Ariadne closed the secret safe of the Rambouillet Center once again.
Her next move was to get the mouths of Giuseppe, who knew all about this, and of Director Albani, who only knew about the existence of the safe.
She even counted the money by herself.
After counting the gold coins for three days and nights, she felt a mixture of fun and boredom.
'...I could smell the iron on my hands.'
After she had figured out the size of the Rambouillet Relief Center's slush funds without any help from anyone, she thought it would be okay to send about 10,000 ducats as a first installment to Alfonso as military funds.
With that amount of money, all the urgent fires could be put out, a small unit of 200-300 men could be equipped with the best weapons, and if used sparingly, the Prince could even increase the number of men a bit, or if he reduced the number of men, he could even live luxuriously for himself.
Either way, Alfonso can do whatever he wants with it. After all, it was money his mother left for him.
She could have sent more, but there was a problem with the remittance route.
Since there was no reliable money transfer service, the money had to first find a way to go.
'I can't send it on the regular ship to the Republic of Porto.'
Ariadne thought that the reason Alfonso did not reply to the letter she had sent was more likely a delivery accident.
Although her fragile heart could not stop her from playing pranks and warning her of her lover's change of heart, thinking rationally, it is strange to believe that letters sent across the sea to Yesak would go smoothly.
'This much money is perfect for someone to embezzle.'
CEO Caruso was operating a smuggling ship to the Moorish Empire.
If the ship's course had been changed to stop at Yesak, a safe passage could have been secured.
However, that smuggling ship was not the one that CEO Caruso personally boarded, and even if the ship was safe, someone was needed to get off at the port and transport the money inland.
Although CEO Caruso himself would not betray her for this much money, it was a different matter whether the subordinates of Bocanegro would value his credibility or his social life in the Etruscan kingdom as much as CEO Caruso did.
If you take 10,000 Ducato and disappear into the Moorish Empire somewhere in the land of Yesak, there is no way to find you.
Ariadne didn't believe in loyalty. That kind of money had to be big enough to not be swayed.
What she needed was someone she could really trust and someone with deep roots in the Etruscan kingdom who had a lot to lose.
One person came to her mind.
'It's a difficult request, but...'
He's always been a generous person. Wouldn't he listen?
“Across the sea?”
Raphael questioned with wide red eyes. Ariadne nodded calmly.
"Yes."
When Ariadne called him for the first time in a while, Raphael rushed to the mansion of de Mare, hoping that he had misheard her shocking request.
But the green-eyed girl with her ebony-like hair tied into a single braid was so sure that he had heard her correctly.
“I want to send military funds to Alfonso. I have no one to ask to cross the sea for me.”
Ariadne looked up at Raphael with eyes full of faith.
“Raphael, are you Alfonso’s friend?”
Raphael had never thought that he would find innocence in this woman, but surprisingly, he did.
She didn't seem to have even a shred of doubt.
“...That’s right.”
“I found some gold coins that the deceased Queen left for Alfonso. I don’t think I should use them as I please. Alfonso really needs this money.”
Every word was so true that he was speechless. Raphael licked his dry lips with his tongue.
If he had known this would happen, he would have confessed sooner.
'I think I've already chosen you over friendship.'
But Ariadne didn't give Raphael time to speak and just kept pushing him.
“I know it’s a bit much to ask the last remaining heir of the Baldessar family to go abroad, but Alfonso has no one else he can trust but us.”
Raphael washed his face dry. He had no intention of letting Baldessar's successor go outside the border.
Anyway, he was going to throw away all the successors and become a priest, so he just had to go abroad for a few months and that would be it.
But if he goes to meet the Prince with military funds...
'...Don't put me through this test.'
Alfonso will most likely use the money to secure a safe escort fleet and return home.
'When Alfonso returns, Ariadne...'
She will be happy to be held in his arms.
In Raphael's imagination, a black-haired girl fluttered into the arms of a sturdy blond knight, tanned brown under the Middle Eastern sun.
Right now, before his eyes, her neatly braided hair fluttered defenselessly in the air as she was hugged by Alfonso...
“...Raphael?”
The girl with black hair called out to him with a suspicious look in her eyes. He suddenly returned to his seat.
"Ah."
"Are you okay?"
"Sure."
Raphael answered quickly. He moved smoothly to work, quelling her doubts.
“How much is the military fund?”
Fortunately, Ariadne, who had not the slightest suspicion of this kind, easily fell for his temptation.
“I’m thinking of 10,000 ducats.”
“Ah...”
At that enormous sum, Raphael let out a sigh.
“Do you know why I said I had no one else to ask but Raphael?”
Certainly, it is an amount of money that anyone could easily run away with if given to a family member.
Moreover, the volume itself was no joke. The weight of the gold alone would easily be 100 Libra (about 33.4 kg).
“They said that if we set sail from Taranto, we would reach the port of Valianti in the Latgalin region in five weeks.”
When Raphael showed signs of acceptance, Ariadne was excited and shared the details of her plan.
“I heard that it might be a little bit earlier since it’s the season when the southeast wind blows. You can get off at Valianti Port and head inland to find the Third Crusade.”
Raphael, looking grumpy, answered with a frown on his nose.
“Miss Ariadne, you speak as if this were some sort of thing like going to the tea party of the Marquis of Monte Carlo and receiving a cup of tea.”
It was a title that suddenly made him distance himself from the subject of calling her 'Ariadne' without permission from a certain point on.
Ariadne, who sensed this keenly, blushed and apologized.
“I’m sorry, Raphael. No, Lord Baldessar. I didn’t mean to...”
But paradoxically, Raphael couldn't stand it when she built a wall even though he was the one who started the distance.
He wanted to completely cover her lips.
Once his lips overlap and his mucosa touches her mucosa, she will no longer be able to speak.
He imagined what would happen once he committed it.
...Will those innocent eyes be shocked by the two faces of their good 'friend'? Will they never even want to associate with me again?
“Lord Baldessar?”
He ultimately failed to commit it.
“Raphael.”
He corrected his title.
“Not Lord Baldessar, but Raphael.”
“Ah...”
“I was just being sarcastic. Don’t apologize to me.”
At Raphael's whim, Ariadne looked at him with wide eyes, her expression not knowing what rhythm to follow.
“Ha..."
Raphael ran his hand through his hair. The thin, elastic white hair gleamed silver in the sunlight as it fell across his cheek.
His red eyes, which had become even darker, looked at her with a deep gaze.
“...I was wrong.”
He is weak before her, and a sinner before Alfonso.
“I don’t know who I’m apologizing to,” Raphael said, mumbling an apology.
“Is it okay if I just bring military funds?”
He hoped it wasn't a request like, "You have to escort the Prince back personally."
The girl with the splendid black hair in front of him answered with joy radiating from her entire face.
"Yes!"
She smiled broadly, revealing her white rabbit teeth.
“It will be a great help to Alfonso. I have not heard yet that His Majesty the King has sent military funds. How much trouble he must be going through in a foreign land!”
That's right. That's right.
His close friend—Alfonso was unaware of Raphael's betrayal, so if Raphael would just stick to the line, they could remain friends—needed the money badly.
If he refuses to do this, Alfonso will continue to suffer harshly in a foreign land.
Raphael took another deep breath, feeling guilty about Alfonso.
His good friend Alfonso never abandoned him.
“Once you open the route, it may be more useful to Alfonso to send local supplies rather than gold. Things like horses, saddlery, armor, and military equipment would be better sent from the home country.”
She explained eagerly, blinking her eyelashes.
“From the second shipment, I will have someone from Bocanegro send it to you. I don’t have the decency to ask Raphael for help multiple times.”
“Is that so?”
At Ariadne's words, Raphael's heart was slightly relieved.
It was not because she had the shame to ask him for help so many times, but because she had not considered Alfonso's return.
“You don’t want me to go and bring Alfonso back?”
Raphael finally couldn't hold it in any longer and asked the question. Ariadne looked confused for a moment and then answered.
“...I think the timing of the return is entirely up to Alfonso.”
It was a remark that would have made Cesare applaud her as an unparalleled wife and wise mother.
“The domestic situation is complicated right now, so it would make sense for Alfonso to return and defend his position, but... Since he has already gone to war, it would be advantageous for him to return with meritorious achievements to solidify his position domestically.”
Alfonso was always locked in the castle, living in the direction his parents had set for him, achieving the goals they had set for him.
His departure for the Kingdom of Gallico was the first step towards achieving the goal he had set for himself with his own hands.
Ariadne wished that Alfonso would not have clipped his wings and returned if he had not yet achieved his goal.
Even if that meant returning to her arms.
Because the oath she made to Alfonso was not an oath of eternal love, but a knight's oath.
“I want to let him do whatever he wants. He doesn’t have to come home early for me.”
Raphael felt his mouth dry as he brought up the subject for no reason and ended up only seeing unwavering love and selfless affection.
Not knowing her opponent's speed, Ariadne added with a bright smile.
“Oh, and in addition to the military funds, please make sure to deliver the letter as well! And a reply to the letter!”
“You haven’t received it yet?”
In response to Raphael's question, Ariadne pretended to be calm and answered.
“The regular mail from the Republic of Porto is not very reliable. The letters I have sent so far seem to have been lost somewhere in the middle.”
“Well... I heard that even the palace is complaining that it’s hard to contact Alfonso.”
Ariadne's face brightened even more.
Yes, the letter didn't even reach the palace. The reason he hasn't been able to contact her until now must have been a delivery accident.
Thanks to Raphael, she can finally hear news from Alfonso.
“Since we are using the ships of the Bocanegro Company, we do not need to explain the movement of funds to anyone. However, if we need to explain the source of the money to the Crusaders other than Alfonso, we will prepare documents so that we can say that it is military funds sent by the Etruscan dioceses of the Holy See.”
Raphael chuckled at the thoroughness of Ariadne de Mare, who had already made preparations so that everything could begin immediately if Raphael gave his consent.
“The Bocanegro Company’s ship will set sail from Taranto in two weeks.”
That means, taking into account travel time, Raphael only has about three days to prepare for the trip and tell his family.
While telling Alfonso to do whatever he wanted, she was ordering Raphael to leave for Yesak within three days.
But he was a weakling in love and a subordinate in a superior-subordinate relationship who could not refuse her words.
He was also a sinner who could not allow her to find out about his sins.
Finally, Raphael answered with a bitter smile.
“Whatever you wish.”
Her next move was to get the mouths of Giuseppe, who knew all about this, and of Director Albani, who only knew about the existence of the safe.
She even counted the money by herself.
After counting the gold coins for three days and nights, she felt a mixture of fun and boredom.
'...I could smell the iron on my hands.'
After she had figured out the size of the Rambouillet Relief Center's slush funds without any help from anyone, she thought it would be okay to send about 10,000 ducats as a first installment to Alfonso as military funds.
With that amount of money, all the urgent fires could be put out, a small unit of 200-300 men could be equipped with the best weapons, and if used sparingly, the Prince could even increase the number of men a bit, or if he reduced the number of men, he could even live luxuriously for himself.
Either way, Alfonso can do whatever he wants with it. After all, it was money his mother left for him.
She could have sent more, but there was a problem with the remittance route.
Since there was no reliable money transfer service, the money had to first find a way to go.
'I can't send it on the regular ship to the Republic of Porto.'
Ariadne thought that the reason Alfonso did not reply to the letter she had sent was more likely a delivery accident.
Although her fragile heart could not stop her from playing pranks and warning her of her lover's change of heart, thinking rationally, it is strange to believe that letters sent across the sea to Yesak would go smoothly.
'This much money is perfect for someone to embezzle.'
CEO Caruso was operating a smuggling ship to the Moorish Empire.
If the ship's course had been changed to stop at Yesak, a safe passage could have been secured.
However, that smuggling ship was not the one that CEO Caruso personally boarded, and even if the ship was safe, someone was needed to get off at the port and transport the money inland.
Although CEO Caruso himself would not betray her for this much money, it was a different matter whether the subordinates of Bocanegro would value his credibility or his social life in the Etruscan kingdom as much as CEO Caruso did.
If you take 10,000 Ducato and disappear into the Moorish Empire somewhere in the land of Yesak, there is no way to find you.
Ariadne didn't believe in loyalty. That kind of money had to be big enough to not be swayed.
What she needed was someone she could really trust and someone with deep roots in the Etruscan kingdom who had a lot to lose.
One person came to her mind.
'It's a difficult request, but...'
He's always been a generous person. Wouldn't he listen?
***
“Across the sea?”
Raphael questioned with wide red eyes. Ariadne nodded calmly.
"Yes."
When Ariadne called him for the first time in a while, Raphael rushed to the mansion of de Mare, hoping that he had misheard her shocking request.
But the green-eyed girl with her ebony-like hair tied into a single braid was so sure that he had heard her correctly.
“I want to send military funds to Alfonso. I have no one to ask to cross the sea for me.”
Ariadne looked up at Raphael with eyes full of faith.
“Raphael, are you Alfonso’s friend?”
Raphael had never thought that he would find innocence in this woman, but surprisingly, he did.
She didn't seem to have even a shred of doubt.
“...That’s right.”
“I found some gold coins that the deceased Queen left for Alfonso. I don’t think I should use them as I please. Alfonso really needs this money.”
Every word was so true that he was speechless. Raphael licked his dry lips with his tongue.
If he had known this would happen, he would have confessed sooner.
'I think I've already chosen you over friendship.'
But Ariadne didn't give Raphael time to speak and just kept pushing him.
“I know it’s a bit much to ask the last remaining heir of the Baldessar family to go abroad, but Alfonso has no one else he can trust but us.”
Raphael washed his face dry. He had no intention of letting Baldessar's successor go outside the border.
Anyway, he was going to throw away all the successors and become a priest, so he just had to go abroad for a few months and that would be it.
But if he goes to meet the Prince with military funds...
'...Don't put me through this test.'
Alfonso will most likely use the money to secure a safe escort fleet and return home.
'When Alfonso returns, Ariadne...'
She will be happy to be held in his arms.
In Raphael's imagination, a black-haired girl fluttered into the arms of a sturdy blond knight, tanned brown under the Middle Eastern sun.
Right now, before his eyes, her neatly braided hair fluttered defenselessly in the air as she was hugged by Alfonso...
“...Raphael?”
The girl with black hair called out to him with a suspicious look in her eyes. He suddenly returned to his seat.
"Ah."
"Are you okay?"
"Sure."
Raphael answered quickly. He moved smoothly to work, quelling her doubts.
“How much is the military fund?”
Fortunately, Ariadne, who had not the slightest suspicion of this kind, easily fell for his temptation.
“I’m thinking of 10,000 ducats.”
“Ah...”
At that enormous sum, Raphael let out a sigh.
“Do you know why I said I had no one else to ask but Raphael?”
Certainly, it is an amount of money that anyone could easily run away with if given to a family member.
Moreover, the volume itself was no joke. The weight of the gold alone would easily be 100 Libra (about 33.4 kg).
“They said that if we set sail from Taranto, we would reach the port of Valianti in the Latgalin region in five weeks.”
When Raphael showed signs of acceptance, Ariadne was excited and shared the details of her plan.
“I heard that it might be a little bit earlier since it’s the season when the southeast wind blows. You can get off at Valianti Port and head inland to find the Third Crusade.”
Raphael, looking grumpy, answered with a frown on his nose.
“Miss Ariadne, you speak as if this were some sort of thing like going to the tea party of the Marquis of Monte Carlo and receiving a cup of tea.”
It was a title that suddenly made him distance himself from the subject of calling her 'Ariadne' without permission from a certain point on.
Ariadne, who sensed this keenly, blushed and apologized.
“I’m sorry, Raphael. No, Lord Baldessar. I didn’t mean to...”
But paradoxically, Raphael couldn't stand it when she built a wall even though he was the one who started the distance.
He wanted to completely cover her lips.
Once his lips overlap and his mucosa touches her mucosa, she will no longer be able to speak.
He imagined what would happen once he committed it.
...Will those innocent eyes be shocked by the two faces of their good 'friend'? Will they never even want to associate with me again?
“Lord Baldessar?”
He ultimately failed to commit it.
“Raphael.”
He corrected his title.
“Not Lord Baldessar, but Raphael.”
“Ah...”
“I was just being sarcastic. Don’t apologize to me.”
At Raphael's whim, Ariadne looked at him with wide eyes, her expression not knowing what rhythm to follow.
“Ha..."
Raphael ran his hand through his hair. The thin, elastic white hair gleamed silver in the sunlight as it fell across his cheek.
His red eyes, which had become even darker, looked at her with a deep gaze.
“...I was wrong.”
He is weak before her, and a sinner before Alfonso.
“I don’t know who I’m apologizing to,” Raphael said, mumbling an apology.
“Is it okay if I just bring military funds?”
He hoped it wasn't a request like, "You have to escort the Prince back personally."
The girl with the splendid black hair in front of him answered with joy radiating from her entire face.
"Yes!"
She smiled broadly, revealing her white rabbit teeth.
“It will be a great help to Alfonso. I have not heard yet that His Majesty the King has sent military funds. How much trouble he must be going through in a foreign land!”
That's right. That's right.
His close friend—Alfonso was unaware of Raphael's betrayal, so if Raphael would just stick to the line, they could remain friends—needed the money badly.
If he refuses to do this, Alfonso will continue to suffer harshly in a foreign land.
Raphael took another deep breath, feeling guilty about Alfonso.
His good friend Alfonso never abandoned him.
“Once you open the route, it may be more useful to Alfonso to send local supplies rather than gold. Things like horses, saddlery, armor, and military equipment would be better sent from the home country.”
She explained eagerly, blinking her eyelashes.
“From the second shipment, I will have someone from Bocanegro send it to you. I don’t have the decency to ask Raphael for help multiple times.”
“Is that so?”
At Ariadne's words, Raphael's heart was slightly relieved.
It was not because she had the shame to ask him for help so many times, but because she had not considered Alfonso's return.
“You don’t want me to go and bring Alfonso back?”
Raphael finally couldn't hold it in any longer and asked the question. Ariadne looked confused for a moment and then answered.
“...I think the timing of the return is entirely up to Alfonso.”
It was a remark that would have made Cesare applaud her as an unparalleled wife and wise mother.
“The domestic situation is complicated right now, so it would make sense for Alfonso to return and defend his position, but... Since he has already gone to war, it would be advantageous for him to return with meritorious achievements to solidify his position domestically.”
Alfonso was always locked in the castle, living in the direction his parents had set for him, achieving the goals they had set for him.
His departure for the Kingdom of Gallico was the first step towards achieving the goal he had set for himself with his own hands.
Ariadne wished that Alfonso would not have clipped his wings and returned if he had not yet achieved his goal.
Even if that meant returning to her arms.
Because the oath she made to Alfonso was not an oath of eternal love, but a knight's oath.
“I want to let him do whatever he wants. He doesn’t have to come home early for me.”
Raphael felt his mouth dry as he brought up the subject for no reason and ended up only seeing unwavering love and selfless affection.
Not knowing her opponent's speed, Ariadne added with a bright smile.
“Oh, and in addition to the military funds, please make sure to deliver the letter as well! And a reply to the letter!”
“You haven’t received it yet?”
In response to Raphael's question, Ariadne pretended to be calm and answered.
“The regular mail from the Republic of Porto is not very reliable. The letters I have sent so far seem to have been lost somewhere in the middle.”
“Well... I heard that even the palace is complaining that it’s hard to contact Alfonso.”
Ariadne's face brightened even more.
Yes, the letter didn't even reach the palace. The reason he hasn't been able to contact her until now must have been a delivery accident.
Thanks to Raphael, she can finally hear news from Alfonso.
“Since we are using the ships of the Bocanegro Company, we do not need to explain the movement of funds to anyone. However, if we need to explain the source of the money to the Crusaders other than Alfonso, we will prepare documents so that we can say that it is military funds sent by the Etruscan dioceses of the Holy See.”
Raphael chuckled at the thoroughness of Ariadne de Mare, who had already made preparations so that everything could begin immediately if Raphael gave his consent.
“The Bocanegro Company’s ship will set sail from Taranto in two weeks.”
That means, taking into account travel time, Raphael only has about three days to prepare for the trip and tell his family.
While telling Alfonso to do whatever he wanted, she was ordering Raphael to leave for Yesak within three days.
But he was a weakling in love and a subordinate in a superior-subordinate relationship who could not refuse her words.
He was also a sinner who could not allow her to find out about his sins.
Finally, Raphael answered with a bitter smile.
“Whatever you wish.”
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