In This Life I Will Be The Lord Novel - Side Story, Chapter 53

Flitch.

Gallahan, who had been rubbing his face as if tired, stopped moving.

At his reaction, Viese, even more triumphant, sneered.

“She’s living there like a parasite, isn’t she? But what to do? That rat hole is now Lombardi’s property. That lowly creature will have to wander around like a nomad again, looking for a place to stay.”

The sound of him clicking his tongue echoed in the reception room.

“Gallahan, Gallahan. You’re truly foolish.”

Mimicking a brother worried about his sibling, Viese rose from his seat and approached Gallahan step by step.

“With that soft personality of yours, you wouldn’t be keeping that wandering woman close just for fun. It’s obvious you’re treating her like a stray dog you picked up off the street.”

It was as clear as day.

Unlike him and Laurels, who had been obsessed with hunting since childhood, Gallahan would often cry over the poor wild animals.

Gallahan was inherently flawed to become a strong master leading the family.

“If you had been a little smarter and handled things properly, it would have been very troublesome. Well, thanks to that, I was able to let the family know that you’re involved with that lowly woman. I’m very grateful, Gallahan.”

“You mean… you’re going to spread rumors?”

“Yes. Why, are you afraid of rumors too?”

Viese chuckled.

“If that woman, Shan, were the daughter of a fallen noble family, like Shananet sister brought Vestian, then maybe it would be different.”

A bitter expression crossed Viese’s face as Shan’s green eyes, which had looked straight at him, oblivious to her place, came to mind.

“A nomad who might have slept around anywhere.”

Viese leaned in, deliberately speaking so Gallahan could hear him clearly.

“Disgusting, really.”

Gallahan simply bowed his head.

He must be scared.

He was very pleased with his brother’s reaction.

He even thought that if Gallahan knelt and begged with clasped hands, he might reconsider spreading the rumors.

Of course, he had no intention of throwing away this good opportunity to instantly erase Gallahan’s name, which was being mentioned among Lombardi’s vassal lords, just for such pleasure.

“Brother.”

As expected, Gallahan slowly began to lower the hand that had covered his face.

He greatly anticipated the terrified look that would soon be revealed beneath.

But then.

“I, too, am relieved.”

Gallahan’s face, when he lifted his head, was expressionless.

His green eyes, revealed as the shadow of his hand receded, shone smoothly, reflecting the room’s light.

“If you were even a little bit clever, you wouldn’t have resorted to such a clumsy method as spreading rumors.”

“…What?”

“If I were you, I would have given me a large sum of money and told me to run away from Lombardi with my lover. Far, far away, so Father would never find me.”

Viese’s shoulders flinched.

“You’ve thrown away a good opportunity to get rid of me from your path. It can’t be helped. The eldest son of Lombardi isn’t that smart.”

“You, you bastard!”

Contrary to his aggressive stance, as if he would rush forward and grab Gallahan by the collar, Viese remained rooted to the spot, unable to take a single step.

It was difficult to meet Gallahan’s cold eyes.

Instead, Viese tried to act nonchalant and sneered.

“Hmph, what do you think will happen if Father hears that you’re close to that lowly woman? Do you think you’ll still be able to act so smug?”

Even if he pretended not to fear rumors, in reality, he wouldn’t be able to.

Viese thought so.

But on Gallahan’s expressionless face, as he stared blankly at him, a hint of mockery flickered.

“Didn’t you say Lombardi bought ‘Blue Wave’?”

“Yes. I, who manage Lombardi’s real estate, bought it myself. The surrounding buildings are also scheduled to become Lombardi’s soon.”

“Then who gave the order to do so?”

“Th-that was…”

It was Rulac Lombardi, his father and the patriarch.

“It’s impossible that Father doesn’t know what you know, Brother.”

As if there was no longer any value in conversation, Gallahan turned his back on Viese, who was gaping like a goldfish, and walked away.

And holding the doorknob of the reception room, he said in a low voice.

“Don’t ever speak of Shan that way again. Please.”

He clearly said ‘please,’ but why did it sound like a ‘command’?

Viese, left alone, stood dumbfounded in his reception room for a long time.

“I should just get up.”

Shan, who had tossed and turned all night, got out of bed with a tired face.

It was unavoidable that she couldn’t sleep well with so many thoughts on her mind.

Finally, Shan slumped onto the bed and muttered, looking at the faint light of dawn outside.

“Is it right to just go back to the village?”

She had come a long way with the sole purpose of meeting Gallahan and living the future shown to her in a dream.

The man she had so painstakingly met was kinder and more lovable than she had seen in her dreams.

Naturally, Shan fell in love with him.

And she could tell.

That Gallahan felt the same way.

However, regardless of that, Shan became increasingly dispirited.

“Gallahan can be happy enough without me.”

The still dark room felt particularly chilly, so Shan curled up.

And she muttered once more.

“Should I just go back?”

After gazing out the window for a moment, Shan stood up.

She wanted to walk a little.

Creak-

With a small sound, Shan’s door opened.

“…Gallahan?”

At her call, the figure crouching in the hallway in the same way Shan had been sitting a moment ago, lifted his head.

“Are you awake, Shan?”

His clear face, as he greeted her, was plastered with undisguised fatigue.

“What is it? Were you waiting for me? Since when?”

“…Not long.”

“Liar.”

Shan narrowed her eyes, glared at Gallahan for a moment, then grabbed his arm and pulled him up.

“Let’s talk inside first.”

“…Okay.”

The door closed again, and in the quiet room, Shan asked again.

“Is something wrong? If you had something urgent to say, you would have knocked.”

“Because Shan was sleeping.”

Gallahan answered meekly.

“I didn’t want to disturb your sleep, but there was something I really wanted to say.”

“What is it… that you want to say?”

“Well, that is…”

Gallahan looked at Shan with deep eyes and said.

“Don’t go, Shan.”

“Go where?”

“I heard you have to leave ‘Blue Wave.’ So I was worried you might want to go back to your hometown…”

Gallahan carefully took one of Shan’s hands.

“Don’t go.”

“Gallahan…”

“Can’t you just not go?”

Gallahan’s large eyes, which always held a gentle light, were now filled with fear.

It was the fear that he might never see Shan again, that he might lose her.

“Gallahan.”

“Yes, Shan.”

“Do you… need me?”

Their green eyes, now resembling each other, met.

“Yes.”

“Really?”

“I can’t do anything without you now, Shan.”

Gallahan tightened his grip on her hand a little more.

Shan moved her fingers a few times within his large hand and then replied.

“Okay. I won’t go.”

“…Really?”

“Yes. I’ll stay by your side, Gallahan.”

“Ah…”

A joyful relief spread across Gallahan’s pale face.

“If you want me to, I’ll stay here, Gallahan. And…”

Shan smiled shyly.

“Actually, I don’t want to leave Lombardi either.”

It was then.

With a feeling of being pulled in, strong arms embraced Shan.

“I, I have something I really want to tell you, Shan. But I’m not ready right now…”

Gallahan said, holding Shan even tighter in his arms.

“Can you wait for me… just a little longer?”

In his reassuring embrace, Shan closed her eyes and smiled.

Instead of the chilly air of dawn, Gallahan’s warmth permeated her entire body.

“As long as you want, Gallahan.”
***

“You’ve done a great job, Lord Gallahan!”

Romassie Dillard said with a beaming smile.

When a big problem arose in the merchant guild while they were busy preparing for the Crown Prince’s wedding and festival, Romassie Dillard felt dizzy.

He was so shaken, thinking he might tarnish the great name of Lombardi.

But Gallahan had instantly come up with a solution that safely resolved the problem, and tomorrow was finally the Crown Prince’s wedding day.

“If it weren’t for Lord Gallahan, I don’t even want to imagine what would have happened.”

“I didn’t do it alone. You’re praising me too much, Merchant Guild Master.”

Even in front of the sparkling eyes of Romassie Dillard and the merchant guild employees, Gallahan humbly said only that.

“Excessive humility can be rude, Gallahan.”

Everyone’s attention turned to the voice that opened the merchant guild office door and entered.

Romassie Dillard’s face brightened at the sight of the familiar face, rarely smiling, and he quickly bowed in greeting.

“Patriarch! What brings you here!”