Lord Baby Runs A Romance Fantasy With Cash [EN]: Chapter 16

The Baby Runs Wild in a Romance Novel with Cash – Episode 16

☆ Episode 16 ☆

“Yes!”

I proudly nodded, sticking out my belly.

“My daddy is a handsome daddy!”

The devil promised, too!

I looked at my fake dad triumphantly, then realized something.

Fake Dad *is* handsome, though.

Still, still!

“Anyway, you’re not my daddy!”

Hmph! I crossed my arms, defiant.

It’s the devil’s fault for only promising a handsome dad!

From the start, what I wanted was a handsome, rich daddy who doted on his daughter!

“My daddy is rich! He has a diamond mine!”

“……I’m rich too. I have not only a diamond mine but also a gold mine.”

Eek!

“My daddy dotes on me and loves me so much! My *real* daddy loves me!”

“…….”

Fake Dad didn’t respond.

See!

He’s someone else’s dad! Not my daddy!

‘That’s right! My real daddy… is somewhere else….’

“Sniff….”

My nose felt stuffy for some reason.

My vision started to blur again.

Then, Fake Dad picked me up. A warm hand brushed my eyes, and tears fell like rain.

“So, I’m not your father.”

I could see Dad clearly now.

I could see all of his expressions and eyes, but I couldn’t understand what he was thinking.

Strangely, I couldn’t answer.

“Daddy, Daddy!”

Even as I spoke, sorrow filled me, and my chest heaved with hiccups.

“You scare me! You’re always angry! And you always frown like this!”

I scrunched up my face, imitating him.

“And you said mean things to me!”

“Mean things?”

“You called me a rat!”

Dad closed his mouth.

I felt even more sulky at that.

See, he *did* say mean things!

Chop!

Even though my fingers were short, I pointed as bravely as I could.

“You’re a fake daddy! Not my daddy! I hate you, hate you!!”

* * *

“Your Excellency…?”

Heinz, the head butler of the Jedeo estate, looked at Duke Paeraton, who was standing blankly, and called out to him, puzzled.

Standing blankly was something that really didn’t suit Duke Paeraton.

“…….”

But Duke Paeraton didn’t answer, as if he really *was* spacing out.

“Um, Your Excellency?”

Only when he got closer did Duke Paeraton flinch and turn to look at him.

“Is something the matter?”

Heinz asked with a somewhat worried tone.

‘Could it be that the conversation with the youngest miss didn’t go well?’

He felt a little responsible.

He was the one who suggested going to see the youngest miss.

Unlike the Paeraton bloodline, the youngest miss, who was ordinary, must be crying because of what happened today.

‘Was it still difficult for His Excellency to soothe a crying child?’

After the youngest miss returned, Duke Paeraton had changed a lot.

So he thought it would be okay.

“Was the young lady crying a lot?”

“She wasn’t crying when I went.”

“Yes? She wasn’t crying?”

“She cried.”

“……Yes?”

What on earth was he saying?

“She cried while talking to me. I think I made her cry.”

“…….”

Heinz was speechless.

‘Well, it’s His Excellency we’re talking about….’

Duke Paeraton, who could make even a perfectly fine child burst into tears.

There were even children who cried at the top of their lungs just because they made eye contact with him, so it wasn’t that surprising.

‘But still, the youngest miss was quite fond of His Excellency….’

It was really unexpected, considering she spent every day in the Duke’s arms.

“Heinz.”

“Yes, Your Excellency.”

“Answer honestly.”

“When have I ever lied in front of you?”

Heinz straightened his posture and bowed seriously.

“Am I ugly?”

“……Yes?”

Heinz unknowingly opened his mouth and stared at Duke Paeraton.

He always maintained a precise and disciplined attitude, but this time he couldn’t help it.

‘No, no. I must have misheard.’

There’s no way Duke Paeraton would ask if he was ugly.

“Could you say that again?”

“……It’s nothing.”

Duke Paeraton turned his head and walked away.

“Y-Your Excellency.”

The employees who were gathered at the end of the hallway were startled when they saw him and stepped aside.

Duke Paeraton raised an eyebrow.

Recently, the employees had been gathering and whispering like this often.

Originally, the employees of the Duke’s residence didn’t show their presence unless the master needed them.

Until then, he had only thought that the atmosphere had changed, but he didn’t feel anything special.

But now, it was somehow annoying.

As Duke Paeraton glared at the employees with a fierce gaze, a white piece of paper sticking out from a maid’s hand caught his eye.

“What’s that?”

“N-Nothing, sir.”

The maid couldn’t hide her embarrassment, probably because she never thought the Duke would ask her a question.

“I decide whether it’s nothing or not.”

The maid swallowed hard and carefully handed the paper to the Duke.

Duke Paeraton frowned and unfolded the folded paper.

And on the unfolded paper—

‘What is this? A pineapple?’

A new code?

The maid couldn’t hide the corners of her mouth from twitching as she began to explain.

“It’s really nothing, it’s just that our young lady drew me.”

“……What?”

“It’s a picture of me holding the young lady’s hand tightly. She said she liked me and drew it.”

That wasn’t an explanation.

It was a boast.

“She drew one for me too. It’s a picture of her hugging me tightly.”

“Ahem, she drew me holding flowers. She said she liked the garden I manage.”

“I got three!”

The employees took out their drawings from their pockets and started showing off.

It was the first time they had shown such a lively appearance in front of Duke Paeraton.

And the Duke felt his stomach twist.

Seeing him emit a dark aura like a thundercloud, Nancy said, “Ah!”

“Of course, it’s not as good as the picture Your Excellency received.”

“The youngest miss is so fond of Your Excellency, she must have given you many pictures, right?”

“I wonder what kind of picture it is.”

The employees looked at Duke Paeraton with sparkling eyes of anticipation.

After a moment of silence, the Duke opened his mouth.

“……Didn’t receive.”

“Yes?”

“Didn’t receive it.”

Saaaaa—

The temperature in the hallway seemed to drop by 10 degrees in an instant.

The employees stared at Duke Paeraton, frozen stiff.

No one could open their mouths rashly.

* * *

“Then let’s get this straight.”

Ahem, Nancy cleared her throat and began the briefing solemnly.

“The butler judged that the young lady would be crying and suggested that His Excellency comfort her.”

Heinz, who received the gaze, nodded in agreement.

“But the young lady wasn’t crying, and instead, she burst into tears while talking to His Excellency.”

Duke Paeraton remained silent.

“Moreover, everyone received a drawing from the young lady, but the father, His Excellency, did not.”

The people in the room awkwardly shifted their gazes.

“Hmm, it’s easy to summarize. His Excellency is disliked by the youngest miss….”

“Ahem!”

“Cough!”

The simultaneous coughs stopped Nancy’s words.

It was a struggle to survive.

“Um, what did the young lady say while crying? Children can cry for any reason. For reasons completely different from what adults think.”

Anna tried hard to defend the Duke.

But.

“She said I’m not her daddy.”

“…….”

“She said she hates me.”

The people stared at Duke Paeraton, speechless.

No, you went to comfort the child and heard that you’re not her daddy?

And that she hates you?

‘How on earth…?’

The people exchanged glances silently and then looked at Duke Paeraton again.

And they realized.

‘Ah, the butler messed up.’

Seeing Duke Paeraton leaning his chin on his hand and crossing his long legs smoothly, they had a feeling.

Even though he’s been carrying the child around these days, Duke Paeraton was still Duke Paeraton.

A cruelly cold and ruthless man.

To give such a man the mission of comforting a child.

‘It’s like telling a newborn who can’t even crawl to run.’

“It’s my fault.”

Everyone nodded at the butler’s quick admission.

“It was too high a level for the Duke, no, the progress was too fast.”

“You shouldn’t push children when comforting them.”

Duke Paeraton raised an eyebrow.

“I didn’t push her.”

Unlike what the butler said, he just started talking to her because she wasn’t crying.

Since there wasn’t a special topic, he simply mentioned the book she wanted.

“Hoo, Your Excellency may not think you’re pushing her, but from the child’s point of view, she can definitely feel that way.”

“The young lady is different from the young masters. Be more affectionate, more warm!”

“Smile and respect each other!”

“Did you hug her when you comforted her? Did you pat her?”

“……I wasn’t holding her.”

Sigh.

Everyone sighed loudly at the same time.

“Next time, hug her tightly and pat her gently.”

The Duke frowned.

“Why would I do that?”

“Oh my.”

The surprised maids covered their mouths.

Duke Paeraton really seemed unable to understand.

“What’s the meaning of that action?”

“But Your Excellency, didn’t you feel anything when you were holding the young lady?”

At those words, the Duke fell silent.

When he was carrying his youngest daughter around.

When that child stretched out her arms and wrapped them around his neck.

When she was swinging her legs on his lap and nodding off.

Then, when she finally fell asleep, her cheek was pressed against his chest, making it bulge.

The child was warm, and her soft breathing was as soft and tender as the new sprouts of early spring.

Looking at the Duke, who had been silent for a long time, people smiled without realizing it.

To see this perfect man bewildered by something he was experiencing for the first time.

But in the end, he would have complete happiness in his hands.

“Go see the young lady again, Your Excellency.”

“Since Your Excellency made her cry, you should comfort her.”

Anna and Nancy were amazed at themselves for saying that.

Before, it would have been difficult even to speak to him first.

The youngest miss had changed so much in the short time she had been back at the mansion.

Duke Paeraton got up from his seat.

He was going to see his daughter.

“Ah, but.”

He turned around as he was about to leave the room. His red eyes sharply scanned the people.

The employees, who had been immersed in a warm feeling, tensed up in an instant. They knew Duke Paeraton’s nature best.

Finally, the Duke’s lips opened.

“Does anyone know what ‘mama’ is?”

“…….”

“And ‘cookie jyo’ [a child’s mispronunciation of ‘cookie, please’]?”

A different kind of silence flowed in the room than before.

* * *

“I must be crazy!”

I banged my head on the bed.

“I’m definitely trying to die!”

To give me such a penalty!

That devil is definitely trying to get me out of this life!

I groaned and rubbed my forehead.

“Aish. I’m getting old, getting old!”

What should I do now?

I might not even be his real daughter, and I said I wasn’t his daughter….

‘How awful must I seem?’

Hing. I felt gloomy.

Then, there was a knock on the door.

‘Please don’t let it be the Duke again!’

I looked at the door, trembling, and Anna came in.

It’s a relief, but….

“Young lady, would you like a snack?”

“I don’t want it.”

“Aren’t you hungry?”

“I don’t know. I don’t want it.”

I turned away.

I know Anna didn’t do anything wrong.

But maybe it’s because the reincarnation buff is gone, but I can’t help but feel sulky even though I know it.

“Sigh, our young lady. It can’t be helped since you won’t eat the food I bring.”

Hmm?

“I guess you like the food your dad gives you.”

What?

I had a bad feeling.

Denying that it could be true, I turned my head with trembling eyes.

Why is it that bad feelings are always right?

“Daddy….”

Duke Paeraton was standing in the doorway.

With an indifferent face as arrogant as ever, and eyes as cold as frost.

My body shrank on its own.

He met my gaze and slowly moved his lips.

“Let’s eat mama [baby talk for food].”

……Huh?