In This Life, I Will Be The Lord - Chapter 222
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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 222
“Cleribane!”
I ran toward Cleribane as I watched him dismount from his horse.
And I immediately pulled Cleribane into a tight embrace.
Swoosh!
Perhaps because he had ridden here on horseback, Cleribane carried the scent of wind.
“…Lady Pirenthia.”
Cleribane also embraced me in return.
“You’ve been through so much, Cleribane. You must have been scared, right?”
“It would be a lie if I said I wasn’t.”
Though he was smiling as he spoke, his body was trembling slightly as the tension finally released.
“Brother…”
Loril cautiously approached Cleribane.
Tears that had barely stopped were flowing again from Loril’s already reddened and swollen eyes.
“…Lady Loril.”
Cleribane, who had been quietly watching her, took out a handkerchief from his chest and handed it to her.
“Th-thank you… *sob*!”
Loril, who had been looking at the handkerchief with wide eyes, burst into tears again.
The handkerchief Cleribane carried was the very one she had given him before.
Even though he didn’t express it outwardly, Cleribane also thought of Loril as his younger sister.
Cleribane, who was gently patting Loril’s shoulder, spoke to me.
“The Imperial Guards are holding Violet.”
“Violet?”
I whipped my head around to glare at the Imperial Guards standing in front of the estate entrance.
“Those bastards, really.”
I’d like to overturn everything if I could.
But it’s not time yet.
I have to wait until the moment is ripe.
“Even Lady Violet… What should we do, Young Lady?”
Loril asked me with fearful eyes.
With one hand gripping Cleribane’s sleeve tightly.
“It’s okay. Nothing will happen. I won’t let it.”
“But the charges…”
Suspicion of conspiracy in the attempted assassination of the Emperor.
How grandiose indeed.
“Wouldn’t it be better to actively clarify that brother has nothing to do with such matters?”
Loril cautiously suggested to me.
But I shook my head.
“No, even if we do that, the Empress will just create another suspicion.”
“Then what should we…”
“We need to target the Empress. So she can never pull such schemes again.”
I said while looking at the Imperial Guards still facing off against the Lombardi knights.
“To mobilize even the Imperial Guards like that. It’s proof that the Empress is cornered. So there’s nothing to be scared of.”
After all, we’re the ones holding the knife handle.
“There are only a few days left until the council meeting. We just need to hold out until then.”
Then I spoke to Peres.
“About Violet.”
“I understand. Don’t worry.”
Peres answered immediately.
“I’ll move her to the knight’s building and protect her.”
Fortunately, Peres was in charge of the assassination attempt case.
Even though the knight order was split in half, Peres had the authority to interrogate those involved in the incident.
“I’m going.”
Peres said as he mounted his horse again.
“Wait a moment.”
I grabbed Peres’s arm somewhat forcefully.
“Nothing like what happened at Belesack should happen to Violet. Of course, I know that back then you probably loosened security on purpose, but…”
I stopped speaking.
Because Peres’s lips had suddenly approached.
I was momentarily flustered by the lips that briefly touched mine and then withdrew.
What on earth does this kiss mean?
As if reading my thoughts, Peres chuckled softly and said.
“Because it seems like I won’t be able to see you for a while.”
“I’m not joking, Peres. Really, nothing must happen to Violet. Violet is my person.”
“I know, and I also know how precious you consider your people to be. So don’t worry.”
Peres said as he kissed my forehead once more.
“I won’t let anything happen that would make you sad.”
Having said that, Peres moved swiftly and mounted his horse.
And when he took hold of the reins, I approached and said.
“Be careful.”
Out there is a battlefield right now.
While I would be safe inside the estate, my heart was undeniably anxious about sending Peres back out there alone.
Peres nodded silently with a slight smile.
“Let’s go, hyah!”
Clatter, clatter!
Only after watching the horse carrying Peres safely cross the estate boundary and gallop far away did I take Cleribane inside the estate.
* * *
The Head Family’s Office at the Angenas Estate.
“Cleribane Pellet has taken refuge in the Lombardi Estate.”
Idan Clus reported to the Empress.
Though this was a space meant for Duiji, the Angenas Patriarch, neither the Empress nor Idan Clus, the Angenas Knight Commander, showed any hesitation in their actions.
“That little rat…!”
The Empress slammed the desk hard and ground her teeth.
“We should have been watching that place from the beginning!”
The Empress shouted fiercely at Idan Clus.
“I apologize.”
Lavinia glared once more at Idan Clus, who was silently apologizing, then asked.
“What about the contract and the land collateral documents?”
“We’re searching both the Pellet estate and the trading company building. We should find them soon.”
“You must get your hands on them by any means necessary. Otherwise…”
Lavinia stopped speaking.
Now that she had tied the Emperor’s heart to the Angenas side, that contract was the only remaining weakness.
“I have a bad feeling about this.”
Lavinia muttered anxiously while biting her nails.
Now that Brown and Angenas owned equal amounts of land, the contract that Cleribane Pellet possessed was like a sword aimed at her back.
If a situation like the last nobility council meeting were to occur.
If Cleribane Pellet handed over that contract with the Henforek estate as collateral to the Brown family.
After being lost in thought for a long while, Lavinia rose from her seat.
“Are you leaving?”
Idan Clus picked up the Empress’s outer garment and draped it over her shoulders.
“Idan.”
Empress Lavinia turned to look at Idan Clus as she spoke.
“The most important thing is to prevent Cleribane Pellet from attending the council meeting.”
Since only the ‘owner of Pellet Trading House’ could exercise the rights in the contract.
“Guard the front of Lombardy Estate. And if Cleribane Pellet comes out, kill him.”
It wouldn’t be bad if Pellet Trading House dissolved into thin air that way either.
Empress Lavinia smiled beautifully.
* * *
“It’s been a long time.”
Creny smiled as he looked at the longed-for scenery of Lombardy.
He took a deep breath and tried to smell the scent of Lombardy.
“I should hurry and go boast to Sister Tia!”
After going to the Academy, Creny had grown like a fish in water.
Whether it was because he had read many good books since childhood on his cousin sister’s recommendation, or because he was naturally smart.
He never missed being at the top of his grade.
“If I tell her that I’m skipping another year this time, Sister will be happy too!”
Now only 2 years remained until graduation.
He would finish in 4 years what usually took 6 years to complete.
Creny’s face flushed with excitement.
Thud!
“Ugh!”
Just then the carriage came to a sudden stop and Creny banged his knee against the carriage seat.
“What’s wrong?”
“S-sorry! Knights are blocking the way ahead!”
“Knights?”
Creny tilted his head and looked outside the carriage, his face hardening completely.
Imperial Guards were looking at Creny with menacing expressions.
“What… is this about?”
Creny was startled and looked toward the estate entrance.
“Why are Imperial forces surrounding the estate?”
Fortunately, the Imperial Guards slowly retreated and the carriage was able to reach the estate boundary.
“Let us inspect.”
Just then, with those brief words, the door of the carriage Creny was riding in opened wide.
The tense Creny looked at the knight who had opened the door.
“…Brother Giliou?”
“What, it was Creny?”
Giliou, wearing Lombardi Knights’ uniform, grinned at seeing Creny.
“Huh? You said Creny?”
Meylon’s face also poked into the carriage.
“You came because it’s vacation?”
Meylon asked.
“What’s going on? Why in front of the estate…”
“Go ask Tia. She’ll explain it well. It’s nothing serious, so don’t worry too much.”
Having said that, Giliou closed the carriage door again and gestured to the Lombardi soldiers.
The tightly closed estate gate slowly opened, and the carriage carrying Creny began running again along the estate road.
Meanwhile, Rulak was watching as one carriage barely entered the estate.
“Father.”
Gallahan approached from behind Rulak and spoke to him.
“Will you continue to leave things like this?”
“What if I don’t?”
At Rulak’s counter-question, Gallahan frowned.
“Shouldn’t we help Tia resolve this situation?”
Shannet also approached and carefully added her words.
“The standoff has been continuing for several days now, Father.”
“Is what you’re worried about really the conflict between the Imperial Palace and Lombardy, Gallahan?”
Rulak turned to look at Gallahan as he asked.
“How about you tell me your honest thoughts.”
“Then I won’t speak in roundabout ways.”
Gallahan opened his mouth with a heavy heart.
“The head of Lombardy is still you, Father. Not Tia. If we let this standoff continue, the pressure mounting on Tia will only get worse.”
“Gallahan is right, Father. I think it would be good to at least send a letter of protest to His Majesty.”
Shannet also supported Gallahan.
But Rulak only shook his head with a stern expression.
“Father!”
Gallahan and Shannet spoke in unison, but even so, Rulak’s will did not change.
“You’re wrong. This is indeed Tia’s fight, Gallahan.”
Then he stared at the Imperial Guards standing in confrontation as if surrounding the estate.
“Right now Yobanes is trying to gain the upper hand before Tia becomes the Lombardi clan head. He’s trying to tame her.”
Though he desperately wanted to intervene immediately, Rulak held back time and again.
“Tia will have to overcome even worse things than this in the future.”
“But…”
“If she can’t even defeat a foolish emperor like Yobanes, how will she lead Lombardy in the future?”
Rulak said this while hiding his worried expression.
Nevertheless, at the end of an inevitable sigh, a quiet murmur followed.
“She must overcome at least this much with her own strength.”
* * *
Several days had passed since the Imperial Palace and Lombardy began their standoff in front of the estate.
During this time, the Empress’s side had literally turned Pellet Trading House and Cleribane’s estate into a wasteland.
According to Beit, all the windows of the estate were broken, the garden was ruined, and the goods stored in the trading house warehouse were all damaged beyond sale.
Since they couldn’t find what they wanted no matter how much they searched, they had vented their frustration.
But Lombardy remained silent with the estate gates closed.
And finally, the day of the council meeting approached.
“I’ll be back.”
“Be careful, Tia.”
Father spoke to me with worry.
“I’ll be back soon. Please wait for me. Let’s have dinner together, Dad.”
At my words, a faint smile appeared on Father’s face.
“Let’s depart.”
“Yes, Acting Clan Head.”
The veteran coachman who had been driving the clan head’s carriage for decades already answered with a very meaningful expression.
The carriage departed and gradually headed toward the tightly closed iron gate.
Creak.
I heard the sound of Lombardi Soldiers checking my carriage and opening the door.
And, as expected.
“Excuse me for a moment.”
Without even waiting for my response, the carriage door was flung open.
“Insane.”
I said while glaring at Idan Clus, the Empress’s confidant.
“Those bastards, really!”
I could hear the Lombardi Knights exploding with anger from behind.
However, since I had told them in advance not to intervene, no fight broke out.
Instead, I spoke to Idan Clus.
“Opening the carriage of the Lombardi Family Head. It seems you fear nothing now, Lord Clus.”
At my sharp words, Idan Clus slightly frowned.
It seemed his pride was hurt to hear such words from a young person like me.
But what’s more important than age is rank.
Why don’t you try becoming a family head yourself!
When I glared at him with cold eyes, Idan Clus checked inside the carriage without answering.
“Cleribane Pellet isn’t in this carriage. You should be able to tell without even looking.”
“…It’s an Imperial order to check all carriages leaving Lombardy.”
“It would be the Empress’s order.”
I smiled, lifting one corner of my mouth.
“Did the Empress tell you to prevent Cleribane Pellet from leaving the manor?”
When the Empress was mentioned, Idan Clus’s atmosphere became menacing.
But I’m not someone who would be intimidated by something like that.
I looked straight into Idan Clus’s gray eyes even more confidently and said.
“What, do you dare think of blocking even me, the Lombardi Regent?”
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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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