ITIF Chapter 100

The Position of the House of Blatnik

“Since you seem to already know, there’s no point in making excuses. That’s right. The rumor Duke Cardia mentioned is indeed true.”

Duke Blatnik continued speaking candidly, as if he had no intention of hiding anything.

“And that’s not all, is it? Her Majesty the Empress even personally sent a gift to my wife.”

For a moment, a crack appeared in Kavelaseth’s handsome brow.

Until now, the House of Blatnik had belonged to the anti-Emperor faction as a member of the Alliance.

Although this place was also called a social gathering of the Empire’s highest-class men, it was simultaneously merely a means to achieve the Alliance’s objectives.

So if the House of Blatnik were to turn to the Empress’s side now, it could cause disruptions to their future plans.

“But please don’t worry. My wife is so proud that once she harbors a grudge, she never forgets it until she takes her revenge.”

“I’ll trust your word on that.”

Kavelaseth’s eyes curved into graceful arcs.

It was undeniably a smile that could captivate even a man.

Duke Blatnik, who had been staring at Kavelaseth’s smile as if mesmerized, soon made a gesture that any noble belonging to the Alliance would recognize.

It meant his intentions had not changed and remained the same.

“So, how was it? Did it seem like Duke Blatnik would turn to the Empress’s side?”

Upon returning to his original seat, Kavelaseth glared at his wine glass with narrowed eyes at Count Preston’s question.

Duke Blatnik was a man of integrity, and Kavelaseth trusted him as well.

However, if his family, whom he cherished above all else, were to become hostages, the story would be completely different.

He needed to take measures beforehand.

****

“Miss, where should I put this?”

A maid asked, gesturing with her eyes at the large vase she was holding in her arms.

After quickly scanning the hall, the daughter of Marquis Howard pointed with her finger at an empty table.

“Over there.”

Today, she had decided to host a small party gathering young ladies and lords of similar age.

Soon, the guests she had invited would be visiting the Howard marquisate.

Because of this, the employees of the House of Howard had been busy since dawn preparing to receive guests, and this applied even to the daughter of Marquis Howard, who only had to stand still and give instructions.

‘This isn’t easy.’

Lady Howard let out a deep sigh with her hand on her waist.

Meanwhile, another servant approached pushing a trolley and asked.

“Miss, where should I move this?”

On the trolley sat an art piece that had been made at least a hundred years ago.

Before departing on their journey, the Marquis and Marchioness Howard had given permission to invite young ladies and lords of similar age to the mansion.

However, they hadn’t given permission to damage the art pieces the Marquis Howard cherished.

Of course, displaying that would be perfect for showing off the House of Howard’s wealth and prestige, but there was no need to take on risk for a moment of superiority.

“Ah, that should be returned to its original place.”

“Understood.”

The servant carefully pushed the trolley with the art piece on it, moving away from Lady Howard.

As she watched the retreating figure with anxious eyes, another maid approached to ask for her opinion.

After frantically preparing to receive guests like this, the hall was somehow nearing completion.

Just as Lady Howard flopped into a chair to catch her breath, the butler spoke.

“Miss, a carriage has entered the mansion grounds.”

“……Already?”

Lady Howard sprang up from her seat and immediately went to the window to look outside.

It was true.

Carriages that had passed through the massive iron gate were approaching the mansion entrance one by one.

“How do I look?”

Lady Howard asked a maid who happened to be walking toward her.

The maid adjusted Lady Howard’s attire.

Only after thoroughly checking her appearance in front of the mirror did Lady Howard go to greet the invited guests.

“Thank you for inviting me.”

“I’m the one who should thank you for attending.”

Since all the invited guests were young ladies and lords from families friendly with the House of Howard, the atmosphere was quite harmonious.

While she was greeting guests for some time, the daughter of Duke Blatnik walked in.

“Welcome, Lady Blatnik.”

“Thank you for the invitation.”

As she was exchanging greetings with the daughter of Duke Blatnik, the hall became noisy.

Lady Howard turned her head toward where the nobles’ gazes were focused.

Giselle Grante was entering through the entrance, being escorted by Kavelaseth.

The blue dress reminiscent of a refreshing ocean suited Giselle Grante’s white skin very well.

Kavelaseth was wearing a suit in a slightly deeper shade than hers, and the unique atmosphere created by the color combination enhanced his intellectual charm even more.

Lady Howard, who had been watching the two approach with her mouth slightly open, belatedly came to her senses and offered a greeting.

“Welcome, Lady Amaterasu and Duke Cardia. But you two, is this your first time meeting Lady Blatnik here?”

When she asked while looking back and forth between Giselle Grante and the daughter of Duke Blatnik, the daughter of Duke Blatnik answered first.

“It’s not our first time meeting. Though this is the first time we’ve properly greeted each other……”

At Lady Blatnik’s gaze seeking agreement, Giselle Grante responded with a smile.

‘Fortunately, the start doesn’t seem bad.’

With that thought, Lady Howard winked at Giselle Grante.

In fact, the reason she had invited guests to the mansion today was because of Giselle Grante’s request.

Giselle Grante had originally refrained from going out, but after becoming engaged to Duke Cardia and staying at his mansion, it became even harder to see her face.

Nevertheless, Lady Howard consistently wrote letters to Giselle Grante.

The point was to hang out together.

Each time she sent a letter, she did receive a reply without fail. But it was always just an apologetic refusal.

Then Giselle Grante was the first to request to meet.

Though conditions were attached, Lady Howard didn’t mind much.

And so it led to today.

Since this was the first time she had invited guests under her own initiative, there were various difficulties, but Marchioness Howard was rather pleased.

She said it wouldn’t be bad practice for the future, when she would eventually get married and invite people to the mansion until she was sick of it.

It was when Lady Amaterasu and Lady Blatnik had been conversing for some time.

“It’s been a long time, Lady Blatnik!”

A group of young lords that Lady Howard also knew well approached and greeted Lady Blatnik.

“It has been a while……”

Lady Howard glared at the young lords, clutching her dress so tightly it crumpled.

But whether the young lords noticed her gaze or not, they poured out words to Lady Blatnik.

While subtly glancing sideways at Kavelaseth and Giselle Grante.

‘Tactless fools!’

Lady Howard criticized the young lords only in her mind.

And for good reason.

Lady Amaterasu was the most pleasing among her newly made friends, and she and the daughter of Duke Blatnik were longtime friends.

This gathering was arranged to introduce these two people, so the young lords who tactlessly intruded couldn’t look good to her.

“Ah, um……”

Lady Howard opened her mouth to quickly remedy the situation, but even that was drowned out.

“Isn’t that Duke Cardia!”

The young lords who had been sneaking glances at Kavelaseth’s face until just moments ago now began openly speaking to him in a familiar manner.

The eyes of Lady Howard, who had been pouting her lips in dissatisfaction, suddenly widened.

‘Wait, isn’t this better?’

Lady Howard put her idea into action.

“Since the gentlemen seem to be enjoying their conversation, let’s move to another spot.”

Then she took the hands of Lady Amaterasu and Lady Blatnik and led them to a quiet place.

And as soon as they moved, Lady Blatnik got to the point.

“You planned this gathering today to gauge how things are progressing between me, the Empress, and the Crown Prince. Am I right?”

As if not noticing the shocked expression on Lady Howard’s face, Lady Blatnik added sharply.

“Actually, when I heard that Lady Howard was inviting people to the mansion, I wondered if something had gone wrong. But I caught on immediately upon seeing Lady Amaterasu.”

Lady Blatnik looked at Lady Amaterasu with a somewhat haughty expression.

Lady Howard became very flustered.

With slightly upturned eyes, a slender face shape, and a pointed nose bridge on top of that.

Lady Blatnik had an appearance impressive enough to evoke the image of a villainess at first glance—somewhat haughty.

Moreover, she didn’t know how to speak indirectly.

So she was perfect for being misunderstood by those who didn’t know her well.

As being rude…….

One of the sayings openly circulating in the Phasis Empire was that first impressions are scientific.

So she had planned to give Lady Amaterasu a heads-up about Lady Blatnik first.

But it seemed that plan had been completely ruined from the start.

It was when Lady Howard tried to suppress her utterly dejected mood and make an excuse.

“That’s right. I wanted to know about the attitude Lady Blatnik, and furthermore the House of Blatnik, would take toward the Imperial Family. So I urged Lady Howard to arrange a meeting.”

There was no sign of displeasure on Lady Amaterasu’s face as she said this.

Lady Howard subtly rolled her eyes to observe Lady Blatnik’s reaction.