In This Life I Will Be The Lord Novel - Episode 68

I first sent the twins back. They were very disappointed as it had been a long time since we last saw each other, but they still obediently left. Perhaps thinking I would be deeply grieved by my father’s condition, they treated me with great caution.

Clerivan and Estira remained in front of me. I found a chair and sat down. Then I tried to organize the current situation. My clasped hands were cold. I quietly closed my eyes.

Calm down. Think.

I exhaled and inhaled slowly, searching for a way to solve these problems. At first, even that was difficult. My pounding heart kept interrupting my thoughts. But then I remembered my father.

My father, whose illness had worsened, causing him pain and requiring painkillers, was not awake for long periods these days. The problems that arose at this moment, while my father was weak, could not be a coincidence. I steeled myself and focused only on the thought that I had to step forward.

Then, as if by magic, the trembling subsided. My scattered thoughts, which had been in disarray, gradually began to organize. When my mind was sufficiently calm, I opened my eyes and spoke.

“Estira.”

“Yes, Lady.”

“Explain exactly, but concisely, what the problem with the medicine is right now.”

Estira pondered for a moment before speaking. “It needs a single medium to stabilize the blended herbs. We need to find that one ingredient.”

That’s a relief.

As expected, Estira’s medicine was not far from completion.

Think, think.

I had read Estira’s autobiography in my previous life. My knowledge of herbalism was limited, so my memory of the specialized content was vague, but I still had to remember. The difference between Estira then and Estira now.

“…A vacation after five long years led me back to my hometown. The research had been stagnant without results, and it was there, with a tired body and mind, that I was fortunate enough to find the answer. …”

Yes, there was definitely something like that.

Perhaps both Estira then and Estira now were blocked by the same wall in their research?

“Estira, have you told your grandmother in your hometown about the current situation?”

“Oh, no. I felt like I had to keep it a secret…”

“I’ll get someone right away. Send a letter to your grandmother. She has been making medicine for much longer than you have.”

“Oh, yes! Grandmother, Grandmother might know!”

Estira’s face brightened. I wrote a small note for Estira to show Butler Johan, and Estira left the room without delay.

“And Clerivan…”

The rumors about Angenas and my father’s illness were closely intertwined.

“The timing is not good. The rumor that Lord Gallahan has Tlenbru’s disease is fatal while discussions are underway with the Sheshou family for southern expansion.”

“They’re aiming for that, aren’t they?”

It must be Angenas’s doing. I don’t know how they found out my father was sick, but they must have moved meticulously for today.

“Does the Sheshou family already know?” Clerivan asked me.

“Given Lady Sheshou’s personality, she wouldn’t have immediately believed them just by hearing their words. The Lombardi family and they are not complete strangers. They would have confirmed it with us in some way.”

“That would be fortunate, but there isn’t much time until Lady Sheshou hears the rumor. We must move quickly.”

“You said Angenas is also at the imperial palace now, right?”

“Yes, that’s right. I heard he passed through the main gate of the imperial palace, so he must be waiting to see His Majesty.”

I agreed with Clerivan’s words that there was no time. We had to move quickly.

“I will handle Lady Sheshou. Clerivan, you have somewhere to go right away.”

“Speak, Lady Florentia.” Clerivan said, standing up and gathering his coat.

Fortunately, I knew someone who could help us right now.

“Go right now and meet Grandfather. Tell him the situation and ask him to go to the imperial palace immediately.”

Seeing the Emperor was not an easy task, even for high-ranking nobles. Sometimes it could take days of waiting. But Grandfather…

If Grandfather, who could go directly from Lombardi to the Emperor’s office, were to go… he might be able to catch up with Angenas.

Watching Clerivan leave, I opened my father’s tightly closed door.

“Dad, Dad.”

Gallahan opened his eyes at the small hand shaking his shoulder.

“Hmm, Tia?”

How long had he been asleep? His stiff eyes blinked several times before showing him a blurred world.

“Dad, please get up for a moment. There’s something I absolutely have to tell you.”

Gallahan firmly grasped his daughter’s small hand, which still fit in one of his. He wanted to confirm that he wasn’t dreaming due to the medicine.

“I’m sorry to trouble you.”

“What is there for my Tia to be sorry for? It’s your dad who keeps sleeping who’s more sorry.”

Gallahan fought with his eyelids, which kept trying to close, even in this situation.

“What do you have to say, Tia?”

“They say there’s a rumor going around that you’ve fallen ill.”

“…What?”

Sleep vanished instantly. Gallahan’s illness had to be kept a secret until the very end. It was important for Gallahan’s clothing store, and more than anything, for Tia.

“No, how… Who in the world…” Gallahan mumbled in embarrassment.

His daughter’s words stopped him.

“Dad.”

“Tia…?” Gallahan thought, Ah, is this a dream after all?

His daughter’s face, which he saw every day, looked a little different. Her face was clearly still that of a child, but a much more mature adult figure seemed to overlap it. He even wondered if he was hallucinating due to the medicine.

“I want to explain everything, but there’s no time right now. So I’ll tell you directly. Please write a letter.”

“A letter…? To whom?”

“To Lady Sheshou.”

Tia quickly brought a low, portable desk that could be used in bed, as well as stationery and writing tools.

“The content of the letter is simple. ‘I apologize for not informing you about my illness in advance. I am currently recuperating. However, I am sending this letter with someone I trust, so I hope you will trust me and wait a little longer.'”

Gallahan picked up the quill pen his daughter handed him. Just as he was about to put the tip of the pen to the paper, he looked up at Florentia. Her gaze was calm but held much meaning.

“…If we put out this urgent fire, will you tell me then, Tia?”

He knew well that his daughter was extraordinary. Although she was timid and weak like himself, she always learned faster than anyone else. In the past and in the present. She was the most adorable daughter, but he had a hunch that there might be a secret his father didn’t know.

“I promise, Dad.”

Hearing Tia’s words, Gallahan moved the quill without hesitation. From beginning to end, he wrote exactly as Tia had told him. Finally, he dipped the quill deeply into the ink once more and pulled it out, leaving a powerful signature that did not look like that of a sick person.

Gallahan folded the letter and gave it to Florentia, asking, “May I ask who will deliver this letter?”

He didn’t think she would send the letter with just anyone. It was a vague hunch, almost like a father’s instinct.

Tia looked surprised for a moment, then smiled widely. “I’m going to ask Aunt Shananet.”

Then Tia kissed Gallahan’s cheek with a “smooch!” and scampered out of the room.
***

Angenas remained seated, motionless. He was in stark contrast to Croyton, the head of the Dyurak Merchant Group, who was restless beside him.

“How long has it been since we arrived here?”

“Uh, well… Yes, it must have been about four hours.”

“I see.”

Jovanes was currently presiding over a large conference attended by 80 ministers. It was a conference whose duration no one could predict, but according to what a servant had announced just now, the meeting was almost at its end.

“Ugh, he should be here soon,” Croyton said anxiously, looking at the closed door.

“When His Majesty arrives shortly, Croyton, you keep your mouth shut. I’ll handle it.”

Croyton nodded in agreement. It would be good if he didn’t have to speak in front of His Majesty, as his stomach might churn with nervousness.

“Ho, even if His Majesty speaks to me, Master will surely… Thump.”

Without any warning, the door opened, and Emperor Jovanes walked in. Croyton turned pale and shrank back, while Angenas rose abruptly from his seat.

“To come here without an appointment. What is the meaning of this?”

He was the Empress’s father, his father-in-law. But there was no respect for his father-in-law on Jovanes’s face. Rather, he seemed very displeased that he couldn’t go hunting after the grand conference.

Angenas, wearing an uncharacteristically benevolent smile, said, “I have something I truly wish to obtain His Majesty’s permission for, and thus I have taken the liberty of calling upon you.”

“Permission? Since when did Angenas need my permission?”

“We, the Angenas, always move for the prosperity of Your Majesty and the Empire. I have come to you for such a matter this time as well. However, it requires Your Majesty’s special approval…”

“You are long-winded. So, which family are you planning to attack this time?”

The Lambru Empire was currently saturated. There were too many who were called “central nobles” or “high nobles.” To squeeze in and secure a position, Angenas had been taking things from other families. The Brown family, who first established their castle, and the neighboring nobles whose territories were taken after they were put in debt, were examples. Naturally, their enemies would only continue to multiply, and if it weren’t for the fact that the Empress was Angenas’s daughter, they would have long since become a public enemy and been annihilated.

“The Lombardi family.”

“…What? What did you just say?”

“I said the Lombardi family.”

“Are you insane?” Jovanes shouted, truly angered. “First the Empress, and now you! What, what grudge does Angenas have against Lombardi to constantly cause me such trouble…!”

“Gallahan Lombardi has Tlenbru’s disease.”

“Gallahan… has Tlenbru’s disease?”

“Yes. Therefore, the fate of the ready-to-wear business is at stake. It’s difficult for a clothing store that’s just establishing itself to survive without its founder, Gallahan. How many imperial citizens would suffer from that?”

“A-are you certain? Gallahan’s illness.”

“Yes. I heard it directly from Gallahan’s personal physician.”

“Hmm…”

This was troublesome. He had even bestowed the Imperial Founding Medal, praising the ready-to-wear business. It was as good as publicly boasting that the imperial citizens had prospered under his rule.

“So, we, Angenas, would like to try producing this ready-to-wear. Please grant permission, Your Majesty.”

“Give me a moment to think.”

Jovanes was about to seriously consider Angenas’s proposal.

“There’s no need to think, Your Majesty.”

That was, until Rulac Lombardi opened the door wide and entered with a leisurely demeanor.