“Gunpowder manufacturing method for cannons? You’re really trying to eat me alive!”

Count Levien shouted in an agitated voice.

Gunpowder was an asymmetric force that had recently begun to be imported from the alchemists of the Moorish Empire to the central continent through word of mouth. The key to firearms using gunpowder was stabilization, and although no country or mercenary corps had yet successfully incorporated personal firearms into combat, cannons as siege weapons were often successfully put into practical use.

And the Gallico Kingdom was considered to be doing it best.

“Then were you trying to take the position of the spouse of the number one heir to the throne of the Etruscan Kingdom with just the daughter of a grand duke, not even Grand Duchess Suzanne?”

This time, Marquis Marquez did not back down either.

“I acknowledge that the Gallico Kingdom has made dazzling progress in the last 20 years, but the Gallico Kingdom is not an empire!”

Having pushed his opponent this far, Marquis Marquez now changed his attitude and began to gently appease Count Levien.

“About 20 years ago, when Queen Marguerite came to marry, she received the Gaeta region as a dowry and sent 20,000 ducats as a bride price instead, and lent 80,000 ducats in loans. Isn’t that what brought prosperity to the Gallico Kingdom today? We can continue the good example of ‘cooperation’ from the previous generation and reach a good conclusion.”

“A good example of ‘cooperation’? Ha!”

Count Levien snorted.

“If the Gallico Kingdom had any power at that time, they would never have exchanged the Gaeta region and 100,000 ducats even if they died! Exchanging territory for cash, and at such a bargain price at that! Is that a reasonable amount?”

As an Etruscan with developed finance, he could never agree with the position of the Gallico bumpkin that land was more sacred than money.

“If it weren’t for that 100,000 ducats, would the Brian dynasty still be on the throne now? Isn’t it with that money provided in a timely manner that the Gallico Kingdom quelled the civil war and maintained the dynasty? What we received as a dowry for the Gaeta region and sent back as a bride price was the lifeline of the ‘Brian dynasty’, not just mere cash. If you truly think that way, Count Levien, you have no sense at all of the importance of ‘timing’!”

The arguments of both sides were fierce. If they were not going to declare a breakdown and return home as it was, both sides had to compromise somewhere. Count Levien presented a compromise.

“You say that Grand Duchess Lariesa is still not enough, not being Grand Duchess Suzanne, but we propose that Grand Duchess Lariesa personally visit the Etruscan Kingdom.”

This was a very rare case in diplomatic protocol.

Royal family members with the right to inherit the throne rarely left their kingdom’s borders, citing threats to their personal safety, among other reasons, and royal family members in political marriages chose their spouses relying on a single portrait and worldly reputation.

This was no exception, whether the party to the marriage was the King of Gallico or the Prince of Etruria.

“Meet her in person and see what Grand Duchess Lariesa is really like. She won’t be the kind of person you think she is.”

Marquis Marquez simultaneously thought, is the Gallico Kingdom really confident in the Grand Duchess Lariesa card? and suspected, is it because she is a grand duchess without the right to inherit the throne that they are carelessly sending her out?

As if sensing this, Count Levien hastily presented a supplementary measure.

“The status issue of the Grand Duchess can be remedied by elevating her status. That is also in line with the natural order. His Majesty Philip IV is considering adopting Grand Duchess Lariesa as his own daughter before sending her to Etruria. This is the kind of adoption that also grants the same rank of succession rights as his own children.”

When bouncing, it had to be bounced to the end. Marquis Marquez made the most obvious rebuttal.

“Then Grand Duchess Lariesa would become a fifth cousin to Prince Alfonso! It’s a violation of the Holy See’s prohibition on incestuous marriages.”

“It’s not real incest. This is a problem that can be solved by receiving an ‘exception ordinance’ from His Holiness Pope Ludovico.”

The density of the talks was still tight and the atmosphere on both sides was rough. Marquis Marquez looked for water and downed it in one gulp. A lot of time had passed and it was already late afternoon, no, approaching early evening.

“Obviously, it’s not something I can decide on my level. I think we’ve discussed everything that needs to be discussed today, so let’s report to the higher-ups and discuss it again.”

“I agree. I understand the next meeting will be held according to the pre-determined schedule.”

The representatives of the two countries each left their tents, wiping their temples soaked with oil and sweat with wet towels delivered by their attendants. It was time to go and hear the intentions of the real decision makers.

“Ah, this is not good. The sun is setting faster than I thought.”

Cesare and Ariadne ended up with Ariadne riding the horse and Cesare pulling the horse as they tried to find their way back.

“I think we walked a long way to the south, but the forest is getting thicker and thicker.”

“We should be able to meet other hunting competition participants.”

The hunting competition was a one-day schedule, and they were naturally only equipped with attire and preparations for a day trip outdoors. They were not at all prepared with equipment to camp in the forest or stay up all night.

“Hey, don’t you hear the sound of water?”

At Ariadne’s words, Cesare quietly listened.

“You’re right. There must be a stream or something.”

He pulled the reins in the direction of the sound of water.

“We’d better go that way.”

As he moved his feet, he began to grumble.

“No, but how does Lady de Mare make the man who got hurt trying to save her pull the reins like a hostler while she rides the horse like a freeloader?”

Ouch, my arm is so swollen it hurts like hell, he exaggeratedly waved his left arm as if to show it, then frowned as if it really hurt. Ariadne’s lips protruded from embarrassment and displeasure.

“Then I’ll get off! You ride! You forced me to ride in the first place when I said I wouldn’t!”

“How can a gentleman ride a horse alone while making a lady walk! You just have to sit quietly in front of me. Sheesh, so particular.”

Cesare’s grumbling was endless.

“No, why did you cause this situation by not accepting the saddle I sent. If you had ridden the saddle I sent, the cantle and pommel would have been open so your feet would have slipped right out.”

Cesare was a master of horsemanship and had a hobby of modifying and changing saddles and tack to his liking.

“There was such a part?”

“Didn’t even open it to check.”

He continued to grumble.

“And, huh? Why did you have to provoke your cousin and create this situation. If this Count Cesare had not saved you in a cool way, something terrible could have happened.”

Ariadne was already annoyed by his grumbling, and with these words, she decided to consider the debt of gratitude from Cesare breaking his arm to help her as paid in full.

“Then are you telling me to keep quiet after hearing such words?”

At Ariadne’s pointed rebuke, Cesare chuckled.

“So temperamental. You should have stabbed that bastard’s horse’s butt with a knife first.”

He stopped pulling the reins and looked up at Ariadne on the horse intently.

“If you fought needlessly, you could have been in big trouble.”

Cesare added.

“If there’s a problem, come running to this Count Cesare. I’ll appear in a cool way and take care of everything.”

Ariadne replied with a bitter smile. In my previous life, I saw you dozens, hundreds of times.

“Liar. You’re not that kind of person.”

At Ariadne’s answer, Cesare pretended to be surprised in an exaggerated way.

“No, how did you know I was a liar?”

He pulled the reins and walked as close as possible right next to Ariadne sitting on the saddle, looking up at her intently.

Cesare’s horse was a particularly tall war horse, so Cesare’s face only came up to around her thigh. It was a distance where it seemed like his breath could be felt on her thigh.

“Lady, could it be that you’re more interested in me than anyone else? You even knew I was carrying a baton last time.”

Ariadne breathed in. Cesare was accurately grasping the key point.

Yes, I’m more interested in you than anyone else. I know everything about you. I watched your every move for 14 years. Just watched. I won’t live like that anymore.

“That’s not true. Please leave me alone.”

“Whoa, so cold.”

Cesare clicked his tongue at Ariadne, who did not break down the iron wall despite him flirting with all his might.

“You know you’re the only one who treats me like this in San Carlo?”

“I’m so sorry I can’t join the trend.”

Cesare gave up at Ariadne’s unwavering attitude and went on about his own story.

“I came to catch the ‘Golden Stag’ today. If I catch that, the hunting competition victory is a sure thing!”

Ah, that ‘Golden Stag’. The ‘Golden Stag’ that Cesare had also ranted about in his letter. Apart from Cesare’s obsession with the ‘Golden Stag’, the story of the ‘Golden Stag’ was a well-known tale.

This was a story passed down like a legend in the Orte Forest.

In the Orte Forest, there lived a ‘Golden Stag’ that drank from the Fountain of Youth, and this ‘Golden Stag’ brought an olive branch to Justino I, the first king when the Etruscan Kingdom was founded.

It was said that washing one’s body with this water of eternal life would give one irresistible charm, and the person who caught the ‘Golden Stag’ would ascend to the throne, and if they had nothing to do with the throne, they would be successful in life.

Of course, since the Orte Forest was a forest in the northern part of the capital where many people came and went, if there really was something like the Fountain of Youth, they would have already laid water pipes to connect it to the San Carlo Palace.

Ariadne thought the story of the ‘Golden Stag’ was nothing more than a legend.

However, in her previous life, Cesare repeatedly claimed that he had seen the ‘Golden Stag’ in the Orte Forest when he was young, and that he was so handsome because he had washed his face with water from the spring where the ‘Golden Stag’ drank.

Even during the time when Ariadne yearned for Cesare, she thought that was a nonsensical story. Her guess was that it was a story Cesare made up to link himself with the founding myth because he lacked legitimacy for succession to the throne.

Cesare was indeed a sculptural beauty with delicate features, rarely seen in the human world. But his beauty was innate.

This was because it was often said that Cesare looked exactly like his late mother, Countess Rubina, whom he rarely met as she passed away soon after their engagement, except for their eye color.

“You’re not only a liar, but also a braggart.”

“Oh, how did you know that too?”

As they walked along the sound of water, exchanging nonsensical words, a small stream indeed appeared before their eyes.

“A stream has appeared. If we follow this downstream, we should be able to get out of the forest!”

“Shh!”

Cesare grabbed the shin of Ariadne on the horse and silenced her. Ariadne, thinking what’s with this guy, also covered her mouth with both hands as she looked ahead.

‘It’s the Golden Stag!’

It was a large golden male deer with handsome antlers symmetrically arranged.

The color of the deer’s fur, which should have been a light brown, was a brilliant golden hue, with each strand of fur emitting light. Instead of white spots, silver spots shone on its sleek body.

Seeing the ‘Golden Stag’, which she thought did not exist, flaunting its noble appearance before her eyes, Ariadne felt a sense of awe. And she glanced at Cesare again.

‘I thought he was just a guy who only bragged, but he did tell the truth sometimes…’

She felt a little sorry. Of course, that guilt was not even a fraction of what he had done to Ariadne.

Ariadne gripped her softening heart and glared at Cesare once more. Occasionally he does say sensible things, but no, that man is trash.

The deer, as vigilant as Ariadne, was carefully examining its surroundings as it drank water from the stream. Dignity flowed from its quietly bowed head.

Suddenly, the ‘Golden Stag’ raised its head and looked towards Ariadne and Cesare. The eyes of one deer and two humans met.