In This Life, I Will Be The Lord - Chapter 308

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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 50

“Ah, Father.”

The excitement that had been rippling just moments before disappeared, and Gallahan’s face hardened stiffly.

Though he was merely standing with his hands clasped behind his back, the aura that Rulak Lombardi naturally exuded pressed down on his surroundings.

A few years ago, after a long succession struggle, Rulak, who had inherited the position of Lord of Lombardi, was evaluated as having seized power more meticulously than any previous clan heads.

Gallahan, who had been a teenager at the time, vividly remembered the political strife within the family that had occurred right up until the succession of the clan head position.

And he also remembered how perfectly his father, Rulak Lombardi, had eliminated his rival brothers.

Gallahan, who had momentarily stopped breathing as memories from that time surfaced, bowed his head and barely managed to answer.

“I was out getting some fresh air.”

“Until this hour?”

“I was walking in a place with beautiful scenery and lost track of time.”

Though he wasn’t at an age to be scolded for coming home late, Gallahan swallowed dryly under Rulak’s piercing gaze.

“Gallahan.”

“Yes, Father.”

“It’s good to enjoy a moment of freedom among Lombardi’s citizens.”

Flinch.

Only then did Gallahan remember that he was dressed in shabby commoner’s clothes.

It felt like a cold sweat was trickling down his back.

“As a member of Lombardi, it’s important to know their lives well and have affection for them. However.”

Rulak heavily placed his hand on Gallahan’s shoulder.

“You must learn to distinguish between those you rule and those you hold in your heart.”

He knows everything.

Gallahan raised his head, which had been bowed down, to face his father.

In his seemingly ordinary brown eyes was a power that could not be defied.

“I trust that you, Gallahan, will handle yourself well.”

Handle yourself.

Realizing the meaning those words carried, Gallahan hurriedly tried to protest.

“But Father…!”

However, the large hand once again gripped his shoulder heavily.

It meant he would not discuss this matter any further.

Seeing Gallahan’s mouth close again, Rulak finally smiled with half satisfaction and said.

“I have something to give you, so follow me.”

The back of his father, who turned around first and walked away, looked far too enormous.

Too enormous to defy.

Gallahan eventually followed Rulak into the Head Family’s Office.

Whether work wasn’t finished yet, the brightly lit office had documents piled up here and there.

Rulak, who sat down after familiarly passing through them, opened a drawer and pulled out a rather thick bundle of documents.

“What is this?”

Gallahan asked as he received it somewhat bewildered.

“It’s a brief summary of the recent business activities of the Lombardi Guild. If you read through it carefully, you’ll get a sense of how the guild operates.”

“But Father, I already told you that I don’t want work at the guild…”

“Is it you who doesn’t want it, or is it Biejie?”

Flustered by the sharp question, Gallahan ultimately couldn’t answer.

Rulak, who watched his youngest son with stern eyes for a moment, inwardly swallowed a sigh.

Among his four children, only the eldest, Shannet, and the youngest, Gallahan, showed promise for inheriting the clan head position.

However, after marriage, Shannet was gradually stepping down from her duties, citing her desire to be devoted to her family.

He had placed his hopes on the remaining Gallahan, but the boy was far too timid.

Even with the ability to quickly push his older brother Biejie out of the succession competition if he set his mind to it, he alone was unaware of this.

He had hoped Gallahan’s personality might change a bit after coming of age, but instead, he only became more withdrawn with each passing year.

“Biejie has been tormenting you every day, hasn’t he?”

“Ah, you knew?”

“Do you think there’s anything in this Lombardy that I don’t know?”

Gallahan’s face reddened at Rulak’s counter-question.

It was because the memory of his clumsy acting in front of his father just yesterday came flooding back.

“This time is different. You no longer have a choice.”

Gallahan’s eyes widened greatly.

“You understand what I mean, don’t you?”

Gallahan nodded heavily.

By taking away his right to choose, it meant he wouldn’t give Biejie any room to interfere.

It was both coercion and consideration for Gallahan at the same time.

Rulak, who had been watching his silent youngest son for a moment, resumed the clan head duties he had paused and said.

“So prepare yourself mentally and come find me again on your own. I can’t give you too much time.”

* * *

“What was that dream about?”

While cleaning the table that a customer had just left, Shan tilted her head in puzzlement.

She had dreamed last night.

It was about Gallahan’s future.

It was content that hadn’t existed when she had the long dream in the village.

“Could it be that the future has changed in the meantime?”

In the dream, Gallahan was working.

Surrounded by people who were clearly capable, he looked busy but at the same time very energetic.

It was quite a different future from the Gallahan she had seen so far.

Just then, someone smiled at Shan and said loudly.

“Shan, it was delicious today too!”

“See you again next time!”

They were regulars who came several times a week.

“Get home safely!”

Shan smiled back and greeted them, then looked around.

She had been running around frantically for several hours, but after lunch time passed, the cafe had become quite quiet.

And Shan spotted Gallahan at a window seat located in the corner of the cafe.

“Gallahan, when did you arrive?”

“A little while ago. It’s about time for your break, isn’t it, Shan?”

Gallahan answered with a small smile.

Shan’s heart fluttered slightly at that smile as she untied her apron and sat in the seat across from him.

It had already been ten days since she and Gallahan had started meeting daily and spending time together.

During that time, he had come to ‘Blue Wave’ every day, timing his visits to match Shan’s break times and when she finished work, and before they knew it, the two had become part of each other’s daily lives.

It was nice to be able to see Gallahan’s face every day, but there was one thing that bothered her.

“Hmm.”

Shan didn’t hide her displeased feelings and slightly frowned as she looked around.

It was because the women at the tables still remaining were stealing glances at Gallahan.

“…”

Whether he had some worries lately, Gallahan often stared blankly into the distance like he was doing now.

And that melancholic appearance drew people’s attention even more.

Shan narrowed her eyes and said.

“Gallahan, don’t come here anymore.”

“Shan…?”

“It would be better if we just met outside.”

At that, Gallahan’s light green eyes shook anxiously.

“Why, Shan? Did I disturb you? Did you get in trouble because of me?”

“No, that’s not it.”

The owner lady of ‘Blue Wave’ didn’t dislike Gallahan occupying one table every day.

No, she actually liked it.

Thanks to him, the cafe had even more customers.

“There are too many people coming to see Gallahan.”

Everyone knows he’s handsome.

At Shan’s quietly added words, Gallahan’s face instantly turned bright red.

But that look was so cute that squealing sounds from women in the distance could be heard.

‘I can’t exactly chase away the customers.’

Shan was thinking grumpily when.

“That… I feel the same way.”

Gallahan said, looking straight at Shan with his red face.

“Do you know how many men can’t take their eyes off Shan every day?”

“M-me?”

“Yes. They’re all so busy watching Shan work hard that they probably don’t even know where their stew is going. And when Shan occasionally smiles, it’s like she’s sparkling with light…”

Gallahan, who had been pouring out his inner thoughts, suddenly stopped speaking.

Only then did he realize what he was saying.

His pale face had now become like a pretty apple.

Across from him, Shan, whose face had turned equally red, waved her hands frantically and asked.

“You’d come even if I told you not to, wouldn’t you?”

Nod.

Gallahan quickly nodded his head, even though he couldn’t properly meet her eyes.

It was quite a firm expression of will.

“Then… could you sit there with your face covered a bit with a hat or hood? How about that?”

…Nod.

Even after the compromise was reached, their reddened faces didn’t calm down easily.

Friends.

For a relationship bound by that ambiguous word to meet every day, a conversation like the one just now was quite bold and crossing the line.

“Ahem. It’s hot, want to go look at the backyard here?”

“…Shall we go.”

Gallahan hurriedly put down money for the food on the table and jumped up from his seat.

The backyard, occasionally visited by the inn’s guests and employees that operated alongside the dining hall, was small in size but a warm space with good sunlight.

“It’s a place that puts the mind at ease.”

Gallahan said after looking around once.

“Right? I want to have a backyard like this someday too. A house that feels comfortable and cozy with lots of trees and flowers planted.”

“…It seems like it would suit Shan well.”

At Gallahan’s compliment, Shan smiled brightly and clapped her hands loudly.

“Oh, look at my mind!”

“What’s wrong, Shan?”

“I take care of the trees and flowers here. But I forgot to water them!”

Shan hurriedly found a large bucket and filled it with water.

And just as she was about to lift it with all her strength.

“I’ll carry it. Where should I go?”

Gallahan gently pushed Shan’s hands away and asked.

The bucket that she could barely lift with both hands, Gallahan picked up easily with one hand.

He didn’t even look strained.

“Um… starting with that tree over there. Should I help carry it?”

But Gallahan shook his head.

“I’ll do it, so Shan just tell me how much to give each one.”

“…”

Behind Gallahan, who readily took the lead, Shan secretly fanned herself once more.

After sharing water with the trees and flowers like that, the very last thing Shan pointed to was a small flowerpot.

Gallahan looked closely at it, sitting alone in the spot with the best sunlight in the backyard.

His gaze kept going to the tender leaves and the very small flower buds that had formed.

“What’s this one’s name, Shan?”

At Gallahan’s question, Shan answered while watering it directly.

“Bornea. It’s called a Bornea flower.”

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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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