In This Life, I Will Be The Lord - Chapter 228

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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 228

“Why, why are you doing this?”

The flustered Cleribane approached to stop Gallahan.

Gallahan smiled comfortably at Cleribane and said.

“Because thanks to you, Tia wasn’t lonely.”

“Ah…”

“As Tia’s father, I wanted to thank you for being by my daughter’s side.”

Cleribane was speechless for a moment.

Too many thoughts were swirling around that he felt if he opened his mouth, tangled words would pour out messily.

After taking several breaths, Cleribane carefully opened his mouth.

“The words of gratitude are rather what I should be saying to you.”

A soft chuckle followed at the end of his words.

“You wouldn’t know how much my life has changed thanks to meeting Lady Pirenthia.”

While managing the affairs of the Lombardi estate and teaching the successors, Cleribane thought he was withering away.

Day by day, he merely carried out the tasks given to him, with nothing that made his heart race or any clear goals.

Moreover, he was greatly disappointed by the utter ordinariness of Rulak’s grandchildren he had to teach.

And then, he met Pirenthia.

“The feeling of meeting someone who recognizes me, who knows my worth. It’s like being reborn.”

The successor education room decorated like a playroom for children.

That space filled with low desks and chairs, colorful cushions, and adorable dolls.

The thrill of that moment when he witnessed Lady Pirenthia revealing her true nature with sharp, gleaming eyes in that place!

“If it weren’t for Lady Pirenthia, I would have been lonely until the day I died.”

Cleribane smiled brightly and bowed his head at the old memory that still made his heart swell even now.

“Thank you, Lord Gallahan.”

Cleribane then adjusted his grip on the basket and said.

“Please have a good evening with your family.”

Just as Cleribane gave a polite greeting and was about to pass by Gallahan.

Tap.

Gallahan’s hand grabbed Cleribane’s shoulder.

“…Lord Gallahan?”

Cleribane’s gaze wavered as he looked down at Gallahan’s hand holding him.

“Why…?”

“Lord Cleribane.”

Gallahan asked with his characteristic gentle smile.

“Where are you going?”

“Since dinner will start soon, I was going back to my room…”

“Would it be alright for you to make do with just that food for dinner?”

Gallahan said, pointing at the basket.

“No, I’m really fine…”

“I’m not fine with it.”

Gallahan was still smiling.

His smiling face was clearly the same, but his green eyes were fierce.

Cleribane somehow became a little scared.

Gallahan’s fingertips gripping his shoulder also dug in a little deeper.

“Gal, Lord Gallahan?”

Then, Gallahan asked.

“Are you planning to leave Tia alone in front of Father?”

“That’s…”

“You both lied together.”

Gallahan’s fingers gripped Cleribane’s shoulder even tighter.

“You should take responsibility together too.”

“Mmm…”

Cleribane frowned.

I don’t want to!

I’m scared of the Master too!

He wanted to shout that, but looking at Gallahan’s eyes that were neatly folded and not moving at all, Cleribane finally dropped his head and answered.

“…I understand.”

“Haha! You made a good decision! Please come inside!”

Gallahan patted Cleribane’s shoulder and pushed his back.

“I already told the kitchen to prepare lots of seafood dishes that you like, Lord Cleribane.”

“What? How did you know I would be attending…”

“Everything flows as it’s meant to, haha!”

Being pushed by Gallahan who was trying to brush it off casually, Cleribane had his suspicions.

Could it be that meeting in this corridor wasn’t a coincidence?

Until now, seeing Pirenthia who had completely different tendencies from Gallahan, he had vaguely thought she must have resembled her late mother.

But.

‘Perhaps she resembles Lord Gallahan…’

Cleribane thought this as he was helplessly dragged into the dining hall.

* * *

“Cleribane?”

How did you end up here?

When I asked with my eyes, Cleribane looked at Father with a somehow powerless expression.

I didn’t quite understand, but it seemed like he was dragged to dinner because of Father.

“Ah, I’m hungry.”

“It’s been a while since we all gathered like this.”

I missed the chance to ask because the twins and Shannet came in.

“It’s been a while, Duke Pellet.”

Shannet greeted Cleribane gently.

Although this was supposed to be a gathering for family only, no one showed any signs of discomfort toward Cleribane.

“Yes, it’s been a while, Lady Shannet.”

While greetings were being exchanged.

“Everyone’s gathered.”

Grandfather arrived.

Soon the food came out, and we began eating.

As time passed and dessert was served, I spoke up.

“Grandfather, I have something to tell you.”

“Hmm? What is it, Tia?”

I clenched my fists tightly again, recalling when I told Father.

Let’s get it over with at once!

“You know that the Brown family became the western representative at today’s council meeting, right?”

“Since you stepped forward, I knew it would turn out that way from the beginning.”

“Then what about the method?”

“You and that cunning Second Prince must have worked together.”

Grandfather chuckled and drank his wine.

It was perfect trust in me.

My heart grew even heavier.

Then, Father sent me an encouraging look.

“Before… when Pellet Trading Company took over the debt that Angenas owed to the Lombardi family, remember, Grandfather?”

“That’s right.”

“At that time, Pellet Trading Company lent money to Angenas and took their land as collateral.”

“Oh ho, so you used that? Very well done, well done! Ahehehe…”

Grandfather’s laughter gradually grew quieter.

Then he tilted his head and asked me.

“But how did you exercise the collateral rights without Cleribane going to the council meeting?”

“Please read this once, Grandfather.”

I quietly held out Cleribane’s lifetime contract.

“Hmm. Let me see. ‘I, Pirenthia Lombardi, owner of Pellet Trading Company’…”

The voice reading the contract stopped.

But the most important part had already been revealed.

That I was the owner of Pellet Trading Company.

Grandfather was still staring intently at the contract, while Shannet shook her head with a smile and drank her wine.

“You, you little…”

I bowed my head, prepared to receive a scolding obediently.

But the sparks flew in an unexpected direction.

“Cleribane, you rascal! You should have told me!”

“…I apologize.”

Cleribane bowed his head calmly, as if he had somewhat expected this.

“Impudent fellow! How could you deceive me so completely!”

“Grandfather, that wasn’t Cleribane’s idea, it was mine…”

“Wait.”

Grandfather raised his hand to stop my words and asked.

“Then the matter of the Lira Diamond Mine…?”

It was the first business venture after Pellet Trading Company was established.

The one where we had seized the mine from right under Lombardi’s nose.

“…That was my doing.”

“But you were only eleven years old then, weren’t you?”

“That’s right.”

“Then buying grain from Seo-Seo-u and selling it in the Eastern Region too…?”

“Yes, that’s also correct.”

“The Triva lumber from the north too? And currently dominating eastern trade?”

Grandfather asked me again in a voice where it was hard to distinguish whether he was angry or curious.

“Really, really, are you saying Pellet Trading Company is your business, Tia? That you’ve been growing Pellet Trading Company since that young age?”

“Yes.”

“Without this grandfather’s help, without the family’s help?”

“I did receive Lombardi’s help occasionally. Though you didn’t know about it, Grandfather.”

I nodded and answered.

Grandfather looked back and forth between me and Cleribane several times.

And then.

“Uhahahaha! Ahehehe!”

A louder laugh than ever before burst out.

He laughed so vigorously that he even took a napkin to dab at the tears that had formed in his eyes.

“So that’s how it was! Haha! A mere child of ten-something years old! Uhahahaha!”

Thank goodness.

I let out a small sigh of relief.

Fortunately, Grandfather didn’t seem angry.

He just kept looking at the contract again and again, sipping wine, and repeating his ‘uhaha!’ laughter.

“I was worried that Tia was too young and lacked experience! But here you are, a master merchant of the highest level! Ahehehe!”

With Grandfather reacting like this, I could also laugh along more comfortably.

“But, Tia.”

Shannet called me.

“Won’t it be difficult to manage both Pellet Trading Company and the Lombardi family?”

Her words were filled with concern.

“I don’t want to give up either one. I’m quite greedy, you know.”

I shook my head as I spoke.

“And from the beginning, I didn’t grow Pellet Trading Company alone. Cleribane and Violet did all the hard work. I plan to continue entrusting all of Pellet Trading Company’s affairs to them as I have been.”

“Then, then. Tia must succeed me as the head of Lombardi! Of course!”

“Um, Grandfather. You’re not angry with me?”

The atmosphere wasn’t bad, but I was still worried.

“It’s not bad for a person to keep some of their abilities hidden. Well done, Tia.”

Grandfather actually praised me.

So he really wasn’t angry.

In that case.

“Grandfather.”

“Hmm?”

“That contract…”

I pointed to Cleribane’s contract in Grandfather’s hand as I spoke.

“It’s a lifetime contract, you see.”

“Ah, right! I must keep it safe! To keep Cleribane firmly bound!”

Grandfather laughed ‘uhehe!’ again and returned the contract to me.

Ah, more fingerprints.

Before I knew it, Cleribane was also laughing comfortably at Grandfather’s words, shaking his head as if he couldn’t help it.

“So is everything with Angenas finished now?”

Grandfather asked me.

“Hmm, no.”

“You mean there’s more business left? Perhaps…”

Grandfather narrowed his brow worriedly as he spoke.

“Are you thinking of showing mercy to those Angenas folks? Because our Tia is soft-hearted…”

“There’s still debt to collect. Cleribane, how much was it?”

At my question, Cleribane wiped his mouth with a napkin and answered.

“2,500 gold for the first loan, and 4,500 gold for the second. A total of 7,000 gold.”

“This is money the Angenas Patriarch borrowed secretly from the Empress after the Henforek Estate incident. Of course, he didn’t pay interest either…”

“Including three months of interest and penalties for contract violation, it comes to a little over 8,000 gold.”

“That’s right.”

I smiled at my family members who were looking at me and Cleribane with somewhat dazed expressions.

“Oh, and there’s more! We need to collect compensation for destroying Pellet Trading Company and Cleribane’s manor!”

“Violet is keeping records of all that damage right now.”

“It must have been uncomfortable at the Knight’s Building, she should rest a bit. Violet really…”

“You know Violet’s personality. She won’t be satisfied until she pays back exactly what she received.”

“Exactly. She’s too kind.”

We should pay back double.

I spoke to Cleribane like making a promise.

“After we scrape together every last bit, I’ll build you a nice new house, Cleribane.”

“Yes, shall we also upgrade the trading company building to a better one while we’re at it?”

“Ah, that sounds great!”

Grandfather’s voice could be heard laughing as he listened to the conversation between me and Cleribane.

“Yes, yes. That’s how my granddaughter should be!”

Just then, Butler Johan hurriedly entered the dining hall.

Normally, he wouldn’t disturb a family dinner.

Grandfather’s face stiffened slightly upon seeing Yohan enter carrying a letter on a tray.

And the tense atmosphere became even heavier after hearing Yohan’s words.

“This is an urgent message from the Imperial Palace.”

Grandfather set down his wine glass and tore open the letter’s envelope.

After carefully reading the contents, he immediately stood up from his seat.

“Yobanes is critically ill. I must go to the Imperial Palace right now.”

The Emperor is critically ill?

He seemed perfectly fine just during the council meeting earlier?

“Tia.”

Grandfather turned to look at me, who was still sitting, and called out.

“You too, as the heir of the Lombardi family, will come with this grandfather.

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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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