In This Life, I Will Be The Lord - Chapter 224
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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 224
Empress Lavinia frowned.
Don’t trust the Imperial Court.
Although it was through marriage, Lavinia herself was also a legitimate member of the Imperial Court.
Croiton Angenas continued to deliver his words.
“Even the Brown Family, who devoted everything in loyalty, was cast aside with a single word – such is the cruelty of those who sit on the throne.”
It couldn’t help but be a contradictory situation.
Angenas had once enticed the Emperor to push out and kill the Brown Family.
But now, standing on the opposite side, he had to observe the direction of the Emperor’s heart.
“For the Durelli Imperial Family, their only eternal ally is Lombardi. Do not stake Angenas’s fate on the Emperor’s favor that comes and goes like waves.”
Lavinia stood there for a while without saying anything.
As if she were someone who hadn’t heard Croyton’s story.
She stood looking at the dry tree branches swaying back and forth in the wind.
Then she left a single remark and turned around to return to the meeting room.
“It’s already too late.”
At those words mixed with the cold wind, Croiton Angenas couldn’t help but smile.
‘Angenas is already too late.’
Because that was the real last words his father had left behind.
‘So Croyton, you at least should leave Angenas immediately.’
But Croyton, left alone in the courtyard, shook his head.
“Where would I go if I left Angenas, Father?”
His graying hair swayed in the winter wind.
One who inherited Angenas blood would only live and die with the Angenas name.
* * *
At the same time, in the waiting room next to the Grand Meeting Hall.
Emperor Yobanes entered the waiting room with a face that found everything bothersome.
He was only thinking of quickly finishing the bothersome and burdensome council meeting schedule and going hawking in the afternoon.
Clatter.
Just then, a small noise caught Yobanes’s attention.
“There was already a guest here.”
Yobanes spoke in a displeased voice.
He was already in an unpleasant mood and disliked having to share this space with someone else.
“I was having a cup of tea before the meeting started, Your Majesty.”
The guest was Peres.
“I didn’t want to see the faces of the nobles who would fill the meeting room.”
At Peres’s words, the irritated wrinkles on Yobanes’s face smoothed out a little.
“For a young prince to already have such thoughts is troublesome.”
Although Yobanes spoke as if being dignified, he had actually been thinking the same thing as Peres.
It was the reason his mood had hit rock bottom before the council meeting.
Yobanes, who had originally planned to sit separately from Peres, sat in front of the Second Prince as if showing favor.
“I made a mistake due to my frustrated feelings, Your Majesty.”
Peres spoke calmly and naturally placed an empty teacup in front of the Emperor.
And he continued speaking.
“But I don’t understand how Your Majesty has been doing this for decades. Aren’t they people who only want to receive without giving anything to the Imperial Court?”
Trickle.
The sound of pouring tea quietly echoed.
“My respect for Your Majesty naturally arises.”
“Haha, the prince is gilding my face!”
Yobanes burst into satisfied laughter and brought the teacup to his mouth.
Then he paused, stopped his action, and asked Peres.
“What kind of tea is this, Second Prince?”
“It’s tea made by properly blending tea leaves that calm the spirit and help with sleep.”
“Oh, really?”
Yobanes looked into the light brown tea water and smelled it.
The tea fragrance seemed mixed with a fragrant floral scent, making it quite an enjoyable aroma.
Yobanes carefully brought his mouth to the teacup.
“I also drink this often when I want to calm my mind.”
Since the Second Prince also drinks it regularly, it must be trustworthy.
Yobanes relaxed and began drinking the tea.
“You look very tired, Your Majesty.”
Peres spoke in a somewhat dry voice.
However, Yobanes rather liked that aspect.
Peres didn’t try to excessively flatter him like others did.
Rather, his tone was somewhat impudent, but he didn’t mind that either.
He thought it would look bad for the Emperor’s son, the master of the Empire, to be too concerned about others’ opinions.
“As the Second Prince says, there are no days when my heart is at peace in this position of Emperor.”
Yobanes said while taking a large sip of tea.
Whether it truly had the effect of calming mind and body as Peres said, the more he drank the tea, the more drowsy he felt.
Just then, Yobanes and Peres’s gazes met.
“It seems the prince has something to say to me.”
At those words, Peres raised his eyebrows slightly as if surprised.
“You didn’t think I would notice?”
“It seems my inner thoughts were revealed without my knowing.”
“Haha. Though I may be indifferent, I’m not an insensitive emperor.”
Perhaps because he had drunk tea that pleased him after a long time, Yobanes rarely showed a generous smile.
“What do you want to say, Prince?”
Peres showed a face as if pondering for a moment, then opened his mouth.
“Could you dismiss those around us?”
Yobanes lightly waved one hand to send the attendants outside.
Everyone who had been waiting nearby, including Head Maid Otuwa, withdrew outside the waiting room.
Finally, with only the two of them remaining, Peres spoke.
“Before the council meeting begins, there is something I must inform Your Majesty of.”
“Speak.”
“Before that.”
Peres poured another cup of warm tea into Yobanes’s teacup, which was now showing its bottom.
“Please savor the tea more.”
Trickle.
The sound of pouring tea echoed once more.
“Once you hear this story, Your Majesty’s heart will become greatly uncomfortable.”
Peres spoke with a smile as subtle as the tea’s fragrance.
* * *
The last stretch of road leading to the Central Palace where the council meeting was being held.
There stood Lombardi’s carriage surrounded by the Imperial Knights.
“Haha.”
Lambert Lombardi looked at the knights blocking his path and laughed menacingly.
Just that alone made the shoulders of the confronting knights flinch slightly.
“I’ve been staying at the manor doing nothing but training.”
Though his voice carried a hint of laughter, the killing intent and rage within it were enough to send chills down everyone’s spine.
“In the meantime, has the Lombardi family changed, or has the world gone mad?”
His brown eyes swept over each knight one by one.
And finally, he looked at the one standing at the very front of the Imperial Guard.
“What do you think, Idan Clus?”
“I will inspect the cargo compartment.”
“As expected, beasts can’t speak human language.”
Lambert Lombardi slowly gathered his energy as he spoke.
“How many times must I say that’s only possible after you defeat me?”
Surrounding the less than ten Lombardi Knights were over thirty Imperial Guards and Idan Clus.
Though Lombardy was already outnumbered, the atmosphere between the two confronting forces was the complete opposite.
Rather, it was the Lombardi side that was full of confidence.
“What’s this? Why are they so weak?”
Giliou spoke sarcastically while looking at the Imperial Guards.
“Captain, shall we just push through and go?”
Meylon smiled while scanning the Imperial Guards one by one like Lambert Lombardi.
But even at such words and behavior, the Imperial Guards couldn’t protest.
“Damn it.”
It was because the Lombardi Knights’ martial prowess far exceeded that of the Imperial Guard.
What Meylon said wasn’t simply empty bravado.
If they really set their minds to it, all the Imperial Guards present would either be rendered unable to fight or would have to endure serious injuries.
Even excluding the other Lombardi Knights, only Idan Clus would be able to receive even one strike from Lambert Lombardi’s sword.
“This is the Imperial Domain. So, you there.”
Lord Lambert Lombardi pointed with his chin at an Imperial Guard standing next to Idan Clus.
“You’re the Vice-Captain of the 4th Knight Order, aren’t you?”
“Y-yes, that’s… that’s right.”
“What do you think? Angenas’s hunting dog says he needs to open Lombardy’s carriage to inspect the cargo compartment.”
“W-we are…”
The Vice-Captain, who had been reading the situation between Lambert Lombardi and Idan Clus, answered with a ‘whatever happens, happens’ mentality.
“It’s an Imperial order to inspect the Lombardi carriage’s cargo compartment!”
“For what reason?”
“For security reasons!”
“You’re quite good at making excuses.”
Lambert Lombardi smiled, feeling his patience gradually reaching its limit.
“The captain is starting to smile.”
“This is bad.”
“We can’t stop him now either.”
The twins, well aware of Lambert Lombardi’s peculiar habit of smiling more when he got angry, clicked their tongues in sympathy for the Imperial Guard.
Meanwhile, Idan Clus was certain.
‘Cleribane Pellet is inside there.’
The council meeting would start shortly.
Yet the reason for dragging out time with this confrontation was just one thing – because Cleribane Pellet was hiding in the cargo compartment.
‘Rather, dragging out time like this to prevent attendance at the council meeting is also a method.’
Idan Clus thought this while glaring at Lambert Lombardi.
That’s when it happened.
“Lord Lombardi.”
Pirenthia Lombardi’s voice came from inside the carriage.
“Yes, Acting Head.”
“Let them look.”
Everyone outside the carriage was surprised.
Especially Idan Clus, who was certain Cleribane Pellet was hiding in the cargo compartment, his eyes shook greatly.
“…Are you certain about this?”
Lambert Lombardi asked without taking his eyes off Idan Clus.
“It feels unpleasant, but I’ll hold Angenas responsible for that later.”
The voice that flowed out was calm.
“It would be a bit embarrassing to be late to the first council meeting with His Majesty after becoming Acting Head, wouldn’t it?”
“…Understood, Acting Head.”
Lambert Lombardi gestured toward the Vice-Captain.
“Vice-Captain, you inspect it.”
The Vice-Captain, swallowing hard once, slowly approached the carriage.
At the same time, the aura of the Lombardi Knights watching his movement grew increasingly sharp.
The atmosphere suggested that if he tried anything improper with the carriage carrying the Acting Head, his wrist would be cut off immediately.
Creak.
With a small noise, the carriage’s cargo compartment opened.
And.
“Uh, there’s nothing. Nothing at all.”
The knight said.
“Move aside.”
Idan Clus couldn’t contain himself and pushed the Vice-Captain aside as he approached.
And what he saw was indeed the completely empty cargo compartment of the carriage.
“This is…”
Did this really mean Cleribane Pellet wouldn’t be attending the council meeting?
It was when Idan Clus hardened his expression, unable to hide his bewilderment.
“Now that you’ve inspected it, are we done?”
The Lombardi Acting Head spoke from beyond the closed carriage door.
“Let’s go. We’ll be late at this rate.”
Idan Clus, who had been staring at the empty cargo compartment with still bewildered eyes, raised his head.
And through the window, he could see Pirenthia Lombardi’s profile.
‘She’s… smiling?’
The Lombardi Acting Head was smiling.
Instantly, an ominous premonition strongly shook Idan Clus’s mind.
Something was wrong.
But the Lombardi carriage was already departing toward the Council Hall.
There was no longer any justification to block their path.
Whatever the Lombardi Acting Head had prepared.
Whatever it was, it was already too late to stop Lombardy.
* * *
“There was a small commotion on the way to the palace, so I’m late, Your Majesty.”
I was barely able to enter the Council Hall at the last possible moment to avoid being late.
The Emperor, Peres, and even the Empress were already waiting for the meeting to begin, so that said it all.
But I didn’t say I was sorry.
I could tell just by looking at Yobanes, who didn’t ask me ‘what kind of commotion it was.’
The fact that the Emperor also knew in advance what kind of trouble the Empress was causing.
I sat in my seat with an expressionless face.
And when I glanced toward Peres, I could see him nod briefly.
It meant he had successfully had a private audience with the Emperor.
Good, then everything is ready.
“I will begin the Council Meeting.”
It was when Yobanes, who had risen from his seat, made the declaration.
My eyes met with the Empress’s.
Perhaps expecting an easy victory seeing that I had entered alone without Cleribane, she sat there comfortably.
She even smiled leisurely toward me.
It seemed she thought I would be angry.
“Already letting her guard down like this.”
I, who knew the future of the Empress and Angenas that the Empress didn’t know, couldn’t help but smile.
My lips quietly curved into an arc.
When I looked at her and smiled silently, Empress Lavinia’s blue eyes trembled uneasily.
The smile gradually disappeared from that beautiful face.
Then, there was a heavy thud.
It was the sound of the Council Chamber doors closing.
It was also the sound of the trap I had carefully set for a very long time closing with a ‘clank’.
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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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