• 1211
• French Merchant
  Please, could you sell just a little more satin cloth?
  At this rate, we'll never make it in time for the meeting with the Queen Mother!

• 1212
• Market Keeper
  Hey, I'd like to help, but without even a proof-of-order receipt...

• 1213
• Vittoria
  Player, are Alvise and Julien getting along well in France?
  I just hope he can manage to see the Queen Mother...

• 1214
• Citizen
  Is the Queen Mother really coming...!?

• 1215
• Merchant
  Yes.
  Her summer destination apparently changed to this imperial villa all of a sudden.

• 1216
• Citizen
  So that's why the officials were up in arms...

• 1217
• Merchant
  With all the rich nobles that are going to push for an audience with the Queen, we're going to be really busy.

• 1218
• Citizen
  ...! There's already a line!?

• 1219
• That day, the road to Marseilles' imperial villa was packed with people hoping to get a glimpse of their Queen Mother.
  Commanding countless guards, the Queen Mother's gold and silver-decorated procession spoke volumes about just who was running this country...

• 1220
• Voice
  Hey, Player.

• 1221
• Alvise
  So you heard about the Queen's visit and came here, eh...
  I'd expect no less of you.

• 1222
• Alvise
  ...I still can't believe that that man actually got the Queen Mother to come all the way here to Marseilles...

• 1223
• Alvise
  Hmph.
  Speak of the devil.

• 1224
• Julien
  Hello, Master Alvise.
  I have just returned from Paris.

• 1225
• Alvise
  ...Good work.

• 1226
• Julien
  Is something wrong? You don't look entirely pleased.

• 1227
• Alvise
  No...
  I'm just surprised.
  Surprised at how easily this meeting came about when our resident ambassadors have been trying and failing for years.
  I bet those old fools on the counsel were falling all over themselves after they heard this news.
  ...Julien, if this meeting goes well I shall have to reward you.

• 1228
• Julien
  Ha ha...
  This is all thanks to your and Player's cooperation, Master Alvise.
  There is no need to reward me.
  But, I do have one request...

• 1229
• Alvise
  What's that?

• 1230
• Julien
  Just once, I would love to see the world-famous Orseolo collection for myself.

• 1231
• Alvise
  Hmph.
  You've been subjected to Vittoria's collection of junk whether you wanted to be or not.

• 1232
• Julien
  ...Don't the Orseolos have another collection besides that one?

• 1233
• Alvise
  How do you know about that...?

• 1234
• Julien
  Well, I am a treasure hunter.
  When the other nobles whisper rumours about treasure, I know how to listen.
  I have heard that Master Mauricio, the previous head of the Orseolos, gave away his personal fortune, and that each item that was collected was a masterpiece...

• 1235
• Alvise
  ...
  Hmph.
  I have no idea if that junk really has any value or not...
  But very well.
  You have really helped me out this time.
  Go see it when you want.

• 1236
• Julien
  Ha ha...
  Thank you, sir.

• 1237
• Julien
  As someone who sells art, it would be a great pleasure of mine to see the secret Orseolo collection.

• 1238
• Alvise
  By the way, Player, Julien.
  I am about to head for the imperial villa to meet with the Queen Mother.
  Since you two have been so invaluable in getting this to happen, I want you both to come with me.

• 1239
• How will you respond?

• 1240
• Okay, I see.

• 1241
• Thank you, but I couldn't.

• 1242
• Alvise
  Don't be modest.
  You've been invaluable for this meeting.

• 1243
• Julien
  I'm terribly sorry, but I have a prior arrangement to meet someone else...

• 1244
• Alvise
  ...Hey! Wait!

• 1245
• Alvise
  You will? Thank you.
  Julien, you too...

• 1246
• Julien
  I'm terribly sorry, but I have a prior arrangement to meet someone else...

• 1247
• Alvise
  ...Hey! Wait!

• 1248
• Alvise
  Honestly.
  That man...
  I try to be nice to him, and he goes and brushes me off...
  Hmph.
  Well, I'm not taking care of him anymore!
  Player, it looks like it will just be you and I going to see her.

• 1249
• Alvise
  Alvise Orseolo and Player, here to see the Queen Mother.

• 1250
• Guard
  Very good.
  Come in.

• 1251
• Guard
  Are you the one travelling with the emissary from Venice? Enter, the Queen Mother will see you.

• 1252
• Alvise
  I am Alvise Orseolo, Aide to the Doge of the Republic of Venice.
  I have come to see the Queen Mother.

• 1253
• Duke of Guise
  Very good, sir.
  The Queen Mother awaits you in the audience chamber.

• 1254
• Voice
  I see.
  Emissary of Venice.

• 1255
• Alvise
  Queen Mother, it is my esteemed honour to be able to see you.
  I am the Aide to...

• 1256
• Queen Mother of France
  There is no need for stiff formalities.
  I took the liberty of reading your proposal earlier.

• 1257
• Alvise
  ...Yes, your majesty.

• 1258
• Queen Mother of France
  In order to combat the Turkish expansion, you want to start a rebellion among the Bedouin.
  And on top of that, you want to build a canal in Suez to allow for easier trade in India...
  It is far too reckless to even be called a plan.
  This is nothing more than a schoolboy's daydream.

• 1259
• Alvise
  ......

• 1260
• Queen Mother of France
  ...But, if it were to become reality, it would be a very attractive daydream.
  Right now, my country and Venice are both far behind in trading with western nations.
  If we continue to sit idly by, we may both one day be relegated to irrelevant has-beens.

• 1261
• Alvise
  ...It is exactly as you say, your majesty.
  That is why I wish to sign a nonaggression treaty between our countries that will allow us to support each other as we inevitably expand out to the open seas.
  If the route to India does become a reality, I promise that we will be happy to export our pepper to France at a greatly reduced price.

• 1262
• Queen Mother of France
  ...I like your spirit, Sir Orseolo.
  Very well.
  Let us forget old grudges.
  We shall forge an agreement with Venice.

• 1263
• Alvise
  ...Thank you, your majesty...!

• 1264
• Queen Mother of France
  However, before that, there is one thing I wish to ask you.

• 1265
• Alvise
  ...?

• 1266
• Queen Mother of France
  Where is Julien and the one named Player who established this meeting.

• 1267
• Alvise
  ...
  This is Player.
  Julien Clarence is...

• 1268
• Queen Mother of France
  ...So, he is not here.
  Upon hearing stories from my orderlies about the Court Favourite, I was hoping to meet him for myself, but...
  ...Very well.
  Then to reward you for your excellent work in arranging this meeting, I hereby decree that you shall both receive rewards.
  Alvise, bring him here before the treaty is signed.

• 1269
• Alvise
  ...
  Y...yes, your majesty...

• 1270
• Alvise
  Dash it...
  We were so close to signing the agreement.
  If it hadn't been for that man...
  Player, I'm sorry to trouble you again, but please help me find him.

• 1271
• How will you respond?

• 1272
• Okay, I see.

• 1273
• Go find him yourself

• 1274
• Alvise
  Thank you.
  I am sure he will listen to you.
  Good luck.

• 1275
• Alvise
  Hmph.
  I must prepare for the signing of the agreement.
  Besides...
  I'd be too disgusted to go looking for him myself.
  ...Anyway, I leave this in your hands.

• 1276
• Julien
  ...Then, the one who was manipulating the whole anonymous letter incident behind the scenes was...

• 1277
• One-Eyed Monk
  ...Yes.
  It is just as you think.

• 1278
• Julien
  Ha ha...
  How very ironic...

• 1279
• One-Eyed Monk
  ...It looks like someone is here.

• 1280
• Julien
  ...
  Well well, Player.
  Why do you look so...
  difficult?

• 1281
• What question do you want to ask?

• 1282
• Who is that monk?

• 1283
• What were you talking about?

• 1284
• Julien
  ...
  
  That is my mentor, Augustine, who taught me the ways of becoming a treasure hunter during my days as an orphan.
  I met an old friend, and engaged in some talk about old times.
  By the way...
  why are you here? Did something happen during the meeting?

• 1285
• Julien
  ...
  Haha, it's nothing, just a friendly chat with an old friend.
  His name is Augustine.
  He taught me the skills needed to live as a treasure hunter, back when I was an orphan with no place to go.
  My mentor, I suppose.
  Anyway, what brings you here? Did something happen at the meeting?

• 1286
• How will you respond?

• 1287
• Alvise needs you

• 1288
• Are you sure that was just small talk?

• 1289
• Julien
  You doubt my words?
  I only spoke of trivial matters with him, to describe them would be a waste of time.
  Don't you have more pressing business to discuss with me?

• 1290
• Julien
  ...
  I see.
  She wants to reward us...
  I don't know if I deserve that, but let's head back to the imperial villa anyway.

• 1291
• Guard
  ...Player and Julien?
  Hurry inside.
  The Queen Mother awaits you.

• 1292
• Guard
  ...Player? Her majesty awaits you inside.
  Please hurry.

• 1293
• Alvise
  Thank you, Player.
  Hmph.
  Julien, if you only knew how much trouble you've caused me...

• 1294
• Julien
  ......

• 1295
• Alvise
  ...? What's wrong? You don't look like yourself...
  Does even a man like you get nervous before a meeting with the Queen Mother herself?

• 1296
• Julien
  No, that's not...

• 1297
• Alvise
  Hmph.
  Well, whatever.
  We can't keep the Queen Mother waiting any longer.

• 1298
• Duke of Guise
  Hurry inside.

• 1299
• Queen Mother of France
  Player, and Julien.
  This meeting with Alvise has been enormously beneficial.
  Please accept this reward as a token of appreciation for your hard work in making it happen.

• 1300
• Queen Mother of France
  ...Julien, there is no need to be so formal for me.
  Raise your chin and approach me.

• 1301
• Julien
  Understood, my lord.

• 1302
• Queen Mother of France
  ...!Oh ho...
  So this is the man my orderlies have been speaking of...
  He looks just as the rumours say.

• 1303
• Julien
  ......

• 1304
• Queen Mother of France
  Viscountess Margaret Vernier--
  The only person who showed me any kindness when I came here from Florence and was surrounded by political enemies 20 years ago.

• 1305
• Alvise
  (Viscountess...!? You don't mean...)

• 1306
• Queen Mother of France
  ...Are you perchance related to Margaret?

• 1307
• Julien
  ...
  No, your majesty.
  Since the day I was born I have had no parents and no siblings.
  I have been all alone in the world.
  I have never heard of my having any relatives as lofty as that...

• 1308
• Queen Mother of France
  I see...
  I thought you resembled her, but perhaps I was wrong.
  ...You may step down now.
  We will now begin the signing ceremony.
  Bring forth the Lord Privy Seal.

• 1309
• Queen Mother of France
  This pact seals a mutual non-aggression relationship with our nation and Venice.
  I hope the plan at the Suez will be successful.

• 1310
• Alvise
  ...Thank you, your majesty.
  I shall work as though my life depended on it.

• 1311
• Guard
  ...Player? Orseolo has been looking for you.
  Hurry and return back inside.

• 1312
• Alvise
  Julien.
  About the Queen Mother's story earlier...

• 1313
• Julien
  Ha ha...
  I suppose even a Queen Mother can tell a joke.
  There's no way I could be related to someone like a viscountess.
  Now then...
  We have succeeded at our task.
  Let's hurry back to Venice and put Mistress Vittoria's mind at ease.

• 1314
• Alvise
  ......

• 1315
• Alvise
  Player, I thank you for your help.
  I must...
  study some things in this town, before I leave.
  I will let you know if something happens.
  Farewell.

• 23087
• The Queen Mother's summer visit had suddenly been changed to southern France.
  Then the royal family arrived in Marseilles.

• 23088
• Player and Alvise took in the magnificence of this procession while being astonished at the ability of Julien to put the visit in motion.
  Alvise attempted to reward Julien, but he declined.
  Instead, he requested that he be shown the treasured pieces of art that Maurizo, one of the Orseolo ancestors, had collected.
  Alvise hesitated, but agreed to the request.

• 23089
• Taking Player and Julien with him, Alvise went to have an audience with the Queen Mother.
  However, Julien said he had promised to meet somebody and left suddenly.

• 23090
• Alvise was upset with his insolence and went on to the Imperial Villa without him.

• 23091
• The Queen Mother appeared before them and although she labelled their plan for Suez as a "schoolboy's daydream", she was impressed with Alvise's enthusiasm and decided to agree to the pact.
  However, before she would sign it, she ordered that Julien, having been responsible for setting up this audience, be brought before her.

• 23092
• Alvise requested that Player go and find Julien.

• 23093
• Finally, Julien was found at a church in town, where he was telling a one-eyed monk, "...Then, the one who was manipulating the whole anonymous letter incident behind the scenes was..." However, once the monk noticed Player, he immediately went to hide himself.

• 23094
• According to Julien, the monk's name was Augustino and he had taught Julien how to become a treasure hunter when he was an orphan.
  However, he avoided talking about the details of their mysterious conversation.

• 23095
• Upon returning to the Imperial Villa, Alvise noticed that Julien's face did not look very well.
  However, not wanting to keep the Queen Mother waiting, they hurried back to have an audience with her.

• 23096
• The Queen Mother granted a reward to Julien and Player for setting up the meeting.
  Then, as Julien was standing next to the Queen Mother, she let out a loud gasp.
  His face looked exactly like that of an old acquaintance of hers.
  That person was the wife of the Viscount of Vernier, Marguerite.
  Twenty years ago when the Queen Mother was married into the royal family, she was the one person in the Paris Court that was kind to her.
  The Queen Mother asked Julien if he was related to her.
  However, Julien only smiled and said that he not known any of his relatives since he was born.

• 23097
• Once the audience was over, Alivse was determined to find out the truth about the situation.
  However, Julien only laughed and left.

• 23098
• In response, Alvise said, "I must study some things in this town before I leave," and he also left the Imperial Villa.