In This Life I Will Be The Lord Novel - Side Story, Chapter 36

What is he talking about now?

I asked again, doubting my ears.

“You’re moving your residence?”

“Yeah.”

Unlike my bewildered self, Perez just smiled as usual.

He doesn’t seem to be joking right now.

“You’re the Emperor, Perez. Does it make sense for an Emperor to reside somewhere other than the Imperial Palace?”

“I’ll commute. I’ll handle state affairs at the Imperial Palace, but I’ll come back here at night.”

“You’re already busy enough, there’s no way you can split your time like that, Perez.”

“Tia did it.”

I was speechless.

“You came to the Imperial Palace for meetings and then returned to handle Lombardi’s affairs, didn’t you?”

That’s true, but.

“Even so…”

As I was about to retort, Perez’s finger gently rubbed the back of my hand.

“Just for one year. Hmm?”

“One year…?”

“Yeah. After that, I’ll do whatever you want.”

Perez tilted his head slightly.

His bangs, casually down for the morning, swayed with the movement.

And his ruby-like eyes, looking utterly harmless, were just waiting for my answer.

“If it’s just for one year…”

I mumbled absentmindedly, without realizing it.

No, snap out of it.

Don’t fall for his charm offensive.

But my slightly returned sanity was shaken again by his next words.

“I’m worried about Tia.”

“You’re worried about me?”

“Yeah. Your body will get heavier and you’ll have more discomforts as time goes on. I need to be by your side.”

That’s true.

Right now, it’s early pregnancy, so there are no major issues, but in the future, commuting between the Imperial Palace and Lombardi will become increasingly burdensome.

“Why don’t you do as His Majesty says?”

Father supported Perez’s words.

“Normally, you would reside in the Empress’s palace, but this is a special situation in many ways. It’s also a tradition among nobles to stay at their in-laws’ house after the wedding and then move to their own home when they wish.”

There was no flaw in Father’s words.

Nobles do move that way.

“Hmm.”

Father and Perez, as if in collusion, looked at me with gentle smiles.

I looked back and forth between the two for a moment, then finally nodded.

“Do as you wish, Perez.”

“Thank you.”

Perez kissed the back of my hand he was holding.

In the end, Perez decided to reside in Lombardi and commute to the Imperial Palace.

But I felt strangely uneasy.

I subtly narrowed my eyes and looked around, but my family members were all calmly continuing their meal.

I feel like I’ve been tricked somehow.

A few days after Perez’s commuting declaration.

A new daily life began.

“No, I thought it would be.”

In fact, it was surprisingly normal.

I thought that after marriage, a new chapter of life would magically open.

But my life was still similar to before.

Except for the addition of time once a day to handle imperial affairs.

Knock, knock.

Someone in the Imperial Household’s uniform entered the office, which had been frequented only by Lombardi people all day.

It was a sight I had seen for several days, but it still felt new and strange.

“Your Majesty the Empress, have you been well?”

It was the only time I was called ‘Empress’.

“We saw each other yesterday. Did you have a good day too?”

“Ah, yes. Thanks to you, I had a good day.”

The Imperial Household aide’s face was bewildered as he replied.

He said he used to assist Lavini Angenas.

It seemed he couldn’t quite adapt to my comfortable demeanor.

I smiled briefly at the aide, then asked.

“What business have you brought today?”

“It’s about the renovation of Phorak Palace.”

“I see.”

I skimmed through the documents the aide handed me, page by page.

Originally, my plan was to commute between Lombardi and the Imperial Palace.

However, as Perez’s residence moved to the Lombardi mansion, an environment where I could handle Empress duties from here was naturally created.

In short, my work efficiency had increased.

“Shouldn’t the expansion of the backyard here be postponed until summer? Instead, the repairs to the greenhouse should be done first before the rainy season…”

While I was laying out my opinions, the aide was busy writing down my words.

“So, the south side of Phorak Palace will be done that way, but the real problem is the west side.”

“Um, Your Majesty the Empress.”

As soon as my words concluded, the aide opened his mouth.

“What is it?”

“The renovation of Phorak Palace is not an urgent matter. So, you can take your time and think about it more slowly…”

“Oh, right. Then what’s the urgent matter?”

The aide hesitated for a moment at my question, then replied.

“There isn’t one.”

I tilted my head, not quite understanding.

“There isn’t?”

“Your Majesty has already handled all the urgent matters.”

“Already?”

I recalled the documents that had crossed my desk over the past few days.

There weren’t many, were there?

Perhaps misunderstanding my silence, the aide cautiously added.

“I humbly surmise that my abilities are lacking and that Your Majesty is not satisfied with the Imperial Household’s work.”

Something was going wrong with the conversation.

“From now on, I will do my utmost to serve you with all my heart, so please do not overexert yourself…”

It seemed I had been thoroughly misunderstood.

I raised a hand and said.

“No. I haven’t overexerted myself, Sir Stein.”

Sir Stein, a middle-aged man with slightly wrinkled eyes, widened them, seemingly not expecting me to remember his name.

“I have never been dissatisfied with the Imperial Household’s or your job performance. On the contrary, I am surprised every time, so don’t worry.”

“Your Majesty the Empress…”

“I apologize for rushing things unintentionally. The Imperial Household has its own way of doing things, and I overlooked that and pushed ahead with my usual style.”

“A-apology?”

Sir Stein waved his hands in surprise.

“That’s preposterous. I merely spoke out of concern for your health, as you also have to look after the Lombardi family.”

“I know you said it for my sake. And I’m not overexerting myself at all. In fact, learning new things is only enjoyable.”

The duties as Lombardi Matriarch, which had initially been overwhelming, had long since become familiar.

Now, the new duties as Empress were providing a good change of pace for me.

“So, I look forward to working with you in the future, Sir Stein. Oh, but if I get ahead of myself like this again, please tell me anytime.”

“Your Majesty the Empress…”

Sir Stein’s eyes, looking at me, were even slightly moist.

It was a somewhat familiar situation.

When had I seen that expression before?

“I look forward to working with you as well.”

Sir Stein bowed deeply.

“Yes, yes.”

I changed the subject, as if to appease Sir Stein.

“You said it wasn’t urgent, but since we’ve started, shall we discuss Phorak Palace a little more, Sir Stein?”

“Yes, Your Majesty the Empress.”

It seemed we would become a well-matched team in the future.

Come to think of it, there was one more thing that had changed in my daily life.

“You worked hard today too, Tia.”

When I returned to the bedroom after finishing my day’s work, Perez, who was sitting on the bed reading a book, greeted me.

It was a strange feeling.

Perez waiting for me, naturally, when I returned at the end of the day.

As I stood still, Perez closed his book, put it down, and approached me.

“What happened?”

A familiar hand brushed my hair back.

“From now on, you know.”

“Yes, Tia.”

“It’ll keep being like this, right?”

So this is what marriage is.

A slightly belated realization washed over me like a wave.

Opening our eyes and seeing each other’s faces first, and warming our bodies with each other’s warmth before falling asleep.

As if he had read all my unspoken feelings, Perez smiled happily.

“Yes, it will. For a very long time.”

“…Marriage is more amazing than I thought.”

“Well. For me, it’s something I’ve wished for for too long.”

“Too long? How long?”

“Hmm. Probably since the day you gave me candy?”

“Lies.”

Perez was just a ten-year-old boy then.

And he thought that way even back then?

“It’s true.”

Perez let out a small laugh.

“I thought about it every day. The day I could stay by Tia’s side. Imagining you coming to me after waiting just a few hours, not a long time like back then.”

“Hey, don’t say that.”

It makes me sound like a terrible person.

I gently pushed his chest, not hurting him, and Perez even took that hand and kissed it.

“So now feels like a dream. The time in the carriage coming to Lombardi, and the time waiting for you after coming to the bedroom first. Every moment is precious.”

“Perez, you…”

My voice inevitably trembled a little.

“You really love me, don’t you?”

“I’ve always told you, Tia. You are more precious than anything in this world.”

At the end of his words, his warm lips lightly touched mine.

Perez’s scent gently permeated me.

Is it okay to just receive such affection?

The tip of my nose tingled.

I slightly lifted my heels and kissed Perez’s neat forehead, just as he habitually did to me.

“Me too. I’ll do better too.”

Perez, who blinked a little, surprised by my kiss, hugged me even tighter and said.

“You don’t need to. Tia is already enough. Just.”

“Just?”

“Just let me say this every day.”

Perez leaned close and whispered.

“You worked hard.”

I unconsciously closed my eyes at the breath I felt on my sensitive skin.

“Welcome home, wife.”

“…You’re a fool.”

Listening to Perez’s laughter in my ear, I hugged him even tighter.

With all my strength, until my arms ached.

And I vowed.

To become a bigger and stronger person, so as not to miss a single drop of the affection pouring onto me.