I’ll Be The Matriarch in This Life [Novel] Chapter 284

The Great Council Chamber of the Imperial Palace.

It was a place where all the central nobles gathered to discuss state affairs with the Emperor.

It was only natural for a solemn air to hang over such a serious setting, but today, the Great Council Chamber felt like walking on thin ice.

The tense nobles, engulfed in an atmosphere that felt as though they would plunge into freezing water at any moment, couldn't even muster a proper cough.

The reason was the taut confrontation between the Emperor and the Matriarch of Lombardi.

"This is a clear disregard for the rights of the nobles."

Patriarch Florentia Lombardi spoke in a frigid tone.

"Sending all the children of noble families to the Academy."

It was an agenda directly proposed by Emperor Perez not long ago.

If it was an imperial decree, it was naturally their duty to obey.

However, the Matriarch of Lombardi pushing back, arguing that it would have a profound impact on the lives of the nobles, was the starting point of this Great Council.

"We are merely proposing to utilize the Academy for the socialization of the nobles."

Emperor Perez said firmly.

Since the Emperor, an Academy graduate himself, had mentioned this in the past, the nobles largely felt a sense of, "The time has finally come".

However, when the Matriarch of Lombardi personally stepped up to oppose it, the nobles beneath her firmly united.

Yet, when the Great Council actually began, the Matriarch of Lombardi's stance was far stronger than expected, forcing all the nobles to keep their mouths tightly shut.

"The wedding between His Majesty and the Matriarch of Lombardi is just a week away, is it really okay for them to do this?"

One noble whispered to the person next to him in a very hushed voice.

"You're telling me."

"But His Majesty is going too far this time, so it can't be helped."

Another noble joined their conversation.

"But still…"

However, their conversation could not continue any further, as another fierce battle of words volleyed back and forth like a ball between the two factions.

"Listen to me, Patriarch of Lombardi. It is merely for one year. Besides, didn't I say there would be exceptions made for illness or special circumstances?"

"The duration is not what is important, Your Majesty. I'm speaking about the fact that the education of noble children is being dictated by an imperial decree."

"Are you saying the nobles don't perceive any problems with the current situation?"

"Just what sort of problems are you talking about, Your Majesty? Please enlighten my ignorant self."

The Matriarch of Lombardi said sharply.

"Isn't it true that social activities and opportunities for higher education are confined exclusively to high-ranking nobles? Just as you said, Matriarch of Lombardi, the nobles are the very foundation of this Empire. That means even those who aren't central nobles should receive the same benefits."

He had a point.

Truthfully, even the high-ranking nobles gathered here had to nod their heads to some extent at those words.

But the Matriarch of Lombardi did not back down.

In fact, she took an even harder stance and asked…

"In that case, what will you do about the high tuition fees of the Imperial Academy? Not every noble can afford that kind of money."

A fierce war of words, with not an inch yielded by either side, continued long after that.

"Your Majesty, how about we discuss this agenda more calmly at the next meeting?"

Eventually, Acting Patriarch Ramona Brown stepped in to mediate.

"Let's do that."

The Great Council barely managed to conclude with Emperor Perez nodding in agreement.

Led by the Matriarch of Lombardi, the noble faction filed out of the Great Council Chamber, and the Emperor's closest aides, the so-called Academy Trio, stepped up onto the podium.

It was Lignite Luman from the East, Steely Sector from the South, and Tedro Cally from the North.

However, Perez didn't even pay attention to their approach, seemingly lost in deep thought.

The trio quietly exchanged glances.

Even if she is his fiancée and the Matriarch of Lombardi, who will become Empress in a week's time, rebelling against something as important as the Academy agenda must have angered him.

In the end, Lignite Luman carefully spoke up.

"Your Majesty."

"…"

"Didn't you think it was a somewhat unreasonable agenda from the start? It's not strange for the nobles to step forward in opposition."

Tedro Cally added to that.

"Perhaps it would be best to coordinate separately with the Matriarch of Lombardi, or table it again at a later date…"

Perez still remained silent.

The trio exchanged glances among themselves once more.

As the silence stretched on, a bead of sweat trickled down the backs of the three men.

"Did I…"

Perez slowly blinked and opened his mouth.

"Did I do something wrong?"

"…?"

The Academy trio tilted their heads at the same time.

What on earth is he talking about?

"The way Tia was looking at me just now was sharp."

Ah.

Only then did the trio nod their heads.

Emperor Perez, who reigned over all nobles, was thoroughly weak when it came to the Matriarch of Lombardi.

"It's a relief that you are not angry."

Steely Sector said with a sigh of relief.

To Steely, Perez merely tilted his head and asked…

"There is nothing wrong with what the Matriarch of Lombardi said, so why would I be?"

"Haha…"

The trio inwardly wiped their sweat.

They had worried that this agenda might cause a rift between the two whose wedding was only a week away.

It seemed they wouldn't have to worry about that at least.

It was fitting for a couple who separated their public and private lives so thoroughly that it was sometimes baffling.

Even as the three of them thought the same thing with one heart and mind, Perez continued to mutter in a low voice.

"Her complexion didn't look good. Is she tired?"

They had been serving by Perez's side since childhood, but they still couldn't get used to this foolishly smitten side of him.

It was an unimaginable scene when they recalled the Emperor at the Academy, or rather, the Emperor when the Matriarch of Lombardi wasn't around.

As if on cue, the trio forced bitter smiles and averted their gazes out the window.

"I'm tired."

I muttered absentmindedly while eating a meal back at Lombardi after the Great Council ended.

I definitely caught some sleep in the carriage on the way back from the Imperial Palace, too.

I rubbed my heavy eyelids.

"Is it because it's spring?"

I had zero appetite, either.

The quiet sound of utensils moving that weren't mine reached my ears.

It was Craney, who was sharing the meal with me across the table.

His haggard face as he picked at his food looked very similar to mine.

Thinking this wouldn't do, I tapped the table on Craney's side and said,

"Craney, I know you're tired, but you have to eat properly to gain some strength, don't you?"

"Ah! I apologize, Sister."

Craney answered even while yawning.

"It's not me you should be sorry to."

"How did you do all these many tasks on your own until now, Sister?"

Craney had started learning how to assist with the Matriarch's duties a short while ago.

"You get used to it as you go. You're probably finding it more exhausting now because it's a learning period."

"I'm holding on with the hopes of that, but…"

Craney seemed somewhat downcast.

"Is there a problem?"

"Well…"

After a moment of hesitation, Craney mumbled…

"I can't sleep well thinking that the decisions I make have a massive impact on the citizens of Lombardi's territory. I'm not even sure if it's right for me to be doing such important work."

It was a feeling I had also experienced when I first became Matriarch.

A heavy pressure, like a massive amount of responsibility crushing my shoulders.

I pondered for a moment about what I should say as a senior of sorts, before speaking.

"Since it concerns the citizens of Lombardi's territory, shouldn't it be done by someone who knows Lombardi well?"

I continued, looking into Craney's large eyes.

"And besides, it's something someone has to do, right?"

"Something someone has to do…"

Craney nodded.

"Moreover, you're not doing it alone. You have me, and you have Lombardi's vassals as well."

As I comforted him, Craney's complexion improved, even if just a little.

"Yes, Sister."

But aside from that, the state of our meal hadn't improved much.

Looking at me uncharacteristically just poking at my food with a fork, Craney asked,

"Have you lost your appetite as well, Sister?"

"Yeah, I guess so. I'm feeling exceptionally tired today, too."

At that, Craney stared at me intently.

"Why are you looking at me like that?"

"No, I was just thinking that even you have times when you're tired, Sister."

"I'm human too, so of course."

"But somehow, you always seem… so perfect, Sister."

"Even if you say that, you're not getting a vacation."

"Ah."

Craney let out a small laugh.

"I've been feeling that way lately too. They say it's spring fever."

"I guess that's what it is. Still, let's eat a little more."

I pointed at our plates, which still had more than half the food remaining.

"If our plates go back to the kitchen like this, the chef will be sad. And if that happens… you know what follows, right?"

"R-Right."

Craney shuddered.

"We'll end up having a massive banquet for dinner."

It was a matter of the chef's pride.

If the Lombardi family's reaction to his cooking seemed lukewarm, it was standard practice for him to pour an incredible amount of effort into the next meal.

A feast laid out to fill a massive table is terrifying in a completely different way.

"Let's do our best."

"Understood, Sister."

We gathered our resolve once more and picked up our forks.

My final schedule for today was to wrap up the wedding preparations with Caitlin.

Because the wedding date had drawn near in the blink of an eye, both Caitlin and I had been splitting our time down to the minute to get things done.

The dress only needed its final fitting, and today was the day to finalize the seating arrangement for the guests.

Appropriately mixing noble families with complex, intertwined interests in one place was much harder than I thought.

"Is this the seating chart Perez revised once over?"

"That is correct, Matriarch."

A large sheet of paper, densely packed with hundreds of names, was spread wide across my office desk.

It was just like Perez.

As if he had also considered the points I was concerned about, the seating arrangement was nearly perfect.

Although there were a few spots that needed adjusting.

"What do you think, Caitlin?"

"In my opinion…"

During the short time Caitlin was explaining, my eyelids grew heavier and heavier.

She was talking passionately about something, but none of it registered in my ears.

"Matriarch?"

"Ah. Sorry, Caitlin. I'm just a little tired."

"Then shall I finish discussing this part with His Majesty?"

"No. I'm sure I'll wake up if I get some fresh air. Shall we take a short break first?"

Saying that, I stood up from my seat to go out to the balcony.

Right then, my vision flashed with a dizzying sensation.

I instinctively grabbed onto something, but I couldn't stop the strength draining from my entire body.

"Matriarch!"

Caitlin's voice calling me seemed to come from very far away.

And with that final thought, my consciousness faded.