In This Life, I Will Be The Lord - Chapter 40

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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 40

The Empress’s Palace of the Lambru Empire.

Even the most splendid space within the Imperial Palace was just beginning its day leisurely as noon approached.

This was a daily occurrence since the Empress, who usually had trouble falling asleep, would only drift off near dawn.

The Empress’s chambers were dimly lit with curtains drawn to block out the bright sunlight from outside.

The Empress, having just finished her bath with wet hair, sat regally before the mirror.

The chambers were already filled with dozens of people – a maid brushing and drying her hair hundreds of times, a maid preparing the dress the Empress would wear today, and a maid organizing the bedding she had slept in.

However, the space was as quiet as a tomb.

Only the occasional irritated sigh from the Empress could be heard.

Dozens of maids moved without making a single sound of rustling fabric or footsteps.

Yet no one frowned.

They knew that even breathing had to be done carefully in the Empress’s presence.

After a long while, the Empress’s grooming was finally complete.

Seeing a beautiful woman in the mirror who could rival anyone in appearance, the Empress smiled with satisfaction.

“You stay, everyone else leave.”

The Empress pointed to one maid who was organizing the undergarments she had taken off.

As if accustomed to this, everyone bowed respectfully and left the chambers.

Only the designated maid remained standing, her complexion turning pale.

She knew well why the Empress wanted to see her.

“You.”

Though she had served directly beside the Empress for five years already, she was always called ‘you’.

The black-haired maid named Bella bowed her head even lower.

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Why is there no news whatsoever?”

“Th-that is…”

Bella’s eyes trembled anxiously.

“I am certainly taking action as you commanded…”

The task Empress Lavinia had given Bella was simple.

To poison Second Prince Peres’s food.

No matter how humble his mother’s origins were, he was still the Emperor’s son.

To poison such a Second Prince.

Though it was an outrageous act, the Empress’s face when giving the order was as dry as if telling someone to pull out unsightly weeds.

Bella was terrified.

She didn’t want to do such a horrible thing.

However, she had no right to refuse the Empress’s command.

Bella’s family, one of the many vassal families of the Angenas clan, were poor nobles who owned only a palm-sized estate in the western part of the Empire.

Bella, the eldest daughter of such a household, had been offered to the Empress by her father.

Her father’s command was that since she had the best looks and brains among her siblings, she should serve the Empress well by her side.

Along with the words that she should never think of returning to the territory for any reason.

Most of the maids serving the Empress were in similar situations, and the life and death of them and their families all depended on a single word from the Empress.

If she disobeyed the Empress’s order to poison the Second Prince’s food, not only she but her entire family would die.

Though they were blood relatives whose faces she could barely remember now, they were still precious as life itself to Bella.

So she closed her eyes tightly and began adding poison.

Since the Second Prince’s mother died, she had been personally bringing food to the pavilion once a week.

This had been going on for several months already.

However, the Second Prince still hadn’t died.

“Seeing him lying in bed every time I go, the poison must certainly be taking effect…”

Why won’t he die!

Bella’s face became tearful.

If that brat didn’t die, she would die.

Her innocent family would die.

Bella recalled the pathetic appearance of the Second Prince, thin as a rail.

Such a little child.

If he would just die quickly, everyone would be at ease.

“Next time, add more poison.”

The Empress glanced at Bella’s trembling shoulders and spoke.

“Th-thank you!”

Bella’s voice was choked with emotion.

It was relief that he hadn’t died, that she had gotten another chance.

The Empress looked at such a Bella with irritation and waved one hand.

It meant to disappear from her sight.

Though it was an action like shooing away a bothersome insect, Bella was simply moved.

Habitually muffling her footsteps as she left the Empress’s chambers, Bella wiped away tears and smiled.

Thank goodness, really thank goodness.

She was truly grateful that it was the Second Prince whom no one cared about who would die, not herself.

* * *

“Here is the report on the clothing store’s sales status.”

Cleribane handed me a bundle of papers written in neat handwriting.

“And this is the age distribution of purchasing customers and simple survey results you requested.”

This was what I had asked Cleribane to do last time.

It was an event where we asked customers visiting the clothing store for their understanding in advance, and if they participated in a simple survey, we gave them ribbons or buttons that could be attached to clothes as decorations.

People who felt disappointed about buying ready-made clothes identical to others gladly participated, pleased with the small accessories they could use to decorate according to their preferences.

“Female customers are definitely overwhelmingly numerous. And the ages… mostly in their 30s and 40s.”

“I think it’s probably because women who used to make clothes at home now prefer purchasing ready-made clothing.”

“That would make sense. Hmm…”

While I was lost in thought for a moment, Cleribane waited quietly beside me.

No, not quietly.

Though he didn’t speak, his sparkling eyes seemed unable to contain his anticipation of what I might say.

“You said you’re opening a branch this time?”

“Yes, I’m looking for a suitable location within the same Heslot Market.”

“What does Father say?”

“Since Lord Gallahan is in charge of the operational management, he’s been extremely busy…”

Right.

Someone who always just read books would naturally be overwhelmed suddenly running such a busy business.

It would take some time to adapt.

I nodded and spoke to Cleribane.

“Even if you’re in a hurry, please pay attention to decorating both the interior and exterior as luxuriously as the main store. We must avoid the image that ready-made clothes are cheap just because the price is affordable.”

“Yes, understood.”

“And if possible, I think it would be good to launch other types of clothing along with the original women’s wear when the branch opens.”

“Other types of clothing?”

“When Grandfather had clothes made for Lombardy employees this time, the seamstresses gained experience with men’s clothing.”

Since money was spent on creating new patterns and making prototypes, we should extract everything we can from it.

“Men’s clothing, which is relatively simple in design and has fewer embellishments, should be able to leave a large margin for the clothing store.”

“But with women being the main customer base, would that be alright?”

“I think men’s clothing will sell well precisely because women are the main customer base.”

I said while tapping the report with my fingertips.

Cleribane thought about my words for a moment, then slapped his knee with a ‘smack’.

“Ah! Women in their 30s and 40s would also purchase their spouses’ clothes together!”

“That’s right.”

“As expected, Young Lady…”

Cleribane was so moved that he couldn’t even finish his sentence.

It must be because this was his first time seeing such a smart young Lombardy sprout.

I understand that feeling, Cleribane.

I stretched out my short arm and patted Cleribane’s shoulder.

Then I extended my other hand.

“You should also give me the order form.”

“Oh right, here it is.”

Cleribane carefully placed a bundle of papers densely filled with various numbers into my hand.

Actually, I had no intention of paying detailed attention to the money going out.

There was only one item I was looking for in this complicated order form.

“The margin rate is quite substantial?”

“Yes. Since we conduct large-scale transactions through Lombardy’s trading companies and guilds, it turned out that way.”

Cleribane said proudly.

That was natural.

For a merchant selling goods, how much profit they make is the most accurate measure of ability.

I flipped through a few pages of the report.

And finally found what I was looking for.

As expected.

There was a need for some adjustment as I had thought.

“Please raise the wages of the weavers and seamstresses a bit more.”

“Pardon? But then the clothing store’s profit rate will decrease.”

“That’s right. But these people are ultimately Lombardy’s people, aren’t they?”

People who live on this land of Lombardy, work for Lombardy, and pay taxes to Lombardy.

Therefore, saving money meant for them to earn more has no great meaning.

“And if we raise their wages, naturally their work efficiency will improve too. We’ll need to hire more workers going forward, and it goes without saying that it will be easier to find people then.”

Cleribane pushed up his glasses and nodded.

“I see. From a macroscopic perspective, it’s a way to strengthen Lombardy itself instead of giving up immediate margins.”

As expected, Cleribane understands quickly.

Even without explaining everything, he was accurately reading between the lines.

Leaving behind Cleribane who was flipping through his own report again with a studying attitude, I got up from my seat and walked to a nearby bookshelf.

I had worried that since this was a study for my use, it might be filled only with books for children.

Perhaps because he saw me reading ‘People of the South’ last time, the books were actually suited to adult level.

There were many interesting books that could be immediately helpful to me, and as I was browsing through them, I suddenly realized something and asked Cleribane.

“The day when the Lombardi Scholars gather is coming soon, right?”

“Pardon? Yes, that’s correct. But how did you know about that, Young Lady…”

How indeed.

I called the Lombardi Scholars who gathered once every quarter the ‘Lombardi Kids.’

They were people who had grown up with Lombardy’s support, or more precisely, the support that Grandfather started, and established themselves in various fields.

Cleribane was one of them too.

There were both nobles and commoners, but if there was something they had in common, it would be their strong sense of belonging and bond as Lombardi Scholars, and their deep loyalty to Grandfather.

Because the Lombardi Kids were considered as powerful a weapon as the clan’s wealth, Biejie would attend with Grandfather on the days they gathered, using the excuse that the eldest son must be there to take care of them.

“Where are they meeting this time?”

“The location has been set as the Lombardy Estate here, but we received word that there might be changes to the date.”

“Really?”

That was unusual.

Since they were all people holding important positions, usually the date and location were decided several weeks in advance.

Could something have happened to Grandfather?

Since everything depended on Grandfather anyway, all I could do was wait and see.

“I wonder if that person will come too?”

That person who had a small build and couldn’t erase the traces of age, but at the same time possessed tremendous presence.

“It would be really nice to get acquainted in advance.”

I muttered while recalling the middle-aged woman with graying hair whom I had briefly seen in my previous life.

* * *

After the ‘advanced lesson’ with Cleribane ended, I left my study.

Since some time ago, Giliou and Meylon had started taking swordsmanship lessons.

It was Shannet’s decision to exhaust the energy of the twins who were displaying tremendous beagle-like energy with each passing day.

Since these two had reached the upper ranks in tournaments held every Foundation Day in my previous life, it would be a good choice.

“Since the weather is nice, shall I take a walk?”

Soon it would be time for the twins’ swordsmanship lesson to end.

I slowly moved my steps to go to Shannet together with them.

And it was when I entered the quiet path leading to the Annex Training Ground.

Pop!

With a sound like something hitting the air, something flew hard toward my face and struck it.

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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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