The person who was most embarrassed here was none other than Leo III. He waved his hands furiously, looking even more surprised than Princess Julia Helena.
“No, no, Alfonso. What happened with the Grand Duchess of Valoa wasn’t a marriage; it was a broken engagement. Then, it wasn’t a marriage, it was a broken engagement.”
Leo III was just a pickpocket.
“Besides, even if it was a marriage, Princess Lariesa is dead! Yes, who would call a man who has lost his wife a married man when he gets married?”
He was extremely excited, but he couldn't see anything right now. The King drew a large circle with both arms.
“Because of the death of Princess Lariesa, the relationship between Trevero and the Kingdom of Gallico is at an all-time high. The pressure is this high right now!”
“It’s too bad she passed away. But.”
Alfonso's expression was the very definition of calm, but his tone was as hard as a rock.
“The wife I am talking about is not the Grand Duchess of Larissa.”
Ariadne suddenly felt ashamed of everything about herself as Princess Julia Helena, standing before her, began listing her illustrious lineage one by one.
The latest fashion jewels seemed paradoxically to expose the fact that they were nouveau riche without history or tradition. Even the silks of the Moorish Empire seemed to be a vulgar taste, as if they were interested in the stuff of barbarians.
But if she were to throw away everything she had, the wretched, bare body of one who had nothing would be revealed. It would be fortunate if it were wretched, for this was a body that bore the scars of sin.
It would be better to die than to do that. Ariadne unconsciously wrapped her left hand around her long glove with her right.
She wished no one would see her. She wanted to hide in a hole somewhere. At that moment, her breathing became rapid. She broke out in a cold sweat, and it felt like someone was strangling her. An unknown sound began to buzz in her ears.
“A woman with a lowly mother like you!”
“She is a woman unfit for the court.”
“You should never have been born!”
The sounds she had heard in the mansion of de Mare, in the farm she had been banished to, and in the Palazzo Carlo as the Regent's fiancée when she was too young to remember, all mixed together, struck her.
She thought she had won. She thought she had cleared everything. Ariadne's whole body was frozen, and she couldn't move. Her pulse and heart were beating very fast, but her hands and feet were stiff as if they weren't her own. Tears were about to fall. Ariadne held them back desperately, even in the midst of all this.
'I can't cry, I won't let anyone see me cry.'
It was the last of her pride. She bit her lips and held on to her legs. She didn’t even know what was going on around her. She heard a loud noise, an old man’s scream, and she thought her surroundings were shaking, but it was something that had nothing to do with her, and it happened far away.
It was a big, warm hand that pulled her back into the real world.
“Let me introduce you to my wife. She is Countess Ariadne de Mare.”
Julia Helena's eyes widened. Duchess Rubina opened her mouth. Leo III's face twisted..
Clang-!!
And on the pure white marble floor of the palace, someone's thin wine glass fell, splattering blood everywhere. The person who dropped the glass was Duke Cesare, who was far away from the royal family in the corner of the ballroom. Ariadne was startled by the sharp sound, and Alfonso pulled her closer to him.
The commotion that occurred in front and behind soon spread to the common nobles. The crowd that filled the huge ballroom was collectively shaking.
“What the... now?”
“Did I hear that correctly?”
“I intend to reside in the Prince’s palace with my wife, Ariadne.”
“Ouch!”
Leo III put his hand on the back of his neck. Rubina, fearing that the King would fall, supported him, and Ariadne, in turn, was surprised by these words and looked up at Alfonso. However, Alfonso whispered affectionately in Ariadne’s ear.
“Since everything has already been revealed, I can’t leave you alone outside. You have to come into the palace to solve the security problem. Stay by my side.”
He lightly kissed her cheek. Julia Helena covered her mouth in surprise at this sight. For the Princess who grew up in the palace of the Manchike family, this was truly the first time in her life that she had ever experienced something like this.
Prince Alfonso proclaimed to Leo III, without regard for Julia Helena or anyone else around him.
“Starting next week, my wife will be living at Palagio Carlo. I will pretend that the ridiculous ban imposed by Duchess Rubina never existed.”
Leo III turned to Duchess Rubina.
“No trespassing?!”
It was the first time the King had heard of this. Alfonso answered on his behalf.
“Yes, Duchess Rubina singled out Ariadne and humiliated her at the entrance to Palazzo Carlo.”
"What?"
“Countess de Mare is worried about being searched by male guards in front of everyone.”
He was not the same Alfonso as before. The experience of fighting in the commander-in-chief’s barracks with limited food and loot had completely changed him. Alfonso skillfully selected only the worst parts that could be packaged and displayed them in front of Leo III. Rubina, who had been hit by an unexpected blow, hesitated and made excuses.
“That, that... It’s a bit much to allow a criminal’s family into the palace...”
She hadn't expected this. Sweat was forming on her palms.
“Well... there’s an arrest warrant out for Ippolito de Mare...”
It was the Duchess who was trying to somehow drag Leo III into this situation as an accomplice. The King clicked his tongue fiercely. Now he understood what had happened, Leo III thought.
“Useless!”
He shouted loudly. He heard that a long time ago, a group of noblewomen led by Rubina gathered and harassed a merchant's wife like that. At that time, the merchants also rose up, and after Unaisola, the nobles were also turned upside down, and it was a headache for quite a long time. Rubina was not punished separately at that time, so it seems that she remembered the fun she had had that time and did the same thing again.
“Why on earth are you messing with Countess de Mare when she’s just sitting there?”
Leo III now believed that the situation had arisen because Duchess Rubina had needlessly provoked Prince Alfonso.
“Because you act like that, Alfonso, that kid just walks away without a trace!”
It was only half true. But it was the best explanation for Leo III to easily pass the blame to someone else. He believed this explanation he had invented.
“Alfonso, you shouldn’t reject the offer of the Marquis of Manchike like this. Let’s talk about it later.”
Prince Alfonso smiled calmly. He answered softly.
“I’m afraid I have to decline. I can’t annul a marriage that has already begun.”
He informed Leo III once again.
“My wife’s move is next week.”
Leo III gave an urgent warning.
“Alfonso! Princess Julia, Princess Julia is...!”
He had already signed the marriage alliance contract with the Marquis of Manchike. This document was also in the archives of the Pope's Palace. He had to clean up the mess somehow. However, Alfonso shrugged his shoulders. It was not his job.
If he wanted to do his job, he should have shared and discussed with Alfonso's side in advance what he could get out of it. It's ridiculous to just throw it out there and leave the cleanup to them.
“If there is no one left, then hand it over to Duke Cesare.”
It was a final consideration for the young foreign Princess that he didn't say he didn't care if she was a stepmother candidate.
Alfonso stood there checking whether he had anything left to do today.
He also revealed the fact of his marriage and made it clear to Princess Julia Helena that he would reject her. He also exposed Duchess Rubina's petty antics to the world and declared that he would be staying with Ariadne in the Prince's palace.
He wanted to pour out more on Leo III and Duchess Rubina, but unfortunately, most of what he wanted to say was curses. It was not appropriate for this occasion. The Prince simply bowed his head.
“If you have nothing more to say, that’s all.”
Alfonso whispered softly into Ariadne's ear, who was holding her in his arms.
“Let’s go, Ari.”
It was as if Pygmalion was gently blowing into the ear of a statue. Ariadne, who had been stiff and unusually stiff, really blossomed and stepped forward on tiptoe as if a still life had been transformed into a human being.
She took a deep breath and straightened her back. Alfonso covered her with his body, keeping Ariadne out of Leo III's sight, out of the people's sight, and especially out of Julia Helena's.
The Prince escorted his wife, the Princess, out of the semicircle of the crowd and into an open area. The only open space was a hidden corridor reserved exclusively for the royal family.
This was shortly after Leo III had raised an uproar, saying that he could never allow it, but no one stopped Prince Alfonso.
There was no stopping him. As the Prince lazily looked around, all those who were supposed to stop him felt instinctive fear, like a pack of hyenas before a lion.
After the Prince left, the nobles gathered in a mob and occupied even the hidden corridor. They whispered among themselves and looked into the corridor. Finally, Leo III, who was isolated in the crowd, screamed as if he were having a seizure.
“What is there to see here, all crowded around!”
Even in the face of Leo III's advances, the crowd remained unmoved. This was partly because there were too many people there, and partly because Leo III looked ridiculous in everyone's eyes. At the same time, it was a situation that showed how low the royal authority had fallen.
“Get out of the way, get out of the way!”
Eventually, Sir Delpiano called in the guard. Only after thirty knights in full dress forcibly dispersed the crowd was Leo III freed from sight.
The King, who had been sulking, left the ball with a flushed face. Duchess Rubina hurriedly followed after the King and disappeared.
A courtier of the Marquis of Manchike whispered to Princess Julia Helena, who was left alone.
“I will report to my home country immediately. Should I inquire about a ship to return?”
Julia Helena raised her hand to stop her servant.
“No. Just stay for a while.”
The marriage contract states that she will become Principessa within six months. Even if the engagement with Prince Alfonso does not go smoothly, the Marquis of Manchike will gain something from this. It would be better to wait and see how things go here for a while rather than pack up and go back right away. Besides, Prince Alfonso had an interesting story to tell.
“Who is Duke Cesare?”
Above all, she couldn't take her eyes off a certain man in the ballroom.
“Is that person?”
“No, no, Alfonso. What happened with the Grand Duchess of Valoa wasn’t a marriage; it was a broken engagement. Then, it wasn’t a marriage, it was a broken engagement.”
Leo III was just a pickpocket.
“Besides, even if it was a marriage, Princess Lariesa is dead! Yes, who would call a man who has lost his wife a married man when he gets married?”
He was extremely excited, but he couldn't see anything right now. The King drew a large circle with both arms.
“Because of the death of Princess Lariesa, the relationship between Trevero and the Kingdom of Gallico is at an all-time high. The pressure is this high right now!”
“It’s too bad she passed away. But.”
Alfonso's expression was the very definition of calm, but his tone was as hard as a rock.
“The wife I am talking about is not the Grand Duchess of Larissa.”
***
Ariadne suddenly felt ashamed of everything about herself as Princess Julia Helena, standing before her, began listing her illustrious lineage one by one.
The latest fashion jewels seemed paradoxically to expose the fact that they were nouveau riche without history or tradition. Even the silks of the Moorish Empire seemed to be a vulgar taste, as if they were interested in the stuff of barbarians.
But if she were to throw away everything she had, the wretched, bare body of one who had nothing would be revealed. It would be fortunate if it were wretched, for this was a body that bore the scars of sin.
It would be better to die than to do that. Ariadne unconsciously wrapped her left hand around her long glove with her right.
She wished no one would see her. She wanted to hide in a hole somewhere. At that moment, her breathing became rapid. She broke out in a cold sweat, and it felt like someone was strangling her. An unknown sound began to buzz in her ears.
“A woman with a lowly mother like you!”
“She is a woman unfit for the court.”
“You should never have been born!”
The sounds she had heard in the mansion of de Mare, in the farm she had been banished to, and in the Palazzo Carlo as the Regent's fiancée when she was too young to remember, all mixed together, struck her.
She thought she had won. She thought she had cleared everything. Ariadne's whole body was frozen, and she couldn't move. Her pulse and heart were beating very fast, but her hands and feet were stiff as if they weren't her own. Tears were about to fall. Ariadne held them back desperately, even in the midst of all this.
'I can't cry, I won't let anyone see me cry.'
It was the last of her pride. She bit her lips and held on to her legs. She didn’t even know what was going on around her. She heard a loud noise, an old man’s scream, and she thought her surroundings were shaking, but it was something that had nothing to do with her, and it happened far away.
It was a big, warm hand that pulled her back into the real world.
“Let me introduce you to my wife. She is Countess Ariadne de Mare.”
Julia Helena's eyes widened. Duchess Rubina opened her mouth. Leo III's face twisted..
Clang-!!
And on the pure white marble floor of the palace, someone's thin wine glass fell, splattering blood everywhere. The person who dropped the glass was Duke Cesare, who was far away from the royal family in the corner of the ballroom. Ariadne was startled by the sharp sound, and Alfonso pulled her closer to him.
The commotion that occurred in front and behind soon spread to the common nobles. The crowd that filled the huge ballroom was collectively shaking.
“What the... now?”
“Did I hear that correctly?”
“His Highness the Prince married the Countess de Mare?”
Of the more than a thousand people in the ballroom, the only one who was not flustered was Prince Alfonso.
“No, it is not Countess de Mare anymore, but Princess Ariadne.”
Leo III cried out in rage.
“What kind of nonsense are you talking about now, the Princess without my permission?!”
The Thanksgiving ball, which had forced the participation of nobles and invited foreign guests, was a complete mess. On the other hand, the nobles of San Carlo were thrilled. This was a real party. They threw away their dignity and manners and flocked to watch the royal farce from the front row.
Alfonso pulled Ariadne close to him and held her in his arms to protect her from the crowd.
“Whether Your Majesty permits it or not, Ariadne is my wife, whom I have sworn to be with before the heavens forever.”
The red rose was embraced by the blue evergreen tree. The tall and handsome man and woman looked perfectly together. Leo III's eyes sparkled. There were many reasons for this.
“I can’t admit it! That woman is not the Princess!”
Prince Alfonso blocked his father's path.
“Your Majesty’s approval is not necessary.”
The Prince pressed his father without hesitation.
“We made a lifelong vow in front of a priest, and the marriage contract is already in the archives of the Holy See.”
“You, you, what are you doing in front of me!”
“At the last Council of San Carlo, the Order of the Prelature resolved to guarantee the authenticity of the documents entered into the archives of the Holy See.”
Alfonso had no intention of backing down. He uttered a word of conversion.
“Your Majesty, if you do not recognize this marriage, it is the same as not recognizing the validity of the document of the Pope.”
"This guy!"
Documentation. That damned documentation. Leo III shivered. Blood rushed through his veins and rushed to his head.
It would have been possible to negotiate with Trevero and have the marriage cancelled. However, Leo III had only six months to live. It was his karma for having dragged on with the marriage with the Grand Duchess of Lariesa so long.
Besides, what carrot should I offer Trevero to dissolve this marriage? That's why I should have installed a pro-Etruscan Pope. Cardinal de Mare should have held out.... No, then can't I get rid of that woman? His head and eyes felt like they were going to burst.
“Unless Your Majesty goes to Trevero and personally receives permission for a divorce from the Pope, I am a married man.”
The mischievous son seemed to have read his father's mind. He knew all about the effort and time Leo III would have to put in to destroy this. Alfonso seemed strangely relaxed. Leo III was going crazy.
“Even if you succeed, it will take five or six years. During that time, I will be an old man looking for a second wife, and my value in the marriage market will be cut in half. By then, I will have children.”
“You, you, you bastard...!”
His son's rebellion drove Leo III mad. There was one more problem that he could not even tell anyone. The daughter-in-law that his son had brought was a woman he had coveted in the past but had not been able to obtain.
The fact that he had been rejected by Ariadne de Mare was painful enough for Leo III, who had never known failure in his life. But it was a completely different story to have a cake that he couldn't eat and to have another man embracing a cake that he couldn't eat right in front of him.
And the fact that the 'other guy' was none other than his own son, his only legitimate child, was absolutely maddening and shocking. The young, confident, capable, and unfilial son who had stolen his father's cake proudly declared.
Of the more than a thousand people in the ballroom, the only one who was not flustered was Prince Alfonso.
“No, it is not Countess de Mare anymore, but Princess Ariadne.”
Leo III cried out in rage.
“What kind of nonsense are you talking about now, the Princess without my permission?!”
The Thanksgiving ball, which had forced the participation of nobles and invited foreign guests, was a complete mess. On the other hand, the nobles of San Carlo were thrilled. This was a real party. They threw away their dignity and manners and flocked to watch the royal farce from the front row.
Alfonso pulled Ariadne close to him and held her in his arms to protect her from the crowd.
“Whether Your Majesty permits it or not, Ariadne is my wife, whom I have sworn to be with before the heavens forever.”
The red rose was embraced by the blue evergreen tree. The tall and handsome man and woman looked perfectly together. Leo III's eyes sparkled. There were many reasons for this.
“I can’t admit it! That woman is not the Princess!”
Prince Alfonso blocked his father's path.
“Your Majesty’s approval is not necessary.”
The Prince pressed his father without hesitation.
“We made a lifelong vow in front of a priest, and the marriage contract is already in the archives of the Holy See.”
“You, you, what are you doing in front of me!”
“At the last Council of San Carlo, the Order of the Prelature resolved to guarantee the authenticity of the documents entered into the archives of the Holy See.”
Alfonso had no intention of backing down. He uttered a word of conversion.
“Your Majesty, if you do not recognize this marriage, it is the same as not recognizing the validity of the document of the Pope.”
"This guy!"
Documentation. That damned documentation. Leo III shivered. Blood rushed through his veins and rushed to his head.
It would have been possible to negotiate with Trevero and have the marriage cancelled. However, Leo III had only six months to live. It was his karma for having dragged on with the marriage with the Grand Duchess of Lariesa so long.
Besides, what carrot should I offer Trevero to dissolve this marriage? That's why I should have installed a pro-Etruscan Pope. Cardinal de Mare should have held out.... No, then can't I get rid of that woman? His head and eyes felt like they were going to burst.
“Unless Your Majesty goes to Trevero and personally receives permission for a divorce from the Pope, I am a married man.”
The mischievous son seemed to have read his father's mind. He knew all about the effort and time Leo III would have to put in to destroy this. Alfonso seemed strangely relaxed. Leo III was going crazy.
“Even if you succeed, it will take five or six years. During that time, I will be an old man looking for a second wife, and my value in the marriage market will be cut in half. By then, I will have children.”
“You, you, you bastard...!”
His son's rebellion drove Leo III mad. There was one more problem that he could not even tell anyone. The daughter-in-law that his son had brought was a woman he had coveted in the past but had not been able to obtain.
The fact that he had been rejected by Ariadne de Mare was painful enough for Leo III, who had never known failure in his life. But it was a completely different story to have a cake that he couldn't eat and to have another man embracing a cake that he couldn't eat right in front of him.
And the fact that the 'other guy' was none other than his own son, his only legitimate child, was absolutely maddening and shocking. The young, confident, capable, and unfilial son who had stolen his father's cake proudly declared.
“I intend to reside in the Prince’s palace with my wife, Ariadne.”
“Ouch!”
Leo III put his hand on the back of his neck. Rubina, fearing that the King would fall, supported him, and Ariadne, in turn, was surprised by these words and looked up at Alfonso. However, Alfonso whispered affectionately in Ariadne’s ear.
“Since everything has already been revealed, I can’t leave you alone outside. You have to come into the palace to solve the security problem. Stay by my side.”
He lightly kissed her cheek. Julia Helena covered her mouth in surprise at this sight. For the Princess who grew up in the palace of the Manchike family, this was truly the first time in her life that she had ever experienced something like this.
Prince Alfonso proclaimed to Leo III, without regard for Julia Helena or anyone else around him.
“Starting next week, my wife will be living at Palagio Carlo. I will pretend that the ridiculous ban imposed by Duchess Rubina never existed.”
Leo III turned to Duchess Rubina.
“No trespassing?!”
It was the first time the King had heard of this. Alfonso answered on his behalf.
“Yes, Duchess Rubina singled out Ariadne and humiliated her at the entrance to Palazzo Carlo.”
"What?"
“Countess de Mare is worried about being searched by male guards in front of everyone.”
He was not the same Alfonso as before. The experience of fighting in the commander-in-chief’s barracks with limited food and loot had completely changed him. Alfonso skillfully selected only the worst parts that could be packaged and displayed them in front of Leo III. Rubina, who had been hit by an unexpected blow, hesitated and made excuses.
“That, that... It’s a bit much to allow a criminal’s family into the palace...”
She hadn't expected this. Sweat was forming on her palms.
“Well... there’s an arrest warrant out for Ippolito de Mare...”
It was the Duchess who was trying to somehow drag Leo III into this situation as an accomplice. The King clicked his tongue fiercely. Now he understood what had happened, Leo III thought.
“Useless!”
He shouted loudly. He heard that a long time ago, a group of noblewomen led by Rubina gathered and harassed a merchant's wife like that. At that time, the merchants also rose up, and after Unaisola, the nobles were also turned upside down, and it was a headache for quite a long time. Rubina was not punished separately at that time, so it seems that she remembered the fun she had had that time and did the same thing again.
“Why on earth are you messing with Countess de Mare when she’s just sitting there?”
Leo III now believed that the situation had arisen because Duchess Rubina had needlessly provoked Prince Alfonso.
“Because you act like that, Alfonso, that kid just walks away without a trace!”
It was only half true. But it was the best explanation for Leo III to easily pass the blame to someone else. He believed this explanation he had invented.
“Alfonso, you shouldn’t reject the offer of the Marquis of Manchike like this. Let’s talk about it later.”
Prince Alfonso smiled calmly. He answered softly.
“I’m afraid I have to decline. I can’t annul a marriage that has already begun.”
He informed Leo III once again.
“My wife’s move is next week.”
Leo III gave an urgent warning.
“Alfonso! Princess Julia, Princess Julia is...!”
He had already signed the marriage alliance contract with the Marquis of Manchike. This document was also in the archives of the Pope's Palace. He had to clean up the mess somehow. However, Alfonso shrugged his shoulders. It was not his job.
If he wanted to do his job, he should have shared and discussed with Alfonso's side in advance what he could get out of it. It's ridiculous to just throw it out there and leave the cleanup to them.
“If there is no one left, then hand it over to Duke Cesare.”
It was a final consideration for the young foreign Princess that he didn't say he didn't care if she was a stepmother candidate.
Alfonso stood there checking whether he had anything left to do today.
He also revealed the fact of his marriage and made it clear to Princess Julia Helena that he would reject her. He also exposed Duchess Rubina's petty antics to the world and declared that he would be staying with Ariadne in the Prince's palace.
He wanted to pour out more on Leo III and Duchess Rubina, but unfortunately, most of what he wanted to say was curses. It was not appropriate for this occasion. The Prince simply bowed his head.
“If you have nothing more to say, that’s all.”
Alfonso whispered softly into Ariadne's ear, who was holding her in his arms.
“Let’s go, Ari.”
It was as if Pygmalion was gently blowing into the ear of a statue. Ariadne, who had been stiff and unusually stiff, really blossomed and stepped forward on tiptoe as if a still life had been transformed into a human being.
She took a deep breath and straightened her back. Alfonso covered her with his body, keeping Ariadne out of Leo III's sight, out of the people's sight, and especially out of Julia Helena's.
The Prince escorted his wife, the Princess, out of the semicircle of the crowd and into an open area. The only open space was a hidden corridor reserved exclusively for the royal family.
This was shortly after Leo III had raised an uproar, saying that he could never allow it, but no one stopped Prince Alfonso.
There was no stopping him. As the Prince lazily looked around, all those who were supposed to stop him felt instinctive fear, like a pack of hyenas before a lion.
After the Prince left, the nobles gathered in a mob and occupied even the hidden corridor. They whispered among themselves and looked into the corridor. Finally, Leo III, who was isolated in the crowd, screamed as if he were having a seizure.
“What is there to see here, all crowded around!”
Even in the face of Leo III's advances, the crowd remained unmoved. This was partly because there were too many people there, and partly because Leo III looked ridiculous in everyone's eyes. At the same time, it was a situation that showed how low the royal authority had fallen.
“Get out of the way, get out of the way!”
Eventually, Sir Delpiano called in the guard. Only after thirty knights in full dress forcibly dispersed the crowd was Leo III freed from sight.
The King, who had been sulking, left the ball with a flushed face. Duchess Rubina hurriedly followed after the King and disappeared.
A courtier of the Marquis of Manchike whispered to Princess Julia Helena, who was left alone.
“I will report to my home country immediately. Should I inquire about a ship to return?”
Julia Helena raised her hand to stop her servant.
“No. Just stay for a while.”
The marriage contract states that she will become Principessa within six months. Even if the engagement with Prince Alfonso does not go smoothly, the Marquis of Manchike will gain something from this. It would be better to wait and see how things go here for a while rather than pack up and go back right away. Besides, Prince Alfonso had an interesting story to tell.
“Who is Duke Cesare?”
Above all, she couldn't take her eyes off a certain man in the ballroom.
“Is that person?”
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