ITIF Chapter 92

It’s an Engagement

The news of the engagement between Duke Kavelaseth Cardia and Lady Giselle Grante of the House of Amaterasu had begun to spread beyond high society to the common people.

“Ladies, have you heard the news? Duke Cardia and Lady Amaterasu are engaged…”

“If the House of Cardia and the House of Amaterasu unite, there will be no one to fear in the entire empire.”

“That does seem to be the case…”

Several people gathered in the bustling plaza exchanged words about the matter.

‘That fool from Amaterasu is engaged to Duke Cardia?!’

Lady Minster, who had come out to look for work, blinked her eyes rapidly at the voices she heard.

Then she glared at the people who had just been discussing the engagement.

“What’s with that person?”

“I know, right. Why is she opening her eyes like that…”

“Isn’t she… a bit bad in the head?”

“Ah, that could be it.”

The gathered people whispered among themselves while glancing sideways at Lady Minster.

Lady Minster glared at them, undeterred by their criticism directed at her.

“Let’s go. There’s nothing good about getting into a quarrel for no reason.”

“Right. Let’s move.”

Watching them hurriedly leave, Lady Minster relaxed her eyes with a victorious smile.

“But still, what on earth happened…”

She simply couldn’t understand it.

Even though he had clearly expressed his refusal, Giselle Grante had persistently followed Kavelaseth around—she wasn’t quite right in the head either—but for that Kavelaseth to accept an engagement with Giselle Grante?

It was truly an absurd turn of events.

Unless an arrow had struck his head, there was no way that Kavelaseth would have accepted an engagement with Giselle Grante.

‘Something’s fishy, extremely so…’

Lady Minster thought there must be some conspiracy behind this.

Perhaps the House of Amaterasu had seized some weakness that couldn’t be refused and blackmailed Kavelaseth.

Otherwise, something impossible had occurred unless heaven and earth had turned upside down.

Lady Minster had harbored feelings for Kavelaseth long before Giselle Grante began courting him.

There were many other young ladies who had secretly loved Kavelaseth for a long time.

They had all just stayed quiet, not wanting to cause trouble.

So Kavelaseth was like an untouchable idol.

Someone who should not be carelessly approached.

When everyone was hiding their feelings and watching from afar, Giselle Grante had confessed her love to Kavelaseth without knowing shame.

“Really, knowing no shame…”

Muttering to herself and shaking her head, Lady Minster caught sight of the worn cuffs of her dress at the edge of her vision.

A deep sigh naturally escaped.

“Did I fail to find work again today…”

Since she wasn’t particularly strong physically, nor did she have any special skills, there weren’t many jobs Lady Minster could find.

She had received sufficient education as a noble, so she could read and write or do simple arithmetic.

However, places where such abilities could be utilized required mandatory identity verification.

For Lady Minster, who had fled the mansion as if absconding in the night, it was a difficult job to secure.

“Come to think of it… I ended up like this all because of that fool from Amaterasu!”

Lady Minster attributed the ruin of her family to Giselle Grante.

And it wasn’t just her thinking.

Count and Countess Minster also always said they had been completely deceived by Giselle Grante and squandered all their assets.

Imagining Giselle Grante being happy marrying Kavelaseth while they were in such a pitiful state, reduced to wearing shabby rags, made her blood boil.

‘Isn’t there some good way to make the engagement disappear…’

Her eyes shining for the first time in a while, Lady Minster quickened her steps home.

She had failed to find work again today, but that wasn’t important right now.

A lavish carriage passed by Lady Minster as she walked deep in thought.

****

‘I feel like I’ve seen that face somewhere…’

Count Frederick briefly gave his attention to the woman visible beyond the carriage window.

However, he soon turned his head forward, thinking he must have been mistaken.

There was no way he would know a woman in such shabby condition.

‘But still, an engagement…’

The news he received immediately upon returning to the capital after hastily dealing with matters in his county was shocking indeed.

Count Frederick tried to guess what could have happened between Giselle Grante and Kavelaseth.

Despite countless rejections, Giselle Grante had not stopped courting Kavelaseth.

Kavelaseth had also firmly maintained his principles and rejected Giselle Grante.

However, even until Count Frederick left for his territory, it seemed that Giselle Grante was letting go of her feelings for Kavelaseth.

But suddenly they’re engaged?

This was certainly a major event that would turn the capital’s high society upside down.

Upon returning to his estate after a long time, Count Frederick immediately summoned the Radcliffe Trading Company.

And he submitted an order that could only be decoded with a cipher.

That he had returned to the capital and wanted to meet and talk as soon as possible.

****

‘All that’s left is the House of Marquis Latse, the House of Anteras, and a few other families…’

When Giselle Grante was reviewing her future plans, a maid from Duke Cardia’s household informed her that a visitor had arrived.

Once she gave permission, the people who entered the bedroom were Lindsey and Olla.

Kavelaseth had taken the initiative to arrange for Lindsey and Olla to stay here.

It was common for a young lady before marriage to bring a nanny or maid from her family home when entering her husband’s estate, and Giselle Grante had also been planning to bring Lindsey and Olla to the Cardia ducal residence.

To achieve her goals, she needed people who would work for her, and she didn’t yet have enough mutual trust with the Cardia household’s maids to entrust them with tasks.

“Miss! I missed you.”

As soon as she saw Giselle Grante, Lindsey rushed to embrace her.

Giselle Grante pondered slightly what to do about Lindsey clinging to her neck.

Then Olla briefly scolded Lindsey.

“Sister, you’re making the miss uncomfortable.”

She seemed to be conscious of the Cardia household’s maids.

However, regardless of Olla’s reproach, Lindsey was busy expressing her joy.

Giselle Grante was also a bit flustered by Lindsey’s enthusiastic display of welcome.

But it wasn’t because she was conscious of the Cardia household’s maids.

It was simply because until now, no one had embraced her like this.

Despite Olla’s scolding, Lindsey wouldn’t let go, and just as Giselle Grante slightly raised her arm to place her hand on Lindsey’s waist—

“Someone from the Radcliffe Trading Company has arrived. What shall we do?”

Another maid who entered the bedroom afterward asked.

“Please guide them to the drawing room.”

“Understood.”

The Cardia household’s maids all bowed in unison toward Giselle Grante and left the bedroom.

Lindsey was watching the disciplined appearance of the Cardia household’s servants with admiring eyes when—

Olla grabbed the collar of Lindsey, who was clinging tightly to Giselle Grante and refusing to let go, and said:

“We’ll go unpack our luggage then.”

Giselle Grante nodded and left the bedroom, heading to the drawing room.

Lindsey, who had been pouting with a regretful expression as if she didn’t want to part right after their reunion, quickly set her luggage bag on the floor and hurried after Giselle Grante.

Olla’s mouth fell open at suddenly being left to move two large luggage bags, but Lindsey didn’t seem to care.

“Miss, let’s hurry.”

Watching Lindsey grin, Giselle Grante gave her attention to the maid standing behind Olla.

The quick-witted maid picked up Lindsey’s luggage bag and smiled.

“I’ll carry one of the bags.”

“Well then, though we’re just meeting, I’ll accept your help…”

Olla bit her lip, openly showing her embarrassment because of her thoughtless sister.

Taking her eyes off the two moving away, Giselle Grante turned her head toward Lindsey.

“She deserves what she gets. You know how roughly Olla treats me normally, miss.”

Letting out a hollow laugh, Giselle Grante walked to the drawing room.

Entering the drawing room, Pratt, who had arrived first and was waiting for her, said with a bright smile:

“Congratulations on your marriage.”

Giselle Grante immediately corrected Pratt’s words.

“It’s an engagement.”

“Ah! Yes… That’s right for now.”

Saying that, Pratt handed over the product list he was holding.

Giselle Grante briefly glanced at Pratt and hurriedly checked the contents.

The parchment contained news that Count Frederick had returned to the capital, along with a message that he wanted to meet and talk.

‘Something to discuss in person…’

Giselle Grante intuitively knew there was quite important news. So she casually asked Pratt:

“Is there still no news about the silk you mentioned before?”

She suddenly brought up the silk topic to Pratt to create an excuse to go out.

Pratt, who was initially flustered at not immediately catching her hidden intention, soon opened his mouth as if understanding.

“Ah, you mean the silk imported from the Eastern Continent. Unfortunately, you’ll have to wait at least another month for the merchant ships from the Eastern Continent to arrive.”

“Why?”

Lindsey questioned Pratt’s answer.

“Well, due to special circumstances, there have been disruptions in silk procurement…”

To Pratt, who was breaking out in a cold sweat making excuses at the unexpected intervention, Lindsey said:

“So you can’t get it? What our miss wants?”