In This Life, I Will Be The Lord - Chapter 108

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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 108

Peres in his neat black formal wear, with the large diamond brooch I had given him before pinned to his chest, seemed to sparkle even more brilliantly today.

Not only was he a genius who had manifested his aura at age 12, but he was also such a handsome Second Prince.

I could almost hear the sound of Peres’s stock rising vertically among the nobles.

“Peres, you look handsome today…”

“Pretty.”

“…Huh?”

“You’re pretty.”

Peres said with a slight eye-smile beneath his long eyelashes.

“Oh? Well, yes. You look pretty today too.”

I answered without thinking.

“Thank you.”

But Peres thanked me quite matter-of-factly.

I asked, feeling a bit puzzled.

“You’re not angry?”

“Angry? At you?”

Peres widened his eyes slightly as if he had heard something incredibly strange.

“Well… don’t boys usually not like being called ‘pretty’?”

Especially kids.

But Peres answered with a subtle smile instead.

“Tia likes pretty things.”

“That’s… true.”

I was mulling over Peres’s words when.

“Second Prince, Lady Lombardi.”

Impigra Housekeeper approached us.

“It’s time for your entrance.”

“Fi-finally…”

My heart, which had calmed down a bit while talking with Peres, began to race again.

“Whew…”

I took a long deep breath, knowing it probably wouldn’t help much.

“Let’s go in.”

Impigra Housekeeper said, gently pushing mine and Peres’s shoulders.

At the same time, the doors that had been closed in front of us began to slowly open.

The voice of the attendant introducing me leaked out from inside the banquet hall.

“Lady Pirenthia Lombardi! As the only daughter of Lord Gallahan Lombardi…”

My first debutante ball in all my lives had begun.

* * *

After safely finishing my introduction and greetings, I stood facing Peres, holding hands in front of everyone to dance the first dance.

I could feel people’s gazes all over my body.

I whispered quietly to Peres, trying to force myself to relax.

“There are more people than I expected.”

“Indeed.”

“Peres, aren’t you nervous?”

At my words, Peres glanced down at our joined hands and answered.

“I’m nervous.”

“…Liar.”

He wasn’t nervous at all.

“Still, it’s quite fortunate.”

“What is?”

“Since you’re so handsome, people will look at you more.”

“…Is that so.”

Peres stared down at me for a moment, then continued.

“Then that’s fortunate.”

And at that moment, the music began.

Following the now-familiar music, we began to slowly step forward.

One, two, three. One, two, three.

The beginning went smoothly.

Since we had practiced so much, I had no fear of making mistakes.

But as we moved into the latter half where the tempo picked up a bit, things changed.

My legs, stiff with tension, momentarily missed a beat and my body swayed.

I’m doomed!

That was the only thought in my mind for an instant.

Until Peres’s arm, firmly holding my waist, tightened and supported my body.

“Oh…”

I looked up at Peres in surprise without realizing it.

“It’s okay.”

Peres said in a low voice with a faint smile.

Even while I was panicking and losing my way, Peres was leading me entirely on his own.

He didn’t lose his composure while looking steadily into my eyes.

Even as I regained my composure and safely finished the latter half, only this thought filled my mind.

When did he… grow up like this?

The kid who used to crouch alone in the forest picking and eating herb leaves, when did he become like this.

While I was thinking this, the other couples joined in and we finished the group dance as well.

And at the end, the cavaliers stepped back and bowed politely as the music ended.

While people were applauding, Peres briefly kissed the back of my hand.

I was surprised but only flinched momentarily; I didn’t pull my hand away.

Perhaps sensing this, Peres lifted his bowed head and smiled.

It was a deep smile with a long resonance.

A beautiful face that would have captivated anyone else without exception rang a strange alarm bell for me.

Something’s strange.

It looked no different from usual, but something was different.

“Come here for a moment.”

After escaping from the dance floor, I took Peres’s hand and led him toward the table with drinks.

Fortunately, there weren’t many people around that area yet.

“What’s wrong with you?”

I asked in a small voice.

“What do you mean?”

Peres asked back with an indifferent expression.

It seemed like he was trying to play innocent.

“That won’t work on me. Tell me quickly. What’s going on?”

From the moment Peres appeared as the debutante’s cavalier, he had felt strangely unfamiliar and oddly irritating.

There’s definitely something.

“How do you… know me so well?”

Peres said, slightly frowning.

“What’s with that all of a sudden? We’re friends, so isn’t it natural?”

“Is that so…”

Peres smiled slightly, seeming deflated for some reason.

“Yeah. So tell me. What are you thinking about?”

“Um, just.”

Peres answered, pointing behind me.

“We practiced together with such difficulty, but it seems like there won’t be another chance to dance with you.”

When I turned around, Father was approaching with a beaming smile.

That doesn’t seem to be it.

When I glared at him, Peres subtly avoided my gaze.

“Tia!”

In the meantime, Father approached in one stride and hugged me tightly.

“Congratulations on your successful social debut, my daughter!”

That’s right, Father.

To think I’ve completed my social debut.

Hearing it from Father’s mouth made it feel real for the first time.

Twelve years old.

In my previous life, this was the age when I was going through the darkest period of my life.

“Thank you, Your Highness. You’ve worked hard.”

“It was an honor for me to be Tia’s cavalier as well.”

When Father greeted him politely, Peres also bowed his head in the same manner.

Father looked at Peres, nodding his head and smiling with satisfaction before saying,

“Then Tia, would you like to dance your first post-debut dance with this dad?”

Father slightly bent his waist and extended one hand to me as he spoke.

It’s a common etiquette when requesting a dance, but it’s different when Father does it.

Should I say it looks much more dignified and respectful?

The noble ladies around us were glancing at Father.

As expected, our Father is wonderful.

“Yes, Dad!”

I placed one hand on top of Father’s hand as I spoke.

“See you later, Peres!”

We haven’t finished talking yet!

“Okay.”

I waved to Peres and stood on the dance floor with Father again.

Unlike during the debutante group dance when we had to strictly keep time, light music was flowing now.

Perhaps because of that, I could see other people dancing in a much more relaxed atmosphere.

“It’s an honor to be able to share the first dance with you, Lady Lombardi.”

Father spoke to me in the tone really used when requesting a dance in high society.

I also responded in tune with that.

“Of course, Lord Lombardi.”

And as soon as we joined hands, new music began as if it had been waiting.

However, I couldn’t fully enjoy it.

Because people had already begun to pay attention to Father and me.

Though I was looking at Father while dancing, the background was filled with the faces of strangers passing by busily.

When the first dance ended and the second dance began, Father seemed to notice my state and called me.

“Tia?”

And Father looked around before nodding as if he understood.

“Hmm. In that case…”

For a moment, a slightly mischievous expression crossed Father’s face.

“Kyaa! Dad!”

Father lifted my hand up and then gently pushed my shoulder, making me spin around in place.

“Haha!”

Seeing me surprised, Father laughed like a child.

So in the end, I couldn’t help but burst into laughter too.

“Haha! What was that, Dad!”

When we returned to normal steps, Father held my hand affectionately and said,

“Now you’re smiling a little, my daughter.”

Huh? Wasn’t I smiling?

I was momentarily dazed.

Father spoke to me soothingly.

“You must have been nervous. Are you feeling a little better now?”

“Ah, so that’s why earlier.”

There was a reason for Father’s uncharacteristically playful behavior.

Indeed, after laughing heartily, I could feel my heart becoming much lighter.

“Yes. I’m fine now, Dad.”

“You don’t need to be too nervous, Tia. And one thing to keep in mind is.”

Father said while gently leading me to the edge of the dance floor.

“You don’t necessarily have to stay in high society. You can quit anytime you want to quit. Just like leaving the dance floor now. You understand?”

High society is as difficult and cruel a place as it is important to nobles.

In fact, many women become too immersed and overdo their social activities, getting hurt and in severe cases, even developing mental illness.

Father wanted to tell me that.

That high society is not everything in this world.

“High society is probably a more difficult place for women. Tia, you’ve had a hard time…”

Suddenly Father stopped speaking.

Something seemed wrong, so I moved a little closer to check Father’s face.

“D-Dad, are you crying…?”

“…No, I’m not crying. I was just thinking about when our Tia grew up so much…”

You’re not crying! But you are crying!

Father desperately tried blinking his eyes, but the hot tears welling up were much faster.

Before I knew it, people around us were smiling and glancing at Father.

How exactly am I supposed to comfort a crying dad?

I reached up high and gently patted Father’s shoulder as I said,

“D-Dad, don’t cry… It’s a good day, so why are you doing this, our Dad.”

“You’re right, it’s a good day but Dad is being really foolish.”

Fortunately, Father seemed to quickly compose himself.

Father, who quickly dabbed away his tears with his sleeve, smiled with eyes still red and wet.

“Crying over just a social debut. Later when our Tia gets married… Hup!”

Ah, damn it.

This time he really broke down.

Father covered his mouth and turned his head to the side, his shoulders shaking.

Now it looks like I made him cry!

But just then, Grandfather approached and asked,

“Hmm? What’s wrong with you, Gallahan?”

“…”

Father couldn’t even answer properly and was sniffling while constantly dabbing tears with his sleeve.

I sighed softly and answered instead.

“He said ‘when did you grow up so much’ about me, and if he’s like this at my social debut, what will he do when I get married… G-Grandfather?”

“…”

I’m doomed.

Grandfather also ends up holding his forehead.

Ah, I don’t know anymore either.

I was standing there looking at Grandfather and Father in a half-given-up state when Shannet approached from behind with the twins.

I didn’t even have the energy to explain, so I just stared up at Shannet blankly.

Shannet looked at me and shook her head as if she understood without me having to say anything.

“There are many eyes watching, so don’t do this here and go over there.”

“…Ahem.”

Grandfather and Father, seemingly embarrassed, occasionally cleared their throats and quietly followed behind Shannet.

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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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