Rubina answered casually, as if it was nothing.
“Because it’s under construction, there are limited rooms available.”
Julia Helena couldn't stand this kind of rudeness. Even under construction, this was a matter of hospitality! Even if there were only three rooms left, shouldn't one be hers? One for Leo III, one for Rubina, and the last one for me!
She was just about to protest how she had been left off the list of guests eligible to occupy that limited number of rooms.
“Didn’t the Princess say she wanted to stay with the whole group?”
"Ah."
Julia Helena counted the number of her subjects. She brought with her a little over thirty attendants.
“If the attendant’s room is far from the Princess’s room, wouldn’t she feel uneasy?”
Rubina glanced at Viscountess Panamere. Irene was furious that her words had been used as an excuse, but she was quite pleased with the prospect of staying outside the palace. She maintained a blank expression, trying not to show her joy.
Unless the new quarters Rubina had assigned them were a prison, security would inevitably be less lax than the Winter Palace in Taranto.
"I'm sorry you can't stay at the villa. But it's not because I'm trying to treat you poorly, Princess. It's just that due to construction, there aren't enough rooms in the villa to accommodate a large group."
Rubina nodded to the Marquis Guatieri and said.
“But thanks to the Marquis, I was able to secure a good place.”
Guatieri said, rubbing his hands.
“Actually, my family has two villas in Taranto.”
Bianca's brow furrowed. Taranto had been under the direct control of the King for nearly half a century before it was granted to Aurelio, the first Duke of Taranto, son of Stephen the Great and Bianca's paternal grandfather. That's why the royal palace had a winter villa in Taranto.
To accompany the royal family on their winter journey south, nobles from across the country purchased villas or villa-like plots in Taranto over the decades. The Duke of Taranto disliked this type of investment from outsiders, as it was seen as needlessly making life difficult for the people of the fiefdom.
The land within the walls was limited, and the villa was occupied only in winter, remaining empty during the other three seasons. The Duke's preference for using it as a warehouse for trade goods unloaded from the docks was far more favorable, as it would promote commerce and generate more tax revenue.
Whether Bianca was displeased or not, Rubina spoke to Princess Julia Helena with a compassionate face.
“The Marquis of Guatieri has kindly lent us a villa, so we can now accommodate the Princess of Manchike and your entourage in a pleasant place.”
The Marquis of Manchike was simultaneously deliberating on other matters. While Irene pondered what crime the Marquis of Guatieri might face if the Marquis of Manchike fled, Julia Helena questioned whether a mere nobleman's residence could truly be better equipped than the royal villa.
The princess's displeasure was clearly evident on her face. Rubina gently stroked Julia Helena's shoulder.
"The Marquis of Guatieri possesses only the finest of possessions. If it weren't a magnificent place, I wouldn't have chosen it as my Princess's residence."
Rubina looked back at Cesare.
“How nice it is there.”
Cesare couldn't understand why his mother was staring at him. He'd never heard of the Marquis Guatieri's second Taranto villa, and he'd never been there. Was she expecting him to compliment her on the facilities in a place he'd never been to?
“I even designated the Grand Duke Pisano’s quarters there because I wanted my son to stay there too.”
Cesare's eyes, which he had assumed were naturally in the Taranto villa, grew wide as if they were about to pop out.
Even Viscountess Irene of Panamere couldn't hide her disappointment. She had to protect Julia Helena—or more precisely, her chastity—from Cesare, but the difficulty of her mission suddenly increased dramatically.
'Do I have to stay up all night and stand guard for three months?'
Julia Helena was momentarily taken aback when she heard those words. But soon, a radiance shone from the Princess's face.
Suddenly, there was no need for any facilities or equipment. Even a rag mattress thrown inside a wooden farmhouse would have been fine.
The Marquis de Guatieri's second mansion will be her dream home, no matter what it looks like.
She will accept that proposal.
But the two men's and women's thoughts were as different as heaven and earth. Cesare, who had been the epitome of taciturn all day, spoke urgently.
“Mother, I can sleep anywhere.”
Rubina glanced sideways at her son. Judging by the fact that he'd just slept in a random woman's bed, he certainly wasn't the type to be picky about where he slept.
But her son did not fit the description of someone who 'sleeps well anywhere' in the usual sense.
“Do you think I don’t know how to make your bed? Ever since you were little, if you slept on bedding rougher than 600 thread count, you’d get a skin rash!”
“When am I talking about it? If there’s no room at the villa, I can go to any of my friends’ houses..."
“Who is your friend?”
Just as Rubina was about to vent her frustration at not having been briefed on the minutiae of Cesare's friendships, the Marquis of Guatieri came to Cesare's rescue, threatening to hear, "You don't have any friends!" in front of the woman he liked.
“Your Excellency, the Grand Duke!”
The Marquis cut Rubina's anger in half and smoothly intervened.
“I’m sorry, but are you saying I’m not your friend?”
But he didn't like the direction. An old man, whom he wasn't particularly close to, suddenly barged in and started hitting him. Cesare was flustered, which was unusual for him.
“That... uh...”
He was adept at weeding out women who feigned friendliness, but he wasn't immune to weeding out older men who feigned friendliness. And after being holed up in his territory for so long, avoiding people, he couldn't even remember the last time a woman had acted friendly toward him.
Strictly speaking, yes, he was tempted to answer. Just as Cesare was about to put it into action, the Marquis, with his useless affability, smiled a cute, chubby smile and grabbed the Grand Duke's arm.
“Please make yourself at home as comfortably as you would in your own. Isn't it better than staying in the same house as me?”
At those words, Grand Duke Cesare, who was holding his arm like a young lady, hesitated. Certainly, it was better than being a guest at that house and spending the whole day with that old man.
“It would be an honor for this Guatieri if you would stay in my second villa.”
The reason Rubina had kept Cesare and Julia Helena in Guatieri's villa was half to give them a chance to get to know each other alone, and the other half to prevent them from ever encountering Isabella.
In Rubina's view, Isabella had feelings for Cesare. Whether it was affection, infatuation, or resentment, there was something there.
Before she had a falling out with her sister, Rubina had been wondering if she was attracted to Prince Alfonso or if the sisters simply didn't get along. But after Isabella entered the court and saw her up close, it became clear. Isabella's target was Cesare.
'You really are insane bitch.'
What on earth can the King's government do if it has a crush on the King's own son?
But we avoid shit not because it's scary, but because it's dirty. Even a mad dog gets better the further it's kept from the thing it's supposed to protect.
In truth, she wanted to send Isabella to some other city. However, as the King's official mistress, Rubina couldn't expel her from the villa without telling the King. The only solution was to expel Cesare and Julia Helena.
'You never know what His Majesty might do.'
Although Leo III seems a bit indifferent to Isabella these days, he was a man of many temperaments. His sudden surrender of the Maitre-Sentire position is proof of this. He was as quick to burn as he was to cool. How could he, after three weeks of being considered pretty, suddenly be denied the title of Marchioness?
'That crazy thing, the moment the power comes into her hands, she'll definitely have an accident.'
Leo III's madness was a constant, so Rubina didn't even consider it. Whatever happened, it was bound to happen.
In that sense, the Marquis de Guatieri's second villa was a perfect location. It was too small for receptions or parties. Since the owners, the Marquis de Guatieri and his wife, were staying at another villa, there was no need for a Guatieri family banquet.
So, unless Cesare or Julia Helena personally invites Isabella, Isabella cannot enter the mansion.
Rubina knew that Cesare, who hated being bothered more than dying, would not extend an invitation to the mansion to Isabella, no matter what she did, even if Isabella died and wanted to hold her funeral there.
Even Julia Helena would not invite her love rival with her own hands.
'...That little chestnut-like thing is quite aggressive.'
Surely not. But surely she wouldn't invite Isabella, the mistress of another country, and harass her with the promise of marriage.
'Cesare. Cesare. Come to your senses. Let's properly seduce that little thing.'
If he did, a smooth path would unfold before his eyes. Her grandson would become the next King of the Etruscan kingdom, and with luck, he would inherit his mother, Julia Helena's claim and become the Emperor of the Central Continent.
Rubina Tulia. Amazing. You've come such a long way.
A rare sense of pride in herself welled up in Rubina's heart.
The board was set. Now all that mattered was Cesare's well-being. She resolved to summon her son aside soon and give him a stern mental education.
“The mansion is so pretty!”
Julia Helena screamed as she entered the Marquis of Guatieri's vacant villa. It was a beautiful single-story house, a little removed from the city center, perched on a cliff edge, offering a panoramic view of the nearby sea and the royal villa of Taranto, farther away.
A spacious common area was in the center, and to the left of it was a dining room large enough to accommodate about twenty people. To the right was a separate living room, perfect for a dozen or so people to gather and enjoy refreshments during the day and cards in the evening.
The large space was surrounded by five rooms, including the master bedroom. It was a luxurious mansion with a separate kitchen, storeroom, stables, and servants' quarters.
“Don’t you think so too, Grand Duke Cesare?!”
“...”
To Cesare, the building simply looked dreary. Having been vacant for so long, it lacked the warmth of human presence. For instance, the white woven cloth coverings on the furniture were covered in a thick layer of dust.
Just as he was about to give a negative answer, the court attendants sent by Grand Duchess Rubina rushed in and removed the white sheets from the furniture.
Flutter!
Dust flew into the air all at once, and the hot southern Etruscan sunlight streaming in through the open window illuminated each speck of dust, making it sparkle.
“Hahaha! It feels like my dress is blowing at a ball!”
Princess Julia Helena smiled and clapped her hands. She was completely excited. The woven fabric covering the furniture was a dress, the glittering dust a festive confetti. The man beside her... could he be her future husband? She felt like she was on her honeymoon.
Seeing her so excited next to him, Cesare lost his energy before he could even grumble.
“...”
The Princess looked at the handsome red-haired man standing beside her. He was a man of few words. With a pounding heart, she asked.
“Your Highness, which room will you be using?”
“Because it’s under construction, there are limited rooms available.”
Julia Helena couldn't stand this kind of rudeness. Even under construction, this was a matter of hospitality! Even if there were only three rooms left, shouldn't one be hers? One for Leo III, one for Rubina, and the last one for me!
She was just about to protest how she had been left off the list of guests eligible to occupy that limited number of rooms.
“Didn’t the Princess say she wanted to stay with the whole group?”
"Ah."
Julia Helena counted the number of her subjects. She brought with her a little over thirty attendants.
“If the attendant’s room is far from the Princess’s room, wouldn’t she feel uneasy?”
Rubina glanced at Viscountess Panamere. Irene was furious that her words had been used as an excuse, but she was quite pleased with the prospect of staying outside the palace. She maintained a blank expression, trying not to show her joy.
Unless the new quarters Rubina had assigned them were a prison, security would inevitably be less lax than the Winter Palace in Taranto.
"I'm sorry you can't stay at the villa. But it's not because I'm trying to treat you poorly, Princess. It's just that due to construction, there aren't enough rooms in the villa to accommodate a large group."
Rubina nodded to the Marquis Guatieri and said.
“But thanks to the Marquis, I was able to secure a good place.”
Guatieri said, rubbing his hands.
“Actually, my family has two villas in Taranto.”
Bianca's brow furrowed. Taranto had been under the direct control of the King for nearly half a century before it was granted to Aurelio, the first Duke of Taranto, son of Stephen the Great and Bianca's paternal grandfather. That's why the royal palace had a winter villa in Taranto.
To accompany the royal family on their winter journey south, nobles from across the country purchased villas or villa-like plots in Taranto over the decades. The Duke of Taranto disliked this type of investment from outsiders, as it was seen as needlessly making life difficult for the people of the fiefdom.
The land within the walls was limited, and the villa was occupied only in winter, remaining empty during the other three seasons. The Duke's preference for using it as a warehouse for trade goods unloaded from the docks was far more favorable, as it would promote commerce and generate more tax revenue.
Whether Bianca was displeased or not, Rubina spoke to Princess Julia Helena with a compassionate face.
“The Marquis of Guatieri has kindly lent us a villa, so we can now accommodate the Princess of Manchike and your entourage in a pleasant place.”
The Marquis of Manchike was simultaneously deliberating on other matters. While Irene pondered what crime the Marquis of Guatieri might face if the Marquis of Manchike fled, Julia Helena questioned whether a mere nobleman's residence could truly be better equipped than the royal villa.
The princess's displeasure was clearly evident on her face. Rubina gently stroked Julia Helena's shoulder.
"The Marquis of Guatieri possesses only the finest of possessions. If it weren't a magnificent place, I wouldn't have chosen it as my Princess's residence."
Rubina looked back at Cesare.
“How nice it is there.”
Cesare couldn't understand why his mother was staring at him. He'd never heard of the Marquis Guatieri's second Taranto villa, and he'd never been there. Was she expecting him to compliment her on the facilities in a place he'd never been to?
“I even designated the Grand Duke Pisano’s quarters there because I wanted my son to stay there too.”
Cesare's eyes, which he had assumed were naturally in the Taranto villa, grew wide as if they were about to pop out.
Even Viscountess Irene of Panamere couldn't hide her disappointment. She had to protect Julia Helena—or more precisely, her chastity—from Cesare, but the difficulty of her mission suddenly increased dramatically.
'Do I have to stay up all night and stand guard for three months?'
Julia Helena was momentarily taken aback when she heard those words. But soon, a radiance shone from the Princess's face.
Suddenly, there was no need for any facilities or equipment. Even a rag mattress thrown inside a wooden farmhouse would have been fine.
The Marquis de Guatieri's second mansion will be her dream home, no matter what it looks like.
She will accept that proposal.
But the two men's and women's thoughts were as different as heaven and earth. Cesare, who had been the epitome of taciturn all day, spoke urgently.
“Mother, I can sleep anywhere.”
Rubina glanced sideways at her son. Judging by the fact that he'd just slept in a random woman's bed, he certainly wasn't the type to be picky about where he slept.
But her son did not fit the description of someone who 'sleeps well anywhere' in the usual sense.
“Do you think I don’t know how to make your bed? Ever since you were little, if you slept on bedding rougher than 600 thread count, you’d get a skin rash!”
“When am I talking about it? If there’s no room at the villa, I can go to any of my friends’ houses..."
“Who is your friend?”
Just as Rubina was about to vent her frustration at not having been briefed on the minutiae of Cesare's friendships, the Marquis of Guatieri came to Cesare's rescue, threatening to hear, "You don't have any friends!" in front of the woman he liked.
“Your Excellency, the Grand Duke!”
The Marquis cut Rubina's anger in half and smoothly intervened.
“I’m sorry, but are you saying I’m not your friend?”
But he didn't like the direction. An old man, whom he wasn't particularly close to, suddenly barged in and started hitting him. Cesare was flustered, which was unusual for him.
“That... uh...”
He was adept at weeding out women who feigned friendliness, but he wasn't immune to weeding out older men who feigned friendliness. And after being holed up in his territory for so long, avoiding people, he couldn't even remember the last time a woman had acted friendly toward him.
Strictly speaking, yes, he was tempted to answer. Just as Cesare was about to put it into action, the Marquis, with his useless affability, smiled a cute, chubby smile and grabbed the Grand Duke's arm.
“Please make yourself at home as comfortably as you would in your own. Isn't it better than staying in the same house as me?”
At those words, Grand Duke Cesare, who was holding his arm like a young lady, hesitated. Certainly, it was better than being a guest at that house and spending the whole day with that old man.
“It would be an honor for this Guatieri if you would stay in my second villa.”
***
The reason Rubina had kept Cesare and Julia Helena in Guatieri's villa was half to give them a chance to get to know each other alone, and the other half to prevent them from ever encountering Isabella.
In Rubina's view, Isabella had feelings for Cesare. Whether it was affection, infatuation, or resentment, there was something there.
Before she had a falling out with her sister, Rubina had been wondering if she was attracted to Prince Alfonso or if the sisters simply didn't get along. But after Isabella entered the court and saw her up close, it became clear. Isabella's target was Cesare.
'You really are insane bitch.'
What on earth can the King's government do if it has a crush on the King's own son?
But we avoid shit not because it's scary, but because it's dirty. Even a mad dog gets better the further it's kept from the thing it's supposed to protect.
In truth, she wanted to send Isabella to some other city. However, as the King's official mistress, Rubina couldn't expel her from the villa without telling the King. The only solution was to expel Cesare and Julia Helena.
'You never know what His Majesty might do.'
Although Leo III seems a bit indifferent to Isabella these days, he was a man of many temperaments. His sudden surrender of the Maitre-Sentire position is proof of this. He was as quick to burn as he was to cool. How could he, after three weeks of being considered pretty, suddenly be denied the title of Marchioness?
'That crazy thing, the moment the power comes into her hands, she'll definitely have an accident.'
Leo III's madness was a constant, so Rubina didn't even consider it. Whatever happened, it was bound to happen.
In that sense, the Marquis de Guatieri's second villa was a perfect location. It was too small for receptions or parties. Since the owners, the Marquis de Guatieri and his wife, were staying at another villa, there was no need for a Guatieri family banquet.
So, unless Cesare or Julia Helena personally invites Isabella, Isabella cannot enter the mansion.
Rubina knew that Cesare, who hated being bothered more than dying, would not extend an invitation to the mansion to Isabella, no matter what she did, even if Isabella died and wanted to hold her funeral there.
Even Julia Helena would not invite her love rival with her own hands.
'...That little chestnut-like thing is quite aggressive.'
Surely not. But surely she wouldn't invite Isabella, the mistress of another country, and harass her with the promise of marriage.
'Cesare. Cesare. Come to your senses. Let's properly seduce that little thing.'
If he did, a smooth path would unfold before his eyes. Her grandson would become the next King of the Etruscan kingdom, and with luck, he would inherit his mother, Julia Helena's claim and become the Emperor of the Central Continent.
Rubina Tulia. Amazing. You've come such a long way.
A rare sense of pride in herself welled up in Rubina's heart.
The board was set. Now all that mattered was Cesare's well-being. She resolved to summon her son aside soon and give him a stern mental education.
***
“The mansion is so pretty!”
Julia Helena screamed as she entered the Marquis of Guatieri's vacant villa. It was a beautiful single-story house, a little removed from the city center, perched on a cliff edge, offering a panoramic view of the nearby sea and the royal villa of Taranto, farther away.
A spacious common area was in the center, and to the left of it was a dining room large enough to accommodate about twenty people. To the right was a separate living room, perfect for a dozen or so people to gather and enjoy refreshments during the day and cards in the evening.
The large space was surrounded by five rooms, including the master bedroom. It was a luxurious mansion with a separate kitchen, storeroom, stables, and servants' quarters.
“Don’t you think so too, Grand Duke Cesare?!”
“...”
To Cesare, the building simply looked dreary. Having been vacant for so long, it lacked the warmth of human presence. For instance, the white woven cloth coverings on the furniture were covered in a thick layer of dust.
Just as he was about to give a negative answer, the court attendants sent by Grand Duchess Rubina rushed in and removed the white sheets from the furniture.
Flutter!
Dust flew into the air all at once, and the hot southern Etruscan sunlight streaming in through the open window illuminated each speck of dust, making it sparkle.
“Hahaha! It feels like my dress is blowing at a ball!”
Princess Julia Helena smiled and clapped her hands. She was completely excited. The woven fabric covering the furniture was a dress, the glittering dust a festive confetti. The man beside her... could he be her future husband? She felt like she was on her honeymoon.
Seeing her so excited next to him, Cesare lost his energy before he could even grumble.
“...”
The Princess looked at the handsome red-haired man standing beside her. He was a man of few words. With a pounding heart, she asked.
“Your Highness, which room will you be using?”
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