Ariadne and Alfonso were walking along the luxurious jewelery street that ran along the Tiber River.
This time, too, it was a date in a carriage, but Alfonso did not hide Ariadne as thoroughly as he had done before when he was boy Prince.
The Prince's knights provided an iron guard, but the carriage's windows were wide open, and all the townspeople and merchants could see the black-haired beauty sitting next to the Prince.
There were so many people looking in that Ariadne felt embarrassed.
Unlike before, when they were focused only on each other in the carriage, this time they looked outside as well.
Alfonso, who was looking around the stalls selling precious metals while riding in a carriage that was moving slowly at a brisk pace, suddenly said.
“I think that would suit you.”
It was quite a ticklish title. Ariadne blushed.
“Stop!”
The carriage stopped right in front of the jewelry store. Alfonso pointed again to the stall he had seen.
Following his fingertips, she found a large rhodolite garnet ring. Ariadne couldn't help but laugh.
“Phuhut!”
“No, why are you laughing?”
Alfonso asked seriously.
“The color is pretty and the size seems right for your hand?”
Rhodolite garnet is a fascinating rose-colored gemstone that has been used for adornment in the Etruscan peninsula since before the Roman Empire.
However, since it was commonly found in the northern part of the peninsula, its price was low, so it was mainly set in silver and used as a wedding gift for commoners.
It was not appropriate for a Prince's spouse, let alone an adult woman from a noble family, to wear.
But Ariadne thought this was very Alfonso-like.
These days, he always follows his own judgment and subjectivity. He is not bound by the opinions of others.
He recommended it because it was pretty in his eyes. He was a man who had more than enough money to buy luxury items anyway.
The fact that rubies were more precious and expensive than rhodolite garnets was beyond Alfonso's consideration.
“No. I like it.”
One of the meanings of rhodolite garnet was 'eternal happiness'.
“Shall we take a closer look?”
At Alfonso's urging, they got out of the carriage, examined the rhodolite garnet ring, and paid for it without haggling.
The merchant was very happy and grateful, and the people around them threw away their pride and flocked to see this beautiful couple, having the chance to see the Prince up close, something they only get once or twice in their lifetime.
“You’re so lucky! You’ve caught a top-grade rhodolite garnet in a golden orchid! You only get one of these every few years!”
Oddly enough, the ring was set in gold, not silver. Ariadne thought that perhaps it was meant for her.
She smiled brightly and accepted the ring from the merchant. Alfonso recommended it.
“Why don’t you try it?”
“I wonder?”
Ariadne tried the new ring on her gloved right ring finger as Alfonso had said.
It was an action that took into account the thickness when placed on the index finger of a bare hand. However, Alfonso stopped her.
“Why are you wearing gloves? Do it with your bare hands.”
And then he glanced down at her left hand.
“If possible, on the left ring finger.”
Ariadne froze. Her heart was pounding.
The first time she felt nervous when she was told to take off her left glove, and the second time her heart got hot when she was told to take off her left ring finger.
Cesare would never allow that finger to be removed. He physically cut it off.
She remained motionless for a moment and then asked cautiously.
“Left ring finger...?”
Alfonso answered without any delay, in a confident voice.
“Yes. Left ring finger.”
The finger is now perfectly attached, and Alfonso is at her side, ready to put the ring on it.
Ariadne, who had taken some time to emotionally process the situation, finally broke into a smile of emotion.
“Alfonso...”
But there was a reason why she couldn't wear a ring on her left ring finger.
“But still...”
To be exact, it wasn't her left ring finger that was the problem, but her left hand, which wasn't wearing a glove.
Because she wasn't sure if she could take her gloves off in front of people yet.
The priestess shaman told Ariadne, "If possible, the bloodstain on your left hand will not be visible to others."
In other words, it means that the possibility is not zero.
At the beginning of every month, the shaman grandmother said that she would draw the energy of the earth and make an offering to replenish the power of the spell, but that she should be careful when the moon began to wane.
The lands of the Etruscan kingdom are weak and cannot exert as much power as the eastern lands, so the spell can be broken when it approaches the end of the moon.
It was now the time when the waning moon was slowly approaching its new moon.
Ariadne had no intention of letting anyone see the bloodstain on her left hand in such a place with so many eyes watching her.
“I’ll put it on my right hand instead.”
She took off her right glove and tried the ring on her right ring finger.
The ring was a little smaller than she had expected, which was supposed to be on her index finger, but it fit perfectly on her ring finger. She smiled brightly.
“It fits nicely.”
Feeling sorry, she smiled brighter than she originally intended to when she saw the ring.
"Thank you."
Alfonso also laughed as he looked at Ariadne like that.
“...I’m glad you like it.”
They had to shake hands with each and every market vendor and citizen who came to the market before they could get back on their carriage.
Ariadne, who had returned to the space where they were alone again, felt sorry for refusing Alfonso's offer to put a ring on her left ring finger, so she called him.
“Alfonso.”
"Yes?"
Among the meanings of rhodolite garnet was 'irresistible charm'.
She smiled at Alfonso, her eyes locked with his, wearing a rose-colored ring on her bare right hand.
“I think this ring goes well with the clothes I’m wearing today.”
Ariadne was wearing an unusually light cream-colored dress today, but the ribbons on the sleeves, the embroidery on the hem of her skirt, and the thin partlets like dragonfly wings were all rose-colored or deep purple.
She arched her back and pushed one shoulder forward.
“It would have been nice if there had been a necklace as a set.”
At those words, Alfonso's gaze naturally fell on the red patellar. And when he saw the dizzying silhouette, he was frozen in place, unable to move any further.
“But I’m also glad that it’s a ring and not earrings or a necklace.”
Ariadne's voice was clearly heard in Alfonso's ears, but the meaning was not properly registered.
Because the white skin and the stepped shading visible between the red patellar were so visually overwhelming, he couldn't even process the sound.
The red lips and black mouth cave that opened and closed were a bonus. Alfonso's lips also opened slightly.
To make matters worse, Ariadne gently stroked Alfonso's cheek with the hand wearing the ring he had been given.
The feel of her bare, gloved hand touched his cheek.
"Thank you."
Ariadne's voice was slightly raised as if asking a question. It was unclear what she was asking.
Alfonso let out a long, hot breath. Her fingers trailed down the back of his neck. He barely managed to spit out the words.
“Ha, Ari...”
Alfonso sat up straighter, spreading his legs slightly wider.
“...Don’t do this.”
He shook his head. But Ariadne, sitting on the seat opposite him in the carriage, leaned forward a little more and bumped his knees.
"Why?"
Her tone was quite provocative.
She was determined to put an end to this unhealthy relationship between a man and a woman who were well past marriageable age.
It wasn't the first time Alfonso and her had been physically intimate.
In the past, when they were young, they had already avoided kissing, and this time too, Alfonso had a history of kissing her before even confessing to meeting her.
And then he got slapped in the face. But then suddenly, at some point, he turned into a monk.
So, Ariadne couldn't understand the fact that the man wouldn't even touch her, even though she knew he was healthy, they weren't a couple, and they even liked each other.
Alfonso muttered, trying to turn his head to the side.
“...You have no idea what I’m thinking.”
If Isabella had the most sculptural face in San Carlo, Ariadne had the most captivating charm in San Carlo.
That power, which was not readily apparent in her early teens, became more explosive and difficult to resist as she matured.
Ariadne asked back with a look of incomprehension.
“Why do I have to put up with this?”
She looked straight into Alfonso's face and asked.
“You never used to be patient.”
Ariadne's direct question brought a look of slapped pain to Alfonso's face.
“...That’s right.”
He pushed Ariadne away.
“I regret it now.”
He sat up again, his legs still spread apart, but his posture was upright and upright.
Ariadne froze in shock as she was gently pushed away by Alfonso. Alfonso wrapped his arm around Ariadne's shoulder and patted her.
“Let’s go back.”
He comforted her who was silent.
“I’ll take you home. You said you had an appointment in the afternoon.”
Ariadne still had a bad expression. Alfonso swept Ariadne's cheek.
“Show off your ring. Your boyfriend bought it for you. He told you to put it on your left ring finger.”
After hearing that story, Ariadne's heart began to slowly calm down.
'Yeah, that's right, the ring. If you don't love me and don't kiss me, why would you buy me a ring?'
This is a hundred times better than enjoying skinship as much as she could like Cesare in her previous life but never making any promises about the future.
It was certain that she was so accustomed to bad men that she was negatively looking for evidence of love.
Ariadne took a deep breath and closed her eyes in Alfonso's arms.
Contrary to Alfonso's statement that he had an 'appointment with a friend' in the afternoon, an awkward atmosphere hung in Ariadne's drawing room.
“...It’s been a while.”
“...That’s right. Thanks for coming.”
The guest was Julia de Baldessar. They were close friends but had not seen each other for some time.
This is because, on the day that Julia's older brother Raphael confessed to Ariadne and was rejected, she left San Carlo altogether.
After that, the Marchioness of Baldessar remained in bed for a long time, not appearing at any of the social events of San Carlo.
Julia opened her mouth dryly.
“My brother is doing well. He went down to the Diocese of Calienda in the south-central region and received his priestly vows.”
“...”
“I guess his trip to the Yesak region and his teaching service at the Scuola di Greta were recognized as moratoriums, so he didn’t have to do any more volunteer work.”
Ariadne had nothing to say even if she had ten mouths. She lowered her head. After remaining silent for a long time, she finally opened her mouth.
“...I’m sorry.”
Julia remained silent for a while, then snickered. Julia's expression was usually close to being expressionless, and when she was expressionless, she looked sharp.
Ariadne shrugged her shoulders, fearing that the laughter might be mockery or reproach.
But there was a hint of humor in Julia's next words.
“Young lady. If you had said something like, ‘It’s a good thing that Sir Raphael has just received his priestly vows,’ I would have hit you.”
The tension lifted from Ariadne's shoulders.
“I missed you, you fucking bitch.”
At Julia's words, Ariadne's shoulders shook as she lowered her head. Julia stood up and wrapped her arms around Ariadne's shoulders.
Ariadne whispered to Julia, embracing her.
“Me too, I missed you too, Julia...!”
Previous Next
This time, too, it was a date in a carriage, but Alfonso did not hide Ariadne as thoroughly as he had done before when he was boy Prince.
The Prince's knights provided an iron guard, but the carriage's windows were wide open, and all the townspeople and merchants could see the black-haired beauty sitting next to the Prince.
There were so many people looking in that Ariadne felt embarrassed.
Unlike before, when they were focused only on each other in the carriage, this time they looked outside as well.
Alfonso, who was looking around the stalls selling precious metals while riding in a carriage that was moving slowly at a brisk pace, suddenly said.
“I think that would suit you.”
It was quite a ticklish title. Ariadne blushed.
“Stop!”
The carriage stopped right in front of the jewelry store. Alfonso pointed again to the stall he had seen.
Following his fingertips, she found a large rhodolite garnet ring. Ariadne couldn't help but laugh.
“Phuhut!”
“No, why are you laughing?”
Alfonso asked seriously.
“The color is pretty and the size seems right for your hand?”
Rhodolite garnet is a fascinating rose-colored gemstone that has been used for adornment in the Etruscan peninsula since before the Roman Empire.
However, since it was commonly found in the northern part of the peninsula, its price was low, so it was mainly set in silver and used as a wedding gift for commoners.
It was not appropriate for a Prince's spouse, let alone an adult woman from a noble family, to wear.
But Ariadne thought this was very Alfonso-like.
These days, he always follows his own judgment and subjectivity. He is not bound by the opinions of others.
He recommended it because it was pretty in his eyes. He was a man who had more than enough money to buy luxury items anyway.
The fact that rubies were more precious and expensive than rhodolite garnets was beyond Alfonso's consideration.
“No. I like it.”
One of the meanings of rhodolite garnet was 'eternal happiness'.
“Shall we take a closer look?”
At Alfonso's urging, they got out of the carriage, examined the rhodolite garnet ring, and paid for it without haggling.
The merchant was very happy and grateful, and the people around them threw away their pride and flocked to see this beautiful couple, having the chance to see the Prince up close, something they only get once or twice in their lifetime.
“You’re so lucky! You’ve caught a top-grade rhodolite garnet in a golden orchid! You only get one of these every few years!”
Oddly enough, the ring was set in gold, not silver. Ariadne thought that perhaps it was meant for her.
She smiled brightly and accepted the ring from the merchant. Alfonso recommended it.
“Why don’t you try it?”
“I wonder?”
Ariadne tried the new ring on her gloved right ring finger as Alfonso had said.
It was an action that took into account the thickness when placed on the index finger of a bare hand. However, Alfonso stopped her.
“Why are you wearing gloves? Do it with your bare hands.”
And then he glanced down at her left hand.
“If possible, on the left ring finger.”
Ariadne froze. Her heart was pounding.
The first time she felt nervous when she was told to take off her left glove, and the second time her heart got hot when she was told to take off her left ring finger.
Cesare would never allow that finger to be removed. He physically cut it off.
She remained motionless for a moment and then asked cautiously.
“Left ring finger...?”
Alfonso answered without any delay, in a confident voice.
“Yes. Left ring finger.”
The finger is now perfectly attached, and Alfonso is at her side, ready to put the ring on it.
Ariadne, who had taken some time to emotionally process the situation, finally broke into a smile of emotion.
“Alfonso...”
But there was a reason why she couldn't wear a ring on her left ring finger.
“But still...”
To be exact, it wasn't her left ring finger that was the problem, but her left hand, which wasn't wearing a glove.
Because she wasn't sure if she could take her gloves off in front of people yet.
The priestess shaman told Ariadne, "If possible, the bloodstain on your left hand will not be visible to others."
In other words, it means that the possibility is not zero.
At the beginning of every month, the shaman grandmother said that she would draw the energy of the earth and make an offering to replenish the power of the spell, but that she should be careful when the moon began to wane.
The lands of the Etruscan kingdom are weak and cannot exert as much power as the eastern lands, so the spell can be broken when it approaches the end of the moon.
It was now the time when the waning moon was slowly approaching its new moon.
Ariadne had no intention of letting anyone see the bloodstain on her left hand in such a place with so many eyes watching her.
“I’ll put it on my right hand instead.”
She took off her right glove and tried the ring on her right ring finger.
The ring was a little smaller than she had expected, which was supposed to be on her index finger, but it fit perfectly on her ring finger. She smiled brightly.
“It fits nicely.”
Feeling sorry, she smiled brighter than she originally intended to when she saw the ring.
"Thank you."
Alfonso also laughed as he looked at Ariadne like that.
“...I’m glad you like it.”
They had to shake hands with each and every market vendor and citizen who came to the market before they could get back on their carriage.
Ariadne, who had returned to the space where they were alone again, felt sorry for refusing Alfonso's offer to put a ring on her left ring finger, so she called him.
“Alfonso.”
"Yes?"
Among the meanings of rhodolite garnet was 'irresistible charm'.
She smiled at Alfonso, her eyes locked with his, wearing a rose-colored ring on her bare right hand.
“I think this ring goes well with the clothes I’m wearing today.”
Ariadne was wearing an unusually light cream-colored dress today, but the ribbons on the sleeves, the embroidery on the hem of her skirt, and the thin partlets like dragonfly wings were all rose-colored or deep purple.
She arched her back and pushed one shoulder forward.
“It would have been nice if there had been a necklace as a set.”
At those words, Alfonso's gaze naturally fell on the red patellar. And when he saw the dizzying silhouette, he was frozen in place, unable to move any further.
“But I’m also glad that it’s a ring and not earrings or a necklace.”
Ariadne's voice was clearly heard in Alfonso's ears, but the meaning was not properly registered.
Because the white skin and the stepped shading visible between the red patellar were so visually overwhelming, he couldn't even process the sound.
The red lips and black mouth cave that opened and closed were a bonus. Alfonso's lips also opened slightly.
To make matters worse, Ariadne gently stroked Alfonso's cheek with the hand wearing the ring he had been given.
The feel of her bare, gloved hand touched his cheek.
"Thank you."
Ariadne's voice was slightly raised as if asking a question. It was unclear what she was asking.
Alfonso let out a long, hot breath. Her fingers trailed down the back of his neck. He barely managed to spit out the words.
“Ha, Ari...”
Alfonso sat up straighter, spreading his legs slightly wider.
“...Don’t do this.”
He shook his head. But Ariadne, sitting on the seat opposite him in the carriage, leaned forward a little more and bumped his knees.
"Why?"
Her tone was quite provocative.
She was determined to put an end to this unhealthy relationship between a man and a woman who were well past marriageable age.
It wasn't the first time Alfonso and her had been physically intimate.
In the past, when they were young, they had already avoided kissing, and this time too, Alfonso had a history of kissing her before even confessing to meeting her.
And then he got slapped in the face. But then suddenly, at some point, he turned into a monk.
So, Ariadne couldn't understand the fact that the man wouldn't even touch her, even though she knew he was healthy, they weren't a couple, and they even liked each other.
Alfonso muttered, trying to turn his head to the side.
“...You have no idea what I’m thinking.”
If Isabella had the most sculptural face in San Carlo, Ariadne had the most captivating charm in San Carlo.
That power, which was not readily apparent in her early teens, became more explosive and difficult to resist as she matured.
Ariadne asked back with a look of incomprehension.
“Why do I have to put up with this?”
She looked straight into Alfonso's face and asked.
“You never used to be patient.”
Ariadne's direct question brought a look of slapped pain to Alfonso's face.
“...That’s right.”
He pushed Ariadne away.
“I regret it now.”
He sat up again, his legs still spread apart, but his posture was upright and upright.
Ariadne froze in shock as she was gently pushed away by Alfonso. Alfonso wrapped his arm around Ariadne's shoulder and patted her.
“Let’s go back.”
He comforted her who was silent.
“I’ll take you home. You said you had an appointment in the afternoon.”
Ariadne still had a bad expression. Alfonso swept Ariadne's cheek.
“Show off your ring. Your boyfriend bought it for you. He told you to put it on your left ring finger.”
After hearing that story, Ariadne's heart began to slowly calm down.
'Yeah, that's right, the ring. If you don't love me and don't kiss me, why would you buy me a ring?'
This is a hundred times better than enjoying skinship as much as she could like Cesare in her previous life but never making any promises about the future.
It was certain that she was so accustomed to bad men that she was negatively looking for evidence of love.
Ariadne took a deep breath and closed her eyes in Alfonso's arms.
***
Contrary to Alfonso's statement that he had an 'appointment with a friend' in the afternoon, an awkward atmosphere hung in Ariadne's drawing room.
“...It’s been a while.”
“...That’s right. Thanks for coming.”
The guest was Julia de Baldessar. They were close friends but had not seen each other for some time.
This is because, on the day that Julia's older brother Raphael confessed to Ariadne and was rejected, she left San Carlo altogether.
After that, the Marchioness of Baldessar remained in bed for a long time, not appearing at any of the social events of San Carlo.
Julia opened her mouth dryly.
“My brother is doing well. He went down to the Diocese of Calienda in the south-central region and received his priestly vows.”
“...”
“I guess his trip to the Yesak region and his teaching service at the Scuola di Greta were recognized as moratoriums, so he didn’t have to do any more volunteer work.”
Ariadne had nothing to say even if she had ten mouths. She lowered her head. After remaining silent for a long time, she finally opened her mouth.
“...I’m sorry.”
Julia remained silent for a while, then snickered. Julia's expression was usually close to being expressionless, and when she was expressionless, she looked sharp.
Ariadne shrugged her shoulders, fearing that the laughter might be mockery or reproach.
But there was a hint of humor in Julia's next words.
“Young lady. If you had said something like, ‘It’s a good thing that Sir Raphael has just received his priestly vows,’ I would have hit you.”
The tension lifted from Ariadne's shoulders.
“I missed you, you fucking bitch.”
At Julia's words, Ariadne's shoulders shook as she lowered her head. Julia stood up and wrapped her arms around Ariadne's shoulders.
Ariadne whispered to Julia, embracing her.
“Me too, I missed you too, Julia...!”
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