In This Life I Will Be The Lord Novel - Episode 85

After arriving at the banquet, I deliberately remained silent and quiet.
I was trying my best to suppress my presence and keep a close eye on Vestian.
It was to witness this very moment.
Vestian’s gaze was fixed on Maria Patron, who was standing far away, and it didn’t move.
He was clearly flustered.
So much so that he even stopped walking.
“…Vestian?”
Shananet, who was walking with her arm linked in his, called out to her husband in confusion when he stopped.
“Uh… Vestian, who was always smooth and relaxed, looked pale.
If Vestian was having an affair, it would make sense.
His wife and mistress were in the same place.
Cold sweat would be pouring down his back.
“What’s wrong? Are you sick?”
Shananet asked worriedly.
“No… I think I saw someone I know.”
When Vestian said blankly, Shananet tilted her head.
“It would be stranger if there was someone you didn’t know here. Who is it?”
“No, no. You don’t need to worry about it.”
But Shananet was already looking around.
And she pointed directly at Maria Patron and said.
“Is it that woman, by any chance?”
“Ah, that…”
And then something happened that stopped Vestian from speaking even more.
Maria Patron, who had spotted Shananet and Vestian, started walking towards them with a smiling face.
A woman with brown hair and brown eyes.
She had a very ordinary appearance that wouldn’t particularly catch anyone’s eye.
But I didn’t let my guard down.
Her glistening eyes, which didn’t match her smiling face, and were similar to Vestian’s eyes that I had accidentally witnessed last time, bothered me.
Click-clack.
As she approached, Vestian’s face grew stiffer.
I held my breath even more.
I deliberately invited the woman to this place where grandfather and all the Lombardi people were present.
It was to put more psychological pressure on Vestian, and so that if something happened, grandfather would immediately know the truth.
But.
“Hello.”
Maria Patron approached and greeted grandfather first with a gentle smile.
“You are…”
Grandfather seemed a little flustered when the young woman he had never seen before spoke to him.
Maria Patron politely curtsied and introduced herself.
“I am Maria of the Patron family, who is under the care of the Schulz territory, Lord. It is an honor to finally meet you in person after only hearing of your great reputation.”
“Ah, I see.”
Grandfather nodded, but still seemed curious as to why Maria Patron had come to greet him.
There was no one in the empire who didn’t know grandfather.
But not many people had the right to come and greet him directly like this.
For a young lady from a humble family, who was under the care of the Schulz territory and not even the head of the Schulz family, his in-law, to block grandfather’s path and greet him was quite an impertinent attitude.
Grandfather scrutinized Maria Patron, then pointed to Vestian and asked.
“You must know my son-in-law, Vestian, then?”
“Yes. Vestian and I grew up together. Long time no see, Vestian.”
“Yes, long time no see.”
Vestian also greeted Maria in return.
Their greetings to each other seemed very natural and even polite.
Was my hunch wrong…?
Indeed, it wouldn’t make sense for a mistress to confront her lover’s wife’s family so boldly.
The face that I had thought was pale just a moment ago now seemed fine.
It felt both deflated and relieved.
I knew they were conspiring with Angenas behind the scenes, but at least Shananet’s marriage wasn’t betrayed.
“You must be Lady Shananet? I’ve always been curious about what kind of person you were, as praise for Lady Shananet is widespread in the Schulz territory…”
Maria Patron even spoke to Shananet in a friendly manner first.
“You are as beautiful as the rumors say.”
“Is that so? Thank you for the compliment.”
Shananet said with an awkward but polite smile.
“…Don’t mention it.”
But Maria Patron’s last glance at Shananet was not kind at all.
It was the exact opposite of what she was saying.
Something was strange.
Maria Patron and Vestian acted like old acquaintances who had met by chance.
But something was off.
My intuition was kicking in.
“Then, I’ll see you again.”
Maria Patron casually said goodbye and walked away.
Vestian glanced at the woman, then went back to talking about wine, returning to his usual self.
After that, the Lombardi people scattered.
My father and I, Shananet’s family, and grandfather sat together and ate.
Viese and Laurels’ family said they had acquaintances on the other side of the banquet hall and left.
Clerivan was frantically busy throughout the banquet due to people looking for him, but he would occasionally come back to check if we were uncomfortable.
Ugh, I feel uneasy.
The thing I had expected didn’t happen, and only a vague sense of unease remained.
I need to investigate further.
My intuition told me that I couldn’t just let this go.
“Our Tia is quiet today?
Is something wrong?”
Grandfather asked, placing a small cut steak in front of me.
“Nothing’s wrong. I was just busy looking around because it was a little strange, Grandfather.”
“Yes, Tia is close to Clerivan, so that’s understandable.”
Grandfather stroked my head and said.
“Clerivan said he would continue to teach you, no matter how busy he gets, so you must study hard too.”
“Yes, Grandfather.”
I, like a good granddaughter, answered obediently and put a piece of meat in my mouth.
It felt a little strange.
The success of the Pellet Merchant Guild, which so many people, nobles renowned throughout the empire, were celebrating, was all mine.
And that no one gathered here knew that fact.
It was a strange feeling, as if my shoulders were puffing up with pride.
I finished my meal roughly and left the table, using the excuse of going to the restroom.
It was to meet Clerivan for a mid-banquet check-in.
We had secretly arranged to meet in a small room on the second floor of the banquet hall.
The problem was that I had no idea where the stairs to the second floor were.
I just walked around, looking for a place where there might be stairs, and when I turned a corner in the banquet hall, I saw a sign for the restroom.
Where on earth are the stairs?
I sighed inwardly and turned around, and I saw Maria Patron’s back as she was just coming out of the restroom.
And a hand suddenly appeared from around the corner, deeper into the hallway, and pulled her in.
“Kya!”
“Shh, it’s me.”
It was Vestian’s voice.
I immediately pressed myself against the corner and hid.
But it was strange.
No sound was heard.
I cautiously peeked my head out and looked in the direction the sound had come from.
What on earth are those crazy lovers doing so quietly!
“Mmm…”
Vestian and Maria Patron were kissing.
Hidden in a shaded corner, they kissed passionately as if they were the only two in the world.
But to my eyes, it was just disgusting.
I wanted to scream and gather people to make those two a spectacle, but.
I suppressed that urge for now and strained my ears to listen to their conversation.
“Honey, you looked quite something earlier, didn’t you? Were you that surprised that I came close when that woman was there?”
Maria Patron asked Vestian with a laugh.
“Of course I was surprised, weren’t you? How did you get here? How did you get in?”
“What? You’re talking as if I’m not supposed to be here?”
The woman’s voice became sulky.
“It’s, it’s not that… It’s a place where you need an invitation to come.”
“Hmm. Well, the invitation came to my house, so I came in.”
It was the invitation I had sent to lure Maria Patron out.
“You didn’t send it?”
“The invitation went to your house?”
Vestian, momentarily flustered, quickly changed the subject.
“Uh, uh… I sent it. But how can you come like that when my wife is here? And even greet Rulac Lombardi.”
“I’ve never actually seen that woman before.”
Maria Patron said.
“So many people said she was pretty, so I wondered what she was like. But she’s nothing special. How on earth have you lived with a woman like that all this time?”
Is that true?
How dare you compare her to Shananet!
But what Vestian said next was even more ridiculous.
“That woman has no charm. In my eyes, Maria, you are the most beautiful. You were before, and you still are.”
What a load of crap, seriously.
“But acting like this is dangerous. You know, Maria. It’s not time yet. Even if Lombardi is foolish, some of them are quick-witted.”
“But I’m bored…”
“How long has it been since you moved to the capital, and you’re already bored?”
“I’m lonely being alone. You only come and stay a few days a week.”
So, he set up a household for her.
“Just bear with it a little longer. I’m sorry to make you wait so long, Maria.”
“But…”
“If I had my way, I’d divorce right now. But it’s not time yet.
You know we need to gather a little more.”
He wants to divorce right now?
I let out a hollow laugh in disbelief.
Vestian continued to appease Maria Patron, and after a while, the two separated and returned to the banquet hall.
Left alone in the quiet hallway, I calmed my pounding heart and thought.
“Sorry to make you wait so long?”
That means the affair isn’t a matter of a day or two.
“It’s not time yet?”
Vestian kept saying that.
It sounded as if he was waiting for the right time to divorce.
And what bothered me the most was Vestian’s last words.
“You know we need to gather a little more.”
What does he need to gather?
Money? Grounds for divorce?
Whatever it was, one thing was certain.
Shananet in my previous life was completely deceived by Vestian, not only in her marriage but also in the divorce process.