In This Life I Will Be The Lord Novel - Episode 88

“Oh, that is…”
There was no time to stop him.
Astana, who took the brooch box as if it were his own, immediately opened the lid.
“A diamond brooch?”
“Such a large diamond…”
Astana and the Empress murmured in surprise simultaneously.
Thud!
Perez stood up and roughly snatched the brooch box.
“You…”
The Empress glared at him.
“How could someone like you…” Astana seemed unable to believe the brooch belonged to Perez.
“It’s a brooch I gifted him,” I said with a humble smile.
“Your Royal Highness, the Second Prince, if it’s alright, how about showing the brooch to others a bit more?”
Show it off properly!
Perez looked extremely displeased, but he obediently reopened the brooch box at my words.
Greed and envy dripped from the eyes of the three people looking at the sparkling, finest jewel.
It’s the best, thrilling!
“Haha. The Second Prince has found a good friend.”
The only one composed enough to speak was the Emperor, who already possessed a large diamond.
As far as I knew, the Empress and Astana did not yet own diamonds.
Angenas had placed several orders, but I had put them at the very bottom of the priority list.
So, unless they bought it at a premium from another noble, it would be a long time before the Empress got her hands on a diamond.
The mine, which was originally supposed to belong to the Angenas family, was now mine.
These diamonds, too, would originally have belonged to the Empress and Astana.
‘But now they’re mine.’
There was something I really wanted to say to the two people sitting side by side, staring blankly at the diamond brooch.
You don’t have this kind of thing at your house, do you?

A few days after visiting the imperial palace.
I visited the office of Pellet Corporation again.
“A significant amount of money has been embezzled,” Clerivan said, flipping through documents with a frown.
In fact, I had asked Clerivan for help after the Pellet Corporation’s banquet.
Even Clerivan, who knew Vestian was colluding with Angenas, raised an eyebrow at the infidelity, which showed how excellent Vestian’s acting was.
He made sure no one doubted Vestian’s devotion to Shananet.
However, when I told him what I had witnessed firsthand, he quickly rolled up his sleeves and used his connections remaining in Lombardi to discreetly investigate.
“It’s strange that he hasn’t been caught all this time.”
“Is it that bad?”
“Yes. Of course, if you look closely, you’ll immediately see suspicious aspects… but no one would have suspected Vestian Schulz, would they?”
Because it was Vestian Schulz, the son-in-law of the Lombardi family, of all people.
Who would have known that a member of Lombardi would be embezzling Lombardi’s assets?
“Only those who are very familiar with internal affairs would notice. On the surface, there are no problems.”
Clerivan talked for a long time about what he had found in just a few days.
Vestian had been married for 16 years.
So, how much had he stolen and made his own during all that time?
I shook my head, not wanting to think about it.
“And Vestian Schulz has sent me a request to visit. He says he has an issue he’d like to discuss.”
“It’s not because he found out you were investigating him, is it?”
“He asked me directly on the day of the banquet, so it wouldn’t be that.”
“Hmm?”
What was his game?
Given that we had taken the mine, which was supposed to go to Angenas, I had a rough idea what he wanted to discuss.
“Oh! And what about real estate? Has he recently acquired any real estate?”
I remembered the talk about him setting up a home for that woman, so I asked Clerivan to investigate.
“There is one house that was transferred from Lombardi’s ownership to Vestian Schulz’s ownership about half a year ago. It seems it wasn’t a standard procedure, as it’s strange there are no proper documents left behind.”
“But if that’s the case, it means Lombardi’s real estate manager did it… Who exactly… Ah.”
The one who managed Lombardi’s real estate was none other than Viese.
“That means Viese knew about Vestian’s actions to some extent.”
These Bapam-bas.
It was unclear whether Viese knew that Vestian was having an affair.
But I thought Viese would at least know the value of Lombardi’s assets.
“Well, if it benefited him, he would have given even more, that kind of person.”
Clerivan nodded in agreement with my words.
“He can’t break old habits… like father, like son.”
In my previous life, after I was driven out, it was Bellezac who took over real estate management.
He would often give away Lombardi’s real estate to his close associates as if it were his own, just like his father.
“Like father, like son…?”
“Ah, it’s nothing. Then, try meeting Vestian Schulz and see what he has to say.”
“Yes, I understand.”
“And if Vestian…” Vestian’s reason for wanting to meet Clerivan was obvious.
So, I made a few scenarios and told Clerivan how to respond.
***
“Come in, Lord Vestian.”
“Long time no see, Clerivan.”
Vestian Schulz visited the office of Pellet Corporation.
It had only been half a day since the message allowing his visit was sent.
“I should have come sooner.”
Vestian said haughtily.
His tone was as if he was sorry for not having paid attention.
Clerivan’s well-defined eyebrows subtly twitched.
Has he not grasped the situation yet?
With an exasperated expression, Clerivan looked directly at Vestian, crossed one leg, and rested his clasped hands on it.
He also didn’t forget to subtly curl one corner of his lip in a sneer.
“Even if you had, you wouldn’t have met me. I wouldn’t have had time for you, Lord Vestian, as I was too busy.”
It meant he didn’t have the leisure to meet someone like him.
Seeing Vestian’s eye twitch, Clerivan calmly continued.
“So, what brings you here today?”
“How disappointing. Are we only to see each other when there’s business?”
“Yes.”
Clerivan cut him off sharply.
“We don’t have a personal relationship close enough to sit facing each other without reason.”
And Clerivan’s cold gaze swept over Vestian from head to toe.
It was a look that pointed out his arrogant posture, as if he were visiting a subordinate’s office.
Clerivan was no longer an employee of Lombardi.
Moreover, it was Vestian who was in need.
Clerivan could get up at any time and go to meet someone far more important and valuable than Vestian.
“Ahem.”
As if he had caught on, Vestian straightened his back, lifting himself from the sofa’s backrest.
Only then did Clerivan’s sharp demeanor soften slightly.
“The reason I came to see you today is…”
Vestian glanced at the closed office door, then began.
“It’s about the invitation to the last banquet.”
“Yes.”
“What happened with that…?”
“If you don’t tell me precisely, it’s hard for me to answer.
Are you saying there was some problem with the invitation to the last banquet?”
“No, it’s not that.”
Vestian’s forced smile was pathetic.
“There was someone at the banquet who shouldn’t have received an invitation from Pellet Corporation…”
“Ah, Lady Maria Patron?”
As the mistress’s name came up, Vestian’s face stiffened for a moment.
He tried to smile again afterward, but it wasn’t the same smile as before.
Meanwhile, Clerivan was once again admiring Florentia’s ability.
She had predicted Vestian’s reasons would be exactly two, almost like a prophecy.
And indeed, one of them had come true.
Underneath his expressionless face, Clerivan was deeply impressed, thinking, ‘As expected.’
“Phew…”
Vestian ran his hand over his face.
The face that was revealed was slightly different from what Clerivan had known until now.
“How long have you known?”
When the feigned smile was wiped from his handsome face, what remained were glittering eyes.
“That’s not the important question right now, is it?”
“…Then I’ll ask again. What were you thinking? Did you want to see Shananet collapse from shock in front of all those people?”
For a cheating man, the excuse was excessively lame.
Concern for his wife, indeed.
Clerivan almost snorted.
“It was just a friendly gesture. I thought Lady Patron might also want to come to Pellet Corporation’s banquet.
She just arrived from the Schulz territory, so it must be difficult for her to establish herself in high society.”
Vestian flinched.
It was because he realized Clerivan knew more about Maria than he had thought.
“Since she attended my banquet, which is being called the ‘Banquet of the Century,’ it must be much easier for her now.”
It was true.
Maria Patron had managed to make some inroads into high society by befriending ladies from high-ranking families she met there.
“I actually thought I’d receive a thank you.”
At Clerivan’s words, Vestian’s mind began to race.
Clerivan genuinely seemed to have invited Maria out of goodwill.
There was no hint of criticism regarding his infidelity to Shananet.
Vestian cautiously asked, “So, was it really an invitation sent with good intentions?”
“The longer one works at Lombardi, the more one sees, hears, and feels.”
Clerivan nodded and replied, “After learning about Lady Maria Patron, I actually came to appreciate Lord Vestian more.”
“Appreciate me…?”
Clerivan discreetly took a breath, then uttered the words he had prepared.
“You could say it was… refreshing?”
Vestian almost burst out laughing.
As expected, Clerivan also despised Lombardi!
In some ways, he was no different from Vestian himself, a comrade.
His heart felt lighter, and his tension eased.
“Yes, that’s right. The Lombardi people are not the kind you can endure for long.”
As Vestian misunderstood that Clerivan disliked Lombardi just like him, his words and actions became unrestrained.
“Is that why you also left to become independent, Lord Clerivan?”
“Well… you could say that.”
“Haha! You made a very wise choice! I’m almost envious!”
Vestian threw his head back and laughed.
“And the matter of the Lyra coal mine the other day.
You’re truly a person of great ability!”
“Thank you for the compliment.”
“Then I feel much lighter, as I think this conversation will be easier.”
“…Please speak freely.”
Clerivan encouraged him.