ITIF Chapter 23

Late Evening Social Gathering

Giselle Grante, having left Count Tarel’s estate, walked toward the waiting carriage.

“Miss, did you have an enjoyable time today as well?”

Lindsey, who had been waiting in the driver’s seat for Giselle Grante’s return, rubbed her eyes and spoke.

“Yes. And you?”

At the question asked while boarding the carriage, Lindsey quickly glanced around.

“It’s a bit delicate to speak about here…”

Seeing Lindsey trail off, Giselle Grante curtly said one word.

“Get in.”

“…Pardon? How could I, how could I ride in the same carriage as you, Miss!”

Lindsey shook her head vigorously. Giselle Grante simply stared at Lindsey quietly.

Then Lindsey quickly changed her words.

“Yes, yes! I’ll get in. I’m getting in.”

As soon as Lindsey, who had been sitting in the driver’s seat, sat down next to Giselle Grante, the carriage departed.

Looking at the shrinking exterior of Count Tarel’s estate, Lindsey opened her mouth.

“The relationship between the head butler and Countess Tarel seems a bit suspicious.”

Every time Giselle Grante spent time at Countess Tarel’s salon, Lindsey would spend boring hours in the carriage.

At first, she thought she might take a nap, but later, growing tired of even that, she began talking to the maids and servants who were similarly waiting boredly in the carriages of other salon guests for their masters to return.

Although Lindsey was quite talkative, she knew how to listen carefully to others’ conversations.

Those who were initially reserved gradually opened up to Lindsey and began chattering about their masters’ secrets and flaws.

Lindsey relayed all the stories she heard to Giselle Grante without missing a single detail.

‘The head butler…?’

Giselle Grante recalled the image of the head butler she had seen at Count Tarel’s estate earlier.

Head butlers of high-ranking noble houses were usually quite aged.

Since there were many distinguished families, it was natural for head butlers to serve the masters of one family through generations.

However, Count Tarel’s head butler was definitely young. Young enough to be considered around the same age as Countess Tarel.

Moreover, he had handsome features and a solid build.

‘Surely… it couldn’t be?’

Due to busy state affairs, the Emperor would occasionally visit Countess Tarel, her old husband was ill, and Countess Tarel was still young.

Naturally, her thoughts leaned toward the improper.

“Suspicious, you say. How so?”

“Well, that is…”

Lindsey slightly blushed and glanced at Giselle Grante.

From that reaction, Giselle Grante roughly guessed the relationship between Countess Tarel and the young head butler.

“How brave.”

At her quiet murmur, Lindsey’s eyes widened as she asked back.

“Pardon? What is?”

However, she soon looked at Giselle Grante with a puzzled expression.

While thinking that an unmarried young lady wouldn’t know about such sordid adult affairs, she also wondered if perhaps she had caught on, her dilemma clearly showing on her face.

For Lindsey, who was pondering what words to bring up, Giselle Grante immediately changed the subject.

“What other news was there besides that?”

“…Oh, what else was there…”

Lindsey began chattering away with her report.

Among them were things ranging from trivial matters to important ones involving affairs and financial problems.

If one were to dig a little deeper into those, they were certainly things that could be used as weaknesses to shake opponents.

By the time they arrived at Duke Amaterasu’s estate, Lindsey’s story had also come to an end.

“I hope it was helpful to you, Miss?”

Having talked for a long time and feeling a bit parched, Lindsey swallowed and asked.

Giselle Grante quietly poured water into a cup and handed it to Lindsey.

“Thank you, Miss.”

The butler bowed as Giselle Grante entered Duke Amaterasu’s estate.

“Welcome back, Miss.”

“What about the others?”

“They have not yet returned home.”

Nodding to the butler in acknowledgment, Giselle Grante headed to her bedroom.

And she reflected on what she had just heard from Lindsey.

‘Does the Empress also know? The fact that Countess Tarel has a lover other than the Emperor…?’

If the Empress knew, this would be an excellent means to bring down Countess Tarel and Philipo.

No, property confiscation and title stripping would be laughable, and furthermore, it could even raise suspicions that Philipo might not be the Emperor’s son.

In that case, Countess Tarel and Philipo would inevitably become cards that must be discarded.

‘…What should I do?’

Giselle Grante pondered for a moment over the disposal of Countess Tarel and Philipo.

Tap, tap.

Her well-manicured fingernails tapped the white console at a steady pace.

As if physically manifesting the contemplation she was currently engaged in.

“Miss, is there something troubling you?”

“Hm?”

Lindsey asked while gently brushing her perfumed hair.

Only then did Giselle Grante emerge from her reverie.

Tap, tap.

At the same time, she realized she had been unconsciously tapping the console like playing piano.

And at that moment, a past conversation with Count Frederick came to mind.

[Your Highness the Princess has a tendency to try to shoulder everything alone.]

[Why is that a problem?]

To her expression that seemed to ask what was wrong with that, Count Frederick had answered thus:

[It’s one of Your Highness’s bad habits. Sometimes multiple heads can be more helpful than going alone. So I mean you should make more use of those around you.]

[For example, should I understand this as meaning I should make even more use of people like you, Count Frederick?]

[Well, you didn’t choose particularly pleasant words, but it’s similar. So if you have concerns, please consult with me as well. I can’t guarantee good opinions will come of it, but…]

Unable to resist Count Frederick’s recommendation, she had confided her worries to him.

Through conversations with him, she had come up with clever ideas, and simply talking about her concerns had made her feel somewhat better.

Remembering that time, Giselle Grante casually made a request to Lindsey.

“Lindsey, could you find out if there’s anyone watching Count Tarel’s estate? If possible, while keeping our identity secret.”

“Pardon? …Yes! I think it’s possible.”

Lindsey, who had been momentarily flustered and blinking, spoke quite definitively.

“No, actually, I think I already know.”

At Lindsey’s follow-up words, Giselle Grante’s eyes widened slightly.

‘You already know?’

To her gaze asking what that meant, Lindsey answered.

“I mean the head butler of Count Tarel’s house.”

“Why him?”

“He seems to possess quite expensive watches and jewelry.”

“A head butler of a high-ranking noble house should receive ample compensation, so that shouldn’t be a problem.”

“But they’re supposedly so expensive that he could never afford them on a servant’s wages.”

“Ah…”

“I happened to become somewhat acquainted with Count Tarel’s stable keeper, you see?”

Lindsey continued while brushing Giselle Grante’s blonde hair.

“But that head butler occasionally rides out somewhere mysteriously and returns. And always only in the early morning hours when everyone is asleep.”

“Could it be errands for Countess Tarel?”

“I don’t think that was it.”

Lindsey shook her head.

“…Is that so?”

In fact, she had thought that the Emperor’s mistress couldn’t play a major role in dealing with the Empress.

She had considered her useful only as a card that could slightly provoke the Empress’s mood.

But looking at it now, there seemed to be a somewhat different utility value.

****

Late evening. A carriage stopped in a deserted place.

“Count. We have arrived.”

“Good work.”

Adjusting his loosely worn cravat tightly, Count Frederick stepped down from the carriage.

And he looked at the isolated, massive, and luxurious mansion.

At the entrance to the mansion stood men dressed in black suits.

Their considerable muscles couldn’t be fully concealed even under their generously cut suits.

“Could you please show your invitation?”

One of the men approached and spoke to Count Frederick.

Count Frederick took out an invitation from his jacket and handed it over.

“Here.”

“Count Frederick, I see. Please, welcome.”

The men in black suits bowed to Count Frederick.

Count Frederick nodded lightly toward them and walked into the mansion.

This place served as a social gathering exclusively for the highest-class men of the Phasis Empire, used for tasting the finest wines, trying premium cigars, and sharing views on international affairs or the Empire’s future.

Although couples could attend together, it was generally more accurate to view it as a fellowship among the ruling males.

The nobles who built relationships at this gathering would look out for each other’s backs.

But precisely because of that, not just anyone could attend.

Given that high-level information was exchanged, most noble men who knew of this gathering’s existence wanted to join this social club.

Count Frederick was somewhat of an exception in that regard, but he had first set foot here due to Princess Trinity’s recommendation.

However, now there was no master to give orders to Count Frederick as before.

Therefore, this was the first time Count Frederick had attended this social gathering purely of his own volition.

He stepped into the dimly lit hall.

Several of those who had arrived earlier and were engaged in conversation turned to look at Count Frederick.

After scanning them with his eyes, Count Frederick approached a familiar figure and offered a greeting.

“It’s been a while, Duke Blatnik.”

“Indeed, it has been quite a while, Count Frederick. Were you a cigar enthusiast?”

Duke Blatnik gestured with his eyes toward an expensive wooden box displayed on the table.

The wooden box had intricate engravings.

‘Today’s gathering seems to be for cigar tasting.’

Count Frederick thought this and answered.

“From Mount Perphenom, I presume.”

Pleased with Count Frederick’s answer, Duke Blatnik smiled with satisfaction and looked around at the other nobles nearby.

“As expected, he immediately recognizes something precious. This should be worth anticipating.”

Then the other nobles around Duke Blatnik nodded and lifted the corners of their mouths.

It was the smile among those who recognized the value of something that couldn’t be easily obtained even with much gold.

“Won’t you sit over here?”

Duke Blatnik offered a nearby empty seat, and just as Count Frederick was about to sit down with a smile.

“Perphenom cigars do seem to be popular.”

Saying this, Duke Blatnik gazed toward the hall entrance.

“…?”

Naturally, Count Frederick’s head followed Duke Blatnik’s gaze.

A man with a perfect physique like a divine sculpture was walking into the hall.