ITIF Chapter 22

Annoying Existence Like Leeches

When Joshua arrived at the door of the Emperor’s reception room, a servant knocked on the door and announced his arrival.

“Your Majesty, His Highness the Crown Prince is here.”

Just before the door opened, Joshua turned his head toward the corridor.

His brow furrowed as he watched the retreating figure of Count Tarel’s eldest son.

Until now, Joshua had completely forgotten whether the Emperor’s mistress or the child she bore was even alive.

He had never paid any attention to the Emperor’s mistress or his son…

Just when he thought he had finally gotten rid of Trinity, who had been a pain like an aching tooth, some nobody appeared to muddy the waters, which greatly displeased him.

‘Creatures like leeches.’

Joshua definitively categorized Countess Tarel and Philipo as a leech and baby leech.

It was quite unpleasant that they had deliberately appeared before his eyes to sour his mood, but powerless and weak leeches could simply be crushed underfoot with a boot heel.

Unlike Princess Trinity, who had been blessed with good fortune and a long life, causing him much trouble.

“Let him enter.”

When the Emperor’s permission came from within, Philipo’s figure happened to disappear around the corner.

“Your Highness the Crown Prince, please come inside.”

The servant opened the reception room door and stepped aside.

Clicking his tongue in annoyance, Joshua entered the reception room.

“I greet Your Majesty.”

Joshua bowed toward the Emperor, who was sitting inside sipping wine.

The Emperor, who had been quietly watching him, soon spoke.

“Yes. You wished to see me?”

Then he gestured for Joshua to come closer.

The Empress, who had been sitting upright beside the Emperor, gave Joshua a meaningful look.

It meant he shouldn’t be so stiff and should quickly approach the Emperor and act affectionately.

“Yes. I came to see you because there’s something urgent I need to discuss.”

Following the Empress’s demand, Joshua smiled broadly and walked toward the Emperor.

The Emperor gestured toward the sofa, indicating he should sit.

As Joshua leaned forward to sit on the sofa, the Emperor spoke bluntly.

“How unusual.”

“…?”

“There are many family members seeking me out today.”

The Emperor leisurely lifted his wine glass.

His expression was gentle and his voice wasn’t irritated, but there was an edge to his words.

As if he knew all about the connection between Count Tarel’s eldest son visiting him today and the Empress and Joshua’s sudden visit regarding the coronation ceremony issue.

“May I pour you a glass?”

When Joshua asked affectionately, the Emperor nodded.

“Good.”

Joshua filled the glass to the brim with wine received from the servant.

The Empress, who had been watching, carefully interjected.

“We’re family, after all. Shouldn’t we be together especially at times like these?”

“That’s right. We are family. Just as the Empress says.”

The Emperor brought the wine glass Joshua had poured to his lips.

At that moment, the smile completely disappeared from the Emperor’s face.

Soon, with the cold eyes of a sovereign, he looked at Joshua.

“Yes. Tell me what urgent matter the family needed to discuss.”

****

“Madam. Young Master Philipo has returned home.”

At the head butler’s words, Countess Tarel’s face brightened noticeably.

“Then tell him not to go straight to his bedroom, but to show his face even if just for a moment.”

“I will do so.”

After the head butler left, Countess Tarel, unable to hide her joy, looked at Giselle Grante, who was sitting across from her conversing with others.

“Lady Amaterasu, could I… have a moment?”

She gestured toward the exit with her eyes.

“…Of course. Please excuse me for a moment.”

Giselle Grante asked for the noble ladies’ understanding and rose from her seat.

“What is it?”

“Philipo has returned from the palace. I thought it would be good to see his face and talk for a moment before he goes to rest…?”

“Good idea.”

She had been curious about what happened at the palace today anyway, so Giselle Grante readily nodded.

“Let’s go quickly.”

The Countess Tarel who began walking showed unprecedented vitality.

It seemed as if she felt she could immediately steal the Crown Prince position from Joshua and the Empress.

As the elated Countess Tarel and Giselle Grante headed toward the count’s mansion entrance, they happened to meet Philipo, who was walking in their direction.

“Ah… Lady Amaterasu.”

Philipo, who seemed a bit flustered as if he hadn’t expected to encounter Giselle Grante, soon extended his hand.

“It’s been a while.”

Giselle Grante gently placed her hand on Philipo’s.

“We meet again like this.”

After lightly touching his lips to the back of her hand and withdrawing, Philipo looked at Countess Tarel beside them and asked.

“But where were you two going?”

“We heard you had returned from the palace and were about to go out to greet you.”

Countess Tarel smiled contentedly and looked back and forth between Philipo and Giselle Grante as she continued.

“I’d like to hear about it, if you have a moment? …Your Highness, the Imperial Prince?”

“Ah, Mother, that kind of address is a bit…”

“What’s wrong? It’s just between us. Right?”

Countess Tarel playfully sought agreement from Giselle Grante.

Giselle Grante didn’t answer but just smiled slightly.

“Shall we go to the private room then?”

Countess Tarel hummed pleasantly as she began walking.

“Let’s go.”

Philipo extended his hand as if to let her go first, and Giselle Grante, who nodded, also began following Countess Tarel.

“I was actually getting a bit worried since you returned later than expected, but judging by your expression, His Majesty the Emperor didn’t turn you away at the door.”

Countess Tarel said as she entered the private room and sat on the sofa.

“His Majesty happened to be taking a brief rest after a meeting, and he readily invited me into his private space.”

At Philipo’s answer, Giselle Grante nodded inwardly.

The Emperor lived very regularly, and she was well-versed in his schedule.

So she had deliberately guided Philipo to enter the palace at a time when the Emperor would happen to be resting comfortably.

And things seemed to have proceeded as she expected.

At Philipo’s positive response, Countess Tarel’s lips curved up pleasantly.

Unable to hide her joy, Countess Tarel pressed Philipo for details.

“So what happened after that?”

“I played chess with His Majesty. As Lady Amaterasu advised, I also succeeded in gracefully losing the game.”

Philipo smiled broadly as he looked at Giselle Grante.

At his gaze that seemed to seek praise, Giselle Grante quickly spoke.

“You did well. His Majesty the Emperor has a very strong desire to win and is quite suspicious. If you had won in this match, he would have been wary that you might have some ulterior motive.”

The Emperor had shown himself to be quite obsessed with that incorrectly transmitted oracle for a long time.

Leaving out the part about it being fine as long as it wasn’t the first child of the former Empress, the Emperor had always worried that his sons would take his head.

Though only half-blooded, Philipo was of the Emperor’s bloodline.

It wouldn’t be entirely pleasant for a grown son to suddenly approach him affectionately.

He might approach friendly only to target the Emperor’s life.

“…Thank you, Lady Amaterasu.”

At Giselle Grante’s praise, Philipo slightly lowered his gaze and fidgeted with the back of his neck.

His shy smile revealed the boyish charm of youth still untainted by the world.

Countess Tarel’s beauty, which had even captivated the Emperor, was undeniably beautiful even in the face of time, and judging by his appearance that was a perfect copy of her, Philipo would surely be very popular when he entered society.

He was now almost old enough to debut in society.

Countess Tarel also patted Philipo’s back as if praising him for doing well.

“Oh, right. I saw Prince Joshua and Her Majesty the Empress at the palace.”

At Philipo’s words, Countess Tarel’s complexion visibly hardened.

“…What did they say?”

“Just… they seemed curious about why I had come to the palace.”

Though Philipo comforted Countess Tarel saying there was nothing to worry about since nothing happened, her once-furrowed brow wouldn’t easily relax.

“Any other conversation?”

“Nothing in particular.”

When Philipo quickly shook his head, Countess Tarel’s expression relaxed somewhat as if relieved.

“From now on, whenever you have time, please enter the palace to comfort His Majesty the Emperor. The other family members will be busy with the Crown Prince coronation preparations for a while, so His Majesty won’t have to feel the absence of the departed Princess.”

“I understand.”

Philipo readily nodded, and Countess Tarel let out a faint sigh.

She seemed worried that the Empress might step forward to harm Philipo.

“You must be tired.”

Giselle Grante said, looking at Philipo.

“Yes. A bit. I must have been more nervous than I realized.”

“Go and rest now.”

Countess Tarel waved her hand as she spoke.

“Then I’ll take my leave first. I’ll see you again, my lady.”

Philipo bowed silently toward Giselle Grante and rose from his seat. Giselle Grante also gave Philipo a nod of acknowledgment.

Giselle Grante spoke to Countess Tarel, who was about to rise from her seat.

“Countess Tarel. Could you spare a moment to talk with me?”

Countess Tarel, who had glanced at Philipo with a puzzled expression as he left, sat back down.

“Of course. Take good care of him.”

At Countess Tarel’s gesture, the head butler nodded as if to say not to worry.

“Shall I prepare a bath first, or would you like to eat first?”

To the head butler’s question, Philipo answered.

“I should bathe first.”

“Understood.”

After the two left, Countess Tarel lowered her voice slightly.

“It’s good that His Majesty the Emperor is spending time with our Philipo, but I’m a bit worried. If the Empress knows that Philipo is frequenting the palace, she won’t just sit still.”

“Don’t worry about that part.”

At Giselle Grante’s confident answer, the worry shadowing Countess Tarel’s face lightened a bit.

“You might think this is strange for me to say…”

She began carefully.

“…?”

“For some reason, I feel at peace when I’m with you, my lady.”

“…”

“Ah, in case you misunderstood, let me add that I absolutely don’t mean you’re easy to deal with! Of course, I admit I had prejudices at first because of the rumors I heard… but anyway, now I think there were misunderstandings in those rumors.”

Giselle Grante responded with a faint smile instead of words.