Chapter 194

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Translator: Harry Potta
Chapter: 194
Chapter Title: What You’re Best At, Sister
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“I have no words to excuse myself, even if I had ten mouths to speak.”

The director of the Rambouillet Almshouse, Mr. Albani, bowed deeply to Ariadne.

“This is all our fault.”

Director Albani bent his back to nobles more easily than he breathed, but today, he was sincere.

The guilt of having pushed a young lady out in front of the poor and locking the front door for their own safety was, at best, secondary.

This young lady had appeared with enough grain to feed the almshouse's thousand residents for two weeks.

This was a feat even Leo III had not managed.

In Director Albani's eyes, Ariadne now seemed more important than the King himself.

“From now on, I will ensure nothing like this ever happens again…”

He didn't feel the least bit angry, even seeing the maid, who was about his daughter's age, glaring at him with narrowed eyes.

Someone who brought grain and money deserved as much. It was understandable. There was no arguing with a budget.

The Rambouillet Almshouse was in a crisis where they might have to let go of their staff if things continued as they were. Or… take drastic measures.

“That’s enough of an apology.”

Ariadne stopped Director Albani.

It was because she was about to give him orders without any authority, but the director was deeply impressed.

‘So merciful!’

And her next words startled him.

“For the time being, I intend to supply this almshouse with food.”

The director's eyes widened. He had never seen anyone give something without asking for anything in return.

The noble ladies who donated wanted their contributions to display their own magnificence to the world and be praised for it.

The director becoming a master of flattery and insincere words was a result of his professional training.

The royal palace was no different. The budget from the palace was meant to control the poor.

Everyone has their own agenda. That's the way of the world.

“In return… there is something you must do.”

Hearing the words ‘in return,’ the director was actually relieved. *Of course.*

But the words that followed threw him into even greater confusion.

“…Isolate the poor who have fevers, boil the water before drinking, keep the sleeping quarters clean, and have everyone in the almshouse wear cloths over their faces?”

Ariadne gave a simple affirmation.

“Yes, that’s right. And the quarantine from outsiders must be enforced by all almshouse staff, including you, Director.”

In short, it meant turning the entire Rambouillet Almshouse into a great fortress, cut off from the outside world.

“And… you will cover all the costs involved?”

“Correct.”

The answer to the second question was also a crisp affirmation. Director Albani asked cautiously.

“By any chance… are you acting on behalf of the Holy See?”

Cardinal de Mare might have wanted to aid the poor without revealing himself.

The Rambouillet Almshouse was under the Queen's direct authority, so it was ultimately a royal affair. He might be reluctant to interfere.

It was a plausible theory, except for the fact that Cardinal de Mare had no particular interest in aiding the poor and was not the type to hide his actions.

But the answer to the third question was also the complete opposite of what Director Albani had expected.

“No. It is from my personal funds.”

It was astonishing that a young lady of her age had such a large personal fortune, and it was unbelievable that she would spend it on aiding the poor rather than on her own dowry.

In his astonishment, Director Albani said something he normally never would have. The question half-slipped from his mouth.

“Why go to such lengths…? Is there a reason?”

“…I wonder.”

Ariadne gave a bitter smile.

Even she couldn't honestly understand why she was doing this.

If she only thought of her own safety, she could just hoard all the grain and sell it at a high price.

If the King coveted it, she could offer him half, and he would likely overlook her selling the rest at a high price.

That would be a better way to earn merit than aiding the Rambouillet Almshouse.

‘But I can clearly see that everyone will die.’

I know the future. I can't just stand by, can I?

Ariadne gazed at the halo of light resting on the tip of her right hand, invisible to everyone else.

The light, shining like diamond dust even in the dim room, swirled once as if dancing in affirmation.

***

The story of Ariadne de Mare supplying food to the Rambouillet Almshouse spread throughout San Carlo in an instant.

The first to react was Cardinal de Mare.

The evening after the rumor spread through San Carlo, he immediately summoned his second daughter, but Ariadne could not go to see her father.

Since returning home, she had locked herself away and refused to meet anyone.

‘At least a week, preferably ten days.’

Not only she, but all the attendants who had entered the Rambouillet Almshouse that day were to stay in the annex for ten days.

They were not allowed to go out, and their meals were prepared in the main building's kitchen and delivered to the door of the annex.

Ariadne herself couldn't join the attendants in the annex quarantine, concerned about the gossip it would cause regarding her conduct.

However, she too holed up in her room in the main building with only Sancha, living completely isolated from the rest of the household.

‘It's obvious what the Cardinal wants.’

He'll demand to know ‘where the money came from.’

Ariadne wrote a note to Cardinal de Mare with a plausible explanation: she had supported them with money from selling grain and wax she had personally collected, which had risen sharply in value, along with the proceeds from auctioning off some art pieces she had purchased long ago, and the grain she still had left.

And so her father could review it himself, she sent over the entire management ledger of the de Mare estate.

Cardinal de Mare was a very rational man.

As long as Ariadne hadn't touched the de Mare family's household finances, he wouldn't interfere much with what she did with her own resources.

Of course, if the Cardinal found out that Ariadne possessed an overwhelming amount of grain, enough to feed the entire capital, there was no telling how he would react. But Ariadne had no intention of revealing that much to her father.

Unfortunately, besides Ariadne, her father was the only one in this household who lived by a rational philosophy.

“You! Get out here now!”

“You cannot go in right now, My Lady!”

“Move!”

The urgent voice of Maria, who had been unintentionally kicked out of Ariadne's private chambers and was now serving as an errand runner outside, could be heard.

Inside the room, Ariadne and Sancha quickly looked up.

*Slam!*

It was Isabella who stormed in, full of righteous fury.

“Hey! How can you be such a hypocrite?”

Panting, she glared at Ariadne with eyes full of hatred. Ariadne calmly asked back.

“What's the problem this time, sister?”

Isabella had just returned from a tea time with the ‘Silver Cross Ladies’ Society’ that afternoon.

The story of how Ariadne had visited the Rambouillet Almshouse and prevented a riot among the residents had spread far and wide, even to them.

Ever since Isabella was humiliated at the ball celebrating Duke Cesare's investiture, Countess Balzo had grown a bit cold, and Baroness Loredan, who hadn't even been there, acted as if she had witnessed the incident herself.

Since then, the Baroness's words and actions had become subtly provocative. It was the same at today's tea party.

“Oh, Lady Isabella. Is this the first you're hearing about the Rambouillet Almshouse? You live in the same house. Didn't your sister tell you? You two must not get along at all.”

Countess Bartolini, who should have sided with Isabella here, kept her mouth shut like a clamshell and looked away.

To make matters worse, Countess Balzo added, feigning ignorance.

“That younger sister? Wasn't she said to be deeply pious and faithful?”

“Is that all! They say she's wise, too. Just when people are starting to worry about a food shortage in the capital, she apparently has a great deal of grain, you know?”

“How remarkable for such a young lady. She has foresight.”

As she said this, Countess Balzo glanced at Isabella.

It was a silent rebuke, implying, *Seeing as your good and famous younger sister doesn't even treat you like a person, you must be a strange one.*

‘Oh, no…!’

A cold sweat ran down Isabella's spine.

She quickly racked her brain to find a way to satisfy Countess Balzo.

In the end, Isabella began to flatter her, suggesting they should also do volunteer work. She argued that if an individual like Ariadne could do good deeds, then surely a renowned organization like the ‘Silver Cross Ladies’ Society’ led by Countess Balzo could find a way to contribute to the nation.

But this time, she was met with betrayal from Letizia de Leonati, whom she had thought would be on her side forever.

“But, Isabella… the atmosphere lately is so grim…”

Clemente de Bartolini didn't miss a beat and nodded in agreement.

“That's right… It's scary these days…”

“I don't think this is the right time to be seeking out such places.”

*How dare you! You only got into the ‘Silver Cross Ladies’ Society’ because of me!* Isabella felt a surge of anger toward Letizia, but this wasn't the time to lash out as her temper dictated.

Being excluded like this was a situation Isabella was neither accustomed to nor could tolerate well.

She had always been the leader of the pack, the most beautiful girl standing at the forefront of the others.

For the first time in her life, Isabella ground her teeth, swallowed her anger, and quietly returned home.

But the anger had to be released somehow. Upon returning home, she immediately stormed toward Ariadne.

She felt like she would go mad if she didn't vent it somehow.

“You! After acting all high and mighty and telling me to refrain from visiting the slums for a while.”

A flash of fury lit up Isabella's violet eyes.

“Why is the same rule an exception for you?”

A person can endure starvation, but they cannot endure eating plain bread while the person next to them feasts on meat.

Visiting the slums was not at all important to the usual Isabella, but right now, she couldn't stand it.

“Does the plague avoid only you? Are you that special? How is this so unfair?!”

Ariadne had nothing to say to this.

In truth, she had gone to prevent the plague from spreading through San Carlo, which was qualitatively different from Isabella's child's play.

The risks one must be prepared to take differ according to the gravity of the matter.

But Ariadne couldn't think of any way to explain this to Isabella coherently.

Even if she could explain it, an unwilling Isabella would never have accepted it.

‘So this is the good thing about power.’

Ariadne decided to just bulldoze through the situation. ‘Power’ is the ability to force one's will upon another.

There was no need to nicely convince Isabella and move forward together in unity.

“Maria!”

Ariadne raised her voice.

“Yes, My Lady!”

A loud reply came from outside the door.

“My sister Isabella is feeling unwell and will be confined to her room for the time being.”

“W-what?”

“Make sure my sister does not leave her chambers for ten days!”

Despite Isabella's bewilderment, a clear reply came from outside the door.

“Understood, My Lady!”

“When you escort my sister Isabella to her room, don't forget to wrap a cloth over her face as well.”

“Yes!”

While Maria briefly stepped away to get a face cloth for Isabella, Isabella lunged violently at Ariadne.

“Hey! I've had enough of you!”

A physically aggressive Isabella was no match for Ariadne to begin with, but it didn't even need to come to that.

Sancha resolutely blocked her path.

Sancha firmly grabbed Isabella's raised wrist and warned her.

“My Lady, do not act rashly.”

“Ha! Now even a mere servant girl dares to disrespect me?!”

Ariadne watched Isabella, who was being held by Sancha, without batting an eye.

“You’re stopped by a subordinate because you resort to unladylike physical violence, sister.”

“How dare you… say that!”

Ariadne looked at Isabella coldly.

“Sister. Let me give you some advice. When the wind blows hard, the best thing to do is lie low. You're not usually this careless.”

The Isabella of her past life was like a high mountain she couldn't dare to challenge, but now, she was so petty and insignificant that dealing with her was becoming tedious.

“You know what you're best at, sister.”

Whispering to men. Scheming from behind the scenes. Pretending to be a good person while manipulating public opinion to bury someone.

“I thought you were more sophisticated than this, sister.”

Or maybe, with a ruined reputation, Isabella can't use her special talents?

Ariadne turned her back on Isabella.

“Good luck.”

And with that, she left Isabella behind and went from the drawing-room straight into her private bedchamber.

“Hey! Hey!!”

Isabella struggled, but Ariadne's maidservant did not release her tight grip on her wrist.

“Let go!!!”

Despite her frantic struggles, there was a knock from outside.

*Knock, knock.*

“Everything is ready.”

“Maria? It's Sancha. I'm opening the door now! Please take the young lady immediately!”

Isabella felt like a piece of luggage.

The maid named Maria, wearing a cloth over her own face, came in, forcibly covered Isabella's face with another, and then gestured to the two maids she had brought with her.

As if escorting a prisoner, the maids linked arms with Isabella on both sides and began to drag her away.

“I said, let go!!”

But the maids didn't even flinch. Tears welled up in Isabella's eyes.

As she was dragged away by the maids, Isabella desperately racked her brain.

She needed a reversal. This couldn't continue. She had to find something she could do.

What could there be…?