“Hey, Ravi.”
Count DiPascal called his wife's nanny in a very secretive tone. The old nanny was terrified that their young lady's philandering husband was now touching her.
She answered very sheepishly, not hiding her concern at all.
“...Why, why are you calling me, Count?”
“No no no no, don’t look at me like that.”
Count DiPascal, who had something to gain, approached her very friendly. But the nanny was not easy.
“What expression do I have on my face, Count?”
But Count DiPascal was a professional womanizer. He knew how to talk to women.
The Count eventually managed to sell the medicine despite the nanny's extreme caution.
“It’s because of the winery I’m giving to Francesca as a gift.”
“...The Count gave a gift to our lady?”
Both the speaker and the listener knew that the question 'What brings you here?' had been omitted. However, the now worn-out Count DiPascal forgave all this arrogance.
Isabella's happy face, the thought of feeling proud in front of her made him do anything.
He farted with all his might.
In short, he wants to buy a winery for his wife, but he can't give the garbage business as a gift to the Countess DiPascal, so he has to decide whether this is a good idea or not.
The plan was to contact the Cardinal to confirm.
“Hoo... I don’t know much about taxes and business and stuff, but I guess I should ask Cardinal de Mare anyway.”
“Yes! When you call the butler’s wife, tell her that it is ‘Isabella de Mare’.”
Count DiPascal hoped that the atmosphere would not be tense when the butler's wife met Isabella.
And now, the power of the de Mare family was so great that he thought it would be better to use the name of the daughter of that family to lure the butler's wife than the name of the DiPascal family or the personal acquaintance of the wife's nanny.
But Countess DiPascal's nanny was not easygoing.
“Why do I have to talk about that woman? Why is the name of another woman mentioned in a gift for a married couple from another family?”
“You are a grateful woman!”
Count DiPascal desperately defended his actions and Isabella's.
“No one can contact Cardinal de Mare right now. Isabella de Mare is lending her name to Francesca, and she is benefiting!”
Old nanny grumbled, but was eventually persuaded by the story that this was a secret gift for Lady Francesca, and that Francesca would be very happy to receive her own vineyard.
“Really, really, keep it a secret from Francesca! It’s a surprise gift!”
The nanny was well over seventy, so her judgment wasn't what it used to be. A womanizer is usually someone who is good at persuading women.
She eventually nodded, her head blinking.
“I’ll tell her a story.”
“Bio declaring the passage of the document-based reinforcement bill!”
The Council of San Carlo in 1127 eventually passed the Alemand amnesty and the strengthening of documentary rule.
It was a day between late autumn and early winter, when the autumn leaves that had been in full bloom began to fall one by one.
“Salute!” (Cheers!)
“Alla nostra!” (For us!)
Deep in the depths of the de Mare mansion, in Ariadne's private room, the sound of joyful laughter echoed.
“Congratulations on passing the document!”
“It’s all thanks to Raphael!”
Cardinal de Mare responded to Julia de Baldessar's congratulations with a hint of intoxication.
In front of a warm fireplace with crackling firewood, everyone involved in this match was gathered and celebrating.
The gathering included Ariadne, Alfonso, Cardinal de Mare, Raphael, of course, but also Julia de Baldessar's, her lover Francois Sainte-Chapelle, and the little Prince Louis.
They were all good friends. The Cardinal had an old bottle of grappa in his hand, which he took out only on days when distinguished guests came.
It wasn't expensive, but it was wine produced in the best year of the Cardinal's favorite variety.
“Your brother is smart! He’s young, energetic, and has the power to push through! I really like him!”
The Cardinal showered Julia with compliments about Raphael. But Raphael, the target of the compliments, responded sharply.
“You didn’t like me as a son-in-law.”
“Oh, that’s different from that!”
Cardinal de Mare was furious.
“I can’t give you my daughter!”
Raphael also got angry.
“What’s wrong with me! Oh my, you’re really going too far. You’re going to exploit me for the rest of my life without giving me anything in return!”
“If you’re only going to receive wages from my daughter, then get out!”
The daughter and real son-in-law sitting in the middle simply responded with laughter. Julia interjected.
“Do you know that there is another daughter in this house?”
Raphael was disgusted.
“She’s a married woman! And the problem isn’t that she’s a married woman!”
Everyone burst into laughter.
Cardinal de Mare and Ariadne achieved what they set out to do at the Council of San Carlo.
Alfonso insisted that after a successful undertaking, it was essential to have a day to celebrate with those who had suffered.
This was the seat prepared for this. Ariadne wondered if this was really necessary, but it was surprisingly okay.
Ariadne was surprised by Alfonso's proposal. They were such different people.
For Ariadne, who started from the bottom and climbed up, the concept of 'resting after achieving one's goal' did not even exist.
Because after achieving one goal, there was always another hurdle waiting to be overcome.
“This is better than I thought.”
Ariadne whispered to Alfonso. It was really fun to succeed at something and have a good time with her friends and father.
The experience of not having to pretend to be someone other than herself, not having to lie about anything, not having to be careful with what she says, and the excitement in the air, the feeling that they can do anything.
Alfonso smiled proudly. It was always fun to let Ariadne experience something for the first time.
It was the kind of joy that came from seeing the wonder in a creature when you first let a puppy see snow, or when you fed a baby a piece of fruit for the first time.
“I wish I could get some more rest.”
Alfonso leaned in close to Ariadne, who was whispering in his ear, and lightly kissed her on the lips.
“Sleep more, be a little more lazy, and don’t sweat the small stuff.”
Ariadne's brow furrowed when she heard those words.
“But. Things don’t work out without me.”
She was a natural micromanager. Her motto was that rather than leaving it to someone else and getting frustrated, she'd rather just do it herself.
This had nothing to do with status. Even in her previous life, when she was in charge of the palace as a prospective regent, she couldn't let go of even the smallest things.
Her partner at the time actively encouraged it, though.
Alfonso advised her.
“It might be better than you think. Trust your subordinates.”
These were the words of a man who had had the organization of the Prince's palace under him since birth.
It was only when he went to war and commanded a platoon that he learned how to deal with individual human beings.
For Alfonso, before that, work was something that was done by an organization, not a specific person, and he had no qualms about doing things that way. That was just how it was.
On the other hand, self-made Ariadne frowned. Ariadne had no faith that things would work out on their own without her intervention.
The only person she trusted completely was Sancha.
In fact, trusting Sancha was not because he believed in her loyalty and intelligence, but because she thought that Sancha could do everything in Ariadne's absence.
In the first place, if Sancha could do everything, where would the need for Ariadne be?
“Let’s get off and rest for a bit, yes?”
Ariadne thought Alfonso's words were the luxury of a rich man. However, she did not bother to refute them. She had no time for that.
Because his thick lips started to go beyond short bird kisses.
Kiss. Kiss. The gap between them narrowed. The time their lips were together became longer. Ariadne put her hand on Alfonso’s chest as if she were going to push him away.
“Ah, um, that’s...”
"Hey!!"
However, it was not Ariadne's push that stopped Alfonso, but Raphael's obstruction.
“Really, you have no conscience!”
"You're making out in front of your ex-suitor! I'm not even your friend!"
Count DiPascal called his wife's nanny in a very secretive tone. The old nanny was terrified that their young lady's philandering husband was now touching her.
She answered very sheepishly, not hiding her concern at all.
“...Why, why are you calling me, Count?”
“No no no no, don’t look at me like that.”
Count DiPascal, who had something to gain, approached her very friendly. But the nanny was not easy.
“What expression do I have on my face, Count?”
But Count DiPascal was a professional womanizer. He knew how to talk to women.
The Count eventually managed to sell the medicine despite the nanny's extreme caution.
“It’s because of the winery I’m giving to Francesca as a gift.”
“...The Count gave a gift to our lady?”
Both the speaker and the listener knew that the question 'What brings you here?' had been omitted. However, the now worn-out Count DiPascal forgave all this arrogance.
Isabella's happy face, the thought of feeling proud in front of her made him do anything.
He farted with all his might.
In short, he wants to buy a winery for his wife, but he can't give the garbage business as a gift to the Countess DiPascal, so he has to decide whether this is a good idea or not.
The plan was to contact the Cardinal to confirm.
“Hoo... I don’t know much about taxes and business and stuff, but I guess I should ask Cardinal de Mare anyway.”
“Yes! When you call the butler’s wife, tell her that it is ‘Isabella de Mare’.”
Count DiPascal hoped that the atmosphere would not be tense when the butler's wife met Isabella.
And now, the power of the de Mare family was so great that he thought it would be better to use the name of the daughter of that family to lure the butler's wife than the name of the DiPascal family or the personal acquaintance of the wife's nanny.
But Countess DiPascal's nanny was not easygoing.
“Why do I have to talk about that woman? Why is the name of another woman mentioned in a gift for a married couple from another family?”
“You are a grateful woman!”
Count DiPascal desperately defended his actions and Isabella's.
“No one can contact Cardinal de Mare right now. Isabella de Mare is lending her name to Francesca, and she is benefiting!”
Old nanny grumbled, but was eventually persuaded by the story that this was a secret gift for Lady Francesca, and that Francesca would be very happy to receive her own vineyard.
“Really, really, keep it a secret from Francesca! It’s a surprise gift!”
The nanny was well over seventy, so her judgment wasn't what it used to be. A womanizer is usually someone who is good at persuading women.
She eventually nodded, her head blinking.
“I’ll tell her a story.”
***
“Bio declaring the passage of the document-based reinforcement bill!”
The Council of San Carlo in 1127 eventually passed the Alemand amnesty and the strengthening of documentary rule.
It was a day between late autumn and early winter, when the autumn leaves that had been in full bloom began to fall one by one.
“Salute!” (Cheers!)
“Alla nostra!” (For us!)
Deep in the depths of the de Mare mansion, in Ariadne's private room, the sound of joyful laughter echoed.
“Congratulations on passing the document!”
“It’s all thanks to Raphael!”
Cardinal de Mare responded to Julia de Baldessar's congratulations with a hint of intoxication.
In front of a warm fireplace with crackling firewood, everyone involved in this match was gathered and celebrating.
The gathering included Ariadne, Alfonso, Cardinal de Mare, Raphael, of course, but also Julia de Baldessar's, her lover Francois Sainte-Chapelle, and the little Prince Louis.
They were all good friends. The Cardinal had an old bottle of grappa in his hand, which he took out only on days when distinguished guests came.
It wasn't expensive, but it was wine produced in the best year of the Cardinal's favorite variety.
“Your brother is smart! He’s young, energetic, and has the power to push through! I really like him!”
The Cardinal showered Julia with compliments about Raphael. But Raphael, the target of the compliments, responded sharply.
“You didn’t like me as a son-in-law.”
“Oh, that’s different from that!”
Cardinal de Mare was furious.
“I can’t give you my daughter!”
Raphael also got angry.
“What’s wrong with me! Oh my, you’re really going too far. You’re going to exploit me for the rest of my life without giving me anything in return!”
“If you’re only going to receive wages from my daughter, then get out!”
The daughter and real son-in-law sitting in the middle simply responded with laughter. Julia interjected.
“Do you know that there is another daughter in this house?”
Raphael was disgusted.
“She’s a married woman! And the problem isn’t that she’s a married woman!”
Everyone burst into laughter.
Cardinal de Mare and Ariadne achieved what they set out to do at the Council of San Carlo.
Alfonso insisted that after a successful undertaking, it was essential to have a day to celebrate with those who had suffered.
This was the seat prepared for this. Ariadne wondered if this was really necessary, but it was surprisingly okay.
Ariadne was surprised by Alfonso's proposal. They were such different people.
For Ariadne, who started from the bottom and climbed up, the concept of 'resting after achieving one's goal' did not even exist.
Because after achieving one goal, there was always another hurdle waiting to be overcome.
“This is better than I thought.”
Ariadne whispered to Alfonso. It was really fun to succeed at something and have a good time with her friends and father.
The experience of not having to pretend to be someone other than herself, not having to lie about anything, not having to be careful with what she says, and the excitement in the air, the feeling that they can do anything.
Alfonso smiled proudly. It was always fun to let Ariadne experience something for the first time.
It was the kind of joy that came from seeing the wonder in a creature when you first let a puppy see snow, or when you fed a baby a piece of fruit for the first time.
“I wish I could get some more rest.”
Alfonso leaned in close to Ariadne, who was whispering in his ear, and lightly kissed her on the lips.
“Sleep more, be a little more lazy, and don’t sweat the small stuff.”
Ariadne's brow furrowed when she heard those words.
“But. Things don’t work out without me.”
She was a natural micromanager. Her motto was that rather than leaving it to someone else and getting frustrated, she'd rather just do it herself.
This had nothing to do with status. Even in her previous life, when she was in charge of the palace as a prospective regent, she couldn't let go of even the smallest things.
Her partner at the time actively encouraged it, though.
Alfonso advised her.
“It might be better than you think. Trust your subordinates.”
These were the words of a man who had had the organization of the Prince's palace under him since birth.
It was only when he went to war and commanded a platoon that he learned how to deal with individual human beings.
For Alfonso, before that, work was something that was done by an organization, not a specific person, and he had no qualms about doing things that way. That was just how it was.
On the other hand, self-made Ariadne frowned. Ariadne had no faith that things would work out on their own without her intervention.
The only person she trusted completely was Sancha.
In fact, trusting Sancha was not because he believed in her loyalty and intelligence, but because she thought that Sancha could do everything in Ariadne's absence.
In the first place, if Sancha could do everything, where would the need for Ariadne be?
“Let’s get off and rest for a bit, yes?”
Ariadne thought Alfonso's words were the luxury of a rich man. However, she did not bother to refute them. She had no time for that.
Because his thick lips started to go beyond short bird kisses.
Kiss. Kiss. The gap between them narrowed. The time their lips were together became longer. Ariadne put her hand on Alfonso’s chest as if she were going to push him away.
“Ah, um, that’s...”
"Hey!!"
However, it was not Ariadne's push that stopped Alfonso, but Raphael's obstruction.
“Really, you have no conscience!”
"You're making out in front of your ex-suitor! I'm not even your friend!"
But Raphael's pride would not allow him to shout it out so bluntly. He beat around the bush. He thought he beat around the bush.
“There are priests and children! What are you doing!”
Little Prince Louis, who was sitting at the drinking party of the uncles and aunties with a float soda, looked around puzzled as to why he was being talked about.
But Julia, whose brother's misfortune was her joy, joined in, giggling.
“A priest? Are you asking me to take care of my brother?”
Raphael's face crumpled instantly. Julia shouted "Jackpot" inwardly and stabbed him in the vital spot with her sword.
“How long are you going to whine about being a tea drinker? If you have taken refuge in the arms of the gods, stop trembling and pray!”
“No! No! Not me!!”
Raphael screamed hysterically with a red face. He pointed at Cardinal de Mare.
“Your father is here too!”
It was good. It was perfect. It went well.
However, no matter how much he reformed, Cardinal de Mare was still far from being an ordinary father.
The Cardinal replied calmly, sipping warm wine instead of the empty grappa.
“Why, that can happen between a married couple.”
No, that happened in the bedroom, in front of your real father?
In Raphael's confusion, his savior appeared: Francois, who was holding the young Prince Louis close to his side.
“That’s right. It’s bad for education.”
Francois was Julia's exclusive weapon. Julia became quiet right away.
“If the future King of Gallico’s view of women becomes distorted, it will be a big problem.”
Raphael became proud of Francois's defense, but Alfonso was dumbfounded.
“No, what did I do?”
If a King only looks at one married wife and pours his love on her, isn't that the right view of women? On the contrary, additional education...
The father-in-law cut off his son-in-law's drinking. He didn't mean to cut it off; he was just a little drunk and in a good mood.
Cardinal de Mare raised his glass, feeling elated at the thought of having the future King of the Kingdom of Gallico within his own home.
“For the next King of Gallico!”
Ariadne quickly accepted her father's congratulations.
“For the next King of the Etruscan kingdom!”
While Leo III was wide awake, she was saying things that she would never have said anywhere else, but here she was allowed to say them.
Julia, Raphael, and Francois sang happily again.
“For the goal!”
“For us!”
“For the kingdom!”
Young Louis also lifted the float soda he was holding in his hand.
“For!”
***
News of the Council of San Carlo flew over the cold winds of the Prenoyac Mountains and reached Philip IV, who was waiting at the palace in Montpellier.
"At las!"
The young King gripped the handle of the throne so tightly that it made a crunching sound.
“The date, the date is written correctly, right?”
Madness streamed from Philip IV's eyes. Today, he would make his son the rightful heir to the throne.
His love was not wrong. Everyone pointed fingers at him and said it was wrong, but power suppresses scandal.
King Gallico believed that the power of the King could turn wrong into right. Today was the day to test his power.
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