Chapter 117
I went to the bedroom early with nutrients and snacks for my grandfather.
"Oh, our Tia is here!"
My grandfather welcomed me as always.
"How are you today, Grandpa?"
"This grandfather is fine. How’s your injury, Tia?"
"I’m much better now. They say I can take off this bandage in a few days."
"That’s a relief."
Grandfather patted my head and said.
"But what happened early in the morning today?"
Although I visited every day these days, I usually came at lunchtime, so he seemed worried about what was going on.
The reason why I come in the morning was simple.
Last night, Clerivan visited Shananet and taught her how to distinguish fake checks.
That was Shananet’s personality to not delay anything as important as a counterfeit check.
But I can’t say that.
I said with a smile.
"I just can’t wait to see my grandfather today!"
"Did you? Uh-huh."
Grandfather smiled broadly again.
Then I heard a knock on the door outside.
You’re here, finally.
I thought so and ran opened the door.
"Who is it... what?"
It was not Shananet.
When I opened the door, there were about six men of various ages standing there."Wow,"
They widened their eyes as if they didn’t think to see me either.
"Lady Florentia...isn’t she?"
"Hello, household Lords."
I politely grabbed the skirt and said hello.
The visitors were the Lord of Lombardy’s vassal family.
Clerivan’s father, Romasie Dillard, and Kylus father were also seen.
But what did everyone bring? Both hands looked heavy with luggage.
Oh, well, social life is hard.
I smiled and said to the Lord with a fighting heart.
"You’ve been working hard since early today too."
"Oh, yeah..., Lady too..."
The Lod of Heringa, who reflexively responded to my words, scratched the back of his head as if he felt something strange.
"Come on in."
When my grandfather gestured and said, the householders each carried what they had in their hands.
"...What is it all about?"
My grandfather, who was sitting on the bed wearing an auburn robe, asked in bewildered.
"I’ve brought some things that are good for everyone."
Romasie Dillard replied with a shy smile.
"This is Feltrose honey. It’s very good for the respiratory system."
"I brought some of the finest bedding sets. Bedding is very important if you’re going to bed."
"I want to start to introduce the rare fruits that are hard to find, but the Lord rushed to introduce what they brought."
My grandfather, who was staring at them, snorted.
"Now that you’ve packed your bags, you’re trying to say something hard to say."
The householders all shut up as if they had hit the nail on the head. [1]
I looked at them and said to my grandfather.
"I’ll be out for a while, then, grandpa."
"Oh, will you? I’ll call you when this grandfather is done."
"Yes, Grandpa."
Pretending to be tactfully absent, I greeted the householders again and left the bedroom.
I could feel their eyes following me until I closed the door quietly.
And when the door was about to clack and close completely, my toes snapped the door shut.
Conversations began to flow from the inside through a gap in the door that was barely open enough to fit a piece of paper.
"Yeah, what’s going on?"
Grandfather asked.
"Well, that’s..."
Someone hesitated.
But the hesitation was not long.
"I came to you with all my heart to ask you a favor."
Oh, I can recognize this voice.
It was a Romasie Dillard, similar to and different from Clerivan.
"The vassal householders gather here to ask..."
Grandfather said in a slightly grinning voice.
"Okay, I’ll listen with all my heart. Tell me."
"...I want you to reconsider your judgment."
This time it was a little younger and a little louder voice.
The big echo seemed to be Lord Bray.
"What kind of judgment?"
"...Please reconsider your decision to have Viese as acting Patriarch."
There was silence in the room for a moment.
It wasn’t that long, but it probably felt a bit far-fetched to the householders.
"Do you all think so?"
Grandfather asked in a low voice.
"The same goes for the other householders who are not here with us, Lord."
"Since Viese became acting Patriarch, the workload has multiplied. It’s time for spring harvests to move across the Empire, so our logistics are very difficult, my Lord."
"The same goes for our Wilkay family. Out of the blue, he’s asking us to consider moving the civil engineering business of the North to the West..."
The householders frankly expressed their dissatisfaction to the extent that they did not cross the line.
Grandfather who was listening to their story asked.
"So what do you want me to do?"
"We’ll take care of it until the Lord returns."
"Will each family take matters into their own hands?"
"...I think that would be better."
It was something that householders couldn’t say without a lot of complaints.
If those loyals to grandpa and Lombardy come out like that, they’re honestly talking about it all.
"What do you think, Grodic?"
"I’m..."
Grandfather asked one more time, while suddenly called Grodic Bray of Lombardy Bank.
"You must have had a hard time handling counterfeit checks."
"How did you know...?"
Grodic admitted.
"Yeah, actually, that’s what made it clear. Viese is not capable of performing his duties as an acting householder."
"...How would you solved it?"
"If I had the authority to decide..."
It was time to listen to Grodic Bray’s voice.
Tap.
Someone tapped me on the shoulder and looked back in surprise.
"Why are you standing outside?"
It was Shananet.
"Oh, that’s..."
I replied, stepped from the doorway in a hurry.
"The Lord of the vassal family came. They’re talking inside."
"I see."
She must have seen me eavesdropping on the conversation.
Shananet didn’t look at me suspiciously.
"A, are you here to see grandfather?"
"I wanted to tell him something, but I can’t believe the owners of the household are here..."
Shananet peeked into the room where the sound of the story was still flowing, and soon determined her mind.
"Maybe it’s a good thing."
Knock, Knock
Shananet knocked on the door and at the same time the voice coming out of the door.
"Father, it’s me."
"Is it Shananet? Come in."
Unfortunately, I couldn’t join the adult conversation anyway, so I took half a step back at the door.
But looking back at me like that, Shananet said.
"You come in, too."
"What? Me?"
"Yes, it would be helpful to have you listen too."4
Shananet said so and then I come inside too.
You think it’ll help to keep me in?
What does that mean?
I had a few questions in my head, but once I followed Shananet into the bedroom, silent.
"A lot of people came to visit you early in the morning. You must be happy, Father."
Shananet said lightly as she stepped inside.
"Long time no see, Madame Shananet."
Several of the householders greeted Shananet with pleasure.
The complexions that had been darkly dead while thinking of Viese just a moment ago were all gone, they were back alive again just by looking at Shananet.
And yet they couldn’t help but feel sorry.
If it was Shananet, not Viese, who was sitting on behalf of the Lord.
It would have been possible not to make the excuse to come to the Lord who is sick in bed after suffering this hardship and heartache.
"Didn’t you come to work today, Shananet?"
"Yes, the miners had a hard time getting new mining rights in the North. So I decided to take a day off."
Shananet’s words were welcomed with delight by Romasie Dillard, Lombardy’s Top.
"I heard you won the mining rights for a very large coal mine this time, right?"
"Since Shananet’s return, the mining company has been in full swing for days. Let us know the secret later!"
Shananet was regretting the years she had withdrawn and was continuing to succeed as if she had wings.
"I just came to talk to you about something."
"Things to discuss?"
"Yes, but before that."
Shananet said, looking straight at Lulak.
"Could you call Viese for a moment, Father?"
"...There must be a reason why you say that. I will."
Lulak sent someone to the main office, and shortly after, Viese came down to the bedroom.
"Suddenly, what did you call me..."
Viese, as he was about to enter, hardened his impression when he saw the gathered Lord of vassal family Lords and Shananet.
"Everyone didn’t come to report, and I was wondering where they were."
Viese said, looking around at the faces of the Lord of the vassal family.
"What are you doing here?"
Shananet also spewed sarcastic remarks.
"Viese, watch your language."
Lulak said, pressing down on his throbbing forehead at the sight of his eldest son.
But Viese managed to spit out a few more words.
"Did you run and get to my father? You don’t like what I’m doing?"
At the same time, there was indescribable displeasure on the faces of the Lord of the vassal family, but Viese twisted his lips even more.
"If you have something to say, you can tell me directly. Ignoring my authority as a Lord representative..."
"Viese, stop!"
Lulak couldn’t hold it in the end and shouted loudly.
"Shananet has a formal suggestion. You’re here because I came to ask for your presence! So watch your language!"
Viese poked his lips for a while and still asked in an obnoxious voice.
"Any formal suggestions?"
Viese’s sharp eyes turned to Shananet.
But Shananet remained calm as if she didn’t mind such a thing.
She looked around all the people in the room and finally caught the sight of Florentia.
Cleverly hiding in the corner of the door and watching the whole situation, her little niece.
Then she looked at Lulak, who was leaning against the bed and spoke in her signature calm tone.+
"As of today, I would like to formally suggest that Viese be removed from his position as acting patriarch and that I, Shananet Lombardy, be appointed as acting patriarch." [2]19
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Glossary
[1] If you say that someone has ’hit the nail on the head’, you think they are exactly right about something.
[2] ’Acting Patriarch or Lord Representative’ - IDK the exact words to this, so you will find it inconsistent. Sorry if it confused you. (Please suggest me the best word if you know, I will change it).
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