Chapter 21

"The Heart of the Deep Blue" was a vivid sapphire, weighing 30 carats, discovered in the Tarento estate. Not only was it large, but its clear yet deep color was extremely rare, making it an exceptionally valuable item. The circumstances of its discovery were also mysterious. According to the person who first found "The Heart of the Deep Blue," a pod of dolphins appeared on the shore, placed the sapphire, and then disappeared.

Tarento was known as an estate by the sea, and there were no known sapphire mines, which made the gem even more talked about, stimulating the desires of many enthusiasts. When "The Heart of the Deep Blue" was discovered, the Duke of Tarento presented it to Leo III, and since then, the gem has been stored in the royal treasury.

"Tsk. You don't know, but this is a win-win situation."

Despite being alone in the carriage with his secretary, Leo III beckoned the secretary closer and whispered in his ear.

"If I give this to Cardinal de Mare's daughter, won't it eventually come back to me when she gets married?"

"Uh?"

"'The Heart of the Deep Blue' is a gem that Cardinal de Mare has long coveted. If I give it to his second daughter, she will think it's hers and be delighted. But can he take it from her when she is the rightful owner?"

"No, then who are you planning to marry her to? Prince Alfonso?"

Leo III became angry.

"Why are you so clueless! Where would I put Alfonso! Alfonso's partner should be a princess of a kingdom or at least a duchess of a duchy!"

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry."

"Of course, it has to be Cesare!"

Leo III seemed pleased, as if he had a good idea.

"I plan to give Cesare a good fief and make Cardinal de Mare his father-in-law so he can live comfortably. His second daughter is a legitimate child, intelligent, and sharp. It's a good match, isn't it? Cesare has a quick temper and needs a calm wife."

He was so meticulous in planning his son's future that he seemed ready to name his grandchildren.

"Besides, 'The Heart of the Deep Blue' was something Rubina wanted so badly."

"I already know that."

The secretary swallowed the rest of his words, which were, "So are you really going to give it to that girl?"

"I couldn't give it to her because of the queen's disapproval. I received a lot of complaints. If the cardinal's second daughter takes it with her when she marries Cesare, it will essentially be Rubina's. Hmph."

'That... Women's hearts aren't that simple...'

How could any mother-in-law be happy to see a young daughter-in-law with a precious gem she had long desired? Given Rubina's character, it would be fortunate if she didn't storm in and forcibly take it.

The secretary had a lot to say. He thought the king was unnecessarily stirring up unnecessary conflicts between mother-in-law and daughter-in-law, that if the king had a better understanding of women, he wouldn't have such a bad relationship with Queen Margherita, and that it was surprising that Rubina hadn't scratched the king's face yet. However, he had already used up his quota of objections for the day. If the king had been willing to listen, they wouldn't have come this far. The secretary gave up on further objections.

"Your Majesty, you are wise!!!"

* * *

"Ariadne, where did you get such ideas?"

The first to greet Ariadne, who had returned after repelling the apostle of Asereto, was Cardinal de Mare's interrogation. Although Ariadne had delivered a scathing critique at the Basilica of San Ercolano, citing "the father's scholarship," the source of her knowledge needed to be verified.

It couldn't be helped. Ariadne's performance today was too outstanding for a fifteen-year-old girl who had only studied at home.

Ariadne chose her words carefully.

"I read my father's books as a pastime."

The passages from the Holy Scriptures that Ariadne cited during her debate with Asereto's apostle at the Basilica of San Ercolano were exactly the same as those used by the highest theologians at the Council of Treveri to declare the Asereto school heretical.

Cardinal de Mare only understood this after reading the summary of the Council of Treveri's conclusions, which were brought by the inquisitor with the Pope's decree.

"You figured this out on your own?"

Outside, people praised Cardinal de Mare's daughter for her theological knowledge, attributing it to her father's broad and deep theological knowledge. However, Cardinal de Mare knew best that this was not true. The conclusions of the Council of Treveri were the result of creative and collective discussions by theologians well-versed in the Holy Scriptures.

Even if Cardinal de Mare mobilized his priests for a long-term group project, he doubted he could have reached such conclusions on his own. A fifteen-year-old girl could not have grasped such content after two months of theological study.

Ariadne decided to show off her knowledge. This was a critical point to break through, even if it meant exaggerating.

"I found Wycliffe's 'Treatise on the Nature of the Saints' and Pelagian's 'Letters on the Study of the Trinity' most impressive."

These works, which would later become essential reading for children across the Central Continent, were rare at the time, available only in the homes of cardinals.

"You read all of that?"

"The way Wycliffe focused on sentence structure, particularly the repeated phrase 'the Son acted through the Father' in the 'Meditations,' was the most interesting part in proving that the Son and the Father are one."

To Cardinal de Mare, who was skeptical, Ariadne exaggeratedly demonstrated her knowledge of the books she mentioned.

'If I say I just knew it or saw the future, I'm done.'

Ariadne most wanted to avoid being called a "saint." Whether or not she had the Church's recognition, it would be a problem. Without the Pope's canonization, she would be a prime target for inquisitors. Official canonization was also not desirable. Pope Ludovico was a terrifying figure, and historically, people who were recognized as saints or saintesses while alive were often suddenly declared heretics and burned at the stake.

One might think Cardinal de Mare could protect her within the Church, but he had already sold his own daughter in a previous life. A canonized daughter would be an easy target for exploitation.

Ariadne knew nothing about the power dynamics within the Church and did not trust her father. She wanted to use her cards within the familiar world of the nobility of San Carlo.

Cardinal de Mare was still skeptical. However, no matter how many sharp theological questions he asked based on the latest documents from the Council of Treveri, which Ariadne had not yet seen, she answered with the precision of someone who had memorized the answers.

Whether he asked about doctrines, specific passages, or the latest questions, her answers were perfect, as if they had been machine-stamped.

In the end, despite many doubts, he had to admit that his second daughter was a theological genius who had independently reached the same conclusions as the theologians of the Council of Treveri.

He was skeptical but, if this were true, it was a talent that appeared only once in a thousand years, so he could not help but encourage her.

"There are ongoing theological studies with priests at the basilica. Would you like to join?"

Ariadne jumped up and refused.

"No, Father! I am too shallow in my studies to participate without feeling ashamed. I will study at home and occasionally ask you questions. Please allow me to do that."

She couldn't reveal her true knowledge. Moreover, Ariadne's talent was in accounting and administrative work, not theological studies.

However, Cardinal de Mare, who half-believed what he saw and heard, and who also thought theology was not a woman's domain, took Ariadne's desperate refusal as a sign of feminine modesty and did not insist further. It was a stroke of luck.

* * *

The story of the genius girl from San Carlo spread throughout the Etruscan Kingdom with some exaggeration.

- "She single-handedly drove out heretics from the Basilica of San Ercolano!"

- "She must have deep faith."

- "Indeed... Even though her birth is a bit questionable, she is the child of a cardinal."

The person who reacted most sensitively to this was the king's mistress, Lady Rubina.

"Cesare, listen to this."

Lady Rubina made her son sit down and told him the praises of Ariadne, who was making a stir.

"You are meant to be king. You need a partner with high virtue to help you."

Cesare snorted.

"Mother, get a grip. With Alfonso in such a strong position, how can I become king?"

"Again, you're being cynical! Your father loves you!"

"Does he love me so much that he only gave me a court noble's title without a fief? Just a count's title!"

- *Bang!*

Cesare slammed his wine glass on the table as soon as he started drinking after noon.

"Mother, wake up. If Father wanted me to be king, he would have officially announced my royal lineage. Even if a bolt of lightning struck the palace right now and killed Alfonso and Father at the same time—"

He made the sign of the cross, showing a bit of conscience, and continued.

"The one with the right to the Etruscan throne is the twelve-year-old Bianca from Tarento, not me. Do you understand?"

He finished the remaining wine in one gulp and growled at his mother.

"So stop this nonsense. I will choose my own wife."