In This Life, I Will Be The Lord - Chapter 4

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

This Life, I Will Become the Clan Head Episode 4

“He kicked me down, and then hit me repeatedly with a book…”

This was absolutely maddening. To cleverly twist the facts and lie like that. Honestly, I was surprised that Astaliou even had the brains to pull off something like this.

I wanted to immediately shout that it was all lies, but I held back. Instead, I just stared at Grandfather with wide eyes that conveyed ‘I have something to say!’

“…”

Grandfather looked at me once, then asked Astaliou again.

“Are you saying Pirenthia started hitting you and Belesack for no reason?”

“Th-that’s…”

Unfortunately, Astaliou wasn’t quick-witted enough to rapidly fabricate lies. Among the Lombardi bloodline, he was particularly slow-witted – fine with physical tasks, but hopeless when brains were required.

“Pirenthia has always hated us…!”

Sensing danger, Belesack spoke up loudly in place of the fumbling Astaliou. I silently curled up the corners of my mouth.

“Don’t interrupt other people’s conversations, Belesack.”

Because that’s exactly what Grandfather hated most. That’s why I had been holding back and not crying out about the injustice until now.

“What ill-mannered behavior.”

At the sharp scolding, tears welled up in Belesack’s eyes again. But he was so afraid of Grandfather that he couldn’t even make a sniffling sound.

“Continue speaking, Astaliou.”

Now Astaliou became even more tense. The boy who couldn’t come up with proper excuses earlier now buried his face in his father Lorels’ clothes and started crying.

Well.

That was the typical reaction of children standing before Grandfather. Rulak Lombardi’s tremendous charisma sometimes made even grown adults tremble. The Lombardi Family children who had seen Grandfather since childhood could at least speak like this. Most people didn’t even dare make eye contact.

“Pirenthia.”

When Grandfather called me, I felt Father’s hand on my shoulder tighten.

“You tell me.”

But even while asking the question, Grandfather didn’t seem to have high expectations. That was natural. The original me, Pirenthia, was an exceptionally timid and meek child. That was the personality inherited from Father, made worse by being bullied by those awful cousins.

But I looked straight into Grandfather’s eyes and said.

“I did nothing wrong.”

“You made my son look like this and still…!”

“Biejie!”

Finally, a loud roar erupted from Grandfather. Biejie’s threatening demeanor, as if he would devour me, instantly deflated and his shoulders shrank.

Even after seeing his son get scolded for doing the exact same thing moments ago, he couldn’t control his temper and interrupted. Like father, like son.

“Continue speaking.”

Grandfather spoke to me sternly. But I could see there was something else in those seemingly cold eyes.

“I was waiting here for Father. Then suddenly Belesack and Astaliou came and mocked me, calling me a half-blood, and when I told them to stop, they hit me.”

“Hit you? Who hit you?”

“Belesack.”

I didn’t forget to point my index finger at Belesack.

“And they called me lowborn and told me to get lost to the Commoner Village.”

I knew what Father’s expression must look like right now without even looking. His hand touching my shoulder was trembling with anger. I could have glossed over it, but now was the time to clearly state what kind of treatment I was receiving.

Father, I’m sorry. Please bear with it a little longer.

“So you hit Belesack?”

“No.”

“Then why did you do it?”

“That’s because Belesack…”

I took a small breath and spoke clearly.

“That’s because Belesack told me ‘You’re not a Lombardi.'”

My brown eyes met Grandfather’s directly. They seemed like ordinary brown eyes, but I knew those eyes could see far more than ordinary people could imagine.

“I am a half-blood, that’s true.”

My mother never received permission to bear the Lombardi name, so I was certainly a half-blood. I had no intention of denying that.

“But even as a half-blood, I am definitely a Lombardi. A Lombardi that Grandfather has acknowledged.”

The past me thought I was incomplete because my mother was a commoner. So I always accepted being looked down upon as a half-blood, thinking my cousins were complete beings who possessed the half I could never have. That’s why I accepted being treated not as a member of the Lombardi Family, but like a mere employee, thinking it was justified.

But through actually running the clan, I realized painfully. That I was a hundred times more worthy of the Lombardi name than those idiots who called themselves Lombardis and strutted around.

The fact that I was just as much a Lombardi as anyone else.

“Belesack denied that I was a Lombardi. And I cannot tolerate that.”

“You didn’t hit him because he mocked you as lowborn, but because he said you weren’t a Lombardi?”

“Yes.”

I nodded and answered, then deliberately added one more word.

“Grandfather.”

It meant ‘I am your granddaughter too.’ I wanted to say that I had just as much right as Belesack to call you Grandfather.

And at that moment, I saw it. A faint smile crossed Grandfather’s face that had been rigidly hardened with anger.

“Doesn’t your knee hurt?”

At Grandfather’s words, I finally looked down at my knee. Blood was flowing from where I had scraped it falling down.

“Of course it hurts.”

“But you’re not crying. Such a crybaby.”

I thought ‘oh no.’ Would he think it strange that I had suddenly changed when just yesterday I was a timid crybaby? Slightly flustered, I quickly answered.

“I will cry. After I say everything I want to say, I’ll go to my room and cry.”

“Pfft.”

I heard Father chuckle softly above my head. At the same time, the tense atmosphere softened.

Thank goodness.

I secretly swallowed a sigh of relief. The first thing I had to do to become clan head was to gain Grandfather’s trust.

Grandfather was the king of Lombardy. Everything from the clan’s big and small matters to the successor flowed according to Grandfather’s will. In short, being favored by Grandfather was hitting the jackpot.

Although Biejie and other family members might not approve of me, as long as I received Grandfather’s favor, there wasn’t much they could do. In this Lombardy, falling out of Grandfather’s favor was tantamount to social death.

The fight with Belesack was an unexpected accident, but it was a blessing in disguise. I had been wondering how to attract Grandfather’s attention, and this opportunity seemed to have made a definite impression.

“Um, Father. I think we need to treat Tia’s wound.”

Father, who had been reading the situation, carefully spoke to Grandfather.

“Mm. Yes, that would be best. Take her.”

Now that permission was granted, I should escape quickly. Just as I was about to take Father’s hand.

“Wait.”

Grandfather called me.

Oh, what now.

“Pirenthia, is this book yours?”

Grandfather picked up the book that had fallen on the ground and asked while handing it to me. The thick book titled “People of the South” was clearly not a fairy tale book for children at first glance. In other words, it was very expensive and precious.

I was momentarily startled. I had completely forgotten about the book, and I knew how Grandfather felt about people who mistreated books.

I had no choice but to confess. Grandfather had seen me beating Belesack with this book, so there was no way out.

“Yes, it’s my book…”

I answered while receiving the book with both hands.

“I’m sorry.”

“Hmm?”

Grandfather looked at me as if puzzled.

What? Wasn’t he angry?

“What are you apologizing for?”

“Well, um. For treating the book roughly. Books are for conveying knowledge, not for hitting, I mean, harming people.”

“Didn’t you say earlier that you did nothing wrong?”

Good memory too. I pretended not to know and said.

“I think it’s also good to quickly acknowledge when you realize a mistake.”

“Heh heh…”

After making a sound that could have been laughter or a sigh, Grandfather spoke to Father.

“Hurry and take Pirenthia to the doctor.”

There was a resident doctor inside Lombardy. He ran a small hospital, teaching disciples with the clan’s support, conducting research, and treating people.

“Yes, Father.”

Father looked at my bleeding knee and lifted me up. Since I was only seven years old, it was natural for Father to carry his daughter, but with the mind of a sane adult woman, being held like this was quite awkward. Especially by Father, who had passed away long ago and I thought I’d never see again.

“But Father! Are you going to cover up this matter just like that? Pirenthia has made such a mess of Belesack!”

Biejie, who had been crumpled and dazed, shouted as if he felt wronged.

“Pirenthia must take responsibility for this!”

Oh my, this fool.

I resisted the urge to bury my face in Father’s shoulder. His inability to read the room was the same now as it would be in the future.

“Are you questioning my decision right now?”

Grandfather’s voice turned menacing again.

“No, that’s not what I meant…”

“Biejie.”

“…Yes, Father.”

“You should be ashamed of yourself.”

Leaving only those words, Grandfather went back into his study. The remaining Biejie ground his teeth furiously, but there was nothing he could do.

“Well then, we’ll be going.”

Father greeted the people while holding me in his arms. I thought we would leave right away, but as he passed by Biejie’s side, he paused for a moment and said something.

“Brother, aren’t you making too much of a fuss over children’s quarrels?”

“Pfft!”

I had to quickly cover my mouth with one hand. He had thrown back the exact words that Uncle had always said whenever Belesack bullied me.

“You, you…!”

Biejie was so furious he didn’t know what to do, but our Father just walked away briskly with a nonchalant expression.

I wrapped my arms around Father’s neck and looked back to find Belesack with my eyes. When the boy met my gaze, his shoulders flinched. Wiping the smile completely off my face, I mouthed the words:

‘Let’s. Meet. A-gain. La-ter.’

The boy who had been quiet suddenly burst into tears with a loud “Waaaaah!” but I didn’t care and enjoyed this moment, rubbing my face against my beloved Father’s embrace.

Ah, Father smells so good.

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————