In This Life, I Will Become the Head of the Family Episode 1
Prologue
‘You must not stake the family’s real estate at the gambling table as you please. This is already the third time…….’
Slap!
With a harsh crack, Firentia’s head was violently turned to the side.
‘Who do you think you are, daring to lecture me!’
The man shoved her shoulder with a rough hand and shouted, reeking horribly of alcohol.
‘Now, now. Calm yourself, Astaliu. Go over there. And you…….’
After gently soothing his drunken, staggering younger cousin, Bellesac turned toward Firentia.
And then.
Slaaap—!
With a sound even louder than before, a large handprint bloomed on the other side of her face.
‘Just because you handled the family’s money, do you think it belongs to you?’
Bellesac sneered at Firentia as she trembled, clutching her struck cheek.
‘Do not be mistaken. You and we may use the same surname, but with that lowly blood mixed in you, you can never be a member of this family. You need only live as the servant we order about, just as you do now.’
No matter how many times she heard them, those cruel words pierced her heart like a dagger.
‘If you tell Grandfather about what happened today, I will deal with you myself.’
After issuing the low warning, Bellesac spat on the ground and turned away. Soon, she heard the sound of the carriage she had ridden in growing farther and farther away. Left alone in the dim alley of the entertainment district, Firentia clenched her fists.
A drop of red blood fell from her split lip.
* * *
Clatter.
“Whoa—. Whoa.”
As the carriage gave a small jolt along with the coachman’s voice soothing the horses, Firentia awakened from thoughts of the very distant past. Lifting the curtain over the window slightly and looking outside, she saw the imperial palace soldiers.
“We’re here.”
Firentia let the curtain fall again and looked straight ahead, straightening her back even more. Once she fixed her slightly disheveled hair and attire, she looked like a neat, elegant painting.
In the meantime, the carriage carrying her passed through the main gate of the imperial palace and reached Lambrew Palace. Bathed in the brilliant afternoon sunlight, the original gold of the large World Tree carving adorning the carriage flaunted its dazzling sheen along the sculpture’s curved surface.
“We have arrived.”
When the carriage stopped, the coachman announced respectfully.
“Firentia.”
Soon, the carriage door opened, and a beautiful man greeted her.
“Perez.”
After escorting Firentia down from the carriage, he placed a long kiss on the back of her hand. It was a deep kiss that did not hide the desire in his heart.
“Perez!”
Firentia called his name as if scolding him, but Perez merely smiled, his long-lashed eyes curving beautifully.
“Let’s hurry. Everyone must be waiting.”
Pulling her hand away from him, she spoke as she moved first toward the grand banquet hall. Seeing the tips of Firentia’s ears turn faintly red, Perez smiled even more deeply, then followed after her with his hands clasped behind his back.
“There is no one in this Lambrew Empire who would complain because you kept them waiting a little, my Tia. You may walk a bit more slowly.”
The two of them had come a very long way for this day.
“Since we struggled so hard to get here, we should enjoy this moment.”
After arduous patience and effort, today was the day they would take that sweet fruit.
“Yes, it was one hell of a struggle.”
Firentia admitted plainly.
We came back from very far away. Farther than you could probably ever imagine.
She added in a small voice he could not hear.
“But that does not mean we need to be rude.”
It was a firm answer. The woman who had made him fall in love with her at first sight was truly marvelous in such ways. Perez laughed again in delight.
Before long, the two of them stood before the closed doors of the grand banquet hall.
“Are you ready?”
At Perez’s question, Firentia gave a brief nod.
“Then shall we enter, Head of House Lombardi?”
He held out his hand to her.
“Let us go, Your Highness the Crown Prince.”
Her fair, delicate hand took his.
“Open the doors.”
Perez gave a short order to the attendant standing before them.
“His Highness the Crown Prince and Firentia Lombardi, Head of House Lombardi, are entering!”
A voice announcing the two of them rang out from beyond the doors. To Firentia, that sound was like honey-sweet music, and she smiled.
The doors slowly opened as though a crack were splitting them apart, and through the gap, the bright light of the grand banquet hall poured out.