In This Life I Will Be The Lord Novel - Side Story, Chapter 25

The Grand Council Chamber of the Imperial Palace.

A place where all central nobles gathered to discuss state affairs with the Emperor.

It was natural for a solemn atmosphere to pervade such a solemn place, but today’s Grand Council Chamber felt like walking on thin ice.

The tense nobles couldn’t even cough properly in the atmosphere, feeling as if they might plunge into icy water at any moment.

The reason was the tense confrontation between the Emperor and Matriarch Lombardi.

“This is a clear disregard for the rights of the nobles.”

Matriarch Florentia Lombardi said in a cold voice.

“Sending all noble children to the academy, you say.”

It was a proposal that Emperor Perez had personally put forward recently.

It was natural to simply obey an imperial decree.

However, Matriarch Lombardi had opposed it, claiming it significantly affected the lives of nobles, and this was the starting point of this Grand Council.

“It’s merely to use the academy for the socialization of nobles.”

Emperor Perez said firmly.

Since the Emperor, being an academy graduate, had often mentioned this before, the nobles largely felt, ‘Finally, it’s here.’

However, when Matriarch Lombardi personally stepped forward to oppose it, the nobles under her rallied together.

But once the Grand Council began, Matriarch Lombardi’s stance was even stronger than expected, forcing all the nobles to keep their mouths shut.

“The wedding of His Majesty and Matriarch Lombardi is just a week away, is this really okay?”

One noble whispered to the person next to him in a very low voice.

“Indeed.”

“But this time, His Majesty went too far, so there’s nothing we can do, is there?”

Another noble joined their conversation.

“But still……”

However, their conversation could not continue.

Because a fierce debate, like a ball going back and forth between two camps, resumed.

“Listen, Matriarch Lombardi. It’s only for one year. Besides, didn’t we say there would be exceptions for those who are ill or in special circumstances?”

“The duration is not what’s important, Your Majesty. I’m talking about the fact that the education of noble children is being dictated by imperial decree.”

“Are you saying the nobles don’t see a problem with the current situation?”

“What problem are you referring to, Your Majesty? Please enlighten this ignorant one.”

Matriarch Lombardi said sharply.

“Isn’t the opportunity for social activities and higher education limited only to high-ranking nobles? As Matriarch Lombardi said, nobles are the very foundation of this empire, and those who are not central nobles should also benefit.”

It was a valid point.

Honestly, even the high-ranking nobles gathered there couldn’t help but nod to some extent at those words.

But Matriarch Lombardi did not back down.

Instead, she pressed on even more firmly, asking, “Then what about the high tuition fees of the Imperial Academy? Not all nobles will be able to afford that much money.”

After that, the fierce debate continued for a long time, with no one yielding an inch.

“Your Majesty, how about we discuss this agenda more calmly at the next meeting?”

Finally, Deputy Patriarch Ramona Brown stepped forward to mediate.

“Let’s do that.”

With that, Emperor Perez nodded, and the Grand Council finally concluded.

With Matriarch Lombardi leading the way, the noble faction left the Grand Council Chamber, and the Emperor’s closest aides, commonly known as the ‘Academy Trio,’ ascended the platform.

They were Regnite Luman from the East, Stilley Sector from the Southern Sector, and Tedro Kali from the Northern Kaliga.

However, Perez didn’t even pay attention to their approach, lost in deep thought.

The trio quietly exchanged glances.

Even if she’s his fiancée and will be Empress in a week, she’s opposing something as important as the academy proposal, so he must be angry.

Finally, Regnite Luman cautiously spoke.

“Your Majesty.”

“……”

“Didn’t you think it was a bit unreasonable from the start? It’s not strange for the nobles to oppose it.”

Then Tedro Kali added, “Perhaps it would be better to coordinate with Matriarch Lombardi separately, or re-propose it later……”

Perez remained silent.

The trio exchanged glances again.

He seems truly furious.

What should we do?

He’s angry because of Matriarch Lombardi, but we can’t call Matriarch Lombardi.

As the silence grew longer, a bead of sweat ran down the backs of the three.

“Did I……”

Perez slowly blinked and opened his mouth.

“Did I do something wrong?”

“……?”

The Academy Trio tilted their heads simultaneously.

What on earth is he talking about?

“Tia’s eyes were sharp when she looked at me earlier.”

Ah.

The trio finally nodded.

Of course, that’s what it was.

Emperor Perez, who reigned over all nobles, was thoroughly weak in front of Matriarch Lombardi.

“It’s a relief if you’re not angry.”

Stilley Sector said with relief.

Perez, however, tilted his head towards Stilley and asked, “There’s nothing wrong with what Matriarch Lombardi said, so why would I be angry?”

“Haha……”

The trio secretly wiped their sweat.

They had worried that this proposal might cause resentment between the two, who were getting married in a week.

At least they didn’t have to worry about that.

It was just like the couple, who sometimes separated their public and private lives so thoroughly that it made them wonder how they did it.

Even as the three thought this in unison, Perez continued to murmur in a low voice.

“She looked pale. Is she tired?”

They had served by Perez’s side since childhood, but they simply couldn’t get used to this doting behavior.

It was an unimaginable scene when recalling the Emperor at the Academy, or when Matriarch Lombardi wasn’t around.

The trio, as if on cue, forced a wry smile and turned their gaze out the window.
***

“I’m tired.”

After the Grand Council, I returned to Lombardi and muttered thoughtlessly while eating.

I had definitely taken a nap in the carriage on the way back from the Imperial Palace.

I rubbed my heavy eyelids.

“Is it because it’s spring?”

I had no appetite either.

CLINK, CLINK.

The faint sound of cutlery, not mine, could be heard.

It was Craney, who was eating with me at the table opposite.

His haggard face and picky eating were very similar to mine.

At this rate, the chef would cry, wouldn’t he?

Thinking this wouldn’t do, I tapped Craney’s side of the table and said, “Craney, I know you’re tired, but you need to eat properly to have energy, don’t you?”

“Ah! I’m sorry, Sister.”

Craney replied, yawning.

“You don’t need to be sorry to me.”

Shouldn’t both of us apologize to the chef?

“How did you do all this work by yourself, Sister?”

Craney had been learning to help with the patriarch’s duties recently.

“You get used to it if you keep doing it. It’s probably harder now because you’re still learning.”

“I’m hoping for that and enduring it, but……”

Craney looked somewhat dejected.

“Is there a problem?”

“Well……”

Craney hesitated for a moment, then mumbled, “The thought that my decisions have a huge impact on Lombardi’s villagers keeps me from sleeping well. I don’t even know if it’s right for me to be doing such important work.”

It was the same feeling I had when I first became Matriarch.

The immense pressure, as if a great responsibility was weighing on my shoulders.

I thought carefully about what to say as a senior, then said, “Since it concerns Lombardi’s villagers, shouldn’t someone who knows Lombardi well be doing it?”

I looked into Craney’s big eyes and continued, “Besides, it’s not something you’re doing alone, is it? I’m here, and so are Lombardi’s retainers.”

With that reassurance, Craney’s complexion improved a little.

“Yes, Sister.”

But apart from that, our eating habits didn’t improve much.

Craney asked me, who was uncharacteristically just poking at my food with a fork, “Are you also not hungry, Sister?”

“Yeah, I guess so. And I’m especially tired today.”

Then Craney stared at me.

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

“Oh, nothing. I just thought, ‘Sister gets tired too.'”

“I’m human too, of course.”

“But Sister somehow…… always seems perfect.”

“Even if you say that, no vacation.”

“Ah.”

Craney let out a small laugh.

“I feel the same way these days. They say it’s spring fever.”

“I guess so. But let’s eat a little more.”

I said, pointing to our plates, which still had more than half the food left.

“If these plates go back to the kitchen like this, the chef will be sad. And then…… you know what happens, right?”

“Th-that’s right.”

Craney shivered.

“There’ll be a banquet tonight.”

It was like the chef’s pride.

If the Lombardi family’s reaction to his cooking was lukewarm, he would put tremendous effort into the next meal.

A banquet filling a large table was terrifying in a different way.

“Let’s try our best.”

“Understood, Sister.”

We steeled ourselves again and picked up our forks.

Today’s last schedule was to finalize the wedding preparations with Catherine.

With the wedding approaching in the blink of an eye, both Catherine and I had been working by dividing our time.

Only the final fitting remained for the dress, and today was the day to confirm the seating arrangement for the guests.

Mixing noble families with intertwined interests and relationships appropriately in one place was much more difficult than expected.

“Is this the seating chart that Perez initially adjusted?”

“Yes, Matriarch.”

Hundreds of names were densely written on a piece of paper spread wide on my office desk.

It was just like Perez.

He seemed to have considered the points I was concerned about, and the seating arrangement was almost perfect.

Though there were a few places that needed adjustment.

“What do you think, Catherine?”

“In my opinion……”

During the short time Catherine was explaining, my eyelids grew heavier and heavier.

She was talking earnestly, but I couldn’t hear a single word of what she was saying.

“Matriarch?”

“Ah. Sorry, Catherine. I’m a bit tired.”

“Then shall I discuss this part with His Majesty?”

“No. A little fresh air will wake me up. Shall we take a short break?”

I said that and stood up to go out to the balcony.

At that moment, I felt a dizzying sensation and my vision flashed.

I instinctively grabbed something, but I couldn’t stop my whole body from losing strength.

“Matriarch!”

Catherine’s voice calling me seemed to come from very far away.

And with that last thought, my consciousness faded.