In This Life, I Will Be The Lord - Chapter 183

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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 183

Lord of Lombardi’s Study.

“Go and bring Tia here.”

At Rulak’s words, a puzzled expression crossed Gillard Brown’s face.

He couldn’t understand why he was calling for his granddaughter instead of his daughter Shannet.

Seeing that doubt clearly written on his face, Rulak asked.

“Is it strange that I’m suddenly calling for my granddaughter?”

“It’s not that, but…”

“Just wait and see. You’ll soon understand why I called for that child.”

Rulak smiled as if he was enjoying himself.

A moment later, with a soft knock, a woman entered.

She was a striking woman with long, wavy brown hair and large green eyes.

And the moment their eyes met.

Gillard Brown could understand the meaning of what the Lombardi patriarch had said earlier.

Her gaze was so intense that he unconsciously flinched and looked away.

It was the same kind of overwhelming presence he felt when facing the Lombardi patriarch.

And his surprise didn’t end there.

“Heh heh, Tia, you’re here?”

Rulak, who had been radiating the aura of a beast just moments before, became nothing short of a doting grandfather.

Is this really the Lombardi patriarch?

Gillard Brown’s mouth hung open at the sight of him practically dripping with affection from his eyes.

“Come, sit down.”

What if his granddaughter’s legs got tired?

Rulak quickly pointed to a plush sofa.

And before taking her seat, she looked at Gillard Brown and greeted him with a smile.

“Hello, Lord Brown. It’s nice to meet you like this.”

“Ah, greetings, Lady Lombardi.”

Since he hadn’t even introduced himself yet, Gillard Brown was somewhat flustered and hastily returned the greeting.

It was strange even to himself.

She was clearly still a very young lady.

Yet she was incredibly difficult to deal with.

“I believe you know something about the Brown family’s situation, Tia. And today, Lord Brown has asked Lombardi for help.”

“You made a good choice, Grandfather.”

Tia responded calmly to Rulak’s words.

There was no sign of surprise.

Rulak quietly suppressed a smile at her reaction.

And then he said casually.

“I’m entrusting the Brown family’s affairs to you, Tia.”

“Sir?”

Lord Brown called out to Grandfather in surprise.

But I didn’t look in his direction.

Sorry, but what mattered to me wasn’t Lord Brown’s feelings.

Grandfather was staring directly at me.

The fate of an entire family.

He was observing how I would react to this enormous task suddenly thrown at me.

“Yes, I understand.”

I answered calmly.

Then Grandfather’s eyebrows moved slightly.

Since I wasn’t flustered, Grandfather was the one who was surprised instead.

Really, how does Grandfather see me?

“Ahem.”

I covered my mouth with my curled hand and coughed softly.

Otherwise, I felt like laughter would burst out.

I could understand without thinking twice why Grandfather had thrown me the challenge of the Brown family.

My test had begun.

A test to prove whether I had the qualities to become a patriarch.

I looked at Lord Brown, who was still dazed.

He had once been a promising prosecutor, but after losing his right hand, he had lived as a commoner.

So with his slightly hunched shoulders and uncertain, wavering gaze, there wasn’t a single aristocratic aspect to be found from any perspective.

If he were reintroduced to noble society as he was, he’d be perfect prey for nobles who were always waiting for entertainment – they’d devour him and leave only bones.

The most important thing for the Brown family to successfully restore their status and become the representative family of the western region again was public opinion.

Getting nobles filled with privilege consciousness to accept a family that had once become commoners back as members of noble society would be even more difficult than expected.

However.

“Lord Brown.”

“…Please speak, Lady Lombardi.”

His kind eyes were filled with anxiety.

He still didn’t trust me.

I wasn’t offended.

It was natural.

“Since Grandfather has entrusted the Brown family’s affairs to me, I will do my best to help you. But there’s one thing you must keep in mind.”

I smiled at Lord Brown as I spoke.

“From now on, always hold your head up proudly. Straighten your shoulders too. You must now become a patriarch worthy of the Brown family name.”

His blue eyes, similar to Ramona’s, wavered for a moment.

But the silence didn’t last long.

After a moment, Gillard Brown answered.

“Thank you for helping me, Lady Lombardi.”

Though still awkward, his gaze and calm voice were quite different from before.

Very much to my liking.

I smiled back and replied.

“Think nothing of it, Lord Brown.”

* * *

In the Empress’ Quarters, Empress Lavinia, Cleribane, and Duke Duiji Angenas sat together.

“You just need to stamp your family seal here.”

Cleribane pointed to one corner of the paper on the table.

Pirenthia’s words had been true.

After contacting Pellet Trading Company, things proceeded swiftly, and today was the day to sign the official contract.

The debt to Lombardi had now disappeared, and Pellet Trading Company had taken over the claim.

The interest was almost nonexistent, and they had only taken as collateral a truly tiny piece of land in a corner of the western region.

Moreover, contrary to what he had heard, this Cleribane Pellet fellow was quite to his liking.

Not only was he beautiful, but he followed etiquette precisely, unlike a typical merchant.

“I seem to have misunderstood the head of Pellet Trading Company all this time.”

Empress Lavinia said with a satisfied smile.

She had thought Pellet Trading Company was firmly on Lombardi’s side.

But seeing the contract brought today, Empress Lavinia was certain.

Pellet Trading Company wanted to build bridges with Angenas as well.

“A misunderstanding, you say…”

“I thought that since Pellet Trading Company has such a close relationship with Lombardi, they wouldn’t do business with Angenas.”

Lavinia deliberately answered directly.

Most people would be flustered when the Empress spoke like that.

“And there was also the Triva Lumber incident before.”

She deliberately brought up past events.

“That… it’s true that Pellet Trading Company received a lot of help from Lombardi to get this far, but we can’t remain tied to Lombardi forever. Also, the Triva Tree matter was very different from my intentions.”

As expected.

At Cleribane’s words, the Empress smiled triumphantly to herself.

“It’s all in the past, so I won’t worry about it.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty the Empress.”

Lavinia nodded and took out the Angenas family seal.

“Then to finalize the contract…”

“Ah, wait a moment.”

But Cleribane suddenly stopped the Empress.

“The Angenas Patriarch must stamp it.”

The Empress’s face hardened coldly.

But Cleribane didn’t back down.

“I apologize, Your Majesty the Empress. But the seal only has effect when stamped by the patriarch.”

“…I see.”

The Empress handed the Angenas family seal to Duiji with a cold expression.

“You do it.”

“Ahem.”

Duiji Angenas accepted the seal with a somewhat embarrassed but smiling face.

“Should I stamp it here?”

“Yes, that’s correct, Angenas Patriarch.”

Duiji pressed the seal down firmly.

The Angenas crest came out clear and neat, which made him smile slightly with satisfaction.

“Then everything is complete now.”

Cleribane gathered his copy of the contract and bowed deeply to the Empress.

“I look forward to seeing you again, Your Majesty the Empress.”

Then he turned to Duiji Angenas and said.

“Since this is my first time at the Imperial Palace, would you mind showing me the way out?”

Duiji was a bit surprised by Cleribane’s request but readily nodded.

He had taken quite a liking to him.

“I’m heading out anyway, so let’s go together.”

Leaving behind the still cold-faced Empress, the two men walked down the corridor.

Then, when they were about halfway there.

Cleribane, who had briefly taken out the contract he was carrying, exclaimed in surprise.

“Oh no!”

“What? What’s wrong?”

“Due to my oversight, I wrote the wrong date on the contract. Look here, the contract date is incorrectly entered as last year.”

“That’s true. But is that important?”

“Yes, this makes it a contract with no legal effect under Imperial law. I can’t arbitrarily change the date either…”

“Oh dear, oh dear…”

Duiji Angenas clicked his tongue and pointed back the way they came.

“Then should we go back now and tell Her Majesty the Empress…”

“No, that’s not necessary.”

Cleribane waved his hand dismissively.

“Without troubling Her Majesty the Empress, I’ll come to the Angenas estate tomorrow with a new contract.”

“B-but.”

Duiji Angenas looked troubled.

“To make a contract without Her Majesty the Empress present…”

But Cleribane shrugged and said.

“Actually, whether Her Majesty the Empress is present or not isn’t an important matter.”

“Not an important matter?”

“Today I only came to the Imperial Palace out of courtesy. What Pellet Trading Company is contracting with is the Angenas family, not Her Majesty the Empress.”

“That’s…”

Duiji trailed off while inwardly nodding.

That’s right.

The Angenas Patriarch isn’t my sister, but me.

To him, Cleribane casually remarked.

“Under Imperial law, Her Majesty the Empress has no rights over the Angenas family.”

For a brief moment, a strange glint flashed in Duiji Angenas’s eyes.

Then he burst into hearty laughter and nodded.

“Right, right. Then come to the estate tomorrow. We’ll draw up the contract again.”

“Yes, I’m truly sorry for troubling you, Master, due to my mistake.”

As he said this and bowed his head, a quiet smile bloomed on Cleribane’s lips.

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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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