IDDRFHC 90

CHAPTER 90…………………………………………

Come to think of it, I had invited Laseil but hadn’t told him the purpose of the ball.

Perhaps he might be the one who could help the most with this event.

“Actually, the purpose of today’s ball is…”

Laseil nodded readily upon hearing that.

Catching the dark magician was, of course, a task that had to be done.

Moreover, by cooperating, he could avoid drawing unnecessary suspicion.

‘The person most likely to be suspected would be Duke Lesean anyway.’

“Which families are attending?”
“Primarily the marquis and count families. The count families are mostly nobles residing in the capital.”

The Marquises of Karen and Haner, the Counts of Gielea and Letenian, and the Archduke’s family.

These were the families worth paying the most attention to among those invited. Naturally, the most noteworthy was the Archduke’s family.

“Will Archduke Lund attend as well?”
“Yes, he mentioned there’s something he wants to check.”

They were a family that managed the borderlands and defended the frontier.

Although calling Lund an archduke was technically correct, he didn’t quite feel like a typical noble family head yet.

Being on the frontier, their influence was less than that of a capital-based duke family.

The Archduke himself had little interest in power, having voluntarily removed himself from the competition for the throne despite being the eldest son of the imperial family.

“It seems you’re still searching, aren’t you?”

It was common knowledge that the Archduke had lost a daughter years ago.

She had vanished as a very young child, and they had never found her again.

Since she disappeared without a trace, many rumors circulated: she was kidnapped by a fairy, or cursed to death…

‘Though those stories have mostly quieted down recently.’

Most of those who spread rumors had been dealt with by the Archduke himself.

Even as a noble of the frontier, he had that much power.

“The families that talk most about curses are the Haner Marquises and the Letenian Counts.”
“I should try speaking with members of those families.”

If fortune favored them, someone might accidentally reveal something.

Especially in front of two people known for being discreet with their words.

“Well, let’s do our best today.”
“Yes, same here.”

As they exchanged brief words, guests began arriving one by one.

Laseil quickly scanned their appearances with his eyes.

‘No one looks particularly suspicious.’

Of course, it was natural.

It would have been suicidal to show up at a ball attended by the Third Imperial Knights with any hint of wrongdoing.

‘No one behaving oddly either… at least for now.’

Soon, music began flowing through the ballroom.

Irenes, standing beside him, naturally extended her hand toward Laseil.

‘Better do this than look awkward.’

It would look strange to not dance while the music played. People might assume they were here for purposes other than the ball.

Taking Irenes’s hand, Laseil began stepping lightly.

‘Still remember the steps, after all.’

Having attended a ball a few months prior, his dancing was far more natural.

He didn’t have to worry about when to turn or step back.

Even if he made a small mistake, Irenes immediately compensated.

“Having a partner who dances well makes things easier…”
“I’m glad it’s comfortable for you, Ella.”
“…!”

Laseil’s face flushed slightly as he realized he had spoken aloud.

“Th-that wasn’t meant in a weird way. Iren dances well…”
“Yes, I know.”

Irenes smiled faintly and pulled Laseil close.

Then, whispering with her face close to his, she said:

“Haner Marquis is watching from the back. Once the dance ends, he’ll come speak to you.”

It was a signal to prepare, as the music would soon end.

Startled by the whisper, Laseil’s face turned red.

“I-I’m sorry!”

Irenes’s face also turned red, realizing what had just happened.

“I didn’t mean for that to happen.”
“What were you trying to do then?”

Laseil asked mischievously.

Irenes couldn’t answer and just flustered.

“Eh? Iren.”
“W-well, it’s just that…”

Before their conversation continued, the music gradually subsided.

It was fortunate for Irenes.

As expected, the moment the music ended, the Haner Marquis approached.

“Long time no see, Sir Cieren. And Sir Jaen.”

He deliberately placed Laseil’s name last.

Normally, etiquette dictated mentioning the invited partner first.

‘Doesn’t seem to like me much.’

From the start, his tone was filled with hostility.

“I’ve heard you’ve been busy lately, Sir Cieren.”

He even blatantly ignored Laseil and spoke only to Irenes.

I knew he wasn’t fond of Duke Lesean’s house, but this was more extreme than expected.

‘Not the kind of person you want to get involved with.’

“Yes, Marquis Haner.”

Irenes seemed to feel the same as Laseil.

Ending the conversation this abruptly with someone they could have engaged longer indicated that.

“…How has your family been, Marquis?”

Perhaps recalling the purpose of the ball, he added the question.

“Of course, Sir Cieren. Didn’t you invite me to this ball?”

The Marquis smiled unpleasantly.

“And nothing unusual has happened in our family, so all the more so.”

A remark aimed at the families that had caused commotion in recent months.

“No ghosts, no demons either.”

Cieren noticed Gielea Count and Direna flinch slightly.

“Likely to stay that way.”
“That’s fortunate.”
“Yes, indeed.”

Nothing more could be gained from this conversation.

The Marquis was not the type to reveal dangerous information in the flow of conversation.

‘Time to wrap this up?’
‘Better be.’

Exchanging a glance, Irenes and Laseil ended the conversation.

Next, they approached the Letenian Count.

“Long time no see, Count. How have you been?”
“Nothing to complain about. And you, Sir Jaen and Sir Cieren?”

This one was slightly more cooperative than Marquis Haner.

“Recently, I’ve spent more time with my daughter, which is nice… though it may sound foolish…”

Even without being asked, he went on at length.

By letting him speak, the information they wanted came out naturally.

“Actually, even when the curse caused a lot of fuss recently…”

The Count, speaking at length, flinched as if realizing who he was talking to.

“Could you tell me? It’s fine.”

Irenes asked with as kind a smile as possible.

“No matter what, mentioning the curse alone doesn’t trigger an investigation.”
“Ah, th-that’s a relief. So I…”

Summarizing the Count’s story roughly:

Rumors about the curse had circulated through the capital’s social circles, causing unease.

That unease spread even to his daughter.

As a result, she had bought a strange object from a peculiar merchant who claimed it could protect against curses.

“Why spend so much money like that…”
“Do you remember the merchant? What kind of object?”
“A common merchant wearing a robe. The item was a mirror.”

Direna, standing nearby, flinched visibly.

She seemed to know something about this story.

“I’ll go see Marquis Karen for a moment.”
“Yes, that would be appreciated.”

It seemed fine to leave the conversation with the Count to Irenes.

For talking to Direna, it would be easier for Laseil to approach.

“Marquis? Are you leaving already?”

Laseil asked Direna, who kept drifting toward the corner of the ballroom.

“Or is something bothering you?”
“Well, um…!”

Direna muttered, fidgeting.

“There’s nothing bothering me. Really, nothing.”

She seemed as if she was trying to convince herself.

Laseil waited until Direna calmed down before asking again:

“Do you know something?”
“N-no…!”
“Miss Direna.”

It was clear that Direna was afraid of something.

She was probably worried about drawing suspicion if she revealed any information.