In This Life, I Will Be The Lord - Chapter 44

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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 44

I continued watching her while pushing the sweet cake into my mouth.

Kaitlin seemed to be leisurely enjoying her tea at first glance, but her gaze was busy observing the Lombardi employees working around her.

That gaze contained warmth and happiness, as if she had returned home after a long time.

At least I could fully understand what the Lombardi Family meant to her.

“Tia, this is really delicious. Right?”

Giliou, who had been eating cake with me, said with white cream on the corner of his mouth, giggling.

“Should I bring you more?”

Meylon asked while glaring at Giliou.

“No. I want to eat something else in a bit.”

“Alright, tell me if you want to eat anything.”

Meylon tapped Giliou’s hand as he tried to eat the last piece of cake and smiled at me.

What a thoughtful kid.

I smiled back to show my gratitude and put it in Meylon’s mouth.

Somehow Meylon’s cheeks seemed to turn slightly red.

He seems to be growing a bit taller lately, but seeing how he likes sweet things, he’s still clearly a child.

“Now that we’ve had cake, we should walk around a bit.”

When I said that and started moving, the twins quickly followed behind me.

I suddenly felt like a mother duck leading yellow ducklings, but it was much more natural to move around together than for a young child to wander alone.

I gradually approached the table where Kaitlin was sitting while pretending to look around at various things.

“Ah, it’s Cleribane Pellet.”

I was placing cookies one by one on the palms of the twins who had politely extended both hands, when I heard men nearby whispering.

They were speaking while glaring at Cleribane on the opposite side of the banquet hall.

Since it wouldn’t look good for us to appear close publicly, Cleribane was keeping his distance from me today.

“He’s surrounded by women again today.”

It was a conversation that seemed quite dissatisfied with Cleribane.

It wasn’t just women bustling around Cleribane.

Even though his attitude toward people wasn’t particularly good, he seemed to have some magnetic power that drew people in, as there were many male officials trying to get close to Cleribane.

But well, there were indeed many women.

“Look at that fierce expression. What do women see in that rude man?”

“Exactly.”

I wanted to tell those bitter losers.

It’s that face.

That face is the very definition of plausibility.

But since I was busy right now, I gave those men one pitiful look and continued moving from table to table.

And finally, I succeeded in moving to the table right next to Kaitlin’s.

Now I need to strike up a conversation.

What excuse should I use?

That’s when I was racking my brain.

“Excuse me.”

A gentle voice came from behind.

“Huh?”

The person standing exactly three steps away from us, slowly bending her knees in greeting, was none other than Kaitlin.

“My name is Kaitlin Brown.”

I had been wondering how to approach her, but it was fortunate that she came to us first instead.

“You know who we are?”

When Giliou asked with wide eyes, Kaitlin smiled softly.

“How could I not know the direct descendants of the clan head?”

“But everyone here seemed like they didn’t know who we were?”

Meylon tilted his head.

“Since people’s feelings toward Lombardi differ in intensity, their actions are bound to be different.”

It meant her affection for Lombardi was special enough to show interest even in us young children.

I suddenly recalled a memory from a day when I was helping Grandfather with his work.

Middle-aged Kaitlin had come to see Grandfather for a brief meeting on a day when it was raining so hard you could barely see ahead.

And on her way out, she walked out of the manor getting completely soaked in that torrential rain.

Yet she kept looking back, kept looking back, and I couldn’t forget that sight for a long time.

Although she had joined hands with Peres to avenge the Brown Family and betrayed Lombardi, she was truly suffering.

“Hello. My name is Pirenthia.”

I greeted her as politely and neatly as possible.

“The last time I saw you, you were just a baby who had started walking. You’ve grown up so wonderfully.”

The affection in Kaitlin’s eyes as she looked at me was definitely sincere.

I need to say something nice that Kaitlin would like to hear and leave a good impression.

What kind of compliment would she like? As I was pondering, the right words came to mind.

I made my eyes even brighter and asked Kaitlin.

“But the Brown Family… that’s the family incredibly famous for swordsmanship!”

“Oh my, how does Young Lady know our family’s name?”

Kaitlin seemed surprised but was very pleased.

Kaitlin and her younger brother, who would soon inherit the position of clan head from their uncle, were known to be particularly close.

Although she worked alone in the Imperial Capital, her affection for her family and clan remained strong.

“These two kept talking about Imperial basic swordsmanship and such. So I got curious and looked it up in books, and I found out that Imperial basic swordsmanship was originally called ‘Brown Basic Sword Style’!”

I wasn’t lying.

After the twins started taking sword lessons, their interest in the Brown Family had grown tremendously.

That’s how much tremendous influence and respect the Brown Family commanded among the Empire’s swordsmen.

Although about forty years ago, after the disgraceful incident of being driven out of their ancestral territory, the family’s prestige had completely collapsed.

Kaitlin too had relied on Lombardi to grow up when her family gradually fell into ruin and she had nowhere to go, and after coming of age, she entered the Imperial Palace as a maid.

“How excellent must that sword style have been for all the Empire’s people to learn it and even have it named Imperial swordsmanship!”

When I spoke with a bit of exaggeration, Kaitlin’s face turned slightly red.

“You flatter me.”

Then the twins excitedly asked Kaitlin in loud voices.

“Really?”

“Are you really from that Brown Family?”

“Embarrassingly, yes.”

“Wow!”

It was such a loud cheer that several people standing nearby turned to look at us.

“Then did Kaitlin learn swordsmanship too?”

At my question, Kaitlin showed her calloused palms.

“My learning was limited, so I can barely protect myself.”

“So it was true that women in the Brown Family also learn swordsmanship…”

The twins couldn’t close their mouths, as if they were about to join a Brown Family fan club.

“Then you don’t hold a sword now? What kind of work do you do, Kaitlin?”

I deliberately asked about her occupation.

“I work at the Imperial Palace, Young Lady.”

Fortunately, Kaitlin immediately gave me the answer I wanted.

In fact, she wasn’t simply someone who worked at the Imperial Palace.

She was the deputy head maid of the Imperial Palace.

The head maid position was originally an honorary post held by an older maid, so the real power was held by the three deputy head maids.

I clapped my hands together as if surprised and said.

“I’ve been to the palace too! To the Empress’ Quarters with Father!”

“The Empress’ Quarters… Is that so?”

At the mention of ‘Empress’ Quarters,’ a dark expression briefly crossed Kaitlin’s face, but she soon smiled for the children’s sake.

“Yes! But it wasn’t fun at all. Except for making a friend!”

“A friend… you say?”

Kaitlin tilted her head curiously.

“Yes! I got lost inside the Imperial Palace. But then…”

I spoke in a small voice with the most dejected expression I could manage.

“But I’m still worried about that friend. He said he was sick. He said he was alone…”

“Young Lady?”

Kaitlin called out to me with a worried tone.

“Hehe. It’s nothing. But isn’t it scary working in such a palace? I found the Empress a little… frightening.”

When I turned the conversation to the Empress, Kaitlin shook her head.

“I serve His Imperial Majesty, so it’s fine.”

“Ah, I see…”

She probably didn’t mean that sincerely.

While the Empress couldn’t do anything to the head lady-in-waiting who had the Emperor’s trust, what must it feel like to see the face of that Angenas-born Empress who ruined her family every single day?

Moreover, that Lavinia couldn’t possibly be unaware that head lady-in-waiting Kaitlin was from the Brown family.

How smugly she must act right in front of her.

I felt a renewed sense of respect for Kaitlin.

If it were me, I might have slapped the Empress across the face long ago.

After that, I continued conversing with Kaitlin for quite a long time.

And by the time the banquet was winding down, I was certain.

Her character and prudence befitting the title of head lady-in-waiting, her loyalty to Lombardi, her knowledge and experience with swordsmanship, and above all, the hostility toward Angenas that inevitably showed through here and there.

Kaitlin was perfect as Peres’ guardian and protector!

* * *

“Kaitlin Brown, the Patriarch wishes to see you.”

Kaitlin, who had been watching the Patriarch’s adorable grandsons and granddaughter walking away with bright smiles and waving their small hands, turned around at the sound of her name being called.

It was Marvin Dillard, the eldest son of Romasie Dillard.

The scholarship program held several times a year according to the Patriarch’s will was hosted by people from different families each time.

This time seemed to be the Dillard family’s turn.

While it would be efficient for one person to handle such a large-scale event, there were reasons for this method.

Kaitlin followed behind Marvin Dillard, walking along a familiar path.

Shortly after, the two arrived in front of the Patriarch’s study.

It seemed to be just after Kaitlin’s predecessor’s turn, as Cleribane was coming out, closing the door behind him.

“It’s been a while, Kaitlin.”

“You’re still the same, Cleribane.”

The two people who had once lived in this Lombardi estate were acquainted with each other.

“The Patriarch is waiting.”

Cleribane politely opened the study door for her.

“Thank you.”

Kaitlin said with a small smile, and Cleribane gave a slight bow to Marvin Dillard before turning and walking away.

“That guy…”

Marvin Dillard muttered quietly while watching Cleribane’s retreating figure.

‘Were those two that close?’

Kaitlin tilted her head slightly and entered the study.

Only Rulak and Kaitlin were in the room.

There was no secretary or butler for the Patriarch.

The atmosphere was completely different from the noisy and cheerful banquet outside.

A single armless chair sat alone in front of the study desk that felt enormous every time she saw it.

Kaitlin silently took a breath and sat in that chair.

“That easily nervous personality of yours never changes.”

Rulak smiled at the sight and spoke.

“I greet the Patriarch.”

Kaitlin bowed respectfully.

“So what news have you brought today?”

Rulak also asked directly without making idle conversation.

The reason the Lombardi family held scholarship programs while bearing enormous costs each time.

And the reason why the family hosting the banquet changed each time lay right here.

“Second Prince Peres’ wet nurse was found dead.”

The scholarship program was a method for the Lombardi Patriarch to sit in his study and examine every corner of the Empire in detail.

It was a day for gathering information.

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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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