In This Life, I Will Be The Lord - Chapter 126

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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 126

Peres and I walked all the way to the opposite side of the banquet hall.

After confirming that there was no one close enough to overhear our conversation, I lightly poked Peres in the ribs and said.

“Well done, Peres.”

At my words, Peres quietly stretched his lips into a smile.

“You looked like you were in trouble, Tia.”

“Your perception has gotten sharper too. I heard Creny is also entering the Academy next year. I hope he learns as well as you have.”

“Creny? Ah, that little…”

“He’s not little anymore. He’s even taller than me now. He was all excited today about meeting you. I guess he has a lot of questions about the Academy.”

As we were talking like that, Peres stared intently at me.

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

“…It seems like Tia hasn’t changed at all.”

“Is that a compliment or an insult right now?”

Instead of answering, Peres just smiled slightly with his eyes.

“Anyway, thanks to Peres, I felt really refreshed for the first time in a while. Hmph, serves her right.”

“What were you talking about with the Empress? You looked upset.”

“Oh, that. She suddenly started saying strange things about finding me a marriage partner. And in front of everyone too. So I was a bit annoyed.”

Though I feel much better now that I’ve paid her back in full.

“…What did she say?”

Peres asked me back.

But it didn’t seem like he was asking because he genuinely didn’t hear properly.

He was looking toward where the Empress was with a coldly hardened face.

I lowered my voice completely and said.

“It’s the Empress’s method. For maintaining influence in aristocratic circles. She creates connections with both families by matching suitable people together.”

She’s not even a professional matchmaker.

But I have to admit it’s definitely an effective method.

“But don’t worry too much. A prince’s marriage requires His Majesty the Emperor’s permission. She won’t try to reach out to you.”

Though I’ll have to be careful not to run into her for a while.

Empress Lavinia wasn’t someone who would give up easily.

If I’m unlucky enough to encounter her alone at another banquet, there’s no telling what she might say.

“I should avoid banquets for a while… Peres?”

Peres seemed a bit strange.

He was much more expressionless than usual, and somehow felt colder.

I gently patted Peres’s shoulder to comfort him.

“Don’t worry too much. Even the Crown Prince doesn’t have his marriage partner decided yet. She won’t suddenly try to pair you with just any woman.”

“Tia.”

Peres called my name and pulled down my hand that was on his shoulder.

But Peres’s calloused hand gripping mine was filled with tension.

“What’s wrong, Peres?”

“If the Empress says something like that again, tell me then.”

Ah, I was wrong in my thinking.

Peres wasn’t worried about himself, but about me.

I suppressed the urge to laugh and asked back.

“If I tell you? How could you help me?”

“…Somehow.”

Peres was sincere.

I could tell from his deeply sunken eyes.

If I asked him for help, Peres would sincerely do his absolute best to help me.

Feeling that, I unconsciously felt relief along with a slightly emotional feeling.

“When did you grow up so much…”

I momentarily lifted the hand that Peres was holding, about to habitually pat Peres’s head, then pulled it back.

It was a known fact that I had been Peres’s tutor when he was young, and that Peres had greatly contributed to treating Father’s illness.

However, no matter how close we were, patting a prince’s head could cause misunderstandings in many ways.

But then.

Peres caught my hand as I was pulling it away.

And his red eyes met my gaze.

His now-adult beautiful face, devoid of any smile, came into full view.

Peres’s body temperature holding my hand felt unusually hot.

Thump.

My peaceful heart skipped a beat.

What is this?

Just then, a voice filled with anger called out to me.

“Tia.”

“Grandfather!”

Grandfather approached, looking furious as if flames were blazing in his eyes.

“I just heard the story. I heard the Empress said something unnecessary to you.”

He seemed to have rushed over after hearing news from someone while having a conversation elsewhere.

Judging by the strand of Grandfather’s neatly combed hair that had fallen forward.

“Don’t worry. I didn’t answer and deflected it well.”

“Yes, that’s what my granddaughter should do…”

Grandfather’s gaze fell on my hand that Peres was holding.

“Second Prince.”

Grandfather called Peres in a low voice.

“What’s with that hand?”

Before Grandfather could misunderstand, I quickly answered.

“I was comforting him a bit, Grandfather.”

“…Comforting?”

One corner of Grandfather’s mouth twisted upward crookedly.

“I see. Now that you’ve finished comforting him, how about letting go of that hand?”

Peres looked at me once, then let go of my hand.

His brow was slightly furrowed.

Like that, Grandfather and Peres glared at each other without saying a word.

This was strange.

While Grandfather was someone who originally didn’t like many people, I couldn’t understand why Peres was being so sharp.

Could there have been some conflict between the two without my knowledge?

Peres shouldn’t have bad thoughts about Lombardy.

After that brief but intense staring contest, Grandfather spoke in a gruff voice.

“I have something to discuss with my granddaughter, so Your Highness should return to the banquet hall now.”

It was a clear order to leave.

Of course, this was the Lombardy Estate, so Peres was definitely a guest.

But Grandfather was probably the only person who could speak to an imperial prince like that.

I pointed in the direction where the twins and Creny had disappeared earlier and said to Peres.

“If you go that way, the twins and Creny should be there, so go ahead and talk with them.”

“…Alright.”

Peres gave Grandfather a final bow and walked in the direction I had indicated.

“Ahem.”

Grandfather watched Peres’s retreating figure with displeasure until the end, then led me to a quiet nearby terrace.

It was a place where we could have a comfortable conversation, with thick, long curtains hung up.

Shortly after, an estate servant brought a tray with two wine glasses and a wine bottle.

Grandfather picked up a glass and handed one to me as he spoke.

“Now that you’re an adult, Tia, you can have a drink with this old man.”

Grandfather smiled particularly deeply, as if feeling deeply moved.

I gratefully accepted the glass and smelled its fragrance.

But the deep aroma seemed unusual, so I unconsciously checked the wine bottle.

“Wow, vintage Mars? This is a wine with deep flavor and a long-lasting finish.”

Just how much does this cost?

“To open such a fine bottle for my birthday, thank you…”

Looking at the bottle was a habit I’d developed from enjoying alcohol in my previous life.

Grandfather, who had been watching me, said.

“…You know quite a lot about alcohol, our Tia.”

“…”

Ah, damn.

I had just become an adult.

“…I read about it in a book, Grandfather.”

At my answer, Grandfather’s slightly narrowed eyes looked at me suspiciously.

“Well, if you say so, then it must be so.”

“Haha…”

Grandfather said this while gently clinking his glass against mine.

The clear chiming sound rang through the quiet night air of the terrace.

I took a sip of wine while sneaking glances at Grandfather.

As expected, expensive wine.

Even though it was on the strong side, it was delicious enough to make me want to gulp it down.

As I was savoring the swirling wine, Grandfather asked me.

“I haven’t given you a birthday present yet. Is there something you want?”

The light flowing from the banquet hall was creating deep shadows on Grandfather’s face.

“If there’s something you want, tell me anything.”

These weren’t just empty words.

Grandfather was the head of the Lombardi family.

He truly had the ability to obtain anything I wanted.

That’s why Grandfather’s face was filled with anticipation that even the deep shadows couldn’t hide.

What should I say?

A mischievous thought crossed my mind momentarily.

Should I ask for a chest of gold bars?

Or should I ask him to give me a small piece of livable land from Lombardy’s territories?

Whatever I said, Grandfather would probably grant it.

But what I wanted wasn’t such small things.

I already had enough money, and as for land to settle on, there was already Father’s Chesayu estate.

What I wanted was just one thing.

Lombardy alone.

Besides, if I asked for small and ordinary things as a birthday present, Grandfather would probably be disappointed.

Grandfather’s eyes, full of interest as he watched me, were saying exactly that.

Then I should meet those expectations.

Since I’m a good granddaughter.

I took another sip of wine and asked Grandfather.

“I’m an adult as of today, aren’t I, Grandfather?”

“That’s right. You’ve turned eighteen.”

Grandfather’s face was relaxed as he nodded.

Until I said my next words.

“Then my rights should be activated now too.”

“…Rights?”

“Yes, the right as a direct descendant of the family head to go beyond the authority of managers and get involved in Lombardy’s business.”

Young Shannet and Biejie both started the same way.

Activating their rights as direct descendants to step into fields they were interested in and confident about.

Then achieving good results to prove their abilities.

That was how the Lombardis revealed themselves to the world.

“…”

Grandfather’s eyes trembled briefly as he looked at me.

“I don’t need anything else.”

I want Lombardy.

This most magnificent and beautiful family in history.

So.

I smiled calmly at Grandfather and said.

“Just once. Please support me so I can use my rights, Grandfather.”

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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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