Perhaps a small uncle who could not come down according to the winter court of Taranto would go as a representative from the Contarini family. It was something his father had to take care of.

But there was one thing that bothered him.

“Which of my sisters has died? Surely, it’s not Isabella?”

Epolito de Mare himself was just an author, but his two sisters were famous in society. Moreover, Ottavio had a certain friendship with Isabella.

Ottavio asked about Isabella’s safety for a more instinctual reason, but he lied to himself, saying that he was asking because they were acquainted.

“No no, it can’t be. Isabella is fine. She may be unable to bear the grief.”

“Oh.”

Ottavio, who lost interest quickly, nodded. Disappointed by Ottavio’s sulky response, Epolito got up.

“I have to go now. I need to pack my luggage right away to leave in the morning.”

“May the deceased rest in peace. Please convey my regrets and condolences to Miss Isabella.”

“Thank you. I will.”

As Epolito left the party, Ottavio quickly spread the news to the idle socialites.

“Epolito’s sister has died!”

“What? You mean the daughter of Cardinal de Mare?”

“Which of the daughters?”

The idle winter social scene of Taranto was stirred up by this sudden news of death.

“Surely, not Isabella de Mare?”

“Why Isabella all of a sudden?”

“Well, because of that rumor, she was heartbroken…?”

In front of the people unfolding the wings of imagination, Ottavio, who held the information, sneered at them.

“What a horrible thing to say! It’s an accident. And it’s the other sister.”

“Oh, it’s not Isabella?”

“Then is it Miss Ariadne?”

People buzzed and blossomed conversations. And hearing this story, one person’s heart collapsed. It was Prince Alfonso, who had been guarding the side of Princess Lariesa, who was like a plaster statue at the party.

“Prince, are you okay?”

As Alfonso’s complexion became serious, Princess Lariesa, who always rejoiced and grieved at Alfonso’s every move, immediately looked at his face.

“It’s nothing.”

He wanted to rush out immediately and ask Ottavio what happened, what happened to the second daughter of Cardinal de Mare, but Princess Lariesa next to him looked up at him with innocent eyes.

“Princess, excuse me for a moment.”

Alfonso got up from Lariesa’s side and went straight into the crowd. When Prince Alfonso, who had been sitting high on the pedestal like a prop of the banquet hall, mingled among the crowd, the banquet participants were surprised and looked at his face.

Alfonso, meeting a vaguely familiar face in the banquet hall, skipped the greeting and asked.

“Who died?”

Alfonso wiped the cold sweat coming out on his palm on his pants, waiting for an answer.

“Oh, Your Highness! The daughter of Cardinal de Mare has died.”

“Which daughter!”

His voice was strangely shaky and cracked, it must have sounded strange. It was not at all like the usual polite and gentle Prince Alfonso. The nobleman who was asked the question was a bit surprised and answered.

“Judging by the fact that it’s not the eldest daughter, wouldn’t it be Miss Ariadne de Mare, the second daughter?”

“!”

The prince turned his back on the young nobleman without a word of greeting, and left the grand banquet hall.

As soon as the prince left the banquet hall, his secretary, Bernardino, quickly followed.

“Your Highness! Leaving the Grand Duchess Lariesa in the banquet hall and…”

“Bernardino. I need to free up about a week right away.”

Alfonso instructed in a calm but decidedly firm voice.

“Prepare a fast horse, a token for changing horses at the relay station, and the passport.”

“What? A whole week? Where on earth are you going!”

“San Carlo.”

Bernardino looked up at his master in astonishment.

“…Is this because of the daughter of Cardinal de Mare, your highness?”

Alfonso gave Bernardino a cold stare.

“If you don’t immediately take care of those things, I’ll call someone else to do it.”

“Your Highness, it is a sad thing that she has passed away, but it’s not at all appropriate for you to go to San Carlo now. The dead are dead and…”

“If your goal is to tie me up like a stall horse, it doesn’t matter whether the woman is dead or alive!”

At Prince Alfonso’s shouting, Bernardino was startled and stood frozen in place. His master had never used such vulgar words, and he did not know how to be cynical.

Alfonso scolded Bernardino with a resentful voice.

“If I can’t keep even her last wishes, I can’t forgive myself forever. Ariadne is dead, so the situation you’re worrying about can’t happen anyway.”

Alfonso’s voice fell silent.

“Let me go.”

It was a strange sight to see his master. The boy, who had grown mature, was trying to break out of the fence that the adults had set up.

This was something he could not stop. And it wasn’t his job to stop it. Bernardino bowed his head.

“…Your Highness, I am merely a supporter. Don’t ask for my permission.”

He deeply bowed to his master.

“When your heart is firm, my role is only to help you, nothing more.”

Bernardino spoke quickly.