In This Life, I Will Be The Lord - Chapter 293
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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 35
Father said nothing.
He simply stood in the doorway, quietly looking at me.
My vision wasn’t clear due to the veil that had fallen forward.
“Father.”
What could he be thinking?
It was still a heart I couldn’t dare to fathom.
I didn’t rush Father, but waited quietly.
Of course, while trying to remember where I had put my handkerchief.
Before long, I heard the sound of the door closing behind Father’s back.
“Tia, are you all ready?”
Father’s voice was trembling.
“Should I… give you a handkerchief?”
“Oh, no. I’m not going to cry.”
Father quickly walked toward me as he spoke.
“I can’t show tears on such a joyful day.”
It seemed more like words he was telling himself rather than to me.
“Then I’ll give you a hug.”
I spread my arms toward Father as I spoke.
I have to comfort him somehow, my dear Father.
Father, who had been blinking and looking at me for a moment, soon let out a deflated laugh with a “pfft.”
“I should be the one hugging you.”
Father said that and hugged me tightly.
Was Father’s embrace always this big?
The two arms that held me firmly felt especially reliable today.
“You don’t need to worry.”
“I’m not worried. You’re a child who always knows how to make wise decisions.”
Warm hands patted my back.
“I’m just having various thoughts come to mind, so you don’t need to worry about Father either.”
The hand that had been stroking my back now gathered both my hands together.
“There was a time when your hands, Tia, fit snugly within my palm.”
“That’s right. It feels like just yesterday when Father cried buckets seeing my debutante ball dress.”
Even at the light joke I threw out to lighten the mood, Father just stared at me blankly.
Then suddenly, laughter appeared in his green eyes.
“Why are you laughing, Father?”
“Something from long ago suddenly came to mind.”
Father’s fingers, a bit colder than usual perhaps due to nervousness, rubbed the back of my hand.
“When you were still in the womb, Shan said something.”
“Mother did?”
“One day, after waking up from a long nap, she said this: ‘Our daughter will meet a wonderful person and live happily ever after for a long, long time.'”
“Ah.”
“She smiled with such a relieved face. That image is still vivid in my eyes. Then she even scolded me, saying, ‘So don’t you dare cry at the wedding, Galli.'”
What exactly did Mother see during that long nap?
“There’s never been anything wrong with what Shan said. So Tia, you will surely become even happier in the future.”
My future that Mother had seen in advance long ago, and Father who was conveying it to me.
A gift that my parents had prepared from long, long ago had arrived to me today after many years.
“Happily ever after for a long, long time.”
My heart, which had become a bit restless from sitting alone in the waiting room, settled down calmly.
This time, I hugged Father tightly.
“You’ve worked so hard raising me all by yourself, truly.”
Father, who always came running first whenever something happened to me.
Father, who stood up to protect me even while being afraid of the intimidating Biejie.
Father, who smiled as if nothing was wrong even in the face of death.
And Father, who became stronger than anyone else for my sake.
“Thank you, Father.”
“…”
Instead of an answer, I felt the shoulders that embraced me trembling finely.
He’s probably struggling with all his might to hold back tears.
Knock knock.
Just then, a knocking sound came from outside, signaling that it was time.
“Ahem.”
Father quickly separated me from his embrace and wiped around his eyes with his sleeve.
Oh my, my dear Father.
I pretended not to notice and got up from my seat to put on my white lace gloves.
All preparations were truly finished now.
“My daughter.”
Father, who had wiped away all his tears but couldn’t hide his reddened eyes, approached and extended his hand to me.
“A wedding can’t start until the bride makes her entrance, can it?”
“Of course.”
I nodded briefly at Father’s words.
“Shall we go then?”
I took that hand that had always supported me, that I had once missed so painfully, and took my first step toward the wedding aisle.
* * *
The wedding of Emperor Peres and the Lombardi Family Head was held in Eleanor Hall, known as the largest and most splendid hall in the Lombardi Estate.
The nobles who entered the hall entrance with wedding invitations were surprised twice.
“Well, I’ll be. This is something.”
“It’s the wedding of His Majesty and the Lombardi Family Head, so I expected it to some degree, but.”
Eleanor Hall was beautiful and magnificent at the same time.
Intertwined tree trunks soared up as if supporting the transparent glass ceiling.
And between them, large, flawless red flowers were blooming.
“Is that the World Tree now?”
“It’s the symbol of the Lombardi Family. But a World Tree with flowers blooming, it’s like a dream.”
What surprised them for the second time, losing their composure, was after the wedding began.
“His Majesty seems to be… smiling, but my eyes aren’t broken, are they?”
“To think that person could smile like that.”
The guest seats stirred.
It was a solemn atmosphere, so they were at least whispering to the person next to them, but if it had been a regular banquet, it would have become quite noisy.
“Could it be someone else who looks exactly like His Majesty?”
“Two people who look like that? Don’t say such frightening things.”
The nobles shuddered but couldn’t take their eyes off Emperor Peres.
The already sculpture-like handsome young Emperor stood looking at the door where the bride would soon enter, constantly smiling, and everyone, regardless of age or gender, was half-enchanted.
And the Emperor’s smile deepened even more when the Lombardi Family Head walked down the wedding aisle.
“Ooh.”
“Wow.”
The Lombardi Family Head, entering with a bouquet made of red Bomnia flowers in one hand and escorted by her father Gallahan Lombardi with the other, was beautiful.
Though her face wasn’t clearly visible due to the veil, her beauty was already known to everyone in the Empire, and her softly glowing figure was like a noble pearl.
At the end of the long yet short wedding aisle, the Lombardi family head knelt to greet her father.
Gallahan Lombardi looked as if he might burst into tears at any moment, but no one would blame him for it.
How many emotions must cross through one’s heart at their daughter’s wedding, a daughter raised alone.
Many quietly dabbed at their tears in sympathy with the father.
And finally, Pirenthia Lombardi, the family head, turned toward Emperor Peres.
By protocol, he should have waited for the bride on the low steps, but the young Emperor couldn’t contain himself.
He quickly came down and took the Lombardi family head’s hand, saying:
“So. So beautiful, Tia.”
Though it was a small whisper, there was no one in the quiet ceremony hall who didn’t hear those words.
“…Keep it down.”
When the Lombardi family head finally scolded the Emperor, soft laughter rippled through the guests.
Thus, the bride and groom, hands clasped together, stood before the officiant, Rulak Lombardi.
“Today, borrowing this occasion, Emperor Peres Bribachau Durelli and Lombardi family head Pirenthia Lombardi…”
The wedding ceremony was seemingly ordinary.
Except for Rulak Lombardi occasionally glaring at Peres with stern eyes.
That gaze made several guests flinch, but Emperor Peres himself seemed completely unaffected.
The happiness of marrying the Lombardi family head seemed to deflect all such things.
“Peres Bribachau Durelli, make your vow declaration.”
Finally, it was the groom’s turn, who had been unable to take his eyes off the bride.
“I, who was once forgotten by the world, met you and gained new life. All the happiness and sorrow I have felt until now, and even my imperial throne, are all thanks to that day’s salvation, so to you, Pirenthia Lombardi, I offer my crown and my life.”
People were shocked.
An Emperor vowing to offer his crown and life.
Such a thing had never been heard or seen before.
“Ahem. Pirenthia Lombardi, make your vow declaration.”
Naturally, everyone’s gaze turned to the Lombardi family head.
“They say everyone has regrets at the end of their life.”
Taking a breath, she opened her mouth.
“But if you are not by my side at the end of this life, I will inevitably wish to repeat life again. So I promise the beginning and end of this life to you, Peres Bribachau Durelli.”
Sniff.
Finally, Gallahan Lombardi began to shed tears.
But he wasn’t the only one reaching for a handkerchief.
Before the pair of man and woman solemnly promising everything to each other, Rulak Lombardi who was officiating, and many of the guests also reddened their eyes.
Even the groom, Emperor Peres.
Unable to show tears at his own wedding, he clenched his teeth and stared intently at the bride’s veil.
In an instant, the wedding hall became a sea of tears.
In the midst of this, the Lombardi family head, who had been standing calmly alone, finally couldn’t bear it and said a word.
“…Grandfather.”
“Ah, yes. Ahem. I, Rulak Lombardi, hereby declare that these two have become husband and wife.”
As soon as Rulak Lombardi finished speaking, Emperor Peres lifted the Lombardi family head’s veil.
And immediately kissed her.
It was a deep and sincere kiss unlike what could be seen at other weddings.
Clap clap clap-!
Applause as passionate as the bride and groom’s kiss filled Eleanor Hall.
One by one, guests rose from their seats amid the continuing congratulations and cheers.
The now-married Emperor Peres and Lombardi family head pressed their foreheads together, looking at each other and smiling happily.
* * *
The wedding ended safely.
The reception, whether for our sake or for the guests who wanted to celebrate thoroughly, also concluded smoothly.
And on the first morning as a married couple.
At the dining hall of the Lombardi estate where we were having breakfast with everyone, Peres dropped a bombshell.
“What did you just say?”
Peres, who dabbed at the corner of my mouth with a napkin after I put down my utensils in surprise, answered.
“I said I’m moving my residence entirely to the Lombardi estate, Tia.”
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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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