Chapter 30

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Translator: Harry Potta
Chapter: 30
Chapter Title: Don't You Need a Débutante Ball?
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The Mass in question, featuring Arabella’s revised version of the *Missa Brevis*, was performed without a hitch. The composer’s name was amended to ‘Isabella & Arabella de Mare,’ and the minor scandal from the first day of rehearsal seemed to have been smoothly swept under the rug without spreading too far. On the day of the Mass, people praised the extraordinary talents of the de Mare sisters, and Lucrezia basked in the attention, accepting the accolades on her daughters’ behalf. However, Isabella, too ashamed to face her friends, made the highly uncharacteristic decision to stay away from the grand cathedral that day. For a long time afterward, she remained secluded at home. Lady Camelia de Castiglione, a baron’s daughter, gleefully spread a new rumor throughout high society. Lady Giulia de Valdesal, a marquess’s daughter, didn’t go so far as to completely cut ties, but she decided to keep some distance. At the Mass, seeing Lucrezia preening in the front row, she let out a small laugh and whispered something to her mother, the Marchioness.

That summer, Arabella was grounded by Lucrezia and couldn’t go anywhere. Since coming to San Carlo, Ariadne had become acquainted with noblewomen of her mother’s generation, including Queen Marguerite, but she had yet to make any friends her own age. She, too, spent her days holed up in the library, making for a relatively quiet summer for the family. Then, one day, an invitation arrived for them after a long while. It was from the Marchioness de Cibo, a close confidante of Queen Marguerite.

“To Miss Ariadne de Mare, on the last Friday of August, I plan to host a salon for the young to appreciate works of art. Through the arrangements of merchants from the Republic of Porto, we will be able to present a number of rare pieces. His Highness Prince Alfonso and many other esteemed members of prominent families have graciously agreed to honor us with their presence, and I hope this will be an opportunity for you to broaden your social circle. I would be delighted if you could attend and share in conversation. - Sincerely, Marchioness Alejandra de Cibo.”

Nowhere on the invitation was Isabella’s name mentioned. Isabella was aghast and hastily summoned Maletta.

“Maletta! Is this the only invitation that arrived?”

“Yes, my lady…”

No amount of badgering the poor maid could produce a separate invitation for Isabella. In truth, as the Marchioness de Cibo was one of Queen Marguerite’s closest confidantes, it was only natural—perhaps even expected—that she would not send a separate invitation to Lucrezia’s daughter, Isabella. Lucrezia had never been on friendly terms with the Queen’s inner circle, and recently, there had even been an incident at the royal Mass where the Queen had essentially ordered Lucrezia to leave. But Isabella, jumping to conclusions, assumed it was all because of the composer plagiarism scandal at the Mass and suffered twice as much.

‘Everyone must be laughing at me. I have to make up for this somehow…!’

The fact that she hadn't been invited to a salon that even Prince Alfonso would be attending dealt a painful blow to Isabella’s pride. And so, with the mentality that if she couldn’t have it, no one could, Isabella decided that Ariadne wouldn’t be going either.

“You’re planning to go to the Marchioness de Cibo’s salon?”

Isabella brought it up at the dinner table where everyone had gathered, her tone feigning concern. The family, excluding Arabella who was still grounded and eating dry bread in her room, all turned to look at her. Isabella deliberately softened her voice.

“No, I’m not telling you not to go. Of course not. But the situation is a bit… well, you’re not even a débutante yet. You can’t go out without a guardian.”

It was a rare instance of Isabella saying something correct. In San Carlo, a noble young lady was treated very differently before and after her débutante ball. Before her debut, she was considered a child and could not go anywhere without a guardian. Only after her débutante ball was she recognized as a proper lady, allowed to make day trips to ‘respectable’ places like church, picnics, or a friend’s house without a guardian.

“After Mother suffered that embarrassment at the Queen’s Mass because of you, you can’t possibly ask her to accompany you to this, can you?”

Lucrezia’s expression immediately hardened. It seemed she hadn’t thought that far ahead when Ariadne received the Marchioness de Cibo’s invitation. Isabella pressed Ariadne with a syrupy voice.

“You wouldn’t do that, would you? You’re a good daughter, after all.”

Ariadne did not answer right away. When Ariadne remained silent, Lucrezia’s temper flared.

‘That little…!’

Just as Lucrezia was about to angrily declare that she would never go, the Cardinal de Mare, who had been eating, set down his utensils with a clatter.

“Yes, the time has come.”

“Pardon?”

“Time for what?”

The Cardinal de Mare looked at Ariadne and spoke.

“It’s time for the younger one to have her débutante ball.”

Ariadne looked at the Cardinal in astonishment. She was bewildered. In her past life, she had been engaged to Cesare de Como before she even had a débutante ball. After that, she was treated as a married woman, so she had never once experienced social events with the treatment afforded to a girl who had just made her debut. She had only ever attended various ladies’ social gatherings or charity events under the name of Count de Como. But to have her own débutante ball…!

It felt like a single event that encapsulated the dramatic change in Ariadne’s status compared to her past life. A small smile naturally formed on her lips. Overjoyed, Ariadne couldn’t contain her happiness, while in stark contrast, Isabella grew angry.

“Father? How can she have a débutante ball? This year’s débutante balls are already over, you know?”

This, too, was true. The débutante ball was an event held every April, in the blooming spring, where young noble lords and ladies were presented to the royal court. It was now August, when the foliage was lush and green.

“The second child has already been presented to Their Majesties, the King and Queen.”

He was referring to the audience with the Queen where Ariadne had been bestowed the ‘Heart of the Deep Blue Sea.’ While the ‘débutante ball’ did include a party with specially made fruit wine and a sequence where that year’s débutantes paired up for a waltz, its true essence lay in being presented to the King and Queen and being confirmed as a noble scion with the right to enter the court.

“This means she already has the right of entry to the court. All that remains is an introduction to society. That can be done by holding a separate ball and inviting people. It’s not without precedent.”

When someone whose right to enter the court was indisputable—such as a distant royal relative or a noble who had grown up as a playmate to a prince or princess—missed the official débutante ball due to travel or illness, they would often hold a separate ball to announce their societal debut. It was a privilege enjoyed only by the most esteemed individuals. Isabella’s face contorted.

“Father, are you really going to do that for her?”

Isabella asked, her expression like someone grasping at straws. Her father had always doted on her and her alone. He wouldn't grant this upstart a privilege that even she had never received. He couldn’t. But the Cardinal de Mare’s response mercilessly crushed Isabella’s hopes.

“You must get along with your sister, Isabella.”

He looked at his eldest daughter with a hint of disappointment and detachment.

“Your sister is also a member who will elevate the name of the de Mare family. After her débutante ball, her freedom of movement will be much greater. She will be able to do more.”

He turned to Ariadne and said.

“You have been doing very well lately, Ariadne. I am proud of you, even though I haven’t been able to give you much support.”

“Not at all, Your Eminence. I am always grateful for your grace.”

Ariadne, in the middle of her meal, felt a bubbly sensation in her stomach and could no longer bring herself to eat. She had always interacted with the Cardinal de Mare through a double layer of pretense, but today, her words of gratitude were, for once, somewhat sincere.

“Let’s speak separately before the débutante ball. There is something I need to instruct you on regarding this matter. Lucrezia, you should join us briefly as well.”

“I understand, Your Eminence.”

“Yes, Your Eminence.”

Lucrezia shot a twisted look at Ariadne. Isabella and Lucrezia exchanged a glance. Isabella spoke up spitefully.

“If you’re holding a separate débutante ball, you’ll need time to prepare, so it won’t be until early autumn at the earliest. Oh, what a shame. This salon is on the last week of August, and you need a guardian to go out before then, don’t you?”

Lucrezia eagerly took the bait her eldest daughter had laid.

“Your Eminence, it’s absolutely impossible for me to go to the Marchioness de Cibo’s salon now.”

She switched tactics and began to play weak for the Cardinal.

“I think it’s because it’s been so hot lately, but I haven’t been feeling well… And I can’t forget the way the Marchioness de Cibo looked at me at the Queen’s Mass. You know how my headaches, once they start, just go on and on, don’t you? In this condition, I really just… ahh…”

The Cardinal de Mare felt a headache of his own coming on from his wife’s whining. If he insisted that she endure it and accompany Ariadne to the salon, he knew his wife would not let him hear the end of it. He had already promised the second child a special débutante ball, so perhaps it would be all right for her to miss a salon hosted by one of the Queen’s confidantes just this once? It was certain that Lucrezia would be a fish out of water there, and it was true that besides her, there was no one else to act as a guardian.

“As a dutiful daughter, how could I possibly be selfish and insist on dragging Mother to a place where she feels uncomfortable?”

As the Cardinal de Mare was pondering how to proceed, Ariadne spoke up willingly. Isabella and Lucrezia exchanged a look that said, ‘What’s gotten into her?’ Isabella struck first.

“Sooo, it seems you can’t go this time, what a pity. The Prince will be there, too. Su-uch a shame.”

“That’s not true.”

As expected, Ariadne never let an opportunity slip away.

“My Gallican tutor, Mrs. Romani, is a distant relative of the Marchioness de Cibo. As it happens, Mrs. Romani’s residence is currently under renovation, so I understand she will be staying at the Marchioness’s home for the remainder of this month anyway. May I ask Mrs. Romani if she would be willing to accompany me to the salon that day as my chaperone?”

Lucrezia’s jaw dropped. Lucrezia had hired Mrs. Romani in the past, desperately wanting to get in with the Queen’s circle of ladies, hoping she might help build connections for Isabella. She had thought she might be able to use Mrs. Romani as a bridge to the Marchioness de Cibo. However, Mrs. Romani was not an assertive person, nor was she the type to actively arrange things, so Lucrezia had gained nothing in that regard. She hadn't bothered to fire her because her salary was low and she was a diligent worker, but she had all but forgotten about her.

‘And now this girl just picks it up and uses it like this!’

Unaware of Lucrezia’s seething anger, the Cardinal de Mare was delighted that a troublesome matter had been resolved and readily gave his permission.

“Yes, that’s right. I seem to recall hearing that Mrs. Romani is a distant relative of the Marchioness de Cibo. That works out very well for everyone. Go ahead and ask her. And be sure to show your gratitude properly.”

“Yes, Father.”

Ariadne bowed her head obediently.

“Make sure you give the child something extra to show her gratitude.”

Lucrezia, who was already vexed that Ariadne was going, was dealt another blow now that she had to give her money as well.

“...Yes, Your Eminence.”

“Do I have to take care of every little thing like this? Ah, never mind, let’s not even talk about it!”