In This Life, I Will Be The Lord - Chapter 85

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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 85

Ever since arriving at the banquet, I had deliberately remained quiet without saying a word.

I was keeping my presence as low as possible while closely watching Bestian.

All to witness this very moment.

I could see Bestian’s gaze fixed motionlessly on Maria Patron, who was standing far away.

He was definitely flustered.

So shocked that he even stopped walking.

“…Bestian?”

Shannet, who had been walking arm-in-arm with him, called out puzzled when her husband stopped.

“Uh….”

His face looked haggard, unlike the usually smooth and composed Bestian.

If Bestian was having an affair, this reaction made sense.

His wife and mistress were in the same place.

Cold sweat must be streaming down his back.

“What’s wrong? Are you feeling sick?”

Shannet asked worriedly.

“No…. I think I saw someone I know.”

When Bestian spoke in a daze, Shannet tilted her head.

“It would be more surprising if there was someone here you didn’t know. Who is it?”

“No, no. You don’t need to worry about it.”

But Shannet was already looking around.

And she pointed directly at Maria Patron.

“Is it that woman over there?”

“Ah, well….”

And then something happened that left Bestian even more speechless.

Maria Patron, having spotted Shannet and Bestian, began walking toward them with a smiling face.

With brown hair and brown eyes.

She was a woman with an extremely ordinary appearance that wouldn’t normally draw attention.

But I didn’t let my guard down.

Her glittering eyes, which didn’t match her smiling face, bothered me—that gaze similar to what I had accidentally witnessed from Bestian before.

Click, click.

The closer she approached, the more I could see Bestian’s face hardening.

I held my breath even more.

I had deliberately invited this woman to this gathering where Grandfather and all the Lombardy people were present.

It was to put more psychological pressure on Bestian, and so that Grandfather could immediately know the truth if something happened.

But then.

“Hello.”

Maria Patron approached with a gentle smile and greeted Grandfather first.

“You are….”

Grandfather seemed a bit flustered when a young woman he’d never seen before spoke to him.

Maria Patron politely curtsied and introduced herself.

“I am Maria of the Patron Family, currently under the protection of the Schulz Estate, Clan Head. I’ve only heard of your great reputation, so it’s an honor to meet you in person like this.”

“Ah, I see.”

Grandfather nodded but still seemed puzzled about why Maria Patron had come to greet him.

There wasn’t a person in the Empire who didn’t know Grandfather.

But not many people had the qualifications to come and greet him directly like this.

She wasn’t the head of the Shultz family, who were in-laws, and for a young lady from a humble family dependent on that estate to block Grandfather’s path and greet him was quite an impudent attitude.

Grandfather looked Maria Patron up and down, then pointed to Bestian and asked.

“You must know my son-in-law Bestian as well, then?”

“Yes, I grew up with Lord Bestian since we were young. It’s been a long time, Lord Bestian.”

“Yes, it has been a long time.”

Bestian also exchanged greetings with Maria.

The way they greeted each other looked quite natural and even polite.

Was my guess wrong….

Come to think of it, it wouldn’t make sense for a mistress to face the family of her affair partner’s wife so boldly.

The face I thought looked pale just moments ago now seemed fine.

It was both deflating and reassuring.

I knew he was scheming behind the scenes with Angenas, but at least Shannet’s marriage wasn’t being betrayed.

“You’re Lady Shannet, aren’t you? There’s so much praise for Lady Shannet in the Schulz Estate that I’ve always been curious about what kind of person you were….”

Maria Patron even spoke to Shannet first in a friendly manner.

“You’re as beautiful as the rumors say.”

“Is that so? Thank you for the compliment.”

Though awkward, Shannet smiled politely and replied.

“…Not at all.”

But Maria Patron’s final glance at Shannet was not kind at all.

It was the complete opposite of what she was saying.

Maria Patron and Bestian were acting like old acquaintances who had met by chance.

But something felt off.

My intuition was kicking in.

“Well then, I’ll see you again.”

Maria Patron gave a ladylike farewell and moved away.

Bestian glanced at the woman briefly, then returned to his usual self, chattering about wine again.

After that, the Lombardy people scattered.

Father and I, along with Shannet’s family and Grandfather, sat together for dinner.

Biejie and Lorels’ families went to the opposite side of the banquet hall, saying they had acquaintances there.

Cleribane was busy throughout the banquet with people looking for him, but he came back intermittently to check if we needed anything.

Ugh, this feels unsettling.

The situation I had expected didn’t happen, leaving only an ambiguous uneasiness.

I need to investigate this more thoroughly.

My intuition was telling me I couldn’t let this slide.

“Our Tia is unusually quiet today? Is something wrong?”

Grandfather asked while placing small pieces of cut steak in front of me.

“Nothing’s wrong. I was just busy looking around because everything was so fascinating, Grandfather.”

“I see, it makes sense since Tia is close to Cleribane.”

Grandfather said while gently patting my head.

“No matter how busy Cleribane gets, he said he’ll continue teaching Tia, so you must study hard too.”

“Yes, Grandfather.”

I answered obediently like a good granddaughter and put a piece of meat in my mouth.

It felt a bit strange.

That all these people, the prominent nobles of the Empire gathered here to celebrate Pellet Trading Company’s success, and it was all mine.

And that none of the people gathered here knew this fact.

It was an odd feeling that made my shoulders swell with pride.

I finished eating roughly and left the table, using the restroom as an excuse.

It was to meet with Cleribane for a mid-banquet check.

We had arranged to meet secretly in a small room on the second floor of the banquet hall.

The problem was I had no idea where the stairs to the second floor were.

I wandered around looking for likely places where stairs might be, and when I turned a corner in the banquet hall, I saw a restroom sign.

Where on earth are the stairs?

I was turning around with an internal sigh when I saw Maria Patron’s back as she was coming out of the restroom.

And a hand that suddenly emerged from the corner leading deeper into the corridor swiftly grabbed her.

“Eek!”

“Shh, it’s me.”

It was Bestian’s voice.

I pressed myself against the wall behind the corner and hid my body.

But it was strange.

I couldn’t hear any sound at all.

I carefully peeked my head out to look toward where the sound had come from.

What on earth were they doing to be so quiet…

These crazy lovebirds!

“Mmm…”

Bestian and Maria Patron were kissing.

Hidden in a shadowy corner, passionately as if only the two of them existed in the world.

But to my eyes, they just looked disgusting.

I wanted to scream right then and there to gather people and make those two into a spectacle.

But I suppressed that urge and strained my ears to listen to their conversation.

“Honey, your face was quite a sight earlier, wasn’t it? Were you that shocked that I came close when that woman was there?”

Maria Patron asked Bestian with a laugh.

“Of course I was shocked, how could I not be? How did you get here? How did you get in?”

“What? You’re talking as if I’m someone who shouldn’t be here.”

The woman’s voice became sulky.

“It’s, it’s not that… It’s the kind of event where you need an invitation to attend.”

“Hmph. I came in because an invitation arrived at home.”

It was the invitation I had sent to lure Maria Patron out.

“You didn’t send it?”

“An invitation went to your house?”

Bestian, momentarily flustered, soon made excuses and changed the subject.

“Oh, oh yeah… I sent it. But still, how could you come like that when my wife is here? And even greeting Rulak Lombardi.”

“I’d never actually seen that woman before.”

Maria Patron said.

“So many people said she was pretty, so I wondered what she was like. Turns out she’s nothing special. How have you been living with a woman like that all this time?”

Is she serious?

How dare she compare herself to Shannet!

But Bestian’s following words were even more outrageous.

“That woman has no charm. In my eyes, you’re the most beautiful, Maria. It was like that before, and it’s like that now.”

What complete bullshit, really.

“But acting out like this is dangerous. You know, Maria. It’s not time yet. Even though the Lombardi family is stupid, there are still some sharp-eyed ones among them.”

“But I’m so bored…”

“How long has it been since you moved to the Imperial Capital and you’re already bored?”

“I’m lonely being alone. You only come to sleep over once every few days.”

So he’s set up a household for her.

“Just be patient a little longer. I’m sorry for making you wait so long, Maria.”

“But still…”

“I’d like to divorce right now if I could, but it’s not time yet. You know I need to gather a bit more.”

He wants to divorce right now?

I let out a hollow laugh from the absurdity.

Bestian continued to appease Maria Patron, and the two separated shortly after to return to the banquet hall.

Left alone in the quiet corridor, I calmed my pounding heart and thought.

Sorry for making you wait so long?

That meant the affair wasn’t just a matter of a day or two.

It’s not time yet?

Bestian kept saying that.

It sounded like he was waiting for the right time to divorce.

And what concerned me most was Bestian’s last words.

“You know I need to gather a bit more.”

What did he need to gather?

Money? Grounds for divorce?

Whatever it was, I could be certain of one thing.

Shannet in my previous life had been completely deceived by Bestian not only during their marriage but also in the divorce process.

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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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