In This Life, I Will Be The Lord - Chapter 59

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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 59

The hair wrapped around my fingers is so soft.

It might even be better than mine.

And I take pretty good care of mine too.

While I was slightly dazed about losing to a boy in terms of hair quality, I made eye contact with Peres, who had been quietly letting me touch his hair.

And then he grabbed my hand.

“…Huh?”

I was momentarily flustered by his touch as he gently held my hand within his own.

I felt something in my palm.

“What’s this?”

“A gift.”

“A gift?”

When I opened my hand, there was a round flower sitting in my palm.

It looked like a mix between a lily and a rose, and the color was deep red.

But why is the flower so hard?

Could it be?

“This… is this a ruby?”

“Yeah.”

“Yeah”?!

That’s too casual a nod for such a substantial ruby!

The weight and volume I could feel in my hand were considerable.

I walked to a brighter spot to examine the ruby in my hand.

The ruby, slightly smaller than a ping-pong ball, was carved into the shape of a flower.

But the shape of the petals was a bit strange.

It was as if someone carving for the first time started clumsily but quickly became more skilled…

“Don’t tell me you carved this yourself?!”

“Yeah.”

He nodded just as casually as before.

“How? No, why?!”

Why would the Second Prince, who’s busy with swordsmanship and studies every day, be carving rubies like he has nothing better to do?

“To give to you.”

“Th-thank you! I’m grateful, but! Sigh… How on earth did you carve a ruby?”

It’s not like wood that can be easily cut with a knife.

Peres answered my question as if it were no big deal.

“With a small knife coated in aura.”

“Ah, with aura it would certainly be… Wait, you carved it with aura?!”

He nodded again.

“Aura… carved with aura…”

My goodness.

I’ve never heard of gems shaped by cutting with aura.

The ruby itself is incredibly expensive, and he carved it with aura.

“Aura turned out to be quite useful.”

He spoke as if the only purpose of the aura he could manifest was to carve rubies.

His way of thinking certainly had some very unique aspects.

I sighed softly while looking at the ruby sitting quietly in my palm.

“Thank you, I’ll treasure it.”

Some people might refuse such a burdensome gift, but why would I?

Later, when Peres becomes Crown Prince and then Emperor, this ruby’s value will be incalculable.

A ruby hand-carved by the Emperor using aura in his childhood.

I should keep it safe.

“Actually…”

Peres rummaged through his pocket and pulled out something else.

It was a long chain made of gold.

“So it was a necklace.”

Looking closely, there was a small ring attached to the back of the ruby.

How is there a ring embedded inside the gem?

I asked, hardly believing it.

“This too, then…”

“Yeah, with aura.”

Good grief, there’s nothing aura can’t do.

I quietly watched as Peres threaded the necklace chain.

“If it’s okay, would you like to try on the necklace?”

He asked very cautiously.

“You said this is mine, right? Isn’t that obvious?”

Why ask something so obvious?

I quickly stretched out my neck.

Unlike adult necklaces, this one hung long with the ruby flower dangling just above my solar plexus.

As I moved, various facets reflected light and sparkled.

“It’s beautiful.”

Peres spoke first, which was rare.

“It really is. You’re quite skilled.”

The clumsily carved parts from the beginning actually made the flower look more splendid.

“Thank you.”

I said again.

I liked the ruby so much I could probably say it ten times.

“Me too.”

Peres said something cryptic again.

And for a moment, there was no conversation between us.

But it wasn’t awkward.

I looked around the illuminated garden and enjoyed the music while feeling the cool breeze.

And Peres was…

“Why do you keep looking at me?”

You’re going to bore a hole through my face.

“You know.”

Instead of answering my question, Peres brought up something else.

“Isn’t there a way we could see each other sometimes?”

“What do you mean?”

“I think it would be nice if we could talk like this occasionally.”

Expressing what he wants so directly isn’t like Peres.

I asked carefully, trying to gauge his intentions.

“We exchange letters, don’t we?”

“There are many things that can’t be conveyed through letters.”

Peres’s tone was cautious.

Ah.

He’s reluctant to write important things because he’s worried someone might read the letters.

“Don’t worry. Kaitlin would never open letters, and since they travel by Lombardi carriage, there’s no concern about someone intercepting them.”

Peres listened to my explanation for a while, then shrugged and answered.

“…If you say so.”

Come to think of it, quite some time had passed since we entered the balcony.

“You go out first.”

I said to Peres.

Since this was his first appearance at this banquet, there would be many eyes watching him.

“…Alright.”

Something about his response seemed lackluster.

Anyway, Peres went out first, pushing through the balcony curtains.

Left alone, I listened to the music and people’s conversations, counted roughly to 100, then returned to the banquet hall.

* * *

I was receiving a drink from a servant and quenching my thirst when someone spoke to me.

“Excuse me…”

When I turned around, it was a red-haired girl who appeared to be around Larane’s age.

Next to her stood what seemed to be her younger sister, who looked similar to her and was around my age.

Who are they? I’ve never seen these faces before.

As I turned around looking puzzled, the two of them grabbed their skirts and bowed politely.

“Oh, hello, Lady Pirenthia Lombardi. I’m Patricia of the Gus family. And this child is my younger sister…”

“I’m Hailey Gus, my lady.”

They both seemed gentle and somewhat timid, but judging by their elaborate clothing and accessories, they appeared to be daughters of quite high-ranking noble families.

I likewise grabbed my skirt and greeted them.

“Nice to meet you. I’m Pirenthia Lombardi.”

I had simply introduced myself normally, but the two of them were startled.

“You’re, you’re speaking formally to us! You don’t need to, no, you shouldn’t…”

My guess about her being timid seemed correct, as Patricia’s face quickly turned bright red.

“Please speak comfortably, Lady Lombardi!”

Well, that’s true.

According to family prestige, hierarchies are established even among young ladies and lords.

In that sense, Lombardi was a family at the very top of the nobles’ pyramid.

So when I, a direct descendant of such a Lombardi family, spoke formally to her, Patricia was now at a loss for what to do.

But I smiled slightly and answered.

“No. I’m more comfortable speaking this way.”

“Oh my…”

When someone ‘higher’ than you treats you kindly within reasonable bounds, people tend to be more moved and grateful.

Patricia wasn’t acting—she was genuinely moved by me.

“Actually… the dress you’re wearing is so beautiful. Could we know which atelier you had it made at?”

Her younger sister Hailey seemed to gather courage and asked, clenching both fists tightly.

“I’m sorry if this is rude…”

An apology quickly followed.

I knew about the Gus family from hearing about them several times.

Though they didn’t have a large population, they were a family that made quite a decent profit by collecting tolls from merchant groups that transported goods using the large river that ran alongside their territory.

I pretended to consider whether to tell them or not, looking around.

As expected, it wasn’t just the two sisters waiting for my answer.

Before I knew it, young ladies of similar age and their mothers had gathered near me.

“Would others like to know as well?”

I just asked outright.

Though they all seemed embarrassed about being caught eavesdropping on others’ conversations, since they were already discovered, they moved a little closer.

“If you’d like to know, I can tell you.”

People’s faces visibly brightened at my words.

Actually, in high society, people often didn’t reveal the names of the ateliers or designers they employed.

This was to monopolize those designs for themselves.

“This dress…”

I paused for a moment before speaking.

“It’s from Gallahan Clothing Store.”

“You mean it’s ready-made?”

A noblewoman asked me in surprise.

“Yes, that’s right.”

“Oh my, such a beautiful dress is ready-made…”

The ladies were already in an uproar.

I watched their reactions and spoke with a smile at the appropriate moment.

“Thank you for the compliment. Actually, while this dress is ready-made, I also decorated it myself. Hearing that it’s pretty makes me happy because it feels like my taste is being praised.”

“You decorated it yourself, my lady?”

A woman who had been fanning herself and continuously examining my dress from behind asked incredulously.

I knew who she was.

Julietta Abino, who came from a fallen family that was noble in name only, but became an opera star with her beautiful voice and appearance.

While receiving indirect support from the Empress and making a name for herself in high society, she was hated by noble ladies because of her humble family origins.

Well, Julietta’s conduct of having romantic scandals with many noble men due to her pretty appearance also played a significant part.

She would later become Crown Prince Astana’s lover before being abandoned by the Empress.

“Though I received my father’s help, I personally chose the basic ready-made dress, the lace, and the silk and jewels I added for decoration.”

“…The young lady has very excellent aesthetic sense.”

Julietta said with narrowed eyes, as if she couldn’t believe my words.

She probably thought I was lying because I didn’t want to reveal the name of the person who designed the outfit.

Then a noble lady who disliked her sharply retorted.

“What kind of rude attitude is that toward Lady Lombardi, Lady Abino!”

“That’s right. Lady Gallahan’s daughter has long been rumored to be brilliant. So are you saying Lady Lombardi is lying right now?”

“I, I didn’t mean that…”

Julietta’s arrogance crumbled in an instant.

She had suddenly become someone who called a direct descendant of Lombardi a liar.

“I meant that Lady Lombardi’s outfit is that exceptional. I apologize, my lady.”

“It’s fine.”

When I answered with a smile, Julietta’s complexion also relaxed considerably.

“How kind-hearted you are as well.”

“Lady Lombardi is truly generous.”

The noble ladies still glared at Julietta while praising me endlessly.

At this rate, they’ll say even my breathing is pretty.

I looked at Julietta, who had just barely caught her breath after nearly making a verbal mistake and was now cooling herself with her fan.

Indeed, the clothes she was wearing were somewhat out of fashion.

The Empress didn’t seem to be that generous a patron.

Well, that’s good for me.

I said to Julietta.

“Lady Abino’s stage costumes would also be wonderful if they utilized ready-made clothing. I happened to hear that my father is looking for someone who can wear ready-made clothes beautifully.”

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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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