In This Life, I Will Be The Lord - Chapter 36

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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 36

Ah, so that’s just the beginning.

I tried to recall my memories.

That’s right. It was around this time in my previous life too.

When Belesack began earnestly going in and out of the Imperial Palace as the Crown Prince’s playmate.

In fact, it didn’t start because Astana and Belesack were that close.

Astana regarded Belesack as nothing more than an annoying pest, so there was no way proper friendship could develop.

It was quite a political intention.

“Jealous?”

Belesack said boastfully to me and the cousins at the table.

“No.”

“Not jealous at all.”

“Why would I be jealous of playing with that rude, nasty-tempered guy?”

“That guy was rude to Tia too.”

The twins answered in an indifferent tone.

They were probably being sincere.

To the children of Lombardy, the finicky imperial family wasn’t such an attractive playmate.

But would other noble families feel the same way?

“Hmph. Lies. Everyone was jealous!”

It seemed he had already bragged plenty at several social gatherings.

And that was what the couple Biejie and Ceral wanted.

Of course, it wasn’t simply to boast in front of people.

Rather, it was to show how close their relationship was with the Crown Prince, that is, the Empress and the couple Biejie.

“So you, half-wit.”

Belesack pointed at me, who was sitting quietly, with the sharp end of his fork.

“You’d better listen to me from now on, okay? Obediently like before.”

What’s that fool saying?

I wasn’t jealous at all of friendship with the Crown Prince who would be dragged down by the Second Prince’s hand and sent to the battlefield anyway.

But Belesack’s triumphant appearance, not knowing such a future, was disgusting to watch.

I didn’t respond and quietly spread butter on my bread.

Generously, generously. Very meticulously.

And I lifted it up.

Flinch!

And Belesack, who was watching me, flinched greatly.

But I brought the buttered bread to my mouth as if to show Belesack, and took a bite.

Only then did Belesack’s face turn bright red as he grasped the situation.

I deliberately licked the bread crumbs from the corner of my mouth with my tongue and said loudly on purpose.

“Coward.”

I could hear the twins giggling on both sides.

Astaliou’s slightly disappointed tearful expression toward Belesack was a bonus.

Oh my, how pathetic.

Just then, I saw the door of Eleanor Hall open and Grandfather enter.

Grandfather, who glanced once at the grandchildren sitting around, walked straight to the large table.

The adults who were seated stood up to greet Grandfather with bows.

The family banquet was just beginning.

I quietly closed my mouth and strained my ears to listen to the conversation coming from the large table.

* * *

“It feels good to see everyone gathered like this.”

Rulak said with satisfaction as he looked at his children and their spouses sitting around.

Lombardy belonged to the category of families where the clan head’s direct descendants got along quite well.

Compared to other families where situations unfolded that one couldn’t bear to watch, as if proving that blood relations were useless in front of power.

At least the brothers hadn’t stuck swords into each other yet.

And that was also proof that Rulak was still going strong.

When the clan head showed weakness and the retainers had to think about the next generation, it would no longer be easy for everyone to sit around the table like this.

That’s how those who had reclaimed the position of Lombardy clan head had been, and Rulak himself had been the same.

“Bring in the food.”

Rulak ordered the butler.

Shortly after, servants carrying several silver trays entered in a line.

“Wow, amazing.”

The children’s eyes lit up when they saw what two male servants were struggling to carry in at the back of the procession.

It was a large roasted whole pig with a red apple in its mouth.

The appetite-stimulating aroma already filled the banquet hall.

And a man dressed in clean clothes entered last.

It was the clan head’s dedicated chef.

Incidentally, Emperor Yobanes’ cook was his disciple.

The chef, who bowed politely toward Rulak, personally took up the knife and cut the roasted pig into easy-to-eat pieces.

His hands were so careful as he placed each piece on a plate that one could glimpse the chef’s devotion toward the clan head.

Plates were placed in front of people, and the meal began in a fairly relaxed atmosphere.

Then Biejie, who had stood up with a wine bottle, approached Rulak.

“Allow me to pour you a drink, Father.”

Rulak nodded with satisfaction and accepted his eldest son’s drink.

Biejie spoke as if for everyone to hear.

“Thank you for allowing Belesack’s access to the Imperial Palace.”

The first to react to those words was Bestian.

“It seems to have proceeded smoothly, brother-in-law.”

“It’s thanks to Father.”

Biejie quite composedly attributed everything to Rulak’s merit.

“Without permission, Belesack would have had to wait several months until he turned eleven.”

Even the fastidious Biejie got along particularly well with Bestian.

It was partly because the handsome Bestian was smooth and nice to everyone.

Of course, there was more than that bond between those two.

Rulak silently held the red wine in his mouth and watched the ongoing conversation.

“How fortunate that Father made an exception for our Belesack.”

Ceral smiled, emphasizing the word ‘exception.’

Children of Lombardy couldn’t move freely outside the manor until they turned eleven.

But it meant that Belesack had received special treatment to be able to go to the Imperial Palace.

“Hardly worth calling an exception.”

Shannet said quietly but coldly.

At the same time, Ceral’s long eyelashes trembled.

But she didn’t dare argue back.

Among Rulak’s four children, no one could go against Shannet.

The same went for their spouses.

In the chilled atmosphere, Bestian smiled good-naturedly and patted the back of Shannet’s hand.

Though Shannet had the most steel-like personality among the siblings, she showed a particularly weak side only to her husband.

Even now, one could tell by how she erased her cold expression and continued eating with a reluctant smile, pretending to give in.

“No need to make such a fuss.”

Finally, Rulak spoke.

“If there’s a reasonable cause, there’s no reason she can’t go outside the manor before coming of age. Besides, we can’t ignore the Empress’s letter.”

A subtle smile spread across Ceral’s stiff face.

“Make sure to firmly instruct Belesack not to make any mistakes at the Imperial Palace.”

“Yes, Father.”

Biejie answered with a beaming smile.

“Eating together like this, the food seems especially delicious today. Don’t you think so, Father?”

Bestian relaxed the atmosphere with his characteristic gentle smile.

“Yes, indeed.”

“I hope we can gather like this often in the future! Ah, would it be difficult because of my youngest brother-in-law? Haha!”

Gallahan, who had been quietly eating on one side, widened his eyes when he was mentioned.

“Me?”

“These days I can barely catch a glimpse of my youngest brother-in-law’s face!”

“Ah, I’m sorry… I’ve been busy with work.”

Gallahan bowed his head as he spoke.

“Work, what work.”

“…Why do you say such things, dear.”

When Biejie snickered mockingly, Ceral scolded her husband.

But even so, the subtle smile that had crept onto Ceral’s face didn’t disappear.

“I heard you’re making a fuss about opening some shop this time. What exactly are you scheming?”

Biejie questioned Gallahan accusingly.

Though his words were mixed with enough mockery to make even other listeners feel indignant, Gallahan answered calmly.

“As you said. I’m planning to open a small shop.”

“Without the clan’s support?”

“Yes. This time I want to try doing it with my own strength.”

Gallahan answered while thanking the butler who had filled his glass.

“So you’re opening it in the marketplace?”

Small laughter flowed at Biejie’s words.

It came from Ceral and the Lorels couple, and Bestian.

“These days I can’t hold my head up because of you, Gallahan. If you’re going to open a shop, you should establish yourself properly in Sedacuna, but Heslot Market…”

“If it’s a matter of lacking money, shall we lend you some?”

Lorels asked like a brother who truly cared for his younger sibling.

“…Funding isn’t insufficient. It’s fine, brother.”

But looking at everyone’s smiling faces, the atmosphere didn’t seem to believe Gallahan’s words.

Here Ceral added her words.

“If you need a place to open a shop in Sedacuna, shall I speak to my family? Please feel free to ask if you need help, Lord Gallahan.”

“It’s really fine.”

“But…”

Ceral exchanged glances with Ronette, Lorels’ wife.

It seemed the women had already discussed this among themselves.

Easily guessing the content, Gallahan smiled bitterly.

“There’s Lombardy’s pride to consider. Doing business with commoners.”

Biejie reproached Gallahan.

“There are even rumors going around that the family has completely cast you out now.”

“I… didn’t know that.”

“Of course a fellow who doesn’t even show his nose at social events wouldn’t know. Even though there are no places inviting you, I told you to show your face occasionally…”

At first glance it sounded like nagging out of concern for his brother, but in the end it was just words looking down on Gallahan and elevating himself as popular at social events.

“You’d better reconsider the business of taking petty money from commoners, Gallahan.”

Biejie said finally, clicking his tongue.

It was an attitude of completely ignoring Gallahan.

Gallahan should have been angry at such treatment from Biejie.

But he just sat there sipping his drink with a strange expression.

Biejie and Lorels laughed, thinking Gallahan was acting this way because he had no words to refute.

That’s when it happened.

Rulak, who had finished eating and was dabbing his lips with a white napkin, casually threw out a remark.

“I’ll be watching, Gallahan.”

This time even Gallahan was surprised.

He stopped mid-motion while setting down his glass and hesitated.

At the same time, Biejie’s face contorted.

Depending on how one interpreted it, it could be taken as a completely different meaning, but Biejie looked at his father with eyes blazing as if about to breathe fire.

Didn’t it sound like he was saying he had expectations for Gallahan?

He even felt a trace of betrayal toward his father, who had never shown him such an attitude.

Gallahan looked at Rulak for a moment, then answered in a calm voice.

“Yes, Father. I’ll do my best.”

After that, conversation resumed under Bestian’s lead, but it was just meaningless words.

Biejie couldn’t hide his displeasure and only drank, while Gallahan just sat there occasionally lost in thought.

* * *

I wasn’t the only one listening to the words exchanged at the adults’ table.

The twins fidgeted restlessly beside me, watching my face at the words disrespecting Father, while Belesack was busy giggling with Astaliou sitting next to him.

“Tia, are you okay?”

Larane, who had been looking after Astaliou’s younger brother Creny who was still young, looked at me with concern.

“About what?”

“Well, that is…”

Larane carefully trailed off.

“I’m fine though? Ah, this is delicious. I should ask for more.”

I said while stabbing a piece of golden meat.

But I really was fine.

No, I was actually excited.

I wished time would pass quickly.

I was very curious about what faces those people would make after Father’s shop opened.

“Kukukuk…”

A somewhat wicked laugh flowed from my mouth.

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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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