Chapter 24

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Translator: Harry Potta
Chapter: 24
Chapter Title: The Queen's Gifts
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At Ariadne's sudden prostration, Countess Marquez and Marchioness Cibo looked startled, but Queen Marguerite remained calm, completely unperturbed.

- 'Why on earth is she refusing such a treasure?'

- 'I have no idea... Isn't this an honor for her family?'

- 'Right? This is a treasure that could become a family heirloom and then some.'

But unlike Marchioness Cibo, who seemed completely baffled, Countess Marquez appeared to have grasped a hint of the situation. Leaving the two noblewomen whispering as quietly as possible behind her, Ariadne, still prostrated, made her earnest plea to Queen Marguerite.

"A treasure unbefitting of its owner will only bring them harm. I came today wearing a flower in my hair instead of an ornament because I had no accessories that matched my attire. I am not worthy of possessing such an extravagant item, nor do I have the ability to protect it! Your Majesty, I beg you, please take pity on me and grant me your favor!"

The corners of Queen Marguerite's mouth set in a firm line.

"Ariadne de Mare. I know why you are acting this way."

The Queen gazed at Ariadne with an expression of pity, but the coldness on her face did not fade.

"However, this is a command from His Majesty the King. There is nothing I can do to help you."

She descended from her throne and personally helped the kneeling Ariadne to her feet, placing the ebony jewel box containing the 'Heart of the Deep Blue Sea' into her hands. The Queen's assistance and the 'Heart of the Deep Blue Sea' itself would have been a family honor and a supreme glory to anyone else, but to Ariadne at this moment, they were tantamount to a death threat. She could only stand there, pale with fright.

"Let me give you a piece of advice. The 'Heart of the Deep Blue Sea' is certainly too precious a treasure for you to possess. But aside from His Majesty the King, it is too grand for anyone to have. Many will covet it.

Let them keep each other in check. If you lack the ability to protect the 'Heart of the Deep Blue Sea' on your own, then make it so that several people covet it at once. It will not be easy, but it is the only way." Ariadne bowed her head. Her bow was impeccably polite, but in her heart, she wanted to scream, 'If you think it's so easy, why don't you try it yourself, Your Majesty!' Yet, objectively speaking, Queen Marguerite was already showing Ariadne more kindness than was required of her. Strictly speaking, she had no obligation to grant an audience and speak with Ariadne in the King's stead, much less to accept Ariadne's refusal of the 'Heart of the Deep Blue Sea'—which was akin to a childish tantrum—and she certainly had no duty to offer such valuable advice. And in truth, if Leo III did not change his mind, there was no better strategy than the Queen's counsel. Ariadne decided to hope that the Queen, having already shown generosity, might be persuaded to show a little more. She lifted her head, looking as pitiful as she could, met Queen Marguerite's blue-gray eyes, and asked earnestly.

"Then, Your Majesty, forgive my impertinence, but may I make just one request?"

*Please, please say yes...!*

The Queen lowered her thick lashes, glancing at the floor for a moment before looking back at Ariadne, a hint of curiosity in her eyes. Ariadne shrewdly judged the look in Queen Marguerite's eyes as a faint sign of consent. She rose to her feet at once, approached the Queen, and whispered a few things in her ear. After listening, Queen Marguerite nodded once, a faint smile playing on her lips.

"That is not an impossible request."

*Success!*

As Ariadne carefully concealed her surge of joy, the Queen added another remark.

"Besides, I have already prepared a similar 'gift' for you."

The Queen looked at Ariadne and wrinkled her nose.

"You audacious girl. That was not one request, but two."

Ariadne had nothing to say in response and simply giggled. Suddenly, the tense atmosphere in the drawing room dissipated. Behind them, Countess Marquez and Marchioness Cibo, who had been watching with wide eyes, burst out laughing, and the Queen's Gallican ladies-in-waiting smiled along with them.

"Your Majesty seems to be treating this young lady too well."

Countess Marquez, laughing aloud, complained to the Queen in a half-whining tone. The Queen smiled warmly and gave the countess a light-hearted rebuke.

"Try being twenty-five years younger than me. It's her youth and charm that endear her to me."

"It is like seeing Your Majesty in her youth."

"So clever and demure, just like you were."

The Queen's Gallican ladies-in-waiting added with soft laughter. The Queen smiled and replied.

"Now that you mention it, I suppose she is. Though I hope her fate will be different from mine."

At the Queen's words, the cheerful atmosphere in the drawing room once again subsided. * * * Ariadne returned home laden with the Queen's gifts. The ebony jewel box containing the 'Heart of the Deep Blue Sea' was as tall as Ariadne's forearm, and its width and depth were only slightly shorter than her outstretched arms, making it far too large even for Ariadne, who was tall for her age. But the item was too precious to entrust to anyone else. In the end, feeling as though she were carrying a chest rather than a jewel box, Ariadne managed to bring the 'Heart of the Deep Blue Sea' home.

"Ariadne, open it!"

Arabella, bright and cheerful, wanted to see the biggest, best, and most expensive new thing that had come into the house today. A legendary jewel that had been the talk of the kingdom years ago—if she could just see it once, she could boast about it to her friends for ages. Lucrezia and Isabella, on the other hand, were interested in more practical matters. Something like the 'Heart of the Deep Blue Sea' was not something they could have just by looking at it. Seeing it would only make them envious. But the smaller accessories or gold coins from the Queen?

"What's the point of opening that big box? You'll just attract thieves!"

Lucrezia scolded Arabella. Ariadne couldn't agree more.

"Show us the Queen's jewelry box you received today."

Isabella stuck close to Ariadne, acting friendly. The physical distance between them was unusually small. Before Ariadne could voice her discomfort, Isabella's slender white arms deftly snatched the Queen's jewelry box and placed it on a nearby table. - Thump! While not as heavy as the ebony box for the 'Heart of the Deep Blue Sea', the Queen's three-tiered jewelry box was still quite weighty. With her eyes wide with greed, Isabella quickly flung open the lid.

*Ah, so bright!*

The moment Isabella opened the lid, she squinted against the reflected light. The velvet-lined box was filled to the brim with various accessories, intricately crafted with gems ranging from half a carat to one carat.

"This is so beautiful!"

Isabella snatched the most eye-catching pair of topaz earrings from the top tray of the jewelry box. They featured one-carat, cushion-cut yellow topazes set in a gold frame crafted to look like tree branches. While the main stones were yellow topaz, the tiny gems studding the branches were sparkling amethysts.

"Mother, isn't this the exact same color as my eyes?"

"It's as if they were made for you, Isabella!"

Isabella went beyond just holding the earrings to her ears; she began to remove her own to put them on.

"Ariadne, give these to me. They suit me so perfectly. The earrings themselves will be sad if they can't hang from my ears. Gold looks best on blondes."

Struggling because the clasp wouldn't come undone, Isabella gave up on removing it without looking and examined the earring with irritation.

"Why won't this thing come off!"

A tiny, delicate engraving was carved into the earring. Ariadne calmly expressed her refusal to the fuming Isabella.

"Sister, I would love to give them to you, but unfortunately, I cannot."

"What?!"

Isabella raised her left eyebrow and glared at Ariadne. Her attitude screamed, *How dare someone like you?* The atmosphere instantly chilled. Isabella lowered her voice, threatening Ariadne.

"If you don't want to give them to me, just say so."

"It's truly not that."

Ariadne smiled gently, took the earring Isabella was struggling with, and unfastened the clasp for her. Once it was open, the full engraving became visible. - From MDB, to ARI. The initials were taken from Queen Marguerite's full maiden name, 'Marguerite de Brienne', and the first three letters of Ariadne's name. It was unusual that it used only her first name, without the surname.

"As these are gifts from Her Majesty, she had them all engraved with initials. Therefore... if the ownership of these accessories changes for any reason other than inheritance, it is punishable as an act of contempt against the royal family."

Ariadne explained kindly, as if she were truly troubled by the situation.

"They cannot be given to another."

Then, to Isabella, who might well try to acquire the accessories by other means even if Ariadne did not give them willingly, she delivered the final blow.

"And stealing them results in aggravated punishment."

Ariadne firmly pulled the other earring from Isabella's grasp. Helpless, Isabella had the golden earring snatched from her hand. After placing both earrings back in their original spot in the jewelry box, Ariadne closed the lid with a sharp click.

"I must ask for your understanding, Sister."

Isabella, her violet eyes wide, stared blankly at Ariadne, still not fully grasping the situation. But Ariadne paid her no mind, picked up the jewelry box, turned, and walked briskly toward her own room.

- "Besides, I have already prepared a similar 'gift' for you."

This was the thoughtful 'gift' Queen Marguerite had prepared for Ariadne. And Isabella hadn't even noticed what was most important. Ariadne quietly clenched the silk ribbon the color of a zelkova leaf, which she had untied from her hair and tucked away.