While Princess Julia Helena was causing a major incident at the tea party, her guardian and diplomat in charge of negotiations, Viscountess Irene Panamere, received the call she had been desperately waiting for.
"At las."
An official response to the Etruscan kingdom's proposed amendment to the marriage treaty, sent from the Manchike, has arrived.
What would the Marquis of Synadenos have said in response to the Etruscan kingdom's proposal to raise the Duke's title to Grand Duke and grant Princess Julia Helena the same title as Principessa, instead of replacing the Princess's spouse with Prince Alfonso and Duke Cesare?
There were three documents in total.
One was an official letter to Leo III representing the Etruscan kingdom, one was a fatherly letter to his daughter Julia Helena, and the last was a letter of instructions to the Viscount of Panamere, the practical officer and commander in the field.
Viscountess Panamere began by analyzing the orders that had arrived for her.
Boohoo!
"To my dear Viscountess Panamere."
From the first sentence, the detailed character of Marquis Synadenos was clearly revealed.
"I have every confidence that you have been considerate in ensuring that my daughter's honor is not tarnished in the Etruscan region."
Irene nodded silently.
'Yes, Your Highness. I went to great lengths to keep her from even approaching that red-haired playboy.'
The fact that the relatively young Viscountess Irene of Panamere was chosen to be the person in charge of this marriage treaty project, aside from other nobles, was also since she was a woman.
Her serious nature and thoughtful intelligence undoubtedly formed the basis of her appointment. However, Marquis Synadenos hoped that, even at the cost of sacrificing some of his experience as chief negotiator, a chief negotiator of the same sex as his daughter would be there to protect her and offer her wise advice as a fellow woman.
Viscountess Panamere did a great job in that role, but she was completely unaware that her efforts were being wasted in real time at the tea party of Grand Duchess Rubina.
She thought all she had to do was stop the guy from getting into a fight. Who would have dreamed that Princess Julia Helena would use her own hand to blow a bargaining chip at a tea party with only women?
Letters continued to arrive from the distant land of Manchike, from the Marquis, who knew even less about the circumstances of her return than the Viscountess Panamere.
“We have two choices.
First, they demand that the marriage of the Etruscan Prince be annulled without the royal sanction, and that Prince Alfonso be made the husband of Julia Helena within six months as originally proposed.
This will first and foremost secure the borders of the Manchike Marquis. With the support of Prince Alfonso's Black Helmet Knights, the Marquis will gain the advantage of being free from pagan attacks.
If we can mobilize this knighthood not only for defense but also for our own purposes, we may even be able to gather strength and even seek to reclaim the lands of the Dodessa Kingdom, the right Julia Helena inherited from her mother.
This was a choice a confident and aggressive monarch might make. However, Viscount Panamere, who knew the fifty-year-old Margrave Synadenos well, had no idea the Margrave would choose this option. The character revealed between the lines of the letter speaks volumes.
"Although we cannot guarantee complete safety from invasion due to our proximity to pagan lands, several Presbyterian nations still hold out between us and the pagan stronghold. We are not directly exposed to conflict at the moment.
Also, fortunately, the Fourth Crusade secured the port city of Valianti along with the Holy Land of Yesak, so it is expected that the pagans' full-scale offensive, having lost their sea bridgehead, will be directed there for the time being.
It's a shame to waste the Dodessa land, but it belongs to Julia Helena's maternal family, not to the Manchike family. As you, wise as you are, already know, there's no need to try to seize every opportunity life throws your way."
Marquis Sinadenos of Manchike was cautious and cautious.
"The second option is to break off the marriage and quickly bring Julia Helena home."
Viscountess Panamere chuckled. Marriage to Grand Duke Cesare wasn't even on Marquis Synadenos's list of options.
'Well then, that's right.'
Leo III and the Grand Duke Rubina, full of dreams and hopes, were expected to marry Cesare and Julia Helena, but in fact, any sensible person would have predicted this.
'The Princess might be sad.'
“The reason we agreed to the Etruscan kingdom’s marriage proposal by raising an exorbitant dowry in the first place was because of Prince Alfonso’s military achievements in the Holy War and the knightly order he had.
Even if we were to elevate Cesare, the Duke of Pisano, the illegitimate son of the Etruscan king, to the rank of Grand Duke, there would be no army, and his qualifications as a commander have not been proven, and we would not be able to try to win the future Etruscan throne by marrying Grand Duke Cesare, given the problem of marriage between nobles and commoners, since we already have Dodessa, which is too small to eat.
I don’t want my daughter to be a girl who is filled with possibilities.”
There was a reason why the small nation of Manchike had survived so long. In the Latgalin region, where pagan invasions were commonplace and localized wars were a daily occurrence, to survive as the last descendant of the Latan Empire, one needed at least one strong advantage.
The experienced Marquis of Synadenos may not have been the greatest strategist, but he was a wise and virtuous general, and above all, he did not have excessive ambitions.
"I've been doing some research on Grand Duke Cesare, but I haven't heard anything particularly positive. I'd like to hear a more detailed opinion from your local experience, but I don't think we have enough time to discuss and decide on a detailed matter right now."
Viscountess Panamere thought to herself.
'No, Marquis. There is absolutely no need to discuss it.'
"If Grand Duke Cesare is a great son-in-law, I don't know about it, it's a shame we won't meet, but I won't gamble with my daughter's safety."
'A good son-in-law is a total rascal, a rascal, and a womanizer.'
However, there was still some doubt in the mind of Viscountess Panamere.
The nobles of San Carlo were reluctant to reveal any definitive or detailed information about the Grand Duke to the Marquis of Manchike, fearing they would be accused of being the spark that would lead to a broken engagement. They were, however, comfortable sharing rumors that were so public they wouldn't even be noticed.
So, what Irene, Viscountess of Panamere, eagerly eavesdropped on in high society was limited to the Grand Duke Cesare's daily life.
The Grand Duke was said to be a man who met women indiscriminately and spent most of his days drunk. He was particularly fond of dark-haired women, and when there were no women, he would hang out with his sleazy friends and indulge in useless pastimes like hunting and gambling.
Even just hearing this far was already a failing grade. Furthermore, there was one more thing bothering Irene's mature eyes.
The Viscountess did not like the way Grand Duke Cesare looked at Princess Julia Helena.
Among the looks men give women, there's a kind of vain, conquest-driven attention. Women, if they want to live a smooth life, should avoid this too.
But Grand Duke Cesare looked at the Princess with completely opposite eyes.
A numbness without any emotion.
This was the worst possible sign for a noble woman about to enter into a political marriage, especially if she had feelings for the man.
With the bad reputation added to the mix, it was only natural that Irene had gritted her teeth and tried to protect Princess Julia Helena from Grand Duke Cesare.
However, the Grand Duke's behavior, as witnessed and heard during his time at Palagio Carlo, was a stark contrast to the rumors. The supposedly glamorous party-loving aristocrat was a gloomy figure, a fixture in the corner of the venue. He always had a frown on his face.
'Like someone who was dragged here reluctantly...'
The Grand Duke, who was known to rush into anything that involved a skirt, treated Princess Julia Helena like a stone or an inanimate object. This was the case with Princess Julia Helena of the Manchike kingdom, who was renowned throughout the various courts of the Latgalin region for her captivating charm.
"Arrange a ship as soon as possible to return Julia Helena to her home country.
I need to get back 7,200 ducats of the dowry, but let's take it slow. If Julia Helena remains in the area, she could easily become a hostage. The child's safety is paramount."
With this, Irene, Viscountess of Panamere, decided to stop worrying about Grand Duke Cesare. With the order to return from her homeland, it no longer mattered whether his reputation as a "socialite and debauched" was a false accusation or not.
'I don't know who it will be, but I hope you meet another woman, not our Princess, and get married well, Your Highness.'
For Viscountess Panamere, it was a welcome relief to finally be able to stop being attracted to the handsome, high-ranking nobleman of another country. As people age, they tend to become more resistant to anything too provocative.
"I know from the beginning what the Etruscan Kingdom did to the Grand Duchess of Valoa, but I am the one who is most resentful of myself for being blinded by greed and sending my daughter to the Etruscan Kingdom.
I'm sorry, but I would like Viscountess Panamere to remain in the area after sending Julia Helena back and to negotiate the return of her dowry."
“Of course, my lord.”
Viscountess Panamere made a bold resolution. And she made a very rational and sensible decision.
It was decided to deliver the official document left by Marquis Synadenos, who had broken off the marriage, after Princess Julia Helena was taken out of Palagio Carlo.
'It's impossible, in terms of international courtesy, to prevent a foreign guest who came of his own accord from leaving. But given what the Kingdom of Gallico did to Prince Alfonso, it's wise to be cautious.'
Arrange a fleet, put the Princess on board, and then deliver the official document to Leo III. By then, the Princess will have already set sail on the high seas. She will be able to be repatriated smoothly.
The only mistake of the Viscountess of Panamere was that she mistook the Princess Julia Helena, whom she served, for a sensible lord like her father.
At the tea party, calls for romance were in full swing. Rubina, too, joined Julia Helena in inciting Ariadne.
"That's right, the love story between the Prince and the Countess. I've never heard of that either."
Rubina, the Grand Duchess, had a task to accomplish today. She needed to somehow reconcile Ariadne and Isabella. Anything that would lighten the mood was welcome.
Of course, this wasn't a topic Isabella would welcome. Ariadne's husband, Alfonso, was the one who had recently whipped Isabella to the brink of death. She would want to turn a deaf ear to such a man's sweet, romantic tales.
'But what can I do?'
Isabella was entirely dependent on His Majesty the King's grace, and this meeting today was the King's will.
Ariadne, backed by the Prince, was unable to resist Isabella's advances. Even now, she's still sitting at the table, motionless.
Bianca's eyes also lit up. This was something she'd never heard before.
"That's right, Sister. I've never heard of your love story either. When and where did you first meet?"
Ariadne laughed to herself. No, it was thanks to her older sister, who was sitting there all wrinkled up, that she met Alfonso.
“We first met at the Rambouillet Relief Home.”
Julia Helena exclaimed in admiration.
“As expected, it’s a meeting of good people who went out to volunteer!”
Isabella was trapped at the round table with no place to hide, and she desperately lowered her head.
If they continue this discussion, the story of how she tormented Ariadne might surface. Please, let's just say that heaven rewards good people who volunteer.
But that harsh woman spoke without any flexibility and just said it as it was.
“That wasn’t it. I was kicked out of the house.”
"At las."
An official response to the Etruscan kingdom's proposed amendment to the marriage treaty, sent from the Manchike, has arrived.
What would the Marquis of Synadenos have said in response to the Etruscan kingdom's proposal to raise the Duke's title to Grand Duke and grant Princess Julia Helena the same title as Principessa, instead of replacing the Princess's spouse with Prince Alfonso and Duke Cesare?
There were three documents in total.
One was an official letter to Leo III representing the Etruscan kingdom, one was a fatherly letter to his daughter Julia Helena, and the last was a letter of instructions to the Viscount of Panamere, the practical officer and commander in the field.
Viscountess Panamere began by analyzing the orders that had arrived for her.
Boohoo!
"To my dear Viscountess Panamere."
From the first sentence, the detailed character of Marquis Synadenos was clearly revealed.
"I have every confidence that you have been considerate in ensuring that my daughter's honor is not tarnished in the Etruscan region."
Irene nodded silently.
'Yes, Your Highness. I went to great lengths to keep her from even approaching that red-haired playboy.'
The fact that the relatively young Viscountess Irene of Panamere was chosen to be the person in charge of this marriage treaty project, aside from other nobles, was also since she was a woman.
Her serious nature and thoughtful intelligence undoubtedly formed the basis of her appointment. However, Marquis Synadenos hoped that, even at the cost of sacrificing some of his experience as chief negotiator, a chief negotiator of the same sex as his daughter would be there to protect her and offer her wise advice as a fellow woman.
Viscountess Panamere did a great job in that role, but she was completely unaware that her efforts were being wasted in real time at the tea party of Grand Duchess Rubina.
She thought all she had to do was stop the guy from getting into a fight. Who would have dreamed that Princess Julia Helena would use her own hand to blow a bargaining chip at a tea party with only women?
Letters continued to arrive from the distant land of Manchike, from the Marquis, who knew even less about the circumstances of her return than the Viscountess Panamere.
“We have two choices.
First, they demand that the marriage of the Etruscan Prince be annulled without the royal sanction, and that Prince Alfonso be made the husband of Julia Helena within six months as originally proposed.
This will first and foremost secure the borders of the Manchike Marquis. With the support of Prince Alfonso's Black Helmet Knights, the Marquis will gain the advantage of being free from pagan attacks.
If we can mobilize this knighthood not only for defense but also for our own purposes, we may even be able to gather strength and even seek to reclaim the lands of the Dodessa Kingdom, the right Julia Helena inherited from her mother.
This was a choice a confident and aggressive monarch might make. However, Viscount Panamere, who knew the fifty-year-old Margrave Synadenos well, had no idea the Margrave would choose this option. The character revealed between the lines of the letter speaks volumes.
"Although we cannot guarantee complete safety from invasion due to our proximity to pagan lands, several Presbyterian nations still hold out between us and the pagan stronghold. We are not directly exposed to conflict at the moment.
Also, fortunately, the Fourth Crusade secured the port city of Valianti along with the Holy Land of Yesak, so it is expected that the pagans' full-scale offensive, having lost their sea bridgehead, will be directed there for the time being.
It's a shame to waste the Dodessa land, but it belongs to Julia Helena's maternal family, not to the Manchike family. As you, wise as you are, already know, there's no need to try to seize every opportunity life throws your way."
Marquis Sinadenos of Manchike was cautious and cautious.
"The second option is to break off the marriage and quickly bring Julia Helena home."
Viscountess Panamere chuckled. Marriage to Grand Duke Cesare wasn't even on Marquis Synadenos's list of options.
'Well then, that's right.'
Leo III and the Grand Duke Rubina, full of dreams and hopes, were expected to marry Cesare and Julia Helena, but in fact, any sensible person would have predicted this.
'The Princess might be sad.'
“The reason we agreed to the Etruscan kingdom’s marriage proposal by raising an exorbitant dowry in the first place was because of Prince Alfonso’s military achievements in the Holy War and the knightly order he had.
Even if we were to elevate Cesare, the Duke of Pisano, the illegitimate son of the Etruscan king, to the rank of Grand Duke, there would be no army, and his qualifications as a commander have not been proven, and we would not be able to try to win the future Etruscan throne by marrying Grand Duke Cesare, given the problem of marriage between nobles and commoners, since we already have Dodessa, which is too small to eat.
I don’t want my daughter to be a girl who is filled with possibilities.”
There was a reason why the small nation of Manchike had survived so long. In the Latgalin region, where pagan invasions were commonplace and localized wars were a daily occurrence, to survive as the last descendant of the Latan Empire, one needed at least one strong advantage.
The experienced Marquis of Synadenos may not have been the greatest strategist, but he was a wise and virtuous general, and above all, he did not have excessive ambitions.
"I've been doing some research on Grand Duke Cesare, but I haven't heard anything particularly positive. I'd like to hear a more detailed opinion from your local experience, but I don't think we have enough time to discuss and decide on a detailed matter right now."
Viscountess Panamere thought to herself.
'No, Marquis. There is absolutely no need to discuss it.'
"If Grand Duke Cesare is a great son-in-law, I don't know about it, it's a shame we won't meet, but I won't gamble with my daughter's safety."
'A good son-in-law is a total rascal, a rascal, and a womanizer.'
However, there was still some doubt in the mind of Viscountess Panamere.
The nobles of San Carlo were reluctant to reveal any definitive or detailed information about the Grand Duke to the Marquis of Manchike, fearing they would be accused of being the spark that would lead to a broken engagement. They were, however, comfortable sharing rumors that were so public they wouldn't even be noticed.
So, what Irene, Viscountess of Panamere, eagerly eavesdropped on in high society was limited to the Grand Duke Cesare's daily life.
The Grand Duke was said to be a man who met women indiscriminately and spent most of his days drunk. He was particularly fond of dark-haired women, and when there were no women, he would hang out with his sleazy friends and indulge in useless pastimes like hunting and gambling.
Even just hearing this far was already a failing grade. Furthermore, there was one more thing bothering Irene's mature eyes.
The Viscountess did not like the way Grand Duke Cesare looked at Princess Julia Helena.
Among the looks men give women, there's a kind of vain, conquest-driven attention. Women, if they want to live a smooth life, should avoid this too.
But Grand Duke Cesare looked at the Princess with completely opposite eyes.
A numbness without any emotion.
This was the worst possible sign for a noble woman about to enter into a political marriage, especially if she had feelings for the man.
With the bad reputation added to the mix, it was only natural that Irene had gritted her teeth and tried to protect Princess Julia Helena from Grand Duke Cesare.
However, the Grand Duke's behavior, as witnessed and heard during his time at Palagio Carlo, was a stark contrast to the rumors. The supposedly glamorous party-loving aristocrat was a gloomy figure, a fixture in the corner of the venue. He always had a frown on his face.
'Like someone who was dragged here reluctantly...'
The Grand Duke, who was known to rush into anything that involved a skirt, treated Princess Julia Helena like a stone or an inanimate object. This was the case with Princess Julia Helena of the Manchike kingdom, who was renowned throughout the various courts of the Latgalin region for her captivating charm.
"Arrange a ship as soon as possible to return Julia Helena to her home country.
I need to get back 7,200 ducats of the dowry, but let's take it slow. If Julia Helena remains in the area, she could easily become a hostage. The child's safety is paramount."
With this, Irene, Viscountess of Panamere, decided to stop worrying about Grand Duke Cesare. With the order to return from her homeland, it no longer mattered whether his reputation as a "socialite and debauched" was a false accusation or not.
'I don't know who it will be, but I hope you meet another woman, not our Princess, and get married well, Your Highness.'
For Viscountess Panamere, it was a welcome relief to finally be able to stop being attracted to the handsome, high-ranking nobleman of another country. As people age, they tend to become more resistant to anything too provocative.
"I know from the beginning what the Etruscan Kingdom did to the Grand Duchess of Valoa, but I am the one who is most resentful of myself for being blinded by greed and sending my daughter to the Etruscan Kingdom.
I'm sorry, but I would like Viscountess Panamere to remain in the area after sending Julia Helena back and to negotiate the return of her dowry."
“Of course, my lord.”
Viscountess Panamere made a bold resolution. And she made a very rational and sensible decision.
It was decided to deliver the official document left by Marquis Synadenos, who had broken off the marriage, after Princess Julia Helena was taken out of Palagio Carlo.
'It's impossible, in terms of international courtesy, to prevent a foreign guest who came of his own accord from leaving. But given what the Kingdom of Gallico did to Prince Alfonso, it's wise to be cautious.'
Arrange a fleet, put the Princess on board, and then deliver the official document to Leo III. By then, the Princess will have already set sail on the high seas. She will be able to be repatriated smoothly.
The only mistake of the Viscountess of Panamere was that she mistook the Princess Julia Helena, whom she served, for a sensible lord like her father.
***
At the tea party, calls for romance were in full swing. Rubina, too, joined Julia Helena in inciting Ariadne.
"That's right, the love story between the Prince and the Countess. I've never heard of that either."
Rubina, the Grand Duchess, had a task to accomplish today. She needed to somehow reconcile Ariadne and Isabella. Anything that would lighten the mood was welcome.
Of course, this wasn't a topic Isabella would welcome. Ariadne's husband, Alfonso, was the one who had recently whipped Isabella to the brink of death. She would want to turn a deaf ear to such a man's sweet, romantic tales.
'But what can I do?'
Isabella was entirely dependent on His Majesty the King's grace, and this meeting today was the King's will.
Ariadne, backed by the Prince, was unable to resist Isabella's advances. Even now, she's still sitting at the table, motionless.
Bianca's eyes also lit up. This was something she'd never heard before.
"That's right, Sister. I've never heard of your love story either. When and where did you first meet?"
Ariadne laughed to herself. No, it was thanks to her older sister, who was sitting there all wrinkled up, that she met Alfonso.
“We first met at the Rambouillet Relief Home.”
Julia Helena exclaimed in admiration.
“As expected, it’s a meeting of good people who went out to volunteer!”
Isabella was trapped at the round table with no place to hide, and she desperately lowered her head.
If they continue this discussion, the story of how she tormented Ariadne might surface. Please, let's just say that heaven rewards good people who volunteer.
But that harsh woman spoke without any flexibility and just said it as it was.
“That wasn’t it. I was kicked out of the house.”
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