In This Life, I Will Be The Lord - Chapter 164

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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 164

“The day I sold the building? It was the day I disposed of the last remaining building to return to this hometown, so I roughly remember it. What are you curious about?”

Green Berow, who was sitting deeply buried in his armchair, stroked his beard and muttered in response to Lignite’s question.

“Something unusual… Yes, there was one thing. Some young child followed along to the trading location where we settled the final payment.”

“A young child… you say?”

“That’s right. It was a girl who looked to be about ten-something years old… She paid the final payment instead of the man who was buying the building with gold coins brought in a large sack. Now that I think about it again, it really was an unusual incident.”

Green Berow chuckled heartily.

Gulp, Lignite swallowed dry saliva and asked with a trembling voice.

“By any chance, do you remember anything about that girl from back then? Her appearance, or her name…”

“Hmm, well. Even if you ask someone like me about such things… Other than her small build and quite spirited way of speaking…”

Green Berow, who had been trailing off, slapped his knee and said.

“Ah, yes. She had sparkling green eyes and was wearing a red ribbon in her hair! Hehe, my memory isn’t dead yet!”

Peres, who had been recalling the conversation with Green Berow that he heard from Lignite, raised his gaze to look at Tia sitting across from him.

“What kind of cake do you want to eat? I’m craving chocolate, but if you want it, I’m willing to give it up, Peres.”

She was wearing a red dress, her favorite color, and leisurely talking about cake.

“Tia.”

“Yeah?”

“How did you know? That I would come to see you.”

At Peres’s question, Tia’s bustling movements stopped.

“That you would come to the manor early in the morning is just like the day you tried to leave for the Academy alone. I just thought you would do something like this. And.”

Tia answered with a bright smile.

“Because you had a reason to urgently come see me.”

“So how did you…”

“Then how did you find out? My secret, I mean.”

“…I’m sorry. I’ll apologize.”

At Peres’s apology, Tia shrugged and said in a light voice.

“No, there’s nothing to apologize for. You and I are in the same boat. No, rather, I might have been disappointed in you if you hadn’t figured it out.”

Tia smiled softly at the end of her words.

“Besides, if you apologize, I’ll have more things to feel guilty about too, Peres.”

Then she filled the teacup in front of Peres with tea.

“Now, ask away. I’ll answer honestly.”

Even at Tia’s words, Peres remained motionless for a while.

He just stared intently at her.

It was because Tia felt strangely unfamiliar today.

Nothing had changed, yet it was like looking at a different person.

Peres slowly parted his lips.

And asked in a low voice.

“Tia, are you the real owner of Pellet Trading Company?”

A smile spread across her face upon receiving Peres’s question.

And Tia answered.

“Yes, that’s right. I’m the actual owner of Pellet Trading Company.”

“From the beginning?”

“Yes, from the beginning.”

Pellet Trading Company was established 8 years ago.

At that time, Tia was only eleven years old.

At the same time, it felt like puzzle pieces that had been scattered were fitting together.

From the diamond mine to the Triva trees and the recent Eastern cruise business.

Goosebumps rose all over his body.

Peres instinctively buried his face in his hands.

He could feel his heart beating rapidly and fiercely, and the muscles throughout his body tensed up.

And.

‘It really was you.’

In the pitch-black darkness trapped within his hands, the corners of Peres’s mouth relaxed loosely.

* * *

If Beit hadn’t come running with his delivery bag at dawn to inform me that Lignite Ruman had gone to find the former owner of the Pellet Trading Company building, I would have been caught off guard by Peres without knowing anything.

I swallowed a sigh of relief along with my tea beneath my smiling face.

But it’s not over yet.

I can’t observe Peres’s reaction because he’s covering his face with his hands.

Does he feel betrayed?

Is he angry?

I knew Peres would notice someday, but what mattered most was how he thought about it.

If our relationship were to sour over something like this.

‘Befriend the future Crown Prince early to get help becoming the head of Lombardi and change the future of a family that was ruined by backing the wrong side in the succession struggle.’

One of my most important goals that I set right after my regression could face a major setback.

Though our relationship wouldn’t deteriorate to that extent.

Finally, Peres raised his head.

Though his face was expressionless, fortunately he didn’t seem angry.

Peres asked me.

“Do you know my secret too?”

Well.

I should tell him what I know about him to some extent to be fair.

I nodded and answered.

“Monak Guild.”

“…You knew.”

“Pressuring the Empress and Angenas with Triva trees was really a good move, Peres.”

I aggressively bought up Trivia lumber because I knew the future.

But Peres purely read the Empress’s movements and predicted the future.

He really is an amazing guy.

I can’t help but admire Peres’s smart mind every time.

“Then Pellet Trading Company, did you stockpile Triva trees knowing that a landslide would occur?”

I shrugged and said.

“Since I have many mines in that area. I listened to the experts’ opinions.”

Sorry, Peres.

I can’t say that I know the future because I regressed.

“Even with the same Triva trees, you dried up the Empress’s money source and gained economic benefits, Peres, while I just moved a bit more politically.”

Peres’s red eyes gazed at me.

Contrary to my worries, they were calm eyes.

I looked back at those eyes without avoiding them and said.

“But if you and I had worked together from the beginning, we could have achieved greater results.”

“Greater results…”

Peres muttered softly and then asked.

“What is your purpose, Tia?”

“Purpose?”

“There are parts that don’t make sense if your goal is simply to grow the trading company called Pellet Trading Company.”

“Ah.”

I nodded.

And after taking a short breath, I answered.

“I’m going to become the head of Lombardi, Peres.”

The sound of my voice speaking aloud sends a thrill through me.

“And to achieve that, I plan to continue helping you become Crown Prince so you can get your revenge.”

But Peres’s reaction was a bit strange.

He looked at me with a stiffly hardened face.

His red eyes were trembling slightly.

Ah, was it because of what I said just now?

It was something that could be misunderstood.

“Of course, I don’t mean I’ll use you for my own benefit. The reason I help you is because, Peres, you’re also my friend and…”

“Use me.”

“…What?”

When I asked back, Peres slowly stood up from his seat.

And he came right next to me.

“Use me, Tia.”

Peres said this while taking my right hand.

Peres’s slightly rough hand ran long along the sensitive skin on the inside of my arm.

Swoosh.

The sound of skin touching skin echoed in the quiet room.

“Pe, Peres.”

“If it’s you, I don’t mind being used.”

This time Peres’s thumb circularly rubbed the back of my hand where blue veins showed through.

“Ten times, a hundred times. However many times is fine.”

His red eyes looked at me as if to burn me while slowly pulling my hand toward him.

“No, please use me.”

“…Ugh!”

The breath that escaped between Peres’s lips was felt nakedly on the back of my hand.

And finally his hot lips touched the back of my hand.

His other hand had long since intertwined with my left hand, firmly interlocking our fingers.

Peres didn’t stop there.

He pressed his lips to each joint of my fingers.

As if claiming ownership.

And his eyes never left me during the entire process.

Peres, who had been performing like a sacred ritual, finally kissed the back of my hand once more at length and spoke in a low voice.

“So I can help you, Tia.”

* * *

Empress Lavinia smiled even more deeply to suppress the rage rising to the top of her head.

“The tea has a lovely fragrance, Your Majesty the Empress.”

“I’m glad it’s to your liking, Lord Sersheu.”

“However…”

Chanton Sersheu paused, but the Empress already knew what would come out of his mouth next.

“Is it about the Pellet Trading Company matter, Lord Sersheu?”

“You’ve already heard. That’s right. Is Angenas’s western tourism alright?”

“…There’s no particular problem. Thank you for your concern.”

“But this cruise travel does sound quite attractive. Moreover, since the eastern region has a mild and warm climate year-round, it would be perfect as a travel destination.”

“Lord Sersheu.”

Who is this guy mocking right now!

Lavinia, who was about to shout angrily, quickly closed her mouth at Chanton Sersheu’s following words.

“Will you be able to keep the promised payment date, Your Majesty the Empress?”

“That is…”

Angenas was in a situation where they owed Sersheu an enormous debt.

Her anger subsided and reason returned.

“It would be good if you could delay the payment date.”

Though her attitude as someone making a request was stiff as could be, Lavinia was very hurt in her pride.

If Sersheu didn’t delay the payment date, Angenas had no ability to repay that debt immediately, so this was unavoidable.

“As expected, there must be damage to the western tourism business.”

Chanton Sersheu nodded and said casually.

“If you wish, I’ll lend you more funds, Your Majesty the Empress.”

Lavinia doubted her ears.

But the following words from Lord Sersheu proved she hadn’t heard wrong.

“Our Sersheu has already invested money in the western business, so withdrawing now would mean great losses. Moreover, you’ll likely need more funds to compete with the eastern cruise business in the future… Isn’t that right?”

“That would be a great help, Lord Sersheu.”

Color returned to Lavinia’s face.

Though it bothered her that she’d be taking on even greater debt, Chanton Sersheu’s words were correct.

If they stopped here, all that would remain was debt.

They had to try something more.

To such Angenas, Lord Sersheu was now a ray of light.

Chanton Sersheu, who had been gazing at Empress Lavinia’s sparkling eyes, casually brought up the topic.

“But this time, collateral will be necessary.”

“Co, collateral?”

Until now, Angenas had borrowed money from Sersheu with just writing a single promissory note.

It was essentially like an unsecured loan from a bank.

“No matter how much I’m the family head, I need something to show the people of the Sersheu family. I trust Your Majesty the Empress will understand my position.”

“Of, of course. Collateral…”

Lavinia was thinking of borrowing even more money than last time.

So something of similar value was needed.

Then, Chanton Sersheu made a suggestion to the pondering Empress Lavinia.

“How about the land near Angenas territory that you transferred to Sersheu last time?”

“…Are you asking me to hand over land deeds?”

“It doesn’t need to be land that’s good for farming or highly valuable. I understand there’s quite a bit of such land among Angenas territories.”

Chanton Sersheu explained in a calm voice.

“It just needs to be something to show the family members, especially Mrs. Sersheu. It’s all just collateral for the unlikely event. And…”

Lord Sersheu shook his head and said.

“What would Sersheu, which has vast granary regions, do with Angenas land deeds?”

It was a reasonable point.

There was no collateral more certain than territory deeds, and as Chanton Sersheu said, Angenas land didn’t have great enough value for the Sersheu family to covet.

“I’m merely suggesting this out of a desire to give Your Majesty the Empress and Angenas one more chance. If it’s burdensome, I’m also fine with you repaying the existing debt as promised and settling the contract.”

Chanton Sersheu showed something like a smile and asked the Empress.

“What will you do, Your Majesty the Empress?”

* * *

It had already been 3 months since cruise tourism began.

There had been many changes during that time.

Especially in my treasury situation.

There was so much money that I was worried about where and how to invest and spend more.

There were two main channels through which money was coming in.

One was the money that Pellet Trading Company directly earned through the eastern cruise business.

It was the enormous sum that nobles paid for cruise trips and the profits from selling goods transported by ship along with tourists to the Eastern Region.

And the other source was the Chesayu Port usage fees I shared with Father.

Actually, I was surprised that the latter was a much larger amount than the former.

The Chesayu Estate was developing at such a rapid pace.

Strictly speaking, the Chesayu Estate belongs to Father, and I am Father’s only daughter and sole heir.

I might be earning more money than I thought.

I had been unavoidably busy for the past three months stabilizing the Eastern Region cruise business.

“Ugh, my whole body aches.”

Now that the cruise tourism was starting to run smoothly on its own, I had declared to Cleribane that I would live a leisurely life again starting today, and I was on my way home.

“I’m going to sleep in tomorrow. I won’t get out of bed until my back starts hurting.”

I was muttering to myself while climbing the stairs toward my room.

“Sob! Sniff…”

An extremely sorrowful yet chilling sound was coming from upstairs.

“A woman crying?”

I carefully stepped up the stairs.

And I could see someone crouched in front of my room, crying.

“Larane? What are you doing here? Why are you crying?”

“Ti, Tia… Sob!”

How long had she been crying?

Larane’s face was a mess from tears.

Seeing me, Larane began crying even more sadly and spoke with difficulty in a trembling voice.

“Sob, a, an engagement… has been arranged. I don’t know what to do, Tia…”

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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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