In This Life I Will Be The Lord Novel - Episode 50

At the same time, Perez released Kailus’s arm, which he had been crushing.
“Hah. I slept well.”
Florentia stretched vigorously, then finally noticed the man standing in front of her and asked innocently.
It was the exact opposite reaction from Perez, who had sharpened his claws like a wounded cat and shown extreme caution the moment he opened his eyes.
“Ah…” Kailus, who was rubbing his suddenly released arm, finally regained his composure and bowed.
“Good morning, Lady Florentia Lombardi. I am Kailus Herring, an attendant of the Second Prince’s Palace.”
“Ah, the Second Prince’s Palace…” Florentia blinked her large eyes, nodded, and then clapped her hands softly.
“Herring, as in the Herring family of the Lombardi Scholarship Foundation?”
“Yes. That is correct, Lady.”
“And Catherine came too?”
“Did you sleep well, Lady?” Catherine bowed politely.
“Wow, good people have come.”
It was as if she had already known someone would come.
Kailus, somewhat puzzled, subtly glanced at Perez.
Where had that sharp look gone, the one that seemed ready to break his hand just moments ago when he tried to touch Florentia?
Perez was calmly observing the brightly smiling Florentia.
Kailus and Catherine exchanged silent glances.
It seemed the two of them were no ordinary pair.
Catherine stepped forward and tidied Florentia’s messy hair and clothes.
Perez watched Florentia, who seemed accustomed to their care, and asked,
“Are they people you know?”
“Yeah. I saw Catherine when she came to the mansion before. And Kailus… I haven’t seen him before, but he’s from a family very close to ours.”
At Florentia’s words, Kailus smiled with a proud expression.
He was happy that Herring, a vassal of Lombardi, was being recognized.
“Although both of you must be tired, we must move now.”
“Move?” Perez’s face hardened.
Kailus realized his blunder.
Although this detached palace was nothing more than a crumbling ruin, it was where the Second Prince had been born and raised, and it held memories with his mother.
While he hesitated, wondering how to explain, Florentia took Perez’s hand and said,
“You’re probably being given a new palace.”
“I don’t need one.” Perez said quite firmly.
“No, you do. What you need most right now is a palace.”
However, Florentia’s words were even more resolute.
“Why?”
“Because it’s too close to the Empress’s palace.”
“Ahem, ahem…” Kailus coughed in surprise at Florentia’s bluntness.
Catherine subtly checked if the door was closed.
“You know what I mean, right?”
“Ugh… hmm?” Kailus inwardly breathed a sigh of relief.
If Perez insisted that he absolutely wouldn’t go and wouldn’t move palaces, things would become very complicated.
After all, being given a new palace was a great gift from His Majesty the Emperor, and refusing it could be seen as defying an order, even for a child.
Since he was still a child, they could forcibly drag him if necessary, but he was still a prince, and they didn’t want to start their first meeting with their direct superior in a mess.
Moreover.
‘He’s too strong!’ His wrist, which Perez had just grabbed, was still aching, and it seemed likely to bruise.
However, Kailus, who was born to be an exceptionally capable attendant, smiled even as he rubbed his sore wrist.
‘As expected of His Highness!’ He had lived alone for several months without even basic necessities being met.
Nevertheless, Perez clearly had many extraordinary qualities at a glance.
For example, his unusual beauty, his strength that was unthinkable for a child, and that charismatic gaze that glared at him just moments ago!
The thought that the person he would serve in the future was exceptional in many ways made Kailus unconsciously straighten his shoulders and curl his lips into a smile.
And stepping forward half a step, he said,
“The palace His Majesty the Emperor has bestowed upon His Highness the Second Prince is Phorak Palace, located east of the imperial palace. It is the palace His Majesty used during his time as a prince, and its size is approximately… ten times that of this detached palace.”
“Considering the gardens, maids, and attendants included with Phorak Palace, in addition to the building itself, it is even larger. It is similar in scale to the palace of the First Prince, His Highness Astana.”
“That sounds good to me!” Florentia exclaimed with great satisfaction.
“That crazy… no, Astana will be quite upset!”
Perhaps because she was a direct descendant of Lombardi, she spoke and acted without hesitation.
However, no one present reproached her for it.
Instead, Catherine and Kailus, who were Lombardi people, agreed with her.
“Let’s go, Perez.” Florentia jumped down from the bed.
“To see your new home.”
***

“Wow…” Standing in front of Phorak Palace, which was in the midst of preparations for its new owner, I unconsciously gasped.
“It’s huge.”
Phorak Palace was much larger than I had imagined.
I liked its location even more because it was a long carriage ride from Perez’s previous detached palace, all the way to the opposite side of the imperial palace.
Did I help him for nothing?
I suddenly felt a pang of jealousy for Perez, who had acquired such a magnificent palace.
The Lombardi mansion was large, but the house my father and I lived in was modest, with only a few rooms.
Then I casually turned to look at him and saw him unable to take his eyes off Phorak Palace and the busy servants.
Yes, I did a good deed.
I soothed the petty person within me.
In fact, a prince should be raised with such treatment from the start.
It was absurd that Perez had been left to suffer alone in that detached palace all this time.
“Everything should be ready by the afternoon.” Catherine said.
“That’s fast.”
“It’s because the family head himself moved on the matter.”
My grandpa is the best, after all.
I had hesitated a lot before asking my grandfather for help with Perez.
But my choice was definitely the right one.
Catherine was beyond question, and Kailus seemed like a good person too.
With this, Perez would at least not have to suffer a miserable childhood, consuming poison.
And if he grew up surrounded by good Lombardi people from a young age, Perez would naturally have a good impression of Lombardi, wouldn’t he?
That was my plan.
To foster a good relationship between Perez, who would later become Crown Prince, and Lombardi.
So that when I later tried to become the family head, he would lend me his support.
“Now live without worrying here.”
Many things had happened, but what I did was simple.
I merely created an environment where Perez could live comfortably, enjoying what a prince should.
“Why do you say that?”
“Wha, what?”
“Why do you say it like it’s all over?”
His complexion, which had been mesmerized by Phorak Palace just moments ago, darkened.
It felt like looking at a sky clouded over, ready to rain at any moment.
“Oh, no, it’s not like that. You like it too, don’t you?”
“It’s too big.”
“You complain even when it’s big?”
“So take responsibility.” Perez’s fingers tightly gripped the edge of my sleeve.
“You have to come often.”
“Often?” I’m busy.
But the look in his eyes, as he watched me without confirming, was unusually fierce.
Was he a child who could even make such an expression?
Then, I suddenly recalled Perez’s future appearance and understood.
“For now, I’ll write often.”
“…Okay.” His shoulders drooped again, looking sullen.
Just then.
Grrrrrr.
A very loud sound came from Perez, too loud to pretend not to hear.
He probably hadn’t eaten properly for days.
I spoke to Kailus on Perez’s behalf.
“We’re hungry. Give us food!”
***
Clang.
The teacup the Empress was holding shattered with a loud noise.
“What… did you just say?”
The maid, who had delivered the news to the Empress who had only just woken up near noon, paled even further at the sight of the shattered teacup.
However, knowing that she would be punished more severely if she didn’t answer, no matter how afraid she was, she painstakingly squeezed out her voice.
“Y-Your Majesty the Emperor has… has bestowed Phorak Palace upon His Highness the Second Prince, Your Majesty.”
“Where is His Majesty now?”
“He is dining in the imperial garden…”
Thud.
The Empress, who had been leisurely receiving her adornments, abruptly rose from her seat.
“Bring me a dress! Right now!”
The train of the dress, hastily brought by the maids, fluttered wildly through the imperial palace corridor as the Empress hurried along.
Upon reaching the imperial garden, the Empress raised her voice, calling out to the Emperor.
“Your Majesty! Your Majesty, where are you!”
Then, instead of a reply, the loud laughter of the Emperor and another person was heard.
“Haha! What a clever child!”
The one repeatedly bursting into laughter, banging on the garden table, was clearly the Emperor.
Lavini forced a flamboyant smile and turned the corner, saying,
“Your Majesty, you were here…”
But her smile vanished the very next moment, as if washed away by water.
“Oh! Empress! You’ve come well. The Head of Lombardi has just visited, so let’s have tea together.”
Lavini realized.
The reason the Emperor had suddenly taken an interest in the Second Prince, and the reason he had bestowed upon him the excessive Phorak Palace.
It was all the old man of Lombardi’s doing.
“It’s been a long time, Empress.” Rulac Lombardi slowly rose from his seat and bowed.
Rulac, calmly observing her trembling with suppressed rage, spoke to the Emperor.
“I must go now, Your Majesty.”
“No, why are you leaving already?”
“I have something to take care of at Phorak Palace on my way out…”
“Oh, is that so? Then I shall see you off to your carriage.”
While the two conversed like long-lost relatives, Lavini shivered with a sense of complete alienation, as if she had become an outsider.
And that feeling reached its peak when Rulac bowed to her, passed by, and even the Emperor followed behind him.
She couldn’t just stand there foolishly.
The Empress forced a smile and followed the Emperor to see Rulac off.
It was as they passed through the corridor leading to the main gate where Lombardi’s carriage was waiting.
A person stood rooted in front of the group.
Rulac’s son, Viese Lombardi.
He had stayed at the Empress’s palace last night and seemed to have rushed over after hearing the news.
Thump, thump.
Rulac Lombardi, leading the way, drew closer and closer to Viese.
“Ah, Father…”
Viese, pale as a child caught stealing, froze, unable to even pay his respects to the Emperor.
And Rulac Lombardi walked past Viese without even glancing at him.
He treated his eldest son as if he didn’t exist.
“Ah…” Viese let out a groan as if he were having a nightmare, unable to even think of following Rulac, and simply stood rooted to the spot.
“Well then, I’ll see you again soon.”
“Please show your face often now, Patriach.”
Rulac and the Emperor exchanged farewells as if they were the best of friends.
And so, Lombardi’s carriage departed.
Lavini, who had been biting her lip, suppressing her anxiety, approached the Emperor and opened her mouth.
“Your Majesty…”
She flinched.
“What’s wrong, Empress?”
He was clearly smiling at her.
It was a smile not much different from before.
But the Emperor’s eyes had changed.
Instinctively realizing this, her hand dropped limply.
“I must go attend to my duties now. Empress, you should go back and rest.”
There was no mention of the Second Prince.
It was a declaration that she no longer had any authority over the Second Prince’s affairs.
As the Emperor returned to his office, Lavini, like Viese, remained rooted to the spot for a long time.