In This Life, I Will Be The Lord - Chapter 174

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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 174

“I had no idea you two had that kind of relationship.”

Since I had visited so early in the morning, Emperor Yobanes’ face was still full of drowsiness.

Nevertheless, his eyes looking at me and Peres held surprise and a hint of suspicion.

I suddenly had a premonition that if I left things as they were, I’d have to recite some non-existent love story.

This is bothersome, so I should show it through actions.

I casually took Peres’ hand that was resting on his knee.

Then I saw Peres’ hand flinch slightly in mine and his body visibly stiffen.

“Hehe.”

I pretended to smile while slightly turning my head to glare at Peres.

Hey, do it properly, will you?

Perhaps coming to his senses after receiving my glare, Peres’ hand that had been lying still under mine moved and instead grasped my hand.

Firmly, as if he had never hesitated.

The sensation of my hand being enveloped by his large, rough hand was quite warm and pleasant.

And I could feel Yobanes’ gaze focusing on our clasped hands.

I deliberately exchanged a loving glance with Peres as if to show off and said,

“I’m a bit shy, Your Majesty.”

I could see the area under Peres’ eyes twitch slightly at my words.

Why? What?

“So I asked His Highness the Prince to keep it secret from everyone for the time being.”

“Was there a particular reason for that?”

Despite my earlier explanation about being “shy,” Yobanes persistently asked.

He’s probably trying to probe my true intentions.

But I answered with a bright smile.

“I wasn’t mentally prepared yet.”

“Mental preparation?”

“Mental preparation to tell my family, I suppose. Your Majesty knows well about the Lombardy people’s exceptional family love, don’t you?”

“That’s true.”

Look at that.

Even that cunning emperor immediately understood the famous Lombardy blood love.

Honestly, if it weren’t for Grandfather who values bloodlines and Lombardy’s unique family tradition, Biejie would have been kicked out a hundred times over.

“Your Majesty.”

Peres, who had been quietly listening to my conversation with the emperor, spoke up.

“Though the Lombardi young lady and I have known each other for a long time, our relationship has only recently developed. So please understand that it took time for us to confirm each other’s feelings before coming here.”

One of Yobanes’ eyebrows rose as he looked at Peres.

“It was all due to my lack of courage.”

Saying this, Peres gripped my hand even tighter.

He even wore a subtle smile on his lips.

That’s right! Well done, Peres!

It was worth raising you!

“Ho. This is the first time I’ve seen the Second Prince like this.”

Yobanes said as if finding such a Peres fascinating.

Well, they’re father and son in name only, so this side of Peres would be surprising.

I quickly interjected naturally,

“You said that the union of Lombardy and the Imperial family would greatly help the Empire’s peace, Your Majesty.”

And I smiled brightly at Yobanes.

“You’re truly amazing, Your Majesty.”

Amazing how? I don’t know either.

But I know that Yobanes is very weak to compliments.

“Ahem.”

Sure enough.

The corners of Yobanes’ mouth twitched irrepressibly.

I didn’t miss that moment and said,

“Now that we’re engaged, there won’t be any unnecessary conflicts between Lombardy and the Imperial family, right? I’m so happy to be able to contribute to the Empire’s peace in this way.”

“If you’re talking about the current Lombardi family head’s confinement order…”

Yobanes tried to speak while hardening his previously relaxed expression.

But I intercepted first.

“No. I was speaking about the citizens and nobles of the Imperial Capital who are suffering due to Lombardy’s absence.”

Yobanes closed his mouth.

He seemed lost in thought.

Do I have to spoon-feed him even this?

Now, Emperor uncle.

Open your ears and listen well.

“Your Majesty’s personal letter to Grandfather stated exactly that. ‘Agree to the engagement between the Imperial family and Lombardy.'”

I can see Yobanes’ pupils shake slightly.

Now he seems to see a way out.

The one who would have been most anxious because of Grandfather’s extreme move would have been Yobanes.

Lombardy is free from public opinion, but the emperor has to watch the people’s mood.

I’m kindly showing such an emperor an escape route.

A way to exit the battlefield while obtaining what he wants to some degree and preserving his most important pride.

“Of course, the reason I’m here is also because Grandfather acknowledged the relationship between His Highness the Prince and me.”

“…The Lombardi family head did?”

“Yes, after all, I am a Lombardi. I needed Grandfather’s permission as the family head first.”

“Then, does that mean the Lombardi family head agreed to the marriage proposal between the Imperial family and Lombardy?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

I can see relief and joy gradually spreading across Yobanes’ face.

“Uhahahaha!”

Suddenly, laughter so loud it made me frown burst from the emperor.

“Right! You two who fell in love like this are better than Biejie’s daughter who refuses and Astana! Indeed!”

Yobanes looked relieved like someone whose decade-old indigestion had been cured.

Then he patted Peres’ shoulder and said,

“You’ve done something truly excellent, Second Prince! Truly excellent!”

I could see intense irritation flash across Peres’ face as his body swayed.

Just bear with it a little, Peres.

I squeezed his hand tightly with that meaning.

But I also don’t find Yobanes’ face full of laughter pleasant to look at.

With this, I’ve lifted Grandfather’s confinement order.

I’ve also succeeded in defeating the Empress.

But Yobanes, it’s not over for you yet, you know?

* * *

“Grandfather, I’m going to get engaged.”

After holding a meeting with his retainers about the eldest son succession law, these words fell like a bolt from the blue on Rulak who was resting.

“What… what are you saying now, Tia?”

Rulak’s voice even trembled.

“Wait a moment. Come in, Peres.”

Tia spoke toward the study door.

And the one who revealed himself was the Second Prince, Peres.

“Y-you…!”

Rulak pointed his finger, forgetting that his opponent was a prince.

No, right now it wouldn’t have mattered if he were an emperor instead of a prince.

Thud!

In the end, Rulak kicked back his chair and stood up.

Peres stood beside Tia with a perfectly calm face, as if he had expected such a reaction from Rulak.

Seeing them standing side by side made Rulak’s anger flare up again, but he took a deep breath and barely managed to calm himself down.

“Explain what you mean, Tia.”

“The primogeniture law. You need to block it, don’t you?”

“What does that have to do with your engagement…”

The wrinkles between Rulak’s brows deepened even more.

“Tia, don’t tell me you…”

“Could you show me His Majesty’s letter for a moment? The one with the imperial prohibition order.”

Rulak reluctantly pulled out the Emperor’s letter that had been carelessly thrown into a drawer and showed it to Tia.

“Hmm, as I thought…”

Tia nodded her head.

“According to this imperial prohibition order, Grandfather only needs to agree to a marriage between Lombardy and the Imperial Court. It doesn’t have to be specifically Larane and the Crown Prince.”

“So now you and that boy are saying you’ll take their place in that engagement?”

Rulak gestured roughly toward Peres with his chin as he spoke.

He had never liked how the boy circled around his granddaughter like a wolf cub since childhood.

But he had kept him alive because he was useful for keeping the Empress in check.

How dare he target my granddaughter!

Sparks flew from Rulak’s eyes as he glared at Peres standing silently.

“Yes, Grandfather.”

But whether she knew of Rulak’s anguished heart or not.

His lovely granddaughter answered far too calmly.

“Tia…”

“I’ve already finished discussing it with Peres. We’ve decided to have a contract engagement.”

“To bind you to some imperial brat, that’s something that can never happen before dirt enters my eyes…”

Rulak, who had been muttering while holding his head, stopped speaking.

Then he lifted his head sharply and asked.

“Contract… engagement?”

“Yes, Grandfather.”

Tia smiled brightly.

“Peres would also be in trouble if this bill passes.”

“…Really?”

Rulak looked at Peres and asked as if seeking confirmation.

“Tia is correct.”

Though it was the answer he had been waiting for, Rulak’s heart didn’t feel at ease.

He was a boy whose true intentions were hard to read.

But what kind of dark feelings he harbored toward his granddaughter beneath that expressionless face was obvious without even looking.

Just looking at those bright red eyes that always blindly followed Tia around made it clear.

“A contract engagement. Then it wouldn’t be that brat’s idea. You must have thought of it, Tia.”

“…Yes, that’s right. It was my idea. Peres and I will block this primogeniture law through our engagement, and after a certain period, we’ll proceed with annulment.”

If Tia said so, then that’s how it would be.

From the moment his granddaughter had brought up the topic, Rulak’s anxiety about the contract engagement itself had largely disappeared.

But there was something that bothered him.

“Annulment… I don’t know about the prince, but it would be quite a losing deal for you, Tia.”

“I know.”

“Even knowing that, you’re willing to have a contract engagement just to lift this old man’s imperial prohibition?”

“Yes, Grandfather.”

Tia nodded her head.

“Because it’s for Lombardy.”

Clatter.

The carriage shook once and Rulak awakened from his reminiscence.

The primogeniture law had been defeated.

Even while sinking deep into the plush carriage seat, Rulak’s expression wasn’t very good.

Even though it was a contract engagement, the thought that it was a victory achieved through his granddaughter’s sacrifice somehow made him feel uncomfortable.

Then thinking of the Second Prince who had suddenly become his granddaughter’s official fiancé made his mood even worse.

“It’s just an engagement, an engagement. Just try to get greedier. I won’t let it slide.”

A descendant of Durellie as a match for our Tia? Absolutely ridiculous.

The Durellie family had never produced anyone decent for generations.

The Second Prince himself might possess considerable ability, but as a grandfather, he absolutely could not tolerate Tia becoming entangled with the Imperial Court.

“Someone obedient who listens well to Tia, a reliable fellow that I’ll find separately…”

Rulak stopped speaking.

An obedient and reliable fellow.

Somehow it overlapped with Peres’s image.

Even in the midst of this, the image of his granddaughter looking straight at him wouldn’t leave Rulak’s mind.

“Because it’s for Lombardy.”

“That girl… when did she grow up so much.”

It seemed like just yesterday she was running around the manor with her small body, sitting on the study sofa eating cookies and drinking juice.

“Yes, if you’re truly a Lombardi, you should have at least that much spirit.”

Rulak let out a satisfied laugh.

It was an affection for the Lombardi family that seemed to match his own as the family head.

“With that kind of heart, she’d be reliable even if I entrusted her with the position of family head.”

It was something he said without much thought.

But Rulak paused.

Then he soon stroked his beard and fell into deep thought.

It would be fine to entrust Tia with the position of family head.

Though it was half a joking thought, the picture he drew in his mind wasn’t bad at all.

Rather, it suited her very well.

As if she were a child who had grown up as an heir from the beginning.

“Pirenthia. Tia…”

Inside the carriage returning to the manor, Rulak’s thoughts continued in an endless chain.

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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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