ITIF Chapter 43

I Don’t Have Any Other Partner

The sudden death of the Imperial Princess, followed by Prince Joshua’s crown prince investiture ceremony, and now the unexpected appearance of Count Tarel’s heir, who had suddenly emerged to interfere in the imperial succession struggle.

In such chaotic circumstances, it wouldn’t be wise to skip attending a gathering where all the empire’s nobles would be present.

“I suppose I’ll have to go.”

“That person you saw before… wasn’t she the young lady from the Marquis Berilston family? So you’ll be attending the imperial palace ball with that young lady?”

Mikhail asked cautiously.

But what came back from Kavelaseth wasn’t an answer, but a question.

“…What about you, Mikhail?”

“Ha, this isn’t the time to worry about others…”

Mikhail was in the same situation, having no fiancée.

Newly realizing this fact, Mikhail let his shoulders slump.

He had decided not to start a family until he achieved the goals of his alliance. Marriage could come after that.

Having suddenly become dejected upon realizing he had no partner to accompany him, Mikhail soon recalled his purpose.

Giselle Grante had brought Count Frederick into the picture merely to draw even a hair’s breadth of interest from Kavelaseth.

He couldn’t know whether that cunning jealousy tactic would work on Kavelaseth, but as family, he wanted to support and help Giselle Grante’s love as much as possible.

‘If you’re troubled about not having a suitable partner to go to the imperial palace ball with, how about our Giselle?’

That’s what Mikhail decided to ask. This opportunity might become a catalyst for the two to grow closer.

But before he could say those words, Kavelaseth asked first.

“By the way, why were Giselle Grante and Count Frederick together in Duke Amaterasu’s garden?”

At his questioning tone, Mikhail’s eyebrows slightly raised.

“I’m curious about that too…”

“…?”

“I’m the one who’s curious about why Giselle brought Count Frederick into the duke’s residence.”

Mikhail slightly frowned.

“…”

Kavelaseth keenly observed Mikhail’s reaction.

He didn’t seem to be lying to deceive him.

‘Could it be that Mikhail really doesn’t know about the relationship between Giselle Grante and Count Frederick?’

Just as Kavelaseth’s thoughts were leaning halfway in that direction, Mikhail spoke up.

“But you know, Kavel.”

With his eyes narrowed, Mikhail stared directly at Kavelaseth and continued.

“Why are you concerned about our Giselle being with Count Frederick?”

“I was concerned? When.”

A crack appeared in Kavelaseth’s straight brow. His red eyes also trembled slightly.

However, Mikhail didn’t stop speaking.

“You don’t want her but you don’t want to give her to someone else either? Is that it?”

The more he spoke, the angrier he seemed to become, as Mikhail’s eyes grew larger. His approach toward Kavelaseth also showed clear intent to threaten.

‘…This is going to turn into a fight.’

Seeing Mikhail’s slightly unhinged expression, Kavelaseth hastily decided he needed to resolve the situation.

If both of them fought with full force, they could destroy not only this conference room but the entire Duke Amaterasu’s residence.

Kavelaseth quickly struck a vital point near Mikhail’s neck with the edge of his hand.

Since it was an unexpected ambush, Mikhail immediately fainted as if falling asleep.

Kavelaseth properly arranged the limp Mikhail in a chair.

Even while doing so, Mikhail’s voice from moments before kept spinning around in his head.

[Why are you concerned about our Giselle being with Count Frederick?]

He had hastily offered a denial that it wasn’t true because he was momentarily flustered, but then this thought occurred to him.

‘Why should I have to make excuses?’

It was true that the sight of Giselle Grante and Count Frederick looking intimate had constantly come to mind and gotten on his nerves, but he didn’t really know the reason for it himself.

[You don’t want her but you don’t want to give her to someone else either?]

And Mikhail’s words that followed immediately afterward scratched at his thick nerve again.

“…”

But with a light sigh, Kavelaseth brushed away thoughts about it.

Besides that, there were many other problems he needed to think about.

For instance, which families had prospered or fallen after this Semper root-bulb incident. He needed to know these things inside and out.

****

That evening, until dessert marking the end of the meal was placed on the table, Mikhail’s worries continued.

Judging by the fact that she had recently bought a new dress, shoes, and accessories to match, it was certain that Giselle Grante intended to attend this imperial palace ball.

But the question of whose hand Giselle Grante would hold when going to the imperial palace ball remained unsolved.

“Giselle, you’re going to attend the imperial palace ball, right?”

Finally, he voiced the question that had been on his mind.

‘Although his attitude was a bit strange that day, Kavel would refuse even if I suggested him as a partner, so Giselle is probably planning to go with Count Frederick?’

While glancing at Giselle Grante with these thoughts, she gave an answer that was far from Mikhail’s expectations.

“Weren’t we supposed to go together as three – Father, Brother Mikhail, and myself?”

“…Huh?”

When Mikhail asked back with a dumbfounded expression, Giselle Grante hastily spoke up.

“If you already have another partner to go to the imperial palace ball with, then I won’t mind…”

Mikhail grabbed his sister’s hand before Giselle Grante could finish her sentence. And he said:

“I don’t have one.”

“…Don’t have what?”

“I don’t have any other partner.”

Giselle Grante looked at Duke Amaterasu, who was only glancing in this direction subtly, and asked:

“…Then what are your plans, Father?”

Duke Amaterasu immediately provided an answer as if he had been waiting.

“I don’t particularly have anyone either.”

“Then this imperial palace ball will be a family attendance.”

Giselle Grante said with a bright smile, and smiles spread across Mikhail’s and Duke Amaterasu’s faces.

Intoxicated with happiness, Duke Amaterasu and Mikhail completely forgot to ask about Count Frederick.

****

Meanwhile, while the three people of Duke Amaterasu’s family were spending a warm evening tasting the head chef’s food in a harmonious atmosphere, the people of Count Minster’s family were facing the opposite situation.

‘This is all because of that fool from Amaterasu!’

If the young lady of Duke Amaterasu hadn’t humiliated Iliana at the Empress’s tea party, then her mother, Countess Minster, wouldn’t have been dismissed from her position as the Empress’s lady-in-waiting.

Moreover, if she hadn’t given Countess Minster that ridiculous investment information, they wouldn’t have had to pack their belongings and leave the count’s residence in the middle of the night like this

“Damn it!”

Iliana kicked a bothersome stone in front of her as if it were Giselle Grante.

The stone that flew away struck her younger brother Benjamin right on the forehead.

“Ouch…!”

Benjamin, who screamed and clutched his forehead, quickly looked around.

He seemed to be trying to figure out what had hit him.

Soon, Benjamin discovered the small stone that had fallen to the ground and shouted angrily:

“Who did this!”

Benjamin’s personality was just as nasty as Iliana’s, if not worse.

Sure enough, Benjamin wrongly accused the employees who were loading luggage into the carriages.

“It was you! You did it, didn’t you?”

Benjamin threatened, holding up the stone he had picked up.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about…”

The middle-aged employee sighed deeply with a troubled expression.

“What? Did you just sigh? Are you saying you’re annoyed? Huh?”

The situation began to escalate a bit more, but Iliana remained consistent with playing innocent.

And just then, Countess Minster, who had been walking this way, expressed her displeasure.

“What’s going on? I told you several times to be quiet…”

“Mother! The thing is…”

Benjamin complained about what had just happened, feeling wronged.

The moment Iliana was sneakily glancing in that direction, she made direct eye contact with Countess Minster.

Iliana unconsciously averted her gaze.

Then, as if understanding the general situation, Countess Minster nodded her head and comforted Benjamin.

They couldn’t afford to waste time if they wanted to leave the count’s residence before dawn.

Countess Minster, who had been watching Benjamin walk away grumbling, briefly glanced at Iliana.

“All the luggage has been loaded.”

Just then, the butler came to tell them that preparations for departure were complete.

“Get in the carriage quickly.”

Thus, meeting the morning dew, the people of Count Minster’s family got into the carriage.

The carriage soon left the magnificently grand count’s residence and began to travel quickly.

Iliana stared at the receding Count Minster’s residence and made a vow.

Someday, she would definitely return here to her home.

****

Into the spacious hall of the imperial palace, where orchestral melodies resonated softly, nobles began to enter one by one.

Since opportunities to enter the imperial palace were rarely given except for major events like today’s imperial palace ball, they had put great effort into their appearance.

Soon, the palace hall was filled with nobles dressed in colorful patterned dresses and suits.

“It seems we’ve arrived just in time.”

Duke Amaterasu said as he entered the hall.

“It appears so.”

Mikhail nodded in agreement.

For the upcoming ball, the three people of Duke Amaterasu’s family had also dressed particularly elegantly today.

Duke Amaterasu and Mikhail wore black suits with subtle yet intricate dark blue embroidery and white cravats, while Giselle Grante wore a red dress that exuded an alluring atmosphere.

With each step she took, the gold embroidery reflected in the light sparkled brilliantly.

With every step the three took into the hall, the nobles’ gazes followed.

Some looked toward Duke Amaterasu with his dignified and profound charm, others toward Mikhail with his clean and upright impression.

Among them were also gazes directed at Giselle Grante – some with lips slightly parted and expressions of being mesmerized, and others with hawk-like eyes scanning her from head to toe as if trying to find some fault.

Just then, Giselle Grante’s eyes met those of a noblewoman who had been whispering something to a noble beside her.