I’ll Be The Matriarch in This Life [Novel] Chapter 280

In the direction I signaled, there was a particular group of people.

They were wearing black uniforms that were similar yet slightly different in style.

Varying in age, gender, and appearance, they were enjoying the banquet amongst themselves on the opposite side of the hall.

They weren't sitting rigidly, but in fact, they seemed almost excessively free-spirited, yet there was a peculiar aura about them.

It was a heavy pressure that anyone with a bit of sensitivity could never ignore.

As if to prove it, there seemed to be an invisible wall between them and the rest of the guests.

The Easterners seemed to know who they were, keeping their distance and strictly never approaching them.

Thanks to that, their immediate vicinity was quite quiet despite the bustling banquet hall.

"Ah, they are…"

The Lord of Luman paused to choose his words carefully.

"They are Duke Knox from the Eastern Continent and his subordinate executives."

"The Eastern Continent?"

This time, I was quite surprised, which was unlike me.

Of course, I knew that people lived on the Eastern Continent and that there were nations with long histories there.

But it was so far away that they had absolutely no interactions with the Lambrew Empire.

"Isn't it far too great a distance to travel back and forth across the ocean?"

At my question, the Lord of Luman nodded.

"Indeed. However, the Eastern Continent's navigation and technology are vastly superior to ours. Not only regarding maritime travel, but they also constantly research a technology called "Mana Engineering". So they are said to have many wondrous items."

"Oh, is that so?"

At Indit Luman's explanation, my instincts as the Matriarch of Lombardi twitched.

I had literally discovered a new continent.

"House Luman has historically traded frequently with the Eastern Continent. So I did send them a wedding invitation… though I never actually expected them to show up."

"Hmm."

The Eastern Continent.

It was a place that could become a massive new market.

Furthermore, the term "Mana Engineering" had completely caught my attention.

"If you are interested in the Eastern Continent, Matriarch, perhaps you should try speaking with the silver-haired Duke Knox over there."

"You mean that man over there?"

In this crowded banquet hall, there was only one man with such pure, dazzling silver hair.

"So that person is a Duke."

The man known as Duke Knox was sitting alone on a sofa with his long legs crossed, silently tilting a glass of liquor.

If it weren't for the occasional, languid swirl of the glass in his hand, one might have mistaken him for a painting.

"Unlike our Western Continent, the Eastern Continent utilizes a title system. It goes in the order of Duke, Marquis, Count, Viscount, and Baron."

"And you're saying that man is a Duke among them?"

"Yes, that is correct. Additionally, there are two unique aspects to the Eastern Continent…"

The Lord of Luman brushed his lips and spoke as if it were slightly troubling to explain.

"Unlike the Lambrew Empire, which unified the Western Continent under a solid, absolute imperial power, the Eastern Continent is divided among several kingdoms and empires. It is a chaotic era. Furthermore…"

Indit Luman's voice lowered slightly.

"Rather than imperial or royal authority, organizations that have organically grown and established themselves in various regions hold much greater power."

"Organizations? Are you talking about something like the underworld?"

"Well, something to that effect, yes."

"Then suggesting I speak with that Duke Knox means…"

"Duke Knox's full name is Killian Knox, and he is the head of the organization Knox, named after him. Rumor has it…"

The Lord of Luman laughed awkwardly, seemingly reluctant to say the next part out loud in front of me.

"That he wields even more power than the Emperor of the Rumfelt Empire, where his duchy is located. Moreover, a rumor recently circulated that they have successfully weaponized Mana Artifacts."

"If that's the case, he truly possesses absolute power."

After hearing the Lord of Luman's explanation, I finally understood.

At first glance, the black-uniformed executives of the Knox organization seemed scattered without order.

But at their center was the Duke.

It was as if they were implicitly guarding him.

"His personal martial prowess is also said to be immense. There are more than a few eyewitness accounts of him tearing people apart with his bare hands."

"He sounds… like a real monster."

It was right when I said that.

Duke Knox, who had been lazily staring only at his glass, lifted his head and looked directly at me.

As if to confirm my suspicions, our eyes met perfectly.

And goosebumps erupted all over my body.

It was bloodlust.

Under the bright lights of the banquet hall, Duke Knox's eyes glowed with an eerie golden light as they met mine.

"Hmm."

For some reason, I couldn't move carelessly.

It felt like I was facing a massive entity that wasn't human.

"Tia."

At that moment, Perez stepped in front of me, blocking his view.

I could have sworn he was far away, conversing with the Eastern nobles just a second ago.

Glaring at Killian Knox, Perez made no effort to hide his icy fury.

"Who is that guy?"

"That gloomy bastard, does he have a death wish?"

Appearing out of nowhere, the twins flanked me on both sides.

That instantly triggered a reaction from the other side as well.

The Knox executives, who had seemed so relaxed drinking their liquor, stiffened their expressions and began rising from their seats one by one.

Their faces were so chillingly expressionless it was hard to believe they were the same people chatting and laughing just moments ago.

Their intense aura suggested they would lunge at us the second Duke Knox gave a single hand gesture.

As the situation rapidly escalated, the people filling the banquet hall sensed something was terribly wrong and began to turn around one by one.

""At this rate, Larane's wedding will be ruined.""

Given how difficult it was to make this day happen, I couldn't let it be destroyed.

"Perez, I'm fine."

I held back Perez, who was glaring at Duke Knox with an unprecedentedly cold expression.

And from the Knox faction, someone moved as well.

It was a woman with striking, wavy black hair tied up high.

Also wearing a black uniform, she trudged over to Duke Killian Knox.

Without hesitation, she placed a firmly pressed hand on the Duke's shoulder and seemed to scold him with a frown on her face.

Just as I was unconsciously worrying for the unnamed woman…

Something unbelievable happened.

Duke Knox, who had been exuding a bloodlust so thick it prickled my skin, smoothly turned his head away.

And, as if nothing had ever happened, he went back to drinking his liquor.

The taut tension that felt like it would snap at any second completely vanished.

The Knox executives, who had been on high alert, sat back down and resumed their boisterous chatter.

"Haa."

A small sigh of relief escaped me before I realized it.

It seemed the woman on the other side felt the same, as I saw her shaking her head wearily.

The woman looked at me.

Her eyes were a deep, piercing red, just like Perez's.

Since I had never seen anyone else with red eyes like his, I stared at her in fascination.

Then, the woman gave a slight nod in greeting.

It was probably her way of apologizing.

Regardless, I was the one who made a slip of the tongue first.

I returned the nod.

Even though she was all the way across the vast banquet hall, why did I feel an inexplicable sense of camaraderie with her?

"Tia, did something happen?"

"Ah, Larane."

They must have noticed the souring atmosphere.

Larane and Avinox, who were approaching me, didn't look too well.

Today was a day where they should only experience joy.

Feeling somehow apologetic, I smiled even brighter for them.

"It's nothing. Shouldn't you be mingling and talking with the guests some more?"

"Yeah. Both Lord Avinox and I are a bit tired. Are you sure everything is alright?"

"Of course. Oh, that's right!"

I tightly grasped both of Larane's hands and said,

"Congratulations on your wedding, Larane."

"Ah… thank you, Tia."

Larane's cheeks flushed deeply, as if dyed with flower petals.

"You must have heard those words dozens of times today. Are you still embarrassed?"

"Because it's not from just anyone, but from you, Tia. Hearing you say it makes it finally feel real."

"Congratulations to you too, Lord Avinox. You two have to live beautifully together, okay?"

"Of course! You don't have to worry about Lady Larane, Matriarch of Lombardi."

Honestly, when I first helped Larane elope in the middle of the night, I felt a lot of anxiety.

I only pushed for it because I knew how Larane's life had ended in my past life.

But just because he wasn't that worthless scumbag from back then didn't necessarily guarantee that Avinox was the right person to make her happy.

Fortunately, however, Avinox cherished Larane more than anyone else in the world.

I didn't even need to ask, because one look at the affectionate glances silently exchanged between them was enough to know.

I smiled in absolute satisfaction, taking in the picturesque sight of Larane and Avinox standing side-by-side.

"I'm starting to get jealous."

A low voice whispered in my ear right as I was nodding approvingly at the way Avinox looked so lovingly at Larane.

"Of what?"

"Tia, you're looking at another man instead of me."

"…Is Avinox a man?"

Well, he is a man, technically.

But isn't he family now?

"I wish you would only look at me. My symptoms are getting worse."

Perez said, sounding like a faint sigh.

He said it like a joke, but I knew those were his true feelings.

I narrowed my eyes and clicked my tongue.

"You're a truly hopeless case."

"But please don't hate me, Tia."

"…I told you I couldn't."

I meant it, too.

No matter what this guy did, I would never be able to hate Perez.

"You know everything already."

Still, he was being a bit cheeky, so I gave him a light, painless jab in the ribs.

Looking at us, Larane softly said,

"You look happy too, Tia."

As she said that, the smiling expression on Larane's face looked suspiciously similar to the one I had just been making.

Was it just my imagination?

"It's a relief, isn't it?"

Despite everything that had happened, here we were, gathered together and genuinely happy.

It was a miracle.

Larane, who had been smiling back at me, suddenly shifted her gaze behind me.

At the same time, an unhideable, radiant smile bloomed on her lips like a blossoming flower.

"Rick!"