In This Life, I Will Be The Lord - Chapter 43

—————
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 43

When I opened my eyes again, it was already getting dark around me.

“Mmm…”

Maybe I slept too long, but my body felt stiff when I tried to get up.

As soon as a small sound escaped my lips, someone rushed over eagerly.

“Tia, are you okay?”

It was Father, even his questioning voice careful.

“Dad?”

“Yes, Tia. It’s Dad.”

Father’s familiar touch stroked my head.

“Why am I still here?”

I just got hit in the face by a ball and collapsed.

Though I did have a bit of a nosebleed.

Actually, I did wake up once in the middle.

But the clinic bed was so comfortable.

At that time, the twins were already gone and it was quiet, creating the perfect atmosphere for sleeping, so I decided to get a good rest before waking up.

And when I opened my eyes, it was this time.

I didn’t know I’d end up lying here until it got this dark outside.

“Our Tia seemed to be sleeping so peacefully, so I was waiting until you woke up.”

“You should have just woken me up…”

I felt a bit embarrassed that I had slept so carelessly while making Father, who’s been busy lately, wait for me.

Father shook his head and smiled at my words.

“You must have been very shocked, so it’s good that you got plenty of rest.”

So Father heard about it too.

It wasn’t a big deal, but still, since I collapsed, he must have been quite worried.

I smiled cheerfully to ease Father’s worries.

But Father’s eyes became even sadder.

“I heard the story roughly from Sister Shannet. Belesack with a wooden sword, you…”

Huh? A wooden sword?

But I got hit in the face by a ball and had a nosebleed?

Come to think of it, Belesack did pick up Astaliou’s wooden sword at the end.

“And yet you told the twins not to hit Belesack…”

Father’s warm hand stroked my forehead once more.

“Why are you so kind, our daughter…”

“Well, you see, so…”

“It would be better if you were a little more selfish.”

More than this?

I blinked, trying to understand this situation.

So it seems people have somewhat misunderstood the situation before I collapsed.

Belesack didn’t even get to swing that wooden sword.

And the meaning of what I said just before collapsing, “Don’t hit Belesack,” wasn’t such a noble statement.

It meant, ‘Since he made my nose bleed, I won’t let that bastard off easy, so you guys step back.’

Father was looking at me as if seeing the kindest angel in the world.

Probably other people who heard this story would feel the same way.

People like the twins, Shannet, and Grandfather.

Any excuses from Belesack or Astaliou wouldn’t have been accepted.

Maybe it had already spread noisily throughout the Lombardy Estate.

What should I do about this?

I raised my head, which I had lowered while thinking, and looked at Father.

“I’m fine, Dad.”

What can I do? I should just let them continue misunderstanding.

I gave Father an even more angelic smile as I spoke.

Father stroked my cheek with an even gentler touch and smiled back.

“Don’t worry too much, Tia. Belesack won’t be able to bother you anymore.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“Grandfather gave Belesack an order. He told him not to approach you anymore.”

“Oh my…”

What a windfall!

It was like a pumpkin rolling in with its vine while I was unconscious.

Honestly, I had been quite troubled because of Belesack.

After getting beaten by me with a book last time, he seemed to be afraid of me and somewhat deflated, but I didn’t expect that state to last long.

Sure enough.

This time, thinking his position had risen after becoming Astana’s companion, Belesack had become arrogant, both at the recent family banquet and otherwise.

And as soon as that happened, he must have followed me around as if to vent his pent-up frustration.

It was obvious, the inside of such a scoundrel’s head.

But no matter how much I looked down on Belesack, the physical difference between us was unavoidable.

I was still young and smaller than my peers.

Belesack, who was older than me, would continue to widen that physical advantage, and I, who would continue to be a thorn in his side, couldn’t help but worry about my future.

I had even thought about what measures I should take in preparation for Belesack’s attacks.

But Grandfather stepped forward like this to solve my worries for me!

Of course, he could just disobey the order to stay away, but Belesack would never loiter around me again.

And he wouldn’t easily decide to hit me in the future either.

Because that guy knows Grandfather is scary.

“Dad, I’m fine now. Can’t we go home?”

At my words, Father got up from his seat and gently lifted me up.

“It doesn’t seem like there’s any major problem, but just in case, they said you should rest in your room for a few days.”

Since people thought I had been beaten by Belesack with a wooden sword, it couldn’t be helped.

I nodded obediently.

Being carried in Father’s arms through the darkened corridor, a group of employees who were finishing their daily work and heading back recognized us father and daughter and greeted us.

Wearing uniforms definitely created some unity and looked much better.

Then, a maid with big eyes and a round face approached us carefully and asked.

“Um, Young Lady Pirenthia. Are you alright?”

I didn’t expect her to speak to me, so I blinked without answering immediately.

“We heard you collapsed…”

Another person approached and spoke worriedly.

It wasn’t just those two who were checking on my condition.

The other people who were walking back together also stopped and were listening to our conversation.

I was originally someone who conversed freely with the employees, but I wasn’t popular enough to receive everyone’s concern like this.

“Young Master Belesack is really terrible. To such a small and young Young Lady Pirenthia…”

“Even though she suffered enough to faint, she asked the twin young masters not to hit Young Master Belesack?”

“Not just Young Master Belesack, but she was probably more worried that the twin young masters might get in trouble too.”

“Oh my, to such a kind young lady…”

I could hear several employees whispering behind us.

It seemed the rumors about me were circulating in a very embellished way.

To meet those people’s expectations, I gave the same angelic smile I had shown Father earlier and answered.

“I’m okay! Thank you all for worrying about me!”

A young child’s innocent smile was definitely effective.

Everyone’s expressions softened and I could see at a glance that their favorability toward me was rising.

Father nodded his thanks to them and began walking again.

Before long, we arrived home, and I asked Father about something that suddenly came to mind.

“Father, I heard guests will be coming to the manor soon. When will that be?”

“Ah, you mean the Lombardi Scholarship Association. I heard it’s in three days. The manor will be bustling after such a long time.”

Three days.

That was enough time for me to say I had rested for a few days.

So if things went well, I might be able to wander around the entrance area during the banquet time.

However, I was worried that Grandfather might be too frantically busy because of it for a while.

‘I should start moving soon too.’

I felt slightly anxious, but the Lombardi Scholarship Association came first for now.

I reassured myself.

* * *

“Your Majesty the Empress, such a grand tea party. I’m truly grateful.”

Ceral, beautifully dressed, greeted with a slight curtsy in front of her cousin Lavinia.

“Your son Belesack has become my son’s companion, so how could I not take care of this much? It’s been a long time, Ceral.”

Lavinia also spoke with a rare bright smile.

Originally, the plan was for Belesack to come with his parents, spend time with Astana, and have dinner together.

But after receiving Ceral’s letter a few days ago, the Empress changed all the plans.

The very next day at dawn, she sent letters by express messenger to high-ranking nobles who had townhouses in the Imperial Capital and had children around Belesack and Astana’s age.

It was an invitation to an afternoon tea party and dinner for noble children and their guardians.

The pretext was ‘good tea leaves have arrived, so let’s all enjoy them together,’ but ultimately it was to let everyone see Belesack’s first official entry into the palace.

The faces of other children who saw Belesack, who had played with them at noble gatherings, now staying right beside the Crown Prince, were filled with envy.

Ceral was very satisfied with this.

Even the shy Larane was spending a pleasant time at the center of girls her age instead of playing alone, at least for today.

Then she noticed something and asked the Empress for permission to step away briefly.

“Darling.”

Ceral headed to where Biejie was sitting alone at a table, drinking tea.

“Are you still that worried?”

“Worried about what.”

However, Biejie’s complexion remained the same.

“Do you remember what I said?”

Ceral smiled and sat in the seat next to him, placing her white-gloved hand on Biejie’s hand.

“No matter how strong Father appears right now, he can’t stop time. In just a few years, he won’t be able to do everything his way like now.”

“I know. But before that, he could take everything away from us.”

Biejie anxiously gulped his tea while recalling his father’s eyes that had blazed blue with anger.

Originally, he had planned to stay at the manor and attend the Lombardi banquet, but Ceral had stopped him.

And though he had come to the Imperial Palace as scheduled, he felt uneasy and fearful as if he had done something wrong.

“But didn’t he mention Lord Gallahan? Telling you to act more independently.”

“He did say that…”

“What do you think those words meant? Father is subtly hoping you’ll show a more eldest son-like appearance. You’ve worked so hard not to go against Father’s will all this time. Isn’t that right?”

Biejie nodded with a gloomy face.

“Perhaps Father didn’t like that. Maybe he wants to see you stand up to him even if you’re scared.”

“Is that so…”

Biejie was quickly convinced by his wife’s words.

The heart that had been ready to kneel down and beg desperately with hands and feet was gradually fading.

And in that gap, Ceral’s words cunningly penetrated one by one.

“That must be it, right? He’ll surely come to acknowledge you inwardly at some point.”

“Right. Surely he wouldn’t cast out his eldest son, would he?”

Another complacency filled Biejie’s heart.

Ceral smiled and took her husband’s hand, making him rise from his seat.

“Her Majesty the Empress is waiting. Belesack is getting along well with the Crown Prince, so you just need to do what you normally do.”

“Right, what I normally do.”

Biejie regained his usual demeanor and approached the Empress with a smile, where people were gathered.

On each large table were teacups and tea sets made exclusively for the Imperial family by craftsmen, and on one side, musicians were creating beautiful melodies.

In the space where children were bustling about and playing, flawless green grass was thickly laid.

It was a tea party where every element filling this space was sickeningly luxurious and extravagant.

Maid Bella, who had been watching this scene briefly from behind a pillar of the Empress’ quarters, quickened her steps toward the kitchen.

Bella, who was carrying food already packed in a basket and heading deep into the forest, arrived in front of a shabby pavilion and stopped for a moment.

Then she took out a small glass bottle from her bosom and poured it entirely into the stew in the basket.

“That brat leaves the hardened bread, but eats all the stew.”

What a spoiled prince he was.

Common children couldn’t eat bread because they didn’t have any, yet he left it just because it had hardened after a few days.

Bella grumbled, completely forgetting about the luxurious tea party she had just been at.

Creak-.

Opening the door that screamed with rust, Bella walked familiarly toward the Second Prince’s bedroom.

Slam.

There wasn’t even a knock before opening the bedroom door.

She glanced once at the figure curled up on the large bed in the distance, carelessly set down the food on the table, and left.

Only after the footsteps faded away and the sound of the pavilion door closing was heard did Inyeong slowly rise from his place.

Peres looked into the basket with an indifferent face and took out the stew bowl with a spoon stuck in it.

“…They put in quite a lot.”

He didn’t know if the maid bringing the food was aware, but the poison they used had a distinctive scent and bitter taste, even in very small amounts.

Of course, ordinary people might not notice, but Peres was different.

Peres, who had unusually sensitive senses, had the ability to distinguish that taste.

The reason he had first rummaged through herb books was because the taste of his food had subtly changed from some point on.

But even knowing the stew contained poison, Peres continued to eat it.

“She said not to let it show.”

Pirenthia had said that.

So eat the food and take the antidote.

Ignoring his stomach that was already aching sourly after just a few spoonfuls, Peres headed back to bed.

And he took out a round glass bottle from under his pillow.

Peres’s red eyes, as he familiarly drank the medicine, looked at the golden liquid that rippled and nearly revealed the bottom.

In the silent pavilion, a small voice seemed to poke at Peres’s back.

‘That child has probably already forgotten all about someone like you, right?’

But Peres shook his small head vigorously.

His jet-black hair fluttered in the air because of it.

“No. That can’t be.”

Peres hugged the round glass bottle preciously to his chest as if it were his very life.

“She absolutely couldn’t have forgotten me.”

Peres closed his eyes tightly while thinking of Pirenthia.

Her brown hair that fluttered softly in the wind, and her green eyes like spring leaves.

Even the tears she had shed for him.

Peres hugged the round medicine bottle even more preciously.

* * *

“Wow, look at all these people.”

They said the manor would be bustling, and it really was.

“There seem to be unusually many people this year?”

Or maybe it was because I was short that the crowd looked bigger.

“Tia! I brought cake here!”

“I brought drinks!”

Grandfather had specially allowed us to attend this banquet as well.

It probably had something to do with Belesack going to the Imperial Palace today.

Whatever the reason, it was good for me.

There was no way Astaliou would come to a place where Belesack wasn’t, and Larane had also entered the palace with Belesack.

The other cousins were too young to move around alone.

In the end, only the twins and I attended the Lombardi Scholarship banquet.

“Thank you, you two.”

The twins who had been particularly clingy and refusing to leave my side since the last incident were annoying, but there were quite a few convenient aspects like now.

It was the moment I was about to take a bite of cake with my fork.

A woman passed right in front of the table where we were sitting.

She looked to be in her early thirties.

But her particularly straight back and graceful steps caught my attention.

“Found her.”

I smiled, forgetting to eat the cake.

A veteran maid who had contributed in various ways to Second Prince Peres becoming Crown Prince.

And someone who could become reliable support by taking care of Peres, who was now alone.

Assistant Head Maid Kaitlin Brown of the Imperial Palace could be seen in the distance.

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