In This Life, I Will Be The Lord - Chapter 280

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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

 

Side Story Episode 23

 

The very small baby who came nestled in Avinox’s arms naturally sought out Larane’s embrace.

 

“Wow, he really is the spitting image of his father.”

 

I found myself muttering while looking at Rik.

 

“It’s like holding a tiny Avinox.”

 

At my words, Larane smiled with her eyes crinkling sweetly.

 

“Right? At first I thought he might resemble me because of his eye color, but as days go by, he’s looking more and more like Lord Avinox.”

 

As Larane said, Rik had blue eyes.

 

It was fascinating.

 

To think that Larane and Avinox met and had a child who resembled both of them.

 

The two people I’d known since their teens suddenly seemed incredibly grown-up.

 

But that was all my first impression of Rik amounted to.

 

“So cute!”

 

“He’s so tiny!”

 

Unlike the twins who were making a fuss beside me.

 

My reaction was rather calm, just thinking ‘he looks like his mom and dad.’

 

I figured it was because I usually don’t have much interest in young children.

 

I was certain of that.

 

Until just moments ago, Rik had only been interested in Larane’s hair, but then he noticed me.

 

His bright, curious eyes blinked at me several times.

 

“Kyaa!”

 

He flailed his still-short arms.

 

With his small red mouth like a baby bird, still toothless, he smiled brightly.

 

“So cute…!”

 

“Oh my!”

 

Larane exclaimed in surprise at me, who was dazed by Rik’s bright smile attack.

 

“He’s been incredibly shy with strangers lately, but it’s amazing how much he likes Tia on first meeting!”

 

“R-really?”

 

Do young children recognize blood relatives?

 

My heart fluttered at Rik’s clear, lake-like eyes staring intently at me.

 

“Would you like to hold him once?”

 

“N-no! I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

 

He’s too small!

 

What if I accidentally drop him!

 

When I waved my hands, Larane smiled understandingly.

 

That’s when it happened.

 

“Cough!”

 

With a small coughing sound, clear milk that Rik spit up trickled down onto Larane’s dress.

 

“Ah!”

 

He spit up!

 

“Is he sick somewhere?”

 

“Is it because there are too many people? Shouldn’t he get some cool outside air?”

 

The twins, as surprised as I was, fidgeted anxiously.

 

“It’s okay. Babies do this sometimes. But I should change clothes.”

 

“I’ll help you, Lady Larane.”

 

“Would you do that, Lord Avinox?”

 

The bride and groom who had their wedding today looked at each other and smiled affectionately.

 

“Hmm, then Rik is…”

 

Larane, who seemed to ponder for a moment, suddenly held out Rik.

 

Into the arms of Peres, who had been staring at Rik with curiosity.

 

“I’ll be right back, Your Majesty. Please watch Rik for just a moment.”

 

Saying that, Larane hurried away with Avinox.

 

“Um… Peres?”

 

“…”

 

Peres didn’t respond.

 

He couldn’t move from the exact position Larane had placed Rik in his arms.

 

“Are you okay?”

 

“…Yeah.”

 

It didn’t seem like it.

 

Even in Peres’s arms, stiff as a statue, Rik looked quite comfortable.

 

No, beyond comfortable, he seemed to like Peres very much.

 

“Abubu!”

 

Rik made meaningless babbling sounds as his small hand gripped Peres’s clothes tightly.

 

And then.

 

“Auu.”

 

He buried his chubby face, white as a steamed bun, softly into that reliable embrace.

 

As if getting sleepy, he closed his eyes tightly and even nuzzled.

 

“Ha, so cute.”

 

He is my nephew, but is it okay for him to be this adorable?

 

Wait, what might Rik need?

 

I was thinking about this and making a mental list of gifts to give Rik when.

 

Pat, pat.

 

I saw Peres carefully patting Rik’s back.

 

The hand covering that small back, so tiny that even breathing seemed precious, looked particularly large.

 

After hesitating for the first couple of times, Peres soon soothed Rik gently with practiced movements.

 

“Uung.”

 

I could see Rik’s eyelids getting heavier and heavier.

 

His deep blue eyes, like Ruman’s sea, blinked several times before long eyelash shadows settled down.

 

I watched the two of them without making any sound.

 

It was such a peaceful scene that even breathing felt careful.

 

“It looks much better than expected, doesn’t it?”

 

Larane, who had returned wearing a new dress, spoke in a low voice.

 

“Mmm, it does. Even more than expected…”

 

How should I describe this feeling?

 

Strange emotions were all mixed up, making it difficult to express in words.

 

“It’s really nice.”

 

In the end, all I could say was one sentence.

 

“His Majesty will be a good father.”

 

“Do you think so?”

 

“Just look at him now.”

 

I could only nod at Larane’s words.

 

Before I knew it, his posture holding Rik had become stable, and though still stiff, his eyes looking down at the child were filled with warmth.

 

“He definitely will be.”

 

Larane’s tone now held firm conviction.

 

“How is the Eastern Region?”

 

When I asked, Larane smiled brightly and answered.

 

“It’s good. I’ve become much stronger since coming here.”

 

Larane’s blue eyes sparkled with vitality.

 

“You’ve found your home, Larane.”

 

“Home?”

 

After thinking for a moment, she nodded.

 

“That’s right. That’s how it feels. Home. And now…”

 

Larane looked at Rik.

 

“I want to make this land where Rik will live a better place.”

 

“So that’s the feeling that led to your wheat farming success.”

 

I was actually a bit surprised.

 

I already knew the cure for the wheat disease that would spread in the south from what I had seen and heard in my previous life.

 

So I didn’t doubt its effectiveness.

 

But wheat farming in the east was a completely different matter.

 

I had sent a few Lombardi scholars at Larane’s request, but honestly, I hadn’t expected them to achieve success in such a short time.

 

Larane, smiling proudly while looking at Rik, seemed somehow different from the person I knew.

 

“Larane has become strong.”

 

At my words, Larane blushed shyly on both cheeks like when she was young.

 

But even so, she nodded firmly.

 

“Because I have something to protect now.”

 

Something to protect.

 

Just as Larane was looking at Rik, my gaze unconsciously turned toward Peres.

 

Peres was quietly gazing at Rik, who had now fallen completely into a deep sleep.

 

Then suddenly, a gentle smile spread across his previously expressionless face.

 

It was a small change as his stiff lips relaxed, but it was a smile as peaceful as sleeping Rik.

 

How many things had happened for that dark man from my previous life, that boy who had guarded the crumbling pavilion alone, to be able to smile like that.

 

Then, as if sensing my gaze, Peres looked up.

 

Our eyes met immediately.

 

He didn’t look away.

 

As if only we existed among all the people coming and going in the banquet hall.

 

How much time passed like that?

 

Peres smiled.

 

His eyes curved beautifully, and his lips formed a lovely arc.

 

It was a smile that bloomed only for me.

 

“I want to protect too, me as well.”

 

Just as Larane had succeeded in wheat farming in Ruman for Rik’s sake.

 

I wanted to protect Peres too.

 

“So I need to become even stronger from now on.”

 

It was a promise I made to myself.

 

It was also a vow to protect that person by my side no matter what came our way.

 

So that Peres could always smile like that.

 

And before I knew it, a smile similar to his bloomed on my face too.

 

Suddenly I had a feeling.

 

You too, and me as well.

 

We’ll probably remember this moment for a long time.

 

Even in the distant future, holding your hand tightly and talking about today, we’ll still be laughing together even then.

 

We’ll go through all kinds of hardships together until that day, but it will be okay.

 

Because people who have something to protect become strong.

 

“He looks like a sleeping angel…”

 

“Shh. Speak quietly, you fool!”

 

The twins could no longer hold back and gathered around Peres to get a look at sleeping Rik.

 

The sight of three large men surrounding a small baby somehow made me happy.

 

Long ago, I had once said to Larane when she was suffering because of the forced engagement.

 

“Larane just needs to find something that makes herself happy.”

 

So I asked Larane.

 

“Larane, you’re happy now, right?”

 

The answer came immediately.

 

“Yes, I’m happy.”

 

Yes, then that’s all that matters.

 

What does it matter where it started?

 

The place where my heart fills with joy, that’s home.

 

“Waaah!”

 

I could hear Rik waking up from his sleep and bursting into tears.

 

“He always cries like that when he’s looking for his mother.”

 

Larane shook her head as if she couldn’t help it, but she was smiling.

 

Joy emanated from Larane’s back as she walked toward Rik.

 

Thank goodness.

 

Larane, who had returned to Lombardi cold and withered, had come back through one lifetime and now taken root here in Ruman.

 

And now she would live happily in this land that was warm, brilliantly sunny, and filled with the sound of cheerful songs.

 

“Then shall I try holding Rik once too?”

 

Avinox had returned at some point, and most importantly, Larane the mother was nearby, so I could ask her to teach me.

 

I walked toward Peres and my family who had been standing at a distance.

 

Because they are my home.

 

* * *

 

And back to the present.

 

Chirp- Chirp-!

 

The season when cicadas cry noisily.

 

I entered the Lombardi Lord’s Office with a bright smile.

 

“It’s been a month since we last met, Lord Sersheu?”

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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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