ITIF Chapter 74

Discord

Young Master Flerino barely managed to control his contorting expression as he cursed inwardly.

‘Damn it…!’

He had only mentioned the Emperor to prevent Young Master Greykin and Young Master Zimmer from escalating the situation further.

Imperial law didn’t constitute a crime merely for insulting or slandering others, but when the target was imperial family, the story became completely different.

Who would dare want to be suspected of disparaging the Empire’s sun? Even ten lives wouldn’t be enough.

He knew well that it was the nature of nobles to turn their backs most coldly at the slightest hint of being implicated.

So he had given them a gentle push.

Suggesting that if they listened to and sympathized with those words, they too were equally guilty of insulting the Emperor.

And for a moment it seemed to go according to his plan, but just moments ago, with the question raised by Lady Amaterasu, the atmosphere in the salon reversed in an instant.

Feeling the strangely changed gazes of the nobles, Young Master Flerino quickly rolled his eyes, assessing the atmosphere in the salon.

Several ladies covered their mouths with fans while whispering among themselves.

Judging by their expressions and looks, they seemed to be pouring out words of condemnation toward him.

There was even an elderly gentleman hastily leaving his seat. With his life experience, he was likely being cautious.

Everyone’s reactions varied, but one thing was certain—the gazes directed at him were not favorable.

‘What is… this atmosphere? Don’t tell me everyone believes that stupid woman’s words?’

Young Master Flerino was greatly shocked.

He couldn’t shake the feeling that he had been pushed back in a debate with the stupid woman who was called Amaterasu’s idiot and was the subject of mockery among the Empire’s nobles.

Young Master Flerino glared murderously at the Amaterasu fool who was watching him with a composed expression.

‘No way. Right, it can’t be… It must be a coincidence.’

Having finished his mental victory that way, Young Master Flerino chose words to refute Lady Amaterasu’s argument.

But his mouth, which had won countless debates before, stuck together as if glued shut today and wouldn’t open.

Moreover, as he faced Lady Amaterasu’s indifferent gaze, he strangely felt intimidated.

Even though she was clearly much smaller in stature than him, he had the peculiar feeling of facing something greater than himself.

Sweat began to seep from his palms, and cold sweat ran down his back.

This was a first.

While he floundered, unable to counterattack immediately, Countess Tarel, who had briefly left her seat, walked into the spacious hall where the nobles had gathered.

Reading the utterly chilled atmosphere, Countess Tarel widened her eyes and examined the nobles’ expressions.

Then she soon asked a lady:

“What happened while I was briefly away?”

The lady covered her mouth with a feathered fan and whispered something in Countess Tarel’s ear.

Keenly observing Countess Tarel’s startled reaction, Young Master Flerino finally recalled his duty that he had momentarily forgotten.

The House of the Flerino had long followed the Empress.

And the reason Young Master Flerino had bothered to visit the mistress’s salon was for opinion manipulation.

Recently, Countess Tarel’s salon, which had previously been frequented only by lower nobles who couldn’t join the inner circle, had become highly popular.

Though he didn’t want to admit it, there was even a joke going around that if you wanted to quickly access new information, you should visit Countess Tarel’s salon.

As circumstances changed, the Empress also became alert and pressured the nobles who frequented Countess Tarel’s salon.

Saying that if they continued to go there, they would make an enemy of the next Emperor.

But such threats were quickly forgotten from the nobles’ minds, and the nobles who had been cautiously watching began visiting Countess Tarel’s salon again.

The Empress came up with a new plan.

If she couldn’t make them stop visiting, she would go there and cause disruption.

That’s how Young Master Flerino was deployed to Countess Tarel’s salon.

It was also because the information coming from Count Tarel’s butler, whom the Empress had planted long ago, had become difficult to trust.

Sometimes he provided accurate information, other times information completely different from the actual situation, and as this only increased confusion, they decided not to trust information from him anymore.

Of course, there seemed to be several others who regularly frequented Countess Tarel’s salon and served as messengers to the Empress, but they didn’t know each other’s identities.

They could only roughly guess.

At first, Young Master Flerino had counted Young Master Zimmer as one of those who visited Countess Tarel’s salon on the Empress’s orders.

Though seeing Young Master Zimmer make remarks that could harm the Empress today made him reconsider that thought.

“Young Master Flerino. Let’s have a conversation, just for a moment.”

Countess Tarel spoke quite firmly.

Though her voice wasn’t very loud, the nobles’ gazes turned to Young Master Flerino.

And at that moment, Young Master Flerino felt humiliated. Perhaps it was because of Countess Tarel’s gaze, which seemed to point out his behavior.

“I don’t know exactly what you were told or how it was conveyed, but if you have something to say, say it in front of everyone.”

At Young Master Flerino’s words, Countess Tarel’s eyes sharpened slightly.

“If that’s what you wish. I suspect the young master visits here to cause discord.”

“Me, causing discord?”

Young Master Flerino widened his eyes incredulously and asked back.

“Yes. Last time and today… the young master has upset our valuable guests who visit here.”

“If anyone was offended by some argument, that would be my mistake.”

“……”

“But think about it, my lady. At gatherings where many people mingle, there are always minor disputes. To call all of that discord caused by me seems like a rather biased method of conflict resolution, don’t you think?”

This time, Young Master Flerino began to paint Countess Tarel as someone who only favored her own people.

Then, a red-haired young lady who had been sitting quietly in a corner the whole time came forward to agree with his words.

“Actually, I’ve been thinking something similar. I couldn’t say it because of the atmosphere. Rather, I feel somewhat relieved that Young Master Flerino mentioned that part.”

“I was also thinking there was some truth to that, so I’ll add my support to the candid opinions of these two.”

Another heir who had been watching the situation with an expressionless face added his words.

It was a moment when public opinion shifted again.

“You see. Rather, if you intend to make the salon a repository for cultured and educated people, it seems Countess Tarel is the one who should listen to the individual opinions of participants.”

Young Master Flerino asserted triumphantly.

Confusion crossed Countess Tarel’s face at the suddenly changed flow.

After that, Young Master Flerino continued to present his arguments like a seasoned politician.

Saying it would be good to establish rules for everyone going forward, suggesting they discuss that part productively.

The two heirs who had been appealing about their families’ grievances had long been forgotten.

Enraged by this, Young Master Zimmer snorted and spat out a remark:

“What can you expect from people who fall for glib tongues and act without principles…”

Then without looking back, he turned and left the hall.

It was clear who he was addressing.

It was a sarcastic remark aimed at the salon’s guests who had changed their attitudes at a word from Young Master Flerino, as easily as flipping a palm.

Young Master Zimmer’s remark was enough to provoke public outrage.

Soon voices of criticism toward Young Master Zimmer poured out from here and there.

Young Master Flerino looked at Lady Amaterasu with a victorious smile.

He was confident in the part about inciting the masses to form public opinion.

Though he had embarrassingly failed to immediately refute earlier, the one who wins in the end is the victor.

Young Master Flerino boldly moved toward Countess Tarel.

And he whispered quietly so only she could hear:

“How ridiculous. A mere lowly mistress daring to try to instruct me.”

Countess Tarel, who had frozen for a moment in shock, soon glared at Young Master Flerino.

And Countess Tarel, whose eyes quickly reddened like a rabbit’s, ran away with her mouth covered.

A lady who happened to be standing nearby and heard Countess Tarel’s sobbing publicly condemned Young Master Flerino.

“This is truly the worst. Making a lady cry!”

Then some nobles who hadn’t intervened and were observing the situation also openly expressed their displeasure toward Young Master Flerino.

Young Master Flerino couldn’t understand at all the nobles who dared to oppose him for the sake of a mere mistress.

Moreover, how could he know? The hearts of provincial nobles who couldn’t join the inner circle.

It seemed he would never be able to set foot in Countess Tarel’s salon again, but in any case, he had achieved his intended purpose.

Discord.

Peace-loving nobles would feel fatigued by the continuing discord, and then they would stop coming here.

While dissatisfaction toward Young Master Flerino erupted from here and there, Giselle Grante watched the departing Young Master Flerino with a meaningful expression.

****

‘Young Master Flerino. I already didn’t like him… and he keeps doing things I don’t like.’

Getting out of Radcliffe Trading Company’s carriage, Giselle Grante had that thought as she walked into Duke Cardia’s estate.

She wanted to return straight to the Amaterasu ducal residence, but she had no choice since one more appointment remained.

Before leaving Count Tarel’s residence, she had heard an unexpected story.