In This Life, I Will Be The Lord - Chapter 103

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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 103

It wasn’t a cold or sharp gaze, but it was the kind of look that somehow made people nervous.

Though I had never encountered her in my previous life, those who maintain power in high positions for a long time tend to favor people who are bold without being arrogant.

I met Impigra Housekeeper’s eyes without avoiding her gaze.

Then I saw a glimmer of interest flash in her eyes for a moment.

“Though I am nothing more than an insignificant old woman, I have been entrusted with teaching young ladies preparing for their social debut, so I ask for your kind cooperation.”

Her words were endlessly polite and humble, but Fonta’s eyes were anything but.

Even in that brief moment, I could feel her scanning the faces of the ball participants.

“For the successful social debut of you young ladies, please keep in mind that from this moment on, you must follow imperial etiquette as if it were the day of the ball itself.”

At that moment, a girl who had been surrounded by other young ladies near the window stepped forward.

She was a girl in her mid-teens with impressive lustrous blonde hair and deep brown eyes.

“I have heard much about Lady Fonta.”

Her voice was calm yet confident and dignified.

She clearly seemed to be the type accustomed to receiving people’s attention.

“I am Maeve Caporia.”

Lady Caporia, who had stated her name, gracefully curtsied with a slight bend of her knees.

It was a flawless noble greeting.

“Hmm.”

Suddenly, Impigra Housekeeper frowned slightly with a somewhat displeased expression.

“L-Lady Fonta?”

What did I do wrong?

Lady Caporia called out to Impigra Housekeeper in confusion, but there was no response.

It seemed she had no intention of easily revealing what was wrong.

Instead, she gazed intently at the group of gathered young ladies.

As if giving them a chance.

But since Lady Caporia, who had been acting as the leader of that group, was being embarrassed, naturally no one stepped forward.

While everyone was hesitating like this, Impigra Housekeeper’s gaze turned to me.

She didn’t seem to have much expectation.

Probably because she thought I would just stay quiet like the other girls.

I placed my right hand near my heart, grasped the hem of my dress with my left hand, and sent my right leg back with a slight bend.

I didn’t forget to bow my head gracefully either.

It was a greeting according to imperial etiquette that I had learned when I went to the Empress’s dinner banquet a few years ago.

Impigra Housekeeper had said just moments before.

“Please keep in mind that from this moment on, you must follow imperial etiquette as if it were the day of the ball itself.”

“Oho…”

As if she had finally found what she wanted, Impigra Housekeeper smiled, lifting the corners of her mouth.

“What might your name be, young lady?”

“I am Pirenthia Lombardi, Impigra Housekeeper.”

Actually, calling her ‘Lady Fonta’ like Lady Caporia had done wouldn’t have been a problem either.

But anyway, I simply wanted to use a respectful expression toward an elderly woman who had maintained the position of housekeeper for over 40 years.

Since I had also briefly managed the large and small affairs of the Lombardi estate, I knew well how difficult such work could be.

“So you are Lady Lombardi!”

Impigra Housekeeper smiled with satisfaction.

“That was absolutely perfect imperial etiquette. Does the Lombardi family teach imperial etiquette separately?”

“No, I had occasion to enter the palace previously, so I learned from my aunt.”

“Your aunt… Ah, Lady Shannet!”

When Shannet’s name came up, Impigra Housekeeper’s complexion brightened considerably.

“Among the excellent young ladies that the Imperial Debutante Ball has produced over the years, she is certainly one of the top few. You have a very good teacher, Lady Lombardi.”

“Thank you.”

I said while curtsying once more with a slight bend of my knees.

After looking at me once more with a satisfied expression, Impigra Housekeeper spoke to the young ladies gathered in the banquet hall.

“You ladies have been selected to enter society at the Imperial Debutante Ball, the Empire’s greatest stage. This is a very honorable thing. However.”

Impigra Housekeeper’s voice lowered.

“The reputation of the Imperial Debutante Ball comes from strict evaluation standards and perfect banquets that tolerate not a single mistake. Therefore, until the ball, you will gather here twice a week to learn many things.”

“Twice a week…”

“I knew it would be difficult, but…”

Sighs mixed with laments flowed from here and there.

As if such reactions were familiar, Impigra Housekeeper smiled faintly again.

“Since this is the place where you will officially make your debut in the social circles of the great Lambru Empire, we cannot neglect anything.”

Her voice as she said this was so solemn.

I’m starting to think I came to the wrong place.

“However, ultimately the most important purpose of social circles is not to show off that I am the most outstanding. It lies in the imperial nobles harmonizing and interacting with each other, learning from one another. So buttoning the first button properly will be most important.”

It was a somewhat old-fashioned yet orthodox perspective, befitting a palace housekeeper.

“Since today is the first day, we shall have time for you all to get to know each other over light refreshments. We will bring tea and food, so please wait here for a moment.”

Impigra Housekeeper and the palace maids behind her all rushed out of the banquet hall.

Only the young ladies participating in the ball remained again.

Suddenly, a cold and strange silence flowed through the banquet hall.

And when I unconsciously turned my head toward the window, I met gazes mixed with wariness looking at me.

“Oh, this is a first.”

To be honest, I had also grown accustomed to people treating me favorably.

Most of the Lombardi people were like that, as were the people I worked with, including Cleribane.

Even at the few banquets I had attended so far, the nobles were desperate to strike up conversations with me.

So this current sight of them subtly glancing at me while keeping me in check was really.

“Refreshing.”

So this is what social circles are like!

I was even a little excited to see an aspect of social circles that I hadn’t experienced in my previous life.

Then a small voice spoke to me from beside me.

“Um, Lady Lombardi… -nim.”

“Just ‘Lady’ is fine.”

“Ah, yes! Lady Lombardi!”

The girl who seemed particularly timid was impressive with her red hair and light freckles across her nose.

“I’m Tilianna Gitterwel from the Eastern Region.”

Oh, Gitterwel?

While I was distracted by the family name that brought several related pieces of information to mind, Tilianna asked with an embarrassed, bright red face.

“If it’s alright with you, could you perhaps teach me how to greet according to imperial etiquette like you did earlier?”

It’s not a particularly difficult request, but.

“I think Impigra Housekeeper will teach all of that later?”

“That may be so, but… somehow Lady Lombardi’s greeting seemed elegant and beautiful…”

That’s probably Shannet’s influence.

Even with the same greeting method, the atmosphere and appearance differ slightly depending on the person.

“If, if it’s bothersome, it can’t be helped, but… Please, I’m asking you.”

Tilianna said while clenching both fists tightly, as if mustering courage despite her hesitation.

“For my debutante ball this time, really all my family members are coming all the way from the distant Eastern Region to the Imperial Palace… I want to show them a good side of me.”

It seemed to be sincere rather than a plausible excuse.

She didn’t seem to have the personality to make smooth talk anyway.

“I, I’ll buy you something delicious!”

“Alright then.”

It’s absolutely not that I was swayed by the promise of delicious treats.

I was planning to teach her from the beginning anyway. Really.

While I was exchanging a few words with Tilianna, the group that had been by the window had somehow come near me.

“Lady Lombardi.”

It was Maeve Caporia, who had stepped forward earlier to greet the Impigra head maid.

The Caporia family was a member of the Nobility Council and one of the Empire’s prestigious noble families.

And recently, as Lady Caporia began acting as Empress Lavinia’s close associate, it had become a family with growing influence in high society.

“Don’t stay over there, come this way and join our conversation.”

Weren’t you being wary of me just moments ago?

“The window gets lovely sunlight and is quite warm.”

Maeve Caporia didn’t even glance at Tilianna, completely excluding her from the conversation.

When I glanced at Tilianna, she was staring down at the empty table with an awkward smile.

She was pretending to be fine, but there was no way she truly was.

I smiled at Lady Maeve Caporia and said,

“I’m fine here.”

“…Pardon?”

Lady Caporia looked genuinely flustered.

She must have expected me to immediately get up and join their group.

Even though I may lack experience in high society, I’m not that naive.

Even if I abandoned Tilianna here and joined that group, those young ladies who had been tightly bonded since childhood would never truly include me.

“I’m feeling a bit under the weather. I think it’s better for me to stay here.”

As if I could really be under the weather.

Estira makes me so many health tonics.

But speaking in such roundabout ways is the conversational method nobles prefer to use.

Just like how Lady Caporia had made excuses about the ‘sunlight’ earlier.

“…Oh my, I hope it’s nothing serious.”

Lady Caporia’s face clearly read, ‘I hope you suffer from fever for about a week and ruin your debut and everything!’

But I smiled brightly and answered as if I hadn’t noticed her attitude at all.

“Thank you for your concern, Lady Katarina.”

When I deliberately called her by the wrong name, Lady Caporia’s smiling lips twitched.

Child, you’re still far from being able to beat your elder sister.

I said this was my first time in high society, but I never said I was twelve for the first time.

* * *

Kaitlin approached Peres, who was reading a book in the gardens, to inform him.

“Your Highness, you have a visitor.”

“I said I wouldn’t be receiving any visitors at Poirak Palace for the time being.”

Peres’s voice was cold, having been bothered by people sent by the Empress for some time.

“You should meet with this one.”

At Kaitlin’s uncharacteristic words, Peres looked up from his book to gaze at her.

“Who is the visitor?”

“The Imperial Palace head maid, Fonta Impigra.”

By now, Peres had figured out who in the Imperial Palace belonged to the Empress and who belonged to the Emperor.

Among them, head maid Fonta Impigra was one of those in opposition to the Empress.

“Tell her to come in.”

Shortly after, Fonta Impigra approached with her cane and offered a respectful greeting.

And for a while, she simply gazed at Peres without saying anything.

As if she were recalling someone dear within him.

And at some point, head maid Fonta Impigra spoke as if she had made up her mind.

“I dare to make one proposal to Your Highness the Second Prince.”

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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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