“The best way would be to grant an army to liberate the Kingdom of Dodessa to Duke Cesare, or rather, the Archduke.”
Julia Helena also knew. The Black Helmet Knights were Prince Alfonso's exclusive military group, so it wasn't easy for the King to draft them. She found out when she came here, but the relationship between the King and the Prince seemed quite bad, and surprisingly, the Prince and the Duke were in a competitive situation designed by the King.
'I said we have to do an on-site investigation.'
If Duke Cesare were elevated to Grand Duke, the rivalry would become even more intense. It seemed absolutely impossible to hand over command of the army to Grand Duke Cesare, rather than to Prince Alfonso, going on the Dodessa expedition.
“You can make other promises, too.”
Julia Helena glanced at Prince Alfonso and Ariadne. If she were to offer the military-weak Duke Cesare as a replacement for Prince Alfonso, she would need at least a promise that the Grand Duke's blood would be the official successor to the Etruscan kingdom, rather than their children, who had the problem of intermarriage.
It was an inappropriate idea to sit down with those two, but she didn't feel sorry for them. Julia Helena stuck her tongue out inwardly. Why wouldn't she ask for my husband? There's no such thing as a free lunch in this world.
“Or you can reduce the amount of dowry or wedding gifts I will bring, or you can pay the kingdom an equivalent amount of bride price.”
This was a proposal to settle in cash. If this were the case, Julia Helena would not be able to gain any financial benefit from Leo III. The old King’s face, full of greed, distorted. Julia Helena, who was still young, missed the fact that Leo III was becoming increasingly displeased. She threw away her last move while she was at it.
“You could even reject the marriage itself.”
“Princess.”
The old King was now completely offended. He felt that he was being threatened in front of all his family. Naturally, his words became harsh.
“Do you think this is an appropriate place for this conversation, Princess?”
Julia Helena's face turned red for a moment after being told off for her manners. But she soon shook her head. Leo III never gave Julia Helena a chance to meet him alone, except at such meals. He had never called her to his office or scheduled any other official event where they could have a secret conversation.
'You want me to sit like a flower? Open my eyes and not raise any objections while you cut off my nose?'
She didn't think she was doing anything wrong, the Princess asked provocatively.
“Then can you provide a schedule for in-depth follow-up discussions?”
Julia Helena came to the Etruscan kingdom not as a mere bride, but as a dignified diplomat and heir to the Manchike Principality. Leo III's attempt to change her husband was a major change in the contract. In fact, it would have been meaningless if the Manchike Principality had declared the engagement broken and returned.
“Ahem!”
Leo III made a strange sound as if he was gathering phlegm. It was a sound full of the old man’s discontent and malice. Today, he was supposed to be able to blow his nose without touching it, but instead of saving face, he was even fighting with a small Princess in front of his son, and he was in a bad mood.
“Princess. Write a letter to your father.”
Leo III tilted his head.
“If you send a letter detailing the situation, your father will make a wise decision for his reckless daughter.”
The King added.
“He might want to write a letter apologizing for his daughter’s rudeness.”
“Our father.”
Julia Helena was furious at Leo III's neglect.
“He is much stronger than me, so if I report this story as it is today, he will tell me to come back right away.”
He would have been furious and told her to come out immediately and spit on the King as she left the gate. But that was not what she wanted. Julia Helena said earnestly.
“I think I would be a moderate negotiating partner.”
The Princess's sincerity did not reach Leo III. The King tried to scold her.
At that moment, Duchess Rubina, who really did not want to miss out on that delicious prey, quickly intervened and dissuaded the King.
“Your Majesty. It’s late. You must be tired.”
Leo III's white eyebrows rose. The old King was doubly angry that his own government had tried to stop him, and not Julia Helena.
“Rubina! Are you telling me now that my health is not what it used to be? Huh?”
Leo III gave the Duchess a stern scolding without any sense of shame. But that was not all. The old King slammed the wine glass he was holding onto the round table with a thud! It was a pewter glass that the King had recently begun to use. It was solid and heavy.
It was sudden and quite threatening. Julia Helena, who was very nervous, dropped the butter knife she was holding at the sound of the tin cup hitting the wooden table.
Clang!
“Ahh!”
The knife fell and hit a thin wine glass on the table. The glass fell to the floor and shattered into pieces. The glass shards flew, and Princess Julia Helena covered her face.
“Princess! Are you okay?”
Duchess Rubina asked thoughtfully. Julia Helena raised one hand, indicating that it was okay, but red blood was seeping out of the other hand that covered her face.
Everyone present was surprised. Even Isabella was surprised.
“The court doctor!”
Duchess Rubina shouted. The servants who appeared from somewhere began to run around.
Ariadne stood up, pushed the Princess's hand away, and pressed a clean napkin over Julia Helena's face. Julia Helena groaned softly at the pain of the napkin touching her face and muttered.
"Thank you."
As Ariadne pressed the napkin with steady hands, the bright red blood subsided. When the bleeding had stopped to some extent, the Princess covered her face with the napkin and spoke.
“Excuse me, but I think I should go in first today.”
Even Leo III could not stop this.
“Yes, yes, my lady.”
The King added, embarrassed. He wanted to show some favor.
“I will send my doctor to the Princess’s quarters, so please take good care of her.”
Even at that moment, the old King shook his head.
'If Princess Julia Helena's face is greatly scarred, she will take the dowry and sit down with Cesare. But wouldn't it be a loss for me to bring a woman with a scarred face into our royal family?'
Fortunately or unfortunately, Julia Helena had no idea of Leo III’s true intentions. If Leo III’s true intentions had been transparent to everyone, he would not have ascended to the throne. The Princess got up and left the dinner table first. Leo III belatedly asked Prince Alfonso.
“Prince. Isn’t there a doctor in your order?”
When dealing with trauma in the Central Continent, the military chaplain was considered the best. This was because, having followed the war, he had become skilled at suturing wounds. The Black Helmet Knights had a veteran military chaplain.
"Ah."
“Have it sent to the Princess.”
Alfonso frowned. He hated the sight of the old King making a big deal out of the Black Helmet Knights when he had threatened to cut the entire budget of the palace. He couldn’t tell whether it was just a threat or a real plan, since the payment date hadn’t come yet. However, he also naturally wanted the chance to talk to Julia Helena.
“Yes, that’s right.”
Alfonso stood up. He whispered to Ariadne.
“I’ll be back in a bit.”
Ariadne nodded without knowing what was going on. Are you going to the Knights Templar to call a doctor?
But Alfonso was determined to go see Julia Helena. The Prince had something else to say to the Princess.
'The military force sent by the Etruscan kingdom does not include the Knights of the Black Helmets.'
It was a bit embarrassing to say this to a newly injured Princess, but it was something she absolutely had to know, and more than anything, there was no time for that. He absolutely hated having to have a private meeting with the Princess and then being bothered by all sorts of noises.
'Ari has been looking a bit uneasy for the past few days.'
Alfonso was both insensitive and sensitive. He was not good at keeping up with her delicate psychology, but he was always keenly aware of Ariadne’s condition with his innate animal instinct. Ariadne had been startled by even the slightest noise for a week before, and had become irritated by things that she would normally have passed over.
'Could it be that you're not feeling well...?'
In any case, Alfonso had no intention of causing Ariadne any unnecessary worries. The Prince ran along the palace corridors after the Princess, who had left for her quarters with a napkin on her face. She must have walked slowly because she was injured. He intended to finish her off quickly and come back.
Broken glasses were strewn across the marble floor of the restaurant. Waiters came in busily from all directions, picking up the shards of glass one by one with their hands.
“Hey.”
The surroundings were in disarray. Leo III, who had lost his appetite, stood up from his seat.
Isabella quickly stood up and offered the red-faced King a glass of cold water. Cesare, who had once chased after him, looked at Isabella with contempt as he saw the woman kneeling before the power represented by his father. Leo III took a sip of the glass of water Isabella offered him and spat it out.
“That’s all for today.”
He looked at Rubina, who was busy directing her attendants.
“It was a lousy banquet.”
Rubina flinched and shuddered. Leo III snorted. The King also left the restaurant, leaving the embarrassed Duchess behind. Isabella followed Leo III with a brisk pace.
Duchess Rubina left in a rage, demanding to see who on earth had decided to use such a thick butter knife at a banquet.
Ariadne also rose from her seat. Before she left, she stopped a passing attendant and said,
“Tell Sir Bernardino of the palace that Countess Ariadne de Mare has returned to her mansion first.”
The servant who received the order bowed his head and ran to the Prince's palace. It was impossible to wait for Alfonso to return in the messy dining room. She stood next to the chair and twirled the hem of her dress, giggling.
'I've seen things like this in my life.'
Today, she saw a splendid performance by Leo III and the Duchess Rubina, and Princess Julia Helena. The props, the main characters, what should she call them, the main sacrificial lambs were mostly Isabella and a little Cesare.
For Ariadne, who had always been the subject of all kinds of rumors, this was the first time she had been cast as a supporting character in a scandalous scene.
'Thank you so much.'
For the first time in her life, Ariadne left a positive impression of her older sister, Isabella. Isabella's living in the palace may not have been all bad.
'If this happens every week, there's no reason for me to be mentioned.'
Ariadne also left the restaurant, determined to avoid her sister like the Black Death, as long as she didn't get involved with Isabella.
Unlike the warm and bright dining room, the late-hour hallway was dark. The floors and walls were adorned with carpets and tapestries, but they could not completely hide the cold, exposed stone walls. Candles placed on the walls at intervals of five feet burned fiercely. It was not a sufficient source of light.
'It's creepy.'
Ariadne shivered slightly and hurried her steps. It was quite chilly in San Carlo, which was in late autumn and early winter, and the inside of the palace after the sun had set was no exception.
So she screamed in horror when a man's hand was placed on her shoulder.
"Ah!"
Before a single syllable could properly leave her mouth, a hasty hand covered her mouth.
"Ugh!"
“Ari, calm down, it’s me.”
The hand covering her mouth did not smell like Alfonso’s comforting scent. The voice, too, was not Alfonso’s low, cavernous voice. The voice calling her now was a tenor tone, thin for a man.
But it was strangely familiar. A smell from the farthest reaches of her memory. A fresh, light, woody scent, with notes of cedarwood, jasmine, and neroli mixed with body odor.
Ariadne took a deep breath and turned her head to see who the man was who had covered her mouth from behind. Red hair appeared first, and then the man’s aquamarine eyes fixed on her.
“Wait a minute, let me talk.”
It was Cesare with an indescribable expression on his face.
Julia Helena also knew. The Black Helmet Knights were Prince Alfonso's exclusive military group, so it wasn't easy for the King to draft them. She found out when she came here, but the relationship between the King and the Prince seemed quite bad, and surprisingly, the Prince and the Duke were in a competitive situation designed by the King.
'I said we have to do an on-site investigation.'
If Duke Cesare were elevated to Grand Duke, the rivalry would become even more intense. It seemed absolutely impossible to hand over command of the army to Grand Duke Cesare, rather than to Prince Alfonso, going on the Dodessa expedition.
“You can make other promises, too.”
Julia Helena glanced at Prince Alfonso and Ariadne. If she were to offer the military-weak Duke Cesare as a replacement for Prince Alfonso, she would need at least a promise that the Grand Duke's blood would be the official successor to the Etruscan kingdom, rather than their children, who had the problem of intermarriage.
It was an inappropriate idea to sit down with those two, but she didn't feel sorry for them. Julia Helena stuck her tongue out inwardly. Why wouldn't she ask for my husband? There's no such thing as a free lunch in this world.
“Or you can reduce the amount of dowry or wedding gifts I will bring, or you can pay the kingdom an equivalent amount of bride price.”
This was a proposal to settle in cash. If this were the case, Julia Helena would not be able to gain any financial benefit from Leo III. The old King’s face, full of greed, distorted. Julia Helena, who was still young, missed the fact that Leo III was becoming increasingly displeased. She threw away her last move while she was at it.
“You could even reject the marriage itself.”
“Princess.”
The old King was now completely offended. He felt that he was being threatened in front of all his family. Naturally, his words became harsh.
“Do you think this is an appropriate place for this conversation, Princess?”
Julia Helena's face turned red for a moment after being told off for her manners. But she soon shook her head. Leo III never gave Julia Helena a chance to meet him alone, except at such meals. He had never called her to his office or scheduled any other official event where they could have a secret conversation.
'You want me to sit like a flower? Open my eyes and not raise any objections while you cut off my nose?'
She didn't think she was doing anything wrong, the Princess asked provocatively.
“Then can you provide a schedule for in-depth follow-up discussions?”
Julia Helena came to the Etruscan kingdom not as a mere bride, but as a dignified diplomat and heir to the Manchike Principality. Leo III's attempt to change her husband was a major change in the contract. In fact, it would have been meaningless if the Manchike Principality had declared the engagement broken and returned.
“Ahem!”
Leo III made a strange sound as if he was gathering phlegm. It was a sound full of the old man’s discontent and malice. Today, he was supposed to be able to blow his nose without touching it, but instead of saving face, he was even fighting with a small Princess in front of his son, and he was in a bad mood.
“Princess. Write a letter to your father.”
Leo III tilted his head.
“If you send a letter detailing the situation, your father will make a wise decision for his reckless daughter.”
The King added.
“He might want to write a letter apologizing for his daughter’s rudeness.”
“Our father.”
Julia Helena was furious at Leo III's neglect.
“He is much stronger than me, so if I report this story as it is today, he will tell me to come back right away.”
He would have been furious and told her to come out immediately and spit on the King as she left the gate. But that was not what she wanted. Julia Helena said earnestly.
“I think I would be a moderate negotiating partner.”
The Princess's sincerity did not reach Leo III. The King tried to scold her.
At that moment, Duchess Rubina, who really did not want to miss out on that delicious prey, quickly intervened and dissuaded the King.
“Your Majesty. It’s late. You must be tired.”
Leo III's white eyebrows rose. The old King was doubly angry that his own government had tried to stop him, and not Julia Helena.
“Rubina! Are you telling me now that my health is not what it used to be? Huh?”
Leo III gave the Duchess a stern scolding without any sense of shame. But that was not all. The old King slammed the wine glass he was holding onto the round table with a thud! It was a pewter glass that the King had recently begun to use. It was solid and heavy.
It was sudden and quite threatening. Julia Helena, who was very nervous, dropped the butter knife she was holding at the sound of the tin cup hitting the wooden table.
Clang!
“Ahh!”
The knife fell and hit a thin wine glass on the table. The glass fell to the floor and shattered into pieces. The glass shards flew, and Princess Julia Helena covered her face.
“Princess! Are you okay?”
Duchess Rubina asked thoughtfully. Julia Helena raised one hand, indicating that it was okay, but red blood was seeping out of the other hand that covered her face.
Everyone present was surprised. Even Isabella was surprised.
“The court doctor!”
Duchess Rubina shouted. The servants who appeared from somewhere began to run around.
Ariadne stood up, pushed the Princess's hand away, and pressed a clean napkin over Julia Helena's face. Julia Helena groaned softly at the pain of the napkin touching her face and muttered.
"Thank you."
As Ariadne pressed the napkin with steady hands, the bright red blood subsided. When the bleeding had stopped to some extent, the Princess covered her face with the napkin and spoke.
“Excuse me, but I think I should go in first today.”
Even Leo III could not stop this.
“Yes, yes, my lady.”
The King added, embarrassed. He wanted to show some favor.
“I will send my doctor to the Princess’s quarters, so please take good care of her.”
Even at that moment, the old King shook his head.
'If Princess Julia Helena's face is greatly scarred, she will take the dowry and sit down with Cesare. But wouldn't it be a loss for me to bring a woman with a scarred face into our royal family?'
Fortunately or unfortunately, Julia Helena had no idea of Leo III’s true intentions. If Leo III’s true intentions had been transparent to everyone, he would not have ascended to the throne. The Princess got up and left the dinner table first. Leo III belatedly asked Prince Alfonso.
“Prince. Isn’t there a doctor in your order?”
When dealing with trauma in the Central Continent, the military chaplain was considered the best. This was because, having followed the war, he had become skilled at suturing wounds. The Black Helmet Knights had a veteran military chaplain.
"Ah."
“Have it sent to the Princess.”
Alfonso frowned. He hated the sight of the old King making a big deal out of the Black Helmet Knights when he had threatened to cut the entire budget of the palace. He couldn’t tell whether it was just a threat or a real plan, since the payment date hadn’t come yet. However, he also naturally wanted the chance to talk to Julia Helena.
“Yes, that’s right.”
Alfonso stood up. He whispered to Ariadne.
“I’ll be back in a bit.”
Ariadne nodded without knowing what was going on. Are you going to the Knights Templar to call a doctor?
But Alfonso was determined to go see Julia Helena. The Prince had something else to say to the Princess.
'The military force sent by the Etruscan kingdom does not include the Knights of the Black Helmets.'
It was a bit embarrassing to say this to a newly injured Princess, but it was something she absolutely had to know, and more than anything, there was no time for that. He absolutely hated having to have a private meeting with the Princess and then being bothered by all sorts of noises.
'Ari has been looking a bit uneasy for the past few days.'
Alfonso was both insensitive and sensitive. He was not good at keeping up with her delicate psychology, but he was always keenly aware of Ariadne’s condition with his innate animal instinct. Ariadne had been startled by even the slightest noise for a week before, and had become irritated by things that she would normally have passed over.
'Could it be that you're not feeling well...?'
In any case, Alfonso had no intention of causing Ariadne any unnecessary worries. The Prince ran along the palace corridors after the Princess, who had left for her quarters with a napkin on her face. She must have walked slowly because she was injured. He intended to finish her off quickly and come back.
Broken glasses were strewn across the marble floor of the restaurant. Waiters came in busily from all directions, picking up the shards of glass one by one with their hands.
“Hey.”
The surroundings were in disarray. Leo III, who had lost his appetite, stood up from his seat.
Isabella quickly stood up and offered the red-faced King a glass of cold water. Cesare, who had once chased after him, looked at Isabella with contempt as he saw the woman kneeling before the power represented by his father. Leo III took a sip of the glass of water Isabella offered him and spat it out.
“That’s all for today.”
He looked at Rubina, who was busy directing her attendants.
“It was a lousy banquet.”
Rubina flinched and shuddered. Leo III snorted. The King also left the restaurant, leaving the embarrassed Duchess behind. Isabella followed Leo III with a brisk pace.
Duchess Rubina left in a rage, demanding to see who on earth had decided to use such a thick butter knife at a banquet.
Ariadne also rose from her seat. Before she left, she stopped a passing attendant and said,
“Tell Sir Bernardino of the palace that Countess Ariadne de Mare has returned to her mansion first.”
The servant who received the order bowed his head and ran to the Prince's palace. It was impossible to wait for Alfonso to return in the messy dining room. She stood next to the chair and twirled the hem of her dress, giggling.
'I've seen things like this in my life.'
Today, she saw a splendid performance by Leo III and the Duchess Rubina, and Princess Julia Helena. The props, the main characters, what should she call them, the main sacrificial lambs were mostly Isabella and a little Cesare.
For Ariadne, who had always been the subject of all kinds of rumors, this was the first time she had been cast as a supporting character in a scandalous scene.
'Thank you so much.'
For the first time in her life, Ariadne left a positive impression of her older sister, Isabella. Isabella's living in the palace may not have been all bad.
'If this happens every week, there's no reason for me to be mentioned.'
Ariadne also left the restaurant, determined to avoid her sister like the Black Death, as long as she didn't get involved with Isabella.
Unlike the warm and bright dining room, the late-hour hallway was dark. The floors and walls were adorned with carpets and tapestries, but they could not completely hide the cold, exposed stone walls. Candles placed on the walls at intervals of five feet burned fiercely. It was not a sufficient source of light.
'It's creepy.'
Ariadne shivered slightly and hurried her steps. It was quite chilly in San Carlo, which was in late autumn and early winter, and the inside of the palace after the sun had set was no exception.
So she screamed in horror when a man's hand was placed on her shoulder.
"Ah!"
Before a single syllable could properly leave her mouth, a hasty hand covered her mouth.
"Ugh!"
“Ari, calm down, it’s me.”
The hand covering her mouth did not smell like Alfonso’s comforting scent. The voice, too, was not Alfonso’s low, cavernous voice. The voice calling her now was a tenor tone, thin for a man.
But it was strangely familiar. A smell from the farthest reaches of her memory. A fresh, light, woody scent, with notes of cedarwood, jasmine, and neroli mixed with body odor.
Ariadne took a deep breath and turned her head to see who the man was who had covered her mouth from behind. Red hair appeared first, and then the man’s aquamarine eyes fixed on her.
“Wait a minute, let me talk.”
It was Cesare with an indescribable expression on his face.
Comments
Post a Comment