Ariadne did not know it at the time, but the set of Volto mask and accessories gifted by Cesare were the work of Collezioni’s costume department.

Isabella, who rode together in the De Mare family’s carriage to attend the masquerade ball, could immediately recognize this. It was because Isabella had failed to order the fleur-de-lis pattern items this season.

Cesare had placed an order with Collezioni’s accessories department a month and a half ago to have them made, and warned them not to take orders for similar items. So when Isabella inquired with Collezioni to have a mask made, she was rejected from the start.

– “Lady De Mare, I apologize. We cannot take orders for the same item.”

Isabella pleaded, asking if they could at least make other masks or even just accessories with the fleur-de-lis pattern if not the Volto mask, but Collezioni’s refusal was firm.

– “We received a large extra payment to proceed with this, so it will be difficult this season. Please contact us in advance before next year’s Feast of Saint Michael.”

So the fleur-de-lis bracelet with red rubies and green topazes that Isabella had coveted so greedily after seeing it in the catalog was now shining on Ariadne’s wrist.

Watching her elder sisters board the carriage, Arabella, who was too young to attend the masquerade ball, stamped her feet in envy.

“Sisters! You have to bring back lots of fun stories!”

Ariadne smiled brightly, but her warm smile was hidden by the golden Volto mask that covered up to her chin.

In contrast, Isabella, wearing a silver Colombina mask that revealed her entire mouth, did not give much of an answer, pouting her lips.

Ariadne waved to Arabella, and the carriage soon departed.

The atmosphere in the carriage carrying the two sisters was chilly. They looked each other over but did not exchange a single word.

Ariadne looked at Isabella and marveled that she was still quite remarkable. The mask she wore was a Colombina mask that only covered her eyes, intricately crafted in pure silver.

To appear wearing an item that still had 2-3 years left before becoming trendy, Isabella’s fashion sense was worthy of admiration.

On top of that, true to Isabella’s usual preference for bright clothes, her masquerade dress made of light silver satin with pearls fully embroidered was so luxurious that even from 100 piedi (about 40 meters) away, no one would be visible but her.

Despite the recent austerity measures by Cardinal De Mare making dress procurement difficult, it seemed Isabella had paid all the fees for this year’s dresses in advance with her overflowing surplus.

From the bright and extravagant clothes she often wore to the beautiful and delicate lips and jawline revealed beneath the silver Colombina mask, it was an appearance that anyone could tell was Isabella De Mare, even with a mask on.

In contrast to Isabella who tried to reveal her identity, Ariadne was dressed faithfully to the concept of a masquerade ball, where no one could tell it was her.

It was not intentional, but the deep gold dress that seemed to match the mask had the lining and edges all trimmed in pitch-black velvet.

A gold filigree hair ornament from Queen Marguerite’s gift was attached to the top of the mask, barely revealing even her hair.

Ariadne was tall for her age, so with everything covered like this, she did not seem like a young girl at all. Especially with her youthful face hidden, combined with her characteristically calm air, she seemed like a high-born noblewoman.

Riding alone together with Isabella in the carriage could be like sitting on pins and needles in a way, but with her face fully covered by a mask, it provided a subtle sense of stability.

Isabella’s trembling hands, the degree of sullenness in her lips, her breathing, the rising and falling of her chest – all of these were within Ariadne’s field of vision.

On the other hand, Ariadne did not have a single span of exposed skin. Her face was also perfectly hidden by the mask, so no one could imagine her expression.

This was a truly wondrous feeling. A sense of deviation, along with a slight sense of omnipotence. Ariadne smiled brightly behind the mask, though Isabella could not see it.

The prestige of the De Mare family was immense, so the royal family provided the saddled carriage normally only used by royalty for their daughters’ procession to the masquerade ball. With the lively sound of horse hooves, the two soon arrived at the San Carlo Palace.

With the voice of the palace attendant announcing their arrival, Isabella alighted from the Cardinal’s silver carriage with the attendant’s escort and nodded to Ariadne with an air of leisure, as if not to be outdone.

Ariadne thought Isabella was putting on airs, but she smiled wryly and nodded back.

Now that Isabella had left, there was no one inside the party hall who knew her identity.

Ariadne had an appointment to meet Julia and her friends at the ballroom, but before joining her friends, she decided to take a stroll around San Carlo Palace where she used to live and play a game of reminiscence, as opportunities to enter the palace were rare and opportunities to be alone were even rarer.

“I’ve heard a lot about you.”

Princess Lariessa de Valois, stammering a greeting in Etruscan, was quite different from what Prince Alfonso had imagined.

In the portrait sent by the Kingdom of Gallico, she was painted as a peerless beauty with only hair color different from Isabella De Mare, to the point it would be believable if they said it was her, so it felt incongruous. But the real Lariessa he met in person, while not someone who could be called a beauty, had a gentle impression and a bright smile – a genuine style of young lady.

The first impression of her was considerably good, more so than expected and even objectively.

Compared to the Gallico envoys who had acted in a high-handed manner while using the Gallico language, Princess Lariessa de Valois tried her best to use Etruscan.

Although she could not hide that it was a newly learned foreign language, she was doing her utmost to speak in the language of this country.

“Nice to meet you, I am Alfonso de Carlo.”

“I am Lariessa de Valois.”

She was a girl with light brown hair and deep brown eyes. As she was a year older than Alfonso, she could be seen as closer to a young woman than a girl.

She was of medium height at about 3 piedi 8 dito (around 163 centimeters), very skinny, and had a slightly hooked nose that made her look a bit irritable when her mouth was closed, but with her downturned eyes and kind response while speaking, she seemed like a very affectionate person.

“If it’s more comfortable for you to speak in Gallico, that’s fine too.”

“No, I try, Etruscan speak.”

Lariessa, wearing a golden dress, smiled brightly as she tried to put on her mask.

She, who was not that pretty, seemed to fall for the handsomely good-looking Alfonso at first sight. The smile did not leave her eyes and mouth, and she reacted greatly with excitement to Alfonso’s slightest actions.

Adults around them were looking at the prince and princess, still a boy and girl, with pleased faces.

“Hurry and help her, don’t just stand there.”

Queen Marguerite urged her son as if to say ‘listen up, young man,’ pointing to Princess Lariessa who was struggling to put on her mask.

Alfonso sighed inwardly without showing it, got up from his seat, and tied the strings of Princess Lariessa’s mask behind her head. The prince’s touch brushed past the edges of her hair.

If the gold-decorated Volto mask had not fully covered her face, Princess Lariessa’s grinning expression might have been exposed to everyone.

“Now, let us elders get up. We must let the young ones spend time together.”

As Leo III got up from his seat first, Queen Marguerite also stood up with a smile.

“You two have a good time.”

Princess Lariessa curtsied cutely with a slight bow and replied.

“Thank you, Your Majesty the Queen.”

With Queen Marguerite breaking the ice, the two naturally began conversing in Gallico.

Prince Alfonso could speak Gallico fluently, partly because his mother was Gallican and also because he had been thoroughly taught by Gallican tutors attached to him from a young age as part of his education.

“My father was enthusiastic about the education of us sisters. All of us sisters have deep knowledge in literature, embroidery, music, and art. Especially in poetry and painting, my elder sister Susanne is very talented.”

Prince Alfonso nodded his head and listened attentively to Princess Lariessa’s story like an excellent gentleman. He was kind-hearted by nature and overflowed with consideration even when unintended.

To Alfonso’s ears, Princess Lariessa’s story contained a lot about her deceased sister, Princess Susanne.

“Sister Susanne was truly beautiful. Her white and transparent skin was unparalleled, incomparable to anyone.”

Alfonso looked at Lariessa and tilted his head.

“But Princess, you also have beautiful and fair skin. Why do you only talk about your late sister? Tell me more about yourself.”

Beneath the Volto mask, Lariessa’s face reddened. It was the first time someone had told her to put herself before her sister.

Growing up under Susanne, who was more beautiful and talented than Lariessa in every way, she had been considerate. She loved her sister, but also deeply resented her.

However, on the outside, it had become ingrained in her to brightly praise her sister as if yearning for her, as if not envious at all. It was Lariessa’s own way of being loved.

But now, there was a handsome blond prince in front of her eyes, telling her she did not have to do that. It was an emotion she was feeling for the first time in her life.