ITIF Chapter 64

May Glory Be With You

Suddenly, as Kavelaseth blocked his path, the Third Prince furrowed his brow, but Kavelaseth spoke nonchalantly.

“She’s no longer your master.”

“……?”

Wondering what this situation was about, Giselle Grante stood still and watched the two of them.

After glaring sharply at Kavelaseth’s profile, the Third Prince soon turned his head toward her.

Then, with a refreshing smile, he extended his hand to her.

“Lawrence, Third Prince of Solzakai. Allow me to formally introduce myself.”

Dressed in fine clothes and displaying proper etiquette, Lawrence was the very image of a prince. A faint gasp escaped through Giselle Grante’s teeth.

“Ah…….”

Now that she thought about it, this was the first time he had revealed to her his identity as the Third Prince of Solzakai. And since he had greeted her as the Third Prince, it was proper for her to treat him as royalty as well.

Giselle Grante, who had been quietly gazing down at Lawrence’s large palm, gently placed her hand on his.

Then Lawrence’s eyes curved into elegant arcs.

“…….”

Locking eyes with her intently, Lawrence bent slightly at the waist. His face tilted slowly, as if to kiss the back of her hand.

But just before Lawrence’s lips could touch the back of Giselle Grante’s hand, Kavelaseth suddenly placed his own hand firmly on top of hers.

“……!”

Lawrence’s lips touched not Giselle Grante’s small, white hand, but Kavelaseth’s hand with its protruding veins.

It had all happened in an instant. Both Lawrence, the party involved, and Giselle Grante were greatly shocked by Kavelaseth’s unexpected action.

Lawrence, who had frozen in surprise, slowly raised his head.

The sweet smile that had seemed ready to melt away like cotton candy was completely gone, replaced by displeasure.

“……Duke Cardia? What do you think you’re doing?”

Lawrence wiped his lips—which had unwillingly touched the back of Kavelaseth’s hand—with the back of his own hand and twisted his lips diagonally upward.

Even at Lawrence’s gaze demanding an explanation, Kavelaseth spoke nonchalantly.

“We need to hurry. If we don’t reach Marquis Kedwick’s territory today, we might have to sleep outdoors.”

“And you call that an excuse?”

Lawrence whirled his head toward Kavelaseth and growled, baring his canines. But Kavelaseth simply ignored Lawrence as if he were an insignificant creature and looked at Giselle Grante.

“Before leaving for Solzakai, I brought him because he said he had something important to tell the young lady, but looking at it now, it doesn’t seem to have been particularly important business.”

Kavelaseth still did not show deference to Lawrence. Even though Lawrence’s identity as the Third Prince of Solzakai had been confirmed.

Even though their first meeting had been as a slave, Lawrence was definitely royalty.

So while thinking it would be better to show some courtesy as befitting royalty, she also thought that his unchanging attitude was truly characteristic of him.

“When Your Highness returns to Solzakai, please remember that the House of Amaterasu stood with you in difficult times.”

Giselle Grante spoke while looking at Lawrence.

“I will remember.”

As Lawrence nodded deeply, Giselle Grante greeted him with proper courtesy.

“May glory be with you on your path ahead, Your Highness.”

As Kavelaseth watched Giselle Grante and Lawrence look at each other and smile faintly, he suddenly inserted himself between them.

“Let’s go now.”

And he left the reception room first.

Lawrence, who had briefly rolled his eyes at Kavelaseth’s broad back, soon followed out of the reception room.

It was when the three of them were approaching the carriage waiting in front of the mansion. Mikhail, who had belatedly learned of Kavelaseth and Lawrence’s visit, came to see them off.

After exchanging brief greetings, Lawrence spoke to Mikhail as if praising his contribution.

“When I return, I’ll have some clothes made from Solzakai fabric sent to you.”

Solzakai fabric was extremely precious not only in the Phasis Empire but also in Solzakai itself. Only royalty or those permitted by royalty could wear it. As such, it was used for sending gifts to foster friendship with other nations.

It was excessive compensation for merely lending one set of clothes he didn’t even care about, but Mikhail only gave a brief reply.

“I appreciate your consideration.”

Fortunately, Lawrence didn’t seem to pay much attention to Mikhail’s dry and plain attitude.

Before boarding the carriage, Lawrence looked at Giselle Grante and said,

“When I return to my country, I intend to do well this time. After I reclaim my position, there’s something I definitely want to tell you, my lady.”

“…….”

“Until we meet again, may you always be well…….”

Lawrence smiled wistfully and boarded the carriage.

****

The news that Duke Cardia had rescued people who had been captured by Baron Cypress, who was trafficking slaves, spread rapidly throughout the empire.

Testimonies from people rejoicing at the return of missing family members were added, and this was enough to provoke public outrage throughout the empire.

On the other hand, nobles who had bought slaves from Baron Cypress were anxious.

Because an investigation into the actual state of slave trafficking that had been going on would now take place.

The Emperor, concerned about the nobles’ backlash, had tried to sweep it under the rug, but thanks to Kavelaseth’s side having made preparations in advance anticipating this.

They had spread the word so that many people would know about such events.

In response, the Empress hastily convened an emergency meeting.

“They’re the type who can’t remember anything for longer than a week. So if we just leave it alone, they’ll forget soon enough.”

Marquis Antares’s son, the Young Marquis Antares, agreed with his words.

“That’s right, Your Majesty the Empress. They certainly won’t even remember what they ate for dinner yesterday.”

The Empress, who had been quietly watching them offer their opinions from the head seat, slowly shook her head and said,

“There are plenty of ways to quell public opinion, so that’s not a major concern. The problem is that His Majesty the Emperor has ordered an investigation into this matter.”

“Before that, we’ll devise a way to eliminate the evidence.”

Marquis Antares answered immediately.

The Empress sighed lightly and nodded. Then she spoke again.

“More than that, I’ve been hearing voices recently comparing the Crown Prince and Duke Cardia……”

At the Empress’s gaze asking if they knew anything, Young Marquis Antares replied,

“It seems the influence of the imperial ball hasn’t yet faded. By all means, we’ll handle it well so you need not worry.”

“Very well.”

The Empress nodded.

Given the gravity of the matter, she felt the two would handle it reliably.

“By the way, didn’t they say that the reason Duke Cardia personally stepped forward to uncover this matter was to find the daughter of a tenant farmer from Duke Cardia’s territory?”

“…….”

“I can’t shake the feeling that it’s remarkably coincidental.”

To the Empress’s expressed doubt, Young Marquis Antares provided an answer.

“The timing does seem that way, but considering Duke Cardia’s ranking in the line of succession to the throne, it doesn’t seem there’s any ulterior motive.”

“We’ll investigate thoroughly, but I don’t think it’s something to worry about at this stage.”

Marquis Antares reinforced the Young Marquis’s words.

Recently, voices comparing Crown Prince Joshua and Duke Cardia could be heard frequently not only among nobles but also among commoners.

Realizing that the Empress’s expression still wasn’t bright even though solutions to urgent problems had been found, Marquis Antares added,

“Rather than worrying about Duke Cardia’s ranking in the line of succession, it would be better to worry about the mistress’s son.”

At their firm assurances, the Empress felt somewhat relieved.

“That’s true.”

Those who didn’t know better seemed to spout nonsense about whether the mistress’s son Philipo might threaten Joshua’s position, but those who knew the actual situation in the imperial palace simply laughed it off.

Duke Cardia’s right to succession was clearly so far down the line that he ranked below even that Philipo.

Meaning there was nothing to worry about greatly at the moment. Especially now that the mark proving Joshua was a descendant of the imperial family had even appeared on his body.

Nevertheless, Duke Cardia’s existence somehow bothered her. An anxiety different from the time of Princess Trinity struck her, but the Empress quickly dismissed the thought and said,

“Let’s move up the trial schedule for the Princess’s attempted murderer. So we can cover up this matter.”

****

News came through the Radcliffe Trading Company that the trial of Baroness Oppenheimer had been moved up.

Giselle Grante thought it was the Empress’s scheme to cover up the Baron Cypress matter.

If they investigated Baron Cypress, naturally the things that the Empress and her family, the House of Antares, had been doing all along might also come to the surface.

‘She must have needed to divert the empire’s citizens’ attention elsewhere, even temporarily.’

And what could be more certain than the trial of the attempted murderer of Princess Trinity, who had been scheduled to become the next Emperor?

Additionally, she could hear news that recently, opinions among nobles regarding Crown Prince Joshua’s qualifications were divided.

Giselle Grante wrote down a list of goods on newly taken out parchment and handed it to a maid.

After watching the maid who received the parchment approach the Radcliffe Trading Company’s carriage waiting in front of the mansion, Giselle Grante turned from the window.

“Miss, I’m back.”

Just then, Lindsey, who had gone to the Grand Temple, returned.

“Welcome back, you worked hard.”

To Lindsey, who was giggling, she added a question.

“Lindsey, was there any separate news from your younger sibling?”

“Now that you mention it, it is about time for a letter from Olla. Let me go check if there’s any news that came in this morning!”

Giselle Grante watched the back of Lindsey as she hurriedly left the reception room.

‘I hope news arrives before the trial…….’

She thought to herself.

****

‘……Is this it?’

Having prepared to go out since early morning, Giselle Grante arrived in front of a secluded villa located somewhat away from the capital.

It was a place so sparsely populated that it was hard to believe it wasn’t far from the capital.

With her gaze on the windmill visible in the distance, Giselle Grante approached the villa.