Ariadne promptly shared her new plan with Alfonso. In response to Ariadne’s suggestion to attend the royal palace ball with the eldest son of Duke Valdesar, Alfonso showed a generally favourable response.

“Raphael is a good friend of mine! I haven’t seen him in recent years, but he will surely escort you well.

If you’re okay with it, I’ll send a letter to Raphael in advance to explain the situation. What do you think?”

Alfonso seemed a bit uneasy about leaving Ariadne to Raphael de Valdesar without explaining the situation. To be honest, Alfonso seemed to have preferred one of the knights in his escort team over Raphael, but he didn’t object to choosing Raphael de Valdesar as a partner for the ball.

Ariadne wondered whether this was because all the reasons she had given were valid, or because it was Alfonso’s nature to generally comply with what his woman wanted.

‘In my previous life, Prince Alfonso did everything Isabella wanted without question.’

Ariadne thought of the luxurious jewellery, dresses, and numerous dazzling balls that Isabella had organized in her past life. These were not Prince Alfonso’s preferences at all.

Starting a new relationship is like discovering a new world, Ariadne thought. Alfonso’s reactions were completely different from those of Cesare, who had been her benchmark in her previous life. Alfonso was generally more lowkey, but he was also more affectionate and gentle.

Of course, Alfonso had his own stubbornness.

“Do not hold hands with Valdesar without gloves, and do not be alone with him for too long, even though he is your ball partner.”

‘Are you just going to stick someone to me and watch my every move?’

Although Ariadne grumbled verbally, she couldn’t hide the smile that appeared at the corner of her mouth.

Then the invitation, which had prompted her to prepare for everything, arrived.

“Miss Ariadne, here is a letter from the Count of Cesare.”

Ariadne unfolded the letter.

“To my debutante,

By now, the invitations should have been sent out from the palace. Naturally, one would have reached the De Mare family as well. Would you honor me by allowing me to escort you to another ball?

Count Cesare.”

It was the contact she had been waiting for. Ariadne unhesitatingly wrote down the excuse she had prepared in advance in her reply.

Ariadne’s letter was more kind than usual. It was long, and included praise for Count Cesare, emphasizing that her refusal of his escort was not in any way his fault. But a refusal was a refusal.

“I am truly sorry that I cannot accompany Count Cesare to the ball.”

After writing up to this point, Ariadne shuddered. The writing became crumpled as she had to say something she didn’t mean. After listing 101 reasons why she regretfully couldn’t accompany Count Cesare, she dropped her pen on the desk.

‘I’ve done enough. Well, if this still offends Count Cesare, there’s nothing I can do.’

I can’t be dragged to a ball just to please someone else. Ariadne handed the letter of refusal, which she had spent a long time writing, to the postal servant.

“Deliver this carefully and return quickly before the house owner opens the letter.”

Ariadne was worried that Cesare’s temper might cause trouble for the servants of the De Mare family.

As expected, Cesare, who received Ariadne’s letter, was not in a good mood.

“Raphael de Valdesar? She refused my escort request because of him?”

Cesare paced around his study. Octavio, who was sprawled on Cesare’s expensive sofa, snickered.

“No, Count Cesare. You were outdone by the youngest son of Valdesar? Seems like the young lady of De Mare prefers a more delicate man than you.”

Octavio, who always felt somewhat insecure about his burly appearance compared to Cesare’s handsome features that swept women’s hearts, seemed to find this situation where Cesare was outdone by another man utterly enjoyable.

“It’s not like that, stop making a fuss.”

Cesare threw Ariadne’s letter to Ottavio.

“At the request of Lady Julia de Baldesar, who is very close to me….”

Ottavio, who skimmed through the letter, returned it with a slightly deflated face.

“Well, that was less fun than expected.”

The letter was not about Cesare being annoying and going away, as Ottavio had hoped. It was about a friend’s favor that had to be granted, so the man would postpone to the next time.

“But here’s the thing,”

People think as they want to see.

“You can’t take a woman’s rejection at face value.”

Ottavio, who had much more experience being rejected by women than his friends despite his lack of dating experience, gave Cesare serious advice.

“Everyone makes their refusals sound nice. They don’t see you as a man because you’re like a nice brother, it’s difficult to see each other even as friends after getting close as a man and woman, I don’t want to let go of a good person like this…. I’ve heard it all, and it’s all nonsense.”

Ottavio stuck his face in front of Cesare’s nose and spoke firmly.

“It’s just that she didn’t see you as a man.”

Cesare threw the glove he had been fiddling with at Ottavio.