Raphael passionately described how his deceased brother Feliciano was clumsy, full of mistakes, and naive.

Although it was all criticism, it was ultimately a statement filled with love. After a long rant about Feliciano’s foolishness, Raphael added one more thing.

“Still, I wanted him to be the family head. That’s why I decided to take the path of a clergyman early on.”

“I tried to become a knight too, but my body was weak so it was too much,” Raphael explained.

In the Etruscan Kingdom, it was customary for the eldest son to inherit the title and lands, while the younger sons became clergy, soldiers, or merchants, earning a separate living.

But that was only a common case, and it was not uncommon for a highly distinguished child among the siblings to inherit, regardless of birth order.

Young Raphael stood out in many ways compared to his brother, but he didn’t want to oust the brother he loved.

“The decision to become a clergyman wasn’t due to a burning faith in the heavens or anything. It was just a decent career path to earn a living. But as you may know, Ariadne, isn’t theology profoundly deep the more you delve into it?”

Raphael passionately continued while maintaining his dance steps without faltering.

“Where do humans come from and where are they going, does original sin exist, does God redeem us, and if so, how should we live? These complex layered questions and trying to logically answer them are the theology of our times.”

The most common route for bright youths to become theologians. It was also the path that Cardinal de Mare had taken in his youth.

“Mystical theology needs to be dismantled now. Miracles, supernatural powers, worship of natural phenomena. These things must give way to the culture of the new century.”

Ariadne just smiled silently. She was externally the most faithful servant of God and the defender of logic and reason, but she had seen miracles and pagan powers that could not be explained by the Church with her own eyes.

The world was a little more complicated than could be explained by logic.

“Now I really want to devote myself to the church. I’ve already decided to devote my life to research. In fact, without telling my parents, I’ve already graduated from the University of Padua.”

The University of Padua was a higher education institution teaching theology. Traditionally, those who wanted to become priests entered the monastery affiliated with the Holy See from a young age and learned theology while doing chores. This was also the route Cardinal de Mare had taken.

However, with the establishment of a theological university at the University of Padua, the University of Padua has rapidly risen over the past decade as a course for producing elite clergymen. Children of the nobility or the sons of highranking clergymen grew by receiving expensive education at the theological university instead of learning while eating scraps at the affiliated monastery.

But something seemed strange. Ariadne asked.

“Did you not graduate from the military academy in Padua?”

The military academy in Padua was where Ippolito went. That was the reason Ariadne initially decided to meet Raphael.

“So they believe at home. I struggled so much because of the military school report card I had to send home…….”

“So you forged the report card and sent it home? The dean’s seal should be stamped and it should be sent from the university.”

Was it this easy to forge a report card at the military academy in Padua? Ariadne thought it would be worth digging into Ippolito Oravi.

“No, no. I double majored in theology and military science. I thought I was going to die doing two unrelated subjects at the same time. How much sweat did I have on my back when the required graduation class times overlapped!”

“Ah……. Dual major, that’s amazing.”

“What’s amazing? Ariadne, who criticized Asereto’s apostles without formal education, is truly amazing!”

She felt a mix of slight disappointment and a bit of admiration. She was a little disappointed that the likelihood of Ippolito forging his report card had decreased, but the person in front of her seemed more impressive than she had thought, having completed both theology and military science simultaneously.

Hiding her admiration and pride, she heaped praise on Raphael.

“It was just good luck. There were related books all over the house. So are you going to join the ‘Verum Cueritus’ of the San Ercole Basilica now?”

‘Verum Cueritus’ was a theological study group sponsored by the San Ercole Basilica, a group that was too highlevel for a hobby and didn’t offer financial compensation for a fulltime job.

It was a group that Cardinal de Mare had once recommended to Ariadne, but she had excitedly declined. Structurally, only the nobility who could afford to play with academics without worrying about livelihood could participate.

But Raphael shook his head.

“No. I’m thinking of dedicating myself to the church, not just a hobby group.”

Ariadne asked again, not fully understanding Raphael’s meaning.

“What?”

He spoke with a flushed face, his silver eyelashes and red eyes sparkling.

“I’ve passed all the vice examinations, and if I receive the ordination of a vice, I will join the church right away.”

It was a bombshell announcement that he would leave the secular world and become a priest. This man was the only remaining heir of the Duke of Baldassarre.

“Do your family… not know?”

They wouldn’t. It was a dumb question, but Ariadne was so surprised that this was the only way she could respond.

“Of course. If they knew, do you think my parents would leave me alone?”

Raphael laughed merrily.

“You won’t tell, will you? It’s our secret.”

Among the many conditions Alfonso had proposed, ‘Do not make a secret with Raphael’ was not included.

Furthermore, the moment Ariadne told this story to Juliana or other members of the Baldassarre family, their house would be turned upside down.

Ariadne’s head was already full of her own family’s affairs. She had no desire to get involved in other people’s business.

“I’ll keep your secret.”

As she took the last turn of the waltz, she elegantly nodded her head.

“It’s a promise.”

Raphael, who was dancing the waltz, groped the palm of his hand held by her with his left hand, and hooked his little finger.

“!”

At the sudden touch of her hand being gripped, Ariadne was surprised and looked at Raphael de Baldassarre at the same time the orchestra played the last note of the waltz.

Thump.

Raphael, as if nothing had happened, took a step back and, bending elegantly at the waist, bowed to his partner.