Count Cesare, the royal envoy of His Majesty the King, walked into the room and chose a pulpit near the entrance where Cardinal de Mare was standing. As the royal envoy approached, Cardinal de Mare hastily stepped aside to yield the pulpit.

Unfurling the royal decree, Cesare looked down at the ballroom guests, all bowing towards him, and conveyed the King’s message in his voice.

“Hear ye, my people. Today marks the debutante ball of Ariadne de Mare, the second daughter of Cardinal de Mare. Ariadne de Mare, a devout follower of San Carlo, is a young lady whose deep faith allows the people of our country to learn from her, and who has previously earned merits for our country. We celebrate her coming of age, and Count Cesare de Como is sent as her partner for this debutante ball. That is all.”

The entire audience in the ballroom served him with the same respect as if he were the King himself.

Relishing the thrill climbing up his spine, he rolled up the parchment and handed it back to the attendant by his side. Only then did he meet the eyes of Cardinal de Mare standing on the pulpit and greeted him.

“It is good to see you today, Cardinal de Mare.”

The Cardinal reciprocated with a bow.

“Count Cesare. It is an honor to have you in our humble home.”

“I shall take good care of your daughter today.”

“We should be grateful to His Majesty the King.”

With a nod, Cesare accepted the gratitude meant for the King.

He descended from the pulpit where he had stood with the Cardinal, and began to walk towards the dais at the far end of the main hall, where Ariadne and Prince Alfonso were standing.

It was like a parade of a victorious general. As the center of everyone’s attention, Cesare strutted across the ballroom like the star of the ball. The guests were abuzz, having just seen Prince Alfonso.

‘…!’

Upon reaching the end of the dais, Cesare finally noticed Prince Alfonso standing below. Upon seeing Alfonso’s expression, demeanor, his white attire, and his posture escorting Ariadne, a dangerous smile crept up on Cesare’s lips.

‘What, was it like this?’

Cesare feigned surprise and greeted Prince Alfonso.

“Who do we have here, if it isn’t the little sun of the kingdom?”

A slight wrinkle formed on Alfonso’s handsome brow. Cesare mocked and belittled Alfonso.

“As I am here today as the representative of His Majesty the King, I will forego the greetings, Your Highness.”

It was a retaliatory statement for the humiliation of having to kneel days ago.

“King Leo III, the sun of Etruscan, has assigned me as the partner for her debutante ball. I believe you will have to step aside, Your Highness?”

Nobody could defy the King’s decree. Even Prince Alfonso, the heir to the throne, was no exception.

Ignoring the stiff Prince Alfonso, Cesare extended his hand towards Ariadne.

When Ariadne hesitated to take his hand, he added,

“It’s a stern royal command, Lady de Mare.”

Cesare’s extended hand was covered with his trademark deer leather glove as always. With reluctance, Ariadne reached out her left hand to Cesare. It was somewhat comforting that their bare hands were not touching.

While offering her hand to Cesare, Ariadne checked Prince Alfonso’s reaction. Alfonso seemed to be in shock. Ariadne apologized to him with her eyes.

“I’m sorry for making it like this because of me.”

Cesare, realizing that Ariadne was not focusing on him, exaggeratedly kissed her left hand. It was a defiant gesture aimed at Prince Alfonso.

Alfonso forced a smile and greeted Ariadne.

“My role for today ends here. See you later, Ariadne.”

“I’m sorry, Alfonso.”

Ariadne mouthed a goodbye to him.

Cesare was thrilled with the situation. He had attended this ball, cursing his mother, Lady Rubina, all the way here.

King Leo III was approached and persuaded through sweet words, somehow obtaining a royal decree. The mother had thought she had done a really pointless act, begrudgingly lifting her heavy hips to attend the masquerade of Cardinal de Mare, but she had never dreamt that such an interesting event would occur here.

“I should probably show some filial piety to mother.”

He amended the image he had held of the girl in front of him till now.

Originally, he thought that she was crude, rustic, and the owner of a mess of a fashion sense, but the Ariadne standing in front of him now, all dressed up, was quite beautiful.

First of all, she had immaculate, serene skin, and the features he thought were fierce were unexpectedly neat and elegant, emphasized by makeup that accentuated her eyes.

The dress she wore today had a low neckline, emphasizing her collarbone and décolletage with dignity.

Cesare escorted Ariadne with caution, as if touching expensive ceramics, and climbed the stage.

From the opposite podium, Cardinal de Mare was giving a speech to the guests about how his second daughter was such an excellent and virtuous lady, about her deep piety, and her gentle nature.

Ariadne and Cesare became the object of curious gazes, standing on the podium like a picturesque couple.