If you looked closely at her Bauta mask, there was gold ornamentation in the fleurdelis pattern, and there was a green topaz necklace connected to the mask.

It was clearly a set with the green topaz bracelet found on the ground.

Isabella clenched her fist secretly.

‘I’ve done it!’

If I can’t have it, neither can you. Let’s see your reputation ruined. How dare you eye the prince.

Entering the open space, Ariadne was surprised by the glaring stares of the people. But instead of getting flustered or speaking out, she waited for someone to tell her what was going on.

Among the people muttering amongst themselves while looking at the quietly standing woman, the noble lady who first picked up the bracelet stepped forward. She held out the bracelet and asked,

“Is this bracelet perhaps yours?”

Upon seeing the bracelet, Ariadne immediately realized it was hers. She hadn’t known where she had lost it, or even that she had lost it, but the shining jewel and its delicate pattern were unmistakably hers.

But something was off. The noble lady’s eyes were shining strangely. If she acknowledged it as hers here, it seemed like there would be more to the story.

“Why do you ask?”

Ariadne carefully answered, careful not to look at her wrist. Fortunately, her face was covered by the mask, so her expression was not visible to others.

But despite her caution, someone in the crowd pointed at her and exclaimed.

“Look at the necklace on the mask! It’s the same fleurdelis pattern!”

Following that shout, murmurs began.

“The necklace is also a green topaz, there’s no mistake!”

“The color of the dress is the same too. I saw it clearly, it was dark gold!”

“That woman seems to be the mistress of the Count of Campa!”

Hearing that, Ariadne finally understood what was going on.

She knew the infamous reputation of the Count of Campa. There was a middleaged man sprawled on the ground of the courtyard, hopelessly drunk, who appeared to be the Count of Campa.

Although a cloak was casually thrown over him, it was immediately apparent that his clothes were disheveled.

It seemed like a woman who resembled her had been enjoying a secret rendezvous with the Count of Campa, and had run away when discovered.

Ariadne bowed her head and replied,

“It seems there’s a misunderstanding. I just arrived at this square. If I were truly the Count of Campa’s mistress, I would have run into the garden. Why on earth would I return?”

Isabella wanted to shout ‘You came back for the precious bracelet, didn’t you!’ but she bit her tongue to suppress the urge.

She had already received a stern warning from the Cardinal de Mare not to tarnish her sister’s reputation from the outside.

Once at the Debutante Ball, and although she was aggrieved, it was also once at the hunting event. If she was caught this time, it would be the third. Cardinal de Mare wouldn’t let Isabella go this time.

Even though her mouth was itching, Isabella was not a dayfly villain. She needed to take care of herself to live well tomorrow, the day after tomorrow, and forever.

People were buzzing.

“Would anyone say something!”

Isabella, getting anxious, bit her thumb nail. But she trusted in the vulgar curiosity and laziness of the public. Although there was a slight delay, once the crowd asked a question, they would not let go until a solid refutation appeared.

People disliked changing their minds once they became certain. With the situation already set up like this, even if it was Ariadne, she wouldn’t be able to escape without sacrifice.

“Your grace, prove it. Anyone can make such circumstantial evidence.”

Indeed, someone made the first distorted suggestion. The correct method of argument was to oblige the questioner to prove their doubt.

However, this wrong proposition thrown innocently by someone was tempting to people who didn’t think deeply.

“Right? If she didn’t do it, she could just bring evidence.”

“That person is suspicious. Why hasn’t she taken off her mask since a while ago?”

Ariadne was indeed planning to run into the bushes if things came to it, thus not removing her mask. Even though she was wrapped up to the tip of her finger so that not a single pore of skin was visible, what was it to them who she was.

As Ariadne was measuring the angle to run away, Isabella, who was standing in the corner and biting her nails, came into her sight.

“……!”

“…….”

The eyes of the halfsisters met in the air. The moment she saw Isabella, Ariadne realized why her bracelet was found here. It was Isabella.

Whether it had fallen from the carriage or was stolen from home, the bracelet was undoubtedly found here due to Isabella’s manipulation.

Isabella knew of Ariadne’s attire and mask today.

‘If I run away now, Isabella will certainly blabber who I am.’

Looking at Ariadne, Isabella smiled with a deep meaning. There was no doubt that she was waiting for Ariadne to leave.

While the two sisters were confronting each other, people continued to gather. Among them was the Countess of Leonati, Isabella’s friend who did not think about her back.

She recognized Isabella at a glance and approached her side. The two whispered to each other and laughed out loud.

The Countess of Leonati, Letitia, approached the woman in a golden dress wearing a Volto mask with a face that seemed to be dying of fun. Then she raised her voice and shouted out loud.

“Second Miss de Mare? What a coincidence to meet in a place like this!”