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Louise and Irina went to join their fathers, who had recently arrived in the capital. Marghetta also headed that way as soon as the Iron-blooded Duke reached the city. It was a bit lonely, but it was unavoidable since they had to attend the New Year’s Ball with their noble relatives. Although I was practically engaged to all three of them, I wasn’t officially part of the family yet.

So, I had to attend the New Year’s Ball alone. This felt strange. My fingers were weighed down with rings, but there was no one by my side…

Should I take them off?

There were three rings on each hand and six in total—a dazzling collection that almost hurt to look at.

Wouldn’t I look like a madman if I walked in while wearing all these rings but without a partner? People might think I was some lunatic who hoarded women but never chose one. To be honest, they probably already thought I was crazy, but there was a difference between whispered rumors and being openly stared at.

Of course, this was just a fleeting thought. Taking off the rings just because of a few stares wouldn’t make me crazy—it would make me an absolute jerk.

When did I ever have a partner?

I calmed my restless thoughts as I threw on my coat. After all, I attended alone last year and the year before that, so why was I suddenly acting like I had nothing better to do?

Anyway, I’d start accumulating partners one by one from next year onwards, and eventually, I’d have to walk in with six of them.

…Six.

I was really grateful for the legendary Gold Duke and his twelve partners every time I thought about it. Since someone already set the precedent for walking in with twelve people, six wasn’t so bad. I should probably start bowing in his direction three times a day from now on.

***Normally, only high-ranking officials and nobles summoned by the Emperor could enter the Imperial Palace. But during the New Year’s Ball, even this exclusive palace turns into a bustling banquet hall.

Not all areas of the palace were open for the sake of the Emperor’s safety, but even just a portion was enough to show off its vastness. The palace’s sheer scale was a symbol of both Heaven’s mandate and imperial power, so it was only natural.

“You’ve had a rough time.”

“Oh, it’s nothing. When else would we get to be active if not now?”

The sudden increase in visitors meant that those who usually managed the entry list were overwhelmed.

I greeted the captain of the Imperial Guard who was in charge of palace security as I spotted him, and he acknowledged me with a nod. Despite his words, his eyes were filled with exhaustion.

But as the captain mentioned, this was the only time when the Imperial Guard really had a chance to shine. Since they were usually confined to the palace as the Emperor’s final line of defense, they risked being forgotten in high society if they didn’t occasionally show their presence. After all, people were truly dead when they were forgotten…

“Go on in.”

He stepped aside to let me pass after quickly giving me an up-and-down glance.

At his words, I glanced to my left, where a line of nobles was being thoroughly searched by the Imperial Guard. There was a long queue right beside me, and it felt a bit awkward to skip past it with a free pass. Besides, I had just come over to say hello.

“The procedures for those with usual entry privileges are different from those who get in as exceptions. It’s actually better for us if fewer people need to be searched.”

The captain said as he followed my gaze to the line. His faint smile suggested that with so many people, it was better to streamline the process and let those who could pass without issue go through.

Seeing it was always surprising. You’d think the captain of the Imperial Guard would be a stickler for rules, but he was surprisingly flexible. How did he rise to that position? Maybe it was his adaptability that got him there.

“Well then, excuse me.”

There was no need to refuse an easy pass through the checkpoint. I should be happy to be able to go right in.

After a slight bow to the captain, I passed through the checkpoint and found myself in a quieter area compared to the bustling outside. Did I arrive too early? There weren’t many people here yet.

“Oh, you’re already here too?”

Among the few present, I hadn’t expected to see the Minister. Why would someone of his rank—a Minister and a Count—show up so early? Did his old age make him sleep less?

“Why are you here so early, Minister?”

“I’ll just attract attention if I come when it’s crowded. Do you know how many people want to pester me about the already settled budget?”

He sounded fed up, and I couldn’t help but nod in agreement.

The months of December to January were undoubtedly a challenging time for the Minister. It was the season when he had to listen to requests, pleas, and complaints from every department and agency. He probably decided it was better to come early and hide away rather than arrive late and draw attention.

“And you?”

“I came early to avoid the stares.”

His gaze seemed to say, ‘You’re no different.’ But unlike the Minister who attracted attention because of his authority, I attracted attention for a different reason. It was because of the six rings on my fingers.

The Minister caught on as I awkwardly fiddled with my hands and let out a dry chuckle. Just last summer, I was causing a scene about pushing Marghetta away and now here I was, on my way to becoming a younger version of the Gold Duke.

“So you’re here alone. Does that mean the joint wedding hasn’t happened yet?”

His mocking question left me speechless. Even I knew that the idea of a joint wedding was something I could be teased about for life.

Past me, you idiot. If you were going to lose your mind, you should have at least done it gracefully.

“And why are you here alone, my lord?”

Unable to come up with a rebuttal, I cautiously changed the subject. It was an awkward shift, but still, it was strange. Titled nobles usually brought their spouses along with them when they attended the New Year’s Ball, so why was he here by himself? I hadn’t heard any rumors of trouble in his household.

Thankfully, it didn’t seem like it was because of any family issues. The Minister discreetly pointed toward a group with his finger.

Ah.

In there was a group of familiar faces gathered nearby, engaged in conversation.

I recognized them all. The Minister’s wife, as well as some department heads from the Ministry of Finance and their spouses, were all chatting together. And I, the youngest member of the group, had the audacity to arrive last.

“We’re all getting swamped with requests, so we decided to come early. I didn’t expect you to show up at this time either, but you can stay with us if you’ve got nowhere to go.”

“Sure, sounds good.”

It wasn’t a bad offer, so I moved along with the Minister toward the Ministry of Finance group.

People tended to swarm around me, the Executive Manager of the Prosecutors’ Office, when I wandered alone, but no one dared to approach me when the high-ranking officials of the Finance Ministry were gathered. Even if we were just chatting casually, people automatically assumed it was an important discussion and kept their distance.

Once again, it proved just how important a title was.

***Even though it was early, I hurried to attend the New Year’s Ball. A gathering of all the titled nobles also meant a gathering of potential business partners.

To secure new deals, it was best to arrive early and wait. That way, I could give the impression that I had been waiting specifically for them. It might be a subtle gesture, but these small details could determine the scale and success of a deal, so how could I just sit idly by?

“Irina. Are you feeling tired?”

The only thing that weighed on my mind was that my precious daughter was accompanying me on this journey for such a trivial matter. My wife seemed to share the concern as she asked Irina worriedly.

My wife was used to these activities, but Irina wasn’t. She had never been involved in trade or the workings of a merchant guild; she was just a delicate girl who had grown up normally.

“I’m fine. I wanted to come.”

Irina answered with a gentle smile. It could have been just to ease her mother’s worries, but it might have been the truth knowing Irina’s strong constitution.

…Yes, we should think positively. If Irina had come to the New Year’s Ball against her will, that would be one thing, but she came because she wanted to. She’d be fine even if things became a little dull or exhausting.

Is it love?

The thought made me chuckle bitterly. I remember how surprised I was when Irina showed up with that unique ring on her finger and asked to attend the New Year’s Ball.

Irina has fallen in love with someone. She had become someone who could do things she couldn’t before and someone who could tackle challenges she never even considered all because of love. It would be a lie to say I didn’t feel a twinge of complicated emotions, especially since her love was directed at the Prosecutors’ Office’s Executive Manager.

Don’t think about it.

I had already decided to respect Irina’s wishes. It wouldn’t be right to stand in the way of the path she’d chosen. Going back on my word now would make me a failure as a father, a noble, and a merchant.

All I could do was to support her and watch over her. That was my role.

***A short while later, we were finally able to enter the palace after passing the Imperial Guard’s checkpoint.

“All clear. You may proceed.”

It was fortunate that the current captain of the Guard was a more lenient person. The previous captain was so strict and thorough that every checkpoint felt like a trial by fire. I’m glad Irina didn’t have to go through that kind of ordeal.

Damn.

I stiffened as soon as I passed through the checkpoint and surveyed the area. I had moved quickly to avoid the crowds, but as luck would have it, the few people who were here early were all big shots.

Six men stood in a corner. Despite their location, both my gaze and those of other nobles were locked onto them, unable to look away.

The Ministry of Finance.

No doubt about it. That combination of a burly middle-aged man with a monocle and a young man wasn’t something you see every day. And the other four? They were all people I had occasionally interacted with in business dealings.

The Minister of Finance, the Prosecutors’s Office’s Executive Manager, the Revenue Director, the Procurement Director, the Statistics Director, and the Audit Director. These were the top officials of the Ministry of Finance and men who could move thousands or even millions of gold coins with just a word.

What’s going on?

I couldn’t tear my eyes away from this unexpected gathering of heavyweights.

It was understandable, though. It could cause a tremor in the Empire’s economy if just two of these department directors were to meet. But here they were, all together. They’d also shown up early, likely to avoid drawing too much attention from other nobles.

…It seemed that this year’s New Year’s Ball was going to be eventful.

***Being the youngest in a gathering of elders was exhausting.

“These days, my knees ache even when it snows. Ah, getting old really means you’re better off dead.”

“Come on now, how can you say that already? You’ve got at least ten more years of service to the Empire.”

“Haha! If I’ve got ten years left, then the Director of Statistics must have twenty!”

Watching these men smiling while cursing each other made me wonder how to even react.

In truth, this was a disaster waiting to happen. These men, who no longer had any ambitions for promotion and were filled with thoughts of retirement naturally talked about the same things: recent events, their children, their grandchildren’s antics, and, overwhelmingly, their health—which often led back to talks of retirement.

The conversation was so predictable and dull that their wives had already fled to other parts of the room. And I, unfortunately, was stuck enduring their grumbling simply because I was a fellow department director. Damn it, I wish I could escape too.

Ah.

Just as my gaze wandered in boredom and frustration, I spotted Irina passing through the checkpoint.

It felt like finding a light in the darkness. Maybe I could use Irina as an excuse to escape this endless droning…