In This Life, I Will Be The Lord - Chapter 196

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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 196

I was watching Astana with pleased eyes as he began drinking in earnest.

Every time Astana moved to a different spot, I could see four people following behind him.

They were knights from the Imperial Knights.

Besides them, I could see other knights standing guard in full armor throughout the outdoor banquet hall.

“As expected.”

I clicked my tongue slightly as I watched them.

Today, my hunting targets were the Empress and those Imperial Guards.

To get them to stick close to Astana, I had also positioned Lombardi knights throughout the banquet hall.

Then, as if not to be outdone, they began guarding the area around the banquet hall and following Astana around as his escort.

“My prediction was correct.”

The Imperial Knights and the Lombardi Knights were rivals of sorts.

There were no other noble families among the general nobility that could match the scale of the Imperial Knights, and the Imperial Knights’ capabilities were steadily declining.

Some said the cause was the ‘Imperial Swordsmanship’ that the Imperial Knights practiced.

The idea was that there were problems with the swordsmanship itself, creating limitations in the knights’ advancement.

But many others whispered that the Imperial Knights’ lack of capability all started when the Brown family was expelled.

They saw the absence of the Brown family, who had traditionally served as Imperial Knight commanders for generations, as the cause.

Whatever the reason.

The fact that the Imperial Knights were facing an unprecedented crisis was something everyone agreed on.

“So everyone is in a desperate state.”

It’s only natural for those who wield swords to want to become stronger.

I smiled as I looked at the Imperial Guards protecting Astana.

“Tia.”

“You’re here?”

Without turning around, I could tell it was Peres who had approached behind me.

“The outfit suits you well.”

I said while looking at the red clothes Peres was wearing.

“Of course. You picked it out for me.”

“That’s true.”

I smiled while brushing off a small speck of dust from Peres’ clothes.

“Red clothes for today’s banquet, red protective gear starting tomorrow.”

When I said this in a humming tone, Peres smiled with his eyes slightly crinkled.

“By the way, doesn’t it seem like things are going incredibly well?”

As if fate is on our side.

“His Majesty suddenly stepped forward to participate in the hunting competition, and Astana is…”…”

Peres and I simultaneously looked at Astana in the distance.

Being such a heavy drinker from Kello, there were already several empty wine glasses placed in front of Astana, whose eyes had become slightly unfocused.

“You really are destined to achieve what you want, Peres.”

Both revenge and ascending to the throne.

Peres, who I expected to respond with equally light words, remained silent.

When I turned my gaze, he was looking at me with strange eyes.

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

“Tia, you’re strange sometimes.”

“Strange?”

“How should I put it. Sometimes you say things like someone who knows the future.”

Your intuition is unnecessarily good.

“…Is that so.”

I slightly avoided his gaze and trailed off.

“And you got one thing wrong.”

Peres said.

“It’s not because of me, it’s because of you. Tia, I’m here now because of you.”

His red eyes held me in their gaze.

And he slowly approached and kissed my cheek.

It was an expression full of affection.

I could feel the attention of those around us focusing on us, but Peres looked only at me as if he didn’t know about such things.

“You’re not avoiding it.”

“Because people are watching.”

“Is that really the reason?”

Peres’ voice was tinged with slight laughter.

“…Think whatever you want.”

When I answered a bit coyly, Peres even laughed softly.

Then Ramona came into my field of vision.

“She’s here.”

I said while taking half a step back.

Peres also turned his head to look at Ramona.

“The knight’s uniform suits you very well, Ramona.”

“Thank you, Your Highness the Crown Prince.”

Ramona answered with a slightly shy smile.

And she looked at me and said.

“This is the first time I’ve worn such fine knight’s attire. Thank you, Lady Lombardi.”

“Don’t mention it. And I told you it’s okay to speak casually, didn’t I? We’re not that far apart in age.”

“No.”

Ramona shook her head and said.

“How could I possibly do that to Lady Lombardi.”

It seemed Ramona felt considerable indebtedness toward me.

Well, it can’t be helped.

It would also be rude to force someone who doesn’t want to speak casually to do so.

I sighed softly and said to Peres.

“You should go now, Peres. If you stay by my side…”

Astana will avoid me.

Peres, who understood the meaning of my half-swallowed words, nodded briefly.

And he took my hand and kissed the back of it.

“Call me if you need anything. I’ll be nearby.”

“Got it. Go and take care of business.”

I waved at Peres as he walked away and glanced at Ramona.

But Ramona was just checking the appearance of her knight’s uniform with a tense face, not paying much attention to Peres’ actions.

“Are you ready, Lady Ramona?”

“Yes, Lady Lombardi.”

Ramona answered my question promptly.

“I hope you’ve sharpened your sword well.”

When I said this half-jokingly, Ramona also smiled slightly.

“Ah, it seems Lord Brown has arrived.”

I said, watching people who had heard some news quickening their steps toward one side of the banquet hall.

“Let’s hurry and go too.”

I said while taking the lead.

“We can’t miss a good show, can we?”

I really want to see the Empress’s flustered face.

I’m going to watch from the front row.

Ramona and I walked, almost running, toward where people were gathering.

* * *

“Ah, come on!”

Astana shouted irritably while looking at Belesack.

His face was already flushed red from the alcohol.

“All of you get lost!”

Astana raised his voice at the noble family heirs gathered around him, including Belesack.

‘Annoying bastards.’

To others, they were known as the ‘Crown Prince’s close associates,’ but to Astana, they were nothing more or less than annoying insects buzzing around his ears.

But no matter how much he showed his irritation, they just hesitated without any intention of backing down, so Astana eventually took another gulp of strong liquor.

As the alcohol warmly rose up, the irritation that had filled his head seemed to fade a little.

“Parasitic bastards…”

Astana muttered while roughly wiping the liquor from his lips with his sleeve.

Creatures scheming to gain something if I become emperor.

Even though his muttering couldn’t have gone unheard, no one seemed displeased.

They were accustomed to Astana’s cold treatment.

“I’m already annoyed enough, so don’t stick close and stay away!”

Astana said while pushing Belesack’s shoulder away.

And his unfocused, blurry eyes landed on the black forest visible in the distance.

The Forest of the Mad, shrouded in even thicker fog as night fell, was making eerie sounds in the wind.

Gulp.

Astana swallowed nervously.

He never dreamed the hunting competition would be like this.

If he had known earlier, he wouldn’t have shown off to Peres.

“Belesack, you should have given me a heads up that Lombardi’s hunting competition would be like this!”

Astana lashed out at Belesack, who was standing there blankly.

“I, I didn’t know much about it either.”

“How useless.”

Of all times, His Majesty the Emperor had to come.

Also, an unimaginable number of people had come for what was supposed to be just a hunting competition.

Losing here would be the ultimate humiliation.

Moreover, he had already heard that bets were being placed among the nobles about which of the two princes would win.

“This is really unfair!”

Astana complained bitterly.

“That lowborn bastard is a Sword Master who can handle aura! And yet I have to compete with him.”

The fact that he had started the confrontation first had been cleanly erased from Astana’s mind.

“Just bring me more alcohol!”

Astana shouted at Belesack.

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Just as Belesack answered and was about to turn around to urge the servants.

“What’s that? Is something happening?”

One of Astana’s associates tilted his head and spoke.

Astana also lifted his unfocused, blurry eyes to look where the crowd was gathering.

“What’s causing such a commotion over there?”

What entered Astana’s vision was several nobles covering their mouths with both hands in great surprise.

* * *

“Who are they? Someone you want to introduce.”

Emperor Yobanes asked Rulak.

His face was full of curiosity.

Rulak had made a suggestion to Yobanes, who was having a conversation in a private room as usual during banquets.

‘There’s someone I’d like to introduce, so let’s go outside for a moment.’

When told to bring them inside instead, Rulak only gave a vague answer, saying ‘there are quite a few people.’

As Emperor Yobanes walked toward the center of the banquet hall guided by Rulak, his curiosity only grew.

And where Rulak finally stopped was at the center of the outdoor space where the banquet was being held.

It was also a place where many noble ladies had already taken their seats, drinking wine and conversing.

“Your Majesty?”

Empress Lavinia also approached with a puzzled expression.

“Why have you come out again?”

“The Lombardi family head said there was someone he wanted to introduce…”

“Ah, here they come.”

Rulak said with a bright smile, looking quite pleased.

Naturally, Emperor Yobanes’ gaze also turned in that direction.

“They are…”

Yobanes narrowed his eyes.

What was approaching was a group of men.

They weren’t faces he recognized.

However, an indescribable feeling ran down Yobanes’ spine.

The middle-aged man at the front had a strangely familiar face.

His confident stride was also impressive.

And as they drew closer, one common trait became apparent.

“They’re all missing their right hands.”

Emperor Yobanes muttered unconsciously.

At that moment, he could tell who they were.

“…They’re people from the Brown family.”

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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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