In This Life, I Will Be The Lord - Chapter 12

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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 12

Alfeo began to gain fame around the time I had just started working beside Grandfather.

There were countless artists sponsored by Lombardy, but Alfeo was special.

Unlike other Lombardy artists who were typically discovered at a young age and nurtured like flowers in a greenhouse, Alfeo was originally a carpenter.

Moreover, he was a third-generation carpenter who had worked for Lombardy, following in the footsteps of his grandfather and father.

That’s why Grandfather felt very sorry when he heard about Alfeo.

He wished he could have provided sponsorship to such a talent earlier and created a better working environment for him.

But Alfeo didn’t care about such things.

Rather, he was extremely grateful to the Lombardi Family for sponsoring him, even if it was late, and presented his first official work to the clan.

The title of that work was ‘World Tree’.

It was a massive work that depicted Lombardy’s emblem, the World Tree, through wood carving.

It was a masterpiece created by carving several pieces of wood separately and combining them into one.

And with that work, Alfeo instantly became an artist whose name was known throughout the entire empire.

“But how do I find him?”

Since it was midday and most people were working inside the manor, the Servants’ Residential Area was quiet, but it still felt overwhelming.

Should I go from house to house asking if they know Alfeo?

“What’s that?”

“It looks so interesting!”

Ah, come to think of it, I had forgotten about these two.

The twins were running around frantically like children in a toy section, marveling at things they were seeing for the first time.

“Giliou! Meylon! Stop running around like that!”

I shouted, but the two didn’t even pretend to listen.

“Wow! There’s water here!”

“I guess you draw it up with this gourd!”

“Let’s try drawing water too!”

Oh no, that looks a bit dangerous.

Giliou and Meylon, who seemed to be seeing a well for the first time and found it fascinating, were determined to pick up the gourd and draw water.

Although they were eleven years old and bigger than me, it was still a well made for adult height.

They looked precarious standing on their tiptoes and giggling.

“Hey! You two, get down from there!”

Eventually, I rolled up the hem of my dress and ran toward them.

But my legs were short, and the twins’ actions were unnecessarily quick.

“Whoa!”

Meylon, who was leaning over to retrieve the gourd inside the well, suddenly swayed and tilted downward.

At this rate, Meylon would fall into the well.

“No!”

I shouted loudly and reached out my hand, but it was useless.

But then.

“What are you guys doing!”

A large hand suddenly reached out and grabbed Meylon by the scruff of his neck, pulling him up.

Then with the other hand, he also lifted Giliou by his torso.

“It’s dangerous to play around the well!”

A low voice that had passed puberty shouted as if scolding them.

The twins, who were suddenly caught one under each arm of a stranger, struggled to break free but it wasn’t easy.

“Huff! Gasp! Hey! Why were you trying to crawl into the well!”

I gasped for breath that had risen to my chin from running in shock and shouted at the two.

Then I turned my gaze to the person who had saved the twins.

Because I needed to thank him.

The moment I saw the face of the teenage youth, who seemed as startled as I was by the dangerous situation, with his brow deeply furrowed.

“Huh? Oh!”

The face looked familiar.

Red hair with freckles covering his nose bridge and a height much taller than others.

Sixteen-year-old Alfeo Zan was standing before me.

“Ahem!”

Let me stay calm first, calm.

I cleared my throat to compose my excited heart and spoke to the young Alfeo.

“Um, could you please put those two down?”

Alfeo, who had been quietly looking down at me, soon put the twins down.

“Who are you guys? I’ve never seen your faces before.”

Yes, yes. Of course you haven’t seen us before.

I answered with a brightly smiling face.

“My name is Pirenthia, this is Giliou, and this is Meylon.”

I kindly introduced them one by one, pointing to each.

But instead of saying his name, Alfeo looked at me and the twins with furrowed eyes.

The names seemed to sound familiar to him.

Then, seeing our fine clothes, his eyes trembled slightly.

“C-could it be…?”

He seemed to have realized that the three of us were direct descendants of Lombardy.

I can’t create distance from the start.

I deliberately smiled even more brightly and said.

“Sorry for causing a commotion…”

“I-I’m sorry, Miss! I’m sorry, Young Masters! I-I didn’t recognize you!”

“No, I wasn’t trying to receive an apology…”

I tried to smooth things over belatedly, but Alfeo took off his hat and kept repeating apologies.

Our family doesn’t seem to treat the servants this harshly.

Seeing how his face turned red up to his neck, it seemed to be Alfeo’s personality.

Come to think of it, even Alfeo Zan, who was well over thirty, was shy and pure in a way that didn’t match his age.

“No. These two are the ones who did wrong, right?”

“But…”

“Anyway, what’s your name?”

“My name is Alfeo.”

As expected, it was him.

“Um, Alfeo. Sorry, but could you draw a bucket of water from the well?”

At my request, Alfeo looked a bit flustered but silently drew the water.

“You two play with that water. Don’t do anything dangerous.”

Play with a gourd of water.

It might sound strange.

But the eleven-year-old twins obediently squatted in front of the wooden bucket as I said and played by splashing the water.

Now, with the distractions gone, shall I bring up the main topic?

“My father’s name is Gallahan. You know him, right?”

“Ah, yes.”

“So, I have a favor to ask.”

It was a very strange logical connection, but fortunately Alfeo didn’t seem to notice.

“I heard from someone that Alfeo is good at carving?”

“Th-that’s… I just carve wooden toys for children and sell them. I’m not really good at it…”

“Wow, you’re already making money from carving! You’re a professional!”

Praise makes even whales dance.

As I made a fuss and lavished praise on him, I could see that Alfeo’s tense face had relaxed considerably.

“If you have a picture, could you also carve a person’s face? I have the wood to use.”

When I gestured with my hands to show this size, Alfeo hesitated a little.

“Human faces are a bit difficult…”

Perhaps carving at that level was still too much for him.

I became a little anxious.

“I have carved my family’s faces before though.”

Ah, thank goodness.

“But…”

Why again!

I couldn’t hold back and asked.

“Then will it take a long time?”

That would be a big problem, it can’t be that.

Cleribane had only given me about a week.

“But it happens to be a holiday starting tomorrow. About four days should be enough…”

No, this kid is really jerking me around?

I brightened up and grasped Alfeo’s hand with both of mine. Then I pressed the portrait of grandmother that Father had drawn into his hands.

“I’ll definitely pay you for your work!”

A work from Alfeo Zan’s childhood – though it would be hard to convert to money, I was planning to give him a portion of the sales proceeds.

“P-payment! It’s fine!”

“No! It’s a skill Alfeo worked hard to acquire, right? You should definitely receive compensation!”

When I spoke firmly, Alfeo thought for a moment then nodded.

“I’m counting on you. This is going to be a gift!”

“…I’ll do my best.”

Alfeo said with a determined expression.

I felt relieved by his dependable appearance.

Now I didn’t need to worry about the class assignment.

Since I had entrusted it to Alfeo Zan’s hands.

“Ah, but I forgot one thing.”

“What is it?”

“The log to use. Alfeo has to take it. It’s too heavy for me.”

“Ah…”

Sorry, but delivery is self-service.

* * *

After entrusting the carving to Alfeo, I spent about two days with nothing to do.

Since there really was nothing left but waiting, I passed time by watching Father make books from the side or going out to play in the garden when the weather was nice.

This morning the twins came looking for me to play, but I refused and sent them away.

The two were dejected at my sharp rejection.

But I have an ominous feeling they’ll come looking for me again tomorrow.

“Tia! Dad finally finished the book!”

Even though he had already written several books like this, Father still seemed happy as he shouted while throwing up his hands.

“Wow!”

So I also raised my short arms as high as I could and cheered along, fulfilling my duty as his child.

“Oh my, our cute Tia.”

Father patted my head with a pleased smile.

“Please show me the book Father wrote too!”

I was curious about the book completed by drawing and transcribing page by page, even saving sleeping time to focus on it.

“You really do take after me in loving books. Yes, let’s look at it together, turning the pages one by one from the beginning.”

Father sat me on his lap and placed the book he had just finished in my hands.

It was unique, being thinner and larger than other general books.

I carefully opened the cover, worried the paper might get damaged.

But then.

“Huh?”

When I turned to the first page, I saw my name written in Father’s handwriting in the margin.

[Waiting for the day to tailor a debutante ball dress for my always beloved daughter, Tia.]

It was a sentence written with each letter pressed down firmly.

“Actually, this book was written to show our Tia when she becomes old enough to be interested in dresses.”

Father said while kissing the top of my head.

“It’s not deep content, but you should be able to learn what kinds of dresses have been popular throughout the generations in the Lambru Empire. Fashion tends to come and go in cycles, you know.”

I couldn’t say anything.

With each page I turned, there was an emotion that welled up and overwhelmed me more.

As Father said, this book was made solely for me.

Around the skillfully drawn pictures of different dress styles that filled each page, small letters were written.

[If Tia, who is currently smaller than her peers, grows tall in the future, this would suit her well.]

[This outfit would highlight Tia’s eye color if made with Serseowoosan green velvet.]

“Usually mothers take care of debutante ball dresses, but this dad will take care of our Tia more thoroughly! Don’t worry, understand?”

The original me never attended a debutante ball.

Being half-commoner and practically non-existent in the clan, there were no parties that would invite me, and I myself was busier improving the library I was given rather than making a social debut.

I closed the book after flipping to the end and hugged it to my chest.

Probably in my previous life too, Father had written this book for me.

For the day when he would choose my dress with his own hands.

“Do you like the book?”

“Yes, very much.”

Father pulled me close as I held the book and hugged me tightly.

“I both want the day when our Tia grows up to come quickly, and want it to come slowly.”

“Dad.”

“Yes?”

“You must choose my dress later, okay?”

“Of course! Let’s spread out this book and carefully choose together, Tia.”

I hope this time Father can see my debutante ball.

I hope he can hold my hand and go to the party together.

I hugged Father back, filling that embrace with all those feelings.

Clatter, clatter.

The sound of approaching hoofbeats could be heard from far away through the open window.

I lifted my head from Father’s embrace and quickly ran to the window.

A carriage bearing the Durak Guild’s flag was entering the manor.

Unlike the simple setup from last time, I could see a large cargo wagon following behind the carriage that would be carrying the guild master.

Finally, it’s here!

I quickly placed the book properly on the bookshelf and pulled Father’s hand while saying.

“Dad! Let’s go for a walk in the garden! Hurry!”

“Why the sudden rush? Did you want to go that badly?”

“Yes! So hurry up!”

Father was reluctantly dragged along by my pulling but kept chuckling at what made me so happy.

But at this slow pace we might miss the timing, so I let go of Father’s hand and shouted.

“I’m going to run! If you don’t chase after me quickly, you might lose me!”

“T-Tia! You’ll fall if you do that!”

Confirming that my startled Father had begun running after me, I smiled with satisfaction.

Now it’s time to provide Father with a solid foundation!

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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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