In This Life, I Will Be The Lord - Chapter 194

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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 194

The annex of the Lombardi estate.

The place that had now become the new home for the Biejie couple and Belesack was particularly quieter than other parts of the estate.

“Let me take a look, Belesack.”

Ceral fastened all the buttons of Belesack’s newly tailored hunting outfit neatly and stood his son in front of the mirror.

“Yes, very handsome indeed.”

Brown hair and brown eyes.

Though his appearance resembled his father Biejie, Ceral thought that Belesack’s inner nature was exactly like her own.

“Belesack.”

“Yes, Mother.”

“You’re a strong man. Aren’t you?”

Belesack didn’t answer.

He understood the meaning behind Ceral’s words.

‘You’re not a weak human like your father. Right?’

That’s what Ceral was saying.

Father, who was born as the eldest son but fell out of Grandfather’s favor and was eventually on the verge of losing the Lombardi name.

Despite all that, Father had no intention of fighting back and was drowning in self-pity, living drunk every day.

Belesack felt his insides twist when he recalled that pathetic sight.

Ceral quietly stroked the shoulders of Belesack, who was frowning.

“Yes, you are my son.”

After saying that, Ceral turned around and opened a drawer.

What came out was a box carved from wood.

Click.

With a small sound, the box opened in Ceral’s hands.

“This is…”

What was revealed was a sharp dagger placed on black cloth.

“It’s a gift, Belesack.”

Since he had been hunting with Astana from a young age, Belesack owned many hunting daggers.

But the dagger Ceral handed him was expensive enough that even Belesack could recognize its value at a glance.

Ceral carefully took out the dagger and handed it to Belesack.

“Take it.”

Belesack swallowed hard at the particularly sharp blue blade and accepted the dagger.

“Do you understand the meaning behind why I’m giving you this dagger?”

“…”

Belesack didn’t answer.

He only looked down at the dagger with complicated eyes.

“This hunting competition is very different from what you’ve experienced before, Belesack. Even though it’s just the outskirts, the Forest of the Mad is an extremely dangerous place.”

Belesack frowned.

The annual Lombardi hunting competition was originally an event where they caught foxes or deer at most.

He felt uneasy about it suddenly changing to something so dangerous.

At that moment, Ceral gripped Belesack’s arm tightly.

It was a grip so strong that it was hard to imagine coming from such slender fingers.

“Mother?”

Ceral spoke to Belesack, who widened his eyes in confusion.

“The danger also means an opportunity might come to you. Do you understand, Belesack?”

The low whispered voice was so unfamiliar.

Would the eyes of the monsters living in the Forest of the Mad look like this?

Ceral’s pupils gleamed strangely.

“When danger approaches Crown Prince Astana, you must step forward.”

“But…”

“There are no buts!”

Ceral raised her voice.

“Pull yourself together, Belesack! Now is not the time to be afraid!”

Ceral’s fingertips, gripping Belesack’s arm, dug painfully into his flesh.

“Since this is a major event held in Lombardi, even the Crown Prince won’t be able to push you away from his side this time. This is your last chance to reclaim your position as his close aide!”

Ceral was desperate.

She wanted to move directly herself, but Biejie and Ceral weren’t permitted to attend this hunting competition.

Since they were no longer members of Lombardi, they needed invitations to attend the hunting competition and its eve party.

Of course, no invitations were delivered to the Biejie and Ceral couple.

“Remember this, Belesack. You must not leave Crown Prince Astana’s side.”

Ceral emphasized once more.

“Keep this dagger with you at all times, and if anything dangerous happens to him, use it without hesitation.”

“…Yes.”

Faced with his mother’s unfamiliar appearance, Belesack had no choice but to nod.

* * *

I put on soft gloves while looking down out the window.

A dense, lush forest that began where the grassland around the villa ended.

And thick fog that heavily covered it.

It was a very different landscape from the surroundings of the Lombardi estate.

“It’s a bit eerie.”

Loril approached and draped a thick fur cloak over my shoulders as she spoke.

Loril’s impression was accurate.

This villa, located in the northeastern part of Lombardy territory, was positioned at the entrance to the Forest of the Mad where monsters dwelled.

“They say the Forest of the Mad, which is covered in hazy fog all year round, drives people who enter it insane.”

At my playfully teasing words, Loril looked at the densely wooded forest with worried eyes as if just hearing about it was frightening.

“Why did you suddenly move the hunting competition location here?”

I smiled brightly and answered Loril’s question.

“Just because. It seemed like it would be fun, don’t you think?”

I had prepared this hunting competition with full authority delegated from Grandfather.

The reason was that it was essential work for successfully bringing back the Brown family.

Grandfather, who looked at me with strange eyes for a moment, gave permission without much comment, saying ‘Do as you wish.’

“My preparations are all finished, so Loril, go to Merillin and Lord Flint now.”

“Yes, Young Lady. Call me if you need anything else!”

Loril gave a cheerful greeting and left the room.

And not long after, the door opened once more.

Three familiar faces entered.

“Are the preparations all finished?”

I asked, looking at Cleribane.

“Yes, we’ve finished preparations so there would be no problems even if the hunting competition started right now.”

“What about the eve party?”

This time Violet answered.

“All preparations for the eve party banquet are also complete.”

“It must have been difficult with so much space to pay attention to inside and outside the banquet hall.”

“Not at all. Lord Beit helped well, so we finished without much trouble.”

But knowing Violet’s hard work staying up several nights, I briefly patted her shoulder.

“Our building owner has quite unique tastes too.”

Beit said while looking outside from the window where I had been standing just moments before.

“To hold a hunting competition in Lombardy’s name where people compete to see who can kill the most monsters. And with rules requiring them to collect parts of the carcasses as evidence – isn’t that going too far?”

But despite saying that, Beit’s face was full of an expression that said he was dying of amusement.

“Most of the nobles who hastily applied to participate just because it was Lombardy’s hunting competition are probably beating the ground in regret right now.”

“Really? I thought everyone would welcome a new hunting competition.”

“If they’re ordinary nobles, just encountering monsters in that gloomy forest would make their legs give out and collapse. Probably half of them will forfeit once the competition starts, right?”

“But I set quite a generous prize for first place.”

If you’re scared, then drop out.

“Have all the invited people arrived?”

Violet answered my question.

“Yes, all the nobles who received invitations and Lombardy’s retainers have been assigned rooms without exception.”

While I was having this conversation with Violet, Cleribane approached.

“Lady Pirenthia.”

But his expression seemed somewhat worried.

“Are you fully prepared, Lady Pirenthia?”

“I am…”

I know what Cleribane means.

Once the hunting competition begins, there will be no way to stop the flow anymore.

From now on, everything will unfold at a breathless pace.

“I’ve been ready for a long time.”

How much I’ve suffered holding back until now.

The long, winding path I’ve taken is now gradually showing its end.

Having run while looking only at that spectacular ending, I took a deep breath of the cold wind blowing from the window to cool my body heated with anticipation and excitement.

Then, I saw a large procession slowly approaching from the distance.

Now it was time to move.

“Well then, shall we go out now?”

At my words, the three people who had been freely scattered around the room all stood up simultaneously.

I went down the stairs.

Cleribane, Violet, and Beit skillfully avoided people’s gazes and disappeared one by one.

And when I reached the first floor, I found myself alone.

The area near the entrance was already bustling with many people.

“Ah, the Lombardi young lady has come.”

“Hey, make way for her.”

As I approached, the crowd naturally parted in two.

I walked through, giving them a slight nod of thanks.

When I arrived at the villa’s front entrance, I saw a familiar figure from behind who had arrived first.

“Grandfather.”

“Oh, Tia’s here.”

Grandfather, who had been watching the approaching procession in the distance with an expressionless face, welcomed me with a bright smile as if nothing had happened.

“Tia, Daddy’s here too.”

Father poked his head out from beside Grandfather and spoke.

Next to him was Lorels with a tense expression.

Naturally, Biejie was nowhere to be seen.

“Come, let’s go forward.”

Grandfather, Father, Lorels, and I.

The four Lombardi members stood at the very front where the carriage would stop, where many crowds had gathered.

“They’ve arrived.”

Shannet said, looking back at us.

“It’s been a while, Tia.”

Her gentle smile remained unchanged.

“Where are the twins?”

“They’re over there.”

Where Shannet pointed, I could see the Lombardi Knights standing in formation, splendidly dressed in shining armor.

And right behind the knight captain and vice-captain, I could see Giliou and Meylon grinning at me.

I waved my hand small enough for only those two to see and looked forward again.

Before I knew it, a splendid carriage had stopped in front of us.

Similarly, the Imperial Knights in dress uniforms surrounded the carriage as if guarding it and took their positions.

A waiting attendant quickly placed a step in front of the carriage, and with a small clicking sound, the carriage door opened.

“We greet His Imperial Majesty.”

All the people standing in front of the Lombardi villa’s entrance bowed their heads in unison.

“Hahaha!”

Looking quite satisfied with this sight, Emperor Yobanes burst into loud laughter as he stepped down from the carriage.

Following him, the Empress also stepped onto the ground.

She wore a deep blue dress made of plush velvet and a short shawl made of fine white fur – as beautiful as always.

And from the two carriages that had stopped behind them, Astana and Peres also got out in turn.

Thus, the four members of the imperial family walked toward us side by side.

“You must have had a difficult journey coming such a long way.”

Grandfather spoke first.

“Thank you for the invitation, Head of Lombardi.”

Emperor Yobanes also replied to Grandfather with a hearty laugh.

Lombardi and the Durellia Imperial House stood facing each other.

It was the moment when the gazes of hundreds of people gathered for the hunting competition focused on this place all at once.

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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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