By mid-June, Ariadne had roughly finished purchasing wheat.
“Lady de Mare. I will give you the interim financial report.”
“It’s an orphanage attached to a convent.”
“Tch, that’s great.”
Ippolito grumbled, his heart aching.
“Don’t just go to those weird and boring places. Instead, find a better place to meet up. Like a salon or a drinking party.”
Isabella snorted in shock.
“Hey! Can’t you see that your little sister is struggling on her own?”
She rolled her pretty purple eyes and looked at Ippolito pitifully.
“You useless brat. I was dragged around to convents, nursing homes, and orphanages, and endured all the humiliation of washing dishes and mopping, and I managed to make a place for myself by trying to please Countess Baljo. What? A drinking party?”
“Hey, are you being a bit harsh?”
If it were a normal situation, Ippolito would have yelled at her and left. But he was playfully asking this question because he had something to hide.
“Me? Are you saying that I should be the only one having fun? If I were to be caught in a place like that, Ottavio and Cesare would show up too, right?”
Ippolito had mentioned the men his age in hopes of expanding his network, but Isabella's pretty purple eyes also lit up when she heard this story.
Now that Prince Alfonso was gone, Isabella had to find a new groom.
Although Cesare de Como had acted stiffly without reason the last time, it only fueled Isabella's competitive spirit.
'You're the first man to treat me like that.'
Any male creature who had passed puberty would kneel helplessly before Isabella de Mare.
No one did not fall for a sweet smile or a kind word.
'Let's see how long you can hold out.'
Even Count Cesare would break down under the baptism of love soaked in sugar and whipped cream.
Isabella's world has always been like this.
And Ottavio. Not bad insurance and a stepping stone to reaching Count Cesare.
'It's a bonus that I can turn Camellia de Castiglione's stomach upside down.'
Camellia would tremble if she found out that her fiancé was standing next to Isabella like a servant.
That appearance... It was pleasant to just imagine it.
“Well... Yeah. Brother, you have to find a seat too. Next time, I’ll try to find a seat where Sir Ottavio can show up too.”
A noticeable blush appeared on Ippolito's face. Isabella asked a question discreetly.
“Brother, have you been in contact with Count Cesare lately?”
“I want to ask you something. That kid? I can’t contact him. He hasn’t replied to my letters.”
Count Cesare cut off all contact with the outside world and spent his days drinking alcohol in his mansion.
Half of it was because he was discouraged by his situation, and half was to avoid attracting the attention of Leo III.
He had been admonished by the King not to 'make ripples in the water'.
There was a concern that if Cesare were to socialize outside, it would be seen as him getting involved in politics over the assassination of Queen Marguerite.
At times like these, it was necessary to humble oneself and look like a bum. This was the wisdom that Cesare had acquired through suffering many times since childhood.
But Ippolito, who had no way of knowing the inside story, spoke in a resentful voice.
“He's ignoring me because I’m not the head of the household or a noble! You dirty bastard, you’re an illegitimate child yourself!”
Ippolito clenched his fists and gritted his teeth.
“If I can go, if I can go...! I will make sure that you will never ignore this Ippolito again!”
The de Mare family without Cardinal de Mare is just an ordinary family of commoners.
For the family line that Ippolito was to inherit to be meaningful, he had to be successful as a soldier or acquire a title through marriage.
That was also why the deceased Lucrezia waited impatiently for her son to excel at the military school in Padua.
“I am the man who will inherit the family!”
Isabella was about to grumble, "You incompetent little punk, you're not going to make it as a soldier, and you can't possibly marry a woman of title with that title," but then changed her mind.
Because when the topic of men came up, a good idea came to mind.
“Yes, that’s right, you are the one who will inherit the family.”
Isabella closed her eyes and smiled prettily.
“I also have the authority to decide your younger siblings’ marriages.”
“Then! Isabella, considering the affection between siblings, I will let you marry the man you want to marry!”
“Really? Trust me, Brother.”
Ippolito looked at Isabella in shock at his sister's suddenly changed attitude.
He knew in his head that she was pretty, but he couldn't accept it in his heart.
That cunning girl with about three hundred foxes inside her, even though she only has a fancy shell, is scary.
“Why are you suddenly like that? Do it right.”
“Hey, don’t do that.”
Isabella's voice became more and more hoarse.
“If my brother becomes the head of the household and our dear sister Ariadne cannot get married, you must find her a good match.”
Ippolito also realized what his devious younger sister was thinking.
A smile spread across Ippolito's face as he realized why Isabella was in such a good mood.
“A daughter of a family can’t disobey her head’s orders, right?”
“Yes, that’s true. Even if you throw me in a convent, I have nothing to say.”
“Even if you insist on getting married if you don’t get permission from the head of the family, it’s all for naught.”
“Then. How could you carelessly send away the daughter of your family when you don’t even know what kind of bastard the man she chose is? Even if they say it’s good for them, they can’t get married without the permission of the head of the family.”
Isabella's smile grew wider.
“Brother, Ariadne is a bit... stubborn.”
“She lives in her own way and is not very polite.”
“I think she needs to meet a man she can respect.”
Isabella's face, smiling contentedly, now looked like a flower was about to bloom.
“So, what do you think about someone a lot older? Someone about thirty years older would be good.”
Ippolito chimed in excitedly.
“It’s hard to find a decent bachelor among older men. I’d rather be divorced. If he has children, it’s even better. She can’t live comfortably. There have to be some difficulties, and then she can stop being wild and become an adult.”
Isabella smiled broadly and clapped her hands.
“Even so, the de Mare family has its own reputation. We can’t just send her to any divorced man.”
“Yeah. A man should have a higher title and have some wealth and things like that.”
Isabella felt the same way, on the verge of bursting into laughter.
“I know just the right person.”
"Who?"
“The Marquis of Campa.”
Ippolito also made a funny face like Isabella.
“Ha, hahahahahahaha!”
The first one to burst out laughing was Ippolito.
Isabella was soon overcome by her brother's comical expression and burst into laughter.
“Hahahahahahaha!”
The siblings, who had been laughing loudly for a while, clapped their hands in the air.
Ouch!
“As expected of Isabella. You got a great head on your shoulders.”
“No, the circumstances are just right.”
“If you send Ariadne to the Marquis of Campa, I won’t need to send a dowry, right?”
“We should be the ones receiving the bride’s allowance.”
“Wouldn’t the Marquis of Campa have a new concubine by then?”
“What kind of crazy woman would marry the Marquis of Campa? Even if she did...”
Isabella twirled her fine flaxen hair through her fingers.
“She won’t survive long. By the time Ariadne becomes an old maid and goes to get married, the third wife will probably be dead too.”
“There is a very strong rumor that Prince Alfonso went to Gallico to get married.”
“Isn’t that obvious? Who would send their son across the Prinoyak Mountains to a country like that if not to get him married?”
“Then Ariadne really is a broken kite.”
Isabella smiled with satisfaction at Ippolito's words. But Ippolito added cautiously.
“But surely... Count Cesare isn’t interested in her?”
"What?"
Isabella's face immediately grimaced. Her peony-like face turned into that of a beast.
“No, no, there were rumors like that at the masquerade ball too. Count Cesare is strangely kind to her, isn’t he? If he proposed while my father was away...”
“Stop talking nonsense.”
Isabella glared at her brother with eagle eyes.
"He just took a look to see if he might be a good match since she's had some fame in high society for a while. There’s no way that would be true of Count Cesare!”
Instead of a pretty and cute girl like me, you have such a gloomy and sullen girl.
In recent times, there have been loud voices in high society praising Ariadne's elegance, but Isabella has not been able to hear them.
Because she ignored it even though she heard it.
“Even if that’s the case, I won’t leave it like that. That will never happen.”
Isabella's eyes burned with anger and purpose.
She has always met Count Cesare in church and social circles since she was young.
Although he was not a legitimate Prince, if she were to choose a Prince of high society, it would definitely be Count Cesare.
During that time, the Princess of high society was Isabella de Mare. They were a match made in heaven. He could not be stolen.
That man is mine.
“Lady de Mare. I will give you the interim financial report.”
CEO Caruso gave Ariadne a report. He had visited the de Mare mansion for the interim settlement.
Sunlight from the arched windows illuminated the study softly beyond the linen curtains.
Petrucia was sitting next to Ariadne, who was carefully flipping through the report.
Her hair was still short, but unlike when she was at the Bocanegro store, she was wearing a girl's indoor dress.
She looked much more comfortable in her well-fitting clothes.
While Ariadne was reviewing the report, CEO Caruso asked slyly.
“Hey, are you doing well?”
When CEO Caruso asked Ariadne to start, he initially thought it was a simple warning.
Ariadne de Mare simply took it upon herself to prevent Bocanegro from spreading the word about the 'heart of the blue sea'.
But he soon realized that his thinking was short-sighted.
That was because the daughter he met at the de Mare mansion at midnight with the Ducato gold coin and the contract was wearing a girl's dress.
When he realized that Lady de Mare knew everything and had taken Petrucia away, he instinctively felt that his daughter had been taken hostage.
'You're setting the safety device twice, three times.'
Petrucia smiled brightly, unaware of her father's speed.
“Dad, I love it here because I don’t have to lie.”
Ariadne, who was reading the report, added a word.
“Your child is smart and intelligent. She learns quickly. You are a good parent, Mr. Caruso.”
“Oh, thank you.”
He answered absentmindedly. Ariadne put the report she had finished reading down on the desk.
“I like the purchase price and the quality is good. The remaining amount is 30,000 ducats received in cash, but we had originally planned to buy the entire amount in wheat, right?”
“Yes, Young Lady.”
“Because of the bumper crop, the unit price was lower than I expected. Even though I didn’t use up all of my investment, I succeeded in purchasing the amount of wheat I had in mind.”
The more the better, of course, but there is a limit to how much the rented warehouse can accommodate.
“How about using the 20,000 ducats to buy wheat and fill up the warehouses, and using the remaining investment money to buy smaller, more valuable items?”
Things like beeswax, linen, and wormwood are all items that would be in great demand during a time of plague.
“For example...?”
“These are quarantine supplies.”
Quarantine supplies? CEO Caruso narrowed his eyes in suspicion. Aren't we currently purchasing grains in preparation for a food shortage?
Ariadne tried it lightly for now.
“If the locust swarm continues to move north, won’t an epidemic spread?”
Mr. Caruso looked lost in thought. He was the epitome of a wise merchant. Ariadne was selling medicine at the moment.
It was a testament to Mr. Caruso's ability to succeed that he did not immediately fall for unfounded claims.
'Smart but annoying.'
She found a reason to convince CEO Caruso.
“Even if it’s not necessarily for epidemic prevention.”
Every winter, the days get shorter and we end up using more candles. Beeswax was also a material used in candles.
“You may want to stock up on beeswax to prepare for winter. There is a limit to how much you can store in your warehouse.”
There was a reason why the word 'wax' was mentioned. Wax was a luxury item and the merchants had high profits. Much more so than wheat.
And Bocanegro Company gets to take its share of the profits. CEO Caruso’s eyes sparkled.
“Is it wax?”
“Yes. Could you also take care of purchasing the beeswax?”
“...If it’s beeswax, it has a long shelf life, so even if it doesn’t sell this winter, it can be sold slowly.”
Ariadne laughed to herself. It wasn't the storage period that was passed over, but rather the company's profits.
“Yes. Then I would like to ask you to purchase the beeswax for about 10,000 ducats. The country of origin is not important, but it must be in our warehouse by the end of July at the latest.”
“Time is a bit tight.”
“It’s my condition. I can’t help it. I won’t accept anything that arrives later than that.”
“...Yes, I understand.”
The client's requests, no matter how strange, must be met.
People who make strange demands that cannot be rationally understood, that is the nature of clients. CEO Caruso nodded.
While Ariadne was finishing up her wheat purchases, Isabella was struggling to re-establish herself in society.
“Why did you wake me up now! Today is the Silver Cross Women’s Association meeting day!”
Isabella, who had been accepted into the society of wealthy ladies doing volunteer work thanks to the adulteress, Countess Clemente de Bartolini, woke up at midday and took out her temper on her new maid.
“I’m sorry, Miss!”
Isabella's new maid, Sienna, who had come in after Maleta's death, bowed her head hurriedly.
Although she had only known this new lady for a short time, Sienna realized as soon as she heard that her stunningly beautiful new boss was as witty as she was beautiful.
“Would you like me to rub your feet?”
“Are you an idiot? I don’t have time, so do you want me to sit around and get a foot massage? Go get a bath right now!”
“Yes, yes!”
Isabella had recently become quite friendly with the Silver Cross Ladies.
Countess Baljo, the leader of the Silver Cross Women's Society, began to regard Isabella as a pretty and charming younger sister.
The rest of the people didn't matter.
Baroness Loredan was willing to accept whatever Countess Baljo said, and Clemente de Bartolini was in no position to dare say anything unpleasant to Isabella at this time.
Thanks to that, even Ippolito was getting some beans.
“Isabella!”
“Knock and come in!”
Isabella, who was preparing to take a bath, wearing only a robe and a towel on her head, became very annoyed at Ippolito, who had inadvertently barged into his sister's room.
Ippolito, who would normally not stay still, but these days, he was getting a lot of crumbs because of his sister, so he let it slide and asked jokingly.
“Is Ottavio attending today?”
“Don’t you have a brain? How can Ottavio de Contarini follow me when I go to do volunteer work at a convent? Can't he? It's off-limits."
Sunlight from the arched windows illuminated the study softly beyond the linen curtains.
Petrucia was sitting next to Ariadne, who was carefully flipping through the report.
Her hair was still short, but unlike when she was at the Bocanegro store, she was wearing a girl's indoor dress.
She looked much more comfortable in her well-fitting clothes.
While Ariadne was reviewing the report, CEO Caruso asked slyly.
“Hey, are you doing well?”
When CEO Caruso asked Ariadne to start, he initially thought it was a simple warning.
Ariadne de Mare simply took it upon herself to prevent Bocanegro from spreading the word about the 'heart of the blue sea'.
But he soon realized that his thinking was short-sighted.
That was because the daughter he met at the de Mare mansion at midnight with the Ducato gold coin and the contract was wearing a girl's dress.
When he realized that Lady de Mare knew everything and had taken Petrucia away, he instinctively felt that his daughter had been taken hostage.
'You're setting the safety device twice, three times.'
Petrucia smiled brightly, unaware of her father's speed.
“Dad, I love it here because I don’t have to lie.”
Ariadne, who was reading the report, added a word.
“Your child is smart and intelligent. She learns quickly. You are a good parent, Mr. Caruso.”
“Oh, thank you.”
He answered absentmindedly. Ariadne put the report she had finished reading down on the desk.
“I like the purchase price and the quality is good. The remaining amount is 30,000 ducats received in cash, but we had originally planned to buy the entire amount in wheat, right?”
“Yes, Young Lady.”
“Because of the bumper crop, the unit price was lower than I expected. Even though I didn’t use up all of my investment, I succeeded in purchasing the amount of wheat I had in mind.”
The more the better, of course, but there is a limit to how much the rented warehouse can accommodate.
“How about using the 20,000 ducats to buy wheat and fill up the warehouses, and using the remaining investment money to buy smaller, more valuable items?”
Things like beeswax, linen, and wormwood are all items that would be in great demand during a time of plague.
“For example...?”
“These are quarantine supplies.”
Quarantine supplies? CEO Caruso narrowed his eyes in suspicion. Aren't we currently purchasing grains in preparation for a food shortage?
Ariadne tried it lightly for now.
“If the locust swarm continues to move north, won’t an epidemic spread?”
Mr. Caruso looked lost in thought. He was the epitome of a wise merchant. Ariadne was selling medicine at the moment.
It was a testament to Mr. Caruso's ability to succeed that he did not immediately fall for unfounded claims.
'Smart but annoying.'
She found a reason to convince CEO Caruso.
“Even if it’s not necessarily for epidemic prevention.”
Every winter, the days get shorter and we end up using more candles. Beeswax was also a material used in candles.
“You may want to stock up on beeswax to prepare for winter. There is a limit to how much you can store in your warehouse.”
There was a reason why the word 'wax' was mentioned. Wax was a luxury item and the merchants had high profits. Much more so than wheat.
And Bocanegro Company gets to take its share of the profits. CEO Caruso’s eyes sparkled.
“Is it wax?”
“Yes. Could you also take care of purchasing the beeswax?”
“...If it’s beeswax, it has a long shelf life, so even if it doesn’t sell this winter, it can be sold slowly.”
Ariadne laughed to herself. It wasn't the storage period that was passed over, but rather the company's profits.
“Yes. Then I would like to ask you to purchase the beeswax for about 10,000 ducats. The country of origin is not important, but it must be in our warehouse by the end of July at the latest.”
“Time is a bit tight.”
“It’s my condition. I can’t help it. I won’t accept anything that arrives later than that.”
“...Yes, I understand.”
The client's requests, no matter how strange, must be met.
People who make strange demands that cannot be rationally understood, that is the nature of clients. CEO Caruso nodded.
***
While Ariadne was finishing up her wheat purchases, Isabella was struggling to re-establish herself in society.
“Why did you wake me up now! Today is the Silver Cross Women’s Association meeting day!”
Isabella, who had been accepted into the society of wealthy ladies doing volunteer work thanks to the adulteress, Countess Clemente de Bartolini, woke up at midday and took out her temper on her new maid.
“I’m sorry, Miss!”
Isabella's new maid, Sienna, who had come in after Maleta's death, bowed her head hurriedly.
Although she had only known this new lady for a short time, Sienna realized as soon as she heard that her stunningly beautiful new boss was as witty as she was beautiful.
“Would you like me to rub your feet?”
“Are you an idiot? I don’t have time, so do you want me to sit around and get a foot massage? Go get a bath right now!”
“Yes, yes!”
Isabella had recently become quite friendly with the Silver Cross Ladies.
Countess Baljo, the leader of the Silver Cross Women's Society, began to regard Isabella as a pretty and charming younger sister.
The rest of the people didn't matter.
Baroness Loredan was willing to accept whatever Countess Baljo said, and Clemente de Bartolini was in no position to dare say anything unpleasant to Isabella at this time.
Thanks to that, even Ippolito was getting some beans.
“Isabella!”
“Knock and come in!”
Isabella, who was preparing to take a bath, wearing only a robe and a towel on her head, became very annoyed at Ippolito, who had inadvertently barged into his sister's room.
Ippolito, who would normally not stay still, but these days, he was getting a lot of crumbs because of his sister, so he let it slide and asked jokingly.
“Is Ottavio attending today?”
“Don’t you have a brain? How can Ottavio de Contarini follow me when I go to do volunteer work at a convent? Can't he? It's off-limits."
“No... I thought it was an orphanage, just in case..."
“It’s an orphanage attached to a convent.”
“Tch, that’s great.”
Ippolito grumbled, his heart aching.
“Don’t just go to those weird and boring places. Instead, find a better place to meet up. Like a salon or a drinking party.”
Isabella snorted in shock.
“Hey! Can’t you see that your little sister is struggling on her own?”
She rolled her pretty purple eyes and looked at Ippolito pitifully.
“You useless brat. I was dragged around to convents, nursing homes, and orphanages, and endured all the humiliation of washing dishes and mopping, and I managed to make a place for myself by trying to please Countess Baljo. What? A drinking party?”
“Hey, are you being a bit harsh?”
If it were a normal situation, Ippolito would have yelled at her and left. But he was playfully asking this question because he had something to hide.
“Me? Are you saying that I should be the only one having fun? If I were to be caught in a place like that, Ottavio and Cesare would show up too, right?”
Ippolito had mentioned the men his age in hopes of expanding his network, but Isabella's pretty purple eyes also lit up when she heard this story.
Now that Prince Alfonso was gone, Isabella had to find a new groom.
Although Cesare de Como had acted stiffly without reason the last time, it only fueled Isabella's competitive spirit.
'You're the first man to treat me like that.'
Any male creature who had passed puberty would kneel helplessly before Isabella de Mare.
No one did not fall for a sweet smile or a kind word.
'Let's see how long you can hold out.'
Even Count Cesare would break down under the baptism of love soaked in sugar and whipped cream.
Isabella's world has always been like this.
And Ottavio. Not bad insurance and a stepping stone to reaching Count Cesare.
'It's a bonus that I can turn Camellia de Castiglione's stomach upside down.'
Camellia would tremble if she found out that her fiancé was standing next to Isabella like a servant.
That appearance... It was pleasant to just imagine it.
“Well... Yeah. Brother, you have to find a seat too. Next time, I’ll try to find a seat where Sir Ottavio can show up too.”
A noticeable blush appeared on Ippolito's face. Isabella asked a question discreetly.
“Brother, have you been in contact with Count Cesare lately?”
“I want to ask you something. That kid? I can’t contact him. He hasn’t replied to my letters.”
Count Cesare cut off all contact with the outside world and spent his days drinking alcohol in his mansion.
Half of it was because he was discouraged by his situation, and half was to avoid attracting the attention of Leo III.
He had been admonished by the King not to 'make ripples in the water'.
There was a concern that if Cesare were to socialize outside, it would be seen as him getting involved in politics over the assassination of Queen Marguerite.
At times like these, it was necessary to humble oneself and look like a bum. This was the wisdom that Cesare had acquired through suffering many times since childhood.
But Ippolito, who had no way of knowing the inside story, spoke in a resentful voice.
“He's ignoring me because I’m not the head of the household or a noble! You dirty bastard, you’re an illegitimate child yourself!”
Ippolito clenched his fists and gritted his teeth.
“If I can go, if I can go...! I will make sure that you will never ignore this Ippolito again!”
The de Mare family without Cardinal de Mare is just an ordinary family of commoners.
For the family line that Ippolito was to inherit to be meaningful, he had to be successful as a soldier or acquire a title through marriage.
That was also why the deceased Lucrezia waited impatiently for her son to excel at the military school in Padua.
“I am the man who will inherit the family!”
Isabella was about to grumble, "You incompetent little punk, you're not going to make it as a soldier, and you can't possibly marry a woman of title with that title," but then changed her mind.
Because when the topic of men came up, a good idea came to mind.
“Yes, that’s right, you are the one who will inherit the family.”
Isabella closed her eyes and smiled prettily.
“I also have the authority to decide your younger siblings’ marriages.”
“Then! Isabella, considering the affection between siblings, I will let you marry the man you want to marry!”
“Really? Trust me, Brother.”
Ippolito looked at Isabella in shock at his sister's suddenly changed attitude.
He knew in his head that she was pretty, but he couldn't accept it in his heart.
That cunning girl with about three hundred foxes inside her, even though she only has a fancy shell, is scary.
“Why are you suddenly like that? Do it right.”
“Hey, don’t do that.”
Isabella's voice became more and more hoarse.
“If my brother becomes the head of the household and our dear sister Ariadne cannot get married, you must find her a good match.”
Ippolito also realized what his devious younger sister was thinking.
A smile spread across Ippolito's face as he realized why Isabella was in such a good mood.
“A daughter of a family can’t disobey her head’s orders, right?”
“Yes, that’s true. Even if you throw me in a convent, I have nothing to say.”
“Even if you insist on getting married if you don’t get permission from the head of the family, it’s all for naught.”
“Then. How could you carelessly send away the daughter of your family when you don’t even know what kind of bastard the man she chose is? Even if they say it’s good for them, they can’t get married without the permission of the head of the family.”
Isabella's smile grew wider.
“Brother, Ariadne is a bit... stubborn.”
“She lives in her own way and is not very polite.”
“I think she needs to meet a man she can respect.”
Isabella's face, smiling contentedly, now looked like a flower was about to bloom.
“So, what do you think about someone a lot older? Someone about thirty years older would be good.”
Ippolito chimed in excitedly.
“It’s hard to find a decent bachelor among older men. I’d rather be divorced. If he has children, it’s even better. She can’t live comfortably. There have to be some difficulties, and then she can stop being wild and become an adult.”
Isabella smiled broadly and clapped her hands.
“Even so, the de Mare family has its own reputation. We can’t just send her to any divorced man.”
“Yeah. A man should have a higher title and have some wealth and things like that.”
Isabella felt the same way, on the verge of bursting into laughter.
“I know just the right person.”
"Who?"
“The Marquis of Campa.”
Ippolito also made a funny face like Isabella.
“Ha, hahahahahahaha!”
The first one to burst out laughing was Ippolito.
Isabella was soon overcome by her brother's comical expression and burst into laughter.
“Hahahahahahaha!”
The siblings, who had been laughing loudly for a while, clapped their hands in the air.
Ouch!
“As expected of Isabella. You got a great head on your shoulders.”
“No, the circumstances are just right.”
“If you send Ariadne to the Marquis of Campa, I won’t need to send a dowry, right?”
“We should be the ones receiving the bride’s allowance.”
“Wouldn’t the Marquis of Campa have a new concubine by then?”
“What kind of crazy woman would marry the Marquis of Campa? Even if she did...”
Isabella twirled her fine flaxen hair through her fingers.
“She won’t survive long. By the time Ariadne becomes an old maid and goes to get married, the third wife will probably be dead too.”
“There is a very strong rumor that Prince Alfonso went to Gallico to get married.”
“Isn’t that obvious? Who would send their son across the Prinoyak Mountains to a country like that if not to get him married?”
“Then Ariadne really is a broken kite.”
Isabella smiled with satisfaction at Ippolito's words. But Ippolito added cautiously.
“But surely... Count Cesare isn’t interested in her?”
"What?"
Isabella's face immediately grimaced. Her peony-like face turned into that of a beast.
“No, no, there were rumors like that at the masquerade ball too. Count Cesare is strangely kind to her, isn’t he? If he proposed while my father was away...”
“Stop talking nonsense.”
Isabella glared at her brother with eagle eyes.
"He just took a look to see if he might be a good match since she's had some fame in high society for a while. There’s no way that would be true of Count Cesare!”
Instead of a pretty and cute girl like me, you have such a gloomy and sullen girl.
In recent times, there have been loud voices in high society praising Ariadne's elegance, but Isabella has not been able to hear them.
Because she ignored it even though she heard it.
“Even if that’s the case, I won’t leave it like that. That will never happen.”
Isabella's eyes burned with anger and purpose.
She has always met Count Cesare in church and social circles since she was young.
Although he was not a legitimate Prince, if she were to choose a Prince of high society, it would definitely be Count Cesare.
During that time, the Princess of high society was Isabella de Mare. They were a match made in heaven. He could not be stolen.
That man is mine.
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