The situation itself is like entertainment, Lulakâs face was full of smiles, but his collar smelled like the wind. [1]
He ran from Lombardy to here without delay.
"What the hell are you doing!"
Ferdick Angenas, the head of Angenas, shouted when pointed his finger at Lulak.
"Even though you are the head of Lombardy, it definitely crossed the line to break into His Majestyâs office!"
"Cross the line? So why are you here ask His Majesty to give Gallahanâs business for you?"
"Well, how did you..."
"When I know Angenas finds out the secrets of my family, I canât help but read your dirty tricks."
Lulak stepped forward and walked in towards Ferdick Angenas.
Lulakâs shadow fell over the short and slender Ferdick.
"Did you say I have crossed the line a while ago?"
"Well, Yes! How dare you come to His Majestyâs office...!"
Lulak raised a hand threateningly, which seemed would twist Ferdick Angenasâs neck, who repeatedly said the same thing as a parrot.
"Ugh!"
Ferdick, who was under pressure, had to clench his teeth to avoid screaming at the strong grip that seemed to crush his shoulder.
Lulak leaned over to Ferdickâs ear and spoke softly.
"Did you sell your conscience and your head, Ferdick?"
So only Ferdick Angenas can listen.
"Just like you who didnât move at all, if I made a move, Angenas would be like you."
"What!, are you threatening me now?"
"Yeah, yes this is a threat! So listen to me, Ferdick Angenas."
Lulakâs voice became even lower.
"From the moment you set foot in the Imperial Palace to steal the ready-to-wear business when you heard that my son was ill, youâve crossed the line."
His wrinkled brown eyes were glowing blue with anger.
"You just crossed the line that was protecting Angenas from me with your feet. Do you understand, Ferdick?"
Ferdick Angenas swallowed his saliva.
Although he knew that Lulak was ruthless when it comes to his heredity.
It was moved under thorough calculations that things might turn out like this.
Somehow, he kept thinking that he had crossed a line that he shouldnât have crossed as Lulak said.
Regret was raising inside Ferdickâs head.
And as if reading his mind, Lulak said with a smirk on his wrinkled face.
"Okay. You will be thinking about it countless times in the future. Regret it, again and again. âI shouldnât have touched Gallahan back then.â."2
Lulak, who tightly grabbed Ferdick Angenasâs shoulder, turned around.
"Itâs been a while, Durak Owner."
"So, Iâm sorry..."
Croyton Angenas apologized involuntarily.
"No, no. Donât apologize now. There will be a lot of things to apologize for in the future."
Lulak said with a smile, but Durak Ownerâs face grew even whiter.
Ferdick Angenas looked at Emperor Jovannes belatedly asking for help, but the Emperor was only sipping alcohol with a bystanderâs face.3
"So did Gallahan really have Tlenbrew disease? Are the rumors true?"
The Emperor asked Lulak.
"Thatâs right."
"Ugh. Then it will be difficult."
"You have nothing to worry about it, Your Majesty."
"But if itâs Tlenbrew disease, next season..."
Jovannes also looked down at Lulakâs eyes and spoke less.
But what he meant was the same as what he had already said.
"Gallahan is currently under treatment."
"Therapy? But isnât there a cure for Tlenbrew disease?"
"So far it has been."
Lulak paused for a moment.
"A new treatment has been developed. He is recovering very quickly. So Gallahan will be fine."
"That, that!"
A bewildered cry erupted from Ferdick Angenas.
Tlenbrewâs cure is nonsense.
Gallahan Lombardy might be better?
Lulak moved, knowing he would be angry, but because he calculated that if he could have a ready-to-wear business was worth to risk.
But if Gallahan really survived.
A cold sweat falls from his back.
"What if Gallahan doesnât recover? What are you going to do then?"
Jovannes looked at Lulak with snake-like eyes.
"At that time, Lombardy would take responsibility and continue the business. It wonât happen. Gallahan will get up and show up."
Lulak said that and left the office.
Last but not least, he wonât forget to stare at Ferdick Angenas.
"Well, letâs just watch it. The healthy Gallahan will not die."
Jovannes said, waving his glass in peace.
Ferdick Angenas had to swallow bitter water.
* * *
Mrs. Sussew stared and sitting in front of Shananet.
"To hear rumors about Gallahanâs illness. Is this the way Lombardy treats the family he wants to do business with?"
"Iâm sorry I couldnât tell you in advance."
Shananet politely bowed her head.
Seeing that, Mrs. Sussew was even angrier.
"Give me an excuse! Only then will I be able to trust Gallahan and start a big business!"
"Auntie."
After Shananet called Mrs. Sussew in a quiet voice, she took out a letter from her arms.
It was Gallahanâs letter.
After opening it, Mrs. Sussew let out a low voice.
[Dear Aunt Beatrix.
By now, Iâm guessing that you must have been very upset when you heard about my situation.
I was going to tell you when the time came, but I would be lying to my aunt.
It was in the best interests of the younger brother, who was in the hospital, to get this job done properly by Gallahan.
For the future of my daughter Tia, I tried to keep it a secret for as long as possible, without anyone knowing.
However, in this circumstance where everything is known, I would like to ask my aunt for a frivolous request.
Trust me and wait a while.
If you donât believe me for trying to deceive you aunt, please trust the person who took this letter.
We will do our best to bring the good news to you in person.
From Gallahan.]
"The cunning guy..."
I thought he was just a gentle and tender guy.
He almost like his father.2
Isnât it heartbreaking to get angry at a sick nephew when he lies for his daughter and says âAuntieâ?1
Mrs. Sussew, who had anger in her face, asked Shananet.
"I will come and tell you in person. What does this mean?"
"That is..."
Shananet tried to hide her confusion.
Although she did not express it, she was trying to accept all these situations as much as Mrs. Sussew.
While preparing to welcome them after hearing that Gallahan has Tlenbrewâs disease, Florentia visits Shananet.
Then, with a letter from Gallahan, Shananet was asked to meet Mrs. Sussew.
Along with the request, âPlease come as Shananet Lombardy, not my fatherâs older sisterâ.
"One of the researchers, a Lombardy scholarship student, has just invented and brought a cure for Tlenbrew."
"So, you mean Gallahan might be better?"
"He is under treatment."
Itâs the same with Gallahan and Shananet, siblings canât lie.
Mrs. Sussew looked at Shananet with narrow eyes.
"What if I believe and wait, and that belief betrayed me? Angenas could come at any moment to take Sussewâs hand and jump in."
Also.
Shananet confirmed what she had guessed and clenched her fists.
"Auntie, Gallahan is my younger brother, but heâs stupidly incapable of lying. It would have been better if he acted a little weaker, but heâs a fool who canât."
It had only been a few hours since I heard the news that such a younger brother had an incurable disease.
However, there was no room for mourning and confusion for Shananet now.
It was best for Gallahan, his younger brother, who was in the hospital, to finish this job well.
"I believe Gallahan is doing the best he can to overcome his illness at this moment. But, if Gallahan doesnât live up to his promise..."
Shananet remembered the words of her young nephew.
ââPlease come as Shananet Lombardy, not my fatherâs older sister. "
Did the child even expect a situation like this to come?
Shananet smiled softly at the futile thought.
Then, looking directly at Mrs. Sussew.
"Then please trust Lombardy. Gallahan is the founder of âGallahan Clothing Storeâ, but he is also the son of Lord Lulak Lombardy. And Lombardy never disappoints those who believed in him and worked with him."
A moment of silence passed.
And Mrs. Sussew let out a low sigh.
"...Tell Gallahan not to worry about Sussew and just focus on treatment. Be sure to keep that in mind that Iâll hear back soon."
"Yes, Aunt."
Shananet got up from her seat, hiding her slightly trembling hands inside the sleeves of her wide dress.
"And, Shananet."
Mrs. Sussew said when she rubbed her forehead with a tired face.
"Will you tell your husband to stop persuading us, since we donât want to sell the mine we are in?"
"...Mine?"
Shananet was perplexed for a moment, then hid her expression and nodded her head.
"Yes, Aunt. I will do that."
* * *
Three weeks have passed since the commotion.
Fortunately, all of the things that happened at once came to an end, but they were all just temporary measures.
The only solution is to create a cure for Tlenbrew and heal my father.
Estira is doing her best to research but hasnât found a cure yet.
My fatherâs illness was steadily getting worse, just like in his last life.
"...I will be back."
And in this situation, I had to enter the Palace to play the role of Perezâs playmate.
I want to stay next to him, but my father pushed me to go and play with Perez to get some air and refreshing.
Itâs what my father wants, but I canât not go.
I got into the carriage with a gloomy face.
It took hours to arrive at the Imperial Palace from the Lombardy mansion, all kinds of thoughts ran through my head.
And finally, we arrived at Poirak Palace, where Perez lived.
"Tia, Hello."
Perez greeted me with a smile that seemed almost invisible.
"Hi."
Frankly, I was annoyed.
In this situation, I want to spend even one more hour with my father, the time I spent with Perez was wasted.
Perez, who received my dry greeting, stared at my face for a moment.
It was one of his habits.
"Go."
Then Perezâs hand grabbed my hand.
"What? Where are we going?"
"A place to play today."
"Iâm not in the mood to play."
"I know."
What the hell do you know
It was time for my patience to runs out
Perez opened the large door with his other hand, which was not holding mine.
"Here..."
"The library at Poirak Palace. Hereâs a collection of Tlenbrew disease books and herbal medicine. As much as I can find."
Perez said when he pulled out the chair from the table in the middle of the library.
"Letâs find out about Tlenbrew disease together. If we look, we may find a way."
"Perez..."
"This time I will help you."
7
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Glossary
[1] âSmile like a windâ - Seems like a phrase to describe someone who just walked in after a brisk walk in cold windy weather.