The director of the Rambouillet Relief Home, Monsieur Albany, bowed politely to Ariadne.
“It’s all our fault.”
The Albany office manager found bowing to the aristocrats easier than breathing, but today he was sincere.
The guilt of locking the front door and exposing a young girl to the poor for their own safety was purely secondary.
The girl showed up with enough grain to feed the thousand or so inmates of the relief home for two weeks.
This is a feat that even Leo III could not accomplish.
Now, in the eyes of the Albany office manager, Ariadne seemed more important than the king.
“I will make sure that this never happens again⋯⋯.”
He wasn't angry at all when he saw the little maid, as young as his own daughter, glaring at him from the side with her eyes wide open.
It is possible for someone who brings grain and money to do so. It is possible. There was no business before the budget.
The Rambouillet Relief Home is in danger of having to lay off its staff if things continue as they are. Or… take special measures.
“That’s enough apologies.”
Ariadne stopped the Albany office manager.
Although he was planning to issue instructions to the Albany office manager without authority, the office manager was deeply impressed.
'Until you have mercy!'
And what he said next startled the office manager.
“I plan to provide food to this relief center for the time being.”
The office manager's eyes widened. He had never seen anyone give something away without receiving anything in return.
The noble ladies who donated wanted to be praised by the world for their excellence through their donations.
It was a result of professional training that the office manager became a master of flattery and insincere words.
The palace was no different. The budget from the palace was meant to control the poor.
Everyone has their own purpose. That's the human world.
“Instead⋯⋯. There is something I need you to do.”
The office manager felt relieved upon hearing the word 'instead'. Well then, that's right.
But the words that followed threw the office manager into even greater confusion.
“⋯⋯Isolate the poor with fever, boil their water, clean their beds, and have all the relief workers wear towels on their faces?”
Ariadne simply agreed.
“Yes, that’s right. And the isolation from outsiders must be done by all the relief center staff, including the office manager.”
In short, the intention was to turn the entire Rambouillet Relief Home into one huge fortress, cut off from the outside world.
“And…you’re saying that you’ll pay for all the money that goes into it?”
"you're right."
The answer to the second question also came back with a refreshing affirmative. The Albany office manager asked cautiously.
“By any chance⋯⋯. Are you, young lady, representing the will of the Seonghwangcheong?”
Cardinal de Mare may not have wanted to be seen as a figurehead while providing relief to the poor.
The Rambouillet Relief Center is a direct institution of the Queen, so it is ultimately a King's event, so wouldn't she be reluctant to interfere in it?
It was a plausible deduction, except that Cardinal de Mare had no particular interest in helping the poor and was not the type to hide himself.
But the answer to the third question was the exact opposite of what the Albany office manager had thought.
“No. It’s my private property.”
It was surprising that a young lady of her age had so much personal wealth, and it was absurd that she used it to help the poor instead of using it as her own dowry.
The Albany office manager was surprised and said something he would never have said under normal circumstances. It was a question that half escaped his lips.
“Why on earth are you like that⋯⋯. Is there a reason?”
“⋯⋯That’s right.”
Ariadne smiled bitterly.
Even she couldn't honestly understand why she was doing this.
If you only think about your own comfort, you can just grab all the grain and sell it at a high price.
If the king is greedy, you can cut off half and offer it to him, and he will dispose of the rest at a high price.
It would have been better to do this than to give aid to the Rambouillet Relief Center.
'But it's obvious that everyone is going to die.'
I know the future. I can't just sit still, right?
Ariadne looked at the halo of light that had settled on the tip of her right hand, invisible to anyone.
Even in the dark room, the halo of light shining like diamond dust swirled around as if dancing as if to affirm it.
* * *
The news that Ariadne de Marais had provided food to the Rambouillet relief home spread like wildfire throughout San Carlo.
The first to react was Cardinal de Mare.
The next evening, when the rumor had spread to San Carlo, he immediately summoned his second daughter, but Ariadne could not go to see her father.
Since I got home, I've been locking the door tightly and not seeing anyone.
'At least one week, preferably ten days.'
Not only I, but all the attendants who had entered the Rambouillet Relief Home that day were forced to stay in the separate building for ten days.
Going out was not possible, and meals were prepared in the main building's kitchen and delivered to the door of the annex.
Ariadne herself was worried about the controversy over her conduct and was unable to enter the isolation annex with her attendants.
But she too, with only Sancha, locked herself in her room in the main building and lived completely isolated from the rest of the household.
'It's obvious what the Cardinal wants.'
The question will be, 'Where did that money come from?'
Ariadne wrote a note to Cardinal de Mare explaining that she was supporting him with the money she had made from auctioning off artwork she had previously purchased and the grain and wax she had personally accumulated, which had risen in price significantly, and the money she made from selling them, as well as the grain she still had left.
And he handed over the entire management ledger of the De Mare mansion to his father for his own inspection.
Cardinal de Mare was a very rational man.
He would not touch Ariadne much, as long as she did not interfere with the household affairs of the De Mare family.
Of course, there was no way to know what the cardinal would think if he found out that Ariadne had an overwhelming amount of grain that could feed the entire capital, but Ariadne had no intention of revealing that to her father.
But unfortunately, in this household, the only person who lived with the rational idea that 'what's yours is yours, and what's mine is mine' was the father, excluding Ariadne.
“You! Come out now!”
“You can’t go in now, big lady!”
“Get out of the way!”
Maria's urgent voice was heard as she was unintentionally kicked out of Ariadne's inner chamber and left to run errands outside.
Ariadne and Sancha, who were in the room, raised their heads with a start.
- Bam!
It was Isabella who came rushing in with swagger.
“Hey! How can it be so different even though the front and back are different?”
She came in, grumbling, and glared at Ariadne with eyes filled with hatred. Ariadne asked back calmly.
“What’s the problem this time, Sister?”
Isabella was returning from tea at the Silver Cross Ladies' Club this afternoon.
The story of Ariadne's visit to the Rambouillet asylum and her suppression of a riot among the inmates had spread far and wide.
Since Isabella's humiliation at the ball to celebrate the crowning of Duke Cesare, Countess Baljo had become somewhat indifferent, and Baroness Loredan acted as if she had seen the incident, even though she was not present.
Since then, the Baroness's words and actions have become subtly more provocative, as was the case at today's tea party.
- “Oh, Miss Isabella. Is this the first time you’ve heard of the Rambouillet Home? You live in the same house. Didn’t your sister tell you? It seems like the sisters really don’t get along.”
Here, Countess Bartolini, who should have sided with Isabella, kept her mouth shut and made excuses.
To make matters worse, Countess Baljo pretended not to know and added a word.
- “That younger sister? Didn’t you say she was devout and faithful?”
- “That’s not all! They say he’s even wise. People are worried that the capital will soon be hit by a food shortage, but he has a lot of grain.”
- “Young lady, you are amazing. You have foresight.”
As she said that, Countess Baljo glanced at Isabella.
It was an unspoken rebuke that you must be a strange child, seeing as your kind and famous sister didn't even treat you like a human being.
'Ah, no⋯⋯!'
A cold sweat ran down Isabella's spine.
She quickly thought about how to please Countess Baljo.
Eventually, Isabella began to flatter us, saying that we should do volunteer work too, and that while individuals like Ariadne could do good deeds, there must surely be a way for a prestigious organization like the Ladies of the Silver Cross led by Countess Baljo to contribute to the country.
But this time, he faced the betrayal of Leticia de Leonati, who he thought would be on his side forever.
- “But Isabella⋯⋯. The atmosphere here is also ominous⋯⋯.”
Clemente De Bartolini nodded without missing a beat.
- “That’s right⋯⋯. I’m scared these days⋯⋯.”
- “I don’t think it’s time for me to go looking for a place like that.”
Who is it that you got into the 'Silver Cross Women's Society' thanks to? Isabella's anger towards Leticia was boiling over, but she was in no mood to act like she was acting like that.
Being excluded in this way was not something Isabella was accustomed to or able to tolerate.
She was always the leader of the group, the most beautiful girl standing at the front of the group.
Isabella gritted her teeth and suppressed her anger for the first time in her life and returned home quietly.
But she had to figure it out somehow. When she got home, she immediately attacked Ariadne.
I felt like I was going to go crazy if I didn't resolve it somehow.
“You! You tell me to refrain from going to the slums for a while while you act so smart.”
Isabella's purple eyes flashed with anger.
“Why is the same rule an exception for me?”
People can endure hunger, but they cannot endure eating bread while someone else eats meat.
Going in and out of the refugee camp was usually not important to Isabella, but now she couldn't stand it.
“The plague is only harming you? Are you so great? What’s so unfair?!”
Ariadne had nothing to say about this either.
In fact, if we are to be honest, she went to San Carlo to prevent the spread of the plague, and this was qualitatively different from Isabella's childish pranks.
Depending on the severity of the task, the level of risk you must be prepared for also varies.
But Ariadne couldn't think of a way to explain this to Isabella.
Even if he could explain, Isabella had no intention of listening, so there was no way she would accept it.
'What's so good about power?'
Ariadne decided to just crush the situation. 'Power' is the ability to force one's will on others.
There was no need to convince Isabella in a good way to unite and move forward.
“Maria!”
Ariadne cleared her throat.
“Yes, Miss!”
A loud answer came from outside the door.
“Sister Isabella is not feeling well for the time being and will be staying in her room.”
“What, what did you say?”
“Keep a close eye on your sister so she doesn’t leave her quarters for ten days!”
Despite Isabella's confusion, a clear answer came from outside the door.
“Understood, Miss!”
“When you bring Sister Isabella to her room, don’t forget to give her a face towel.”
"yes!"
While Maria was away for a moment to get a face cloth for Isabella, Isabella rushed at Ariadne roughly.
“Hey! Let’s see, let’s see!”
Isabella, who was physically aggressive, was no match for Ariadne, but she didn't have to go all the way to Ariadne.
The mountain tea plantation was blocking the way.
Sancha held Isabella's raised wrist tightly and warned her.
“Big lady, don’t act rashly.”
“Ha! Now even a mere servant girl is ignoring me?!”
Ariadne looked at Isabella, who was being held by Sancha, without blinking an eye.
“If you rush in without manners, you’ll be stopped by your subordinates, sis.”
“That’s… a pierced mouth!”
Ariadne looked at Isabella coldly.
“Sister, I have a piece of advice for you. When the wind is blowing hard, it’s best to lie down. Sister, you’re not that kind of sloppy person.”
In his previous life, Isabella had been like a high mountain that no one dared to confront, but now she was so petty and insignificant that he found himself getting bored dealing with her.
“There’s something you do best, sister.”
Talking to men. Scamming them behind their backs. Pretending to be a good person, swaying public opinion and burying people.
“I thought you were more advanced than this.”
No, but with your reputation ruined, you can't use Isabella's specialty?
Ariadne turned away from Isabella.
"cheer up."
And she went straight from the drawing room to the inner room, leaving Isabella behind.
“Hey! Hey!!”
Isabella struggled, but Ariadne's maid would not let go of her tight grip on her wrist.
“Let go of this!!!”
Despite her struggles, there was a knock on the door outside.
- Smart.
“I'm ready.”
“Maria? This is the nurse, I’ll open the door now! Please take the older lady in right away!”
Isabella felt like a burden.
The maid named Maria came in with a towel wrapped around her face and forcibly placed the towel over Isabella's face, then motioned to the two maids she had brought with her.
The maids linked their arms around Isabella as if they were transporting a prisoner and began to drag her away.
“Put this down!!”
But the maids didn't even flinch. Tears welled up in Isabella's eyes.
Isabella racked her brain desperately as she was dragged away by the maids.
Something needed to change. This couldn't go on. I had to find something I could do.
What could there be...
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