Chapter 78

"Isn't it obvious what Lady will say!"

Though she barked at Giada, Ariadne coldly brushed off Giada's opposition. She merely glanced at Giada and then looked down at her fingernails with a look of boredom.

"Giada. I need a place to store the leftover materials from the last debutante ball. We must use things sparingly. As you know, there are many leftover items in this house. Yet, Mother has bought many new things this month as well."

"What are you talking about..."

"I know that next week, salted fish from Taranto will be delivered again."

When Lucrezia's attempts to send money to the Rossi family were blocked, she began to buy local specialties from Taranto as a workaround. Lucrezia was likely buying Taranto specialties, including salted fish, at prices higher than the market rate.

"Fresh fish is always better. I'm sure His Eminence would prefer fresh fish over salted fish, wouldn't he?"

It was a threat: if Giada rebelled, she would expose Lucrezia's futile efforts. Ariadne stared at Giada intently.

"Go to Mother and ask if it is truly her wish not to give me the back room of the kitchen."

She glared at Giada with a subtle intensity. If Lucrezia's irregular payments to Taranto were discovered, it would be all your fault, she silently pressured. Ariadne, who did not think highly of Giada's intelligence, explained it kindly in words as well.

"And if it is not Mother's wish, I would prefer that you no longer meddle in such trivial matters. Stirring up trouble to prove your loyalty might only cause inconvenience to the master you serve."

Housekeeper Giada, who did not expect Ariadne to be so aggressive, took a step back. She looked around, unsure where to direct her gaze, and then fled in a hurry. After that, no more of Lucrezia's maids bothered Ariadne. The cook, Sanza, marveled at the large lock installed on the back room of the kitchen, which only they had the key to.

"In the old days, I had to beg and plead. What a difference! Miss, you easily chased away Housekeeper Giada."

"Is it enough to be satisfied with this? Sanza, your dreams are too small."

* * *

Not only Sanza was pleased with Ariadne's changed status. Arabella, after Isabella's imprisonment, practically lived in Ariadne's room.

"Ari, you're amazing!"

Arabella still didn't call Ariadne "sister" when referring to her alone, but she already used a nickname for her.

"I want to study a lot and get familiar with the social trends so that I can be recognized by Mom and Dad like Ari!"

Ariadne, despite lacking a fashion sense, was inadvertently leading the trends in San Carlo due to what she had seen and heard from the future. She made a simple silk dress for the debutante ball and a striped riding outfit for the hunting event, both of which became hits.

It wasn't just clothing. She also popularized round eye makeup in the San Carlo social scene for the fall, making it a trend for everyone to fill the triangular area under their eyes. According to San Carlo customs, children who had not attended the debutante ball were not allowed to wear makeup, but Arabella still proudly filled the triangular area under her eyes with her sisters' cosmetics.

"Where do you come up with all these ideas?"

"Why don't you ask me the secret to excelling in theology?"

Ariadne's question made Arabella frown. Arabella was not good at studying.

"Because... I don't like it?"

Ariadne couldn't help but laugh at the very honest answer. She tapped Arabella's furrowed nose with her finger and scolded her.

"How can you become the excellent person you want to be if you only do what you like?"

Arabella pouted, but Ariadne, despite her words, had no intention of making Arabella study theology or etiquette. Why should she do the same mundane studies as others when she excelled in something else?

"What about studying composition or performance more?"

Arabella's face lit up and then fell.

"But... Mancini is a decent performer but not a professional composer. There are no female tutors in San Carlo who can teach composition."

Ariadne replied matter-of-factly.

"Why not study abroad in Padua?"

Padua was the city where Epolito was studying. Arabella rubbed her ears to make sure she had heard correctly, and when she confirmed it was Padua, her small face lit up.

"But, Ari, do women get accepted at the university in Padua?"

Arabella's concern was well-founded. The University of Padua primarily taught theology, law, accounting, and occasionally military science, and had never admitted female students.

"Music schools are different. They are setting up a new music school in collaboration with a convent in Padua."

Music was considered a virtue that women should cultivate, and noble ladies and wives were encouraged to be proficient in at least one or two instruments. Moreover, the Holy See had incorporated music into religious rituals, and many noble-born nuns were well-versed in music. The new music school was being established with the support of the Holy See and its affiliated convent.

"Your talent is enough to study there. Let's create a portfolio to send to the music school."

Arabella died in the Black Death of 1123, which devastated the southern part of the Etruscan Kingdom. San Carlo, located in the center of the kingdom, was the northern limit of the plague. Padua, at the northernmost part of the Etruscan Kingdom, was at a high latitude, almost bordering the Republic of Porto. It had been safe from past plagues and would likely be safe this time as well. Arabella was part of Ariadne's family, under her protection. Ariadne intended to send her to a place where she wouldn't die to save her from her fate.

"Okay!"

Arabella, unaware of her sister's intentions, nodded enthusiastically, excited about the prospect of seeing the world and studying at a high level.

* * *

"What? The music school in Padua? No way! How can you go there!"

Not everyone shared the same idea about Arabella's future. When Arabella brought up the topic of studying abroad at the de Mare family dinner, she was scolded by Lucrezia.

"But Epolito is there too..."

"Epolito is not like you!"

Ariadne didn't particularly try to stop Arabella from mentioning this to Lucrezia. She knew Lucrezia would react this way, but it was a conversation that needed to happen eventually. However, Arabella did not expect her mother's intense reaction.

"Epolito is studying, and I want to study too! I'm good at performing and composing."

"Epolito is our eldest son and will be the head of the family! You are just a girl and..."

Lucrezia stopped herself from saying that Arabella was just a girl and not particularly talented. It was the minimum line she maintained with her own child, even when she was not so angry as to lose her temper.

"And stop talking about that terrible composition. Just thinking about the last time you composed gives me a headache."

Lucrezia mentioned the incident where Isabella tried to steal Arabella's composition, making Arabella shrink back, even though she didn't think she had done anything wrong. At that moment, Ariadne stepped in to support Arabella.

"Father, the music school in Padua is affiliated with a convent. It doesn't seem bad for a girl to spend a few years there."

Ariadne was determined to send Arabella north before the 1123 Black Death outbreak.

"Hmm."

However, Cardinal de Mare did not seem particularly enthusiastic about the idea of a music school.

"But does Arabella really need to study composition so intensively?"

Ultimately, the virtue of a precious girl in San Carlo was her reputation for chastity, a pretty face, and a submissive nature. Musical skills like performance or singing could pique a man's interest for a moment, but they were ultimately secondary. Moreover, composition, which was more masculine, was a poor investment in terms of return.

"I really want to study composition!"

Arabella's wish was blocked by Lucrezia's criticism.

"How can you do everything you want in life! No way!"

Ariadne decided to appeal from a different angle.

"Growing up in a convent-affiliated music school from a young age would be good for Arabella's reputation. She would be seen as a virtuous and frugal young lady."

Arabella looked at Ariadne with a horrified expression. A convent! This sister can say anything! On the other hand, Cardinal de Mare seemed to be more interested now.

"Let me think about it."

In fact, Cardinal de Mare had too many daughters. While he could use them as strategic marriage tools while he was powerful, they would become liabilities if he lost his influence. Brides with high reputations or exceptional beauty could receive dowries, but in most cases, the bride brought a dowry. The dowry was usually so large that it could shake the family's foundation. Daughters who couldn't find good matches were sent to convents with a small donation. Cardinal de Mare was not exempt from the rules of the Etruscan marriage market. He needed to manage his "inventory." Sending a daughter to a convent was a last resort, and familiarizing her with the convent beforehand was not a bad idea.

"It doesn't seem like a bad idea."

"Thank you, Father."

Ariadne bowed obediently. Objectively, it was not a bad start. The permission was granted. Ariadne decided to have Arabella fill out her application and send it to the music school. Once the acceptance letter arrived, she would strongly argue that it was a done deal and that Arabella should be sent away.

* * *

While Arabella, with a bright future ahead, sought a new path to break through, Lucrezia, who had few remaining possibilities due to her age, tried to resolve her frustrating reality through more traditional means.

Lucrezia, wearing a black robe, cautiously stepped into the back alleys of San Carlo. Her carriage and driver were left at the entrance of the alley. She quickly scanned her surroundings with a suspicious eye and darted into an old, dilapidated house.

The interior was dark and narrow, with cobwebs in every corner. Lucrezia carefully took each step, but the old wooden floor creaked wildly despite her caution.

"...Is anyone there?"

Feeling scared walking alone, Lucrezia called out in a tiny voice. She was afraid of being discovered if she spoke too loudly, but she was also scared of walking alone. There was no response from a servant, but a voice answered from inside. It was a woman in her forties with a very exotic accent.

"Further in, to the farthest room. Yes."

Following the voice, Lucrezia opened the door at the end of the hallway to find a Gypsy woman sitting with a crystal ball the size of a baby's head in front of her. The woman was reading the stars with several cheap tallow candles lit around her. When Lucrezia entered the room, the woman smiled, revealing blackened teeth.

"Welcome, honored guest."

The Gypsy woman placed the tarot cards she was holding on the table and greeted Lucrezia.

"Do you know who I am?"

In response to Lucrezia's question, the Gypsy woman laughed even louder.

"Is it not an honored guest when the wife of a high-ranking clergyman visits the humble abode of a lowly fortune-teller?"