Two weeks had passed since Raphael left for Yesak. Ariadne was living a peaceful life.
Until she receives an unexpected guest.
“Ariadne de Mare, receive His Majesty the King’s command!”
Ariadne, who was reading a book for the first time in a while before lunch after finishing organizing her ledger in the morning, was startled by an outsider who came out of nowhere.
As soon as she heard the sound, she ran down to the first floor in her indoor dress.
“Why is that guy here again?”
"I don't know?"
Ippolito and Isabella were chatting while looking at Sir Delpianos whom they had seen three weeks ago.
Sir Delpiano arrived with a much larger retinue than before.
Ariadne looked around. Her family was gathering on the first floor, one after the other.
Cardinal de Mare, who was late to the funeral today, also came down to the hallway a little later than his daughter.
“Father, do you know what this is?”
The Cardinal's face was stern and he did not answer.
“Why am I getting another letter from the King?”
The Cardinal opened his mouth belatedly.
“...I don’t know the details. I was just told that another letter would be sent to you soon.”
“What is the content of the notice?”
“I’ll have to try it to find out.”
Sir Delpiano, who had been waiting in front, shouted again.
“Ariadne de Mare, receive His Majesty the King’s command!”
There was no way to keep them waiting any longer for the King's messenger.
Ariadne had no choice but to go out to the center of the hallway.
She could feel Ippolito's gaze piercing through her and Isabella's gaze trembling with jealousy.
Ariadne ignored her brothers and knelt down to pay homage.
“The director of the Rambouillet Relief Center, Ariadne de Mare, the second daughter of the de Mare family, the ambassador of His Majesty the King, I greet you as if I were meeting His Majesty the King.”
Sir Delpiano nodded once, conveying his greetings to her, then unrolled the parchment and read the King's message.
“Ariadne de Mare has been credited with fighting the Black Death and helping the poor. For this reason, I have appointed her as the director of the Rambouillet Relief Center, to commend her efforts so far and to ensure that she will be able to perform her duties even better in the future.”
The eyes of all the members of de Mare stared intently at Delpiano.
Even Cardinal de Mare did not know what title he would be awarded.
Sweat broke out on both the Cardinal's hands and Ariadne's, and Ippolito's eyes bulged out.
“...I grant Ariadne de Mare the title of Count of the Etruscan Kingdom.”
To Ariadne de Mare!
Ecstasy spread across Ariadne's face.
A countship without a fief. Normally, it is a purely honorary title.
But to Ariadne, it was a title more precious than any great estate.
If the title of 'Count of fe Mare' goes to Ippolito, it becomes an immutable fact that Ippolito will become the head of the household.
After the Cardinal's death, Ariadne would have been sold here and there under Ippolito's orders.
But then, 'Count de Mare' fell into her grasp?
Not only has the possibility of becoming the next head of the household increased significantly, but even if Ippolito were to become the head of the household, he would not be able to kick her out on his own.
If he marries her off, their family will be demoted to commoners.
It might have prevented her from getting married, but it was actually what she wanted. It wasn't bad.
“Count de Mare, Ariadne de Mare, come near, take the rite of conferring the title, and receive the gifts of His Majesty the King.”
She took three or four steps forward and knelt on one knee before Sir Delpiano.
Sir Delpiano tapped her shoulder three times with his ceremonial sword, performing the ceremony of bestowing the title.
Cardinal de Mare looked with a complicated expression at the sight of his second daughter receiving the title.
He was happy and also complicated.
'Count. Count de Mare.'
The title itself was very well received. The Cardinal had originally expected a title of Viscount.
After receiving the King's blessing, he thought that it couldn't be helped that he was awarded a barony.
It was very unfortunate that there was no fief, but the rank was much higher than he expected.
Now, the de Mare family had no problem acting like a proper noble family in the capital.
Although it remains to be seen whether the current glory can be passed down through the generations, the de Mare family has now entered the ranks of the capital's high-ranking officials in name and reality.
The one wish he had always longed for his entire life had come true.
The problem was that the child who received it was the second daughter, not the eldest son.
'I wonder if she can keep this...'
There are countless ways to seduce or intimidate a woman of title and take that honor away from her family.
Ignoring Cardinal de Mare's complicated feelings, the King's representative, Lord Delpiano, completed the awarding ceremony.
After he finished, he snapped his fingers to signal to the palace attendants waiting behind him.
Then, the palace servants began to unload various luxurious items from the five carriages they had brought and move them into the house.
Jewelry boxes, dress boxes, hat boxes, and various shoe boxes were lined up and brought into the house.
When Ariadne was appointed director of the relief center, all she received was a simple silver brooch.
Ariadne asked Sir Delpiano with her eyes wide open.
“What is all that...”
Sir Delpiano answered with an awkward smile.
“This is a gift from His Majesty the King.”
“Does that type of gift usually come out when a title is awarded?”
Sir Delpiano did not answer. Instead, he took out another piece of paper.
“Young Lady, no, Countess de Mare. Please concentrate.”
"Yes?"
Sir Delpianosa, seeing that Ariadne was once again acting politely, picked up the second parchment.
Ariadne focused her gaze on the parchment.
'New letter...?'
Sir Delpiano opened his mouth.
“Ariadne de Mare, Countess of de Mare, was a woman of deep piety and virtue, a model for others...”
Certainly, the second parchment was also a textbook.
As it refers to her as 'Countess de Mare', it is a decree scheduled to be read immediately following the first decree.
However, the content of the notice was ambiguous.
The King's speech, read out loud by Sir Delpiano, was full of praise for her, but lacked substance.
“Your appearance and bearing are outstanding, and your fame is great, but your manners are gentle and humble, so you possess the virtue of humility...”
It was also very strange that the title given to a 'Count' was filled with only flattering remarks praising her femininity.
"...Countess Ariadne de Mare, enter the palace immediately.”
That was the end. Ariadne asked herself involuntarily.
“Entering the palace? Right now?”
Sir Delpiano nodded after finishing his reading.
“Yes. It is His Majesty the King’s order for you to enter the palace immediately.”
“Isn’t the awarding of the countship all finished?”
She has also performed the ritual of having the sword struck three times on her shoulder, and have been given a generous gift from the King. What else is there left?
Sir Delpiano answered with an ambiguous expression.
“You will know when you come in.”
He added.
“Please leave right now.”
Ariadne looked around at herself in confusion.
She was wearing a simple indoor dress and silk gloves that seemed a bit out of place with her outfit.
By any measure, this is not an outfit fit for entering the palace to meet the king.
“Please give me some time so I can get ready and come out.”
“Don't worry about it.”
Ariadne looked at Sir Delpiano in confusion. Could it be that he was telling her to go see the King like this?
But what Delpiano meant was not that they could just go in and do it. Quite the opposite.
“All the clothes that the Countess will wear will be prepared at the palace.”
Leaving Ariadne in a state of confusion, Delpianos said to the palace attendant:
“Help Lady de Mare get into the carriage.”
He looked at the Cardinal with a smile.
“Your Eminence. Your family will be arriving at the palace in the evening. I will send a separate guide.”
Cardinal de Mare could only nod. Lord Delpiano looked at Ariadne.
Until she receives an unexpected guest.
“Ariadne de Mare, receive His Majesty the King’s command!”
Ariadne, who was reading a book for the first time in a while before lunch after finishing organizing her ledger in the morning, was startled by an outsider who came out of nowhere.
As soon as she heard the sound, she ran down to the first floor in her indoor dress.
“Why is that guy here again?”
"I don't know?"
Ippolito and Isabella were chatting while looking at Sir Delpianos whom they had seen three weeks ago.
Sir Delpiano arrived with a much larger retinue than before.
Ariadne looked around. Her family was gathering on the first floor, one after the other.
Cardinal de Mare, who was late to the funeral today, also came down to the hallway a little later than his daughter.
“Father, do you know what this is?”
The Cardinal's face was stern and he did not answer.
“Why am I getting another letter from the King?”
The Cardinal opened his mouth belatedly.
“...I don’t know the details. I was just told that another letter would be sent to you soon.”
“What is the content of the notice?”
“I’ll have to try it to find out.”
Sir Delpiano, who had been waiting in front, shouted again.
“Ariadne de Mare, receive His Majesty the King’s command!”
There was no way to keep them waiting any longer for the King's messenger.
Ariadne had no choice but to go out to the center of the hallway.
She could feel Ippolito's gaze piercing through her and Isabella's gaze trembling with jealousy.
Ariadne ignored her brothers and knelt down to pay homage.
“The director of the Rambouillet Relief Center, Ariadne de Mare, the second daughter of the de Mare family, the ambassador of His Majesty the King, I greet you as if I were meeting His Majesty the King.”
Sir Delpiano nodded once, conveying his greetings to her, then unrolled the parchment and read the King's message.
“Ariadne de Mare has been credited with fighting the Black Death and helping the poor. For this reason, I have appointed her as the director of the Rambouillet Relief Center, to commend her efforts so far and to ensure that she will be able to perform her duties even better in the future.”
The eyes of all the members of de Mare stared intently at Delpiano.
Even Cardinal de Mare did not know what title he would be awarded.
Sweat broke out on both the Cardinal's hands and Ariadne's, and Ippolito's eyes bulged out.
“...I grant Ariadne de Mare the title of Count of the Etruscan Kingdom.”
To Ariadne de Mare!
Ecstasy spread across Ariadne's face.
A countship without a fief. Normally, it is a purely honorary title.
But to Ariadne, it was a title more precious than any great estate.
If the title of 'Count of fe Mare' goes to Ippolito, it becomes an immutable fact that Ippolito will become the head of the household.
After the Cardinal's death, Ariadne would have been sold here and there under Ippolito's orders.
But then, 'Count de Mare' fell into her grasp?
Not only has the possibility of becoming the next head of the household increased significantly, but even if Ippolito were to become the head of the household, he would not be able to kick her out on his own.
If he marries her off, their family will be demoted to commoners.
It might have prevented her from getting married, but it was actually what she wanted. It wasn't bad.
“Count de Mare, Ariadne de Mare, come near, take the rite of conferring the title, and receive the gifts of His Majesty the King.”
She took three or four steps forward and knelt on one knee before Sir Delpiano.
Sir Delpiano tapped her shoulder three times with his ceremonial sword, performing the ceremony of bestowing the title.
Cardinal de Mare looked with a complicated expression at the sight of his second daughter receiving the title.
He was happy and also complicated.
'Count. Count de Mare.'
The title itself was very well received. The Cardinal had originally expected a title of Viscount.
After receiving the King's blessing, he thought that it couldn't be helped that he was awarded a barony.
It was very unfortunate that there was no fief, but the rank was much higher than he expected.
Now, the de Mare family had no problem acting like a proper noble family in the capital.
Although it remains to be seen whether the current glory can be passed down through the generations, the de Mare family has now entered the ranks of the capital's high-ranking officials in name and reality.
The one wish he had always longed for his entire life had come true.
The problem was that the child who received it was the second daughter, not the eldest son.
'I wonder if she can keep this...'
There are countless ways to seduce or intimidate a woman of title and take that honor away from her family.
Ignoring Cardinal de Mare's complicated feelings, the King's representative, Lord Delpiano, completed the awarding ceremony.
After he finished, he snapped his fingers to signal to the palace attendants waiting behind him.
Then, the palace servants began to unload various luxurious items from the five carriages they had brought and move them into the house.
Jewelry boxes, dress boxes, hat boxes, and various shoe boxes were lined up and brought into the house.
When Ariadne was appointed director of the relief center, all she received was a simple silver brooch.
Ariadne asked Sir Delpiano with her eyes wide open.
“What is all that...”
Sir Delpiano answered with an awkward smile.
“This is a gift from His Majesty the King.”
“Does that type of gift usually come out when a title is awarded?”
Sir Delpiano did not answer. Instead, he took out another piece of paper.
“Young Lady, no, Countess de Mare. Please concentrate.”
"Yes?"
Sir Delpianosa, seeing that Ariadne was once again acting politely, picked up the second parchment.
Ariadne focused her gaze on the parchment.
'New letter...?'
Sir Delpiano opened his mouth.
“Ariadne de Mare, Countess of de Mare, was a woman of deep piety and virtue, a model for others...”
Certainly, the second parchment was also a textbook.
As it refers to her as 'Countess de Mare', it is a decree scheduled to be read immediately following the first decree.
However, the content of the notice was ambiguous.
The King's speech, read out loud by Sir Delpiano, was full of praise for her, but lacked substance.
“Your appearance and bearing are outstanding, and your fame is great, but your manners are gentle and humble, so you possess the virtue of humility...”
It was also very strange that the title given to a 'Count' was filled with only flattering remarks praising her femininity.
"...Countess Ariadne de Mare, enter the palace immediately.”
That was the end. Ariadne asked herself involuntarily.
“Entering the palace? Right now?”
Sir Delpiano nodded after finishing his reading.
“Yes. It is His Majesty the King’s order for you to enter the palace immediately.”
“Isn’t the awarding of the countship all finished?”
She has also performed the ritual of having the sword struck three times on her shoulder, and have been given a generous gift from the King. What else is there left?
Sir Delpiano answered with an ambiguous expression.
“You will know when you come in.”
He added.
“Please leave right now.”
Ariadne looked around at herself in confusion.
She was wearing a simple indoor dress and silk gloves that seemed a bit out of place with her outfit.
By any measure, this is not an outfit fit for entering the palace to meet the king.
“Please give me some time so I can get ready and come out.”
“Don't worry about it.”
Ariadne looked at Sir Delpiano in confusion. Could it be that he was telling her to go see the King like this?
But what Delpiano meant was not that they could just go in and do it. Quite the opposite.
“All the clothes that the Countess will wear will be prepared at the palace.”
Leaving Ariadne in a state of confusion, Delpianos said to the palace attendant:
“Help Lady de Mare get into the carriage.”
He looked at the Cardinal with a smile.
“Your Eminence. Your family will be arriving at the palace in the evening. I will send a separate guide.”
Cardinal de Mare could only nod. Lord Delpiano looked at Ariadne.
"Let's go.”
You're going to change my clothes in the palace? I can't take off the glove on my left hand?
Ariadne cried out urgently.
“I want to take my maids, my maids!”
“It’s difficult. You must follow the royal code.”
“Just one, just one!”
Sir Delpiano sighed as Ariadne showed a surprised expression.
Although her fame echoed throughout the capital, she was ultimately just a sixteen-year-old girl.
Besides, if she were to eventually enter the palace, it would be customary for her to bring along one or two maids from her family.
And he wasn't very happy with the task he had been given today either.
So, Sir Delpiano did her a little favor.
“Then, please bring just one servant.”
Ariadne nodded happily and called out to Sancha.
But when Sancha tried to go into the house as if to bring something, Sir Delpiano raised his hand and stopped her.
“I can’t give you any more time. We have to leave now.”
The palace attendants came rushing in.
They gathered together and escorted Ariadne, putting her in a magnificent golden chariot provided by the palace, a chariot only used by royalty.
Ariadne was pushed into the chariot by the female attendants.
Sancha tried to ride with them, but was stopped by the palace attendant's fierce resistance, and was dragged to the last black carriage, where she was barely able to board the last carriage.
The carriage door immediately closed, and the coachman, dressed in royal attire, cracked his whip.
“Hey!”
Ariadne was dragged to the palace as if she was being carried away.
That morning, Duke Cesare woke up much earlier than usual to an uninvited visitor.
“Cesare-!!!”
This was because his mother, who rarely left the palace unless something serious happened, had invaded Cesare's capital residence, Villa Sortone.
Cesare sat in bed in annoyance, thinking that Rubina's visits had recently become more frequent.
The white sheet flowed down, revealing a muscular, naked torso.
He had lean, smooth muscles that didn't seem like the type of debaucher who couldn't sleep without alcohol.
“What if there was a woman?”
However, Duchess Rubina, who went straight to her son's bedroom early in the morning, screamed, ignoring her son's minor protests.
“Please do something about your father!”
Here we go again.
Cesare swept back his red hair, which resembled his mother's.
“How can I stop that gentleman?”
He never even asked what Leo III had done. Leo III was a walking natural disaster.
He didn't really want to know what the King had done since he couldn't help him anyway.
At her son's indifferent reaction, Rubina screamed.
“Your father will bring in a new Queen!”
Cesare was also quite surprised by this story.
“Wasn’t there a country where marriage proposals were particularly common?”
The King's marriage was a big deal, even if he sought a second wife.
It was customary to coordinate with the other country for at least a year, or two to three years at most, and exchange portraits of the parties and try to agree on terms and conditions.
“They say she's a domestic resident!”
“Are she our people?”
Cesare was surprised once more. Was there a woman in the country who could become the King's second wife?
Usually, a daughter from a high-ranking family who did not marry until late in life or a daughter who had been married once became the King's second wife.
Since divorce is impossible according to the doctrine of the Catholic Church, the issue was resolved mainly by finding fault with the ex-husband and receiving a declaration of nullity of marriage.
However, most of the Dukes and above in the Etruscan kingdom at the moment were relatives of the royal family.
There was no high-ranking native woman who could marry Leo III.
“But, Mother. Did you really think that the position of Queen would remain vacant forever?”
The position of the Queen Mother cannot remain vacant for long. Rubina knows that.
Did you ever think that you would ascend to the throne as Queen? That would be an even more ridiculous fantasy.
“Who is the domestic?”
Cesare wondered who had pushed his mother out.
There will be an interesting power struggle between the new Queen and Rubina in the future.
It was half fun and half headache. If she could just be a pure spectator, it would be fun.
Rubina cried out in a sob.
“Ariadne de Mare, that impudent little girl who brought up the story of Salvarsan!”
Cesare was completely awakened from his sleep.
You're going to change my clothes in the palace? I can't take off the glove on my left hand?
Ariadne cried out urgently.
“I want to take my maids, my maids!”
“It’s difficult. You must follow the royal code.”
“Just one, just one!”
Sir Delpiano sighed as Ariadne showed a surprised expression.
Although her fame echoed throughout the capital, she was ultimately just a sixteen-year-old girl.
Besides, if she were to eventually enter the palace, it would be customary for her to bring along one or two maids from her family.
And he wasn't very happy with the task he had been given today either.
So, Sir Delpiano did her a little favor.
“Then, please bring just one servant.”
Ariadne nodded happily and called out to Sancha.
But when Sancha tried to go into the house as if to bring something, Sir Delpiano raised his hand and stopped her.
“I can’t give you any more time. We have to leave now.”
The palace attendants came rushing in.
They gathered together and escorted Ariadne, putting her in a magnificent golden chariot provided by the palace, a chariot only used by royalty.
Ariadne was pushed into the chariot by the female attendants.
Sancha tried to ride with them, but was stopped by the palace attendant's fierce resistance, and was dragged to the last black carriage, where she was barely able to board the last carriage.
The carriage door immediately closed, and the coachman, dressed in royal attire, cracked his whip.
“Hey!”
Ariadne was dragged to the palace as if she was being carried away.
***
That morning, Duke Cesare woke up much earlier than usual to an uninvited visitor.
“Cesare-!!!”
This was because his mother, who rarely left the palace unless something serious happened, had invaded Cesare's capital residence, Villa Sortone.
Cesare sat in bed in annoyance, thinking that Rubina's visits had recently become more frequent.
The white sheet flowed down, revealing a muscular, naked torso.
He had lean, smooth muscles that didn't seem like the type of debaucher who couldn't sleep without alcohol.
“What if there was a woman?”
However, Duchess Rubina, who went straight to her son's bedroom early in the morning, screamed, ignoring her son's minor protests.
“Please do something about your father!”
Here we go again.
Cesare swept back his red hair, which resembled his mother's.
“How can I stop that gentleman?”
He never even asked what Leo III had done. Leo III was a walking natural disaster.
He didn't really want to know what the King had done since he couldn't help him anyway.
At her son's indifferent reaction, Rubina screamed.
“Your father will bring in a new Queen!”
Cesare was also quite surprised by this story.
“Wasn’t there a country where marriage proposals were particularly common?”
The King's marriage was a big deal, even if he sought a second wife.
It was customary to coordinate with the other country for at least a year, or two to three years at most, and exchange portraits of the parties and try to agree on terms and conditions.
“They say she's a domestic resident!”
“Are she our people?”
Cesare was surprised once more. Was there a woman in the country who could become the King's second wife?
Usually, a daughter from a high-ranking family who did not marry until late in life or a daughter who had been married once became the King's second wife.
Since divorce is impossible according to the doctrine of the Catholic Church, the issue was resolved mainly by finding fault with the ex-husband and receiving a declaration of nullity of marriage.
However, most of the Dukes and above in the Etruscan kingdom at the moment were relatives of the royal family.
There was no high-ranking native woman who could marry Leo III.
“But, Mother. Did you really think that the position of Queen would remain vacant forever?”
The position of the Queen Mother cannot remain vacant for long. Rubina knows that.
Did you ever think that you would ascend to the throne as Queen? That would be an even more ridiculous fantasy.
“Who is the domestic?”
Cesare wondered who had pushed his mother out.
There will be an interesting power struggle between the new Queen and Rubina in the future.
It was half fun and half headache. If she could just be a pure spectator, it would be fun.
Rubina cried out in a sob.
“Ariadne de Mare, that impudent little girl who brought up the story of Salvarsan!”
Cesare was completely awakened from his sleep.
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