In This Life I Will Be The Lord Novel - Episode 75

What’s wrong with him?
“Perez, you know people are watching us right now, right?”
“I guess so.”
‘I guess so,’ he says. How easygoing.
I decided to explain it to him point by point.
“There’s a reason why my grandfather initially opposed you becoming my escort, right? There’s a risk of being mistaken for an engaged couple.”
“Yes, I know.”
“And you know that rumors are circulating that you practically saved my father, and people are still whispering about our future, right?”
“No. I didn’t know that.”
Of course.
He’s Perez, after all, he doesn’t pay much attention to what people think.
“It doesn’t matter anyway.”
“…What?”
“It doesn’t matter.”
Ah, it’s so frustrating to be the only one who knows the future.
He doesn’t know what kind of woman he’ll meet and fall in love with in the future.
So he might be indifferent to any rumors circulating right now.
I sighed softly.
As far as I knew, that woman was practically Perez’s soulmate.
The two in the rumors were like a match made in heaven, and in reality, they truly were a well-suited pair.
Moreover, she was a great help to Perez in reclaiming the position of Crown Prince.
If such a person were to hear idle rumors and their fate with Perez were to be severed, it would be a big problem.
Even if I could help him become Crown Prince, I couldn’t allow myself to take away his chance to meet such a precious person.
I firmly shook my head.
“Such rumors won’t help you. Don’t regret it later; it’s better to draw a clear line now.”
“Tia.”
Perez called my name.
“I won’t regret it.”
“You will regret it.”
“I won’t regret it.”
This stubborn boy!
I’m doing all this for you!
He doesn’t understand my feelings!
I felt like I was going to burst from frustration, but I soon accepted it.
He doesn’t know the future, so he wouldn’t understand what I’m saying.
Right, I’ll just be careful enough for both of us.
But Perez was strangely quiet.
He pressed his lower lip firmly and stood with his head turned to the side.
“Are you sulking?”
No answer.
He just kept pressing and releasing a fallen leaf on the ground with the tip of his shoe.
“Hey. Perez.”
When I subtly pushed his shoulder, he looked at me once but then quickly turned his head away.
He must be truly sulking.
“Wait here for a moment.”
I said that and scoured the tables near the food, looking for it.
I found what I was looking for not far away.
“Eat this and cheer up.”
I handed a chocolate cookie to Perez, who was still standing with a sullen face.
But it wasn’t just an ordinary cookie.
It was a giant chocolate cookie, bigger than two of my palms put together.
He took it and broke it in half.
“You eat too.”
The piece he gave me seemed bigger.
Accepting the half of the giant cookie somewhat unintentionally, I took a large bite.
As the chocolate melted in my mouth, a tingling sweetness spread, making my tongue tingle.
Oh, it’s sweet.
It’s strange how something tastes even better when you think it’s not good for you.
My body trembled with a mix of pleasure and guilt.
Indeed, when things are complicated, something sweet is the best.
As I was engrossed in the cookie, I felt his gaze and opened my eyes, seeing a subtle smile on Perez’s lips.
“It’s good, isn’t it?”
“Yeah, it’s good.”
Perez smiled subtly and nodded.
He’s gotten over his sulk, hasn’t he?
I patted Perez’s shoulder, which was now taller than my eye level.
Though his stature had grown a bit, his actions showed he was still young.
Which was only natural, as he was only thirteen.
“You’ll understand everything in time, Perez.”
What I had just said meant.
“I think so too.”
Perez, apparently in a much better mood, readily agreed.
“You’ll know in time.”
He said that and took another crunching bite of the cookie.
Seeing his eyes sparkle, he must have really liked the chocolate cookie.
I should pack some for him to take home.
“Oh, by the way. They said I have to go to the academy.”
“Cough, …What?”
“I received that notification a few days ago.
It seems…”
“It must be Empress Lavini’s will.”
I said, keeping my voice as low as possible.
The Imperial Academy was a dream and object of admiration for commoners, but it was a bit different for nobles and royalty.
Heirs who would inherit the family were not sent to the academy.
That was an unwritten rule.
Heirs were raised and taught directly within the family.
But second or third sons, who had to make their own way, went to the Imperial Academy to build connections and gain knowledge.
So the Empress wanted to send Perez to the academy to firmly establish Astana’s claim to the Crown Prince position.
“I don’t really want to go…”
Perez mumbled.
I understand that feeling.
Looking at it right now, going to the academy could seem like a big step backward.
First, he would have to live in the secluded academy for a long period of five years, with only very short vacations.
And during that time, Astana would be recruiting nobles.
While Perez, his rival, was cooped up in the academy.
That’s probably what the Empress was aiming for.
Since she could no longer arbitrarily kill or harm Perez.
However, this was only the result they desired.
In his previous life, Perez met trustworthy allies at the academy.
It was true that many viewed the academy as a last resort for those who couldn’t become heirs.
However, this also meant that it was full of capable and excellent individuals who, despite their abilities, were forced into the academy against their will.
There, Perez was going to handpick unacknowledged, capable, and outstanding talents to his liking.
Also, the academy was a place the Empress’s hands couldn’t reach.
After all, within it, there were strict rules that superseded other imperial laws, except for the Emperor’s decrees, and students were protected by those laws.
Considering all these reasons, Perez had to enter the academy.
“Is there any special reason? A reason why you don’t want to go to the academy?”
“Well…”
Perez was about to say something, then stared intently into my eyes.
His ruby-like eyes sparkled in the light.
“Just.”
He seemed reluctant to give a reason.
It was an uncharacteristic reaction for someone who was always honest, but sometimes that happens.
“Just think about it slowly.”
I didn’t push him, saying “You have to go to the academy.”
“…Ugh.”
He just nodded with an inscrutable expression.

[…Oh, my beloved.
Oh, my dearly revered one.
My life, my light, my heart!
My sun rises and stars set thinking of you, my beautiful one.
Please don’t forget this love.
Let us enjoy this day together.
Please don’t forget.]

Clap, clap, clap!]

A birthday performance sung by Julieta Aveino, whose opera tickets were sold out every day.
The nobles clapped, but their mouths hung open in surprise at the unheard-of luxury.
No matter that she was the granddaughter of the Lombardi patriarch, the daughter of Galahan Lombardi.
They had never seen such a splendid and grand eleventh birthday party.
“I heard Julieta Aveino is sponsored by Galahan Garment Shop.”
Someone whispered, looking at Julieta’s stage costume, which was as splendid as any custom-made dress.
“I heard rumors it’s not sponsorship by the garment shop, but by Galahan Lombardi himself? That the two of them are in that kind of relationship…”
“Oh, really?”
“Both Miss Julieta and His Highness the Second Prince. It seems the rumor that anything Galahan Lombardi touches succeeds is true.”
“Indeed, I heard that the tax revenue from Saseuwoo territory multiplied several times just a month after the garment shop was established?”
“Perhaps we should be predicting the next Lombardi patriarch, not the imperial succession?”
“It’s a matter of the first son or the third.”
Everyone nodded in agreement.
“The imperial family seems to have already started walking a tightrope…”
The nobles conversing looked at the Second Prince, Perez.
“But even so, can he defeat Viese Lombardi, who has the Angenas family as his in-laws?”
“Well…”
Again, many people agreed.
Though Galahan had recently been making great strides, the eldest son, Viese, could not be ignored.
“Besides, Galahan Lombardi doesn’t even have a son to inherit the family, does he? Though he’s still young, so there’s a possibility he could have one in the future…”
“But they say Galahan’s daughter is particularly favored by the patriarch.”
“No matter how much she’s favored, a girl has her limits.”
Sadly, it was true.
“However…”
Then, one of the group pointed to a certain spot and said,
“Has Rulac Lombardi ever favored an heir so much until now?”
There, Florentia was laughing and running to hug her grandfather, and the Lombardi patriarch was embracing his granddaughter, his mouth stretching into a goofy grin, “Oh, ho ho ho!”
“Oh, goodness…”
It was hard to know which side to choose.
The nobles’ dilemma deepened as they watched Rulac Lombardi, the doting grandfather who couldn’t help but adore his granddaughter.
***
Flash.
My eyes opened on their own, without anyone waking me.
Outside, birds chirped, and there was a cool breeze and a clear sky.
It was a perfect morning.
Washing, changing clothes, grooming, and a simple breakfast.
This series of events flowed seamlessly.
Finally, Lauriel, who was adjusting my clothes in front of the mirror, asked,
“It’s the first day of freedom you’ve been waiting for, what will you do today?”
“Hmm, first of all.”
I walked to the side of the bed and took out a pouch that I had carefully kept in a drawer.
Jingle.
A sound that anyone would instantly recognize rang out.
I smiled contentedly at the weight of the pouch, full of money, and said,
“I need to spend some of the allowance I’ve saved up.”