When The Count’s Illegitimate Daughter Gets Married

Chapter 18

Ian and Laritte went through the hall.

A place where she had walked behind Rose.

As if to show the pride of the Imperial Family, the high ceiling was covered in gold, along with murals

made by the continent’s best sculptor.

Glancing around, Laritte thought.

‘I think it looks more colorful than last year’s ball.’

The budget was abundant as it absorbed the assets of the royal family and the Duke.

Ian was annoyed.

He wasn’t allowed to accompany her to the banquet hall because he was disguised as a servant.

The two exchanged glances before Laritte whispered to him,

“Looks like we’ll have to get separated here.”

“If possible….I’ll come to visit you in a few days after I’m done with my business.”

He planned to break into the banquet while Laritte planned to return early.

They gave each other a light bow and paced in different directions.

As she was walking, she glanced back. She thought of revealing her identity to him on the day they’d

meet again.

But why Laritte?

If she told him the truth, he might never be kind to her again. At the thought, her heart began to feel a

little numb. One of the things illegitimate children often do was throw their lingering feelings in one

corner. As expected, Laritte soon threw hers too.

Laritte stood in front of the gate leading to the central hall.

The geometric pattern crushed upon her with a commanding figure.

“The Duchess, Laritte Reinhardt is here.”

The door opened with a heavy thud with the loud voice of the servant.

The party had not even begun yet and there had already been a large gathering of nobles.

And their gaze reached Laritte. Several pairs of eyes were appalled.

“……”

The hall was filled with a deep stifling silence.

Usually, someone would have greeted her, but no one approached her.

She was ‘the dirty illegitimate child’ and ‘the wife of a treacherous duke’.

It was actually advantageous for Laritte.

“…..Is it really you, Laritte?”

The voice who called out her name was Rose.

Rose appeared, with her red hair, a characteristic of the family of Count Brumayer, tied up.

She spoke in a shocked tone.

National Foundation Day was one of the greatest events of the Iassa Empire.

That’s why Rose was also dressed in a colorful costume.

“……”

It was expected for Laritte to clench her fist.

Rose’s eyes scanned Laritte from her head to toe. It was hard to tell whether this Laritte, who was

kicked out in a beggar-like-look state, was real or not.

“It’s amazing how you haven’t starved yourself to death so far….but, really? Do you actually think

you’re an aristocrat?”

Rose’s prickly voice stabbed Laritte.

In fact, she didn’t really care whether the people around were noticing them or not. She was to pretend

to be merciful to her illegitimate sister. It was clearly what Rose was doing.

‘How can she get that dress? I was sure they didn’t give her anything. –I should’ve kicked her out

before!’

Laritte frowned. Of course, the face of her sister didn’t change either.

Being a child of Count Brumayer, she couldn’t help but be smeared with beauty, but other than that,

she was skinny and her cheeks looked sore.

She wore a dress that even Rose would never have worn. In fact, the Empress, the only woman in the

Imperial family, seldom wears such a dress.

“Well, are you curious?” “What?” “Wow. We’ve lived together for a long time, but isn’t it the first time

you’ve asked me something, sister?”

Rose’s face turned sour when she said the word “sister” on purpose.

The two had never called each other in intimate terms.

Laritte said, lowering her long eyelashes.

“….Don’t worry. I didn’t want to see you either. I’ll stay quiet and return back, so don’t worry.”

As she finished her words, she turned back.

“Then don’t act against your words. And don’t ever think of showing up in this place again….!!!”

Rose shouted on Laritte’s back. But she ignored her.

‘I’m surprised that she didn’t ask about the dress.’

Laritte thought.

‘…..Does she have another motive?’ ‘No, no….she could have done anything even if she was in a

crowded place.’

Laritte walked to one corner of the hall.

Since nobody approached her, she could spend her time in peace.

“…….”

Larrite spotted Rose. Watching her chatting merrily in a group, her eyes sank. The two of them have

always been ill-fated. They didn’t exactly know why they hated each other so much. As such, countless

bad feelings built up.

‘No, Rose felt it amusing to bring me down unilaterally.’

Laritte only drank a glass of cocktail quietly. After spending some more time alone, she began walking.

It was time for Ian to appear.

She came back to the corridor, where she had walked with Ian. There were many people entering

because the banquet was yet to begin.

‘There are so many people and yet, I’m alone.’

Well, she was used to it. However, she was feeling a bit lonely after spending only one winter with

someone.

The party was to begin in the evening.

She came out of the Imperial Palace door and looked up at the dark starry sky. It was still cold as it was

still early spring.

“Let’s return….”

‘To the hive.’

Laritte muttered, looking down at her steps in a daze.

At that moment.

“All right! We got her!”

Someone behind her put a cloth over her head, darkening her view. Laritte grasped the cloth with her

both hands, trying to push it up.

“Uh, mff!”

Unable to see anything, she was overwhelmed with fear.

She heard a thick voice of a man, telling her to stay quiet as he tied the cloth. By no means, it was a

joke.

She recalled telling Rose that she would return soon.

‘How could she!’

But this place was right in front of the Imperial Palace. There must have been some soldiers on duty or

some noblemen enjoying their walk.

Suddenly, she heard someone screaming.

“Kyaa! Who are you? What are you doing!”

Larrite couldn’t scream out “Help me….!” for she was calmed by the voice of another passerby.

“Don’t you know who she is?”

“Who is she…..?”

“She’s the famous Duchess of Reinhardt.”

“Ah….”

The lady stopped talking and started fluttering her fan.

‘Ah, Larrite.’

Larrite clenched her fist.

Especially in the Iassa Empire, illegitimate children were treated as the lowest. The countries beyond

the sea, much less the kingdoms that existed before the Empire unified the continent, were not to this

extent. But, of course, illegitimate children did not deserve a crime.

But the kidnapper of Laritte did what she had expected.

“It’s a shame that Count Brumayer came all the way here without knowing the subject. I wonder how

would her residents feel after she’s taken like this.”

“But, don’t you feel sorry for her?”

“Let’s go in without thinking about interrupting such matters. Look at the moon, it’s about time.”

It was natural for Ian to take in Rose once he was cleared of his charge. It was the reality.

However, she thought Ian was different.

Formerly, she tried to go with the flow, but now she thought he didn’t have to endure her. Someone had

to drag her away someday.

Laritte tilted her head at the man who was holding her. Just as he was about to notice her, she hit his

chin with her head.

“Argh! My teeth!”

“Are you all right, James? I told you to be careful. I told you she was crazy.”

His colleague said in a worried tone.

Realizing that there were two men who came to catch her, she turned around again.

‘Where is the other one?’

She tried to shake off the cloth as soon as she was released, but it didn’t work out well.

The man’s pride was hurt when he saw his colleague being hit.

No matter how many times he had failed to join the team of knights, he was a swordsman.

Removing his mettle, he approached Larrite carefully from behind.

Then he took out his sword, holding it steady.

The handle of the sword struck her head in the back.

Ah!

Larrite gasped shortly before she lost her consciousness.