In This Life, I Will Be The Lord - Chapter 84
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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 84
Shannet and Bestian’s divorce in my previous life was quite a sensational scandal.
Divorce wasn’t very common among nobles, and especially Lombardi’s internal affairs were always good gossip material.
However, despite being hotly discussed in society, the exact reason for their divorce was never revealed.
Of course, rumors were rampant.
From rumors that Bestian had another woman, to who that woman was and where she lived, and that Shannet kicked Bestian out after finding out.
All sorts of additional details were attached.
“Is it really about another woman…?”
Honestly, I didn’t think that was it.
Although Bestian Shultz was handsome and had an appealing appearance, that was really all there was to him.
Among nobles, the Shultz family wasn’t treated very well.
No, their very existence was faint.
They only managed to set foot in the central nobility after marrying Shannet, who was a Lombardi.
Shannet and Bestian were rare among nobles for having a love marriage.
Since smart Shannet chose him, I thought he might at least be a good-hearted person, but now that doesn’t seem to be the case either.
In contrast, what about Shannet?
Beautiful, elegant, and kind.
Above all, she was Lombardi’s eldest daughter.
Until her marriage, Shannet held all sorts of important positions in the family.
There were even talks that she might become the next Lombardi family head despite being a woman.
But for some reason, after marriage, Shannet gradually stepped down from those important roles and now only handled the bare minimum of work.
She acted as if trying to make herself small and inconspicuous.
Her abilities were wasted.
“Right, something doesn’t add up.”
Looking back, Shannet and Bestian’s divorce was full of inconsistencies.
“Why didn’t she fight?”
Whether there’s a problem between spouses leading to divorce, it’s normal to fight for custody of the children.
However, Shannet didn’t fight.
As if the divorce was her fault.
She handed over the twins and a considerable amount of alimony to Bestian and went down to the resort herself.
Though it was called Lombardi’s resort, it was a distant place that took over three weeks to reach even by carriage.
Shannet locked herself away there.
So in high society, the rumor that Shannet was definitely at fault for the divorce gained the most traction.
Even knowing such rumors, Shannet never clarified or revealed the exact reason.
She only remained silent.
Bestian remarried a woman from Shultz territory not long after.
“As if he had been waiting.”
Very suspicious.
To understand it as being from the same territory and knowing each other for a long time, something smelled fishy.
“Hmm…”
While I was lost in thought, Cleribane opened the office door and entered.
“You’re here, Cleribane?”
“Sorry for keeping you waiting.”
“You’ve been incredibly busy lately. It’s natural for me, who’s free, to wait.”
With the diamond boom sweeping across the Empire, Cleribane was truly running around frantically.
Especially with nobles’ requests pouring in like a flood.
It would be nice to just take orders on a first-come, first-served basis, but that would be foolish.
Nobles desperate to get diamonds before others are easy targets to handle.
But I told Cleribane not to take payment from high nobles.
There’s no need for petty favors that just shorten waiting periods for a few coins.
Making them indebted to us is undoubtedly much more profitable.
Of course, Cleribane was handling this excellently.
“Who did you meet today?”
“The Pentawood family, Worleng family, and I’m on my way back from stopping by Lombardi Estate.”
“Was it Grandfather by any chance?”
“Yes, he was talking about Lady Shannet’s necklace…”
There was a necklace that Shannet treasured.
It was a keepsake from Natalia, Shannet’s mother and my grandmother.
“Since it’s a simple sapphire necklace, diamonds would go well with it. Tell him we’ll have it done within a month or two.”
“Yes, Lady Pirenthia.”
I looked a bit closer at Cleribane’s face as he nodded.
“What’s wrong?”
“I thought you’d look haggard from being so busy. But you actually look much better?”
“Work suits my constitution. Since the business is going successfully, I can’t help but be energetic.”
Cleribane showed me how his skin had become much smoother too.
It really was as white and glossy as a peeled egg.
How interesting.
“Oh, how are the banquet preparations going?”
“Proceeding without any issues. Most of the people we invited have sent replies saying they’ll attend.”
“About the invitation list…”
I doubt it, but since there’s nothing to lose.
It wouldn’t be bad to check once.
“We can still add people, right?”
“Yes, if you’re thinking of the Second Prince, it’s possible if we add security forces…”
“No. Not Peres.”
“Then…”
“Send an invitation to the Patron House in Shultz territory. Addressed to a woman named Maria.”
Maria Patron.
Bestian’s remarriage partner.
* * *
Pellet Trading Company’s banquet was held successfully.
Unlike other banquets where attendance was relatively free, this new format where only people on the list with invitations could enter was enough to make attendees feel proud.
It was also perfect for creating a strange sense of camaraderie among those who succeeded in entering the banquet hall.
The banquet atmosphere was exceptionally harmonious.
Once everyone gathered, Cleribane stepped up to the spot prepared on the stairs.
This was different from the usual sight of banquet hosts simply standing on a platform or in front to speak.
The nobles, dressed in splendid clothes with neatly combed hair revealing handsome faces, looked up at Cleribane with pleased expressions.
“Thank you to everyone who gathered here to celebrate Pellet Trading Company’s success.”
His confident, handsome face seemed to sparkle with light.
“With that grateful heart, we’ve prepared a small gift. Before leaving the banquet hall, please bring your invitation and find our Pellet Trading Company employee at the entrance. Then you’ll receive this.”
Cleribane held up a diamond necklace for everyone to see.
Though it was just a simple gold chain with a small diamond, the gem sparkling in the light was like a star in the sky.
“We’ll give you this necklace as a gift.”
The reaction was immediate.
“Wow!”
“Amazing!”
Cheers erupted from among the nobles.
“We’ve prepared good food and good music, so please enjoy yourselves to the fullest.”
After Cleribane finished his greeting, the banquet began in earnest.
The first to approach Cleribane as he came down the stairs was the head of the northern Aivan family.
Cleribane was the beneficiary who gained enormous profits in exchange for employing Croily, a jeweler belonging to the Aivan family.
“You’ve come, Lord!”
He was the head of Aivan who reigned over the nobles of the rough northern region.
Though he had a robust build and exuded tremendous charisma, when Cleribane greeted him respectfully, he smiled broadly with joy.
“Cleribane! I heard you only accepted part of the fur I sent this time! Why do you keep being so distant! For someone like you, even several times that amount wouldn’t be too much!”
“I’m grateful just for the thought behind such precious gifts.”
“Haha, really! If you ever truly need something later, feel free to tell me anytime!”
“I will do so, Lord Aivan.”
Next was naturally the Lombardi family.
Cleribane spotted Rulak and his family gathered near the balcony and approached them first.
“Thank you for coming.”
“How could I miss a banquet celebrating your business’s smooth sailing? I’m very proud and congratulate you!”
As Cleribane successfully led Pellet Trading Company after his independence, Rulak also changed his tone when addressing Cleribane.
It was behavior that showed respect for him as a businessman rather than a subordinate.
“Congratulations.”
Biejie and Lorels only threw out brief words.
For people invited to a banquet, their attitude was utterly rude, but Cleribane just laughed it off as expected.
The fact that they weren’t openly trying to disparage him showed that both men were considerably intimidated.
“Congratulations, Lord Cleribane.”
Shannet, who was standing beside Rulak, spoke with a gentle smile.
“I can’t tell you how regrettable it is that we didn’t recognize such a capable person sooner.”
Cleribane had been unable to find proper opportunities to display his abilities in the Lombardi family, merely managing the manor’s affairs.
Seeing him succeed like a fish in water after his independence, Shannet felt regretful.
It would have been good if they had recognized such talent earlier and given him an important position in the Lombardi Guild.
“Haven’t I grown up receiving Lombardi’s grace since childhood? If there’s ever anything I can help with, please let me know.”
At those words, Rulak smiled with satisfaction and patted Cleribane’s shoulder.
“Still, it’s fortunate that you got the mine. I heard Angenas was being greedy…”
“I was lucky to win the bid by a hair’s breadth.”
“Yes, luck indeed.”
Rulak’s displeased gaze looked toward Bestian.
Instead of being with the Lombardi family members, he was in a distant spot cheerfully greeting and chatting with all sorts of people, making Rulak click his tongue in disapproval.
“Father.”
When Shannet gently scolded him, he withdrew his gaze, but the bitter expression remained on his face.
Though Bestian had apologized, saying his failure to win the Lira Mine bid was a mistake, Rulak couldn’t shake his uneasy feeling.
Moreover, Romashie’s words from that occasion kept lingering in his mind.
“It was strange that the Angenas Guild master wasn’t very surprised to see us.”
Lombardi’s participation in that auction was top secret.
So the people who knew about Lombardi’s participation in the auction that day could be counted on one hand.
Yet Angenas wasn’t surprised by Lombardi’s appearance.
The fact that their bid was higher than Lombardi’s, among other things, left many unsatisfactory aspects.
Speak of the devil and he shall appear.
Bestian returned from chatting extensively among the nobles with a flushed, excited face.
He was already holding a glass of wine in one hand.
“They say there’s food and seating prepared over there. Shall we go, Father?”
At Bestian’s still cheerful demeanor, Rulak swallowed his displeasure internally.
Since he seemed to cherish and love his daughter Shannet, he pretended not to notice his various shortcomings.
“If you sit down, I’ll bring you a glass of this wine right away. The aroma is so wonderful!”
Even while moving to their seats, Bestian kept talking loudly.
He seemed to be enjoying the banquet even more than Cleribane, the host.
“You must tell me the name of this wine later…”
But Bestian’s words suddenly cut off.
It was right after he spotted a woman in the distance.
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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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