Chapter 64

Duchess Larissa of Valois almost forgot her grief over losing her sister in the warmth of the golden prince from the neighboring kingdom. She suddenly came to her senses and shook her head. No, I must be the kind and gentle Larissa. I need to maintain my gentle image and smoothly continue the conversation about whatever topic Alphonso has thrown out. However, she had never really talked about herself before.

"Would you like me to paint a still life? I enjoy painting flowers and vases."

After a moment's hesitation, Larissa boldly added, "A few years ago, I was a finalist at the Prix de Montpellier."

The Prix de Montpellier was a famous gateway for emerging artists in the Kingdom of Gallico. Artists submitted their works anonymously, and after a month, critics and audiences scored the works displayed in galleries before the results were revealed. Besides the top three places, even being a finalist allowed one to officially register with the Kingdom of Gallico's Artists Association. The competition was fierce and the standard was high.

"Prix de Montpellier? Wasn't the eligibility limited to married men under 30?"

The competition was so lucrative that it led to intense rivalry and regulation. Over the years, peculiar restrictions were gradually imposed to favor certain groups. The 'under 30' rule was to prevent established artists from submitting anonymously, and the 'married men only' rule was to prevent exceptionally talented young artists from disrupting the scene. Recently, a ban on female artists was added to ensure a limited pie was shared safely.

Larissa's face, hidden behind the mask, turned red. She was not well-versed in such matters, as she had little interest in painting. Painting was something her deceased sister Suzanne loved, and it was Suzanne who had been a finalist at the Prix de Montpellier. The ban on female artists was a result of Suzanne's success.

The ban on noble entries was proposed but, facing strong resistance, it was redirected to a ban on female artists. Historically significant, but Larissa, who had little interest in society or art, was unaware of the details. She only knew and admired her sister's high reputation and the praise she received.

She had no ill intentions, swearing to the heavens. She just wanted to impress Prince Alphonso, and the lie slipped out. She didn't expect it to be caught so quickly by the very person she wanted to impress. The shame made her breathing quicken. Alphonso, sensing something was wrong, brought his head to her eye level and asked, "Duchess Larissa...?"

If she had admitted to exaggerating to impress him and apologized, the generous Alphonso would have laughed it off. But she chose to manifest her embarrassment physically. Thinking she was angry, her breathing became even more rapid. She gasped for air and snapped at Alphonso, "Are you saying I'm lying?!"

Alphonso, taken aback, let go of her hand. "Are you alright, Duchess Larissa?"

Larissa, misinterpreting his release as rejection, writhed in shame. No, this couldn't be. How could she meet the 'Golden Prince' and fail? She prayed daily for Suzanne's luck to be hers, for her to have everything her sister had. Suzanne's beauty and fame didn't transfer to her, but Suzanne's death did. Everything Suzanne had was passed down to her: the dresses, the jewels, the prettiest bedroom, and the perfect prince's marriage proposal.

Larissa had even thought that Suzanne's death might be a gift from the gods. But if the gods had given her such a gift, she couldn't afford to lose it due to her own clumsiness. She had done nothing wrong. She had to be right.

"Unmarried women have certainly passed the Prix de Montpellier! How can you be so rude to me?"

If Larissa was not at fault, then Alphonso must be. Since unmarried women like Suzanne had indeed passed the Prix de Montpellier, Larissa twisted the subject and accused Alphonso of being rude and ignorant. The more she raged, the more she was convinced that Alphonso had slandered her out of ignorance. Alphonso, seeing Larissa suddenly shaking and angry, was at a loss.

"Is anyone there? Bring a doctor!"

Larissa, not understanding the Etruscan language, only realized Alphonso was calling for someone but didn't know it was a doctor. The idea of others seeing her in this state was terrifying. She clutched her mask and bent her body like a shrimp, gasping for air. Alphonso approached to help, but Larissa, thinking he was trying to restrain her, pushed him away. Alphonso, unable to touch her as she thrashed, took a step back.

Larissa, breathing heavily, suddenly dashed into the dark garden. "Duchess Larissa! Duchess Larissa!"

Alphonso called out, but she was already gone. Left alone in the corridor of San Carlo Palace, he was at a loss. A bit of temptation rose in him. He had no fault in the premature end of the escort. It was Larissa who had inexplicably stormed off into the garden. Should he instruct the servants to find her and spend the time with someone else?

But Alphonso shook his head. He was too honest and didn't know how to be cunning. Escorting the Duchess was his duty, and he had to find her. A servant, hearing Alphonso's call, rushed over. He instructed the servant to quietly send people to search for the Duchess, who might have gotten lost in the garden, and to have a doctor wait in the powder room prepared for her. He described her appearance, the dress, and the mask in detail, confirmed the number of people to be sent, and then took a deep breath and headed in the direction she had disappeared.

* * *

To prevent the incident from becoming a diplomatic issue, Alphonso asked around, "Have you seen a medium-sized woman in a golden dress?" rather than "Have you seen the Duchess of Valois?"

Since the Duchess of Valois was not well-known among the San Carlo nobles and was wearing a full-face mask, this approach was more efficient. Alphonso himself was wearing a bauta mask, which covered his eyes and nose but left his mouth exposed, making it clear he was a prince.

"I don't think I've seen anyone go into the garden just now."

"Not just now, but earlier, I saw a medium-sized woman in a golden dress go in that direction."

"Yeah, I saw her too. She looked very distinguished."

If she had gone into the garden a while ago, it couldn't be the Duchess of Valois.

"Thank you."

Despite his inquiries, no one had seen a woman in a golden dress in the direction the Duchess had gone. Alphonso eventually headed in the direction where a woman in a golden dress had been seen earlier. Wandering through the geometric maze of trimmed shrubs, he found himself in the garden near the Queen's palace, far from the main ballroom and its attached gardens. He stopped in front of a small fountain covered in ivy, which had grown unchecked over the shrubs and the old fountain. He knew this place; it was the abandoned fountain behind the Queen's palace where he and Ariadne used to play.

And the person he knew was there. A medium-sized, elegant woman in a golden dress. Though her face was hidden by a bauta mask, Alphonso recognized her immediately.

"Ariadne?"

"Alphonso?"