ITIF Chapter 99

Cornered

“Indeed. For the Empress to extend her hand to the Blatnik ducal family means she’s willing to humble herself…”

Giselle Grante rinsed her mouth with tea and nodded slightly, agreeing with Count Preston’s words.

“She likely intends to use Lady Blatnik to restore her relationship with Duchess Blatnik, but… it’s too early to judge.”

At this point, she grew curious about Kavelaseth’s capabilities.

‘How on earth does he find out these things?’

The Empress was a meticulous person.

She only entrusted work to those she had observed for a long time and judged trustworthy, and she rewarded them handsomely.

That’s why those who formed ties with the Empress or the Antares family never did anything foolish enough to kick away their own rice bowl.

For that very reason, planting someone deep inside wasn’t easy.

“I have one question. How exactly did you manage to plant a spy on the Empress’s side? It couldn’t have been easy.”

She too had tried to plant someone on the Empress’s side after detecting suspicious circumstances.

However, deep infiltration proved difficult.

“We’ve had spies planted in the imperial palace from before. But extracting important information was difficult.”

Count Preston answered her question, and Kavelaseth continued the explanation.

“If Crown Prince Joshua hadn’t intervened, the situation wouldn’t be much different even now.”

“That’s right. He essentially created a disadvantageous situation for himself by stepping forward.”

After mulling over their words several times, Giselle Grante soon realized.

‘Don’t tell me… is that it?’

With her lips slightly parted in surprise, Giselle Grante voiced her suspicion.

“By any chance, did someone from the Crown Prince’s side tail Duke Cardia?”

“That’s correct. I heard the Crown Prince Joshua’s side also had My Lady tailed.”

When Giselle Grante nodded, Count Preston continued.

“It seems they judged there was nothing more to glean from following the Lady. Duke Cardia became the Crown Prince’s next target. Duke Cardia successfully used the tail to obtain information.”

The moment she realized her guess was correct, goosebumps rose on the skin exposed outside her dress.

People who worked in the imperial palace for a salary were generally ruthless.

From those peeling onions in the kitchen to attendants—nearly all of them.

Because otherwise, they couldn’t survive in the imperial palace.

Especially those who worked close to the imperial family had tight lips and deep loyalty.

Turning an errand runner close to the Empress into a double agent was nothing short of a miracle.

‘A frightening person…’

As she looked at him with that thought, Kavelaseth slowly blinked and looked back at her.

The shadows created by his lush black eyelashes made his eyes appear even deeper.

When Kavelaseth tilted his head slightly, his fine black hair swayed softly.

Giselle Grante, who had been silently gazing at him, quickly turned her gaze away.

And gulped down the cooled tea.

Because somehow, just watching him made her throat feel parched.

“And then the Empress and Lady Blatnik had lunch together, just the two of them.”

At Kavelaseth’s words, Giselle Grante let out a light sigh and asked.

“Then should we assume the Empress succeeded in winning over the Blatnik ducal family?”

“That doesn’t seem to be the case. They haven’t given a definite answer yet.”

Count Preston, who had been nodding at Kavelaseth’s words, soon added with a sigh.

“But it’s hard to feel reassured. There are signs that the Empress’s side is attempting to reconcile with Duchess Blatnik.”

“I see.”

Giselle Grante nodded slightly and lowered her gaze.

Wondering a bit about what choice Lady Blatnik might have made.

It seemed necessary to quickly find a way to meet with Lady Blatnik.

“I think it’s correct to assume she intends to secure Lady Blatnik as the next Empress. What do you two think?”

At Count Preston’s question, Giselle Grante and Kavelaseth nodded simultaneously.

This matter too transparently revealed the Empress’s intentions.

It would be to bring the Blatnik ducal family in as Crown Princess to counter Amaterasu and the Cardia ducal family.

“Then what should we do now? The situation doesn’t seem to be flowing very favorably…”

“For now, please inform me immediately as new reports come in.”

“Understood.”

As soon as the words ended, the three stood up from their seats. And without anyone taking the lead, they left the conference room.

Because they all knew well what they needed to do next.

Only when they reached a fork in the corridor after passing through the long hallway did they briefly stop and look at each other.

“You said you have an appointment, right? Be careful.”

Giselle Grante looked back and forth between Kavelaseth and Count Preston as she spoke.

Count Preston nodded in acknowledgment, and Kavelaseth gazed at Giselle Grante’s face before opening his mouth.

“Don’t come back too late.”

Count Preston, who had been watching from the side, cleared his throat and said.

“It would be best if you hurried…”

When Kavelaseth turned his steps with a face full of reluctance, Count Preston, who had given Giselle Grante a parting glance, also followed him.

Taking her eyes off the two departing figures, Giselle Grante immediately headed to the study.

Standing by the study window and watching Kavelaseth and Count Preston board their carriage for a moment, Giselle Grante soon sat at her desk.

And began writing a letter quickly.

[To Lady Howard,

Have you been well?]

****

While Giselle Grante urgently wrote to Lady Howard, Kavelaseth and Count Preston arrived at a luxurious and grand mansion.

Kavelaseth, who had gotten off the carriage, glanced at Count Preston and said indifferently.

“Your cravat is a bit disheveled.”

“…Is it?”

After adjusting his cravat, Count Preston followed behind Kavelaseth, who was walking ahead, as if nothing had happened.

Kavelaseth handed the invitation to the men in black suits at the entrance and walked familiarly into the mansion.

“So this is it. That place where just anyone can’t come.”

Whispering softly enough for only Kavelaseth to hear, Count Preston looked around with curious eyes.

Befitting a social gathering exclusively for the upper class men of the Phasis Empire, it was filled with rarely seen artworks, and all those gathered in groups of three or five for conversation had familiar faces.

“Why haven’t you invited me until now?”

When Count Preston muttered somewhat sulkily, Kavelaseth looked back at him with emotionless eyes and recited.

“You handle your own business yourself. That was the condition I set when we agreed to join hands.”

“Ah, yes.”

Count Preston was nodding with a somewhat sulky expression when it happened.

“It’s been quite a while. Welcome. Duke Cardia.”

Duke Blatnik, who had been conversing with other nobles, spotted Kavelaseth and approached him.

“It’s been a while. Duke Blatnik.”

“Since Duke Cardia has made such a valuable visit, I should serve valuable wine to be proper. Isn’t that right, Count Preston?”

“Yes, yes…”

After exchanging brief greetings, the wine tasting event began in earnest.

The nobles gathered in the hall each spent time critiquing the finest wines.

However, no matter how much tasting continued, unlike Count Preston whose cheeks flushed red with intoxication, there was no sign of inebriation on Kavelaseth’s face.

“It seems it’s not just your spirit that’s strong.”

“What do you mean?”

At Kavelaseth’s question as he swirled his wine glass, Count Preston replied.

“I’m saying the wine’s alcohol content seems quite high….But who have you been looking for?”

Only then did Kavelaseth realize he had been searching for someone among the people freely moving about the hall conversing.

The person his subconscious was seeking was Count Frederick.

The conversation he’d had with Giselle Grante about him recently came to mind.

[I think I’ve said this before. Since you seem to have forgotten, I’ll say it one last time. The idea of separating marriage and romance is nothing but bullshit.]

It had been a rather aggressive statement.

Though he rarely regretted his words after speaking them, that time he had thought “oops.”

However, Giselle Grante had said this with a completely unconcerned expression.

[I’m telling you this because you seem to have misunderstood. Count Frederick and I are merely working together toward the same goal—we’re not the kind of relationship you might be misunderstanding, Your Grace.]

It couldn’t have been a more satisfactory answer.

Recalling that moment, the corners of Kavelaseth’s mouth curved with satisfaction.

‘I wanted to say something to Count Frederick if I met him again.’

But today didn’t seem to be that day.

“…It seems to be now.”

Just then, in response to a signal from Count Preston, Kavelaseth turned his head toward Duke Blatnik.

The foreign royal who had been conversing with Duke Blatnik throughout the tasting was about to leave his seat.

Kavelaseth, who had nodded slightly toward Count Preston, moved toward Duke Blatnik.

And only after praising him for procuring the valuable wine did he bring up what he wanted to say.

“I heard rumors that your daughter has been visiting the imperial palace recently… Is that true?”