Sister I am the Queen in This Life [Novel] Chapter 125

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Translator: Harry Potta
Chapter: 125
Chapter Title: The Young Marquis of House Valdesal
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Never in his life had François met a woman who asked about a stranger's salary upon their first meeting.

“In Etruscan, do young ladies go around asking men for their salaries?”

He stared at the woman with light brown hair in disbelief. Under the pouring spring sunlight, her carrot-colored eyes shone as she spoke boldly.

“What’s your salary? I’ll give you double.”

François’s eyes wavered. He barely managed to regain his composure. It was true that he needed money, but his new job paid very little. Pennies would only ever add up to pennies. Even if his salary doubled, it would be ridiculously insufficient for what he needed.

“No, thank you. Please be on your way.”

He turned to leave.

“Wait!”

The woman deliberately stopped him.

“François. *Il domestico* of the House of Viscount Leonati. From the Kingdom of Gallico. Currently employed by a viscount’s family, despite being qualified to work in a much larger household. You know you’re incredibly suspicious, right?”

“How do you know my name? Did you have me investigated?”

François scowled, glaring at Giulia. It was more a show of anxiety than aggression. He couldn’t afford to draw anyone’s attention right now.

“Investigated? Your employer told me.”

“What is it you want?”

Giulia rolled her eyes. *What do I want?*

“You.”

“Pardon?”

François asked back, genuinely bewildered. Only after the word left her lips did Giulia realize how it must have sounded. Her face turned red as she stammered.

“I mean, not that I want to have you, but, well, I want to hire you! Come work for our house as an *il domestico*!”

“And where is your house, exactly?”

Giulia realized that François truly had no idea who she was. She felt as though she had lost this round, but that was fine. If she could successfully entice this man to her house today, she would have another chance to compete. She could win the next round. Giulia was confident.

“I am Giulia de Valdesal, daughter of the Marquis of Valdesal.”

She curtsied gracefully. Flustered by a marquis’s daughter curtsying to him, François returned the gesture. Even in his haste, his form was sharp and impeccable—a sign of no ordinary bearing.

“Would you consider working for the House of Marquis Valdesal instead of the House of Viscount Leonati?”

“This is all so sudden…”

“Double the salary, a private room, and one week of paid vacation a year.”

At the mention of a private room, François’s eyes wavered. He was having a truly difficult time adjusting to his new life, sleeping crammed in a room with eight other people. Noticing his hesitation, Giulia delivered the finishing stroke.

“Triple the salary. Bonuses paid separately. That’s my final offer.”

“…I will give it serious consideration. Where can I contact you?”

“Ask for me at the Valdesal estate. I’ll let them know to expect you.”

Though Giulia spoke with bravado, she shuddered at the thought of the nagging she would receive from her mother for offering an *il domestico* triple his salary. But her mother would give in if she persuaded and pleaded. Honestly, if her mother saw François’s face, persuasion and pleading might not even be necessary. An *il domestico* that handsome wasn’t easy to find.

*Why did I do this?*

And yet, a vibrant energy coursed through her, starting from her fingertips. For the first time, she felt alive.

The day of the royal ball dawned. Ariadne began her preparations early in the morning for the evening’s festivities.

“My lady! Time for your perfumed bath!”

Having become the lady of the house in both name and reality, Ariadne’s grooming was on a completely different level than before. Her standard of living had skyrocketed on two occasions: once after moving from the rural farm to the grand capital estate, and again after defeating the Apostle of Acereto, raising her reputation in high society and solidifying her position within the family. It had risen once more after she gained control over the household’s management, to the point where anyone would now call her a great noble of San Carlo, enjoying the finest culture and trends of the central continent.

“Which scented oil shall we use for your hair?”

Sancha asked after settling Ariadne into the enormous porcelain bathtub. Ariadne tilted her head.

“Is it necessary to worry about fragrance when I’m only going to meet the heir of House Valdesal?”

At a royal ball, everyone had their own partner. Alfonso and Ariadne would be able to do little more than exchange glances. She had no intention of applying scented oil for a man she didn’t know.

“Wow, my lady, is the heir of House Valdesal not even worth a glance to you?”

Ariadne blushed at Sancha’s awe-filled teasing.

“No, that’s not it…”

“So the Young Marquis isn’t even worthy of sharing a table with you?”

“No, no…”

It was simply that she had a lover, so other men didn’t catch her eye. The fact that her boyfriend was a prince was merely a coincidence. As Ariadne buried her scarlet face in the water, Sancha giggled.

“And even if he doesn’t catch your eye, you’ll meet all sorts of people at the ball. If you leave a lingering scent as you pass by, people will remember you, won’t they?”

“You sound like someone who’s been to a hundred balls.”

Ariadne’s comment was one of admiration, but Sancha, who had never been to a ball, blushed.

“Well, that’s just what I imagine! Unless I’m wrong, of course!”

“No, you’re right.”

Ariadne nodded and obediently chose the white jasmine oil, a luxury product imported from the Moorish Empire. She closed her eyes, entrusting her body to the maids who skillfully applied the oil to her ebony hair.

“My lady. Since your dress is dark blue, will you be wearing the ‘Heart of the Deep Blue Sea’?”

“Hm. No. I don’t want to stand out that much. Bring me the one woven with white topaz and several sapphire pendants. The matching earrings as well.”

Ariadne had commissioned a new set of jewelry after switching her business to Collezione. The gifts from Queen Marguerite had been small gems meant for a young girl, with almost no stones grander than three carats, so she needed a new set to match her more luxurious wardrobe.

“It’s such a shame you couldn’t wear the crimson dress.”

She was referring to the dress Ariadne had intended to wear for the Grand Mass. It was a masterpiece from Collezione, made of bright red satin that shimmered with every ray of light, making the wearer look like a single rose in bloom.

“I’m sure I’ll have a chance to wear it someday.”

Ariadne, too, seemed disappointed as she answered with a sigh. Today was her first public engagement since the end of her mourning period. As it was a royal ball held as part of the ‘Spring Festival,’ she had wanted to wear a color reminiscent of spring flowers, but she chose a more demure style, wary of people who might whisper about her dressing up so soon after a period of mourning.

“Instead, I’ll make your hair and makeup the absolute best,” Anna said with a smile. Ariadne returned it with a smile of her own.

“Your skills, Anna, are always the finest in San Carlo.”

And that was no empty compliment. The deep blue Collezione dress Sancha had helped her into and the alluring eyes Anna had drawn on her suited Ariadne like a painting. Her voluminous hair was half-pinned up, braided like a coronet, and then decorated with a diamond-dusted ribbon. As her hair and makeup harmonized with the blue dress and the white topaz and sapphire jewelry set, Ariadne looked like Artemis, the goddess of the hunt worshipped by the pagans.

“My lady, I think I’m falling for you!”

Instead of recoiling as she once might have, Ariadne met Sancha’s words with a laugh. It was already late afternoon. It was time for her partner for the ball to come and pick her up.

“Has the Young Marquis of Valdesal arrived?”

“Yes, he is waiting in the main drawing room downstairs.”

“When did he arrive? Has he been waiting long?”

“No, he just got here.”

Relieved that she had not been rude to her guest, Ariadne hurried downstairs. She prayed that Giulia’s brother was not a strange or unpleasant person as she headed for the drawing room. Considering Giulia’s personality and character, it was unlikely he would be too odd, but Giulia had spoken so ill of her brother that Ariadne couldn't help but wonder.

*She said he was antisocial… that he rarely leaves the house and just stays cooped up in his room…*

Ariadne thought as she entered the main drawing room.

*I just hope it’s not awkward being with him.*

*Swish.* Pushing aside the curtain hanging in the arched doorway, Ariadne greeted her guest.

“Greetings, Young Marquis of Valdesal.”

She said, bowing her head respectfully.

“I am Ariadne de Mare, the second daughter of the de Mare family.”

“I am Raphael de Valdesal. Alfonso—no, His Highness the Prince, has told me about you.”

His voice was incredibly soft. Ariadne lifted her head to look at him. A young nobleman with dazzling silver hair was bowing to her.

“Please, feel free to call me Raphael.”

Ariadne hastily lowered her gaze, trying to stop herself from staring at him. It was rude.

The young man before her was as white as if sculpted from pure alabaster. The only other color on his entire person was his eyes, which were too red to be called brown. His sister, Giulia, had brown hair and hazel eyes. She also had delicate features and a small face, which gave her a somewhat cold first impression. But the Young Marquis of Valdesal, while sharing those delicate features, had slightly downturned eyes and lips that seemed to smile even when his expression was neutral. His impression was the complete opposite of his sister’s.

“Oh, have I surprised you?”

He swept his hair back. The fine, fluffy strands glittered as they fell through his fingers.

“My hair and eye color are different from most people’s. It often startles those who see me for the first time.”

“No, not at all. My apologies.”

He smiled placidly, as if he had read her guilt. He added, staidly, but with a hint of justification, “The sunlight can be a bit harsh and hurts my eyes. But other than that, I’m not particularly unusual.”

To change the subject, she decided to compliment her partner for the ball. He was wearing a light gray doublet, wine-red hose, and dark brown boots that perfectly complemented his silver hair and red eyes. The red cape draped over his shoulders was a stylish touch.

“Light-colored clothes suit you well.”

“Thank you. I made an effort, as I came at Alfonso’s request.”

At this, Ariadne couldn’t help but ask him with a wide smile.

“How do you know Alfonso?”

He seemed pleased by her delight.

“You haven’t heard from him yourself?”

Lately, when Ariadne met with Alfonso, they spent more time doing other things than talking. The thought made her blush unconsciously as she shook her head.

“No, I haven’t.”

“How disappointing.”

He smiled gently.

“We’ve been friends since we were young. When His Highness turned six, the palace sought out playmates of his age, and I was chosen as I was in the right age group. Later, when His Highness gathered a group of young knights to train with, I naturally joined them.”

“Ah, so you’re childhood friends.”

“You could say that. However, I became somewhat distant from His Highness the Prince when I left to study in Padua.”

Raphael didn’t tell her the whole story. It could have been a social gesture, omitting overly detailed stories to someone he had just met, but it could also have been an unconscious act born from a desire to make a good impression. Not even he knew which it was.

“Lady Ariadne—oh, may I call you that?”

“I don’t mind.”

“It seems Alfonso cares for you a great deal. I received a letter from him after a long time and wondered what it could be about, but the entire letter was about you, Lady Ariadne, with repeated pleas for me to take good care of you.”

Contrary to Giulia’s description of him as antisocial and a recluse, Raphael knew what to say and what not to, knew how to treat others well, and was extremely sociable. He didn’t seem shy at all, and the conversation flowed as smoothly as if she were meeting a female friend. Ariadne found herself quite liking him.

“Young Marquis of Valdesal, I look forward to spending the day with you.”

Raphael smiled agreeably and offered his left arm to his friend’s lady. Ariadne accepted Raphael’s escort and boarded the Valdesal carriage. Once inside, Raphael said with a smile.

“My lady, shall we proceed to the palace where the prince awaits?”

It was the start of a pleasant evening.