Chapter 41

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Translator: Harry Potta
Chapter: 41
Chapter Title: A Kind Prince
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The day of Ariadne’s débutante ball was a bright late summer day, with a high sky and fluffy clouds lingering on the western horizon. On a day like this, the débutante herself would typically be waiting at her vanity, careful not to let her meticulously applied makeup run with sweat. Ariadne, however, had been up since the crack of dawn, directing nearly forty servants in decorating the hall and first-floor entrance of Cardinal de Mare’s residence, which would serve as the ballroom.

“You there! The ones carrying the flowering trees, be careful not to drag them on the floor. Bring them over and set them up in their designated spots!”

While Ariadne lacked a certain flair for fashion, decoration, and all things beautiful, Sancha compensated for it brilliantly. Ariadne would provide ideas for the interior design she envisioned—or more accurately, honest descriptions of interiors she had actually seen in her past life—and Sancha, hearing only the explanation, would bring them to life.

“Tie the fresh flower bouquets to their designated spots, one by one, and move the branch ornaments to the center!”

Ariadne had all the tapestries depicting various tales—a staple of typical ballrooms—taken down. Instead of commissioning new tablecloths, banister covers, and chair covers, she controlled costs by using the standard white linens found in any household. In their place, she sent men to the forest on the Bergamo estate to cut down a large number of white crape myrtles. The white crape myrtle was a type of shrub that did not grow tall, and in late summer, it bloomed profusely with white flowers that covered the entire tree. She had entire flowering branches cut and arranged in specially prepared pots and vases, creating a veritable forest indoors. The fantastical interior made it seem as if the party guests were stepping into a forest. In the grand hall on the first floor of the Cardinal’s residence, the only things that betrayed the fact that they were indoors were the de Mare family crests hanging on the walls. The violet-blue dolphin crests and the white crape myrtle branches clashed slightly, but it couldn't be helped.

*I have to satisfy the one who’s footing the bill.*

The reason Cardinal de Mare had allowed this ball was not out of love for his clever second daughter, but to flaunt the growing power of the de Mare family in San Carlo. The de Mare family had added a new ‘product’ to its lineup—the second daughter, ‘Ariadne de Mare’—and everyone was invited to come and see. Just as a brand name is essential when promoting a product, the violet-blue dolphin crest of the de Mare family was indispensable for today’s débutante ball.

“My lady, now that it’s decorated just as you said, it looks so unique and luxurious!”

Sancha exclaimed in admiration. Fresh lilies, purchased separately from a florist, were tied to the banisters like bouquets, adding to the splendor.

“The decorations are all white flowers, so the family crests do look a bit out of place.”

Ariadne found it difficult to judge which color combinations were good or bad, but if Sancha said so, it must be true.

“It would have been much more harmonious if there were some blueish flowers…”

“Is there no way to get some now?”

“I’ve checked all the florists in the city, but none of them could supply blueish flowers in large quantities. This is the best we can do for now.”

Sancha glanced at her disheartened lady and added another word of comfort.

“Still, it emphasizes the theme of a pure white débutante ball, which is lovely. It’s elegant and fantastical. Please don’t worry too much.”

Just as Sancha said, the sweet scent of a forest meadow, emanating from the freshly cut flowers and trees, filled the entire residence of Cardinal de Mare. This style would become wildly popular in the spring of the following year, 1123. Ironically, this was a trend originally started by Isabella in the past. The year 1123 was also when Ariadne, in her previous life, had held her engagement ceremony with Count Cesare de Como. For Isabella, who could never be satisfied unless she was superior to Ariadne in every way, that moment marked the point where she was no longer financially superior to her sister. So, unable to host a ball as lavish as the one thrown by Ariadne’s fiancé, Isabella had gotten creative. To further accentuate her own fairy-like appearance, she had pestered her father into having flowering trees cut down from the Bergamo estate to use as decorations, thereby changing the trend completely. However, the trend did not last long. As nobles vied to outdo one another by clear-cutting forests on their estates for decorations, the small shrubs were nearly wiped out. When winter approached, the commoners’ firewood became scarce due to the nobles’ extravagance, prompting the royal palace to issue a ban. Even after the use of fresh flowers and trees was banned, the trend barely survived through the use of silk to create artificial flowers and trees. But since they could not replicate the fragrance and vitality, the fashion soon changed.

“Once or twice should be fine.”

As she explained the story behind the decorations to Sancha, Ariadne felt a strange, stinging pain in her left ring finger.

*It must be from fatigue.*

At eight in the morning, an unexpected gift arrived.

“Lady Ariadne, there are three carriages at the main gate. They say they’re from the royal palace…”

At the butler Niccolo’s words, Ariadne hurried to the entrance. *Strange, the only person I’d expect anything from at the palace is the prince,* she thought. When she reached the entrance and saw what had arrived, she gasped, covering her mouth with both hands. Purple hydrangeas filled the entire front entrance of the de Mare residence. The purple hydrangeas had arrived in three open-topped carriages, each so lavishly filled with fresh flowers that it looked as if a person could leap into them and be cushioned by a cloud. The sight was truly magnificent. Standing behind Ariadne, Sancha looked as if she was about to let out a dolphin-like shriek.

“A message from His Highness the Prince.”

The attendant from the prince’s palace who had driven the carriages handed her a letter from Alfonso. Ariadne and Alfonso had exchanged so many notes that she could probably draw the gold-leaf crest of the prince’s palace with her eyes closed. “Dearest Ariadne, the sight of purple hydrangeas blooming among the white flowers has remained in my memory. I hope you, too, will remember the hydrangeas from that day. I won’t be late. See you soon. - Alfonso.”

“My goodness, what is all this?”

Sancha, who had followed Ariadne out, cried in amazement.

“They’re so beautiful, my lady! And they’re violet-blue, a perfect match for our family crest!”

It was a thoughtful gift from Alfonso, who had learned from their correspondence that Ariadne had ordered only the minimum number of lilies from the florist due to budget constraints. Since the city shops had no blue hydrangeas, he must have sourced this quantity from the royal greenhouse. Such a warm hand, giving her what she needed without a single boastful word. Her heart swelled at the warmth. But Ariadne stopped herself from getting swept away by the emotion. If she surrendered to that warmth, she would never want to return to her cold, lonely world. The day the golden prince discovered her wretchedness, she would be alone again, and the solitude then would be unbearable. So instead, she smiled playfully and teased Sancha.

“You should be hating this.”

“What? Why?”

“The ball starts in four hours, and we have to weave all of these into the decorations before then.”

“What?!”

Sancha’s jaw dropped. She then began scurrying around the entrance like a little chick.

“If I ask the maids who do the menial chores for help, will they listen?”

“Do you have that many close friends among them?”

“Two or three… What should I do?”

Ariadne had a solution for everything.

“You need to grease the wheels.”

Ariadne sought out Niccolo, the butler. He was unloading the hydrangeas from the carriages and came running when Ariadne called.

“Yes, my lady.”

Ariadne praised him with a smiling face.

“Niccolo, I’ve been so indebted to you, but I haven’t had a chance to properly thank you.”

“Oh, please don’t say such things.”

Though his words were polite, Niccolo the butler watched Ariadne with an anxious gaze. He seemed worried, wondering what unofficial task she was about to give him after sweet-talking him like this. Ariadne reached into her dress and pulled out a gold coin. It was a one-ducat gold coin of 96% purity, minted in the Republic of Porto.

“Sancha needs to borrow the maids for about two hours, urgently. I need you to gather them and smooth things over with my mother. This isn’t just for your trouble today; consider it a greeting, and a request for your continued cooperation.”

A spark ignited in Niccolo’s eyes. He was no stranger to accepting small sums of money in exchange for favors, but this young lady operated on a different scale. He had wanted to avoid getting entangled with the illegitimate second daughter in a household tightly controlled by Lady Lucrezia, but if she was willing to offer a gold coin as a mere greeting, he was more than happy to exchange favors. Besides, today was the day of a banquet that Cardinal de Mare himself was paying special attention to. Lucrezia couldn’t make a big fuss over him mobilizing a few maids on short notice.

“I would have done it for you even without this, of course!”

Niccolo said, snatching the gold coin and tucking it away faster than a crab scuttles.

“Alright, Sancha! Go up to the third floor and wake up all those lazybones sleeping in!”

While Sancha became the temporary boss of the third-floor maids to handle the decorations, Ariadne returned to her room on the second floor to get ready. Sancha had wanted to help Ariadne dress as well, but it was impossible to do two things at once.

“My lady, please sit here!”

Ariadne’s preparations were to be assisted by the new maids, Anna and Maria. Anna was in charge of hair and makeup, while Maria handled the dress. Anna had previous experience as a dressing maid for the young lady of the house where she used to work and was quite skilled with her hands.

“You have a face that takes makeup so well. Your features are perfectly symmetrical and placed just right. A little makeup to enhance your glamour will make you look perfect.”

Her skin needed no work. At fifteen, her complexion was soft and dewy, perfect on its own. Anna threaded Ariadne’s dark eyebrows and the fine hairs along her hairline to create a classic look of beauty, then used a pale pink to bring a healthy glow to her cheeks.

“I’ll focus on emphasizing your eyes.”

Ariadne’s natural expression was somewhat cold. Her eyes were lively when she was feeling emotional, but they looked stern when she was impassive. Using kohl, Anna drew the corners of Ariadne’s eyes slightly downward and filled in the spaces between her lashes, creating the face of a conventional beauty. When she had applied the maximum amount of makeup permitted for a noble lady in San Carlo, the image of a picturesque beauty emerged.

“My goodness, you’re so beautiful!”

“I almost didn’t recognize you, my lady!”

Even Maria, who had been pressing the dress, took a step closer, everyone marveling at Ariadne’s transformed appearance. Just then, Sancha returned from finishing the decorations and entered the room.

“My lady! You look absolutely beautiful!”

At the maids’ fuss, Ariadne gave an embarrassed laugh and shook her head.

“If you keep saying that, I’ll start to think I’m actually pretty. Too much flattery is rude, you know.”

“It’s not flattery! You really are beautiful!”

Sancha thumped her chest in frustration. After asking the hopping Sancha a few questions about the preparations outside, Ariadne casually inquired about her older sister.

“How are things with Isabella? Is she quiet?”

“She’s getting ready with a huge fuss. Boxes from the Collezione dress shop have been arriving almost every day for the past week.”

Ariadne actually seemed relieved. Sancha looked puzzled that Ariadne wasn’t the least bit angry after hearing that Isabella had ordered a large number of dresses and accessories from Collezione.

“Aren’t you upset that Lady Isabella got her outfit from Collezione? I would be furious. I’d be thinking, ‘I’m the star of the show! Why is my sister getting a more expensive dress than me!’”

Ariadne smiled and replied.

“I’m just glad she’s channeling her efforts into something constructive. Ordering a dress for herself is, at the very least, an effort to improve herself. It’s a relief she’s not trying to harm me.”

With Maria’s help, Ariadne put on the first of her débutante dresses, which had arrived from the Ragione dress shop last week. It was an elegant Mikado silk dress with a pentagonal neckline. The fabric was a bit heavy for the late summer transitioning into early autumn, but it fully reflected Ariadne’s request for a sturdy material that would hold its shape and not reveal the lines of her body. Below the waist, the skirt flared out softly in an A-line, and a slightly long train followed from the back, accentuating the advantages of Ariadne’s tall, well-proportioned figure. Sancha took the ‘Heart of the Deep Blue Sea,’ which she had retrieved from Ariadne’s safe earlier, out of its ebony jewelry box and fastened it around Ariadne’s neck. Dressed like this, Ariadne seemed to shine even from several paces away.

“I can’t tell if it’s the dress that’s shining or you, my lady. You’re so beautiful!”

Ariadne, however, seemed uncomfortable.

“The dress… The chest area feels strangely uncomfortable.”

“Pretty clothes are always uncomfortable! It’s because you have such a nice figure, my lady.”

Sancha dismissed Ariadne’s complaint, thinking it was simply because her lady wasn’t used to wearing fine clothes.

“You wrapped the linen cloth as usual, right? It feels a little loose.”

Sancha stuck out her tongue playfully.

“You’re sharp as a tack. I wrapped it less tightly than usual so the dress would look better. Maria said she had something good, so we tried it.”

Sancha held up something that looked like a metal clasp.

“It’s called a hook. The ends are sharp, so you attach them to both ends of the linen cloth, and it catches on the fabric to hold it like this! Maria brought it, saying a friend of hers uses one. Since you don’t have to tie a knot, the dress won’t bulge! It’s such a great help for the silhouette!”

Sancha praised Maria as if she were very proud of her. Maria, however, seemed a little uncomfortable with the spotlight.

“It was nothing, really…”

Sancha reassured Ariadne.

“I asked about the hook, and even Mrs. Marini said it was fine. Apparently, a lot of young ladies have been secretly using them lately. The binding might be less tight than when you tie a knot, but the dress fabric is sturdy enough to press everything down, so she said it wouldn’t be a problem!”

While the girls were chattering excitedly, another maid knocked on Ariadne’s door.

“Second Lady, the guests are arriving.”

Ariadne checked her appearance in the mirror. She turned to her personal maids with a bright expression.

“Well, shall we go?”

“Yes!”