Chapter 311

He just took a few steps into the space.

Lulac’s presence filled the office.

It was an inaccessible energy that ordinary people would be intimidated by.

“Has the Patriarch come?”

“Well, that’s true.”

The staff at the top of Lombardi muttered to each other in suffocating voices.

Although working at the top of the Lombardi family, it was not common to face the family member in person.

But what about Lulac Lombardi, the head of the family?

While the Patriarch came in, they quickly stepped back to clear the way for Gallahan to reach him, there was an uncontrollable tension and excitement on the side of glancing at Lulac Lombardi.

“Father.”

Gallahan bowed his head along with the people.

“What brings you here?”

“I stopped by for a while on my way back from the imperial palace.”

Lulac Lombardi answered Gallahan’s question with eloquence.

However, the Patriarch of Lombardi was too busy as for them to believe that word.

Even if the top owner visited Lombardi’s mansion because the Lombardi’s top case needed approval, he had to wait a few hours to enter the office.

Moreover, it was even rarer for the Patriarch to visit the top office directly.

Even if the Patriarch wanted to do that, he didn’t have time because of the busy schedule.

Recalling that point, Romassie Dillard took turns looking at Lulac and Gallahan, who stood next to him, and naturally intervened in the conversation between the father and son.

“Welcome, my Lord. And the Patriarch is right, Gallahan. Thank you so much, we got through the big crisis.”

At the words of the top owner, each of the employees nodded their heads.

Then, unable to say no any more, Gallahan’s face turned slightly red as he nodded reluctantly.

But that too for a while.

“Good job, Gallahan.”

At the encouraging words of his father, the pleasant redness disappeared as if washed away, leaving only his face hardened in surprise.

Rather than compliments, he was used to scolding, and rather than saying ‘good job’ as it’s now, he was used to the disappointing appearance. (TN: Right? For the type of personality like Gallahan’s, too much pressure will discourage him.)

Gallahan didn’t reply, but bowed his head once more.

“You should be rewarded for your achievements.”

Everyone’s ears perked up at Lulac’s muttering words.

What is the award given by the head of the great Lombardi family?

While each of them spread their imaginary wings, Lulac continued.

“It would be enough if you accompany me to the Crown Prince’s wedding.”

It’s not a gold bar or a lot of money, but a prize to accompany a wedding?

Several tilted their heads.

However, those who knew the value, like Romassie Dillard, opened his eyes wide in surprise.

After the death of his spouse, Natalia Lombardi, Lulac had never personally taken his family to an official event.

In general, this was different from the way the head of an aristocratic family accompanied a person who had been designated as the successor, teaching work naturally, and creating connections.

In short, it is the same as the expression ‘I have not yet decided on a successor.’

Lulac and his children always entered separately.

But, such a Lulac told his youngest, Gallahan, that he would take him to the public eye.

It was also at the wedding of Crown Prince Yovanes.

All the implications of the short proposal were beyond words.

“What are you going to do, Gallahan?”

It was a question as if he had a choice.

Gallahan paused for a moment before closing his eyes and opening them.

He already knew that it was not simply a question of whether to accompany the wedding.

Although he already knew about Shan, his father did not impose any restrictions on him.

He just watched him do his work.

And when Gallahan began to excel in top’s work, he put Viege on her, putting Shan into trouble.

It took away her place to stay and her job, which meant she had no reason to stay in Lombardi.

And he is now commanding his son.

Literally, take the hand that offered you a prize and hold it with gratitude.

Of course, in order to do that, he had to let Shan’s hand off first.

A few seconds passed as if stretched out between Gallahan and Lulac facing each other.

“Thank you for this great opportunity, Father.”

At the end of the silence, Gallahan answered heavily.

“Yes. You made the right choice, Gallahan.”

“……”

Gallahan just bowed his head silently.

As if to confirm the appearance, Lulac, who looked down satisfactorily, turned his back and left the office.

Only one person came in and left again.

The top’s staff opened the window and trembled as if they were barely able to breathe.

As the surroundings became noisy again, Gallahan still remained there.

Romassie Dillard smiled broadly, approached him like that.

“Congratulations, Mr. Gallahan. I knew this would happen when the Patriarch gave Mr. Gallahan the top’s job!”

He looked happy as if it was his own business.

“If you attend the royal wedding with the Patriarch this time, and work a little more in the future…”

He didn’t bring it out of his mouth in case of cheating, but it was natural that Gallahan would be selected as the next head of Lombardi.

From one’s own child to another.

From the standpoint of a vassal, who has to serve the Lombardi family from generation to generation, Romassie Dillard’s concerns were as great as Lulac himself.

This was because there was no sprout of a suitable successor.

Therefore, even if it was late, Gallahan’s existence seemed to be a lifeline that came down from the sky.

“Top Lord.”

“Yes, Mr. Gallahan!”

“If you’re done with your urgent work, can I go back now? I want to rest because I’m tired.”

“Oh, I didn’t think that far. It would have been better if you returned home with the Patriarch a while ago.”

“No.”

Gallahan shook his head.

“I think it’s better to walk slowly. Then… I’ll see you later.”

“Yes. Thank you for your hard work, Mr. Gallahan!”

Gallahan, who had stared at Romassie Dillard’s smiling face for a moment, started walking through the city of Lombardi, also refused the carriage of the family that had been waiting for him.

He moved as if he had lost his destination until he reached the commoners’ quarters.

And he stopped near a house surrounded by a small fence.

Sorrow filled his eyes as he lifted his back.

But that was only for a moment.

This time Gallahan headed towards the Lombardi mansion.

The roof of a small house still showed off its redder light in the middle of the day, behind the steps that was taken in a big stride, unlike a cautious personality.

***

On the day of the wedding of Crown Prince Yovanes.

The mansion was bustling with the Lombardi family attending the wedding and employees helping them prepare.

The same was true of Patriarch’s space.

A low knock sounded in Lulac’s room, where he was checking his appearance for the last time with the help of the butler.

“Come on in.”

As expected, the visitor was Gallahan, the youngest son.

“I’m almost ready too, so wait a little bit…”

Lulac stopped talking.

His gaze was fixed as if stuck in the bag Gallahan was holding.

“Father.”

Gallahan, who greeted politely, was not dressed for the banquet.

The simple clothes, not fancy, seemed like a person traveling far away.

“I’m here to say goodbye”.

Gallahan’s face, who said so, also resembled a person who will leave for a long way.

It was as light and firm as a luggage bag in one hand.

“Gallahan.”

Anger swelled in Lulac.

“What kind of bullshit is that?”

The low voice sounded like frost.

“Do you dare to resist even a belated rebellion?”

However, Gallahan only answered calmly.

“I’m not rebelling. I just made a decision according to my will.”

In fact, he has never thought about it at all.

From the beginning, the answer was as good as it was, and it only took time for the courage to catch up with the answer.

“You’re out of your mind.”

“Maybe it is.”

Gallahan nodded.

“I’ve lived my whole life in fear of my father, but seeing how calm my heart is.”

Such an easy one.

It was so easy it was almost in vain.

Gallahan faced his father, who was always likely to be crushed when he stood in front of him.

“I leave everything in Lombardi, father. All the money that has been paid to me is in the bank vault.”

“Are you saying you’re going to be a wanderer and make a fool of yourself?”

To Lulac’s roar, Gallahan answered in a calmer voice.

“Fortunately, I am not empty handed because I have inherited things from my mother, so don’t worry.”

“…What?”

“My mother left me the most legacy among our four siblings. Perhaps she probably did it with a day like this in mind.”

“Gallahan, you really…”

“I thought I had to find a place to set foot in Lombardi. Fortunately, the job at the top was easier than I thought. Anyway, I was proud to see that I was also Lulac Lombardi’s son. But.”

It was just that.

“I was not happy. It became clearer that the only place where my heart could rest was by that person’s side. Shan is such a person to me, Father.”

He could have left the mansion silently.

But he didn’t do that.

As he did, he thought his father should be given a choice.

“Please accept Shan as a member of the family, Father. If that is the case, I will work harder to stay in the family and not be ashamed of the name Lombardi.”

The decision was entirely up toLulac.