CHAPTER 20…………………………………………
Dandolo quietly clenched his fist, and Christina let out a light, hollow laugh.
Ever since childhood, everyone had followed their parents’ lead and called the Schwaben “Lord of the House,” so imagining them now warmly calling the Grand Duke “Grandfather” was almost impossible.
“Have the maids been informed about the maintenance expenses for dignity?”
“Yes, Grandfather.”
“I see. How much do you need?”
Ariana wanted to make the moment a bit more dramatic, so she paused briefly.
Then she looked at the faces of the Berkshire people behind her, one by one.
First was the eldest, Adrian.
When her eyes met her father’s, she felt a strange mix of emotions.
‘I’ve never once called him “Dad.”’
Though it was the first time she had seen the faces of her older brothers sitting next to their father, she recognized them immediately.
Red eyes—Cerdicas. Pink eyes—Alessandro, perhaps.
The eldest brother resembled their father the most.
Next was the second son, Guenther.
He looked gentle, but firmer than the third son, Hamilax.
‘That woman is Lady Gisela, and that’s daughter Christina…’
Ariana’s gaze moved to the third son, Hamilax.
Dandolo frowned as he looked at Ariana.
‘Raoulet, who disguised my mother’s death as a suicide.’
Her eyes grew cold as she took Raoulet in.
‘Then the remaining ones are the youngest daughter, Arpe, and the son-in-law, Helly.’
Ariana didn’t avert her gaze from any of the Berkshire people.
According to the original story, no one in Berkshire didn’t hate her mother, Moltke.
Schwaben felt the same way about Moltke.
Ariana turned her gaze back to the Grand Duke, but she didn’t show any anger.
She judged that if she wanted something, lowering herself was the proper approach.
“Grandfather, I…”
“…….”
“I don’t need any gold.”
For a moment, silence fell over the room.
The Berkshire people widened their eyes and stared at Ariana.
No one had expected that answer.
‘Did she just say what?’
‘Zero gold?’
They were either dumbfounded or shocked.
Even the vassals and collateral relatives began to stir.
It seemed Ariana had successfully made a strong first impression on the Berkshire people, just as she had intended.
Schwaben, surprised, asked her again.
“Zero gold? Ariana, are you sure you’ve answered correctly?”
“Yes, Grandfather.”
Schwaben thought perhaps Ariana was too young to understand fully, so he patiently explained in a kind voice.
“Maintenance expenses for dignity carry great meaning in Berkshire, Ariana. You may ask for a very large sum or a very small sum… but it is money spent to enhance your dignity. And yet you truly say zero gold?”
Schwaben sought confirmation once more. Ariana nodded.
“When I first came to the Grand Duke’s castle, knowing nothing, I picked up gold coins from the fountain. If you hadn’t taught me, Grandfather, how ignorant I would have been! Since then, I’ve reflected deeply. The money you allowed me to keep back then totaled 7 gold, 3 silver… That is enough to cover the maintenance expenses for dignity for my whole life.”
Ariana could feel the room’s confused atmosphere on her skin.
‘They’re probably trying to gauge whether the newly introduced princess is truly foolish or cleverly drawing attention.’
“Grandfather, I spent all that money buying tulip bulbs. I plan to make a tulip garden so that every time I enter it, I will remember the mercy and forgiveness I received from Berkshire.”
Proof of talent leaves a stronger impression when presented dramatically.
Ariana wanted her ability to shine at a carefully calculated moment, in a prepared situation.
That was why she had set up various moves before meeting Peres last night.
Schwaben frowned slightly, perhaps mildly disappointed.
“But Ariana, I have already forgiven you. The fountain incident is just that—the fountain incident. Maintenance expenses are a completely separate matter. Explain why it is zero gold?”
“Grandfather, isn’t what cannot be bought with money the most precious? That’s why I answered zero gold.”
“…The most precious things are those that cannot be bought with money?”
Schwaben paused, for those were words he often said himself.
Ariana’s eyes sparkled as she answered.
“Yes. Things money can’t buy. For example, the saintly dress I’m wearing today—if I had wanted to buy it with money, I never could have. But since I promised a donation, the Papal Office lent it to me. Things money cannot buy include these—someone’s beliefs, values, tastes, likes, and dislikes. And among these, the most precious…”
“…….”
“…might be time spent with loved family.”
Ariana looked at Schwaben and said,
“Grandfather, I would like to receive my maintenance expenses in the form of a monthly lunch with you.”
On Earth, the wealthiest people sometimes auctioned a single lunch for hundreds of millions.
A lunch with Schwaben would be equally priceless, even in the tyrannical world context.
‘Here, in a strictly hierarchical society, a lunch with my grandfather would be even more valuable.’
Thus, the maintenance expenses Ariana requested would equate to a value worth tens of thousands of gold if converted into money.
After a long silence, Schwaben finally laughed.
“…You are correct, Ariana. The most precious things are those money cannot buy. Among all the answers I’ve ever heard, yours is the freshest and most creative. And also the most commendable.”
It was high praise.
Ariana’s request meant she wanted to have lunch with Schwaben at least once a month.
“Do you consent?”
“Yes.”
“But Lord of the House…!”
Unable to endure the warm atmosphere, Dandolo rose again.
Not only Dandolo, but a few Berkshire people seemed ready to protest, yet a single cold glance from Schwaben made Dandolo step back awkwardly.
“Dandolo. Where did you learn manners? This gathering is for Ariana, and did I give you the right to speak?”
“I apologize, Lord of the House. Please forgive my son’s rudeness.”
Raoulet rose with an awkward expression and forced Dandolo to bow his head, apologizing in his stead.
Tsk. To think you can’t even play along with a child’s innocent words…
Schwaben clicked his tongue coldly, silencing the room.
He opened his arms and looked at Ariana.
“Come here. As your grandfather, I have never held you in my arms.”
“…….”
Dandolo gritted his teeth. Christina’s expression also tightened, displeased—not out of jealousy for her grandfather’s affection, but wary that Schwaben’s favoritism toward Ariana might increase her inheritance.
Ariana hesitated, then approached the Grand Duke.
Schwaben carefully lifted her into his arms.
Startled, Ariana hugged his neck.
“So small…”
The warmth in the Grand Duke’s hand as he patted her back felt strangely comforting.
“Your heart is rare and precious.”
The dry voice carried neither laughter nor warmth, almost as if strangled.
A brief gaze met in the void—though he called her a little girl, it was not a look that dismissed her as childish.
His eyes, wide and serious, seemed to want to capture her image as vividly as possible.
To Schwaben, Ariana appeared as a small, cute girl—but what he likely saw was his own childhood reflected.
Like someone unexpectedly encountering empathy where none was expected, he was silent for a moment.
‘Surrounded by wealth and splendor, he must have felt inner emptiness that no one ever truly saw.’
Schwaben faced Ariana as a descendant connected to him.
Ariana, in turn, sensed the depth of Schwaben and was momentarily stunned.
‘Did I do well?’
