In This Life, I Will Be The Lord - Chapter 184

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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 184

I came out of Grandfather’s study with Lord Brown.

There were people waiting for us.

It was Kaitlin and Ramona.

“Father!”

Ramona quickly approached and hugged Lord Brown tightly.

“Ramona.”

Lord Brown gently stroked his daughter’s back with his remaining hand.

“It seems like a reunion after a long time.”

Kaitlin, who was wiping away tears with a handkerchief, answered my words.

“The last time we met was before Ramona entered the Academy…”

They had been separated for a long time.

It was a wise choice, considering Lavinia’s cruel nature, as ruthless as the previous Angenas Patriarch who massacred the Brown family.

If the Empress had known that the head of the Brown family had changed his status to a commoner and was openly driving carriages in the Imperial Capital, and that his daughter had similarly changed her status to become Peres’ aide at the Academy.

I was certain that today’s reunion would not have been possible.

“You’ve grown up so much. I wouldn’t have recognized you even if I had taken you as a passenger in my carriage.”

Lord Brown said jokingly with a bitter smile.

“Why is your face so injured?”

“I’m fine.”

Before long, tears were glistening in both father and daughter’s eyes.

They were a lovely father and daughter pair with kind faces that looked exactly alike as they smiled at each other.

I stepped back from the Brown family members and called Johan, Grandfather’s butler.

“Yes, Young Lady.”

“They are Grandfather’s and my guests. Prepare a place for them to stay at the manor. Somewhere away from the employees’ sight so the guests can rest comfortably.”

“Yes, I will do so.”

Even without me explaining in detail, Johan understood all my instructions.

As the butler who managed the entire manor, Johan probably knew this Lombardy Estate even better than I did, and he was also swift.

A space for the three Brown family members was prepared in the blink of an eye.

The space located on the very top floor of the massive main building was an excellent place for the family of three to stay.

“I’m sorry to say this, but Lord Brown, you must refrain from going outside and stay here starting today.”

Lord Brown’s eyes widened at my words.

“For the successful restoration of the Brown family’s status, maintaining secrecy until the right time is most important. Moreover.”

I looked at Lord Brown’s appearance with calm eyes, but spoke honestly.

“Lord Brown, it would be difficult for you to appear before the nobles as you are now, so preparation will be necessary.”

“Th-that’s right… I mean, that’s correct.”

Lord Brown habitually started to speak respectfully to me, then hastily changed his words.

He also brushed his shabby clothes with his hand, looking embarrassed.

Honestly speaking, the current Lord Brown was no different from a commoner.

Even though he was somewhat better than before, his still hunched posture and manner of speaking…

The incident happened over forty years ago, when Lord Brown was still a young child.

Since he had lived as a commoner longer than as a noble, it was inevitable.

“I’ll select trustworthy people and assign teachers to you. It will be difficult for a while. And Kaitlin.”

“Yes, Lady Pirenthia.”

“Please stay here for a few days and teach Lord Brown and the young lady various things.”

Fortunately, we had Kaitlin, an excellent teacher who couldn’t be hired even with money.

“I’ll tell Peres about this.”

When Peres’ name came up, I saw Ramona flinch slightly.

But I pretended not to notice, said goodbye, and went outside.

Outside the room, Butler Johan, who had guided us here, was still waiting.

“They’ll need many things, so please assign someone discreet to them.”

“Yes, Young Lady.”

Then, small laughter leaked out from inside the room.

It was the sound of a happy family.

I added to Johan.

“Please take care that they lack nothing, from food to clothing.”

These were people who had suffered for a long time.

In that place, they could at least have conversations they couldn’t have for days.

Without worrying that their identity might be discovered.

Without worrying that someone might be after my life at any moment.

“I will do so, Lady Pirenthia.”

Leaving behind Johan, who was looking at me with warm eyes for some reason, I moved on.

Since Grandfather’s test had begun, there was no time to waste.

* * *

The next day at the Angenas Estate.

“Please check this once.”

Cleribane handed the newly brought contract to Duiji Angenas.

“Well, let me take a look.”

The Angenas Patriarch placed the contract he had been keeping and the new contract Cleribane brought side by side on the table.

Then he read through them page by page carefully, and nodded satisfactorily.

After readily agreeing to Cleribane Pellet’s suggestion to rewrite the contract, he had inwardly regretted it.

He had been so anxious, wondering if there might be some ulterior motive.

But contrary to his concerns, the new contract was not different by even a single word from the previous one.

Duiji Angenas glanced at Cleribane.

“Ahem.”

After all, it had been revealed that he had suspected the Pellet Trading House owner.

“Have you finished checking everything?”

Contrary to his expectation of anger, Cleribane was leaning back comfortably in his chair, smiling leisurely.

No displeasure could be seen on his face.

Rather, he pointed with his finger to explain the clause written in large letters at the very end of the contract.

“This part here is most important. ‘If Angenas cannot repay the interest and principal, the owner of Pellet Trading House becomes the owner of Henforek Estate, which is the collateral.’ Have you confirmed this?”

“I have confirmed it.”

“Please read the clause below this as well.”

Cleribane pointed to the section where detailed explanations of ‘the situation of being unable to repay interest and principal’ were listed.

“You’re quite thorough.”

The Angenas Patriarch said with a hearty laugh.

“But this is just a temporary difficult situation, so Angenas’ land used as collateral won’t be transferred.”

“…That would be the case.”

After a very brief pause, Cleribane smiled and answered, following the Angenas Patriarch.

“Well then, do I just need to stamp my seal?”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

The process after that was also smooth.

Just like before at the Empress’ Quarters, all that was needed was to firmly press the Angenas Patriarch’s seal.

“Good.”

Duiji Angenas felt proud as if he had accomplished something great as the patriarch.

It was truly a sense of accomplishment he hadn’t felt in a long time.

Then he suddenly noticed something a bit peculiar in the contract and asked Cleribane.

“Come to think of it, the contractor is listed as ‘Pellet Trading House Owner’ rather than ‘Cleribane Pellet’?”

At the Angenas Patriarch’s question, Cleribane’s hand paused momentarily as he was putting away the contract.

“…Yes, that’s correct.”

However, Duiji Angenas, who was still only looking at the Angenas seal he had stamped, didn’t notice this.

“It’s like the Master’s seal, for instance. To me, Pellet Trading Company is like my own family.”

“Ho. Well, that does seem more trustworthy.”

“Thank you for viewing it favorably.”

Cleribane deliberately continued the trivial conversation with the Angenas Patriarch.

“I hope this has been helpful to Angenas during difficult times.”

“More than just helpful! Haha!”

And subtly, he picked up the previous contract placed in front of the Angenas Patriarch and approached the fireplace.

“If you need it, I can arrange more funding, so just let me know.”

“R-really?”

“Yes, that’s what business is about, isn’t it? There’s a saying that debt is also an asset. Ah, then shall I burn this?”

Standing in front of the fireplace, Cleribane brought the bundle of previous contracts near the fire and asked.

“Hm? Ah, yes, do that. But about that funding, how much exactly…”

The Angenas Patriarch, already intrigued by the mention of borrowing more money, waved his hand dismissively.

At the same time, the previous contract fell into the red flames of the fireplace.

Cleribane let Duiji Angenas’s words go in one ear and out the other.

Instead, he looked down with cold eyes at the paper that was quickly turning to white ash.

The difference between the contract written in front of the Empress and today’s newly made contract was just one thing.

Instead of Cleribane Pellet’s personal seal, the seal of Pellet Trading Company’s owner was stamped.

But in front of the sharp-witted Empress, he had to be careful time and again.

It would be troublesome if she began to suspect that Cleribane himself might not be the actual owner of Pellet Trading Company.

At times like this, how fortunate it was that Duiji Angenas was a person who couldn’t match even half of half the Empress’s wit.

“So what I want to ask is… could you perhaps lend money to me personally, not to the family?”

Cleribane smiled brightly at the Angenas Patriarch, whose face had flushed red with greed for money.

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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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