In This Life I Will Be The Lord Novel - Episode 9

As Florentia gazed happily out the window, Clerivan was in Rulac’s office.
Aside from his duties as the heir education official, he also managed the mansion’s finances, so he had a great deal to report to the Patriarch.
“…That concludes what I had to tell you today.”
“Well done. Have a seat and some tea.”
“Then, I won’t refuse.”
When Rulac pulled a small bell, a waiting attendant entered with tea.
Befitting the Lombardi family Patriarch’s office, the sweet aroma of the finest tea leaves delighted the senses.
“So, what are your impressions?”
The words were clipped, but the long-standing relationship between Rulac and Clerivan was enough for him to understand their meaning.
“…I could understand the Patriarch’s words.”
“You’re as unsparing as ever, both then and now.”
But knowing that Clerivan was as strict with himself as he was with others, Rulac let out a light laugh.
“Until recently, I thought she was just an ordinary seven-year-old child.
It’s truly fascinating.”
“I was about to ask you about that very point.”
Clerivan said, setting down his teacup.
“I summoned and questioned the servants who have attended Lord Gallahan and Lady Florentia so far, and none of them knew about the young lady’s genius.”
“As I thought.”
“Lord Gallahan also seemed very surprised when I told him that Lady Florentia qualified for the lessons.”
“Hmm…”
Rulac stroked his well-groomed beard.
It was an unconscious habit that emerged whenever he was deep in thought.
Clerivan, watching him, carefully added,
“Perhaps Lady Florentia may have been hiding her abilities.”
“Hiding… abilities?”
“It is merely a hypothesis, but…”
“Explain.”
Like the color of an ancient tree, Rulac’s brown eyes, deepened with age, held a power that made anyone facing him instinctively bow their head.
Following the Patriarch’s solemn expression, Clerivan’s face also grew serious.
“She is a very brilliant young lady. As such, she must have seen things that ordinary children absolutely cannot see. For example, Lord Gallahan’s position within the Lombardi family.”
“That could be the case.”
Rulac’s atmosphere grew heavier.
He had led the Lombardi family more successfully than anyone, but raising his children was not something he could control.
No, it was arguably the most difficult task in Rulac Lombardi’s life.
One child was too ambitious, one was thoughtless, and another was timid.
His eldest child and only daughter, Shananet, was the most suitable, but since she married outside the family, there was a risk of wealth flowing out.
Concerned about this, Rulac had initially opposed it, but his son-in-law, Vestian Schulz, had agreed to live with them and even had their two sons take the Lombardi surname. However, his intentions, always opportunistic, were obvious.
Even now, it wasn’t just once or twice that problems arose from Schulz, who was unqualified, trying to divert minor Lombardi business rights to his family.
Shaking his head with a gloomy expression, Rulac sighed in regret.
“If only Gallahan… had been a little more daring…”
However, it was a principle that the Patriarch did not intervene in the succession struggle.
He merely observed, ensuring it didn’t escalate to extremes.
“Perhaps it’s fortunate that Florentia doesn’t resemble her father.”
The stifling tightness in his chest cleared, feeling refreshed at the thought of Florentia.
“However, Lady Florentia’s sharp mind might also be due to Lord Gallahan’s appropriate parenting. Environment is important, after all.”
“But it’s a pity, a pity… It’s true that Gallahan’s position is humble enough that Florentia had to hide her abilities.”
“There is still plenty of time, isn’t there? Don’t be too hasty.”
At Clerivan’s words, Rulac nodded heavily.
“For now, I will observe. Report directly to me after each lesson.”
Clerivan took another sip of tea, letting it serve as his reply.
Knock, knock.
It was then that a knock was heard.
With Rulac’s permission to enter, Viese appeared.
“Father, the people from the Dyurak Merchant Guild have arrived.”
“Then I shall take my leave.”
As soon as Viese entered the office, Clerivan greeted Rulac and spoke.
Only then did Viese notice Clerivan’s presence, and he openly showed his displeasure, frowning.
“You were here too.”
“It’s been a while, Lord Viese.”
Since Clerivan was the type to speak his mind, even to Viese’s face, that he was absolutely not suitable to be the Patriarch, their relationship could not have been good.
“Father needs to meet important people, so please leave…”
“No. Stay a little longer, Clerivan.”
“Father!”
Viese expressed his discontent, but Rulac didn’t budge.
Clerivan, unable to disobey the Patriarch’s command, shrugged and sat back down.
“Let the people from the Dyurak Merchant Guild enter.”
“…Yes.”
Although he was displeased with the situation, Viese glared at Clerivan but moved obediently.
Soon after, a middle-aged man in flamboyant attire, who had been waiting outside, entered and politely greeted Rulac.
“It’s an honor to meet you. I am Croyton Angenas of the Dyurak Merchant Guild.”
Angenas.
The familiar family name made a crease appear between Clerivan’s eyebrows.
Angenas was the family of the current Empress and the family of Viese’s wife, Selal.
Clerivan quietly crossed his arms.
“Rulac Lombardi. Let us sit and discuss this.”
Even during that short interval as Croyton settled into his seat, Viese couldn’t hide his flushed face and fidgeted in his seat.
“My eldest son has already told me, but would the Guild Master please explain the plan again?”
At Rulac’s words, Croyton cleared his throat.
The explanation was lengthy and rambling.
When the long story ended, Clerivan asked to confirm the main points.
“So, you wish to bring textiles from the eastern region, process them, and sell them, but since the Dyurak Merchant Guild currently lacks the resources for such long-distance trade, you want the Lombardi Merchant Guild to handle the transportation?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
“And you also need to borrow funds from the Lombardi Bank to pay for these textiles, correct?”
“Yes. We would be grateful if you could do so.”
“Ha…”
What on earth was this nonsense?
Clerivan rubbed his throbbing forehead and glared at Viese, who was sitting opposite him.
“Ahem…”
Rulac also seemed uneasy, continuously stroking his beard.
“Isn’t this an excellent plan, Father?”
At the foolish Viese’s words, Clerivan felt like his insides were bursting.
It was clear he didn’t even know what the problem was.
“Preferably a large amount, please.”
Moreover, the ruffian Angenas, whether he was the Empress’s cousin or someone else, was as brazen as if he were collecting money he had entrusted.
Indeed, from their perspective, it might have been all the same.
After all, Angenas was the Empress Dowager’s maternal family, the maternal family of the First Prince, Astanas.
This was an affair intertwined with the imperial family, and presumably, a merchant guild backed by the Empress.
Though it bore the name of the Dyurak Merchant Guild, this business, funded by Lombardi’s money, meant that Lombardi would have to bear the full burden of its failure.
Unless they intended to completely antagonize the imperial family, they couldn’t pursue the Angenas family as if they were chasing a debtor. Knowing this, they had knocked on Lombardi’s door.
Every single word spoken here could turn into an unpredictable backlash later.
The only one in this room who was unaware of this fact was Viese, who was currently beaming with joy.
Rulac certainly wasn’t ignorant of how preposterous this ‘business proposal’ was.
Clerivan tried to calm his anger.
He trusted that the Patriarch would reject it appropriately.
“…I’ll leave this matter to you, Viese. Proceed carefully and without mistakes.”
“Patriarch!”
Clerivan exclaimed in surprise, but Rulac did not open his tightly shut mouth again.
“Yes! Trust me, Father!”
Viese looked as if he would run away with the Dyurak Merchant Guild master before the decision could be reversed.
Clerivan, who had been alternating glances between the silent Rulac and Viese, decided this wouldn’t do. He abruptly stood up and said firmly,
“Let’s discuss this after seeing the merchandise.”
Viese was taken aback by the sudden intervention.
What a sudden blow, when he had been so delighted thinking everything was settled.
This Dyurak Merchant Guild business proposal was a golden lifeline that would bring Viese closer to central power.
Currently, the Angenas family was experiencing some financial difficulties, and if he could solve that with this textile business, the imperial family would owe him a great debt.
But when he hastily looked at his father’s face, who didn’t seem to understand his feelings, he saw him nodding in agreement with Clerivan’s opinion.
Viese furiously yelled at Clerivan, who was ruining everything.
“Where do you, someone who only cleans up after children, get to interfere?!”
But Clerivan ignored Viese and only looked at Rulac.
“…That much wouldn’t be an unreasonable request, would it, Guild Master?”
Croyton, whose eyes darted around in momentary surprise, reluctantly nodded.
“We shall do so. We already have a pile of textiles ready, so I will visit again with them.”
Viese’s face flushed with embarrassment at his dignity being trampled in front of the Dyurak Merchant Guild master.
And he couldn’t lift his head, as if he had done something wrong.
“I apologize, Guild Master. I am ashamed.”
That idiot!
Clerivan’s stomach churned as he suppressed the urge to yell.
To grovel and tremble like that to a guest who had come to borrow Lombardi’s hands and money.
Even the most foolish dog knew who to bare its belly to.
He almost wanted to confront the deceased Lady and ask if that man was truly Rulac’s son.
Clerivan watched Rulac, who was looking at his eldest son with inscrutable eyes, and finally shook his head.
***
“Is this the right place?”
I stood before a large door.
I had lived in the Lombardi mansion for over twenty years, but this was a room I had never entered.
When I had taken lessons, it wasn’t in a place so close to the Patriarch’s office, but rather in the education official’s study in the north annex.
“This must be it, I guess.”
I shrugged and pushed the large door with force.
The door opened smoothly without a sound, revealing the interior.
“Oh?”
I had expected a typical classroom with desks and chairs.
That’s how it had been when I took lessons.
However, the sight that greeted me as I stepped inside was entirely different from a typical classroom.
The large space was filled with warm sunlight, and the carpet underfoot was so soft I could lie down on it immediately.
Comfortable-looking sofas of various sizes were scattered haphazardly, and here and there, musical instruments and charming dolls were placed.
The only items that even remotely resembled a classroom were a large blackboard and bookshelves densely packed with books covering one entire wall.
And in that space, there were small figures naturally dominating it as if it were their own.
They all looked at me, perhaps having heard me enter, but their reactions were varied.
Bellesac, sprawling on the largest sofa, jaw agape in shock.
Lorraine, Bellesac’s sister, nearby, looking at a book with a large doll placed next to her.
And Aunt Shananet’s twin sons, Giliou and Mayron, perched on the sunny windowsill, looking at me with sulky faces.
They were the bloodline of Lombardi, my cousins.