The announcement made by the Lombardy family created a big repercussion.
It was not just because Firentia Lombardy got officially appointed as the Deputy Head but also became the official successor of Head Lombardy!
Skipping the eldest son, Vieze, and his other children, Shannanet, and Gallahan, Rulhac appointed his granddaughter, Firentia as the successor.
If this continues, the first-ever female Head will be born.
Thereâs also the fact that the engagement of the Second Prince and Firentia was broken.
It was an announcement that surprised people in many ways.
âNonsense!â
Vieze, who had been drinking to death at a social club, hurries home after hearing the news.
His dull, dark skin, red blood-shot eyes, and the terrible smell of alcohol made the other people frown.
Serral returned home after a few days and watched Vieze, who was changing clothes while screaming, âI have to go see my father!â
âThat lowly wench, of all things, became the Deputy Headâand worse, the successor?! This cannot be!â
Vieze quickly changed his clothes and vented his anger.
Because he was drunk, he became a mess and couldnât lock his button properly, but he wasnât even aware of that.
âMy father must be senile. I, the eldest son, should go and stop himâŚ.Arrggh!â
Vieze was under a foolish illusion even after he was kicked out of the main building of the mansion and moved to a separate house where guests stayed.
He thought that his father was only angry for the time being and tossed him out temporarily, but he was mistaken that everything would go back to the way it was in due time.
And after drinking his brains out, he persuaded himself that what happened today is a mistake.
âThis is a mistake! Heâs making a big mistakeâŚ!â
Vieze muttered the words over and over again with vacant eyes.
âNo matter how many times I told you to go to your father and ask him to get Bellesac out of there, you didnât listen and pretending not to hear!â
Eventually, Serral, who couldnât stand it, shouted at Vieze in a harsh voice.
âArenât you too much?! Are you not even worried about Bellesac?!â
Serral couldnât sleep at the thought of her son being locked up somewhere in the palace alone.
Although Vieze was not good enough in many ways, she thought that at least he felt the same concern she had for their son, Bellesac.
Laranne, who had left for the East, did not even reply to the letters she kept sending. And now Bellesac, the only child left with them, was imprisoned in the Imperial Palace for a severe case.
She thought that he was drowning himself in alcohol every day because of that.
But that wasnât it.
He just doesnât want to go visit his father and ask for Bellesacâs sake because it hurts his pride.
Serral trembled with anger and betrayal.
âWhat?â
Vieze crumpled his face seeing Serral crying.
âThatâs because he did something wrong, what can I do?!â He shouted.
âOf course, if you did something with the First Prince and even brandishing a dagger, you will obviously get caught and cannot get away because of how big of a deal it is!â
Then he looked at Serral from head to toe before spitting disapprovingly.
âWho do you think came up with such a stupid plan?!â
Vieze, who left only that word, slammed the door as he goes out.
Left alone again, Serral stood there for a moment.
Then she went back to her room and picked up a letter on her desk.
âThe Empress is accusing me as the culprit in the case. I took the medicine in the canteen of His Highness the Second Prince. Please get me out of here. Iâm so scared, Mother.â
Serralâs fingers trembled as she stroked the messed-up handwriting.
âBellesacâŚ.â
Serral blamed herself.
It was Serral, herself, who put the dagger in Bellesacâs hand and pushed the child to do such a thing even though he did not want to go to the hunting competition.
âGo and throw your body in front of the Prince if necessaryâ saying such harsh words to the end.
Then Serral read one sentence in the letter again.
âThe Empress is accusing me as the culprit in the case.â
When she first read the words, Serral denied it.
The Empress wonât do that.
However, as time passed by, she was forced to admit it.
The easiest way to deal with the situation right now was to put everything on Bellesac.
And she knew that her cousin, Ravini, wouldnât hesitate to sacrifice Bellesac at all.
âIâm so scared, Mother.â
Serral closed her eyes tightly, hearing Bellesacâs fearful voice in her head.
***
âWhat accessories would you like, my Lady?â
After changing my dress, and finishing my hair and makeup.
Laurelle asked as she opened the jewelry box in front of me.
âIf you donât like any of these, Iâll bring you another one.â
âNo need.â
I said, reaching out to the necklace in the middle. A necklace made by Perez himself with a red ruby the size of a thumbnail.
It caught my eye.
âMy LadyâŚâ
Laurelle, who knows what this necklace is, looked at me anxiously.
âI just want to wear it. There is no other meaning.â
I said so and hung the necklace myself. And I put a shawl prepared next to it over my shoulders.
It was woven with thick fur and was tightly trimmed with a string from just below the collarbone.
If I wear this, no one can see what kind of necklace Iâm wearing.
âHelp me with the shawl, Laurelle.â
ââŚYes, my Lady.â
Laurelle nodded, clearly understood what I was thinking.
Smiling, she attended as she wrapped the shawl about me. But she couldnât hide her sad eyes well.
âLong time no see, Laurelle.â Now accustomed to Laurelle calling him âBrotherâ, Clerivan greeted her, unable to help it.
âDid you bring it?â
âYes, here you are.â
Clerivan gave me what he cherished in his bag.
It was a bundle of documents, well bound with thick leather.
I got up and put it in the safe.
âThere is nothing wrong with being careful.â
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Not that I donât trust the people of Lombardy. Itâs not something you can just put on a table and carry it around.
ââŚClerivan?â
âHmm. UhâŚâ He coughed and turned his head away, but the sound coming from him is a little strange.
âAre you crying?!â
âOh, no.â
No way!
How is it not tears when you take off your glasses and wiped your eyes with your sleeves!
Then is it sweat flowing from your eyes?
I sighed a little and took a few steps towards Clerivan.
And then.
I stopped and asked just in case.
âYou will cry more if I reassure you, right?â
ââŚ.Yes. HmmmfâŚâ Clerivan replied, turning his head to the side again and quietly grasping his eyebrows.
âI understand why youâre crying.â
âHmm. Iâm sorry. It seems that I became a little emotional for a moment.â Clerivan said, taking a deep breath.
His voice and facial expression changed. He was back in his usual, calm appearance.
âWhen did Lady Firentia grow up to be the Deputy Head and successoâ!â
Clerivan cut off himself from talking and touch his eyebrow again.
It is unusual for his head to bow down and his shoulders to shake.
I sighed again and said to Laurelle, âGive Clerivan a handkerchieâLaurelle?!â
âHaaah! Wahh!â
Oh Laurelle, not you too.
Laurelle, who stood next to Clerivan, looked the same as she bowed her head and was damping her eyes with a handkerchief, shedding tears.
âOh, my young lady⌠You look so dignified todayâŚ!â
Crying greatly, Laurelle wiped her tears and handed the handkerchief to Clerivan.
âHere you go, Brother.â
ââŚ.Ahh, thank you⌠HaahâŚâ
I canât believe them.
I shook my head and left the room with the two people who burst into tears.
âWhere are you going, my Lady?â Laurelle asked through the open door.
âImperial Palace. I have some business to attend to. Now that Iâm officially the Deputy Head, I have to take responsibility for all family members.â
My first job as the Deputy Head of Lombardy is âthisâ.
Iâm a bit dumbfounded myself.
âAnd thereâs a place I need to stop by before I leave for the Imperial Palace.â
I looked back at Clerivan and said, âDonât cry too much and see you tomorrow at the Company, Clerivan.â
âYes, have a nice first day at work, Deputy HeadâŚ..ugh!â
âOh my god, this is really happening, Laurelle!â
ââŚHmmf!â
I really canât stop these siblings.
The last thing I saw was Laurelle squeezing Clerivanâs shoulder through the closing door before I started moving again.
The destination was my grandfatherâs bedroom.
âIâm here, Grandpa!â
My grandfather, dressed in comfortable clothes and drinking tea in the parlor attached to his bedroom, smiled wide at me.
âOh, our Tia is here!â
âYou should take a rest. Were you working again?â
âHaha! I canât help it. Itâs a habit.â
Grandfather laughed as he put the papers aside on the table.
âBut where are you going? You probably didnât come here just to see your Grandpa all dressed up like that, right?â
âI have to go to the Imperial Palace but before that, I have things to report to my grandfather and also want to ask something.â
âYes, what is it?â
Grandfather smiled as he took the teacup to his mouth.