In This Life I Will Be The Lord Novel - Episode 101

The unusually cold winter had passed.
The early spring rainy season also ended, and warm weather, with flowers blooming profusely, officially began.
My birthday also passed recently, and I turned 12.
Today, Clerivan was visiting my house under the guise of a lesson to hold a meeting.
“We’ll need to increase our grain sales a bit for the time being.”
“Spring harvest begins in the East next month, after all. Please do so, Clerivan.”
“Yes. I will submit the final report on Eastern food sales revenue as soon as possible.”
As expected, Clerivan works efficiently.
He handles everything smoothly and cleanly, even without me saying anything.
Sometimes I even feel sorry that I don’t do enough.
I want to be of some help.
Just then, something I vaguely heard in a conversation with Violet recently came to mind, and I asked, just in case.
“I heard Grandfather Croyley is reducing his workload due to arthritis…”
“Yes. So we have invited two of Croyley’s disciples from Ivan territory to the capital and will set up a workshop for them. The location is in the upscale residential area near the jewelery store…”
Of course.
Clerivan had already taken all necessary measures.
All I could do was say,
“Estira Ointment is effective for arthritis pain. Make sure to give him a few tubes.”
Even with just that much, Clerivan seemed touched and exclaimed,
“I hadn’t even thought of that. As expected, Lady Florentia is kind-hearted.”
“How is Bate doing these days?”
Bate had signed a kind of partnership agreement with us.
We would sponsor a certain portion of the building and operating costs, and Caramel Avenue would provide us with good information among those collected.
“Since he doesn’t have to pay rent, he seems to have a lot more money. He said he was happy that the dessert shop employees he hired last time are all used to their work now, so he can focus solely on information.”
“Ah, so that’s why the quality of information he sends suddenly improved. As expected, that was it.”
It was a good thing.
From now on, Bate and Caramel Avenue would experience remarkable growth.
So much so that I felt relieved to have secured them in advance.
“And there is one more thing I need to discuss.”
Clerivan handed me a thick bundle of documents and said.
“Pellet Trading Company has too much idle money among its assets. Further investment in Gallahan’s Apparel is also judged to be inefficient.”
Too much idle money.
Was I that rich?
To be honest, I had been so busy starting various new ventures that I hadn’t accurately checked how much I had earned.
“Was I that rich for Clerivan to say so?”
At my question, Clerivan nodded and answered simply.
“Including the profits from this Eastern trade, Pellet Trading Company has already become one of the top 5 merchant groups in the Empire.”
“Already that much…”
“Both the diamond mine and this Eastern venture. We focused on businesses with very high profit margins.
Not only that, but we also have stakes in Gallahan’s Apparel and Lombardi Merchant Group… And the real estate investments Lady Florentia occasionally pointed out have also risen significantly in value.”
“Wow.”
I hadn’t realized it was that much.
When I genuinely admired it, Clerivan tilted his head and said.
“These are all things Lady Florentia has done.”
“That’s true… Right. Haha.”
“You are truly amazing.”
His words were full of pure goodwill and respect for me.
“It is an honor for me to serve such a Lady Florentia right by your side.”
Clerivan bowed slightly.
Hearing such praise directly made me a little embarrassed, but the sense of pride was greater.
It felt like things had reached a certain level of stability.
With my mind slightly at ease, I felt it was time to take care of something I had been meaning to do.
“Then, I suppose it’s time to prepare for my debutante ball.”
But then, an unexpected reaction burst from Clerivan, who was taking a drink.
Clink!
He dropped the cup he was holding, and the glass fell to the floor and shattered.
Yet, Clerivan’s widened eyes remained fixed on me, unable to move.
“…De-debutante. The debutante I know…”
“Yes. That one.”
Is there another kind, then?
And Clerivan, looking stunned as if he had received a great shock, remained dazed before leaving.
I was passing the time before dinner by reading a book when I suddenly heard urgent footsteps and looked up.
***
“Tia!”
Bang!
The door burst open with a loud noise, and Father rushed in, his face pale.
“What’s wrong?”
He was breathing slightly heavily, as if he had run from somewhere, and spoke haltingly, his voice trembling.
“J-just now… I just heard something strange from Clerivan…”
“Something strange?”
“That Tia… is preparing for her debutante…”
Why is that strange?
“Yes, that’s right.”
“Gasp!”
Father clapped his hand over his mouth as if he had heard the worst news in the world.
And the corners of his eyes drooped, and his eyes became moist.
“Still so young… Already?”
“Anyway, a debutante is held between the ages of 12 and 15. Since I’m going to do it anyway, I want to get it over with quickly.”
“But rushing a debutante is for nobles from small families who need to quickly secure a marriage match… Tia, you don’t need to rush, do you?”
Father spoke earnestly, trying to persuade me.
“That’s true, but.”
Just as I was about to explain why I wanted to have a debutante ball.
CRASH-!
The door burst open with an even louder sound than Father’s.
“Tia!”
This time, it was Grandfather.
Grandfather, who had rushed in just like Father, strode over and asked.
“What’s this about a debutante!”
“You’re here, Grandfather!”
I stood up from my seat and walked towards him. Even as he hugged me tightly, Grandfather asked again.
“I heard it wrong, didn’t I? Right?”
“No, I think you heard correctly.
I am indeed planning to have a debutante ball.”
“Gasp!”
Like father, like son. Their reactions were similar.
“Why are you rushing so much! There’s no need to hurry with such things!”
“But it’s a rite of passage that every noblewoman must go through someday, isn’t it?”
A debutante ball was a kind of initiation ceremony, where one officially appeared in society and introduced oneself with a “please take care of me.”
It wasn’t even an absolutely essential rite of passage.
In my previous life, I lived without a debutante ball.
But if circumstances allowed, it was better to do it, and since it was convenient to make a single impression, I wanted to do it early.
“Is there a reason why you would prefer me to have my debutante later?”
Still, I asked just in case.
“That is…”
Grandfather cleared his throat uncomfortably and pursed his lips, and instead, Father answered in a slightly choked voice.
“I’ve been sorry and proud that you’ve handled everything on your own until now, but seeing you have a debutante ball makes it feel like you’ve grown up too quickly…”
I turned to Grandfather and asked.
“Is that your reason too, Grandfather?”
“Ahem. Is it not better not to set foot early in the noisy and talkative social circles?”
“Yes, Tia. You don’t have to grow up so fast…” I replied with a bright smile.
“I’ll have my debutante this season.”
“Tia!”
“Tia!”
Grandfather and Father cried out simultaneously.
But I firmly shook my head.
“I don’t attend outside events much, so many people don’t know me, and that’s inconvenient. Sometimes I even get ignored…” As I trailed off, sparks flew in Grandfather’s eyes.
“Who! Who dared to disrespect my granddaughter!”
“If something like that happened, you should have told me, Father!”
Father rarely raised his voice.
I continued to slump my shoulders and said.
“If I have a debutante ball and more people know my face, things like that won’t happen… That’s why I want to do it quickly…” I saw Father and Grandfather wavering at my words.
“If that’s the reason…”
“A debutante ball would be a good solution…”
As expected, I knew saying that would work.
Father and Grandfather began to ponder seriously, even wrinkling their brows.
Grandfather was the first to be persuaded.
“Alright! This time, your old grandfather will host the biggest banquet so you can have a proper debutante ball!”
“Kyaa! As expected, Grandfather!”
I hugged Grandfather tightly around the neck.
“Hehehe…”
Grandfather chuckled and patted my back lightly.
It was then.
Bang! The door burst open with another loud noise, and the twins barged in.
“Tia! A debutante!”
“Not yet!”
“Hmph…”
I didn’t have the strength to explain again.
I sighed softly, looked at the twins, and then asked Grandfather and Father.
“Would you like to stay for dinner?”

Eventually, Shananet also joined, and we all sat around the table.
Shananet was only surprised for a moment, her eyes widening, when she heard about my debutante, but she didn’t fuss like the others.
“To disrespect Rulac’s granddaughter in the first place. How dare they!”
Grandfather continued to grumble, still not appeased.
“What? Who disrespected Tia?!”
“Is that why you’re having a debutante?!”
The twins also pounded the table, indignant.
They quieted down immediately, though, after receiving a stern look from Shananet, who was quietly eating next to them.
I smiled to smooth things over and said.
“It wasn’t such a big deal. The last time I went to the stables in the outskirts…”
“Ah, that guy then?”
“You mean the guy who was showing off and hitting on Tia? What was his name again…”
No, don’t say it.
“Case! Case Angenas!”
At Giliou’s question and Mayron’s answer, Grandfather’s eyebrow twitched.
“How dare that Angenas boy disrespect my granddaughter… And even hit on her?”
Oh dear, this is a big problem.
The name Angenas further boosted Grandfather’s fighting spirit.
“This won’t do, these rascals. From now on, so no one dares to do such a thing to my granddaughter, I will host the grandest debutante…” Just then, Shananet, who had gently dabbed her mouth with a napkin, spoke in a quiet voice.
“The most honorable debutante ball is the one hosted by the Imperial Family.”
“Imperial Debutante Ball?”
“Yes. It’s held only once a year, and only those invited by strict standards can enter society there.”