In This Life, I Will Be The Lord - Chapter 102

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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 102

“Hmm. I think I’ve heard of it before.”

At Father’s words, Shannet shook her head slightly.

From the way she even let out a small sigh, it seemed to mean ‘As expected of Gallahan, I knew it would be like this.’

“The Imperial Debutante Ball is distinctly different from other debutante balls. Besides the fact that it’s hosted by the Imperial Palace, there’s also the point that the number of participants is limited to less than ten people, and participants aren’t selected on a first-come-first-served basis but rather invited by the Imperial Palace according to strict criteria.”

“Right, Shannet, you made your debut there.”

When Grandfather spoke, Shannet’s face, who had been explaining, turned slightly red.

“But as I mentioned earlier, it’s a debutante ball that brings honor as much as it is demanding. If you want Tia to have the most glamorous and attention-grabbing debut, there’s no better opportunity than the Imperial Ball.”

It was advice that truly came from blood and flesh, befitting someone who once dominated high society.

And Shannet was right.

In the Empire, there are several debutante balls hosted by noble ladies who hold positions in high society.

But the pinnacle of them all was undoubtedly the Imperial Debutante Ball.

The girls who officially debut in high society there start from a different starting line than others.

The selection method was also unique.

Those who wanted to participate in that year’s Imperial Debutante Ball had to write a letter of self-introduction and send it directly to the organizers.

There was nothing else that the person wanting to participate and their family could do.

They could only wait to be chosen.

Mainly girls from high noble families were selected, but it wasn’t always the case.

Sometimes they were chosen because the heart shown in their letter was beautiful, or because they were young ladies from families that weren’t highly influential but had deep history.

The number of participants also varied each time.

Sometimes all ten spots would be filled, and if there weren’t enough qualified applicants, they wouldn’t hold the debutante ball at all.

Given these circumstances, everyone was on edge every year, curious about who would make their debut at the Imperial Ball.

“It’s the perfect stage for our Tia. It should be at least that level, of course.”

Grandfather said with a satisfied smile.

“I’ve never been to an Imperial Debutante Ball!”

“We must go on the day Tia makes her debut!”

The twins also drank their fill of premature celebration.

Hmm. I don’t want to be the one to burst their bubble.

But someone had to tell them the reality.

“Everyone seems to be missing something.”

When I started speaking, everyone sitting around the table looked at me.

“The Imperial Debutante Ball is in two months, right? Then wouldn’t the applications have closed long ago?”

I also want to have a proper debut ball where I can make a good impression while I’m at it.

“This year’s participants haven’t been announced yet, but it’s probably already too late. And even if there’s still time left, I can’t guarantee that I’ll be selected.”

But people’s reactions were unexpected.

Everyone just stared at me without saying anything.

“Why are you all… looking at me like that?”

“You’ll probably make it?”

Giliou said, tilting his head.

“Right, you will.”

Meylon chimed in.

“Because.”

“You’re Tia.”

What’s this, really.

I was strange to momentarily expect a proper reason from the twins…

“You’ll probably make it.”

“Won’t they accept you?”

Even Grandfather and Father joined in.

I looked at Shannet with a meaning of ‘Please explain to these people.’

“If you write and send a letter expressing your desire to participate.”

No, even Shannet!

But when even Shannet said that, my ears perked up a little.

“…Really?”

Then Shannet smiled softly and answered.

“You’re a Lombardi.”

Ah, that’s right.

At such a simple yet clear answer, I was slightly dazed, and Shannet explained gently.

“The Imperial Palace would be quite hurt in their pride if Lombardi’s young lady made her debut elsewhere. Don’t worry and try sending the letter.”

Shannet’s words somehow inspired infinite trust.

I nodded with still some lingering doubt in my heart.

“I shouldn’t have sent it. I shouldn’t have sent it. Ah, how embarrassing…”

Two weeks had passed since I sent the letter to the Imperial Debutante Ball organizers.

However, there had been no contact from them.

I had written each letter so carefully, pressing down hard, trusting only Shannet’s words!

“Please don’t be too disappointed and wait just a little longer.”

Loril comforted me as I sprawled across the table, flailing in embarrassment.

“No. I think it’s already over…”

But this is too much.

Being left on read, being left on read!

Sob, how miserable.

As I was wetting the table with my tears like that, there was a knock on the door.

“Lady Pirenthia, it’s the butler.”

“Sob! Come in…”

The annex butler who carefully opened the door and entered bowed once politely, then held out what was in his hand and said.

“A letter has arrived for Lady Pirenthia from the Imperial Palace…”

Whoosh!

I quickly ran up to him and took the letter.

The envelope containing the letter wasn’t the gold color the Emperor used, nor the purple the Empress used, nor the pink that Peres used.

It was a neat brown one I’d never seen before.

On the back, in very elegant handwriting, it said ‘Lady Pirenthia Lombardi.’

I carefully opened the envelope and took out the paper inside.

[We invite Lady Pirenthia Lombardi to the Imperial Debutante Ball.

The first meeting of participants will be held at the date and time below, so please attend.]

* * *

A carriage bearing the Lombardi crest stopped in front of Poirak Palace.

And the person who stepped down was not Pirenthia Lombardi, the Second Prince’s escort.

Kaitlin, who had been waiting in front, bowed her head respectfully in greeting.

“Have you arrived, Clan Head?”

“Mm. Have you been well?”

Rulak Lombardi patted Kaitlin’s shoulder a couple of times as he spoke.

“His Highness the Second Prince is waiting in the drawing room. Please come this way.”

Rulak obediently followed behind her into Poirak Palace.

Then suddenly, he asked a question to Kaitlin’s back.

“Is it manageable to clean up after a child?”

“…Sometimes I only wish His Highness the Second Prince were a little more childlike.”

“Well, that’s how his personality was. Still, if you ever get tired of this work, come to Lombardy anytime. Your place will always be kept open.”

“Thank you, Clan Head.”

After the brief conversation, the two entered the drawing room.

“It’s been a while.”

At Rulak’s words, Peres only gave a short silent bow.

He had been on his way after receiving a report from Kaitlin about Peres’s recent condition.

Therefore, he also knew how many of the Empress’s attendants had been coming and going from Poirak Palace during this time.

As if trying to torment him unbearably and drive him to the Academy, the Empress either visited personally or sent people to urge Peres to write his admission application almost daily.

Until now, Peres had managed to block that pressure well, but in Kaitlin’s view, simply ignoring it and pretending not to hear had reached its limit.

So she had requested that Rulak, who was formally his guardian, intervene.

Rulak, who had been watching Peres with displeasure, immediately brought up the main point as if throwing it out.

“You, why are you being so stubborn about not going to the Academy?”

At the word ‘Academy’, Peres’s thick eyebrows twitched once.

Rulak, who was about to scold him for still not breaking the habit of keeping his mouth shut like a clam, made an even more displeased face at the low voice that finally emerged.

“I don’t want to go.”

If he were my grandson, I would have given him a good beating.

But hitting a prince in the Imperial Palace would make the aftermath troublesome.

“What is the reason?”

At Rulak’s question, Peres raised his head.

And looking straight at Rulak with his red eyes, he answered.

“I will not be pushed out of this Imperial Palace.”

It was quite a resolute statement.

However, the response that came back was cynical.

“If you’re not going to be pushed out, is that the best you can do?”

“At least I can avoid giving the Empress what she wants.”

“That wouldn’t be the answer to my question.”

“…”

Peres closed his mouth again out of habit.

However, his bright red eyes filled with venom were no different from when he was young, so Rulak clicked his tongue.

His determination to thoroughly use him as a tool to provoke Empress Lavinia seemed meaningless.

Perhaps his heart had softened without knowing it because his beloved granddaughter praised him whenever she had the chance, calling him her ‘best friend’.

Thinking that this would be the first and last time he gave advice, Rulak opened his mouth.

“Do you think you can fight against the Empress and Angenas while remaining in the Imperial Palace?”

“…It’s not impossible.”

What an ambitious dream that is.

Rulak didn’t hide the scoff that escaped him.

“You might be able to interfere with and trouble those two. You could become like an annoying stone that gets kicked with every step they take toward sitting on the throne. But a stone cannot prevent Astana from ascending to the throne. Do you want revenge?”

Instead of answering, Peres’s red eyes blazed as red as a heated sword.

“Then you must take away what they want most. That’s revenge.”

Rulak left only those words and stood up from his seat.

Peres, left alone, also didn’t see him off and sat blankly in the spacious drawing room, lost in deep thought.

* * *

The first gathering of Imperial Debutante Ball participants was held in a small banquet hall of the Imperial Palace.

In the venue mainly used for tea parties and such, seven girls had already arrived, excluding me.

“Huh…?”

They seemed to already know among themselves who was participating in the Imperial Debutante Ball, as they looked quite surprised when I appeared.

But even so, they didn’t approach me and immediately started whispering among themselves.

Seeing that, my desire to go over and greet them first completely disappeared, so I took a seat on the opposite side of the round table.

I could feel a red-haired young lady sitting alone near where I sat looking at me.

However, before we could even exchange names, a group of people entered the banquet hall.

And the white-haired old woman leading them looked us over carefully and said.

“Everyone has arrived.”

She was a small, bent-backed, gaunt old woman, but no one in the Imperial Palace could ignore her.

Even Empress Lavinia suppressed her temper in front of this person.

“This old woman is Fonta Impigra, the head maid of the Imperial Palace. Please feel free to call me Fonta.”

The pillar of high society who had managed the household of this Imperial Palace as head maid for a full 40 years since the Previous Emperor’s time and had been holding Imperial Debutante Balls during that same period was none other than Imperial Palace head maid, Fonta Impigra.

And her gaze immediately turned to me.

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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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