In This Life, I Will Be The Lord - Chapter 46

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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 46

No further explanation was needed.

I stretched both hands out toward Grandfather and shouted.

“W-wait a moment! Just wait a moment, Grandfather!”

“Hmm?”

Leaving Grandfather tilting his head in confusion behind me, I quickly ran into my room.

“Father! My bag! The bag!”

“Huh? Oh, yes…”

Father, who had been standing there in a daze, also became busy because of me.

He found the square leather bag that had been shoved in a corner of the room and spread it out on the bed.

And I threw into that bag all the things I thought Peres might need and that would be helpful to him.

“This book and… Oh, that too! And cookies and candy and writing materials…”

For a while, I ran around various parts of the room and house, diligently gathering things.

It didn’t seem like I had packed much, but the bag quickly became full.

“What are you doing, Pirenthia?”

Grandfather, who had been waiting in the drawing room, finally came into my room and asked.

“I’m gathering some necessary things! It won’t take long, so please wait just a moment, Grandfather!”

Before I knew it, a small mountain had formed on the bed.

“You need all those things right now?”

Grandfather tilted his head as if he couldn’t understand at all.

I turned to look at Grandfather and answered brightly.

“I’m going to take them to Peres!”

“…You’re giving them to that boy?”

For some reason, the area under Grandfather’s eyes twitched.

Could it be that he’s reluctant to part with them?

“I didn’t pack that many things…”

But Grandfather’s frowning expression showed no signs of softening.

“When you meet Peres, you’ll understand my feelings too, Grandfather!”

Seeing that skinny, small child would naturally make anyone want to feed him and take care of him.

I declared this with certainty.

“…Alright, let me see for myself.”

Grandfather’s tone was somewhat strange, but I shrugged my shoulders once.

Then I closed the leather bag and tried to lift it up with one hand.

No, I tried to lift it up.

“Whoa!”

The bag was heavy enough to make my body sway.

I guess I did pack quite a lot.

Father sighed softly beside me and tried to carry the bag for me.

But I shook my head slightly and spoke in a voice as energetic as Grandfather’s had been earlier.

“Now let’s go meet Peres, Grandfather!”

* * *

Though I had boldly shouldered the bag, we departed from the manor some time later.

“No matter how much you wanted to see that boy, trying to go to the Imperial Palace in pajamas…”

Grandfather shook his head in disbelief as he spoke.

“I-I was confused because I just woke up from sleep…”

Oh, how embarrassing.

To think I had shouted about going to the Imperial Palace wearing pajamas with frilly lace.

If I had known, I would have laughed a little less confidently.

I tried to act nonchalant and looked out the window as if nothing had happened.

Since it was still before sunrise, both the sky and the road the carriage was traveling on were dim.

Our party was very modest for the movement of the Lombardi family head.

It consisted only of the carriage and two Lombardi guards following behind.

Aside from the sound of hoofbeats and carriage wheels rolling on the road, everything was silent.

As if the world was still asleep.

I looked over at Grandfather sitting beside me.

Perhaps because of the dim light lit inside the carriage, the wrinkles on his brow seemed deeper than usual today.

Even when we talked about Peres last night, he seemed to have a lot on his mind.

Coming before dawn broke to suggest entering the palace together – what could have changed his mind?

Though I couldn’t bring myself to ask Grandfather directly, I could vaguely sense from those deeply carved wrinkles that the reason wasn’t entirely good.

The carriage ran without stopping.

When we left Lombardi territory, and when we raced across the fields and passed through the Imperial Capital’s gates.

The soldiers who saw the four-horse carriage that only the Lombardi family head could ride approaching from afar moved swiftly.

The massive gates that would have remained firmly closed until dawn broke and curfew was lifted opened all too easily before the Lombardi crest.

The carriage we rode didn’t even need to slow down.

And finally, we arrived in front of the Imperial Palace.

I couldn’t help but feel a little nervous.

There was what happened last time, and anyway, the Imperial Palace was still the Imperial Palace.

As the carriage gradually slowed down, I straightened my posture thinking someone might open the carriage door at any moment.

But Grandfather remained unchanged in his posture of resting his chin and looking out the window.

Then, as if suddenly sensing my gaze, he turned his head and our eyes met.

And at that moment, the carriage began moving again as if by magic.

Smoothly along the straight avenue from the main gate of the Imperial Palace, whose master had probably not yet awakened from sleep.

Grandfather looked at me, who seemed slightly surprised, then reached out to pat my head as he spoke.

“Did you think someone would inspect us like last time?”

“Yes… I know it’ll be fine since I’m with you, Grandfather. But still, it’s the Imperial Palace…”

I knew that the Lombardi family head could walk into even the Emperor’s study without anyone’s interference if he wished.

But that was separate from what I knew intellectually.

Grandfather patted my head soothingly as he told me.

“You are a Lombardi. Lombardis do not fear the Imperial Court.”

“I see…”

How cool.

As I stared blankly at his impressively cool appearance, Grandfather muttered lowly.

“Those insolent fools, to Rulak’s granddaughter… Don’t worry. Today Grandfather will give them a good scolding.”

I wasn’t sure exactly who he was going to scold, but I nodded vigorously.

Meanwhile, the carriage entered the Empress’ Quarters territory.

Like other places, it was a quiet area around the Empress’ Quarters with only sparse lights lit along the path.

“Where shall we go?”

The coachman opened a small window and asked.

“I only know the walking path from here…”

“Then it can’t be helped.”

Grandfather, who seemed momentarily flustered, opened the carriage door and got out.

I also took Grandfather’s hand and jumped down.

The coachman offered to carry the luggage and follow, but Grandfather picked up the bag instead and shook his head.

He must have judged that Peres couldn’t be shown to just anyone.

“Let’s go, Pirenthia.”

Grandfather extended his hand to me.

Holding his hand, which was different from Father’s – a bit more rough and a bit warmer – I walked along the barely visible forest path.

Fortunately, the eastern sky was gradually brightening.

Relying on my memory, I arrived at the place where Peres had been picking and eating medicinal leaves.

And I realized.

I only knew it was to the west, but I didn’t really know where Peres lived.

“Grandfather, over there, that’s…”

“What’s wrong?”

“I saw Peres here before. And all I could get out of him was that he lives somewhere in the western forest near the Empress’ Palace…”

Contrary to my expectation that he would be troubled, Grandfather seemed to have some idea about it.

“Could it be that place.”

Grandfather muttered something incomprehensible and looked toward a distant place where only dense trees were visible.

“This is even more wicked than I thought.”

Grandfather’s grip on my hand tightened.

“From here on, your grandfather knows the way, so let’s go.”

Grandfather stepped forward first with a hardened expression.

And shortly after, we were standing in front of a small pavilion.

It was an old building that looked almost like ruins due to lack of maintenance.

The slightest breeze made the windows creak ominously.

“This is insane…”

A curse slipped out without me realizing it.

No matter what, how could they leave a child alone in such a ruined house?

Even the storehouse of the Empress’ Quarters would be more comfortable than this.

Grandfather was also looking at the pavilion with an equally serious gaze before speaking.

“One of the previous Emperor’s concubines died in this place. By her own hand, both herself and her child…”

Grandfather couldn’t finish his words and trailed off, but I could guess the rest.

And I could also guess the Empress’ intention in making Peres and his mother live in such a place.

“Maybe this isn’t the right place. No matter what, this place is too…”

“Didn’t that boy say it was west of the Empress’ Palace? This is the only pavilion in the western forest, and this is also where the Second Prince lived with My Mother.”

“Then, really…”

Honestly, the pavilion looked like ghosts could pop out at any moment.

To think he lived here alone for several years.

If it were me, I wouldn’t last even a few days, let alone years.

I realized anew just how tenaciously Peres had survived.

“Let’s go inside for now.”

We were just about to enter at Grandfather’s words.

Bang-!

With a loud noise, the heavily rusted door swung open forcefully as if it would fall off.

And a small figure pushed through the door and came running straight toward me.

With each step that kicked off the ground, black hair swayed along, and his exceptionally pale skin gleamed like pristine porcelain even under the dim dawn light.

“Pe, Peres… Ugh!”

Peres, who had reached me in an instant, embraced me with all the momentum from his running.

Though his body colliding with me hard enough to make me gasp was painful, I couldn’t push him away.

Because his hands, resting his head on my shoulder and hugging me tightly, were so desperate.

“Pirenthia.”

Because his thin voice calling my name was trembling.

“Hey, let go of this. I can’t breathe.”

I spoke in a deliberately indifferent voice.

Then the boy, who seemed like he wouldn’t let go no matter what, obediently stepped back at my words.

But it was only half a step.

He stepped back just enough to separate our bodies and stared at me intently.

His right hand still clutching my sleeve.

Though his face was still expressionless, his red eyes were looking only at me.

Why is he acting like this?

Well, having been alone in a place like this, anyone would be happy to see someone.

“I told you I’d come back. Why are you making such a fuss?”

“…Because I thought you forgot about me.”

My conscience pricked a little, but I snorted and said.

“Did I look like someone who wouldn’t keep promises?”

Shake shake.

Instead of answering, Peres shook his head vigorously.

That’s when it happened.

A large hand grabbed the back of Peres’ neck and lifted him back.

“Stay away from my granddaughter.”

It was Grandfather, looking down at Peres with displeasure.

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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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