But instead of apologizing, Bernardino hardened his face and counterquestioned Lariesa de Balboa.

“Lady, where did you get Prince Alfonso’s schedule?”

Lariesa glared at Bernardino with wide eyes.

‘How dare you, how dare you…!’

She was the type of person who could not admit when she was wrong. Moreover, she didn’t sneak a peek at that schedule.

“Lady Carla, the maid of Queen Marguerite, showed me! She said if the soontobeengaged couples want to get close, they need to see each other a lot.”

Prince Alfonso declared to Queen Marguerite that he would nullify the national marriage with Lady Lariesa, but Queen Marguerite has not yet accepted her son’s intention.

Lady Carla knew all this but didn’t interpret the queen’s silence as condoning or observing, but read it as ‘refusal’ on her own.

She tried to provide as many opportunities as possible for the two young people to be together so that Lady Lariesa could change Prince Alfonso’s mind.

But that was Lady Carla’s judgment, and Bernardino’s judgment was different.

“Lady, Prince Alfonso’s schedule is a document that you cannot officially view.”

“What did you say?!”

“Although Lady Carla might have shown it out of kindness, it is not a proper procedure.”

Lady Lariesa was shaking with anger. Bernardino, pretending not to read her emotions, continued to guide her about the rules and procedures.

“If you wish to see His Highness the Prince, please let me know in advance at any time. I will confirm the date that is free on His Highness the Prince’s schedule and respond as soon as possible.”

It was a blatant lie.

Whenever Lariesa asked Bernardino for a meeting with Prince Alfonso, he just offered dates like the Monday of the week after next, and then made such a ridiculous suggestion as ‘wouldn’t it be better to see him at an official event?’

“Humph!”

Unable to suppress her anger, Lady Lariesa let out a big snort, and finally turned away from the entrance of the royal palace with rough steps.

‘There’s something… Something has changed… I can’t tolerate it… I’ll definitely return it to how it used to be!’

On the same day, Julia de Baldessar wondered why she wanted to go out that day. It might have been because the weather was too good, or she wanted to show her brother, who was always at home, the model of going out.

She ignored her mother’s nagging to go out when the street festival starts next week. Julia said that there would be many people and it would be dangerous then, so she would just go out a little now to see the daffodil altar and left home with only one maid and one groom.

“Let me off here.”

“You have to stay within my sight.”

“Understood.”

The reply that Julia gave to the coachman, who was also her escort, was casual as she admired the narcissus altar in the center of the Pietro Square. Since the Latin Empire, almost thousands of bright yellow narcissuses covered the area around the marble fountain.

The workers were in the process of installing a wooden arch, which would also be abundantly covered with thousands of flower bouquets when completed.

“This, while eating cannoli, it would be quite a sight.”

“Miss, there’s a shop right there, shall I go buy some?”

“Yes, hurry back.”

Anyway, the coachman would be watching her. It was not dangerous to be left alone for a moment.

Julia sat next to the fountain, basking in the dazzling early spring sunlight.

Then, it happened.

“Narcissus…?”

Precisely, a man with a face as beautiful as a narcissus was walking with a brisk step among the crowd.

As soon as Julia saw his face, she knew who he was. It was a face too handsome to forget.

“Francois…! A domestic from the Leonati family…!”

It seemed like he was out on an errand, carrying a large basket with a few ingredients that looked like groceries.

Julia hesitated for a moment whether to talk to him or not. She had nothing planned on what to say to him, or what kind of conversation a countess and someone else’s servant could have.

But if she just let him go today, she might never see him again. It was an impulsive decision.

“Excuse me!”

The domestic from the Leonati family seemed to have not heard Julia’s voice, and just continued walking in the direction he was going. Julia raised her voice and called out again.

“Francois!”

Still, it seemed like he didn’t hear her. He just quickened his pace. Damn it, it was now or never. Julia shouted out loud.

“Francois!”

It was an accurate foreign pronunciation, using the Gallico language accent she had learned. Only then did the tall young man glance back.

Julia gave a big smile. Her cold first impression was buried in warm laughter.

However, the first word she said to him when she walked up to him was this.

“How much do you get paid at the Count of Leonati’s?”