﹡ ⊹ ⊰ Chapter 243 ⊱ ⊹ ﹡
I felt giddy, looking at the mansion of Angenas.
The mansion of a size that was too large to be located in the center of the Imperial City was already empty. The only items of value that had already been disposed of were furniture that the next owner of the mansion wanted to use.
I turned my gaze to the opposite side and looked at the people gathering in front of the Angenas mansion.
Hundreds of people, n.o.bles, and commoners filled the area around the mansion.
"It feels so strange."
I"ve seen this sight in my previous life. A scene where thousands of people gathered to see the fall of a family.
The only difference was that the family at that time was Lombardy, and this time it was Angenas.
And it was I, Firentia Lombardy, who made that difference.
"Shall we start, Deputy Head?"
An official from the Imperial Palace asked me. Only then did I realize the countless gazes that were focused on me.
Perez was one of them.
As you can see, I"m the final decision maker, so it was up to me to clean up the Angenas Family since it was a.s.signed to me by Emperor Jovanes.
"Close it."
At my command, the Imperial Knights began to move by pushing the heavy iron gates.
The people from Angenas were expelled from the mansion and arrested.
In less than a few weeks, the gates quickly became rusty, making a grating noise as it was closing.
As soon as the iron gates closed, the Knights with expressionless faces rushed and hung thick chains on the bars. Finally, the large lock bearing the Imperial symbol sealed the gates of the Angenas mansion.
Anyone who opened the doors to this mansion without permission from the Imperial Family would be guilty of treason.
I could hear the sounds of conversations of the aristocrats around me clicking their tongues and whispering among themselves.
"Angenas is eventually ruined." A n.o.bleman said cynically.
"I knew this would happen."
Really now.
I quietly tilted my head, looking at the empty and deserted mansion of Angenas.
Well, maybe some people expected this to happen, however, most people didn"t.
In the fight between Perez and the Empress. The expected winner was the Empress. And if you think about it more, Astana was more expected to be the Crown Prince.
"Deputy Head Lombardy."
In the end, the winner was this guy, Perez.
"Are you all right?"
It was a little absurd question that come up suddenly. But I know what he means by it.
"I"ve seen everything I want to see, so it"s time for me to leave."
"Hmm, my back hurts after standing for a long time."
As Perez approached, all the n.o.bles standing around me hurriedly step away. This incident has increased the number of people who are afraid of Perez.
However, it was a good thing for Perez, who was about to be the Crown Prince.
Fear will soon lead to a powerful Imperial sphere.
"Deputy Head?"
When I zoned out without answering, Perez called me again.
His eyes were full of worries. I looked into those eyes and thought.
Why is everyone so scared of Perez?
This child won"t bite unless someone touches him first.
"I"m fine. How about you, Your Highness?"
Today, when Angenas got officially sealed and locked was also the day Perez"s victory came to an end.
"Very good." Perez replied, looking refreshed.
"Soon, I will formally propose to the Aristocratic Council to remove Angenas" name from the Registry of n.o.bility."
Yes, that"s how you are.
It was a perfectly neat finish. That"s how you cut it off completely so that revenge can"t sprout again.
I smiled while looking at Perez.
"I"ll give you my strength."
Because the n.o.bles meeting is my territory.
"Then shall I escort you to your carriage?" Perez said, reaching out politely.
What"s he doing when I"m right near my carriage? But somehow, I can feel an invisible big black tail wagging behind him.
I sighed inwardly and placed my hand on his outstretched one.
As we began to walk together, of course, people"s eyes were both on us.
They were quite curious gazes.
But whether people are looking or not, Perez and I maintained a polite and businesslike att.i.tude towards each other in public.
"You look prettier today, Tia." He said in a voice that was so small that others couldn"t hear it.
Perez then asked, closing the door of the carriage I climbed on.
"What"s the rest of your schedule today?"
"I decided to have dinner with my father."
I haven"t seen my father"s face lately. I was busy, but my father was much busier.
Because it"s winter, Chesail estate shouldn"t be too busy right now.
"Hmm."
I thought, narrowing my eyes.
Isn"t it a bit suspicious after all?
***
At the same time.
A weekly meeting was being held in Lombardy"s mansion. There was nothing special about it because it was a meeting held regularly every month.
Lombardy was going well without any problems today.
"That"s very nice." Rulhac, who had been briefed by each of the lord va.s.sals, said satisfactorily.
The faces of the Family va.s.sals looking at Rulhac were also proud.
"You look better today, my liege." Lord Bilkay said to Rulhac, looking happy.
"Hmm, is that so?" When Rulhac asked, all the other va.s.sals nodded and agreed.
"It"s probably because Tia"s been taking care of her work so well. Haha!" Rulhac exclaimed, once again smiling contentedly.
"It"s a good thing, my liege."
"Of course, of course. It"s a relief."
Rulhac finally looked at the lord va.s.sals around the long table and soon said.
"Today is my last weekly meeting."
Mortification, sadness, regret. Various emotions crossed the faces of the va.s.sals.
"I think it"s really fortunate that I can work with my whole body and mind until the end." Rulhac said sincerely.
"Huh, don"t make such faces everyone."
"But my Lord..."
"I couldn"t be any happier than this. Why do you have to make such faces like that?"
Then Rulhac continued.
"There was a time when I was very scared. And I always had this lingering thought, "If I collapse, will Lombardy collapse too?". There were many days when I couldn"t relax for even a single moment with that thought."
Recalling the days that seemed a long time ago, Rulhac smiled.
"But I don"t have that kind of burden anymore."
Rulhac"s heart was light as if he was floating in the air. The ease has doubled in the past few weeks since Tia perfected her duty as the Deputy Head of Lombardy.
Now there was no worries nor fear about handing over Lombardy"s Family Head position.
"I"m very lucky. Very much so."
Rulhac a.s.sessed himself in that regard.
He"s a very lucky person.
"There is no other Lombardy Family Head who withdraws as comfortably as I do."
Thinking that way, Rulhac sat down and straightened his clothes before saying.
"I really wanted to take this opportunity today to convey my heart to you all. In the future, I ask you to take good care of my granddaughter."
Today is the last day he sits in this very chair.
A journey that had lasted for decades was ending.
"For a long time, I wanted to say that it was nice to be able to work with you. And, thank you." Rulhac said as he bowed his head with grat.i.tude that he couldn"t express more.
And when he looked up again, Rulhac couldn"t say anything for a moment.
"...Thank you very much, our Lord liege."
All the va.s.sals were standing up from their seats and greeted Rulhac with a deep bow.
Rulhac smiled and captured the appearances of his va.s.sals one by one.
"Thank you, everyone."
That"s how Rulhac"s last meeting as Head ended.
Then, as he stood up from his chair, Rulhac was surprised.
His body was very light as if he had laid down his luggage.
"Huh." Rulhac said, nodding his head and walking ahead with his hands behind him.
"Those who are not busy, come and eat with me."
Outside the window of the hallway, he could see warm sunlight filling the mansion.
"Since today is a very good day."
***
"Are you ready, Tia?"
I heard my father asking carefully in the drawing-room.
"Yes, I"m done!" I replied, checking myself in the mirror for the final time.
I"m wearing civilian clothes that don"t stand out and looked unlike a n.o.ble.
This was what my father asked me to wear. So I wasn"t wearing accessories, I was picking out the most modest brown dress of the Gallahan"s ready-to-wear clothes.
"Let"s go now, Dad!"
"Oh?..."
But when I finally came out of the parlor, my father"s expression was a little strange. His slightly frowning green eyes stared at me deeply.
"What is it?"
"Now that I see it, Tia looks so much like her mother."
"Do I?"
I have seen a picture of my mother. She was a beautiful person, but my appearance resembled my father more.
"Yes, very much."
But in my father"s eyes, it seemed that I resembled my mother.
I can feel his deep longing.
"Well then, shall we go?" My father said as he gestured as if asking me to link arms with him.
"Then I"ll have to get the carriage ready—"
"You don"t have to do that, Tia."
My father smiled a little mischievously and said,
"Because we are going around for a walk today."