“Oh, that won’t work.”
When Ariadne first heard Bianca's voice, it was deep and low, but it still had the youthful tone typical of children her age, so it was secretly cute.
“I learned that to become a lady, you have to show off at the debutante ball.”
She continued speaking with an effort of solemnity.
“The nanny said, ‘I told you that traditions and rules are meant to be respected. The young lady of the South is famous for her beauty and kindness, so the daughter of Taranto must set an example.”
Ariadne clicked her tongue inwardly. The Duke of Taranto's nanny raised the Duke's daughter and only heir like the daughter of a country baron.
Judging from her appearance, she had definitely never been near the Imperial Academy.
Bianca's speech had the scent of a self-help book for women that was popular about 20 years ago, like "The Conversational Practice Manual for the Sweet Lady" or "The 12 Steps of a Waltzing Woman."
There would have been no malicious intent.
According to Ariadne's inquiry, Baroness Giannelli, whom Duchess Catharina of Taranto had chosen as her daughter's wet nurse while she was still alive, was a loyal and honest person.
This was also proven by the fact that for the past 15 years, the combination of Baroness Giannelli and Viscount Gennarosso had been guarding the Taranto estates and family that were left without a master like an iron wall.
Baroness Giannelli was a native of Taranto and would have been the perfect choice to take care of the daily routine and ensure that Catharina's daughter grew up with her feet firmly on the ground, without being exposed to distractions.
However, what Duchess Catherine of Taranto did not know was her own untimely death.
One more thing Bianca's mother didn't know was that her husband had died rather soon after her, leaving Bianca with no father or stepmother to lead her into high society.
Nor was there a future in which the Baroness Giannelli, whom she had chosen, and her husband's vassal, the Viscount Gennarosso, would band together to resolutely oppose the royal family's taking Bianca to the capital and raising her in a tightly-knit Taranto estate.
No one but a god could have helped it, for no one knew that the Grand Duke of Assereto would propose to seven-year-old Bianca shortly after her and her husband's death.
But the late Duchess of Taranto failed to foresee the future, and as a result, her daughter grew up in ill-fitting clothes and on a country estate full of riches, receiving a rustic lady's education that was twenty years behind the times.
Princess Bianca, whose natural brown hair had been tanned by the sun to make it as blonde as possible, spoke with a face like an ox about to be led to the slaughterhouse.
“I, I must become the pride of Taranto.”
The problem was that she knew exactly what her situation would be. She had to become the best bride in the Central Continent and stand in front of everyone.
But Princess Bianca has an appearance that is sure to be a laughing stock in any situation.
Although she didn't know much about the capital's social circles, Princess Bianca herself seemed to be vaguely aware of that fact.
The suffocating terror in her eyes spoke of what she knew.
Ariadne decided to correct her thoughts.
In the sense that she insists on standing in a position where she has nothing to lose, with only a sense of responsibility, Princess Bianca is more like a sacrificial offering about to be sacrificed than a cow in a slaughterhouse.
Princess Bianca spoke slowly, her tone a mixture of resignation and responsibility.
“...The ball in Taranto must be flawless, and the Princess of Taranto who appears in the capital after fifteen years must be perfect.”
Her large calf-like eyes were filled with tears, but she never cried.
“I can’t miss the debutante ball.”
Hearing this, Ariadne looked at Princess Bianca indifferently. Her gaze was calm and composed.
The Princess felt uncomfortable with the extremely neutral attitude that did not offer sympathy or comfort.
Usually, when she was told this, there were only people around her who would say, "Oh my, my Princess," and cry over her sacrifice and the misfortune of Taranto losing its Duke at an early age.
But instead of sympathizing, Ariadne questioned.
“What is the purpose of a typical debutante ball?”
Bianca stuttered and answered in surprise at the unexpected question.
“Well, this is a sign that we have a lady in our family and that we would like to welcome her into our society.”
Ariadne smiled inwardly.
What the heck, this Princess is quite smart. She didn't fluster and stray from the point of argument, nor did she lose her temper. She answered each question accurately.
But Ariadne didn't show her satisfaction and continued to push Bianca.
“What does a young lady do when she becomes part of society?”
“...Looking for a husband.”
“When the Princess holds a debutante ball, will the Princess’s prospective husband attend it?”
At that question, Princess Bianca looked at Countess de Mare as if she had been struck by lightning.
The capital's only female Countess, and the only newly created title in the past twenty years, looked at the young Princess and added nonchalantly.
It was a strange dignity that only those who had forged their own path with their own hands could possess.
“Is it really the case that Princess Bianca, the heir to the only ducal house in the kingdom and the mistress of the fertile southern fief of Taranto, should bow her head to the San Carlo society and throw a party to be accepted?”
“That’s...!”
This was a perspective she had never considered before.
While Princess Bianca was looking at Ariadne with her mouth open, there was another person who was looking at Ariadne with her mouth open in a different sense.
It was Baroness Giannelli who returned hurriedly, pouring new tea on a tray.
“Countess de Mare...! What kind of nonsense are you teaching our Princess right now...!”
***
Ariadne and Baroness Giannelli fought for a long time.
Ariadne asked who the ball was for when the Princess was left to fester at a debutante ball that had no practical benefit.
Baroness Giannelli countered that everything must be for the Princess of Taranto.
What is taken for granted by those born and raised in the capital is not taken for granted by those from the south, and having everything that can be had is the pride of Taranto!
She countered that this was Taranto, which had been hiding its power and hiding its body, making its debut in the center, and that it was not only the Princess's personal glory but also representing all of Taranto.
However, Baroness Giannelli also ultimately kept quiet when asked, "Can you tolerate Princess Bianca being gossiped about and torn to pieces by the capital's tycoons?"
Although she was an old woman, she loved dearly the little Princess she had raised—in the eyes of the Baroness Giannelli, Bianca was always a little chick, even if she was a little big and dull.
The long list of useless 'must dos' was simply because it was the only way Baroness Giannelli knew how to be a good person.
In fact, the wish for the Princess's well-being was greater for the nanny who raised her than for Ariadne, whom she had just met today.
"...I don’t like it, but since the Princess likes it, let’s give it a try.”
The conclusion of the battle was as follows: 1) A large and splendid debutante ball would be held, but it would be held in the capital residence of the Duke of Taranto, not in the royal palace. 2) The ball would be a masked ball.
The venue for the ball was chosen to be the capital residence of the Duke of Taranto rather than the royal palace to avoid complicated arguments and unnecessary interruptions.
For security reasons, holding a masked ball at the palace required the permission of Leo III. It was a reasonable thing to do, but...
'Because there's no way Duchess Rubina would allow that permission to be granted.'
Princess Bianca responded most enthusiastically to the idea of holding the debutante ball as a masked ball.
“Yes, I want to wear chick clothes!”
“Your Highness!”
“The one with the feathers, the one sometimes depicted in publications coming from the capital!”
Ariadne was against the chick clothes, but it seemed like the nanny would be able to dissuade her. The Princess and the nanny began to bicker.
Ariadne sighed, having overcome a major crisis.
Ariadne simply did not want to expose the girl naked in front of a pack of socialites.
To some extent, it felt like she was looking at her past self, so that was also the case. She was good even without seeing it.
She knew best that there was no end to the words of those mean-spirited and spiteful people, saying things like she was bigger than they thought, that she was fat, that she must have come from the countryside and not been able to properly control her diet.
Once you start nitpicking, it spreads like wildfire.
The controversy over appearance will spread into a controversy over attitude, the controversy over attitude will spread into a controversy over education, and the controversy over education will spread into a controversy over character.
It was best not to give it a chance to burn in the first place.
Baroness Giannelli, being of honest lower-class origin, seemed to think that if she abided by the rules of society, society would respond with common sense, but that was only the case for ordinary young ladies.
Bianca of Taranto was too big for that.
Everyone knew her, and some, too many people, had ulterior motives to think of stabbing Bianca.
'Princess Bianca's appearance cannot be hidden forever, but...'
It's a very unfortunate thing when your biggest weakness is your outward appearance, which is exposed to the world.
Ariadne tried to remember how Bianca's marriage had gone in her past life and realized why her looks had never been an issue.
In her previous life, Bianca was a 'hermit of the south' until the end.
After Leo III, who was supposed to arrange her marriage, fell ill, there were no significant marriage proposals from the central government.
On the other hand, Cesare, who became the regent, did not put Bianca forward anywhere.
Because of his lack of legitimacy, one wrong move could have allowed Bianca's husband to claim the Etruscan kingdom's rulership through her.
'Was that single life a confinement for Princess Bianca or an unexpected freedom?'
At the time, she thought that a person of great power or a big shot who could shake up the power landscape was hiding in the South. What a pity.
But now that she had seen Princess Bianca with her own eyes, she began to wonder if it was really a good thing for her to come up to the capital, make a fuss, throw a splendid debutante ball, send invitations to the monarchs of each region of the central continent, have diplomatic envoys see the bride in person, and find the strongest and wealthiest husband. The princess seemed too innocent to survive in central politics and too naive for her age to expect anything from the opposite sex.
But Ariadne decided not to think too deeply about it.
She was a guide to help Princess Bianca's debutante pass off without a hitch, not a guide to Princess Bianca's life or a strategist for the Taranto estate.
First of all, the most urgent task is to ensure that this Princess has a safe debutante party.
Ariadne herself can make some friends here and then go out after taking care of the party a bit.
Whom and how Princess Bianca would later marry, and whether her married life would be happy, depended on her own fate.
Yes, it was fate rather than ability.
“Have you chosen a dress?”
Baroness Giannelli, who had unintentionally taken on the role of a dress-related villain without even realizing it, answered with a grin.
“First of all, it’s not a chick!”
"This."
Ariadne looked at Princess Bianca, trying hard to look thoughtful.
The Princess harbored a glimmer of hope that Countess de Mare might take her side, but she soon gave up after seeing the agitated attitude of her nanny.
And Ariadne was relieved at the Princess's renunciation.
“Next time we meet, we will present all the best fabrics from across the sea. Take a look and choose.”
There aren't many cute styles among the Moorish imports.
Unfortunately, it seemed that the Princess's tastes could not be satisfied this time. Fortunately, that was the case.
Ariadne was going to be busy now. She had to plan out the day's itinerary and come up with a proper guest list.
And if Ariadne was up for a political tirade, she was on this guest list.
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