Inside the closet, Ariadne sat motionless, as if dead.
'Union of the Eastern Armies...'
It was a term referring to the transformation of two lands that were originally separate countries into an empire under the same monarch.
It was the most preferred image by monarchs because it suggested unification without war, and it was also the reason why the bloodlines of the Central Continent were so intricately intertwined.
Some lands could be united as a personal union, and there were also lands that were not even remotely feasible. This was also the reason why Alfonso had no desire for the Kingdom of Yesak.
The White Sea stood between the Etruscan kingdom and the land of Yesak.
It would take months to even convey a message to each other by boat, so administrative efficiency could not be guaranteed.
On the other hand, the Etruscan and Gallico kingdoms shared a border, although it was separated by the Prenoyac Mountains.
Moreover, their respective strengths were clear.
If the ports of the Etruscan Kingdom and the agricultural productivity of the Gallico Kingdom met, it would not have been difficult to become the most powerful country in the Central Continent.
Even though their race and language weren't exactly the same, they had a lot in common.
If only these two countries could form a personal union and live without problems for a hundred years or so.
Chemical bonding may indeed be possible.
'The painting that Philip IV wanted even to the point of imprisoning Alfonso...'
If only Ariadne remained as the government, and if she became a woman who would serve as a guard in places where there was no main wife, like Duchess Rubina, Alfonso could become the monarch of the most powerful country in the Central Continent.
My sacrifice for my man's success.
'How much can I sacrifice for him...?'
She curled up a little more. She suddenly felt very cold.
In the darkness of the closet, Ariadne curled into a ball, wrapped her arms around herself, and closed her eyes.
It was a long time later that Alfonso opened the door of the wardrobe where he had hidden Ariadne.
“Ari, you’ve been waiting for so long!”
Kik!
The door of the old wardrobe swung open, and its hinges creaked, the sound of blue-tinged copper rusting away.
“Knock knock! The dust is really bad. I’m sorry I’m late. I was checking to see if everyone over there had withdrawn...”
It was impossible to reveal to the Archduke Odes or anyone on his side that Ariadne was hiding.
Alfonso carefully counted the number of people and made sure that all of the Gallico Kingdom's party had withdrawn before coming to fetch Ariadne.
“...?”
However, Ariadne's voice was not heard.
Alfonso brought the candle he had left on the table during his interview with Archduke Odes to get a better look inside the dark closet.
The appointment with the Archduke of Odes was in the evening, and now that the meeting was over, it was getting close to midnight.
“Ari...?”
At first, Alfonso thought she was asleep in the corner and not answering, but he swallowed dryly with an uneasy feeling.
He looked around every corner with a candle in his hand.
"Ari?"
At the same time, he didn't forget to call out again in a slightly louder voice.
Meanwhile, a small wooden sliding door in the corner of the closet, where clothes should have been hung, came into view.
It wasn't big enough for people to enter and exit, and was only about the size of a small window. What was unusual was that it was attached to the floor rather than on the wall.
'...No way.'
Alfonso ran to the wooden door with a pale expression and opened it. As soon as the door opened, cold air blew in.
“Manfredi!”
Alfonso immediately shouted loudly on the spot. Sir Manfredi, who had been cleaning up in front, came running in with a bang.
“Yes, yes! Prince!”
“Spread out the knights. Send out search parties. Search all 20 miglios in this area!”
Sir Manfredi asked cautiously.
“What, what are you looking for?”
Inside the small wooden door was a narrow stone corridor, barely wide enough for one adult to crawl through.
The lord of Gallico Castle a hundred years ago, who was suspicious and even built a separate wardrobe to house his knights, was not satisfied with just having an escort of knights.
He had also created a secret passage.
“Ariadne!”
His black-haired woman was nowhere to be found.
Ariadne borrowed one of the knights' horses that was tied up and rode away.
Ariadne also knew that Alfonso had plenty of men to send to find her, and that she was their best scout.
So in the end, the key was speed.
'The time I have saved in advance is at most half an hour, at most two hours...'
She has to make full use of that time advantage to get out quickly.
The deciduous branches of the trees struck Ariadne's cheeks, leaving marks as she held on tightly to the reins of the galloping horse. She didn't even realize that it was annoying.
Two hours was an absurdly short amount of time to completely disappear.
There was no way she could cross the border, and the knights would be running all night looking for her, and it was physically impossible for her to continue moving faster or further than them.
She decided to play to her strengths.
'You can't go forward, you have to go backward.'
Ariadne also put aside the task of visiting Cardinal de Mare. It would have been nice to get her luggage and say goodbye to her father, but it wasn't essential.
Of the two, the more frustrating part was finding her luggage.
She could have easily disappeared for a few years without saying goodbye to her father, but she had no intention of wandering the wilderness empty-handed and without any money.
'To Trevero.'
Ariadne planned to hide under the wing of Pope Louis, or rather, to take advantage of the anonymity of the big city.
'We can use the pawn shop in Trevero. It will be at least six hours before Alfonso asks Pope Louis to find me, so let's get out as soon as it's light.'
It was good to be rich in times like these.
Today was an ordinary day—not ordinary at all, of course, in that she had heard of the plot and preparations for rebellion by the Kingdom of Gallico, but it was not a day to dress up—and yet she had come out dressed as if it were an ordinary day, and yet she had on her ears a seventy-ducato earring and around her neck a one hundred and fifty-ducato necklace.
Even if she added up all the things that could be cashed in, such as hair ornaments and rings, the amount she wore alone would be more than 300 ducats.
If she just sells this, she'll have enough money to escape for three months.
'Where to next? Unaisola?'
It would be a good idea to go and hide in the land that her new friend's husband is ruling.
'Or maybe it would be better to just go abroad.'
Caruso Vitelli was a man whose loyalty to Ariadne was greater than his loyalty to the crown, so he would not hand her over to the center, no matter what Alfonso said.
However, if the central government came with an army and said they would see for themselves, there was no way for CEO Caruso or Doge Vitelli to stop it.
'...Should I look for you?'
Ariadne smiled bitterly as she thought about it. Alfonso would be searching for her right away.
For a man, a woman he has not yet physically conquered is of the utmost value. Ariadne learned this the hard way.
And this time, she left—although it wasn't her intention—at the exact moment when a man's heart was most likely to boil.
Of course, anyone other than Alfonso would turn around and look for her.
But physical attractiveness tends to fade if it is not immediately visible, and the benefits offered to Alfonso were ridiculously large.
The personal union between the Etruscan and Gallico kingdoms was something that Philip IV sought to achieve even at the risk of fratricide and war.
'A month passed, two months passed...'
As three months pass and the seasons change, perhaps Alfonso will accept the fate that has been given to him.
They said Lariesaa was unable to perform her duties as a wife due to serious health problems.
So Alfonso would need someone to rule the Etruscan kingdom with him.
A woman who rules the social world is smart and healthy, and will pass on her own traits to her child, who will become the next Emperor of the Etruscan-Gallico Empire.
'...I don't like it. I don't like it anymore.'
The careerist from her previous life shook her head. When she thought about it, it was actually a proposal that she had nothing to lose.
It was a position where one could enjoy all the benefits of being a first wife, except that one did not have the status of a first wife.
The conditions were better than in her previous life. This time, there was even a guarantee that her children would ascend to the throne.
'But I can't do it.'
But no matter how good something was, even if it was a great husband that everyone praised or a great job that everyone envied, there were times when shr had to turn it down.
Even if it's the best thing that everyone desires, if it doesn't fit her, then it doesn't fit her.
There were people in the world who were pushed into a position because they were too greedy or had no sense of direction, and who were forever unhappy.
'What allowed me to endure my past life was the hope that I would not remain a woman in the shadows forever...'
The belief that even though you have committed many sins, you will not be ashamed before God in at least one important thing.
The pride that she is not a woman who chose infidelity, and that one day she will have a proud and blessed union with her man.
Ariadne thought about this and smiled.
'How many sins have I committed?'
She looked down at her left hand, which was covered in long gloves. Then, unable to bear the momentary frustration, she grabbed the gloves and threw them off.
There were bright red dots all over her arm, and it seemed like her entire arm was covered in blood. She looked like a plague patient or a murderer.
Although it was invisible to others, Ariadne's own eyes could not be fooled.
One of the people she killed was symbolized by a dot on her hand.
The events of her past life are not remembered in this hand, but if the same dot had been placed in her past life, Alfonso would have also become a dot.
She raised her left hand high and held it up to the starlight.
“Ha, ha, hahahahahahaha.”
It was so funny she couldn't stand it. She sat on the horse's back and threw her head back.
Suddenly, the reins were pulled, and the well-trained steed stopped in place at the rider's command.
“It happened as planned.”
It was all a vain desire. The world's sinners do not deserve happiness. They deserve eternal atonement.
“That’s it.”
It was all over. It felt refreshing to say it out loud.
But since it was an empty forest, there shouldn't have been any echoes, but a human voice was heard.
“...Whoever wants.”
It was a low, panting male voice.
'Union of the Eastern Armies...'
It was a term referring to the transformation of two lands that were originally separate countries into an empire under the same monarch.
It was the most preferred image by monarchs because it suggested unification without war, and it was also the reason why the bloodlines of the Central Continent were so intricately intertwined.
Some lands could be united as a personal union, and there were also lands that were not even remotely feasible. This was also the reason why Alfonso had no desire for the Kingdom of Yesak.
The White Sea stood between the Etruscan kingdom and the land of Yesak.
It would take months to even convey a message to each other by boat, so administrative efficiency could not be guaranteed.
On the other hand, the Etruscan and Gallico kingdoms shared a border, although it was separated by the Prenoyac Mountains.
Moreover, their respective strengths were clear.
If the ports of the Etruscan Kingdom and the agricultural productivity of the Gallico Kingdom met, it would not have been difficult to become the most powerful country in the Central Continent.
Even though their race and language weren't exactly the same, they had a lot in common.
If only these two countries could form a personal union and live without problems for a hundred years or so.
Chemical bonding may indeed be possible.
'The painting that Philip IV wanted even to the point of imprisoning Alfonso...'
If only Ariadne remained as the government, and if she became a woman who would serve as a guard in places where there was no main wife, like Duchess Rubina, Alfonso could become the monarch of the most powerful country in the Central Continent.
My sacrifice for my man's success.
'How much can I sacrifice for him...?'
She curled up a little more. She suddenly felt very cold.
In the darkness of the closet, Ariadne curled into a ball, wrapped her arms around herself, and closed her eyes.
***
It was a long time later that Alfonso opened the door of the wardrobe where he had hidden Ariadne.
“Ari, you’ve been waiting for so long!”
Kik!
The door of the old wardrobe swung open, and its hinges creaked, the sound of blue-tinged copper rusting away.
“Knock knock! The dust is really bad. I’m sorry I’m late. I was checking to see if everyone over there had withdrawn...”
It was impossible to reveal to the Archduke Odes or anyone on his side that Ariadne was hiding.
Alfonso carefully counted the number of people and made sure that all of the Gallico Kingdom's party had withdrawn before coming to fetch Ariadne.
“...?”
However, Ariadne's voice was not heard.
Alfonso brought the candle he had left on the table during his interview with Archduke Odes to get a better look inside the dark closet.
The appointment with the Archduke of Odes was in the evening, and now that the meeting was over, it was getting close to midnight.
“Ari...?”
At first, Alfonso thought she was asleep in the corner and not answering, but he swallowed dryly with an uneasy feeling.
He looked around every corner with a candle in his hand.
"Ari?"
At the same time, he didn't forget to call out again in a slightly louder voice.
Meanwhile, a small wooden sliding door in the corner of the closet, where clothes should have been hung, came into view.
It wasn't big enough for people to enter and exit, and was only about the size of a small window. What was unusual was that it was attached to the floor rather than on the wall.
'...No way.'
Alfonso ran to the wooden door with a pale expression and opened it. As soon as the door opened, cold air blew in.
“Manfredi!”
Alfonso immediately shouted loudly on the spot. Sir Manfredi, who had been cleaning up in front, came running in with a bang.
“Yes, yes! Prince!”
“Spread out the knights. Send out search parties. Search all 20 miglios in this area!”
Sir Manfredi asked cautiously.
“What, what are you looking for?”
Inside the small wooden door was a narrow stone corridor, barely wide enough for one adult to crawl through.
The lord of Gallico Castle a hundred years ago, who was suspicious and even built a separate wardrobe to house his knights, was not satisfied with just having an escort of knights.
He had also created a secret passage.
“Ariadne!”
His black-haired woman was nowhere to be found.
***
Ariadne borrowed one of the knights' horses that was tied up and rode away.
Ariadne also knew that Alfonso had plenty of men to send to find her, and that she was their best scout.
So in the end, the key was speed.
'The time I have saved in advance is at most half an hour, at most two hours...'
She has to make full use of that time advantage to get out quickly.
The deciduous branches of the trees struck Ariadne's cheeks, leaving marks as she held on tightly to the reins of the galloping horse. She didn't even realize that it was annoying.
Two hours was an absurdly short amount of time to completely disappear.
There was no way she could cross the border, and the knights would be running all night looking for her, and it was physically impossible for her to continue moving faster or further than them.
She decided to play to her strengths.
'You can't go forward, you have to go backward.'
Ariadne also put aside the task of visiting Cardinal de Mare. It would have been nice to get her luggage and say goodbye to her father, but it wasn't essential.
Of the two, the more frustrating part was finding her luggage.
She could have easily disappeared for a few years without saying goodbye to her father, but she had no intention of wandering the wilderness empty-handed and without any money.
'To Trevero.'
Ariadne planned to hide under the wing of Pope Louis, or rather, to take advantage of the anonymity of the big city.
'We can use the pawn shop in Trevero. It will be at least six hours before Alfonso asks Pope Louis to find me, so let's get out as soon as it's light.'
It was good to be rich in times like these.
Today was an ordinary day—not ordinary at all, of course, in that she had heard of the plot and preparations for rebellion by the Kingdom of Gallico, but it was not a day to dress up—and yet she had come out dressed as if it were an ordinary day, and yet she had on her ears a seventy-ducato earring and around her neck a one hundred and fifty-ducato necklace.
Even if she added up all the things that could be cashed in, such as hair ornaments and rings, the amount she wore alone would be more than 300 ducats.
If she just sells this, she'll have enough money to escape for three months.
'Where to next? Unaisola?'
It would be a good idea to go and hide in the land that her new friend's husband is ruling.
'Or maybe it would be better to just go abroad.'
Caruso Vitelli was a man whose loyalty to Ariadne was greater than his loyalty to the crown, so he would not hand her over to the center, no matter what Alfonso said.
However, if the central government came with an army and said they would see for themselves, there was no way for CEO Caruso or Doge Vitelli to stop it.
'...Should I look for you?'
Ariadne smiled bitterly as she thought about it. Alfonso would be searching for her right away.
For a man, a woman he has not yet physically conquered is of the utmost value. Ariadne learned this the hard way.
And this time, she left—although it wasn't her intention—at the exact moment when a man's heart was most likely to boil.
Of course, anyone other than Alfonso would turn around and look for her.
But physical attractiveness tends to fade if it is not immediately visible, and the benefits offered to Alfonso were ridiculously large.
The personal union between the Etruscan and Gallico kingdoms was something that Philip IV sought to achieve even at the risk of fratricide and war.
'A month passed, two months passed...'
As three months pass and the seasons change, perhaps Alfonso will accept the fate that has been given to him.
They said Lariesaa was unable to perform her duties as a wife due to serious health problems.
So Alfonso would need someone to rule the Etruscan kingdom with him.
A woman who rules the social world is smart and healthy, and will pass on her own traits to her child, who will become the next Emperor of the Etruscan-Gallico Empire.
'...I don't like it. I don't like it anymore.'
The careerist from her previous life shook her head. When she thought about it, it was actually a proposal that she had nothing to lose.
It was a position where one could enjoy all the benefits of being a first wife, except that one did not have the status of a first wife.
The conditions were better than in her previous life. This time, there was even a guarantee that her children would ascend to the throne.
'But I can't do it.'
But no matter how good something was, even if it was a great husband that everyone praised or a great job that everyone envied, there were times when shr had to turn it down.
Even if it's the best thing that everyone desires, if it doesn't fit her, then it doesn't fit her.
There were people in the world who were pushed into a position because they were too greedy or had no sense of direction, and who were forever unhappy.
'What allowed me to endure my past life was the hope that I would not remain a woman in the shadows forever...'
The belief that even though you have committed many sins, you will not be ashamed before God in at least one important thing.
The pride that she is not a woman who chose infidelity, and that one day she will have a proud and blessed union with her man.
Ariadne thought about this and smiled.
'How many sins have I committed?'
She looked down at her left hand, which was covered in long gloves. Then, unable to bear the momentary frustration, she grabbed the gloves and threw them off.
There were bright red dots all over her arm, and it seemed like her entire arm was covered in blood. She looked like a plague patient or a murderer.
Although it was invisible to others, Ariadne's own eyes could not be fooled.
One of the people she killed was symbolized by a dot on her hand.
The events of her past life are not remembered in this hand, but if the same dot had been placed in her past life, Alfonso would have also become a dot.
She raised her left hand high and held it up to the starlight.
“Ha, ha, hahahahahahaha.”
It was so funny she couldn't stand it. She sat on the horse's back and threw her head back.
Suddenly, the reins were pulled, and the well-trained steed stopped in place at the rider's command.
“It happened as planned.”
It was all a vain desire. The world's sinners do not deserve happiness. They deserve eternal atonement.
“That’s it.”
It was all over. It felt refreshing to say it out loud.
But since it was an empty forest, there shouldn't have been any echoes, but a human voice was heard.
“...Whoever wants.”
It was a low, panting male voice.
Support Novellate!
Comments
Post a Comment