Ippolito thought he detected a hint of mockery in the other party’s voice. Suddenly, anger welled up within him.

However, Ippolito took a deep breath and firmly suppressed his temper.

‘Hold on, Ippolito. What do you gain by fighting with a petty young girl.’

Having managed to restrain himself for once, things had to go well. In the most gentle voice he could muster, Ippolito addressed Ariadne.

“Didn’t Mother send an additional 23 ducats along with the 15 ducats?”

“Oh, you mean that.”

Ariadne opened an old ledger, found a specific entry, and underlined it with red ink.

“This is the ledger Mother made. 15 ducats Ippolito’s allowance. 23 ducats Ippolito’s study abroad expenses.”

She waited until Ippolito had had enough time to read Lucrezia’s handwriting and then closed the ledger.

Thud, the sound was unusually loud.

“We won’t pay for your study abroad expenses anymore since it’s over. You’re not paying rent and you’re eating at home, so there’s no separate food expense. If you subtract that, your allocated budget is 15 ducats per month.”

Ariadne felt that she had treated Ippolito with the respect due to the eldest son.

This ledger was, in principle, not something Ippolito was allowed to see. It was only because he would inherit this house in the future that he was given special permission to inspect the housekeeper’s ledger.

However, Ippolito felt that Ariadne was unfairly preventing him from reviewing a ledger that, as the eldest son, he had a rightful claim to inspect.

But there’s no bargaining in front of gold. He had come to get money today, so he took another deep breath and held back once more.

“Look, if you look closely inside, there will be things Mother spent on me as gift money. Like a birthday gift.”

“Was your birthday this month?”

It was now January, and Ippolito’s birthday was in the summer.

Ippolito blushed.

“Ah, let’s live a bit loosely!”

“You need a reason for expenses to increase when there are no expenditure items.”

It was impossible to communicate with this newly appeared illegitimate younger sister. Ariadne firmly instructed.

“Please let me know if you need more money than you usually use. If it’s reasonable, we’ll naturally pay. Otherwise.”

Ariadne paused for a moment.

“Bring the reason you need an increase in allowance. There are hardly any people, including the royal family, who spend 38 ducats (about 38 million won) per month solely on allowance.”

Ippolito exploded in anger.

“So you’re telling me to get your permission if I want to spend my own money?!”

“Is 23 ducats (about 23 million won) petty cash?”

Ariadne looked up at Ippolito, who was standing stiffly as if he was about to break her desk from where she sat.

“If your business is done, please leave.”

Ariadne turned her chair around and looked out the window of the library.

“And please knock before entering next time.”

It was a dismissal order.

‘Sigh, I’m tired of it already.’

Ariadne thought she had been very lenient with Ippolito. His need for money was obvious. It was to buy luxuries for Maletta.

‘You should have used your favor sparingly.’

Starting with a plain pearl earring or a piece of silk, he could have easily pleased a servant girl within his allowance, but since he started buying extravagant items like South Sea pearl necklaces and mink fur shawls that even Lucrezia would hesitate to buy, it was only natural that Ippolito’s small purse couldn’t withstand it.

She didn’t even mention a word about the ridiculous situation where the spoiled brat who spent his father’s money was infatuated with a servant girl and indulged in luxuries.

She did not even criticize his attitude, which completely ignored his mother’s lifesaving efforts and seemed to be having fun in San Carlo, as being an unfilial son to the world.

Ariadne even kindly showed Ippolito the housekeeper’s ledger, which he had no right to inspect in the first place, and explained the reason why 23 ducats had been deducted.

Ariadne had indeed done a great favor to Ippolito. At least Ariadne herself thought so.

On the other hand, Ippolito could not contain his rage at the thought of being slighted.

‘In the end, I was the one to manage my money… How dare this insolent girl overstep!’

Alone in his dim room, he sat tightly clutching his fists. Maretta was already sent away. He couldn’t dare reveal to Maretta his humiliation and empty pocket caused by Ariadne.

As Ippolito was left stewing in his anger, he belatedly remembered the gold seal ring that shone in Ariadne’s hand earlier.

‘Yes, if only that ring had been in my mother’s hands…!’

His mother had always been dedicated to her son. She had never spared anything, whether it was gold, time, or people, if Ippolito needed it.

That bastard had illegitimately taken the rightful place of his mother.

Suddenly, selfloathing for his neglect towards his mother since his return to San Carlo overwhelmed him.

Knock knock.

“Master?”