Chapter 83

Ariadne felt a premonition that today would be the day her hands would be stained with blood when Cardinal de Mare mentioned the 'cleanup.' Cardinal de Mare had many enemies within the Church, and the head of the Holy See, Pope Ludovico himself, was one of them. Pope Ludovico, the leader of the New Church, was always on the lookout for an opportunity to get rid of Cardinal de Mare, the leader of the Old Church and the Etruscan bishops. If the story of black magic being performed at the cardinal's house leaked out, it would be the end. The only ones who knew the full story of this scandalous event, aside from the Gypsy fortune-teller, were Cardinal de Mare, Lucrezia, Ariadne, Arabella, the butler Niccolo, and the housekeeper Giada. The family members could be trusted to keep the story from leaking out, as they would all be burned at the stake if it did. They were all in the same boat, whether they liked it or not. The only one who was a concern was Lucrezia. She was more of a liability due to her inability to distinguish between friends and foes, and her unpredictable nature. However, she was confined to the Bergamo estate, so the likelihood of her talking was low. The remaining concerns were the butler Niccolo and the housekeeper Giada.

"......"

Ariadne watched Giada, who was diligently cleaning the room as if to prove her worth. Niccolo could be trusted; he was the one who had warned Cardinal de Mare about Lucrezia's mischief. Moreover, it was clear that the cardinal still trusted the butler. Giada, Lucrezia's confidante, was a different matter. Ariadne thought that when Cardinal de Mare said, "Take care of the cleanup," he intended for Giada to be silenced. Giada, who was cleaning the room without a clue, looked pitiful. In fact, Ariadne believed that Giada had to be dealt with today, regardless of the cardinal's intentions. Giada was Lucrezia's most trusted confidante, and this was a perfect opportunity to cut off Lucrezia's influence. There was also a good pretext: Giada had already betrayed Lucrezia once, and a betrayer is likely to betray again.

'Pity is pity, and what must be done is what must be done.'

Pity was one thing, but protecting the family was another. So Ariadne stood guard to ensure no other servants entered the room while Giada was cleaning. This was a matter of life and death, and she couldn't leave it to others. As Giada meticulously cleaned the bloodstains from the carpet and collected the frankincense and myrrh from the burner, Ariadne asked her casually:

"Is this all that needs to be secretly disposed of?"

"Excuse me?"

"Are there no other strange things left in your mother's room? If a painting of a demon or a black magic spellbook were found in the mistress's wardrobe, it would be a problem, wouldn't it?"

Giada finally understood and nodded.

"There were also melted gold and some kind of black pills in the bag I received from the Moorish woman."

The mention of the Moorish woman caught Ariadne's attention.

"Moorish? Was the fortune-teller a Moor?"

Ariadne was always pondering the cause of her regression. Despite searching through various books, she found no mention of her experience in the normal documents of San Carlo. If the answer wasn't in the mainstream scholarship of the Central Continent, it must be found elsewhere. In her previous life, Ariadne was killed by a Moorish knight under Isabella's command. Something happened then, and the culprit was either Isabella or the Moorish knight. Ariadne didn't think Isabella was the cause of the regression. Isabella had no such supernatural abilities. In fact, if she had to pick the person in Etruria who cared the least about spiritual matters, Isabella would be among the top five. The remaining suspect was the Moorish knight and the red light that flashed in his eyes. If she could meet a Moor, they might know the Moorish knight or provide other clues. She needed to start researching Moorish literature.

"Did you receive it directly? Did you accompany the cardinal to see the black magician?"

"Ah... It wasn't a black magician... It was just a harmless fortune-teller, and I have no connection to black magic. I am a devout believer."

Giada tried to explain, but she didn't understand the gravity of the situation. She was indeed a loyal confidante of Lucrezia.

"It was a fortune-teller. She was a woman the Countess Rubina had kept for a long time. She's not a strange person."

Ariadne's eyes sharpened.

"Enough. Where did you meet the fortune-teller?"

"In the back alley behind Campo de Spezia, in a detached house in the Moorish neighborhood."

"Do you know the way?"

"I went with the coachman Giuseppe."

Giuseppe was a young coachman who tended to talk too much. Ariadne immediately picked up her coat.

"Let's go now."

"Me too?"

"How will I know if the person I meet is the fortune-teller or just a passing Moor without you?"

Ariadne was annoyed by Giada's attempts to avoid responsibility.

"I need to hear what that woman told your mother."

Ariadne called for the carriage to be prepared. The designated coachman was Giuseppe, who knew the way. Ariadne planned to meet the Moorish fortune-teller and ensure her silence. She would try to talk first, but if that didn't work, she would resort to more forceful means. If the story of the cardinal's mistress performing black magic at the residence reached Countess Rubina, it would be disastrous. If she could learn something about her regression in the process, it would be a bonus.

"Miss, the carriage is ready!"

Ariadne paused to think for a moment before picking up a small dagger and tucking it into her dress.

"Ready."

Ariadne led Giada, who was frozen in place, to the carriage and climbed in.

"Let's go."

* * *

Before being sent to the Bergamo estate, Lucrezia had a brief moment to gather her belongings.

"Madam, you must hurry. If you are seen by the cardinal, he will be furious."

The butler Niccolo, looking around, urged her.

Lucrezia quickly gathered her valuables and jewels. Gold coins were useful anywhere, and she collected various gems and jewelry. Her eyes fell on a tiara with a pink sapphire, which Isabella had received from Ottavio de Contarini. The tiara was there because Cardinal de Mare had ordered all the luxury items Isabella received from men to be confiscated and stored in the mistress's room.

Lucrezia hesitated. She might need to return the tiara to the Contarini family to protect her daughter's reputation. But she needed money now. Her family in Taranto was starving, and her eldest son might need help at any time. A woman's emergency fund was her strength.

'Well, I can always bring it back later if I don't sell it.'

Lucrezia chose her eldest son and family over her daughter and pocketed the tiara. Feeling a bit guilty, she decided to see her daughter before leaving. She turned to the butler Niccolo and pleaded.

"Can I see Isabella before I go?"

Niccolo hesitated.

"Madam, even coming up to your room for a moment is a favor I'm doing for you."

Lucrezia gave him the most pitiful look she could muster. It was a sight Niccolo, who had served the de Mare family for a long time, had never seen before.

"For the children... They need to know what's happening. If I can't see them, can you at least deliver a letter to Isabella and Ipolito?"

Lucrezia took a small ring with a tiny gem from her collection and placed it in Niccolo's hand. Niccolo grunted and quickly pocketed the ring.

"One letter to the young ladies and one to the young master. Write them now and give them to me quickly."

With Niccolo's agreement, Lucrezia dipped her pen in ink and wrote as fast as she could. The letter to Isabella was short and simple, telling her that her mother was being sent to the Bergamo estate and to take care of herself. She added that she loved her. The letter to Ipolito was more elaborate. She chose proper stationery and wrote a long, heartfelt letter.

"To my beloved son Ipolito,

My dear son, whom I have always loved and for whom I have given my life, I have no regrets. I always want you to do well and be happy. It pains me to ask you for help, but I must. My dear son, help your mother. Something bad has happened to me. Your father... (omitted)... has sent me to the Bergamo estate. The family's authority will go to Ariadne. As I mentioned in my last letter, Isabella is confined to her room and cannot help me. Ipolito, I haven't received a reply from you. Did the letter reach you? Are you having any problems? How is your studies?

The holidays are coming soon. Can you do something to help me while you are home? I only trust my son. I am ashamed and heartbroken, but I have no one else to turn to. I love you and miss you.

- With a smile, and all my love, your mother."

Lucrezia sealed the letter to Ipolito and gave it to Niccolo, along with the letter to Isabella, which she didn't seal.

"Here are the two letters."

There was no letter for Arabella.

"Please, make sure they are delivered. I trust you."

"Rest assured, madam."

"I haven't received a reply from Ipolito. Is it because the road to Padua is long and the letters are getting lost?"

Niccolo's expression became slightly uncomfortable. The letters to Padua were being sent by reliable messengers and were reaching their destination. Ipolito simply hadn't replied. However, in this difficult situation, with the madam having no one to trust but her eldest son, Niccolo found it hard to tell her the truth.

"I will ensure the letters are delivered, madam. Is there anything else you want to leave for Arabella?"

Lucrezia replied without missing a beat.

"She's just a child. What would she understand from a letter? Besides, I already saw her. There's nothing else to leave."

Niccolo barely suppressed a sigh and nodded.

"Understood. Let's go now. The carriage should be waiting downstairs."

Lucrezia put on her thick velvet robe, gathered her jewels, and followed Niccolo out. As she walked, she kept looking back at the cardinal's house, where she had spent the last 22 years building her home. She would not be pushed aside by a mere illegitimate daughter. Never.