In This Life, I Will Be The Lord - Chapter 162

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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 162

“Father is running late.”

He’s not someone who would be late to such an important occasion like Grandfather’s birthday.

I hope nothing has happened.

“He’s probably taking shelter from the rain somewhere. Don’t worry too much, Tia.”

Larane patted my shoulder as she spoke.

“Rain?”

I looked up toward the window.

Before I knew it, quite a lot of rain was falling.

“Ever since Tia had that accident last time, Grandfather gave an order.”

“He said that Lombardi people should stop their carriages and take shelter when there’s heavy rain or snow.”

The twins pushed desserts and fruits in front of me as they spoke.

How do they know my preferences so well?

Everything here is exactly what I like.

“Yes, that must be it.”

I stabbed a piece of fruit with my fork and chewed while looking toward the head table.

People were bustling around Grandfather, but no one was actually having a conversation with him.

Despite this being a gathering to celebrate Grandfather’s birthday.

That sight of him like a lonely island floating on a noisy sea made my heart ache.

“Where are you going, Tia?”

As I stood up from my seat, Giliou, who had been adding honey and milk to my tea, asked with wide eyes.

“I have something to give to Grandfather. I’ll be right back.”

I picked up the handbag I had prepared in advance and approached Grandfather.

“Grandfather.”

But Grandfather seemed lost in deep thought and didn’t hear my voice.

I deliberately spoke a little louder.

“Grandfather, happy birthday!”

“Hmm? Ah, thank you, Tia.”

Only then did those warm brown eyes look at me.

I sat next to Grandfather and took his hand as I spoke.

“Please stay healthy and have exactly one hundred more birthday celebrations, Grandfather.”

“Oh ho ho, you little rascal.”

Grandfather didn’t seem to mind my playful words and smiled while continuously patting my head.

“I know I’m not supposed to give birthday presents, but this is a little different, so please accept it.”

I took out a red envelope from my handbag and handed it to Grandfather.

“What is this, Tia?”

“It’s an invitation to Pellet Trading Company’s banquet being held by the riverside in the Imperial Capital in a week, Grandfather.”

“Oh, a banquet by the riverside, you say?”

Grandfather opened the envelope with curious eyes and checked the invitation.

“The weather has been so nice lately. It seemed a bit wasteful to stay indoors in such a season, so I prepared something special.”

“Prepared? Are you saying you prepared this banquet, Tia?”

I already knew that the nearby vassals and Lombardi people were listening to our conversation.

Everyone was stopping their conversations one by one upon hearing that I had directly involved myself in Pellet Trading Company’s affairs.

Well, it was about time to gradually move away from the role of ‘Cleribane’s disciple.’

I nodded and answered.

“Yes, Grandfather. I even personally chose the invitation envelope. Look, it’s red.”

“Ho ho, I see.”

“Actually, it’s not a typical banquet but a place to introduce Pellet Trading Company’s new business. And since I contributed some ideas to that business too, I’d be really happy if you could come, Grandfather.”

“Oh, is that so? Well then, this old man should certainly go!”

“Wow, everyone’s eyes will go wide when Grandfather comes!”

Banquets naturally gain prestige depending on the guests who attend.

If the Lord of Lombardi attended personally, the weight and impact of the banquet would become much more significant.

But then I heard a sneering voice.

“At best, she probably just picked out flower decorations for the banquet.”

It was Biejie, his face flushed red from alcohol.

What is that drunkard saying?

Biejie glanced at me with a glare, then spoke loudly to Grandfather.

“Father! Don’t you know how much came in today from Angenas as construction payment! Today’s banquet should have been held for me, haha!”

I thought he had been a bit quiet lately since Ceral has been holding his leash.

But he can’t change his nature and is now drunkenly running his mouth wrong.

“Biejie, you seem to have had too much to drink.”

Even Grandfather, unable to watch anymore, spoke in a low voice with a displeased expression.

If it were up to me, I’d want to grab one of the napkins lying on the table, stuff it in his mouth, and have the servants drag him away.

But thinking of the vassals watching, I took a small deep breath inwardly to calm myself.

Fighting with Biejie in a place like this would only be spitting in my own face, so I must endure…

“Even though the Angenas family has been short on funds lately, they paid up promptly when I requested it! A man should have a strong punch like me!”

What nonsense about a strong punch.

Biejie’s words touched something inside me.

I spoke with a smiling face.

“Anyone listening would think Angenas gave us Lombardi money they didn’t have to give. Paying so late, and only half at that, yet acting so proud about it.”

“Shut up! How dare you be so impudent without knowing your place…”

Biejie glared at me with obvious displeasure, then noticed Grandfather’s hardened expression and cut his words short.

Then he spoke to me as if teaching me.

“You know one thing but not two. The western development isn’t over yet. If this tourism business goes well, it’s already been agreed that they’ll commission more construction to Lombardi. It’s actually beneficial for us to leave half the construction payment behind.”

What should I do about this?

There won’t be any next construction project.

Biejie clicked his tongue and continued babbling.

“It’s a good thing for family to help each other.”

I tilted my head at those words and replied.

“That’s strange. When did Angenas become a vassal family of our Lombardi? Calling them family.”

“Haha…”

A few vassals laughed quietly.

It was quite an amusing joke after all.

Whether looking at family size, influence and position, or even the extent of wealth.

For Lombardi and Angenas to truly become one family as Biejie said, the only way would be for them to come under us.

“Vassal family!”

But Biejie flew into a rage.

“Angenas is my wife’s family! They’re practically the same household as Lombardi!”

Then he spoke as if it were obvious.

“Well, I suppose. Since you’ll become part of another family when you marry out, it’s not surprising that you lack affection for Lombardi.”

Snap.

I heard the sound of reason’s thread breaking in my head.

“What… did you just say?”

I stared straight at Biejie.

“That I lack… affection for Lombardi?”

Me?

Me, Pirenthia Lombardi?

Compared to someone like you, Biejie?

I shot up from my seat.

‘Bang!’ The chair fell over with a loud crash that echoed through the banquet hall, and I could feel many people turning to look in our direction.

I approached Biejie step by step, who sat there with a startled expression.

I could tolerate that Biejie’s foolish actions would cause considerable losses to the Lombardi family.

I could ignore his idiotic rambling.

But.

What did he say about my affection for Lombardy?

I stood directly in front of Biejie.

Looking down at Biejie from above, he seemed a hundred times more foolish than usual.

I lifted one corner of my mouth slightly and opened my handbag.

Then I slammed the item I took out onto the table in front of Biejie with another loud bang.

“…An invitation?”

It was a red invitation I had brought to give to other attendees at Grandfather’s birthday banquet.

I continued looking down at Biejie as I spoke each word clearly and forcefully.

“Please, come. By all means, please do.”

Because I need to see your face with my own eyes at the moment Cleribane announces his new business.

I casually dropped one last comment to ensure Biejie would come.

“If you don’t come, you might have nothing to say at social gatherings for a while and have to sit there quietly. Don’t regret it later.”

At that moment, I could tell from the way his vacant gaze wavered.

Biejie would take this invitation and come to the banquet on his own feet.

* * *

A week later.

The Imperial Capital was bustling with talk of the banquet that Pellet Trading Company was hosting that evening.

However, Lignite Ruman was in a place somewhat removed from all that.

It was a region called Menli, a rural village located at the southernmost part of Lombardy territory.

Though it was somewhat disappointing since Cleribane Pellet’s banquets always became the talk of the town, it was an unavoidable choice to verify the newly obtained information as quickly as possible.

“Is this the place?”

The place Lignite arrived at on horseback was in front of the largest manor in Menli.

Even the largest manor in this quiet rural village was smaller than a townhouse in the Imperial Capital, but it was well-maintained and gave off a neat and cozy feeling.

“What should I do…”

Since the sun was already setting, it was a bit late to be knocking on a stranger’s door.

Lignite hesitated for a moment before dismounting from his horse.

He brushed off the dust from his clothes with his hands to make himself presentable, then walked toward the manor’s entrance.

“Look into when Pellet Trading Company was first established. Especially find out where the previous owner of the Pellet Trading Company building is now.”

It was an order Peres had given out of the blue recently.

Thinking it was another story about Cleribane Pellet, Lignite sighed softly and asked.

“Why the previous owner all of a sudden?”

“Check if Cleribane Pellet himself was the one who purchased that building. I mean the actual purchaser, not just the one listed on the documents.”

At that moment, Lignite felt like he had been struck hard on the back of his head.

Why hadn’t he thought of that before?

From the beginning, Pellet Trading Company had no other investors, with Cleribane Pellet being the sole owner.

So he had simply thought ‘what an impressive person’ and moved on.

But thinking about it now, it was a bit strange.

Before establishing Pellet Trading Company, Cleribane Pellet was just one of many employees working for the Lombardi family.

Of course, since he was in charge of managing the manor and educating the heirs, he would have received a substantial salary, but it wouldn’t have been enough to purchase an entire building in the commercial district.

However, there was no trace of Cleribane Pellet taking out loans from any bank in the Empire.

Lignite, who had investigated this directly, could guarantee that.

Then whose money was it that could readily buy an entire building?

Did the building where Pellet Trading Company was established really belong to Cleribane Pellet?

Amid these various questions, Lignite knocked on the manor’s door.

“Excuse me. Is anyone there?”

After a moment, a middle-aged man dressed in butler’s attire came out to greet Lignite.

“Good evening, I’ve come looking for Mr. Green Berow who used to live in Lombardy City. May I meet with him?”

The butler politely but carefully looked over Lignite’s appearance.

He was checking whether this was a suspicious person.

Though he hadn’t revealed his name, his polite manner of speaking and expensive-looking clothes proved that the visitor was a nobleman.

“The master is resting right now. Please come into the drawing room for now.”

“Thank you.”

Following the guidance inside, Lignite had a strong premonition that he would find proper answers this time.

At the same time, he recalled the image of Peres giving the order.

Those eyes that had held such strange certainty.

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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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