Late at night, the doors of the Terios Church opened.

Beneath it, a dozen hooded figures stood, all tense and looking at Count Scala.

“Creating rumors about Count Shannon isn’t bad in the current situation, but isn’t he part of the aristocratic faction? We don’t know if he’ll move according to our intentions.”

“If we try to pull him in and use him recklessly, we might end up being accused by the aristocratic faction.”

“The Duke of Genova’s side is already suspecting the elder, so there’s no need to raise suspicion from the aristocratic faction here as well.”

The hooded figures at the table showed unfavorable reactions.

“No. We’re just going to guide him.”

“Guide him?”

Count Scala, sitting at the table, fiddled with the teacup in front of him and let out a chuckle.

“Our glove maker Jarvis apparently met with the Duchess. Also, he said that the gloves of Viscount Borghese were introduced through the Duchess’s recommendation.”

“…What?”

“Isn’t that a very big deal?”

“In that case, it would be best to kill Jarvis and get a new glove craftsman.”

Looking at the hooded figures giving obvious answers, the Count shook his head.

“No. That’s too obvious a move.”

“…It seems you have a plan.”

At Count Scala’s words, a hooded figure spoke up.

“That’s right.”

“What is it?”

The hooded figure asking had a quite young voice among those seated. Count Scala looked at that hooded figure and let out another chuckle.

“We’ll use it. We’ll use the information the other side knows against them.”

*

The chandelier of the Shannon estate sparkled brightly.

Below the hall, aristocrats gathered in groups of three or five, clinking champagne glasses and conversing among themselves.

Standing at the bottom of the stairs, Count Shannon observed the scene with a satisfied smile.

Due to his child, he had been at the estate for three years, so he was glad that the banquet held upon his return was successful even without his wife.

As he slowly sipped champagne and scanned the hall, his eyes met those of an aristocrat who had just emerged from the restroom in the side corridor.

“Hello.”

“Hello, Count Shannon.”

As the aristocrat gave a broad smile, Count Shannon took a glass of champagne from the tray beside him and handed it to the man.

“Thank you.”

The aristocrat received the champagne glass with his gloved hand.

The aristocrat drank the champagne and stood by Count Shannon’s side for a while, engaging in small talk with him.

As it was a banquet for the aristocratic faction, naturally, political topics were discussed.

Recently, the influence of the aristocratic faction, which had been weakening, was being completely overwhelmed by the emergence of Duke Genova, so sighs accompanied every word he uttered.

Eventually, he brought up the recently established agendas and burst out in indignation.

Draining the champagne glass with a sigh, the aristocrat’s face turned red as if heated, and he frowned.

“I had no idea the power of the imperial faction would grow this strong while I was raising a child at the estate. It seems we have become very weak.”

Count Shannon also agreed with his words with a bitter smile.

“Indeed.”

The aristocrat, who had calmed down a bit after gulping down the champagne, swirled the remaining champagne in the glass.

“When political topics are brought up, only anger rises. Ah.”

“That’s right. It’s a good day, so let’s talk about something else.”

Shannon attempted to change the subject with a laugh. The aristocrat let out a laugh like a sigh and nodded.

“Ah, Count Shannon, you’re raising a daughter, right? My son has grown up and had his heart stolen by a young lady, but she has quite a lot of competitors. So I told him about a folk belief from my hometown where I was born and raised. These days, it seems like I spend all my time listening to my son’s worries.”

“Haha. The time has already come for you to have such concerns. I should also strive to be a good father to my daughter.”

“No, it’s bothersome. He brings up stories about a young lady whose face he doesn’t even know all day long. Ah.”

Shannon let out a laugh.

“Although it’s troublesome, it must still be enjoyable.”

“Ah, speaking of which, when I told him about that folk belief, he skipped swordsmanship practice and went to the dressing room. Sigh…”

The aristocrat rubbed his forehead and shook his head from side to side.

“He skipped swordsmanship and went to the dressing room? What kind of folk belief made him do that?”

“It’s a folk belief from my hometown… If you engrave your name inside a clean leather glove and give it as a gift to the person you love, your love will be fulfilled.”

Count Shannon nodded as he listened to the folk belief.

“Ah, my son actually got a pair of women’s gloves that can be engraved with a name inside, and I happen to have them with me. They’re ready-made, so they may not fit as perfectly as custom-made gloves, but they’re made for the purpose of engraving a name inside, so they should be fine. I’ll give you one. Engrave your name inside and give it as a gift to the lady you remarry.”

“Haha… It’s alright.”

“No, I have too many at home. I’ll give you one as a gift.”

“If you insist on giving it as a gift, I will gratefully accept it.”

Shannon nodded with a smile. After chatting a bit more about everyday matters, the aristocrat said he would go to his carriage and bring the gloves.

As the aristocrat left, this time, Marquis Farnese approached Shannon.

“Count Shannon. The fact that you have rejoined the aristocratic faction and are holding such a banquet is very reassuring for us.”

Marquis Farnese seemed very satisfied with the banquet held today, putting aside the conversation they had before.

Amidst being on the defensive, Count Shannon’s return and the banquet he hosted was a good opportunity to breathe new life into the aristocratic faction.

“Thank you. Marquis.”

Count Shannon saw a glimmer of hope in the Marquis’s satisfied smile.

The hope that the Marquis would accept Count Shannon’s proposal, which he had made on that rainy day.

If Marquis Farnese paved the way for Count Shannon, it would be no different from Count Shannon gaining an extremely reliable foundation.

Obtaining Eriel and dealing a blow to Damian, who was part of the imperial faction.

Of course, Count Shannon’s goal was not political standing, but who wouldn’t like the idea of catching two rabbits at once?

Although Count Shannon’s image would go down the drain because of this matter, such things were not important at all.

“You remind me of the previous Count Shannon. The previous Count Shannon also valued many things more than political standing. The fact that you associated with the Borghese family when you were young is proof of that.”

Marquis Farnese, who had finished his champagne, blinked slowly.

The Marquis’s words were not good.

Since they had spent time together in political life, Jerad Shannon also knew the current Marquis Farnese’s style to some extent.

His unwillingness to do things behind the scenes and his disposition to confront things head-on might be one aspect that could instill aristocratic pride in the aristocratic faction, which was on the defensive.

“Are you saying you dislike tarnishing the other person’s honor with rumors?”

Marquis Farnese’s gaze slowly shifted to Count Shannon.

“I want to say no, but the truth is, I don’t like that itself either. Using love, a mere human emotion, to somehow achieve political ambitions is not something I’m particularly inclined to do.”

“But what use is that to the current aristocratic faction? Wouldn’t it be better to use whatever pretext there is, Marquis…?”

However, at Count Shannon’s words, the Marquis raised his hand. Wrinkles formed between his brows.

“No, Shannon. Even if I say I don’t like your method, that’s just a personal matter. However, the reason I won’t use you in this scheme is…”

Letting out a deep sigh, the Marquis lowered his raised hand and met Shannon’s eyes again.

“Because your goal is not with the aristocratic faction. You’re not saying you’ll sacrifice yourself for the aristocratic faction, but your personal matters are very much related to political affairs, so you think it can be effectively used if utilized well. That’s where my concern stems from.”

Count Shannon moved his lips and nodded.

“However, I will overlook the stinging arrows that may come at the aristocratic faction because of this matter. Although the aristocratic faction’s image will be tarnished, I feel that it might not be bad for it to be tarnished because of this.”

“…I’m grateful for your support alone.”

Shannon nodded with a smile.

“No need. I’m sorry I can’t help. As you said, life is a one-time thing, so do your best.”

“Yes.”

Shannon suppressed the sigh that threatened to burst out as he watched Marquis Farnese’s retreating back.

Conveying his feelings to Eriel without any political color would be quite a difficult task.

“…Count Shannon!”

At that moment, the aristocrat who had returned from the carriage came with gloves in his hand.

“Here it is. Haha. Although it’s a superstition, it’s said to be surprisingly effective, so give it a try.”