In This Life, I Will Be The Lord - Chapter 283

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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 25

 

Chapter. 2

 

The Council Hall of the Imperial Palace.

 

A place where all the central nobles gather to discuss state affairs with the Emperor.

 

It was natural for such a solemn place to have a solemn atmosphere, but today’s Council Hall was like thin ice.

 

The extremely tense nobles couldn’t even properly cough in an atmosphere that felt like they might plunge into icy water at any moment.

 

The reason was the tense confrontation between the Emperor and the Lombardi Clan Head.

 

“This is clearly an act that ignores the rights of the nobles.”

 

Clan Head Pirenthia Lombardi spoke in a cold voice.

 

“Sending all the children of noble families to the Academy.”

 

It was an agenda that Emperor Peres had personally proposed not long ago.

 

If it were an imperial decree, it would be natural to simply follow it.

 

However, the starting point of this council meeting was when the Lombardi Clan Head stepped forward in opposition, saying this would have a tremendous impact on the lives of the nobles.

 

“It’s simply about using the Academy for the socialization of nobles.”

 

Emperor Peres said firmly.

 

Since the Emperor, who was an Academy graduate, had mentioned this from time to time, the nobles mostly felt ‘what was bound to come has finally come.’

 

However, when the Lombardi Clan Head personally stepped forward in opposition, the nobles under her influence united solidly.

 

But when the council meeting actually began, all the nobles could only keep their mouths tightly shut at the sight of the Lombardi Clan Head coming out more hardline than expected.

 

“His Majesty and the Lombardi Clan Head’s wedding is only a week away, is it alright for things to be like this?”

 

One noble whispered in a very small voice to the person next to him.

 

“Indeed.”

 

“But this time His Majesty went too far, so it can’t be helped.”

 

Another noble joined the conversation between the two.

 

“But still…”

 

However, their conversation could not continue any further.

 

This was because another fierce war of words continued like a ball going back and forth between both camps.

 

“Listen, Lombardi Clan Head. It’s only one year. Moreover, didn’t I say there would be exceptions for when one is sick or in special circumstances.”

 

“The duration is not what’s important, Your Majesty. I’m talking about the point that the education of noble family children is being dictated by imperial decree.”

 

“Are you saying the nobles don’t feel there’s a problem with the current situation?”

 

“What exactly are the problems you speak of, Your Majesty. Please enlighten this foolish one.”

 

The Lombardi Clan Head said sharply.

 

“Aren’t social activities and higher education opportunities limited only to high-ranking nobles? As the Lombardi Clan Head said, nobles are like the foundation of this Empire, so those who aren’t central nobles should also receive benefits.”

 

It was a reasonable statement.

 

Honestly, even the high-ranking nobles gathered here had no choice but to nod their heads to some extent at those words.

 

But the Lombardi Clan Head did not back down.

 

Rather, she stepped forward even more firmly and asked.

 

“Then what will you do about the high tuition fees of the Imperial Academy? Not all nobles will be able to afford that much money.”

 

After that, a lengthy war of words continued without an inch of compromise.

 

“Your Majesty, how about we discuss this agenda more calmly at the next meeting.”

 

Finally, Acting Clan Head Ramona Brown stepped forward to mediate.

 

“Let’s do that.”

 

With Emperor Peres nodding to that, the council meeting was barely concluded.

 

The noble faction led by the Lombardi Clan Head left the Council Hall, and the so-called ‘Academy Trio,’ the Emperor’s closest associates, went up to the platform.

 

They were Lignite Ruman from the Eastern Region, Steeli Sector from the Southern Sector region, and Tedro Cali from the Northern Cali region.

 

However, Peres was lost in deep thought, not even paying attention to them approaching.

 

The trio quietly exchanged glances.

 

Even though she’s his fiancée and will become Empress in a week, he must be angry that the Lombardi Clan Head opposed something as important as the Academy agenda.

 

Finally, Lignite Ruman cautiously spoke up.

 

“Your Majesty.”

 

“…”

 

“Didn’t you think it was a somewhat unreasonable agenda from the start? It’s not strange that the nobles would oppose it.”

 

Tedro Cali added to that.

 

“Perhaps coordinating separately with the Lombardi Clan Head, or proposing it again later would be…”

 

Peres remained silent.

 

The trio exchanged glances among themselves again.

 

‘He seems really quite angry.’

 

‘What should we do?’

 

‘He’s angry because of the Lombardi Clan Head, but we can’t call the Lombardi Clan Head either.’

 

As the silence grew longer and sweat began to trickle down the three men’s backs.

 

“Did I…”

 

Peres slowly blinked his eyes and opened his mouth.

 

“Did I do something wrong?”

 

“…?”

 

The Academy Trio’s heads tilted simultaneously.

 

What on earth is he talking about?

 

“Tia’s gaze when she looked at me earlier was sharp.”

 

Ah.

 

The trio finally nodded.

 

Of course, that’s how it would be.

 

Emperor Peres, who reigned over all nobles, was thoroughly weak only in front of the Lombardi Clan Head.

 

“It’s fortunate if you’re not angry.”

 

Steeli Sector said with relief.

 

To such Steeli, Peres rather tilted his face sideways and asked.

 

“There’s nothing wrong with what the Lombardi Clan Head said, so why should I?”

 

“Haha…”

 

The trio inwardly wiped their sweat.

 

They had been worried that there might be hard feelings between the two who were a week away from marriage because of this agenda.

 

At least they didn’t seem to need to worry about that.

 

They were a couple who sometimes separated public and private matters so thoroughly that one wondered how they could be like that.

 

Even while the three were thinking with one heart and mind, Peres continued to mutter in a low voice.

 

“She didn’t look well. Is she tired?”

 

Although they had been assisting Peres from childhood, they could never get used to this doting appearance.

 

Recalling the Emperor at the Academy, or rather when the Lombardi Clan Head wasn’t around, this was an unimaginable scene.

 

The trio turned their gazes far out the window with bitter smiles as if they had made a promise.

 

* * *

 

“I’m tired.”

 

After the council meeting ended and I returned to Lombardi for a meal, I muttered absentmindedly.

 

Even though I definitely took a nap in the carriage on the way back from the Imperial Palace.

 

I rubbed my eyelids that had grown heavy in the meantime.

 

“Is it because it’s spring?”

 

I have no appetite either.

 

Clatter, clatter.

 

The sound of utensils moving that weren’t mine could be heard softly.

 

It was Creny, who was having a meal together in the seat across from me.

 

His appearance of picking at his food with a haggard face was very similar to mine.

 

At this rate, the head chef is going to cry, isn’t he?

 

Feeling that this wouldn’t do, I tapped Creny’s side of the table and said.

 

“Creny, I understand you’re tired, but you need to eat properly to have strength, don’t you?”

 

“Ah! I’m sorry, Sister.”

 

Creny answered while yawning.

 

“You don’t need to apologize to me.”

 

Shouldn’t we both apologize to the head chef instead.

 

“How did you manage to handle all these many tasks by yourself all this time, Sister?”

 

Creny had been learning to assist with the Master’s duties for some time now.

 

“You get used to everything once you do it. Right now it’s more overwhelming because you’re still in the learning period.”

 

“I’m hoping for that and holding on, but…”

 

Creny seemed dejected for some reason.

 

“Is there some problem?”

 

“Well…”

 

After hesitating for a moment, Creny hesitantly opened his mouth.

 

“I can’t sleep well thinking about how the decisions I make have tremendous impact on Lombardy’s people. I’m not even sure if it’s right for me to be doing such important work.”

 

It was an emotion I had felt too when I first became the Master.

 

The heavy pressure of great responsibility weighing down on my shoulders.

 

As a kind of senior, I pondered what I should say to him and then spoke.

 

“Since it concerns Lombardy’s people, wouldn’t it be right for someone who knows Lombardy well to handle it?”

 

Looking into Creny’s large eyes, I continued speaking.

 

“And someone has to do this work, right?”

 

“Someone has to do this work…”

 

Creny nodded his head.

 

“Besides, you’re not doing this alone. I’m here, and Lombardy’s retainers are here too.”

 

When I comforted him like that, Creny’s complexion improved somewhat.

 

“Yes, Sister.”

 

But regardless of that, our dining situation didn’t improve much.

 

Creny asked me as I uncharacteristically just poked at my food with my fork.

 

“Do you have no appetite either, Sister?”

 

“Yeah, that’s right. I’m particularly tired today too.”

 

Then Creny stared at me intently.

 

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

 

“No, it’s just that I thought you get tired sometimes too, Sister.”

 

“I’m human too, so of course.”

 

“But Sister, somehow… you always seem perfect.”

 

“Even if you say that, you’re not getting a vacation.”

 

“Ah.”

 

Creny burst into quiet laughter.

 

“I’ve been like this lately too. They say it’s spring fever.”

 

“I guess that’s what it is. Still, let’s eat a bit more.”

 

I said, pointing to our plates that still had more than half the food remaining.

 

“If these plates go back to the kitchen like this, the head chef will be sad. Then… you know what happens, right?”

 

“Th, that’s right.”

 

Creny shuddered.

 

“There’ll be a banquet for dinner then.”

 

It was like the head chef’s pride.

 

If the Lombardy family’s reaction to the food he made seemed lackluster, he would put tremendous effort into the next meal.

 

A banquet laid out enough to fill a large table is scary in a different sense.

 

“Let’s try to pull ourselves together.”

 

“Understood, Sister.”

 

We steeled ourselves again and picked up our forks.

 

* * *

 

Today’s final schedule was to wrap up the wedding preparations with Kaitlin.

 

Because of the wedding that had approached in the blink of an eye, both Kaitlin and I had been moving around splitting our time.

 

Only the final fitting remained for the dress, and today was the day to finalize the seating arrangement for the wedding guests.

 

The task of appropriately mixing noble families with intertwined interests in one place was much more difficult than expected.

 

“Is this the seating chart that Peres worked on first?”

 

“That’s correct, Master.”

 

I spread out the paper densely filled with hundreds of names widely on the study desk.

 

It was just like Peres.

 

It seemed he had also been mindful of the points I was concerned about, as the seating arrangement was nearly perfect.

 

Though there were a few places that needed adjustment.

 

“What do you think, Kaitlin?”

 

“In my opinion…”

 

During the brief time Kaitlin was explaining, my eyelids grew heavier and heavier.

 

She was speaking earnestly about something, but none of the content was registering in my ears.

 

“Master?”

 

“Ah. Sorry, Kaitlin. I’m a bit tired.”

 

“Then shall I finish discussing this part with His Majesty?”

 

“No. If I get some cool air, I’ll wake up. Shall we rest for a moment and then continue?”

 

I said that and got up from my seat to go out to the balcony.

 

At that moment, with a spinning sensation, my vision flashed.

 

I instinctively grabbed onto something, but I couldn’t stop the strength draining from my entire body.

 

“Master!”

 

Kaitlin’s voice calling me seemed to come from very far away.

 

And with that thought as the last, I lost consciousness.

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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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