In This Life I Will Be The Lord Novel - Episode 59

The hair wrapped around my fingers was so soft.
Perhaps his hair was even better than mine.
I tried my best to take care of my hair too.
I was a bit dazed at being outdone by a boy in terms of hair quality, when I met Perez’s eyes. He had been submissively letting me pat his head.
And his hand took mine.
“…Huh?”
I was momentarily flustered when his hand gently enveloped mine.
Something was felt in my hand.
“What is this?”
“A gift.”
“A gift?”
I opened my hand, and there was a round flower in my palm.
It looked like a mix of lilies and roses, and its color was deep red.
But why was the flower hard?
No way?
“Is this… a ruby?”
“Yeah.” “Yeah!”
To simply nod like that, the ruby was too substantial!
The weight and volume felt in my hand were considerable.
I walked to a brighter spot and examined the ruby in my hand.
Slightly smaller than a ping-pong ball, the ruby was carved into the shape of a flower.
But the shape of the petals was a little strange.
It was as if someone new to carving started clumsily but quickly became more skilled…
“Did you carve this?!”
“Yeah.” He nodded as nonchalantly as before.
“H-how? No, why?!”
Why was the Second Prince, who was busy with swordsmanship and studies every day, carving such a ruby for no reason?
“To give to you.”
“F-first, thank you! Thank you! Haa… How on earth did you carve a ruby?”
It wasn’t something that could be easily cut with a knife like wood.
Perez answered my question in a casual tone.
“By imbuing a small knife with aura.”
“Ah, aura, then certainly… Wait, you carved it with aura?!”
He nodded again.
“Aura… carving with aura…”
My goodness.
I had never heard of a jewel being cut and shaped with aura.
The price of the ruby itself was enormous, and to think it was carved with aura.
“Aura was quite useful.”
It was as if the sole purpose of the aura he emitted was to carve this ruby.
Indeed, his way of thinking had a very unique side to it.
I sighed lightly and looked at the ruby resting quietly in my hand.
“Thank you, I’ll take it.”
Someone might refuse it as too burdensome a gift.
But why?
When Perez becomes Crown Prince and then Emperor, the value of this ruby would be incalculable.
A ruby personally carved by the Emperor using aura when he was a child.
I must keep it safe.
“Actually…”
Perez fumbled in his pocket again and pulled something out.
It was a long gold chain.
“It was a necklace.”
Looking closely, there was a small loop on the back of the ruby.
How was a loop embedded inside the jewel?
I asked, just in case.
“So this, too…”
“Yes, with aura.”
Well, there’s nothing that aura can’t do, apparently.
I quietly watched Perez thread the necklace chain.
“If it’s okay, would you like to try on the necklace?”
He asked very carefully.
“You said it’s mine, didn’t you? Isn’t that obvious?”
Why ask such a thing.
I quickly extended my neck.
Unlike adult necklaces, this one hung long, with the ruby flower dangling just above my sternum.
With every movement, various facets reflected the light, sparkling.
“It’s beautiful.”
Perez, uncharacteristically, spoke first.
“It is. You’re quite skilled.”
The initial clumsily cut parts actually made the flower look even more splendid.
“Thank you.”
I said again.
I liked the ruby so much I felt like I could say it ten times.
“Me too.”
Perez said something inscrutable 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 in the cool breeze.
And, Perez was…
“Why do you keep looking at me?”
You’re going to bore a hole in my face, you know.
“You know what.”
Perez started a new topic instead of answering my question.
“Is there a way we could see each other sometimes?”
“What do you mean?”
“It would be nice if we could talk like this sometimes.”
Expressing what he wanted so directly was unlike Perez.
I cautiously asked, trying to gauge his intentions.
“We write letters, don’t we?”
“There’s a lot that can’t be conveyed through letters.”
Perez’s tone was cautious.
Ah, I see.
He was reluctant to write important things in letters because someone might read them.
“Don’t worry. Catherine would never open a letter, and since they travel by Lombardi carriage, there’s no fear of someone intercepting them.”
Perez listened to my explanation for a while, then shrugged his shoulders and replied,
“…If you say so.”
Come to think of it, quite some time had passed since we came to the balcony.
“You go out first.”
I told Perez.
Since he had just made his first appearance at this banquet, there would be many eyes watching him.
“…Alright.”
His reply seemed somehow half-hearted.
Anyway, Perez went out first, pushing aside the balcony curtain.
Left alone, I listened to the music and people’s conversations, counted to roughly 100, and then returned to the banquet hall.

While I was quenching my thirst with a drink a servant was carrying, someone spoke to me.
“Excuse me…”
I turned around and saw a red-haired girl who looked to be around Lorraine’s age.
Next to her stood a similarly-aged younger sister.
Who are they, I haven’t seen them before?
As I turned around in bewilderment, the two girls curtsied politely, holding their skirts.
“Ah, hello, Lady Florentia Lombardi. I am Patricia of House Gus. And this is my younger sister…”
“Hailey Gus, My Lady.”
They had gentle, somewhat timid impressions, but both were dressed in extravagant clothes and accessories, suggesting they were daughters of a high-ranking noble family.
I, too, curtsied and greeted them.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you. I am Florentia Lombardi.”
I had merely introduced myself normally, but the two girls were startled.
“Y-you’re speaking honorifics! You don’t have to, no, you shouldn’t…”
As I had guessed, Patricia’s face quickly turned scarlet.
“Please speak comfortably, Lady Lombardi!”
Indeed.
Even among young ladies and lords, a hierarchy was established based on the family’s prestige.
In that sense, Lombardi was at the very top of the noble pyramid.
And because I, a direct descendant of Lombardi, used honorifics with her, Patricia was now beside herself.
But I smiled slightly and replied,
“No, it’s comfortable for me to speak this way.”
“Oh my…”
When someone ‘higher’ treats them kindly, even just within reason, people are more touched and grateful.
Patricia wasn’t acting; she was genuinely moved by me.
“Um, actually… your dress, My Lady, is so beautiful. May I ask which dressmaker made it?”
Hailey, the younger sister, asked, clasping her hands as if gathering courage.
“I apologize if it’s rude…”
An apology quickly followed.
I knew of House Gus; I had heard of them several times.
They were one of the vassals of the House of Luman in the East. Though their population was small, they made a decent profit by charging tolls to merchants who transported goods using the large river that flowed through their territory.
I pretended to ponder whether to tell them, glancing around.
As expected, it wasn’t just the two sisters waiting for my answer.
Other young ladies of similar age and their mothers had gathered near me.
“Do others want to know too?”
I simply asked outright.
Embarrassed that they had been caught eavesdropping, everyone blushed, but since they were already found out, they came a little closer.
“If you want to know, I can tell you.”
At my words, people’s faces visibly brightened.
In fact, in high society, it was common for people not to reveal the names of their dressmakers or designers.
This was to monopolize the design for themselves.
“This dress is…”
I paused for a moment before speaking.
“It’s from Gallahan’s Clothing Store.”
“You mean it’s ready-to-wear?”
A noblewoman asked me in surprise.
“Yes, that’s right.”
“Oh my, such a beautiful dress is ready-to-wear…”
The ladies were already in an uproar.
I watched their reactions, then smiled and said at the opportune moment,
“Thank you for the compliment. Actually, although this dress is ready-to-wear, I also decorated it myself. Hearing that it’s beautiful makes me happy, as if my taste is being praised.”
“You decorated it yourself, My Lady?”
A woman fanning herself from the back, repeatedly scrutinizing my dress, asked incredulously.
I knew who she was.
Julietta Aveino, an opera star who, though from a fallen family with only a nominal title left, made a name for herself with her beautiful voice and appearance.
She was indirectly sponsored by the Empress and was also making a name for herself in high society, but her humble origins made her disliked by the noblewomen.
Well, Julietta’s behavior of having many affairs with noblemen due to her beautiful appearance also played a significant role.
She would later become the First Prince Astana’s mistress and then be abandoned by the Empress.
“Although I received help from my father, I personally chose the basic ready-to-wear dress, lace, and all the silk and jewels I used to decorate it.”
“…The young lady has exceptional aesthetic sense.”
Julietta narrowed her eyes and said, 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 costume designer.
Then, a noblewoman who disliked her retorted sharply,
“What impudence is that towards Lady Lombardi, Lady Aveino!”
“Exactly. It’s been rumored for a long time that Duke Gallahan’s daughter is brilliant. So, are you suggesting Lady Lombardi is lying right now?”
“I-I didn’t mean that…”
Julietta’s haughtiness crumbled in an instant.
She had suddenly become someone who had accused a direct descendant of Lombardi of lying.
“I meant that Lady Lombardi’s dress is exceptionally beautiful.
I apologize, My Lady.”
“It’s alright.”
As I smiled and replied, Julietta’s complexion also brightened considerably.
“Oh, what a kind heart she has.”
“Lady Lombardi is truly generous.”
The noblewomen continued to glare at Julietta while praising me profusely.
At this rate, they would say even my breathing was beautiful.
I looked at Julietta, who was now just catching her breath with a fan, having misspoken earlier.
Indeed, the dress she was wearing was a bit outdated.
The Empress didn’t seem to be such a generous patron.
Well, that’s good for me.
I said to Julietta,
“It would be great if Miss Aveino’s stage costumes could also utilize ready-to-wear. I heard my father is looking for someone who can beautifully wear ready-to-wear clothes.”