Sister I am the Queen in This Life [Novel] Chapter 134

-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Harry Potta
Chapter: 134
Chapter Title: The Royal Carriage
-----------------------------------------------------------------
“You mustn't, Grand Duchess Lariesa!”

Count Rubiens threw himself down, wrapping his arms around Lariesa's legs over her dress.

“You must not sign it!”

“Let go of me!”

Grand Duchess Lariesa kicked out violently. Count Rubiens took the heel of her shoe squarely to his forehead and went rolling across the floor. Despite the count's pained groan, Lariesa didn't so much as bat an eyelash as she unleashed her fury upon him.

“Shut up, Rubiens! Don't you dare tell me what to do! What have I ever gained from listening to you!”

Grand Duchess Lariesa ground her teeth, recalling the advice Count Rubiens had given her the day she'd had her first fight with Prince Alfonso in the corridor of the Taranto Villa.

“Rubiens, what did I say! That day, when I asked, 'Could Prince Alfonso be treating me so coldly because he has another woman?', you told me there was absolutely no chance of that, given his character, and that I should focus on winning his favor!”

Her past humiliation stoked, Lariesa's anger blazed.

“I listened to you and fawned over Prince Alfonso like an idiot! 'Please meet with me, please look at me, please take a walk with me, Prince Alfonso!' How... how...”

Lariesa began to sob outright.

“How ridiculous I must have looked... How foolish... and stupid...”

Grand Duchess Lariesa was tearing herself apart, dredging up all the wounds of her childhood spent as an underachiever in the shadow of her older sister, Susanne. The younger sister who wasn't as good as Susanne, the child who was a little slow but kind. The words and glances from nannies and court ladies directed at her mother—*Susanne is so quick, but Lariesa is a bit slow, isn't she? It must be because she's the second child*—played vividly in her mind. Count Rubiens was still on the floor, clutching his head and groaning. It was unclear if he was even listening to her. Duke Mireille, wearing the kindest smile he could muster, placed an ink-dipped quill in the hand of the tear-streaked Grand Duchess Lariesa.

“There now, Grand Duchess. Go on. This is your chance for revenge.”

Grand Duchess Lariesa squeezed her eyes shut and wrote her name on the contract Duke Mireille had presented. Duke Mireille smiled broadly and blew on the ink to dry it. He then found the grand duchess's seal on the desk, melted some wax, and pressed the seal into her hand.

“This as well.”

Having already signed, she was past the point of no return. Lariesa pressed her own seal firmly onto the 'contract' Duke Mireille held out. The duke, beaming, rolled up the signed contract and tucked it into his coat.

“I keep my promises. Strike while the iron is hot, they say. How about today, while that little wench is still in the palace?”

Lariesa bit her trembling lip and said.

“The sooner, the better.”

“Excellent. A decisive young lady.”

“Keep your promise.”

“But of course. I shall bring the grand duchess good news within three hours.”

Duke Mireille left Grand Duchess Lariesa and the writhing Count Rubiens behind, calmly exiting her chambers. He already had a plan in mind for how to handle the matter.

“Your Grace. Did the talk go well?”

The duke's confidant fell in step with him as he emerged from the grand duchess's chambers.

“More than well.”

“What are your plans now? Since you've secured leverage over Grand Duchess Lariesa, will you simply withdraw...?”

“No. For this to become a true scandal for Grand Duchess Lariesa, something must actually happen to Cardinal de Mare's second daughter.”

Duke Mireille licked his lips with a sinister smile.

“You know that little game we often play at the Mireille estate? We'll do the same thing this time. Get me a royal carriage. And a coachman's uniform.”

The subordinate, as if this were a familiar task, asked the duke.

“Who will you send to handle it?”

“I am a gentleman. I must keep my promise to the lady. I'll do it myself.”

The subordinate seemed a little nervous. He cautiously tried to dissuade the duke.

“Your Grace... what we usually do is a very basic... a sort of amusement. This is a foreign royal palace, and our target is far too prominent for such a reckless approach. If you make even a small mistake, the repercussions will be immense.”

Ariadne was not only Cardinal de Mare's daughter but also the jewel of San Carlo's high society, and her piety was so renowned she had once been called a saint. Moreover, causing a stir within Palazzo Carlo would escalate into a diplomatic incident if they were caught. But Duke Mireille was annoyed by his subordinate's caution.

“Then we won't get caught! Why are you so anxious? What resistance can a tiny little girl possibly put up? You'll never accomplish anything great with that attitude!”

To his subordinate, who flinched and lowered his head, Mireille added with a vile smile.

“Besides, when something like this happens to a woman, she can't open her mouth.”

“What? Weren't we planning to attack her with a knife?”

“Tsk, tsk. So naive. Read the contract carefully. I said I would 'kill or harm' her. I never specified *how* I would harm her.”

“...!”

“Isn't it enough to ruin her value on the marriage market? The method is up to me. Isn't that right?”

***

The rest of the ball flowed as smoothly as water. After his honey-sweet tryst with Ariadne, Alfonso returned to his seat to find that Grand Duchess Lariesa had left the ball. The message was that she had retired early because she was 'not feeling well.'

*Was what I said during the second waltz that much of a shock?*

A pang of guilt struck him. But it was something that had to be done eventually. Soon, he would be able to bid Grand Duchess Lariesa farewell for good. Despite his guilt, Alfonso felt a liberating sense of freedom, as light as a feather, at Lariesa's absence. Ariadne, too, returned to her seat after her meeting with Alfonso as if nothing had happened.

“Ariadne!”

Raphael, who had returned from a waltz with Giulia, had been on pins and needles knowing Ariadne had been gone for quite some time. He finally breathed a sigh of relief when she returned.

“You startled me, Ariadne. Where have you been!”

“Just getting some fresh air with a spirit.”

Ariadne replied with a smile. If she had to pick the spirit of the narcissus at tonight's ball, it would undoubtedly be Alfonso. Her man was truly, so handsome, and mischievous at the same time. Raphael, completely unaware of what she was thinking, seemed flustered by her playfulness.

“I heard you even danced a waltz with Count Cesare while I was away. Have you ever seen such a troublemaker?”

“Oh my, did I do something I shouldn't have?”

In high spirits, Ariadne teased Raphael with a beaming smile. A bewildered Raphael reminded Ariadne of his duty.

“Ariadne, your 'friend' will not let me off the hook for failing to prevent your waltz with Count Cesare.”

Ariadne responded with a smile in her eyes.

“If that's the problem, it's all been sorted out. The spirit said he'd let it slide, since he made a mistake of his own.”

Finally realizing what Ariadne was talking about, Raphael sheepishly wiped his face.

“Well now, it seems I've received a failing grade as a partner.”

“Your university grades were good, so it's fine.”

Raphael's eyes widened as he asked.

“How did you know that? I've never boasted about it.”

“I just had a feeling.”

Ariadne laughed brightly and changed the subject.

“So, about that...”

***

“It's a shame we have to part already.”

“I know. I had so much fun today, Young Marquis Valdesal.”

“Raphael.”

Ariadne realized her mistake in address and stuck out her tongue with a laugh. Usually, when a ball was held, nobles would travel in small groups between the various balls held on the same day, enjoying the parties. The royal ball, however, was an exception. Out of courtesy to the House of Carlo, most guests stayed until the very end. If they had plans afterward, it wasn't for another ball but rather a small gathering among close friends for one more drink. Typically, the gentlemen would gather in a salon for a glass of spirits, or the ladies would share a bit of light sparkling wine before parting ways. Raphael and Ariadne were not close enough to share a private drink after the royal ball, so it was only natural for them to go their separate ways as soon as it ended.

“Still, I can at least escort you home.”

“I didn't bring my own carriage. If you don't take me, I can't get home.”

“Hahaha. What if we take the royal carriage to the roundabout and find that my carriage has vanished as well?”

“Shall we walk home?”

“I would be delighted. Walking all night with a beautiful signora to her home sounds quite romantic.”

“No, thank you. I'm in heels.”

The two exchanged silly banter as they waited for a royal carriage, emblazoned with the laurel and deer crest, in front of the 'Chamber of Lilies.' The royal carriages ferried guests at regular five-minute intervals. A considerable number of guests had already departed, leaving the area in front of the ballroom feeling deserted. A couple waiting in front of them boarded a royal carriage and headed toward the roundabout where the carriages of the various houses were lined up and waiting. There was almost no one left around them.

“Look, I think our carriage is coming.”

“Oh? That was fast.”

It was just moments after the couple ahead of them had left in their carriage. Ariadne tilted her head, puzzled that the orderly five-minute interval the royal carriages had been maintaining was broken.

“Well, there's nothing wrong with it arriving early.”

“No, I suppose not.”

Delays are unwelcome, but an early arrival is. The royal carriage with the laurel and deer crest stopped in front of Raphael and Ariadne. Raphael escorted Ariadne first, helping her into the carriage. Just as Raphael was about to climb in himself, the stout royal coachman stopped him.

“The message was to bring only the lady.”

“Pardon?”

Raphael asked, bewildered.

“A message from whom?”

The uniformed, elderly royal coachman answered in a low voice, his head bowed deeply.

“I have come on the orders of the Little Sun of San Carlo.”

“Ah.”

Raphael looked at Ariadne.

“It seems your spirit is calling for you.”

He asked her, his voice dripping with disappointment.

“Will the nymph of the spring be going to meet the spirit of the narcissus?”

Ariadne couldn't help but laugh at the ticklish nicknames.

“Don't call me that.”

However, she did not say she would refuse Alfonso's invitation and return home with Raphael. Raphael spoke with a wistful smile.

“Then it seems my role as a substitute partner for tonight ends here.”

Raphael de Valdesal took a small gift box from his coat.

“My 'Signora Offerta.' Please open it when you get home.”

Ariadne accepted the gift box with a smile.

“Thank you. It was a beautiful ball, thanks to you.”

Raphael thought it was more likely a beautiful ball thanks to the 'spirit of the narcissus' than to him, but he didn't let it show. Instead, he placed a farewell kiss on the back of Ariadne's gloved hand as she sat in the open carriage.

“Whenever you need a temporary partner, please call on me again.”

“I couldn't possibly impose on you so many times.”

“An imposition?”

He strongly denied it.

“Answering your call would be my pleasure.”

Ariadne replied with a smile.

“I'll think about it and let you know.”

Raphael knew it was time to say goodbye.

“Then, farewell.”

The royal carriage, carrying only the woman in the blue dress, left her partner behind at the ballroom and began to clatter down the granite road. The old coachman glanced back at the rear seat.