Lord Baby Runs A Romance Fantasy With Cash [EN]: Chapter 14

☆ Chapter 14 ☆

Clartier dropped the green dress Clatie had forced upon her to the floor.

Duke Paeraton’s boot crushed the dress.

Clartier stared blankly at the scene.

This couldn’t be happening.

‘That, that’s right. He’s misunderstanding me.’

Come to think of it, the Duke had accused her of stealing the dress earlier.

‘She must have been badmouthing me to my great-uncle!’

Clartier scurried over and gently tugged at Duke Paeraton’s sleeve.

“Great-uncle, does Tié hate you?”

Her face, hesitant as she looked up, was endearing to anyone who saw it.

Duke Paeraton’s gaze turned to Tié, seemingly worried about being too imposing.

“Umm, I’ll forgive you even if Great-uncle hates Tié!”

Clartier smiled brightly, brighter than the sun.

“Because you were deceived by a lie!”

Duke Paeraton’s eyes narrowed.

Clartier, with a look of dismay, covered her mouth with both hands.

“Oh, I didn’t mean to think that. As the older sister, I have to cover for my cousin’s mistakes.”

Clartier furrowed her brow with a worried expression.

Unlike her earlier affectionate demeanor, she was now composed and proper.

“I apologize on her behalf, Great-uncle. Please forgive my cousin.”

Clartier gracefully took hold of the hem of her dress and curtsied.

The sight of the cute little lady pretending to be mature and politely greeting him was charming.

Duke Paeraton, who had been silently watching, slowly opened his lips.

“Forgive?”

*My daughter.*

*How dare she.*

However, Clartier did not see Duke Paeraton’s expression.

Moreover, Duke Paeraton was consciously and unconsciously suppressing his aura in front of his daughter.

This was because his youngest daughter had been startled when he used Magi [magical energy] on his vassals before.

Thanks to this, Clartier was more at ease than when she first met Duke Paeraton.

So, she naturally assumed he was asking what wrong needed to be forgiven.

She cheered inwardly, thinking, ‘Got it!’

Of course, her expression was a mix of worry and embarrassment.

“Because she lied to Great-uncle. She said I stole the dress.”

It was a ridiculous lie.

She, who had never even owned a new dress, dared to tell such a brazen lie.

“I understand. She must have wanted to be loved by Great-uncle, so she told such a lie.”

Clartier sighed deeply and looked up at her cousin.

She had the face of a benevolent older sister.

“But badmouthing me won’t help at all.”

The hand of the Paeraton Duchess clenched tightly.

She couldn’t like Clartier.

But.

‘I’m jealous…….’

Clartier’s actions, running up to him and acting spoiled and affectionate, made her chest feel strangely heavy.

Actions that could only be done by someone who had grown up receiving plenty of love and couldn’t imagine that their actions would be met with rejection or neglect.

‘……The Duke is actually my dad.’

Even if we aren’t blood-related, he’s my dad now.

Yet, the one acting like a daughter was Clartier.

‘I can never do that.’

Doesn’t she know how painful it is to be rejected, denied, ignored, and told, ‘You’re not needed’?

That’s why she couldn’t act like that at all.

The Duke lowered his gaze and looked at his daughter’s small hand, which was mercilessly crumpling his clothes.

“Because of that lie, Great-uncle is misunderstanding.”

The gaze that had been on his daughter’s hand turned back to Clartier.

“I couldn’t have stolen the dress, could I? Just now, I was going to give it to一.”

“Then what was the dress I saw?”

Like a sharp blade, the voice that cut off Clartier’s words was sharp and cold.

Only then did Clartier realize that Duke Paeraton’s mood was different from what she had thought.

The moment she met his crimson eyes, the fear she had forgotten crept back up.

“Wh, what are you talking about…….”

“The day I went to the Tarenka Marquisate to pick up my daughter.”

Duke Paeraton suppressed the overwhelming aura that naturally emanated from him as much as possible.

And he gently took his daughter’s hand, which was clenched tightly.

Slowly, the strength drained from the Paeraton Duchess’s hand.

“Why were you wearing the dress that I had prepared for my daughter?”

“……!”

Suddenly, the Paeraton Duchess’s blue eyes widened.

‘Ah.’

A realization struck her like lightning.

“What is this skinny rat?”

“Surely, this disheveled person isn’t the Paeraton Duchess.”

That day.

What he had said then.

‘It wasn’t because he didn’t like me, because I was too ugly一.’

She raised her head.

She met Duke Paeraton’s eyes directly.

As if he had been watching her all along.

Not the lovely Clartier, but

Only herself, who was bowing her head, not knowing what to do.

The moment she was reflected in those eyes, she was certain.

‘He was talking about my appearance.’

His anger towards the Tarenka Marquis for making his daughter, the Paeraton Duchess, look like that.

‘It wasn’t because he didn’t like me, because I was ugly.’

Is it real?

Do you really think so?

A doubtful voice echoed from deep within her heart.

Originally, she would have listened to that voice.

Because that was the only way to avoid getting hurt.

But right now, she didn’t want to hear that voice.

“Wh, what are you talking about……? My dad bought it for me to wear on my birthday!”

Clartier shouted, flustered.

“The Tarenka Marquis?”

*Does he think he’s capable of that?*

You could read the unspoken words even if he didn’t say them out loud.

“He did it every year! He always gave me a pretty dress as a surprise gift on my birthday!”

“He did it every year, you say.”

“It’s my dress! Not that idiot’s dress一 Keheok……!”

Suddenly, she gasped for breath.

Clartier clutched at her neck, coughing.

Duke Paeraton did nothing. Not even reaching out to Clartier.

However, a pitch-black darkness crept towards her.

A darkness that seemed to swallow even shadows.

Clartier trembled at the ominous and ferocious energy and collapsed.

“What did you say?”

“E, everyone said so. Dad, Lien, too, said she’s an idiot一 Heoeok……!”

Clartier gasped, her face pale.

The pitch-black darkness surged right in front of her nose.

The darkness, which seemed to devour her in one bite, swelled in size, consuming the space.

“Ah, ah, ah, sob…….”

Incoherent sounds flowed out with tears. Her beautifully adorned hair and dress were soaked with sweat and disheveled.

“Haven’t you heard the rumors about me?”

The cold-blooded man of black blood.

The most terrible and worst butcher.

Duke Paeraton doesn’t know sadness, so when he cries, others’ blood flows instead of tears.

“Don’t expect me to be lenient just because I’m young.”

“Sniff, uh, sob…….”

Clartier couldn’t say anything.

She didn’t even have the mental capacity to speak.

She struggled to grasp the situation in her narrowed vision, filled with fear and confusion.

But the more she tried, the less she understood.

‘Why? Why? Why? Why? Why?’

Why am I crawling on the floor, trembling like a bug?

‘It’s not me. It’s not me!’

This doesn’t suit me.

‘What suits this is一.’

Clartier’s eyes turned upwards. Towards her cousin in Duke Paeraton’s arms, to be exact.

‘一It’s her!’

Being scorned, looked down upon, ridiculed for being pathetic and shabby.

It was all that child’s share.

‘It’s wrong! It’s wrong! It’s completely reversed!’

Duke Paeraton’s embrace is mine.

Not the fake duchess that his wife brought in from outside!

‘Why is she being held?’

Being cherished so dearly, embraced warmly, and protected lovingly.

That’s my share!

“A dirty bastard who stole…… my place.”

Thud.

Clartier’s words were cut off.

It wasn’t because the pitch-black energy was pressing down on her.

Duke Paeraton’s eyes were burning red.

*Is that what the fire of hell burning from the bottom of the abyss looks like?*

The moment she met those eyes, her lungs froze, and not even a breath came out, let alone a voice.

Fear.

Only that sharp sensation that reached the end of life, piercing her skin, dominated her entire body.

“A young one is already hastening her own death.”

“Sa, sa, save, save…….”

Duke Paeraton stared at Clartier, who was begging for her life, covered in a mixture of tears and sweat.

If he were human, he would have felt at least a little pity for the child’s plea, but his eyes held no emotion.

A moment passed, but it felt like an eternity to Clartier, and Duke Paeraton opened his mouth.

“……Well, it’s better to be alive.”

He said coldly.

“Get lost.”

* * *

‘What on earth had happened?’

I glanced at the Duke as I drank the honey milk Anna had given me.

As soon as Clartier called me an idiot, darkness suddenly came.

Thanks to that, I couldn’t see or hear anything.

I was embarrassed, but not that scared.

The darkness that enveloped me was somehow soft and comfortable.

Like a night where you can close your eyes and rest comfortably.

Above all, Duke Paeraton’s hands, which were holding me tightly, supported me.

When my vision returned and I could hear again, everything was over.

Clartier and her maids were nowhere to be seen.

Since the Duke didn’t let me down, I sipped the honey milk that Anna handed me on his lap.

Delicious.

“Your Excellency.”

At that moment, the door opened, and the servants, knights, and vassals who were in the mansion today rushed in.

They knelt at the Duke’s feet without even raising their heads.

W, why all of a sudden?

“……?”

The atmosphere was stiff, almost grim.

As if interrogating prisoners who had been dragged in.

“Today, a bug came into my house.”

Duke Paeraton opened his mouth languidly.

“Not only did it come in without permission, but it also gnawed at things it shouldn’t have touched.”

His voice was as smooth as melting chocolate, yet so clear that it sent shivers down your spine.

“How should those who failed to manage the house properly be punished?”

A cold gaze turned towards those prostrating on the floor.

“P, please kill us, Your Excellency!”

“It is my fault for not being able to see it.”

“I harmed the youngest lady with my wrong judgment. I will repay it with my life!”

Uh…….

It was like a scene from a historical drama.

I felt a little awkward and looked at them.

‘But surely they don’t really mean they’re going to die, right?’

Eh, surely not?

“I don’t need to dirty my hands.”

Duke Paeraton’s words were embarrassing, but I shook my head.

‘No matter what, why over something like this.’

That’s how it always is in historical dramas.

‘Please kill me, Your Majesty!’ No one who shouted that actually received poison.

It was the moment I was relieved.

Sreung一 [sound of a sword being drawn]

With a low sound of swords, the knights drew their swords.

And without hesitation, they brought them to their necks.

The well-honed blade shone blue in the light.

‘Cheek!’

I was startled and looked around, but it seemed that I was the only one in this room who was agitated.

The somber faces of those who were prepared to die.

‘Th, this is really going to happen!’

“No!”

I shouted loudly without realizing it.

Then, crimson eyes turned to me. Eyes that showed no emotion at all.

“They have not fulfilled their duties. Those who have done wrong must pay the price for their sins.”

The Duke’s face was so scary.

But I couldn’t just stand by and watch people die before my eyes.

“My, my cousin just came to visit! So there’s no reason to block Clartier’s entry.”

His eyes narrowed.

“There was just an argument. Kids are supposed to grow up fighting…….”

As I fidgeted and spoke, Duke Paeraton, who had been lost in thought for a moment, opened his mouth.

“Erkel.”

“Yes, Your Excellency. Generally, the youngest lady is right.”

The Duke stroked his chin, saying, “Yes, that’s how ordinary children are…….”

“So there’s no need to punish them.”

At my words, Duke Paeraton stared down at me. He had a strange look on his face.

“……You have a mustache.”

A mustache? On me? I’m a baby with soft fuzz?

As I blinked at the absurd words, he stroked my mouth.

White milk smeared on his elegant fingers.

‘Ah!’

I was embarrassed at the thought that I had been eating with it all over my face, but something even more surprising happened.

*Chup.*

Duke Paeraton sucked the milk off his finger.

“Sweet.”

“…….”

I don’t know.

I don’t know what this man’s identity is or what he’s thinking as he lives.

But I know for sure that he’s really, really handsome.

For a man to pull off that line so well……. I almost got goosebumps.

‘The gods referred to romance novels. It seems that it’s not always a bad thing.’

Anyway, thanks to that, the atmosphere in the room was clearly different from before.

The Duke waved his hand at the people. It was a sign for them to leave.

The people who had survived death carefully got up.

‘I feel like they’re looking at me with a burden…….’

It was that moment.

[The vassals of the Paeraton Duchy feel grateful for your grace, Reader.]

[The Paeraton Duke’s chief aide, Baron Erkel, admires you, Reader.]

[Heinz, the head butler of the Paeraton Duchy, feels gratitude and respect for your grace, Reader.]

[The Paeraton family’s butlers, maids, and servants feel gratitude and respect for your grace, Reader.]

[Your influence within the Paeraton family has greatly increased.]

[5000 Cash has been awarded.]

My eyes widened like a washbasin.

‘O, five thousand Cash?!’