In This Life I Will Be The Lord Novel - Episode 64

“…Who’s coming?” I closed the book I was reading and looked at Lauriel.

“His Imperial Highness, the Second Prince, is visiting the Lombardi mansion… A dispatch just arrived from the Imperial Palace a little while ago.”

For a moment, I couldn’t believe my ears. Perez is coming to Lombardi? Is he in a situation where he can move around so freely? Of course, he wasn’t in a position where he had to live holding his breath like before, but there were still many things that would hinder him from leaving the Imperial Palace and wandering around freely. But he’s coming to Lombardi, leaving the Imperial Capital, the Emperor’s domain, right now? That’s a perfect setup for someone to attack him on the way.

“Today?”

“Yes. He’s expected to arrive around noon.”

“Hmm…” Perez isn’t stupid. There’s no reason for him to force himself to come to Lombardi.

“No, why on earth?”

“Well…” Lauriel shrugged and whispered, “By the way, Young Lady. Were you acquainted with His Imperial Highness, the Second Prince?”

Ah, come to think of it, Lauriel doesn’t know.

“Hmm. A little, some time ago. We’ve just been exchanging letters since then.”

“Ah! Is it, perhaps…”

I nodded in response instead of answering. And sure enough. A strange smile appeared on Lauriel’s face.

“Oh my. Then His Imperial Highness, the Second Prince, is coming to see our Young Lady!”

Sigh. She was clearly imagining something strange again.

“It’s not like that. There must be something else.”

“But if the Imperial Palace’s dispatch called for me, doesn’t that mean he’s coming to see you, Young Lady?”

“Th… that’s it? Were you the only one there, Lauriel?”

“Hmm, no. It was me and the butler.”

The butler oversees this mansion but mostly looks after my grandfather.

“Then it means he’s coming to see me and grandfather…” But there was no particular reason I could guess. Especially in this situation where he and I were pretending not to know each other.

“Well, we’ll find out when Perez arrives.” Since he was already on his way, there was no way to stop him. And since the Imperial Palace’s dispatch had knocked on the mansion’s door so loudly this morning, everyone who needed to know about Perez’s visit would already know. I ignored Lauriel, who kept smiling at me with emoji-like eyes, and continued to read my book. It was a book containing information and treatment examples for various rare diseases like Tlenbru.

Time flew by, and it was noon, with the sun hanging in the middle of the sky. In the distance, I saw the Imperial carriage carrying Perez approaching. But behind it, the Imperial Knights were accompanying it, and a large imperial flag was flying. It meant it was a very official visit. Grandfather had sent a letter saying he had a prior engagement and that Perez should be brought to his office after lunch.

But I wasn’t the only one standing in front of the mansion.

“Lady Shananet, Lord Viese, and even Lord Laurels. They’ve all sent their family’s attendants.” Lauriel whispered softly into my ear. She was right. Since they couldn’t come themselves, they seemed to have sent people to observe the situation. Why was the Second Prince visiting Lombardi, not the First Prince, with whom there had been frequent visits? And why had I been called out? I could tell just by the persistent gazes of the attendants.

Clop, clop. Finally, the horses stopped, and the door of the lavishly decorated carriage opened. Perez, with a nearly expressionless face, walked towards us again today. But I knew by the bright sparkle in Perez’s eyes. That guy is incredibly excited right now. Before Perez could make a mistake, I quickly curtsied slightly, showing light etiquette. “Hello, Your Imperial Highness, the Second Prince. Welcome. I was waiting for you.”

“Ah… Hello, Lady Lombardi.” Perez glanced around for a moment and then played along with my act.

“Grandfather, unfortunately, has a prior engagement, so I will escort you to my father’s quarters. Let’s have lunch together and then go to grandfather’s office.”

“…Yes.”

Success. We managed to greet each other awkwardly, like people who were barely acquainted. The persistent gazes of the attendants on their mission followed us relentlessly until we left the mansion’s main hall and entered the annex. Though they dispersed when the butler sternly warned them. It was only when we walked through the long corridor and entered our house that I could relax. Thankfully, the knights accompanying Perez took up positions to guard the front door. I flopped onto the sofa in the reception room and asked, “Phew. Why are you here, Perez?”

“To see you, Tia.”

“Don’t joke.”

“I’m serious.”

As Perez and I started bickering, Lauriel’s eyes widened. “Young Lady…”

“What?”

“You two are much closer than I thought…”

“Tia.”

“…Lauriel?” Lauriel jumped when Perez called her name. “H-how do you know my name…”

“Tia mentioned you a few times in her letters.”

“Ah, yes… I see.” Lauriel blushed as she looked at me.

“Don’t change the subject. Why did you come today?”

“Ah, Young Lady…” Lauriel looked at me, startled by my sharp tone. Actually, I was a bit flustered too. It wasn’t something to get so annoyed about. It seemed my nerves were much more sensitive than usual because of my father’s illness.

“I came to deliver this.” Perez calmly took out an envelope from his pocket. It was recognizable from ten miles away due to the melted gold seal. “W-wait! Is that His Majesty the Emperor’s letter?!”

“Yeah.” ‘Yeah!’ I knew Perez had a somewhat off-kilter personality, but still! An Emperor’s letter is different from a letter written by a commoner. If the Emperor officially sends someone to deliver a letter, that person bears the heavy responsibility of delivering it to the person named on the envelope as quickly as possible. This is common sense that every imperial citizen knows!

Perez just stared blankly at flustered Lauriel and me. I quickly examined the envelope. “Rulac, Lombardi…”

“O-oh, I’ll send someone to the office right away!” Lauriel said, grabbing the hem of her dress with one hand so she could run.

“Wait.” I raised one hand to stop Lauriel. “Perez, do you know what’s inside this envelope?”

“It says I’m making you my companion.” Perez didn’t hesitate for a moment to reveal the contents of the Emperor’s letter. I sighed, holding my head. “This is a headache…”

Becoming a prince’s companion is practically an official declaration that the child’s family or house supports that prince in the struggle for succession. You could see it with Astana and Bellezac. After Astana declared himself to be the First Prince’s man, only such people gathered around Viese. Since Viese, who was predicted to be the next patriarch of Lombardi, supported the First Prince, Angenas’s stock was soaring day by day.

“Is it troublesome?” Perez asked me.

“Well, not very good.” My relationship with Astana, that is, the Empress, was already completely broken because of this incident. The dispute between Astana and me had escalated to the point where a sword was pointed at Astana’s neck. Moreover, that incident became the reason why it spread widely that Perez could use aura. At the official setting of the Founding Festival banquet, the Second Prince officially appeared, and at the same time, the fact that Perez, who was only thirteen years old, used aura caused a stir, with everyone exclaiming that a genius had appeared.

However, having a bad relationship with Astana’s side was a different matter from completely becoming Perez’s person. To be precise, it meant my father, the third son of the Lombardi patriarch, declaring his support for Perez. This could greatly affect my father’s business.

It was when I was lost in thought. My eyes met Perez’s. His slightly furrowed eyes stared at me intently, then he asked, “So. Is becoming my companion a headache for you?” I nodded slightly, intending to explain why. But.

“You, what are you doing!”

RIIIP!

Perez precisely tore the Emperor’s letter in half. He must be crazy! But Perez said firmly, “If it causes you trouble, I don’t need it.”

“N-no matter what!”

But it was the Emperor’s letter! I held the two halves of the letter in my hands and stared blankly.

“I was short-sighted,” Perez said rather calmly. “I thought it would be good if you became my companion.”

“Hey. Are you mad?” I asked carefully, thinking he might be upset. But Perez shook his head. “No. I mean it. Forget this letter. I’ll take care of it.”

What are you going to do! Perez is the one who would be in big trouble if he fell out of favor with the Emperor right now.

“No. We need to put it back together and take it to grandfather first.” Because the recipient written on the letter was grandfather.

“What letter are you talking about?”

“Oh, Father…” My father was leaning against the open bedroom doorframe.

“Lord Gallahan Lombardi.” Perez quickly greeted my father.

“What letter are you referring to, Your Highness?” Perez glanced at me for a moment, then held out the Emperor’s letter, torn in half. My father looked troubled, as if thinking, ‘What am I going to do with these kids?’ then asked, “I hear it’s a letter about making Tia your companion, Your Highness.”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“His Majesty finally…” My father’s face suggested he had anticipated this. Could there have been some discussion among the adults? My father looked at Perez with a strange gaze for a moment. It was a frightening look, unlike my father, not at all affectionate or gentle. Perez’s shoulders twitched slightly as his eyes met my father’s, then visibly tensed up. The two stood still as if having a staring contest.

“Um…” It was when I, unable to bear it, spoke up. My father, who had been leaning against the doorway, standing with difficulty, let out a ‘hmm’ sound and took something out from behind the door. It was the crutches Doctor O’Malley had left this morning.

“We need to deliver His Majesty the Emperor’s letter right away. Let’s go to your grandfather’s office.”

“I’ll go! Father, your leg…”

“I can still walk.” My father said firmly, though with a smile. “I can walk with crutches. A father should help his daughter with her affairs.”

My father’s figure, walking step by step with crutches, was precarious. It was like that even when walking on the flat corridor, but even more so when going down the stairs. Lauriel and I offered to help support him, but my father refused.

“I can do it myself.”

It was a stubborn attitude, so much so that for a moment, my grandfather’s image was reflected in my father. But at the same time, his back was so big that I wasn’t afraid of anything in the world as we headed to the office.