“And you, what gives you the right to interfere in my personal life when you have no relation to it?”

Although Alfonso had many responsibilities, Cesare was a free man. Alfonso had a kingdom, people, and a mother, but Cesare had nothing quite so urgent.

So he was able to impulsively exclaim to her question.

“I am a suitor, damn it. I can propose to you, damn it. Yes, I will do it, I can do it!”

The one most surprised by his declaration was undoubtedly Alfonso, but even Cesare, who had said the words, seemed taken aback.

Having spoken the words aloud, Cesare took another large step towards Ariadne.

“I’ll submit a proposal. I’ll send it to Cardinal de Mare first thing tomorrow morning. So now stay away from him. I can’t bear to watch.”

Count Cesare had proposed marriage to numerous women in his life. Many times on the first day of meeting, regardless of whether they were commoners, foreigners, or married women.

The more notorious he became as a playboy, the better this approach worked.

Whether marrying Count Cesare was a realistic prospect or not, the women were thrilled by the fact that the word “marriage” had come out of the mouth of that playboy. They opened their hearts wide open.

This often became a direct ticket to their beds.

However, the most concrete proposal among the numerous proposals he had made so far was the one he had just voiced. It also had the highest possibility of becoming an actual marriage.

Their statuses matched, their positions matched, their ages matched, and more than anything else, his willingness to keep his promise was higher than ever.

But this became the coldest refusal he had ever received among his many proposals.

“Ha, ha, ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!”

The maiden he had proposed to was laughing like mad at the old fountain in the secluded garden. She couldn’t control herself and started laughing, and when she tried to wipe away her tears of laughter, her mask got in the way.

“Don’t make insincere comments, Count Cesare.”

She took a step back and stared at Cesare for a long time with her masked face. Cesare was confused.

He couldn’t imagine what expression she might be making behind her pale white mask. The terrifying blankness of the Bauta mask stirred his fear.

“I am well aware that your heart is lighter than a reed. Instead of being infatuated with someone like me, you should live freely.”

Ariadne thought this life was truly dramatically different from her previous one. Despite fleeing from her engagement to Cesare as if avoiding the plague, he was now blatantly proposing to her what a cruel joke of fate!

If he had behaved this way in her previous life, she would have been so happy, she would have done everything possible for him. But now it wasn’t the case. She believed that although the sequence of events could change, human nature doesn’t.

And here stood Cesare, unaware of her past life. He was enraged by the suggestion that his heart was lighter than a reed.

“What? Am I fickle? Heartless? You don’t know me well, Miss.”

He added another word while still smirking.

“And how about you being my bride. Someone like you. Perfect.”

Alfonso, looking at all these scenes, felt a belated surge of anger towards Cesare. It was true that he was exchanging marital talks with the Princess of Balloa. But it was only a marriage negotiation so far.

He had no fiancée, nor did he have other women he was dating like the rascal in front of him.

Alfonso was always reserved. He was educated that it was vulgar for a man to delve into the matters beneath his belt in front of a lady.

But whenever Ariadne was involved, he always lost his learned education, no, his inherently cautious nature itself. Ariadne made him into something he was not.

“Count de Como. Shut that dirty mouth. While saying that I’m using Ariadne, have you not reflected on your own behavior? Are you worthy of proposing to a noble lady?”

Alfonso shielded Cesare with his body, blocking Ariadne from his sight. Alfonso was evolving from a boy to a distinct young man. His height that grew noticeably in a few months and broad shoulders gave a sense of oppression.

“Stop flirting with the lady as a joke. Your scandals have even reached the palace. Have you settled things with Lady Ragusa?”

Not the married woman from the mill who sent a letter of grudge this time, but the commoner widow he played with before her. Cesare was furious as the name of a woman he had parted with more than six months ago came up.

“Why are you bringing up useless talk here? They’re all things of the past!”

Cesare shot back, even forgetting his respect. But Alfonso’s attack was fierce. Not because Alfonso was sharp with words, but because Cesare’s actions were too good to be attacked.

“Is it already a thing of the past after making such a ruckus? Have you ever taken responsibility in your life? It’s natural that the king doesn’t recognize you! What kind of trouble would he get into if he recognized a troublemaker like you!”

“You bloody…”

Cesare raised his fist but couldn’t strike, his hand just trembled. He hadn’t gone mad enough to punch Prince Alfonso in the palace yet.

It was Ariadne who stopped the matter here.

“Stop!”

She looked up at Alfonso and said.

“Let’s go. We have to find the Princess of Balloa. I’ll help you.”

When Alfonso didn’t answer properly, she pulled his sleeve and forcibly took him away from the fountain. At times like this, people often committed foolish acts out of pride, even when they knew better. It was best to separate them.

Alfonso wasn’t the type of man who stubbornly argued with a woman who was making sense. Without a word, he obediently followed Ariadne’s lead and left his spot.

As Ariadne led Alfonso away, Cesare was left alone by the fountain. Unable to suppress his anger, he roughly kicked a stone lying on the ground.

“Damn!”

The stone struck the fountain and bounced off loudly. He kicked a few more times, unable to quell his anger, even kicked the fountain, and trembled. He couldn’t figure out what angered him the most.

Was it the rejection of his proposal? The fact that she left with Prince Alfonso? The criticism he received from Alfonso?

But the previously boastful Cesare soon disappeared into the garden.

And in the darkness, there was Isabella, who had been watching everything with shining eyes.