All of San Carlo turned upside down and started to verify the authenticity of the statue, and this incident, which had kept the city heated for about a month, was vivid in Ariadne’s memory.

“We came to buy things.”

Ariadne told San Cha. Of course, they weren’t going to buy . There was no reason to do so, nor did they have the money.

What Ariadne was aiming for today were a few paintings that would be auctioned together.

Depending on the situation of the pocket, it would be determined how many to buy, but the author of the paintings to be auctioned today, the emerging painter, would increase in value next year, and in just 56 years, he would become the main painter of the successful Cheng.

“We have arrived!”

With the coachman’s guidance, Ariadne got off the carriage with San Cha’s help. A servant of Count Chibo’s family was outside for guidance.

Ariadne, wearing the umbrella that San Cha had provided, was slowly walking towards Count Chibo’s main house following the servant’s guidance, when the noisy sound of a carriage procession came from behind.

“Eria! Eria!”

Thump thump.

Despite approaching the point where other nobles dismounted and walked in, the carriage, drawn by four white horses adorned with gold, did not slow down at all.

The golden carriage brushed past a few walking nobles and parked right next to the main entrance of Count Chibo’s house.

“Prince Alfonso has arrived!”

“Has the Prince arrived!”

“What an infinite honor to visit our humble home, please come in.”

Although the other sounds were faintly mixed from afar, the voice of the Prince’s attendant was so strong that the Prince’s name clearly stuck in the ears.

“It seems that the Prince has arrived.”

San Cha, who should be excited, was somehow sulking.

“Why are you like that, San Cha? You were really happy that you could see the Prince earlier.”

In response to Ariadne’s question, San Cha replied gruffly.

“Well, it’s just that, we all dismount from the front and walk, but the Prince got off right in front of the door and went straight in. The one who wears high heels is our lady, and the one who is more fragile is also our lady! If you are going to park the carriage right up close, you should allow it to our lady, not the Prince.”

Ariadne flicked San Cha’s pouting lips with her finger.

“Don’t say that! You’ll be dragged!”

Ariadne took a quick look at the servants of Count Chibo’s house. They didn’t seem to be listening to this side’s conversation. Ariadne whispered to San Cha in a low voice.

“A good ruler protects his people from foreign forces in times of war and takes care of the weak in peace. The authority they enjoy is a tool that can make it easier. A ruler without authority can’t exert strength when really needed.”

She pondered her memory for a moment and then told San Cha.

“I think Prince Alfonso is full of the qualities of a good ruler.”

“What about the current King?”

“He is the Holy King!”

Ariadne, loud enough for everyone around to hear, subtly showed Sanca the shape of her hand with her index and middle fingers twisted beneath the hem of her dress.

According to the teachings of the Holy Church, one would be punished for lying, but in the event of an unavoidable lie, it was the finger shape one made to ask God to ‘overlook it just this once’.

Sanca burst into laughter, and the two cheerfully walked into the mansion of the Duke of Chivo.

“The young Lady de Mare has arrived!”

A servant of the Duke of Chivo announced Ariadne’s arrival. The noise that the people had been chattering inside suddenly quieted down.

This was not the overwhelming silence that came when Prince Alfonso or another person of power entered the hall, but a momentary quiet brought on by curiosity.

Everyone wanted to see the second daughter of the bishop, who had become incredibly famous due to the Apostles of Asereto case. Once they confirmed the bishop’s daughter with their own eyes, the conversations that had briefly halted exploded.

“She’s not as beautiful as her sister.”

“But she’s still cute, right? Isn’t her blood mixed only halfway?”

“How can the eldest daughter be so pretty when Lucrezia from that house isn’t even that much of a beauty?”

Everyone was talking about Ariadne, but no one actually came up to greet her. Only the hostess, the Duchess of Chivo, who had sent the invitation, quickly crossed the hall to greet Ariadne.

“Lady de Mare, thank you for gracing us with your presence today. Was your journey here alright?”

“Thanks to you, it was comfortable. Where is Lady Romani?”

“She’s gone to the powder room because of the heat. She’ll be out soon. Please, enjoy your time!”

As the hostess of the party, the Duchess of Chivo could not remain at Ariadne’s side continuously. And due to the nature of today’s gathering, an art auction, there were overwhelmingly more mature nobles and their wives than people of Ariadne’s age.

It wasn’t a place for Ariadne to fit in. Therefore, Ariadne decided to wander around the hall, full of strangers, with her guard up until Lady Romani came out.

At that moment, she spotted Prince Alfonso surrounded by people from afar. Ariadne bowed her head and turned her body towards a corner of the party before her eyes met his.

Ariadne, for some reason, did not want to show him that she was alone.

‘Why all of a sudden…?’

Ariadne tried to analyse her emotions to hide her confused heart.

She thought it was comfortable to eat alone, walk alone, and be locked up alone in the library, but it seemed that she was certainly burdened. That’s why she didn’t want to meet the prince.

And then, a boy with golden hair, who was surrounded by the crowd, spotted Ariadne first.

Not daring to call her name loudly in the crowded place, Alfonso stared straight at Ariadne and swiftly raised his right hand.

Ariadne was about to turn to leave the party, but she couldn’t stop her gaze from meeting the prince’s.

Before leaving, the darkhaired girl who looked at him one last time stood still at her spot, laughing at the sight of Prince Alfonso.