[ You can't gamble the family's property as you please. This is the third time already...! ]
Slap!
With an unpleasant sound, Florentia's head sharply turned to the left.
[ You good for nothing, how dare you admonish me! ]
The smell of alcohol was strong on the body of the man who had just pushed her shoulders away.
[ Let's go to sleep. Calm down, Astalliu. Go over there. And you... ]
Belsach tried to softly appease his drunken cousin and then turned towards Florentia.
And.
Slap-!
With a louder sound than the one before, five fingers were imprinted on the other side of her face.
[ After four years of squandering on our family's money, do you think it suddenly belongs to you? ]
Belsach berated Florentia as she held her face which had just been slapped twice.
[ Don't be mistaken. Although you and us share the same last name, with the blood flowing in your veins, you will never be a part of our family. All you have to do is to live as our servant. ]
No matter how many times she heard it, those cruel words felt like a dagger that had just pierced her heart.
[ If you tell grandfather anything that happened today, I won't leave you alone. ]
With a warning, Belsach spit on the ground and turned around.
Soon, the sound of the carriage grew more and more distant.
Left alone in the dark alley, Florentia clenched her fists.
A drop of red blood dripped down her injured lips.
* * *
Ttripp, ttripp.
"Hiyah-. Hiyah"
The small sway of the carriage and the sound of the coachman awoke Florentia from the thoughts of the distant past.
As she slightly lifted the curtains draped over the window and looked outside, she could see the soldiers of the Imperial Palace.
"So, we're here."
Florentia lowered the curtains again and looked straight ahead, sitting more upright.
After straightening her hair and dress which had become untidy for a while, she looked like a neat portrait.
In the meantime, her carriage passed through the main gate and reached Lambrew Palace.
Riding in the carriage that was beautifully decorated, the gold it was made out of showed off its dazzling brilliance under the glorious sunlight of the afternoon.
"We've arrived."
The carriage stopped and the coachman politely spoke.
"Florentia."
At that time, the carriage door opened and a handsome man greeted her.
"Perez."
He kissed the back of her hand, after escorting her out of the carriage.
It was a kiss with a deep meaning that didn't hide the desire in his heart.
"Perez!"
Florentia called him out, but Perez just smiled with his long eyelashes blinking.
"Let's go, everyone's waiting for you."
She pulled her hand out of his and moved away from the carriage.
Perez, who laughed after seeing the tip of her ears blushing slightly, soon followed her back.
"There's no one in this Lambrew Empire who can complain against you for making them wait, my Tia. You can go a little slower."
The two have come a long way today.
"As hard as it has been for you to come here, enjoy the moment."
After much perseverance and, it was time to eat the sweet fruit of her hard work today.
"Yes. I've had a lot of trouble."
Florentia admitted plainly.
She had come a long way back. It's probably even hard to imagine.
She added in a small voice that could hear.
"But that doesn't mean I should be disrespectful."
It was a firm answer.
The woman who had made him fall in love with her from the moment he had laid his eyes on her was such a wonderful woman.
Perez laughed with joy again.
Soon after, the two stood at the door of the closed banquet hall.
"Are you ready?"
At Perez's question, Florentia nodded briefly.
"Then, shall we go in, Lord Lombardy."
He held his hand out to her.
"Let's go, Your Highness the Crown Prince."
A fine, pale hand held his hand together.
"Open the door."
Perez briefly commanded the servant in front of him.
"His Highness, the Crown Prince and the Overlord, Florentia Lombardy have entered!" [1]
A voice came from behind the door, announcing the arrival and the status of the two people.
Florentia laughed since the voice sounded like music to her ears.
The door slowly opened, and the bright light of the banquet hall poured out through the gap.
______________________________________________
Glossary
[1] 'Overlord' - So, the word that is constantly used throughout the novel (and it's also supposed to be in the title) is '가주'. This is a word that was frequently used in ancient times but not in modern Korea. It refers to the head of a rich, honorable family that has GREAT influence over the economy of a country. They are very powerful families and have a very high status and authority, almost like a family that describes a generation. I don't know the right equivalent English word for it, so I'll be using Overlord as just 'lord' doesn't do it. Of course, for referring titles, I'll just use 'Lord'.
