In This Life I Will Be The Lord Novel - Side Story, Chapter 56 (End)

Shan and Gallahan held hands and entered the house.

A cozy kitchen and living room, visible at a glance, welcomed the two.

The morning sunlight filled the empty space of the newly prepared house, which had few belongings.

Gallahan, who had been quietly watching Shan’s gaze touch every corner of the house, said in a slightly anxious voice.

“Is it a bit small? Then there’s a villa on the outskirts…”

“No. This house is perfect, Gallahan.”

“That’s a relief…”

Gallahan breathed a sigh of relief.

“I prepared it in a hurry, so there’s not much here, is there? So from now on, please fill it with things you like, Shan.”

Even as he said just that, Gallahan’s face flushed again with renewed excitement.

“I didn’t originally intend to just hand over the house key like this. I planned to prepare properly and propose properly so you wouldn’t be uncomfortable… Ah!”

In the middle of speaking, Gallahan remembered something he had forgotten and frantically rummaged through the bag he had placed on the floor.

He was sure he had put it somewhere around here.

His hurried fingertips touched a soft, small box.

“Found it.”

“What is that?”

“It’s nothing much…”

Out of the box came a thin gold ring set with a purple gem.

Gallahan slowly slipped it onto Shan’s fourth finger.

The ring fit perfectly, neither too big nor too small.

“Wow.”

Shan, who hadn’t expected to receive a ring, her eyes sparkled like a child’s.

Seeing her reaction, Gallahan silently rubbed the ring.

“Next time, I’ll buy you an even prettier and better ring, Shan.”

Seeing Shan happy with the gift made him greedy.

He wanted to give her more and better things.

“No matter what ring you give me in the future, Gallahan, I will cherish this one the most.”

Shan shook her head and said.

“Because every time I see this ring, I’ll remember the trembling when you proposed to me, and the warmth when I first entered this house.”

Shan looked around the interior of the house again.

And her gaze lingered for a long time on the armchair by the window.

“The day we first came to our home is contained in this ring.”

“Shan.”

With a soft call, a gentle touch turned her head.

Before she even realized she was in Gallahan’s arms, their lips met.

The sudden touch was surprisingly hot.

They met seamlessly, then gave a little space, and then delved in even deeper.

“Mmm.”

Shan gasped for breath as the heat, spreading like fire through dry grass, instantly transferred to her, but Gallahan took it all away.

His strong arms greedily pulled her closer as her legs weakened and she swayed slightly.

Just a little more, just a little.

She was filled with the desire to get even closer to him, intoxicated by their mingled breaths.

Thump, thump.

When their heartbeats were conveyed through their touching bodies.

Gallahan said with lips that couldn’t bear to part, filled with longing.

“Yes, Shan. This is our home now.”

With a face as flushed as her rising breath, Shan nodded.

Everything his embrace conveyed felt wonderful.

The overwhelming happiness once again moistened her eyes, which had just begun to dry.

But before they could flow, Gallahan’s gentle hand wiped away her tears.

“I love you, Shan.”

At the beginning of a long kiss that seemed as if it would never end, Gallahan whispered softly.

Happy times flew by quickly.

Shan and Gallahan spent their first winter in their new home.

And when the midday sun began to carry the scent of early spring.

The Emperor’s Obituary arrived.

At that time, when white handkerchiefs signifying mourning hung from every house.

A slightly different atmosphere flowed through the red-roofed house.

Gallahan touched the black envelope that a person from the Imperial Palace had just delivered, with a bewildered expression.

The letter, which he knew without even opening it, was an obituary sent by Jovanes, the Crown Prince and soon-to-be Emperor of the Empire.

He had expected to receive an obituary since he had not publicly severed ties with Lombardi.

But what bewildered Gallahan was the recipient’s name written on the outside of the letter.

Mr. and Mrs. Gallahan Lombardi.

Having officially received the obituary, Shan had an obligation to attend the Emperor’s funeral.

“What should I do?”

Gallahan rubbed his forehead with a troubled expression.

But Shan, on the other hand, was calm.

“We have to go. We can’t not go, can we?”

“That’s true, but…”

“If you’re worried about me, it’s okay, Galli. We just have to attend the funeral ceremony for a bit and then come back, right?”

“…Yes.”

“Nothing will happen.”

Even as he watched Shan’s back as she went upstairs to prepare a dress for mourning, Gallahan’s worries did not subside.

Surely all the Lombardi family members would be attending.

What if Shan found herself in a difficult situation there?

His worries, one after another, continued until they arrived at the Imperial Palace the next day.

However, contrary to his concerns, nothing special happened.

Gallahan and Shan, who entered around the start of the funeral, took seats far from the Lombardi family members and did not even make eye contact with them.

He thought the funeral would end safely like this, but then.

“I will escort you to the Phorak Palace.”

Jovanes summoned Gallahan to his palace.

Many nobles seemed to have been invited besides Gallahan, probably to show as many people as possible that he was mourning his deceased father.

“I’ll stay in the carriage, Galli.”

Shan said to Gallahan as he got out in front of the Phorak Palace.

“Will you be okay alone?”

At his worried question, she smiled and nodded.

“I feel a bit unwell, perhaps from tension. I’ll rest here for a bit.”

“Ah…”

Gallahan realized that Shan must have been pushing herself too hard, even if she didn’t show it.

Gallahan nodded with a firm expression.

“I’ll be back soon, Shan.”

Gallahan kissed her forehead, then entered the Phorak Palace with a rather solemn expression.

He would just show his face quickly and then come out to take care of his wife.

Sitting in the carriage, Shan confirmed that Gallahan had entered the palace, then opened the carriage door and stepped outside.

And she walked without hesitation.

Normally, soldiers would be on guard everywhere in Phorak Palace, but a day with many visitors like today was an exception.

When the soldiers saw Shan get out of the carriage and head towards the backyard of Phorak Palace, they simply assumed she was a noblewoman taking a short stroll.

Walking through the familiar yet unfamiliar backyard, she stopped in a particularly sunny spot.

The Emperor’s death, without any particular illness, and the obituary sent by Crown Prince Jovanes, among other threads of fate, had led her here.

Click.

Shan opened the small handbag she had been holding and took out a small bottle from inside.

The glass bottle was full of small, black, round seeds.

They were Bomnia seeds.

The glass bottle tilted over the fallen leaves that had not yet completely decomposed from winter.

Thud.

With a small sound, the Bomnia seeds scattered across the garden of Phorak Palace.

Shan, who had put the bottle that contained the Bomnia seeds back into her bag, turned around without hesitation.

She felt as if she had completed the most important task.

Returning to the carriage with light steps, she found Gallahan already back, looking pale and searching for her.

“Shan! Where did you go? I was worried.”

“I think I got a bit of motion sickness from the carriage, so I went for a short walk. Is it all over, Gally?”

“Yes. Now that I’ve shown my face to His Highness Jovanes, we can go back.”

Even as he answered her question, his hand, brushing off the fallen leaves from the hem of her black dress, still held worry.

“Let’s go home, quickly.”

After helping Shan into the carriage first, he also sat down beside her.

“When we get home, take a warm bath and change into comfortable clothes. I’ll make you your favorite milk tea.”

“Make sure to put a lot of honey in it, Gally.”

“Do you think I don’t know your taste, Shan? And after you’ve had some tea, I’ll massage your feet. You’ve had a hard time today wearing uncomfortable shoes.”

“And my neck and shoulders too.”

At Shan’s complaining words, Gallahan’s face instantly filled with concern.

“Oh dear, does it hurt a lot? Should I call a doctor as soon as we get home?”

“No, it’s not that bad…”

Shan shook her head, smiled, and said, taking Gallahan’s hand.

“I think I need your love, Gally.”

“Sha-Shan…”

He should be used to it by now.

But Gallahan was helplessly embarrassed by his wife’s affectionate charm.

Then he tapped the wall on the coachman’s side with his fist.

It was a signal to hurry.

“Haha!”

Finally, Shan burst into laughter.

Gallahan’s face turned even redder, but his intertwined hands were incredibly firm.

“Hah.”

She let out a refreshing sigh and rested her head on her husband’s shoulder.

“Let’s go home, quickly.”

To their home, where the happiest moments of their lives would be held.

Shan closed her eyes gently with a smile on her face.