In This Life I Will Be The Lord Novel - Side Story, Chapter 9

Perez’s eyes widened so much that the round shape of his red pupils was fully visible.
He’s always been particularly expressive in front of me, but it’s been a while since I’ve seen him look so surprised.
While I was carefully observing Perez’s new appearance, he quietly watched me too.
A long silence filled the room.
“Wow…”
I opened my mouth to say something, but only an exclamation like that came out.
“Perez, you…”
It’s amazing how much a person’s aura can change with just their hair color.
I had given him the dye half out of curiosity, but I didn’t expect the effect to be this significant.
But one thing was certain.
“If you’re blonde…”
No, this won’t do.
I swallowed the rest of my words, unable to utter them.
It was truly those words I swallowed.
Not my saliva.
“Ahem.”
I cleared my throat softly, then took a few steps closer to look at Perez’s face more closely.
There were quite a few people with blonde hair around me.
Just looking at the twins, for example.
But no one had a color as close to platinum blonde as Perez did now.
Is that why?
“Your eyes look even more like rubies, you know.”
His red eyes, which I always thought looked like the color of blood, truly looked like bright rubies embedded today.
And the way his calm blonde hair swayed whenever he blinked those eyes…
“It’s… sensual?”
For a moment, a hint of a smile flickered in Perez’s eyes, and I saw him tilt his head.
No, what am I saying right now?
“No, I mean, you’re handsome. Yes, blonde suits you well.”
“…Thank you.”
Perez’s voice was low and heavy, like someone tired.
“Tia, you…”
His subtle red gaze slowly swept over my face.
It was clearly the same kind of gaze as usual, but…
Why was it so hard to meet?
“I think I prefer Tia’s original hair color.”
“…Is it strange?”
“No. Of course not. It’s just, this look is a bit…”
Dangerous.
My ears weren’t mistaken.
He clearly said ‘dangerous’…
“Shall we go down for dinner?”
Saying that, Perez naturally escorted me.
In a moment of “uh-oh,” I found myself gently pushed forward, moving my feet.
Wait, wait a minute.
Dinner isn’t the problem right now.

We took a seat in the restaurant on the first floor of the inn.
We had decided it would be best to finish dinner quickly and get some good rest, as we had to hit the road again tomorrow morning.
“The menu is surprisingly diverse.”
I said that, glancing at Perez over the menu.
Ah, it’s still strange.
Could someone I’ve known since childhood feel so unfamiliar just because their hair color changed?
But upon reflection, it seemed it wasn’t just a matter of hair color.
Ever since we left the Lombardi mansion, Perez had shown unfamiliar sides of himself from time to time.
For example.
“May I take your order?”
“Do you have any recommended dishes?”
Things like his skilled way of conversing with the restaurant staff.
Perez might have even more worldly experience than I did.
Yes, I knew it in my head.
Nevertheless, my heart felt strange.
I tapped the table with my fingertips, trying to figure out the source of this feeling.
“That dish is our restaurant’s proud signature menu, with an exquisite spicy sauce.”
Perez looked at me for a moment after the staff’s explanation, then replied.
“Excluding spicy food…”
“No, I like spicy food.”
Believe it or not, I was once Korean.
“Is that dish very spicy?”
“It can be adjusted to the customer’s preference. Shall I ask the kitchen to make it spicier?”
“Yes. Please do. It’s good to have spicy food after a long time.”
“…I’ll have this.”
After taking Perez’s order, the staff left, and he stared at me, asking.
“You… liked spicy food?”
“Yes. I love it.”
“Since when?”
Since when?
“Since I was little?”
“…I didn’t know.”
Perez touched his mouth, looking a little bewildered.
Tap, tap.
My fingertips still tapped the table.
“Why did I think you couldn’t eat spicy food, Tia?”
“I thought the same about you.”
At my words, which were a little off-topic, Perez raised his red eyes, slightly darkened by the lighting, and looked at me.
Indeed.
Why did I think you were clumsy with people?
Perez Brivachau Durelli could make anyone his ally if he needed to.
Thud.
My fingertips, a little heavier now, landed on the table, and I blurted out.
“Shall we drink, Perez?”
Come to think of it, I’d never sat across from him and had a drink.
At most, it was just an aperitif shared during a meal together.
Even after knowing each other for so long.
“…Drink?”
“Yes, drink.”
I answered, scanning the liquor list the staff had left.
Just then, I saw a drink that was cheap but tasted good.
“You and I have never had a drink together, have we? Let’s try it today.”
Who knows, we might discover new sides of each other.
Perez, who had been looking at me with a slightly subdued expression, as if deep in thought, then relaxed his lips and smiled.
“I didn’t know you drank, Tia.”
“I often drink with my family. Especially Giliou and Mayron are my drinking buddies.”
As usual, but even more so when alcohol was involved, the twins and I got along perfectly.
“How about this?”
Perez asked, looking at the name of the drink I pointed to.
“Are you sure? That’s quite strong.”
“What do you take me for? I have a high tolerance for alcohol, you know?”
“…Alright, let’s drink.”
Just then, we ordered the drink from the staff who brought our food.
And so, the meal accompanied by alcohol began, and soon the bottom of the dishes started to show.
“How is it? I’m fine, right? I told you I have a high tolerance.”
“Indeed.”
“Ah, it’s still too sober to be fun, isn’t it? But you know, Perez.”
“Hm?”
“Could you stop shaking the table? It’s making my head dizzy.”
As I frowned, pointing at the swaying table, Perez chuckled and replied.
“Alright. My apologies.”
“Just know I’m letting it slide because you’re handsome.”
He’s so pretty that I can’t even get angry.
“The bottle’s almost empty too. Should we just order another one?”
“No, let’s just finish this one today.”
“Why?”
“Because I… feel like I’m going to get drunk.”
“So, you’re a lightweight, after all?”
Perez chuckled again at my question, then nodded.
“Yes. Actually, I can’t hold my liquor well.”
“Oh, dear. Well, everyone has to have one thing they’re not good at. Your big sister understands everything.”
“…Pfft.”
He suddenly covered his mouth.
Then, with beautifully curved eyes, he asked.
“Big sister?”
“Of course! Big sister!”
“Alright. Be my big sister.”
“I really am your big sister, you know?”
Perez, who had nodded readily, propped his elbows on the table, leaned closer to me, and stared at me with a face full of amusement.
“Haha.”
“What? Am I funny?”
“Ahem, Tia, because you’re cute, no, beautiful.”
“Beautiful… You. I’ve told you countless times since we were little. When someone as truly beautiful as you says that, it sounds like you’re teasing me.”
“I’m serious. In my eyes, you’re the most beautiful, Tia.”
“W-what are you talking about?”
I’m already feeling hot as it is.
“With that bewitching blonde hair! And a face that exudes sensuality just by blinking, you shouldn’t say such things!”
I pinched one of Perez’s cheeks and said.
“My big sister’s heart is fluttering, you know? Like that!”
“…Ha.”
Perez seemed speechless for a moment, then with a low sigh, he muttered “…sensual” and ran a hand over his face.
“Tia.”
“Hm?”
“From now on, only drink with me.”
“Only with you? Okay, fine.”
I nodded readily.
“But why are you angry? You’re frowning again, making wrinkles!”
I reached out and pressed down on his brow.
Just like that, Perez’s frown smoothed out as if it had never been there.
“Hehe, there.”
“…This is driving me crazy.”
“Oh, no! You’re frowning again! You really don’t listen! Why are you getting angry?”
“I’m not angry. How could I be angry with you?”
“Then what is this?”
“This is just… thinking about other people seeing you look this beautiful makes me feel a little…”
He seemed to say something more, but strangely, I couldn’t hear it well.
“What?”
“Nothing. Shall we go up now?”
“Ah, you’re sleepy, aren’t you? Alright. If you say so, your big sister will cooperate.”
“Yes, big sister.”
“What?”
“Nothing.”
There was definitely something, I thought.
Perhaps due to the accumulated fatigue from the journey, I tilted my head, feeling strangely muddled, and stood up.
“Oh, don’t shake the table, I told you!”
“Sorry. Hold my hand.”
“Oh, dear. My Perez, I’m letting it slide again because you’re so handsome.”
“Haha.”
For some reason, Perez burst into laughter.
And watching him, I too felt like laughing.
“Hehe. Let’s go, let’s go to sleep, my Perez! You need to grow taller!”
It was strange.
It was clearly a short distance when we came down.
But the walk back to the inn felt endlessly long.
When we finally reached the room and opened the door.
“Wow, what is this?”
It seemed the inn staff had visited while we were having dinner.
“Right. We’re newlyweds.”
I keep forgetting.
I let go of Perez’s hand, which I had been holding, and walked into the room.
Behind me, I heard the click of the door closing.
“It’s beautiful.”
The room was dimly lit by candles, and rose petals were scattered on the bed.
They were red roses.
“Ugh. Why waste such precious flowers… Ah!”
It was when I turned to sweep the petals off the bed.
The floor swayed as if Perez had shaken the table earlier, and my body lurched forward.
Just as I closed my eyes, thinking I would fall, I felt a firm hand grab me.
And when I slowly opened my eyes.
“Perez.”
“Hm?”
“You’re a bit close?”
“…Indeed.”
His bewitching blonde hair and ruby-like red eyes were right in front of my nose.