Ariadne’s comment was admiration, but Sancha, who had never been to a ball, blushed.

“That’s just what I imagine! If it’s not true, never mind!”

“No, you’re right.”

Ariadne nodded and obediently chose the white jasmine perfume. It was a special product imported from the Moore Empire. Handing her body over to the maids who skillfully applied the perfume to her black, ebonylike hair, Ariadne closed her eyes.

“Lady, since the dress is deep blue, should we go with ‘Heart of the Blue Sea’ for the jewels?”

“Um. No. I don’t want to stand out that much. Get the one woven with white topaz and several sapphire medals. The earrings should match.”

When Ariadne moved her business to Collezionne, she also got new jewelry. Queen Marguerite’s gifts were small jewels for young girls, so there were hardly any dignified jewels over 3 carats, so she needed a new set suitable for the luxurious clothes.

“It’s a shame we couldn’t wear the red dress.”

It was the dress she had planned to wear to the mass. The bright red silk glowed red every time it caught the light, it was like a single rose, a masterpiece of Collezionne.

“I’m sure there will be an occasion to wear it.”

Ariadne, too, seemed regretful, and answered with a sigh. Today was the first external event since her mourning.

As part of the ‘Spring Festival’, she wanted to wear colors like spring flowers to the royal ball, but chose a somber style on purpose, worrying that people might gossip since her mourning had just ended a few days ago.

“Instead, I’ll do your hair and makeup the best.”

Anna said with a laugh. Ariadne replied with a smile.

“Our Anna’s skills are always the best in San Carlo.”

And that was not an empty compliment. The deep blue dress of Collezionne that Sancha dressed her in, and the captivating eyes that Anna painted, suited Ariadne perfectly. Her plentiful hair was halftied, braided like a crown, and decorated with a diamondstudded string.

With her hair and makeup, the blue dress, the jewelry set of white topaz and sapphire, Ariadne looked like the goddess of hunting, Artemis, worshipped by the pagans.

“Lady, I think I’m going to fall for you!”

Instead of scolding as before, Ariadne responded with laughter to Sancha. It was already late in the afternoon. The time for her partner for the ball to come pick her up had arrived.

“Has the Count of Valdesar arrived?”

“Yes, he is currently waiting in the main reception room downstairs.”

“When did he arrive? Has he been waiting long?”

“No, he just arrived.”

Relieved that she hadn’t been rude to the guest, Ariadne quickened her pace downstairs. She hoped that Julia’s older brother was not a strange or unpleasant person as she headed for the downstairs reception room.

Considering Julia’s personality and temperament, she might seem a bit odd, but Julia has been talking so negatively about her own aura, it made me wonder.

‘She said she was antisocial… rarely leaving the house and just staying in her room…’

Ariadne thought as she entered the main reception room.

‘I just hope it won’t be awkward being together.’

Chrrrr.

As Ariadne folded the banner hanging in the archway, she greeted the guest.

“Viscount Valdesar, I greet you.”

She bowed her head respectfully and spoke.

“I am Ariadne de Mare, the second daughter of the de Mare family.”

“I am Raphael de Valdesar. I’ve heard about Alfonso, or rather the prince.”

His voice was extremely soft. Ariadne looked up to see the young nobleman, with dazzling silver hair, paying his respects to her.

“Please, feel free to call me Raphael.”

Ariadne hurriedly lowered her gaze, which had been staring at him intently. It was impolite.

The young man before her was as pale as freshly sculpted alabaster. The only color in his body was his excessively red eyes, even if one called it brown.

His younger sister, Julia, had brown hair and hazel eyes. Besides, her features were fine, a bit chilly at first glance with small features.

But Viscount Valdesar, while his features were fine and small, unlike his sister, he had slightly droopy eyes and a smiling mouth even when expressionless. He left an impression completely different from his sister, 180 degrees apart.

“Oh, were you surprised?”

He brushed back his hair. His fine, fluffy hair shimmered as it fell through his fingers.

“My hair and eye color are different from others. People often get surprised when they see me for the first time.”

“No, not at all. I apologize.”

He smiled calmly. He seemed to have read Ariadne’s guilt. He added calmly, but somewhat defensively.

“It stings a bit and my eyes hurt in the sunlight. But apart from that, there’s nothing particularly strange.”

She decided to change the subject by complimenting her ball partner.

He was wearing a bright gray doublet, a burgundy pair of trousers, and dark brown boots that perfectly matched his silver hair and red eyes. His red cloak slung over his shoulder was stylish.

“Light clothes suit you well.”

“Thank you. I came with a little more care because I received Alfonso’s request.”

Ariadne couldn’t resist here and asked him with a big smile.

“How do you know Alfonso?”

He seemed pleased with Ariadne’s enthusiasm.

“Didn’t you hear from him?”

Ariadne, in fact, did more other things than converse when she met Alfonso recently. As she thought of it, she unwittingly blushed and shook her head.

“No, I didn’t hear.”

“That’s too much.”

He smiled mischievously.

“We’ve been friends since childhood. When His Highness turned six, the palace was looking for peers for him to play with, and I got in because we were the same age. Then when His Highness gathered boys for training, I naturally joined.”

“Oh, you’re childhood friends.”

“I suppose you could say that? However, I became somewhat distanced from the prince when I went to Padua to study.”

Raphael didn’t tell her the whole story. Either it was a polite gesture to omit overly detailed stories to a person he was meeting for the first time, or it could have been a subconscious act stemming from the desire to impress. He didn’t know which it was.

“May I call you Ariadne?”

“It’s fine with me.”

“Alfonso seems to think highly of you. When I received a letter from Alfonso after a long time, I wondered ‘what’s going on’, but then, in the whole letter, he just talked about Ariadne and asked me to take good care of you.”

Contrary to Julia’s description of Raphael as antisocial and hermitlike, he knew exactly what to say and what not to say. He knew how to treat others well, and was extremely sociable. He didn’t seem to be shy at all and conversation topics flowed as if he were meeting a female friend.

Ariadne liked this man very much.

“Count Baldesar, I look forward to our day together.”

With a gentle smile, Raphael offered his left arm to his friend’s lady, asking for an escort, and Ariadne followed Raphael’s escort onto the carriage of the Baldesar family.

Once aboard the carriage, Raphael spoke with a smile.

“Lady, shall we go to the palace where the prince is waiting?”

It was the beginning of a pleasant schedule.