In This Life I Will Be The Lord Novel - Episode 91

I was so surprised.
I stared blankly at the necklace dangling from Maria Patron’s neck.
Why was Shananet’s necklace hanging there?
I was beyond flabbergasted.
“Why is that necklace…”
At my murmur, Maria Patron touched her necklace with her fingertips.
She misunderstood my piercing gaze, and a superior smile played on her lips.
“It’s a very pretty necklace, isn’t it? Other ladies have complimented my good taste so much today.”
“…It is a beautiful necklace.”
The people with Maria Patron, though a little begrudgingly, admitted that the necklace was quite a good piece.
It was the Lombardi matriarch’s item, and now that Shananet had it, it was called ‘modest,’ but its value was not truly humble.
It was still a necklace of excellent quality for ordinary nobles to behold.
It was even more extravagant when worn by a woman like Maria Patron.
“Where did you get that necklace?”
I suppressed the urge to immediately grab her by the hair, swing her around, and yell for her to hand over Shananet’s necklace.
As a result, my voice trembled slightly.
“Oh, this necklace isn’t something you can just buy with money.”
Maria Patron subtly covered it with her hand, as if I was coveting her item.
Another noblewoman next to her asked for confirmation, “Lady Patron’s precious person gifted it to her, right?”
“Yes. It was my birthday recently.”
I couldn’t believe my ears.
What did I just hear?
Who gave her that necklace?
“So, Lady Patron’s lover gifted her that necklace?”
“Yes.”
Crazy bastard.
Vestian, that son of a bitch.
A filthy scumbag that even cannibalistic monsters in the forest would spit out phlegm and turn away from if they ate him, saying they’d get sick.
He steals his wife’s mother’s keepsake and gives it to his mistress?
How rotten does a person have to be to do something like that?
“He said it’s a very special item passed down through his family.”
It was the moment the Lombardi matriarch’s keepsake was transformed into an heirloom of the Schulz family.
I felt a dizzying surge of anger.
Judging by Maria Patron’s demeanor, she truly seemed unaware of what kind of item that necklace was.
If she had known it was Shananet’s item.
And if she had known it was Grandmother’s keepsake, she wouldn’t have acted like this.
No matter how foolish or thoughtless she was.
She wouldn’t have waddled up to me, wearing such a necklace, possibly knowing that I might recognize it.
So, in the end, Vestian had also lied to Maria Patron about the necklace’s origin.
Just then, Maria Patron spoke in a shy voice, “Even though circumstances currently keep us apart often, he’s someone who makes me feel loved with such special gifts.”
Putting on airs.
She should speak plainly.
Those ‘circumstances’ mean Vestian is a married man with two children, and it’s not love but an affair.
And Maria Patron thinks I don’t know about their affair and is grinning like that.
In front of me, Florentia Lombardi, Shananet’s niece, and a Lombardi whose money they are stealing.
Right.
Vestian wasn’t the only one who deserved to be punished.
I briefly thought about how to deal with this shameless woman.
Today was perfect.
Once a plan formed, the anger boiling in my head miraculously calmed down.
I picked up the glass of fruit juice I was drinking and poured it all over Maria Patron’s dress.
I didn’t even pretend it was an accident.
Because I was holding back from pouring it on her face.
“Wh-what are you doing…?”
Maria Patron, flustered, grabbed her dripping dress and tried to confront me.
I smiled sweetly.
“Oh, a mistake.”
And I made an offer Maria Patron could never refuse.
“Since my mistake soiled your dress, I’ll compensate you.”
“How much do you think this dress costs…?”
“Gallahan Haberdashery’s premium dress.”
Maria Patron’s complaining mouth snapped shut.
“I’ll compensate you with that. So, let’s go to Gallahan Haberdashery.”
“Th-then…”
I stood up first.
The ladies next to me asked, “May we accompany you?”
I nodded and replied, “Yes, please do.”
The more spectators to spread the rumor, the better.

“What? Did you just say 8,000 gold?”
Vestian’s startled voice echoed loudly within the Pellet Corporation’s office.
“Yes, that’s right.”
But Clerivan’s reply was calm.
“I knew you’d demand some compensation for the mining rights, but still, 8,000 gold!”
Vestian clicked his tongue at the enormous sum.
“Aren’t you being too greedy?”
Clerivan almost snorted at Vestian’s accusation.
Who was the one stealing and coveting other people’s belongings right now?
To hear someone like him accuse of greed.
But Clerivan maintained a calm demeanor, recalling Florentia’s instructions.
“This is a secret, but Pellet Corporation is not actually my company.”
“Th-then…”
“How could I possibly have the funds to establish a trading company and even buy a mine? Of course, I received investments from various people.”
Clerivan said slyly.
In fact, the sole investor and owner of Pellet Corporation was Florentia.
“If those people want to change the mining company, what can I do when they say that much compensation is required?”
“Then, what’s the deadline…”
“You need to pay it today.”
“No, that’s impossible! To ask for such a large sum within today!”
Vestian angrily burst out, but Clerivan merely shrugged.
“The investors have set only one day a year to meet.
They are all busy people, you see. And that day is tonight.”
“But still. How can I get such a large sum right away today…”
Vestian’s face was utterly miserable.
He coveted the diamond mine’s mining rights immensely.
Moreover, he wanted to divorce Shananet Lombardi and gain his freedom as soon as possible.
That’s why he had sought to acquire Pellet Corporation’s mining rights.
8,000 gold was roughly equivalent to the amount he had embezzled from Lombardi.
But he couldn’t possibly have such a sum in cash at hand right away.
As Vestian racked his brain with no suitable solution, Clerivan whispered sweet words.
“How about taking out a loan?”
“A, a loan?”
“With your credit at Lombardi Bank, it should be perfectly possible, shouldn’t it, Lord Vestian? As Rulac Lombardi’s son-in-law.”
Clerivan was right.
Lombardi Bank would trust him and lend that much money.
“It would be best to put out the immediate fire first, and then gradually pay back the loan.”
At Clerivan’s calm voice, Vestian was instantly convinced that taking out a loan was the best method.
To Vestian, Clerivan spoke in an even more subtle voice.
“In fact, once you acquire the mining rights and start taking a portion of the diamond profits, isn’t it an amount that can be quickly repaid?”
“…That’s true.”
“If you miss this opportunity, you’ll have to wait a year.”
He couldn’t let that happen.
Vestian chewed his lower lip anxiously.
And a moment later.
As if determined, Vestian stood up.
“I’ll go to the bank. Wait here and don’t go anywhere.”
“Hmm. I did have a prior engagement…
Well, alright.”
Vestian was in a hurry.
Fortunately, Lombardi Bank was not far away.
Vestian rushed there and urgently sought out the branch manager.
The branch manager, whom he knew well, was bewildered by Vestian’s sudden visit but kindly accommodated him.
“If you had told us in advance, we would have visited your mining company! What brings you here today, Lord Vestian?”
“I’ve come to take out a loan. I need about 8,000 gold, is that possible?”
“8,000 gold, you say…”
The branch manager looked at Vestian for a moment, then nodded.
“That would be a credit loan.
Is that acceptable?”
“It doesn’t matter, just write me an anonymous promissory note for 8,000 gold right away.”
A smile finally spread across Vestian’s lips.
Being Lombardi’s son-in-law was truly convenient in times like these!
Hurriedly signing and filling out the documents, Vestian took the promissory note and quickly returned to Pellet Corporation.
Fortunately, Clerivan was still sitting in the same spot.
“Here it is. Is that it?”
Clerivan picked up the promissory note on the table, carefully put it deep into his chest pocket, and then slowly nodded, saying, “Yes. I will deliver this money well to the investors.”
Clerivan’s smile was particularly deep as he patted his chest where the promissory note was.

The Gallahan Haberdashery branch in the capital was an exceptionally large and luxurious store.
Maria Patron and the ladies who had accompanied me clearly showed their pride as they received lavish treatment from the store employees thanks to my presence.
Maria Patron rummaged through the hangers of premium dresses for a long time before choosing one and saying, “I like this dress.”
It was one of the most expensive dresses in the premium line, with tiny emeralds along the neckline.
For reference, it cost enough to buy ten of the dresses Maria Patron had been wearing just moments ago.
But I readily nodded.
“Hmm? Is that Tia?”
Because I knew exactly this situation would unfold.
I slowly turned around.
“Tia, what brings you here?”
Grandfather and Father, who were just entering the Gallahan Haberdashery’s capital branch, saw me and approached in surprise.