Ariadne was informed the evening before that there would be a ceremony at the palace.
“...Our entire family received an invitation.”
When Ariadne unfolded the invitation, the event was about a ceremony in the afternoon and a ball in the evening.
But there was not a single word about why the ceremony was being held.
“Wow! Dad, this is precious. How did you get it?”
Isabella, who had just learned that Camellia de Castiglione had not been invited, asked with a smile on her face.
Cardinal de Mare answered with a cough.
Although it was a price to pay for doing something dirty, it was something that brought great benefit to the family, and even his eldest daughter liked it so much, that he felt a little proud.
“It’s a big event, so prepare well.”
Ariadne asked.
“...What kind of event is it?”
The Cardinal gave only ambiguous answers.
“It’s not necessarily a specific, set event... Is it some kind of reinstatement? Since it’s something to celebrate, you can decorate it up in a fancy way.”
“I like it!”
Isabella's screams were the only thing that echoed through the de Mare family's dinner table.
Cardinal de Mare was right when he said that there was no set format for the event.
It was only after entering the palace that the party learned that the 'ceremony' was being held in the 'Hall of the Sun'.
The 'Hall of the Sun' was the main hall of the Palagio Carlo, where the King would make official proclamations on important matters of state, such as the conferment of the throne or the designation of a successor.
But the recent Etruscan kingdoms had no such national events.
The decorations and formalities were also not up to par for such a grand event.
“This is my first time here.”
Isabella, who heard the King's proclamation from a fairly front row of the ceremony, could not hide her embarrassed expression and whispered to Ippolito, who was standing next to her.
The 'Hall of the Sun' was closed unless something major happened, so it was common for it to go unused for over ten years.
It was no wonder Isabella didn't come in.
Moreover, today the Cardinal de Mare family is placed ahead of the Marquis Baldessar.
It was only natural that Isabella's face turned red. Ippolito was equally excited to be involved in such an important national event.
From ahead, the King's proclamation flowed out.
“First, I would like to announce the results of the investigation.”
As Leo III opened his mouth, the guests all turned their attention to the King.
And then, to the King's left, a red-haired woman wearing a white dress suddenly appeared.
There was no blast of a horn or declaration of her position, but her presence caught everyone's attention.
Despite the solemn atmosphere, the audience began to murmur quietly.
"Is she Countess Rubina?”
“Countess Rubina in the ‘Hall of the Sun’...?”
“...Our entire family received an invitation.”
When Ariadne unfolded the invitation, the event was about a ceremony in the afternoon and a ball in the evening.
But there was not a single word about why the ceremony was being held.
“Wow! Dad, this is precious. How did you get it?”
Isabella, who had just learned that Camellia de Castiglione had not been invited, asked with a smile on her face.
Cardinal de Mare answered with a cough.
Although it was a price to pay for doing something dirty, it was something that brought great benefit to the family, and even his eldest daughter liked it so much, that he felt a little proud.
“It’s a big event, so prepare well.”
Ariadne asked.
“...What kind of event is it?”
The Cardinal gave only ambiguous answers.
“It’s not necessarily a specific, set event... Is it some kind of reinstatement? Since it’s something to celebrate, you can decorate it up in a fancy way.”
“I like it!”
Isabella's screams were the only thing that echoed through the de Mare family's dinner table.
***
Cardinal de Mare was right when he said that there was no set format for the event.
It was only after entering the palace that the party learned that the 'ceremony' was being held in the 'Hall of the Sun'.
The 'Hall of the Sun' was the main hall of the Palagio Carlo, where the King would make official proclamations on important matters of state, such as the conferment of the throne or the designation of a successor.
But the recent Etruscan kingdoms had no such national events.
The decorations and formalities were also not up to par for such a grand event.
“This is my first time here.”
Isabella, who heard the King's proclamation from a fairly front row of the ceremony, could not hide her embarrassed expression and whispered to Ippolito, who was standing next to her.
The 'Hall of the Sun' was closed unless something major happened, so it was common for it to go unused for over ten years.
It was no wonder Isabella didn't come in.
Moreover, today the Cardinal de Mare family is placed ahead of the Marquis Baldessar.
It was only natural that Isabella's face turned red. Ippolito was equally excited to be involved in such an important national event.
From ahead, the King's proclamation flowed out.
“First, I would like to announce the results of the investigation.”
As Leo III opened his mouth, the guests all turned their attention to the King.
And then, to the King's left, a red-haired woman wearing a white dress suddenly appeared.
There was no blast of a horn or declaration of her position, but her presence caught everyone's attention.
Despite the solemn atmosphere, the audience began to murmur quietly.
"Is she Countess Rubina?”
“Countess Rubina in the ‘Hall of the Sun’...?”
"Crowned Queen?!”
The only thing that Countess Rubina had to do as a main character in the 'Hall of the Sun' was the coronation ceremony.
Leo III was not unaware of this. He continued reading the proclamation.
“...After an in-depth investigation by the finest investigators of the Etruscan kingdom, it has been determined that the death of the late Queen Margaret, the Etruscan, and the Countess Rubina had no connection whatsoever.”
The commotion in the crowd grew noticeably louder.
But Leo III only frowned slightly at the commotion and continued reading the parchment.
“I have prepared this event to commend Countess Rubina’s hard work and to clearly prove her innocence.”
People's doubts did not subside to this extent.
“Is this all?”
“The King opened the ‘Hall of the Sun’ just for this?”
The only thing that Countess Rubina had to do as a main character in the 'Hall of the Sun' was the coronation ceremony.
Leo III was not unaware of this. He continued reading the proclamation.
“...After an in-depth investigation by the finest investigators of the Etruscan kingdom, it has been determined that the death of the late Queen Margaret, the Etruscan, and the Countess Rubina had no connection whatsoever.”
The commotion in the crowd grew noticeably louder.
But Leo III only frowned slightly at the commotion and continued reading the parchment.
“I have prepared this event to commend Countess Rubina’s hard work and to clearly prove her innocence.”
People's doubts did not subside to this extent.
“Is this all?”
“The King opened the ‘Hall of the Sun’ just for this?”
“Isn’t this it? The Kingdom of Gallico demanded Countess Rubina. It’s a diplomatic gesture to the Kingdom of Gallico!”
“But that’s true. The King can open the ‘Hall of the Sun’ by issuing a single decree.”
"Also!"
Everyone fell silent at the sound of Leo III's booming voice and focused on the King's words.
“Today I would like to correct something that has not been well-known until now. It is the question of de Carlo’s lineage.”
This is where the main topic starts. Everyone was nervous. No one had any idea what was going to be said.
Is this a story about making Countess Rubina your Queen and having a new child with her? Or is it a story about recognizing Count Cesare as your legitimate heir?
But the story that came out of Leo III's mouth was truly extraordinary.
“I have a dead younger brother.”
This was a story new to both the socialites and researchers of royal genealogy.
The crowd became more excited than ever before, and Leo III was unable to hide his irritation and had to stop the crowd.
"Stop!"
The noise suddenly stopped.
Leo III continued his speech, glancing contentedly from side to side through the now-quiet Hall of the Sun.
“My younger brother had poor health since he was young, so his death was never officially announced. He eventually died young.”
'Does this make any sense?'
This was the feeling of all the guests inside the 'Hall of the Sun'.
There is no case where a legitimate Prince is born and the birth itself is concealed because the child's health is poor.
There are times when they rush to baptize someone before they die.
But there was something odd about the atmosphere.
The fact that the King opened the 'Hall of the Sun' to talk nonsense like this means that he is determined.
There was no great nobleman who came forward and spit on him.
The same was true of the Counts of Marquez, Baldessar, and Contarini, who had received no advance notice other than Leo III's boast that 'I have the means.'
The King has already appeared on stage and the show has begun.
The audience standing below the stage had no choice but to watch with sweaty palms to see how far this tiger would run.
"Cardinal."
The King held out one hand.
Cardinal de Mare, standing just below the podium where Leo III stood, politely handed the King a piece of parchment.
It was a first-class fake, made by carving out an unnamed nobleman from an old birth register and carefully adding old ink to it in order to save the parchment that was over 40 years old.
Leo III held aloft this register of births, containing the quintessence of the calligraphy of the clergy of the Diocese of San Carlo, for all his guests to see.
“This is the birth certificate of my younger brother, Biagio.”
The King added a word as if he was really hurt.
“This is the original that has been kept in the archives of the Holy See of the Diocese of San Carlo.”
Everyone looked at Cardinal de Mare, but he looked straight ahead without even a flicker of expression.
If you've already started a scam, it's better to not let it go until the end.
“It breaks my heart that my dear little brother has not been recognized in official events, so I have decided to take this opportunity to officially announce his presence here today.”
People are starting to piece together why the 'Hall of the Sun' was opened.
The King's announcement today was due to a change in the royal genealogy.
But they couldn't figure out what the practical benefit of this event would be. If he was already dead, wouldn't it have no effect on the succession plan?
“My younger brother, who was previously known as ‘Count Biagio de Como,’ is now officially known as ‘Count Biagio de Carlo.’”
After hearing this, the crowd finally realized why the 'Hall of the Sun' had opened.
This is not the creation of a new fake sibling, but rather the promotion of an existing fake sibling.
“And I formally recognize the family of my deceased brother as a royal family. Countess Rubina de Como, Count Cesare de Como.”
Count Cesare appeared behind Rubina, elegantly dressed in white robes and a purple mantle.
He was as handsome as ever, but there was something different about him.
Ariadne looked Cesare over carefully and soon realized.
Today, Count Cesare wore the royal emblem of a laurel and deer on his chest.
The King's bombshell declaration followed.
“You are the legitimate children of Biagio de Carlo and the legitimate wife of Biagio de Carlo, and you are proud members of the royal house of de Carlo.”
Ariadne was staggering with dizziness.
'What the hell is this...!'
But she didn't even have the freedom to fall.
If she were to collapse here, everyone's attention would be focused on her. She gritted her teeth and regained her balance.
'His Majesty the King has abandoned Prince Alfonso!'
If he were to be merciful, he could say that pushing Bianca's right to the throne to a later date, eliminated the reason for Philip IV to take Prince Alfonso's life.
But she knew Leo III very well.
The current ruler of the Etruscan kingdom was not one to rule with such careful consideration.
It was far more likely that he did this to preserve his kingdom than to increase his son's chances of escaping.
And the reason the King put on this ridiculous farce was... Because she woke Leo III up.
She shuddered at the realization. With her own hands, she had tarnished Alfonso's claim to the throne.
Ariadne, with these two hands of hers, helped in what must have happened in her past life.
Despite Ariadne's trembling, the King did not wait. He shamelessly continued.
“They have suffered a lot because of my lack of virtue.”
In an instant, the mistress and illegitimate child who had disguised themselves as a sister-in-law and nephew smiled sadly.
“To reward you for your hard work, I hereby grant you my title.”
Even if he was an illegitimate child, it would not have been appropriate for him to have only the title of Count if he was the King's nephew.
“The Duke of Pisano, our dear nobleman, passed away some time ago, leaving the successor to his fiefdom vacant.”
The fief of Pisano was the northernmost Etruscan frontier fief, adjacent to the province of Gaeta, and was ruled by the venerable Pisano family.
It was true that the Duke of Pisano had died of a chronic illness, but it was false that he had no successor in his domain.
He had no legitimate sons, but he had married daughters, grandchildren, by his married daughters, a dozen illegitimate children, and a collateral line with claims to the title that would have filled a large room.
However, if he is not the legitimate son, the rest can be pushed out somehow by power.
“Therefore, I hereby grant Cesare de Carlo the fief of Pisano, which has been returned to the national treasury, and confer upon him the title of Duke of Pisano. I urge him to conduct himself properly as a member of the royal family and to devote himself to increasing national power.”
Count Cesare, or rather Duke Pisano, knelt on one knee at the feet of Leo III.
Leo III performed the rite of conferring the title by raising the ceremonial sword and touching Cesare's left shoulder once and then once to his head.
It was just two simple gestures, but the implications were anything but simple.
“Cesare de Carlo. Welcome to the House of Carlo, ruler of the Etruscans.”
After the ceremony of crowning Cesare de Como, or rather Cesare de Carlo, as Duke of Pisano in the 'Hall of the Sun', the palace festivities continued with the second part, the 'Hall of Mirrors' ball.
Outside, the earth was slowly becoming dark.
Ariadne walked through the open corridors to the Hall of Mirrors, deciding to time it right and return early.
She wasn't in the mood for a ball at all.
“But that’s true. The King can open the ‘Hall of the Sun’ by issuing a single decree.”
"Also!"
Everyone fell silent at the sound of Leo III's booming voice and focused on the King's words.
“Today I would like to correct something that has not been well-known until now. It is the question of de Carlo’s lineage.”
This is where the main topic starts. Everyone was nervous. No one had any idea what was going to be said.
Is this a story about making Countess Rubina your Queen and having a new child with her? Or is it a story about recognizing Count Cesare as your legitimate heir?
But the story that came out of Leo III's mouth was truly extraordinary.
“I have a dead younger brother.”
This was a story new to both the socialites and researchers of royal genealogy.
The crowd became more excited than ever before, and Leo III was unable to hide his irritation and had to stop the crowd.
"Stop!"
The noise suddenly stopped.
Leo III continued his speech, glancing contentedly from side to side through the now-quiet Hall of the Sun.
“My younger brother had poor health since he was young, so his death was never officially announced. He eventually died young.”
'Does this make any sense?'
This was the feeling of all the guests inside the 'Hall of the Sun'.
There is no case where a legitimate Prince is born and the birth itself is concealed because the child's health is poor.
There are times when they rush to baptize someone before they die.
But there was something odd about the atmosphere.
The fact that the King opened the 'Hall of the Sun' to talk nonsense like this means that he is determined.
There was no great nobleman who came forward and spit on him.
The same was true of the Counts of Marquez, Baldessar, and Contarini, who had received no advance notice other than Leo III's boast that 'I have the means.'
The King has already appeared on stage and the show has begun.
The audience standing below the stage had no choice but to watch with sweaty palms to see how far this tiger would run.
"Cardinal."
The King held out one hand.
Cardinal de Mare, standing just below the podium where Leo III stood, politely handed the King a piece of parchment.
It was a first-class fake, made by carving out an unnamed nobleman from an old birth register and carefully adding old ink to it in order to save the parchment that was over 40 years old.
Leo III held aloft this register of births, containing the quintessence of the calligraphy of the clergy of the Diocese of San Carlo, for all his guests to see.
“This is the birth certificate of my younger brother, Biagio.”
The King added a word as if he was really hurt.
“This is the original that has been kept in the archives of the Holy See of the Diocese of San Carlo.”
Everyone looked at Cardinal de Mare, but he looked straight ahead without even a flicker of expression.
If you've already started a scam, it's better to not let it go until the end.
“It breaks my heart that my dear little brother has not been recognized in official events, so I have decided to take this opportunity to officially announce his presence here today.”
People are starting to piece together why the 'Hall of the Sun' was opened.
The King's announcement today was due to a change in the royal genealogy.
But they couldn't figure out what the practical benefit of this event would be. If he was already dead, wouldn't it have no effect on the succession plan?
“My younger brother, who was previously known as ‘Count Biagio de Como,’ is now officially known as ‘Count Biagio de Carlo.’”
After hearing this, the crowd finally realized why the 'Hall of the Sun' had opened.
This is not the creation of a new fake sibling, but rather the promotion of an existing fake sibling.
“And I formally recognize the family of my deceased brother as a royal family. Countess Rubina de Como, Count Cesare de Como.”
Count Cesare appeared behind Rubina, elegantly dressed in white robes and a purple mantle.
He was as handsome as ever, but there was something different about him.
Ariadne looked Cesare over carefully and soon realized.
Today, Count Cesare wore the royal emblem of a laurel and deer on his chest.
The King's bombshell declaration followed.
“You are the legitimate children of Biagio de Carlo and the legitimate wife of Biagio de Carlo, and you are proud members of the royal house of de Carlo.”
Ariadne was staggering with dizziness.
'What the hell is this...!'
But she didn't even have the freedom to fall.
If she were to collapse here, everyone's attention would be focused on her. She gritted her teeth and regained her balance.
'His Majesty the King has abandoned Prince Alfonso!'
If he were to be merciful, he could say that pushing Bianca's right to the throne to a later date, eliminated the reason for Philip IV to take Prince Alfonso's life.
But she knew Leo III very well.
The current ruler of the Etruscan kingdom was not one to rule with such careful consideration.
It was far more likely that he did this to preserve his kingdom than to increase his son's chances of escaping.
And the reason the King put on this ridiculous farce was... Because she woke Leo III up.
She shuddered at the realization. With her own hands, she had tarnished Alfonso's claim to the throne.
Ariadne, with these two hands of hers, helped in what must have happened in her past life.
Despite Ariadne's trembling, the King did not wait. He shamelessly continued.
“They have suffered a lot because of my lack of virtue.”
In an instant, the mistress and illegitimate child who had disguised themselves as a sister-in-law and nephew smiled sadly.
“To reward you for your hard work, I hereby grant you my title.”
Even if he was an illegitimate child, it would not have been appropriate for him to have only the title of Count if he was the King's nephew.
“The Duke of Pisano, our dear nobleman, passed away some time ago, leaving the successor to his fiefdom vacant.”
The fief of Pisano was the northernmost Etruscan frontier fief, adjacent to the province of Gaeta, and was ruled by the venerable Pisano family.
It was true that the Duke of Pisano had died of a chronic illness, but it was false that he had no successor in his domain.
He had no legitimate sons, but he had married daughters, grandchildren, by his married daughters, a dozen illegitimate children, and a collateral line with claims to the title that would have filled a large room.
However, if he is not the legitimate son, the rest can be pushed out somehow by power.
“Therefore, I hereby grant Cesare de Carlo the fief of Pisano, which has been returned to the national treasury, and confer upon him the title of Duke of Pisano. I urge him to conduct himself properly as a member of the royal family and to devote himself to increasing national power.”
Count Cesare, or rather Duke Pisano, knelt on one knee at the feet of Leo III.
Leo III performed the rite of conferring the title by raising the ceremonial sword and touching Cesare's left shoulder once and then once to his head.
It was just two simple gestures, but the implications were anything but simple.
“Cesare de Carlo. Welcome to the House of Carlo, ruler of the Etruscans.”
***
After the ceremony of crowning Cesare de Como, or rather Cesare de Carlo, as Duke of Pisano in the 'Hall of the Sun', the palace festivities continued with the second part, the 'Hall of Mirrors' ball.
Outside, the earth was slowly becoming dark.
Ariadne walked through the open corridors to the Hall of Mirrors, deciding to time it right and return early.
She wasn't in the mood for a ball at all.
Follow me, follow me!
The magnificent orchestra that the King had called together began to play the first verse of the opening song.
Ariadne looked at the decorations and preparations inside the ballroom and felt like she was going to vomit.
This was a banquet worth 20,000 ducats, even if it wasn't possible.
If you look at the opening of the 'Hall of the Sun', the hastily arranged orchestra, and the luxurious hanging of various ornaments in the 'Hall of Mirrors', it may be close to 30,000 ducats.
It was money that could have been used meaningfully to save Alfonso.
She tried to run her hand through her hair but then realized that her maid Anna had used all her skill to braid it, and she quickly lowered her hand.
'I have to get out.'
She glanced around the ballroom.
The two daughters of the de Mare family were assigned seats at a table located quite near the front of the ballroom, right next to the dance floor.
Isabella, sitting directly across from Ariadne, had finally dressed up for the first time in a while.
She was sick of always wearing a plain linen dress inside out with the country girl concept.
The formal event held at the 'Hall of the Sun' was the perfect excuse to wear her beloved silk dress.
Since Isabella could not afford to spend lavishly on clothing like she had when Lucrezia reigned over the household, Isabella's dress was not as elaborate in detail as before, but in true sensibility, it was a stylishly tailored pale turquoise fabric that definitely stood out among the 500 guests in the ballroom.
Isabella looked toward the center of the ballroom, then glanced at Ariadne, and smiled meaningfully when their eyes met.
'I am prettier.'
The dark-haired Ariadne in a red rose dress and the blonde Isabella in a light turquoise dress caught the attention of the crowd even more due to the color contrast.
And what stands out is exactly what Isabella wanted.
Isabella was once again acting like she used to, treating her half-sister like an accessory.
Ariadne, who was not as pretty as she was, was of no importance to her at this moment.
Because her gaze was fixed on Cesare, who was standing in the center of the ballroom.
'I'm the one who shines the brightest in this ballroom. Can you see it too?'
Duke Cesare raised his head proudly and looked towards the de Mare family's table. A smile appeared on Isabella's pretty face.
She got up from her seat and began to stride towards the center of the ballroom.
The magnificent orchestra that the King had called together began to play the first verse of the opening song.
Ariadne looked at the decorations and preparations inside the ballroom and felt like she was going to vomit.
This was a banquet worth 20,000 ducats, even if it wasn't possible.
If you look at the opening of the 'Hall of the Sun', the hastily arranged orchestra, and the luxurious hanging of various ornaments in the 'Hall of Mirrors', it may be close to 30,000 ducats.
It was money that could have been used meaningfully to save Alfonso.
She tried to run her hand through her hair but then realized that her maid Anna had used all her skill to braid it, and she quickly lowered her hand.
'I have to get out.'
She glanced around the ballroom.
The two daughters of the de Mare family were assigned seats at a table located quite near the front of the ballroom, right next to the dance floor.
Isabella, sitting directly across from Ariadne, had finally dressed up for the first time in a while.
She was sick of always wearing a plain linen dress inside out with the country girl concept.
The formal event held at the 'Hall of the Sun' was the perfect excuse to wear her beloved silk dress.
Since Isabella could not afford to spend lavishly on clothing like she had when Lucrezia reigned over the household, Isabella's dress was not as elaborate in detail as before, but in true sensibility, it was a stylishly tailored pale turquoise fabric that definitely stood out among the 500 guests in the ballroom.
Isabella looked toward the center of the ballroom, then glanced at Ariadne, and smiled meaningfully when their eyes met.
'I am prettier.'
The dark-haired Ariadne in a red rose dress and the blonde Isabella in a light turquoise dress caught the attention of the crowd even more due to the color contrast.
And what stands out is exactly what Isabella wanted.
Isabella was once again acting like she used to, treating her half-sister like an accessory.
Ariadne, who was not as pretty as she was, was of no importance to her at this moment.
Because her gaze was fixed on Cesare, who was standing in the center of the ballroom.
'I'm the one who shines the brightest in this ballroom. Can you see it too?'
Duke Cesare raised his head proudly and looked towards the de Mare family's table. A smile appeared on Isabella's pretty face.
She got up from her seat and began to stride towards the center of the ballroom.
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