In This Life, I Will Be The Lord - Chapter 101

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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This Life, I Will Become the Clan Head Episode 101

The unusually cold winter had passed.

The rainy season that heralded early spring had also ended, and the warm weather that made flowers bloom abundantly had begun in earnest.

Not long ago, my birthday had passed and I turned 12 years old.

Today, Cleribane had come to my house under the pretext of lessons and was holding a meeting.

“We’ll need to increase the sales volume of grain we’re holding for a while.”

“Spring harvest will begin in the eastern region next month. Please do that, Cleribane.”

“Yes, I’ll also submit the final report on eastern food sales profits as soon as possible.”

As expected, Cleribane was excellent at his work.

Even without me saying anything, he handled everything efficiently and resolved matters cleanly.

Sometimes I felt sorry that I had too little to do.

I wanted to be helpful somehow.

Then, I remembered something I had briefly heard in a conversation with Violet recently and asked, just in case.

“I heard that Grandfather Croily is reducing his workload due to arthritis…”

“Yes, so we’ve decided to bring two more of Master Croily’s disciples from Aivan Estate to the Imperial Capital to set up workshops for them. The location will be in the luxury residential district near the jewelry shops…”

Of course.

Cleribane had already taken all the necessary measures.

All I could do was,

“‘Estira ointment’ is effective for arthritis pain, so please prepare a few of those for him.”

That was all I could say.

“I hadn’t thought that far ahead. As expected, Lady Pirenthia has such a kind heart.”

Cleribane seemed moved and admiring even at just that much.

“How is Beit doing these days?”

Beit had signed a contract with us as a kind of business partner.

We sponsored the building and a portion of the operating costs, while Caramel Avenue provided us with good information from what they collected.

“Since he doesn’t have to pay rent, he seems to have much more breathing room. The dessert shop employees he hired last time have all gotten used to the work now, so he’s happy that he can focus only on information gathering.”

“Ah, I wondered why the quality of information he sends suddenly improved. So that was it.”

It was a good development.

From now on, Beit and Caramel Avenue would experience dramatic growth.

I was relieved that I had secured them in advance.

“And there’s one more thing I’d like to discuss with you.”

Cleribane handed me a thick bundle of documents as he spoke.

“There’s too much idle money among Pellet Trading Company’s assets. Further investment in Gallahan Clothing Store is also judged to be inefficient.”

Too much idle money.

Was I really that wealthy?

Actually, I had been so busy starting various new businesses that I had never checked exactly how much I had earned.

“Was I wealthy enough for Cleribane to say that?”

At my question, Cleribane nodded and answered matter-of-factly.

“Including the profits from this eastern trade deal, Pellet Trading Company has already become one of the Empire’s top five trading companies.”

“Already that much…”

“Both the diamond mine and this eastern business had very high profit margins. Not only that, but there are also the shares invested in Gallahan Clothing Store and Lombardi Guild… The real estate investments you occasionally pointed out have also risen significantly in value.”

“Wow.”

I hadn’t expected it to be that much.

When I expressed genuine admiration, Cleribane tilted his head and said,

“These are all things Lady Pirenthia accomplished.”

“That’s true, but… Yes, that’s right. Haha.”

“You’re truly amazing.”

His words were filled with pure goodwill and respect toward me.

“It’s an honor for me to serve such a Lady Pirenthia right by your side.”

Cleribane said, bowing his head slightly.

Being praised like this in person was a bit embarrassing, but I felt more proud than anything.

It felt like I had entered a somewhat stable zone now.

With my mind slightly at ease, I felt I should handle something I had been planning to do.

“Then, I should start preparing for the debutante ball soon.”

But an unexpected reaction burst from Cleribane, who had been moistening his throat.

Crash!

He dropped the cup he was holding and the glass fell to the floor and shattered.

Even so, Cleribane’s widened eyes were fixed on me, unable to move.

“…A, a debutante ball. The debutante that I know of…”

“Yes, that one.”

Was there another kind?

And Cleribane stood there dazed like someone who had received a great shock before leaving.

* * *

I was reading a book and killing time before dinner when I heard urgent footsteps approaching and looked up.

“Tia!”

Crash!

The door opened with a loud noise and Father rushed in with a pale face.

“What’s wrong?”

Breathing slightly hard from running from somewhere, Father spoke in a stammering, trembling voice.

“Just, just now… I just heard something strange from Master Cleribane…”

“Something strange?”

“That Tia is preparing for a debutante ball…”

Why was that strange?

“Yes, that’s right.”

“Gasp!”

Father covered his mouth as if he had heard the worst news in the world.

Then the corners of his eyes drooped down and his eyes became moist.

“You’re still young… already?”

“Debutante balls are held between ages 12 and 15 anyway. Since I’ll have to do it eventually, I want to get it over with quickly.”

“But having a debutante ball early is something done by nobles from small families who need to hurry to arrange marriages… Tia doesn’t need to rush, does she?”

Father spoke earnestly as if trying to persuade me.

“That’s true, but…”

Just as I was about to explain why I wanted to have a debutante ball,

Crash—!

The door opened with an even louder sound than when Father came.

“Tia!”

This time it was Grandfather.

Like Father, Grandfather rushed in urgently, strode over, and asked,

“What’s this talk about a debutante!”

“You came, Grandfather!”

When I got up from my seat and stood before Grandfather, he hugged me tightly while asking again,

“I must have heard wrong, right? Right?”

“No, I think you heard correctly. I really am planning to debut in society.”

“Gasp!”

As if to prove they were father and son, his reaction was similar to Father’s.

“Why are you in such a hurry! That kind of thing can be done slowly without being late!”

“But it’s a rite of passage that every noble woman must go through eventually.”

The Debutante Ball is a kind of initiation ceremony where one officially shows their face to existing high society and introduces themselves saying ‘please treat me well from now on.’

It wasn’t such an essential gateway either.

In my previous life, I lived without a Debutante Ball.

But if circumstances allow, it’s better to do it, and since it’s convenient to make face-to-face introductions all at once, I want to move it up and do it quickly.

“Is there a particular reason you’d prefer I hold my Debutante Ball later?”

I asked just in case.

“Well…”

Grandfather coughed uncomfortably and pursed his lips, while Father answered in a slightly tearful voice instead.

“Until now, watching you handle everything on your own has made me both sorry and proud as a father, but if you have a Debutante Ball too, it feels like you’ll have grown up too much all at once…”

I turned to look at Grandfather and asked.

“Is that your reason too, Grandfather?”

“Ahem. There’s nothing good about stepping into the noisy, gossipy world of high society too early, is there?”

“That’s right, Tia. Just like Grandfather says, you don’t need to rush to grow up…”

I answered with a bright smile.

“I’ll hold it this season, the Debutante Ball.”

“Tia!”

“Tia!”

Grandfather and Father exclaimed simultaneously.

But I shook my head firmly.

“Since I don’t attend outside events much, it’s uncomfortable that many people don’t know me. Sometimes I even get looked down upon…”

As I trailed off, sparks flew in Grandfather’s eyes.

“Who! Who dares to treat my granddaughter like that!”

“If something like that happened, you should have told Dad!”

Father also rarely raised his voice.

I continued with my shoulders drooping.

“If I have a Debutante Ball so more people know my face, things like that won’t happen… That’s why I want to do it quickly…”

I could see Father and Grandfather wavering at my words.

“If that’s the reason…”

“A social debut would be a good solution…”

I knew saying this would work.

Father and Grandfather began seriously contemplating, even furrowing their brows.

Grandfather was the first to be persuaded.

“Alright! This grandfather will throw you the grandest banquet so you can have a proper Debutante Ball!”

“Kyaa! As expected of Grandfather!”

I hugged Grandfather’s neck tightly.

“Hehehe…”

Grandfather laughed and gently patted my back.

That’s when it happened.

Bang!

The door opened loudly again and the twins burst in.

“Tia! A debutante ball!”

“Not yet!”

“Haah…”

I don’t have the energy to explain again.

I sighed softly while looking at the twins, then asked Grandfather and Father.

“Would you like to stay for dinner together?”

* * *

Eventually even Shannet joined us and we all sat around the table together.

When Shannet heard about my debut plans, she just widened her eyes in surprise for a moment, but didn’t make a fuss like the others.

“How dare they look down on this Rulak’s granddaughter in the first place. Those insolent brats!”

Grandfather still seemed angry and kept grumbling.

“What? Someone looked down on Tia?!”

“So that’s why you want to debut?!”

The twins also banged the table in indignation.

Though they immediately quieted down after receiving a glare from Shannet who was eating quietly beside them.

I smiled to smooth things over.

“It wasn’t that big a deal. Last time when I went to the stables in the outskirts…”

“Ah, that guy from back then?”

“You mean the guy who was showing off and bothering Tia? What was his name again…”

Hey, no. Don’t say it.

“Kase! Kase Angenas!”

At Giliou’s question and Meylon’s answer, Grandfather’s eyebrows twitched.

“How dare an Angenas brat look down on my granddaughter… and even bother her on top of that?”

Oh no, this is bad.

The name Angenas made Grandfather’s fighting spirit rise even higher.

“This won’t do, you rascals. I’ll throw the most magnificent Debutante Ball so that no one will ever dare treat my granddaughter that way again…”

Then, Shannet, who had gently dabbed the corners of her mouth with a napkin, spoke in a quiet voice.

“The most honorable debut venue would be the Debutante Ball hosted by the Imperial Palace.”

“The Imperial Debutante Ball?”

“Yes. Only once a year, only those invited by strict standards can enter high society there.”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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