In This Life, I Will Be The Lord - Chapter 125

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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 125

“None other than Pirenthia, the only daughter of Lord Gallahan Lombardi, is celebrating her birthday. How could I possibly miss such a special day as today?”

The Empress had been busy for the past few years.

She was frantically working to win over nobles while Peres was away at the Academy.

Using her original power in high society and the Angenas family’s Durak Guild as her weapons, she aggressively made nobles support Astana.

Families that owed favors to the Empress and Angenas in various ways had no choice but to cautiously gauge the situation and align themselves with that side.

Moreover, perhaps thinking that Father had completely distanced himself from being a candidate for Lombardi clan head by focusing on the Chesayu region, she was making great efforts to maintain an outwardly friendly relationship with me.

“Besides, she’s also the great-niece of my dear cousin Ceral.”

Empress Lavinia said this while pointing to Ceral, who stood on her left.

Behind him, I could see Larane peeking out her head.

I couldn’t make a sound, so I quietly nodded back to Larane, who was enthusiastically greeting me with her eyes, then looked at Ceral.

“Happy birthday, Pirenthia.”

As expected of someone from the same Angenas family.

Even though his face was smiling, his eyes didn’t move an inch, just like the Empress.

That wasn’t the only similarity Ceral shared with the Empress.

Just as Lavinia Angenas didn’t hide her ambitions for her family even after becoming the Empire’s Empress, Ceral was gradually showing such tendencies too.

“Biejie couldn’t come because he was busy with work, but he asked me several times to make sure I wished Pirenthia a happy birthday.”

After Shannet became the acting clan head, Biejie left for a vacation to Angenas.

When Biejie returned after a year, he had changed somewhat.

No, both Ceral and Biejie had changed.

As if there had been a change in the subtle power dynamic between the married couple, Biejie began earnestly listening to Ceral.

From small things like no longer causing trouble, to big things like receiving business advice from Ceral.

Thanks to this, Lombardi’s real estate business, which Biejie was responsible for, became entangled with Angenas in various ways.

Since two powerful families were creating synergy effects together, no opposing opinions arose from within Lombardi.

“I sent the gift to your room, so open it later. It’s a top-quality pearl jewelry set that I specially selected, so I hope Pirenthia likes it.”

Ceral spoke in a slightly loud voice as if he wanted everyone around to hear.

And the Empress picked up that baton.

“I’d like to lend you my villa in Angenas for a month as a birthday gift. How about it, Pirenthia?”

“A villa, you say…”

“Pifport Castle, where hot springs flow.”

The hot spring tourism business was exactly what Angenas, which had poor farming and no underground resources, was currently promoting.

It was still only spreading by word of mouth, but in a few years, it would be perfectly established as a resort for nobles.

Then Angenas would start a passenger business using luxury carriages to regularly transport nobles to the west, making quite a lot of money in the process.

That was a story for a few years from now, though.

“I’ve been wanting to go there so much! Thank you, Your Majesty the Empress.”

I would never actually go, but since many eyes were watching, I had to accept it for now.

When I grabbed my skirt hem and gave my thanks, the Empress’s blue eyes quickly scanned the surroundings.

She was checking if many people were listening to our conversation.

Naturally, today was my birthday banquet, and the Empress had brought all her close associates, so people were paying attention to us.

Ah, this feels a bit ominous.

A bad premonition I couldn’t identify flashed through my mind.

Too many people’s gazes had gathered.

And there was no way Lavinia would just let this opportunity pass.

I started to speak, trying to leave.

“Then please enjoy the banquet, and I’ll be going now…”

“Now that Pirenthia has come of age, it’s time to find her a suitable match.”

What kind of nonsense is this now?

I stared blankly at Empress Lavinia, who was spouting nonsense with a smiling face.

I was so dumbfounded that I almost forgot to manage my expression.

“I’m not thinking about that yet…”

“Since Lord Gallahan has no interest in such matters, it would be good for Pirenthia if Your Majesty the Empress stepped forward.”

Oh my.

As if they had coordinated beforehand, Ceral quickly stepped forward to agree.

“Shall we? What do you think, Pirenthia?”

Empress Lavinia looked at me and asked.

But she wasn’t really asking for my opinion.

My guardian Father wasn’t present at this gathering, and even though I had just come of age, I still had several years before reaching marriageable age.

Even Larane, who was four years older than me, didn’t have her marriage arranged yet.

Nevertheless, Empress Lavinia had deliberately brought up this topic in front of many people.

So that I couldn’t refuse.

Moreover, since the other party was the Empress, even if Father or Grandfather learned about this later, it wouldn’t be easy to reverse.

The Empress’s eyes gleamed as she smiled at me.

Since Grandfather, who could stand up to the Empress, wasn’t nearby, she probably thought I would nod along, swept up by the atmosphere.

“Will you entrust me with finding Pirenthia’s marriage partner?”

But she chose the wrong opponent.

Using the surrounding situation to pressure me – that point was worth appreciating, but.

I quickly looked around.

Fortunately, not far away, I spotted the person I was looking for.

Grandfather wasn’t the only person in this banquet hall that the Empress would find troublesome to deal with.

I cleared my throat with a small “ahem” and then called out in a slightly loud voice.

“Hello, Second Prince!”

I waved slightly with a bright smile toward Peres, who quickly turned around in response to my voice.

Making me feel very uncomfortable, are you?

I’ll create an even more uncomfortable situation for you, Empress Lavinia.

As Peres began walking straight toward me, a spectacular scene unfolded.

The nobles standing in between parted like the sea, making way for Peres as they stepped back.

No one had ordered them or stepped forward to tell them to move aside.

Those who had been paying attention since Peres appeared at the banquet hall moved on their own.

And at the end of that path created in the middle of the banquet hall, I stood.

Peres walked with large strides, looking only at me at the end of the path, without saying a word.

As if he couldn’t feel the gazes of others.

Thud.

With the dull sound of shoe heels, Peres stood before me.

And he spoke in a low voice.

“It’s been a while, Lady Pirenthia Lombardi.”

“…Thank you for attending my birthday banquet.”

Honestly, I was a little surprised.

For a moment, I expected Peres to say something like “Tia” or “You were here?” right away.

Since he had always been the type to not care about the people around him.

But surprisingly, Peres called me “Lady Pirenthia Lombardi.”

It was the first time.

Moreover, he even added natural acting as if we were meeting for the first time in six years.

How gratifying.

Is this the feeling of a teacher watching a well-raised student?

Without even glancing toward Empress Lavinia, I smiled brightly and said to Peres.

“I heard you graduated from the Academy with excellent grades this time. Graduating as valedictorian in both civil and military studies, and early graduation in just five years! That’s truly amazing!”

I deliberately made an even bigger fuss as I spoke.

At my words, the surrounding nobles also nodded with smiling faces.

The only ones whose expressions were souring were the Empress and her group.

“I was simply fortunate that my efforts were rewarded with good results.”

Peres gave a humble and polite response, further increasing his favorability among the nobles.

Then Peres looked at Empress Lavinia.

“I greet Your Majesty the Empress.”

It was a dry, perfunctory greeting without any additional flourishes.

It was quite an insincere greeting to give to an empress he was meeting after several years.

Still, the deep-minded Empress spoke to Peres with a smiling face.

“Congratulations on your graduation, Prince.”

But that was only momentary.

The Empress soon lowered the corners of her eyes, creating the face of someone fragile and hurt.

It was a real battle between Peres and the Empress.

How interesting.

“But I’m disappointed. To think I’m seeing the face of the prince who returned after 6 years for the first time at a banquet.”

Ah, if it were me, I wouldn’t have brought up that topic!

Because.

“I apologize. I arrived at the Imperial Palace late yesterday afternoon, which led to this situation. I barely managed to greet His Majesty in the middle of the council meeting, so please don’t be too disappointed.”

This way, Peres could bring up the topic of the council meeting.

And when that happens.

“Ah! I heard some people mention it today. You’ll be attending the next council meeting alongside His Majesty, won’t you, Second Prince?”

I could chime in like this.

“The council meeting…?”

“Isn’t that incredible?”

Since it had just happened yesterday evening, there were more nobles who hadn’t heard the news yet.

Surprised, they glanced at the Empress and whispered among themselves.

From the people the Empress had deliberately gathered to entangle me from the beginning, to those who had gathered around when Peres appeared.

Including those who had been watching the situation from farther away, dozens of nobles now learned that Peres would be attending council meetings like Astana.

“That’s correct.”

When Peres nodded and plainly acknowledged it, the people’s murmuring grew even louder.

Oh my, how delicious.

I was barely holding back the laughter that was about to escape.

This is what happens when you carelessly mess with me, Empress Lavinia.

After giving the nobles enough time to be shocked and the Empress enough time to tremble her eyelids in anger, I stood beside Peres and spoke with a bright smile.

“Then I’ll go introduce you to people around here, Second Prince, Your Majesty the Empress. Since you’ve returned to the Imperial Capital after almost 6 years, there must be so many people you need to meet.”

It was my perfectly flawless, considerate suggestion.

So there was only one thing the Empress could say.

“…Do that, Lady Lombardi.”

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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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