in his early to mid-thirties didn’t show any sign of being offended and greeted her politely. His face was ten years younger than when they last met in their previous life.
“Please sit over here, Lady de Mare.”
Ariadne nodded and sat down. Meeting an old friend and acting like the old days made her think of her past life when she was in charge of the palace’s internal affairs. In fact, aside from being looked down on by Cesare and the high society, she was at a time when she had no power.
“What brings you to such a shabby place today?”
Caruso asked softly, trying his best not to show his nervousness. In fact, this was what he had been most curious about.
The second daughter of Cardinal de Mare, who had great power in the capital, wanted to meet him. But why on earth?
He was just a tobacco smuggler who had recently begun to diversify his business. He had made a fortune by importing luxury goods from the Moorish Empire. He could boast that he was the best in the Etruscan kingdom in terms of tobacco. But tobacco and the daughter of a priest were things that were as far apart as the ends of the continent.
'Have you come to ask me for some precious spice?'
The noble ladies had such fickleness. They wanted to be the first to get the most precious goods in the capital.
'We don't deal in things that high society girls would like... '
But the words that came out of Ariadne's mouth were like a bolt from the blue.
"The acts of the flesh are obvious, which are sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. Of these I warn you, as I have warned you before."*
It was a passage from the Gospel.
“Those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. Do not associate with such people, nor eat with them. They will come to poverty and wear tattered clothes.”
Ariadne tilted her head at the unexpectedness. In her previous life, CEO Caruso had been a man overflowing with gold.
Knock knock.
The boy knocked on the door and spoke in a clear voice.
“The Lady de Mare has arrived.”
His voice was unusually clear and beautiful.
“Tell the guest to come in.”
After hearing the answer, the boy opened the door without hesitation.
Kirik.
Inside was an office filled with bright sunlight. The bright and spacious room was not at all like a tobacco smuggler’s office. It was clean but modest.
There were no antiques or fancy furniture, but instead, it was filled with sturdy desks and chairs that had been worn.
Ariadne’s attire was the complete opposite. She did not particularly enjoy fancy clothes, but today she was dressed up as if she were going to a ball. Her deep rose-colored silk dress, made by the Collezion costume shop, was decorated with garnets of the same color in a grid pattern, making it look extravagant.
Her hair was braided high, more like a lady’s than a young lady’s, and she wore a topaz tiara, a gift from the late Queen Marguerite. She wore a large red ruby necklace around her neck.
“Welcome.”
CEO Caruso got up from his seat and greeted Ariadne. Ariadne smiled leisurely and walked into the room, accepting his hospitality.
“It’s nice to meet you, Mr. Caruso.”
It was a very hasty appointment, but she didn’t thank him for clearing his schedule. It was a power struggle. Despite that, the man in his early to mid-thirties didn’t show any sign of being offended and greeted her politely. His face was ten years younger than when they last met in their previous life.
“Please sit over here, Lady de Mare.”
Ariadne nodded and sat down. Meeting an old friend and acting like the old days made her think of her past life when she was in charge of the palace’s internal affairs. In fact, aside from being looked down on by Cesare and the high society, she was at a time when she had no power.
“What brings you to such a shabby place today?”
Caruso asked softly, trying his best not to show his nervousness. In fact, this was what he had been most curious about.
The second daughter of Cardinal de Mare, who had great power in the capital, wanted to meet him. But why on earth?
He was just a tobacco smuggler who had recently begun to diversify his business. He had made a fortune by importing luxury goods from the Moorish Empire. He could boast that he was the best in the Etruscan kingdom in terms of tobacco. But tobacco and the daughter of a priest were things that were as far apart as the ends of the continent.
'Have you come to ask me for some precious spice?'
The noble ladies had such fickleness. They wanted to be the first to get the most precious goods in the capital.
'We don't deal in things that high society girls would like... '
But the words that came out of Ariadne's mouth were like a bolt from the blue.
"The acts of the flesh are obvious, which are sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. Of these I warn you, as I have warned you before."*
It was a passage from the Gospel.
“Those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. Do not associate with such people, nor eat with them. They will come to poverty and wear tattered clothes.”
After finishing speaking, Ariadne looked at CEO Caruso and smiled coquettishly.
“The Gospel says that the prodigal will become poor, but when I came to the place where the vanguard of debauchery was being destroyed, the treasury was full of gold, the house was brightly lit, and everyone was healthy?”
CEO Caruso was speechless for a moment, so he picked up a glass of water and drank cold water. Yes, he had forgotten that she was just a social sensation, but that woman was originally renowned for her theology and her faith.
Could it be that she had come to pick a fight about smuggling cigarettes?
“Oh, you misunderstood, Lady de Mare. We distribute wheat from the Lombardy region and rose water from the Gaeta region, as well as many other goods to the capital. Debauchery? These are daily necessities.”
Ariadne closed her eyes and laughed as if she had been the regent’s fiancee when she had been ordering around her subordinates.
“Have you decided to stop selling Moorish cigarettes?”
“That, that is.”
In addition to the fact that Moorish cigarettes were a distracting luxury food banned by the Holy See, they had a fatal weakness: they were smuggled. The Etruscan kingdom imposed tariffs of up to 90% on Moorish exports. All the cigarettes handled by Bocanegro were the fruit of tax evasion.
CEO Caruso straightened his posture and looked straight at Ariadne.
“Is this the story you came to tell me today?”
He clasped his hands on the table and said the following words.
“We are good Christians who regularly donate to the Great Hall.”
He was telling her not to touch him since he had already paid a bribe. Ariadne started to giggle when she heard that story. She laughed with her shoulders shaking and eventually burst out laughing.
“Haha, ha...”
After laughing for a long time and finally calming down, she looked straight at CEO Caruso, still unable to erase the smile hanging from her lips.
“You misunderstood that I came here today to extort some small amount of money.”
She straightened her posture and gestured to Giuseppe. Giuseppe, who had been holding his arms behind him, came closer and slammed down a black ebony box on the oak desk between Ariadne and CEO Caruso.
“You’re saying something that’s not helpful in many ways.”
Ariadne, who holds all the family’s accounting books, knows that Boccanegro has no connection to Cardinal de Mare. Caruso’s backer is probably some priest in the diocese of San Carlo, under her father. It’s useless to try to go against someone with lower connections and direct connections to those in power. Looking at Caruso’s trembling eyes, he knew that too. However, since he’s still not strong enough, there’s nothing else he can do.
“I came here to make a deal.”
She placed her right hand on the ebony box and locked eyes with CEO Caruso.
“Whether it’s alcohol or cigarettes. It doesn’t matter what you earn. What matters is how much gold you have.”
Ariadne’s green eyes sparkled.
“How much can you pay for this?”
Ariadne threw open the lid of the ebony box. Caruso instantly raised both hands to shield his eyes from the dazzling light that emanated from inside.
“The Gospel says that the prodigal will become poor, but when I came to the place where the vanguard of debauchery was being destroyed, the treasury was full of gold, the house was brightly lit, and everyone was healthy?”
CEO Caruso was speechless for a moment, so he picked up a glass of water and drank cold water. Yes, he had forgotten that she was just a social sensation, but that woman was originally renowned for her theology and her faith.
Could it be that she had come to pick a fight about smuggling cigarettes?
“Oh, you misunderstood, Lady de Mare. We distribute wheat from the Lombardy region and rose water from the Gaeta region, as well as many other goods to the capital. Debauchery? These are daily necessities.”
Ariadne closed her eyes and laughed as if she had been the regent’s fiancee when she had been ordering around her subordinates.
“Have you decided to stop selling Moorish cigarettes?”
“That, that is.”
In addition to the fact that Moorish cigarettes were a distracting luxury food banned by the Holy See, they had a fatal weakness: they were smuggled. The Etruscan kingdom imposed tariffs of up to 90% on Moorish exports. All the cigarettes handled by Bocanegro were the fruit of tax evasion.
CEO Caruso straightened his posture and looked straight at Ariadne.
“Is this the story you came to tell me today?”
He clasped his hands on the table and said the following words.
“We are good Christians who regularly donate to the Great Hall.”
He was telling her not to touch him since he had already paid a bribe. Ariadne started to giggle when she heard that story. She laughed with her shoulders shaking and eventually burst out laughing.
“Haha, ha...”
After laughing for a long time and finally calming down, she looked straight at CEO Caruso, still unable to erase the smile hanging from her lips.
“You misunderstood that I came here today to extort some small amount of money.”
She straightened her posture and gestured to Giuseppe. Giuseppe, who had been holding his arms behind him, came closer and slammed down a black ebony box on the oak desk between Ariadne and CEO Caruso.
“You’re saying something that’s not helpful in many ways.”
Ariadne, who holds all the family’s accounting books, knows that Boccanegro has no connection to Cardinal de Mare. Caruso’s backer is probably some priest in the diocese of San Carlo, under her father. It’s useless to try to go against someone with lower connections and direct connections to those in power. Looking at Caruso’s trembling eyes, he knew that too. However, since he’s still not strong enough, there’s nothing else he can do.
“I came here to make a deal.”
She placed her right hand on the ebony box and locked eyes with CEO Caruso.
“Whether it’s alcohol or cigarettes. It doesn’t matter what you earn. What matters is how much gold you have.”
Ariadne’s green eyes sparkled.
“How much can you pay for this?”
Ariadne threw open the lid of the ebony box. Caruso instantly raised both hands to shield his eyes from the dazzling light that emanated from inside.
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