Chapter 5

Ariadne's childhood was hard. When she grew up on the farm, it was a continuous cycle of beatings and hunger. After she entered the grand mansion of San Carlo, she was mistreated and betrayed through cunning schemes. Ariadne believed that since she was not the noble Lucrezia but a lowly servant's child, it was only natural. Even though she was a bastard, she still considered herself part of the family, at least half-noble as the daughter of Cardinal Mare, and thought that if she lived honestly and kindly, she would be rewarded by those who treated her well. Reality was the opposite. If she remained passive, she would be exploited and deceived. All the rewards went to selfish and loud people. Old Galleazzo was one of those people. When the butler Niccolo came to the castle, she said she had known this day would come, puffed out her chest, and said that she had raised Miss Ariadne well, and if she wasn't treated well, she wouldn't hand over Miss Ariadne. She then took the gold coins from Niccolo. The young Ariadne, who was beaten with the old woman's broom every day, was speechless and furious that day, thinking that her just and fair father or the virtuous society of San Carlo would punish those who wronged her. What a foolish expectation. She had to protect herself.

‘I won’t let it happen again.’

* * *

"Oh, Mr. Butler! What brings you to such a humble place!"

The cold-faced butler Niccolo stated his business.

"I have come to escort Miss Ariadne to the main estate."

"Ariadne, that girl... I mean, Miss Ariadne?"

Old Galleazzo was greatly flustered. That morning, she had beaten Ariadne with a broom, leaving bruises on her face, and had not prepared any decent clothes for her to change into.

"Miss Ariadne is usually still asleep at this hour because she is lazy. She needs to wash and dress properly before she can enter the grand mansion."

"Preparing here would only be troublesome. I will take her now."

Old Galleazzo's eyes darted around. At that moment, Ariadne appeared in front of the butler Niccolo.

"I can go right now."

She was wearing tattered and shabby clothes. But the butler Niccolo, who had clearly seen Ariadne's disheveled state, decided to pretend he didn't notice. There was no need to side with the poor bastard girl and create an uncomfortable relationship with Old Galleazzo, who was the real power in the Bergamo farm, a direct territory of the Cardinal's court.

"Hmm. Let's go. Old Galleazzo, you have done well in assisting Miss Ariadne."

"Oh! Indeed, indeed! My loyalty is beyond any misunderstanding!"

Ariadne's deep blue-green eyes sparkled with mischief.

"Old Galleazzo, you have worked hard. However, from now on, I will be in the care of Butler Niccolo. Lady Lucrezia sends me 2 ducats (about 2 million won) every month to take good care of me. Would you like to give the remaining amount as a tip to Niccolo?"

The butler Niccolo, who had intended to ignore the poor-looking bastard girl, changed his mind when money was involved.

"2 ducats? If you received so much, why is Miss Ariadne in such a state? Where did all the money go?"

Old Galleazzo's face turned pale.

"No, it's a false accusation! Lady Lucrezia never gave me any money. I spent all my own money to feed, clothe, and house Miss Ariadne, which is why I am so poor."

Ariadne smiled and interrupted the old woman.

"Old Galleazzo, are you accusing my parents of being so heartless as to entrust their child to a servant without any compensation?"

Old Galleazzo's pupils trembled. Ariadne firmly pressed on.

"Lies end here, Old Galleazzo. I know you received the money on the 1st of every month."

Ariadne turned to the butler Niccolo.

"Butler, if you don't believe me, search under Old Galleazzo's bed!"

Two servants who had followed the butler Niccolo made Old Galleazzo kneel on the floor, and the other two rushed into her room. They soon returned with a money bag and a ledger.

"Butler, here it is!"

Indeed, there was a pile of gold coins. However, the amount was ridiculously small compared to what she should have accumulated over 15 years of receiving 2 ducats (about 2 million won) every month.

"Will you still deny it?"

"Oh! I was wrong. Lady Lucrezia did give me money every month, but I never received 2 ducats."

Old Galleazzo knelt on the floor, groveling and shouting loudly.

"Lady Lucrezia only gave me 50 florins (about 500,000 won)! After feeding, clothing, and housing Miss Ariadne, this is all that's left."

‘That’s enough.’

Ariadne smiled inwardly.

‘Now that you’ve said it, you’re finished, Old Galleazzo.’

She should have said she spent all 2 ducats to raise Ariadne lavishly and had nothing left. Without evidence, it would have been better in Lady Lucrezia's eyes.

"At first, you said you never received any money, and now you say you only received 50 florins!"

Ariadne, a 15-year-old girl, looked at Old Galleazzo with a cold expression.

"As far as I know, Lady Lucrezia gave you 2 ducats every month."

Someone had embezzled 1 ducat 50 florins every month. That someone was either Old Galleazzo or Lady Lucrezia.

"If you just ask Lady Lucrezia how much she gave every month, we'll know who is lying. Let's go to her now!"

A smile appeared on the butler Niccolo's face. This was a surefire plan. If the embezzler was Old Galleazzo, she would bribe the butler before the news reached Lady Lucrezia. If the embezzler was Lady Lucrezia, she would pin it all on Old Galleazzo and give the butler a little to keep quiet.

"There's no reason to believe a small bastard girl, but the butler won't let this opportunity for extra income slip away."

"Understood. Take Old Galleazzo and lock her in the storage shed!"

"Oh, I am innocent, sir, please save me, miss!"

Two servants rushed forward and dragged Old Galleazzo to the storage shed, which also served as a pigsty. If she had clung to Niccolo's pants and offered all her wealth as a bribe, she might have survived. Old Galleazzo had missed her last chance. According to her memories from her previous life, the 2 ducats set by her father, Cardinal de Mare, for Ariadne's living expenses was correct. However, Lucrezia, the Cardinal's mistress, who found even that amount too much, had taken 1 ducat and given the rest to Old Galleazzo, who then embezzled 50 florins every month. This was a joint effort, and no one was innocent.

‘Lucrezia is not the type to let her embezzlement be discovered by the Cardinal.’

If this story reached Lucrezia's ears, Old Galleazzo would be lucky to be expelled alive. She would likely be killed or at least have her legs broken by nightfall.

"Let's go, Niccolo."

Ariadne no longer addressed the butler formally. She walked confidently towards the main estate, despite her tattered clothes. That night, as expected, two sturdy black figures sneaked into the storage shed where Old Galleazzo was locked. Lucrezia was as cruel as Ariadne had predicted.

“Ah!”

There was a bit of murmuring from the pigsty, a sharp scream, and the two black figures emerged carrying a large black bundle. The bundle, filled with stones, was thrown into the Tiber River. The next morning, when Old Galleazzo's son and eldest daughter heard the news and rushed to the Bergamo farm, Old Galleazzo had already disappeared without a trace. An old grudge had finally been settled.

* * *

The Cardinal's residence at the de Carlo main estate was grand and luxurious, with no trace of the frugality expected of a clergyman. The white marble walls and floors were adorned with the finest tapestries and carpets. As Ariadne, in her tattered clothes, crossed the opulent central hall, the maids who were milling about looked at her. Some of the bolder ones even giggled.

"Hey, are you a new maid?"

"Your uniform is cheaper than the ones we wear."

They must have known the rumor that Ariadne was the young mistress of the house. Either the discipline among the servants was lax, or the masters of the house considered Ariadne's treatment acceptable.

‘The latter, probably.’

The first floor of the Cardinal's residence was a public space with a reception room, living room, small banquet hall, and dining room. The second floor was more private, with the couple's bedroom, children's rooms, and the Cardinal's study. The butler bypassed both the first and second floors and led Ariadne to the third floor, where the servants' quarters, attic, and storage were located.

"This is your room, Miss."

The room assigned to Ariadne looked like a rarely used governess's room on the third floor.

"Make yourself comfortable. A maid will be sent to attend to you shortly."

After the butler Niccolo closed the door and left, Ariadne looked around. The room was reasonably clean. In the wardrobe, there were a few simple silk dresses: one for going out, one for indoor use, and a cotton nightgown for sleeping, along with a pair of shoes. Just the basics.

Ariadne smiled bitterly. The clothes were a clear indication of how she was treated in this household. Just enough to maintain appearances. Even after reincarnation, nothing had changed.

- Knock, knock.

"Coming in, Miss."

The maid entered without waiting for a response.

"Change your clothes quickly. The Cardinal is calling for you."

Strangely, or rather, openly, her attitude was arrogant.

"I'll wait outside, so hurry up."

"Who are you affiliated with?"

"What do you need to know that for, Miss?"

Ariadne's emerald green eyes sparked with anger at the maid's dismissive attitude.