He Opened A Matchmaking Agency In 18Th Century London [EN]: Chapter 193

< The Woman in the Black Cloak >

The Republic of Venice, a vast island city formed by connecting numerous small islands in the middle of the sea, presented a breathtaking sight.

Venice boasted a fantastic and unique appearance, creating the illusion that a huge and splendid city was floating on the water.

‘It already looked like this in the 18th century….’

Prince Pietro was greatly fascinated by the beautiful scenery of the Republic of Venice, a city deeply influenced by the Renaissance and Baroque styles.

“It’s truly amazing. How could they build such wonderful structures on the sea? Even though the Republic of Venice is said to be declining, with only the glory of its past as a trading power remaining… If these Italian states united and joined forces, France wouldn’t be able to easily encroach upon them.”

In the 18th century, the Italian region was divided into many independent states such as kingdoms and duchies, resulting in significant differences in regional characteristics and levels of development.

Also, although Italian was a common language, it was not widely used, and each kingdom and duchy used different dialects, making unification even more difficult.

It would take more than half a century for these disparate states to unify into one Italy.

“Count, I see those in every square, but what are they for?”

After crossing a bridge over a natural waterway, they entered a large square. In the center of the square, without exception, stood a round, well-like stone structure.

“Those are wells. Since this is a city built on the sea, there must be a shortage of drinking water and water for general use. So, they build wells and store rainwater in them.”

The Venice region usually receives a lot of rain between November and March.

The rainwater that falls during this time is stored in these wells, and the sand inside acts as a natural purifier. I learned this while traveling in this area in modern times.

“Oh- I see. But isn’t this your first time here, Count? How do you know so much?”

“Ah, well… I just heard about it.”

After wandering around the streets of Venice, darkness began to fall.

More and more gambling houses and bars became visible, and suspicious-looking groups appeared here and there.

‘Oh no, I’ve gone too far. Where am I?’

Theo realized then that more time had passed than he thought.

After walking around for nearly two hours, he had wandered so far that he didn’t know where he was.

In modern times, he could easily check his location with a smartphone, but that was impossible in this era.

“Huh?”

At that moment, Prince Pietro rummaged through his pockets, looking flustered.

“What’s wrong?”

“The leather wallet with the money… My wallet is gone! Did it fall out when I got off the boat earlier?”

“What? Look carefully. Didn’t you put it somewhere else?”

“No, it’s not there.”

It was a disaster. The prince had been carrying all their money.

“I think we should take a gondola back to the accommodation before it gets too late. Let’s explain the situation to the gondolier and say we’ll pay him when we get to the accommodation.”

“Yes, Count. I’m really sorry.”

The prince looked around and approached a gondola parked nearby, asking in Neapolitan [the dialect of Naples].

“Do you happen to speak Neapolitan?”

Since many tourists visit Venice, gondoliers often speak a little of the languages of nearby regions. Fortunately, the gondolier could also speak Neapolitan.

“I can speak a little.”

“Ah, that’s good. Which way should I go to get to an accommodation called ‘Contessa’ from here?”

The gondolier replied in clumsy Neapolitan.

“Hmm… It’s far from here. You can’t walk there. You have to take a boat. It would take hours to walk. You might encounter robbers on the way.”

Since Venice had poor security, dangerous situations could arise if it got dark, as he said.

The prince asked the gondolier.

“Can you take us there? We lost our wallet, so we don’t have any money right now. We’ll pay you as soon as we arrive at the accommodation.”

The prince even bowed his head to ask, but the gondolier was cold.

“You guys are all the same; this isn’t the first time I’ve heard this excuse. Bad luck, ptooey-”

Then he rowed away.

Theo asked the prince, who had a disappointed expression.

“He won’t take us because we don’t have money?”

“Yes, that’s right. I don’t know what kind of trouble we’ll get into if it gets any later, and there aren’t many boats going. This is a big problem.”

At that moment, Theo noticed a boat that looked bigger and more luxurious than the typical gondola. It even had a roof to shield passengers from the sun or rain.

“Shall we go ask that boat? Since it’s a big boat, they might give us a ride if we explain our situation.”

“Yes, let’s go.”

The boat was much more luxurious than it looked from afar, and the sides were intricately carved with gold leaf, seemingly with family crests or symbols.

“It looks like a nobleman is on board. It might be easier to get through to them if we explain our situation to the nobleman. I’ll ask in Latin.”

At that time, Latin was like an international common language mainly used by the aristocratic class.

The prince approached a man dressed as a nobleman among the several people on the boat and politely asked in Latin.

“Do you happen to speak Latin?”

“…And?”

The prince was pleased when the nobleman retorted in Latin.

“Ah, yes. That’s fortunate. I am from the Kingdom of Naples. I came to visit today and got lost. If you have time, could you take us to an accommodation called ‘Contessa’ near the harbor? I will pay you as soon as we arrive at the accommodation.”

The nobleman scanned Prince Pietro’s shabby clothes up and down, and soon harsh words came out of his mouth.

“Look at this lowly foreigner? Trying to act like a nobleman with a little Latin he picked up by chance? And who do you think this boat belongs to, daring to make such a ridiculous request?”

“Pardon?”

“Get lost now! Unless you want to be taught a lesson!”

As the nobleman got angry, the men with fierce expressions next to him stood up abruptly, taking threatening stances.

“Didn’t you hear? Get lost!”

The prince stared at their rude behavior with a dumbfounded look.

Clang-

Eventually, the men even drew the swords they wore on their waists.

“Oh my! I just asked, why are you pointing swords at me? Why are you being so ungenerous?”

“Get lost if you don’t want to get hurt!”

It was then.

“What’s going on?”

A woman suddenly appeared from behind and asked.

The woman approached silently, wearing a hooded black cloak that reached down to her ankles.

Behind the woman stood two burly men who appeared to be her attendants.

The nobleman and the men who had been acting up quickly lowered their swords and bowed politely.

“No, it’s nothing, miss. These foreigners came and insisted on being taken to where they’re staying, so I was teaching them a lesson.”

Because they were speaking in Venetian, the prince and Theo couldn’t understand what they were saying.

But the woman in the black cloak glanced at Theo and suddenly asked in fluent English.

“Would you be more comfortable speaking in English?”

Her calm and beautiful voice was impressive.

“Ah, yes. You can speak English?”

“I can speak a little. Which country are you from?”

“We are from the Kingdom of Naples.”

The woman tilted her head at Theo’s answer.

“You don’t seem like you’re from the Kingdom of Naples.”

“My wife is from Naples. This friend is my brother-in-law from Naples. We were sightseeing in Venice and unfortunately lost our wallet, so we couldn’t go anywhere. If you take us to our accommodation, I will pay you as soon as we get there.”

“Yes, I see.”

The woman in the black cloak looked at the nobleman and said.

“Take these people to the accommodation where they are staying. Then we’ll go in.”

“But, miss… They said they’re staying at Contessa. Then we’ll have to go all the way back. Why bother with such trouble for such lowly people…”

The woman in the black cloak interrupted the man and scolded him.

“Aren’t they guests who have come to our country? It’s almost night, and they’ve lost their wallets and are lost in a foreign country. How embarrassed must they be?”

“They just look like gamblers…”

“Do as I say! This is a high-crime area, and it’s very dangerous for foreigners to walk around at night. Hurry!”

“…Yes, miss.”

Although they couldn’t understand the conversation in Venetian, Theo was amazed by the restrained dignity emanating from the woman’s words.

‘Even though she’s a slender young woman, I can feel the power to overwhelm others with just her voice….’

The woman in the black cloak turned her head again and said to Theo and the prince in fluent English.

“You’re staying at Contessa?”

“Ah, yes!”

“I’ll give you a ride. It’s quite a distance, so let’s get going. You can go into the boat and sit down.”

“Thank you so much, thank you. I will pay you the fare as soon as we arrive.”

“No, the money is fine. We were passing by anyway.”

As Theo and the prince expressed their gratitude to the woman several times and went over to the boat, the nobleman pointed to a corner seat and said.

“You guys better know you’re lucky; just sit there quietly!”

Following them, the woman who boarded the boat took a seat in the best spot inside.

And slowly lowered the cloak over her shoulders, revealing her face.

Swoosh-

A slightly cold but wise-looking gaze, a straight nose, full lips, and glossy light brown hair.

She was a beautiful young lady exuding a strange charm where endless coldness and warmth coexisted.

Although he didn’t say it, the prince also seemed to be showing great interest in her.

‘I need to have a deep conversation to know for sure, but from my initial impression, she seems quite promising… Moreover, she seems to be quite high-ranking in Venice. And Prince Pietro likes her too.’

Theo wanted to ask about her identity, seeing some potential, but it wasn’t as easy as he thought.

The young woman was sitting inside with her attendants, and the man in noble attire was glaring fiercely as if he would cut them down with a sword if they did anything suspicious.

Theo whispered quietly to the prince.

“That young lady seems to be the daughter of a high-ranking family in Venice.”

“Yes. I think so too.”

“Shouldn’t we find out somehow?”

“Pardon?”

“I don’t know if it’s too hasty, but she’s the first young lady I’ve felt is a good match for the prince while traveling around the kingdom. I’m strangely invested. I want to check her identity, and if she doesn’t have a promised match and her status aligns with the prince, it might be good to arrange a meeting and conversation.”

The prince’s face brightened even in the darkness at Theo’s words.

“Ah! It seems that you have a very good feeling this time, Count?”

“Yes. It’s hard to say for sure yet, but she seems to be the best match for the prince among the young ladies I’ve met so far.”

“Ah, yes, yes! Haha-”

Prince Pietro’s reaction was better than expected. The prince also seemed to like the woman in the black cloak at first sight.

‘I couldn’t tell well because it was dark, but the prince also likes her quite a bit. That’s good. But how do I find out her identity?’

Theo, who had been looking for an opportunity for a while, urged the prince.

“It seems like we’ll be arriving at the accommodation soon. Shouldn’t we at least find out her name before that?”

“Right? I feel like I should too.”

The prince, who had been anxiously watching, plucked up his courage and asked the man in noble attire.

“Excuse me, but may I ask you something?”

“?”

“Could you tell me who the young lady who gave us a ride is…?”

The nobleman bared his teeth and frowned fiercely.

“What do you want to know that for, you?”

“No, it’s not that… I’m just so grateful for the ride. I need to know who she is so I can thank her later…”

“Don’t be ridiculous!”

“Pardon?”

“Stop talking nonsense and be quiet when I’m being nice!”

“If you don’t mind, please tell me her last name…”

The nobleman with a displeased face pursed his lips and didn’t say anything after that.

Prince Pietro was so frustrated.

He couldn’t reveal his identity as the prince of the Kingdom of Naples, and even if he did, it was obvious that they wouldn’t believe him.

The boat continued for a while and stopped near Contessa.

“We’re here, get off quickly!”

The woman was talking to her attendants inside the boat and didn’t even see Theo and the prince leaving.

The prince, who was being pushed off, suddenly shouted loudly in English.

“Miss! What is your name? At least tell me which family you’re from….”

Then the nobleman pushed the prince’s chest hard.

Thud-

“Does this bastard really want to die? What are you doing! Why don’t you get off quickly?”

The woman, who turned around at the prince’s commotion, gave a faint smile and bowed her head as if to be seen.

In the end, they had to return to the accommodation without knowing her name or identity.

◈ The next morning, at the Contessa accommodation in Venice.

“No, Prince? Are you already awake?”

Theo, who had been sound asleep, woke up at the sound of someone and saw Prince Pietro looking out the window.

His face looked rough as if he had tossed and turned all night.

“Yes. I couldn’t sleep well, so I didn’t get a wink of sleep last night.”

Seeing the prince’s emotions, which were clearly different from usual, Theo quickly realized the reason.

‘He must be like that because of the young lady yesterday. He must have liked her more than I thought.’

Last night, until right before going to bed, the prince was worried about how to find out the woman’s identity.

However, it was nearly impossible to find a Venetian noble lady whose family and last name were unknown right away.

It wasn’t possible to simply ask about all the Venetian noble ladies.

Breakfast time.

The prince, who had been deep in thought throughout the meal, suddenly raised his head and exclaimed.

“Ah! Come to think of it, that boat we rode yesterday!”

“Yes?”

“The gold-leaf unique pattern on the side of the boat was distinct, and it wasn’t a pattern commonly seen in ordinary noble families, was it?”

“Was it? I think I saw something like a pattern, but I don’t remember well because it was dark.”

Prince Pietro nodded and continued.

“It’s clear. The pattern was quite unique. I know almost all the royal patterns in this surrounding area, and it was the first time I’ve seen that form as a royal pattern, but anyway, it was similar.”

“Similar to a royal pattern?”

“Yes! On a nice boat with such a pattern, a man in noble attire treats a young woman too politely… Could it be one of the boats that the Doge [the elected head of state] of this place uses?”

“The Doge? Then… the young lady we met yesterday…?”

“Haha- Yes! It’s definitely the daughter of the Doge here. Isn’t that right?”

“Well, if the pattern engraved on the boat is the pattern of the Doge here, it’s almost certain.”

“It’s certain! It will be even more certain if we go and see it later! Maybe that young lady is the Doge’s daughter. Haha- What an amazing connection! Hahaha-.”

Prince Pietro was very excited, as if his suspicions about the woman’s identity had been confirmed.

*

“No, are you going too, Prince? You clearly told me that you wouldn’t go to the Palace of Venice, didn’t you?”

Minister Grimaldi, who was preparing to go to the Doge’s Palace to meet the Doge of Venice, asked the prince with a surprised face.

Prince Pietro replied with a serious expression.

“Venice is a place I suddenly decided to visit without notifying them in advance, isn’t it? Shouldn’t I, as the prince of the Kingdom of Naples, go in person to ask for their understanding?”

“Ah… Yes. It would be a very good thing if you would do that, Prince….”

“Hahaha- Right? Then let’s go together quickly!”

“···?”

Unlike other countries, Venice is led by a Doge rather than a king, and unlike the princesses of other kingdoms or duchies, their children do not inherit any position, so it was close to an honorary position.

So, Minister of Interior Grimaldi didn’t think that the prince needed to consider her as a bride candidate and didn’t recommend it anymore.

But now the prince was dressed in luxurious clothes and ready to go.

“Your clothes aren’t a servant’s attire either… Then, are you really going to enter the palace as a formal prince today?”

“Yes. Today, I want to meet the Doge here in person and look around the republic. Because it’s the last time. Haha-.”

Although he had a bewildered expression, Minister Grimaldi did not stop him.

Instead, since the prince of the Kingdom of Naples was going in person, he decided to send a messenger to inform them of the visit in advance.