Lord Baby Runs A Romance Fantasy With Cash [EN]: Chapter 54

The way he interpreted that look made her son hastily lower his head.

“I-I’m sorry, Count. I suddenly called you ‘Father,’ and you must be surprised. I was too—”

“Surprised. To think I have such a wonderful son.”

The boy, who had been bowing his head, blankly lifted his face.

“Please forgive this foolish father who didn’t even know of your existence.”

“F-Forgive me?”

Count Kandor slowly approached the boy, who was at a loss.

His wrinkled hand firmly grasped the boy’s pale hand.

“Will you acknowledge me as your father, who couldn’t protect you and your mother?”

“N-No, you can’t say that.”

The boy’s face turned red, and soon his eyes began to fill with tears.

“…I thought you would hate me.”

“How could I hate you?”

“This disgusting monster!”

“Why isn’t the result coming out like this! You useless vermin!”

“It still won’t die. Is this even human? Isn’t it just a monster?”

The boy bit his lip tightly at the rising memories.

“Because I look like this…”

What he was referring to was obvious.

His son, who should have been a grown young man, still looked like a young boy.

Count Kandor raised his hand and stroked his bowing son’s head.

“I’m glad I can see you grow up.”

“Glad… you are?”

“If you were already fully grown, I wouldn’t have been able to see your young self.”

“Father…”

Eventually, tears streamed down the boy’s face.

He was startled and wiped his eyes.

“Ugh, I’m sorry. My behavior is also foolishly childish. Because I was asleep for too long, I couldn’t learn…”

When he was being experimented on, his mind went back and forth.

He didn’t know how many days had passed while he was unconscious, or how long he had been awake.

The experimenters taught him enough to communicate, but that was it.

And all they said were orders or curses related to the experiments.

He could count on one hand the number of times he had seen his mother’s face because she was isolated and imprisoned.

When he was awake, he occasionally talked to her through the water pooled on the floor.

Mostly, his mother spoke, and he listened.

The water seemed to dry up and then reappear.

And one day, when he regained consciousness, all the water was gone.

Without a trace of ever being wet.

“I am grateful to you just for being safe and healthy.”

A hard, wrinkled hand gripped his shoulder tightly.

Thanks to that, the boy was able to break free from his swamp-like memories.

His father’s touch was rough but warm.

“If you don’t like not learning, you can learn.”

The look in his eyes was the same.

“May I stay by your side and teach you from now on?”

The boy opened his mouth.

He would stay by his side.

He wouldn’t push him away.

Even someone like him could live as his father’s son.

His nose tingled again, and his chest grew hot.

“Yes, yes, Father…!”

“Thank you.”

Count Kandor embraced his son.

Awkwardly, but firmly, as if he would never let go again.

* * *

‘Good for you, Oppa [term of endearment for an older brother or male friend].’

Now Grandpa will give him a name too.

Then next time, I can call him by his name!

I was smiling contentedly when Count Kandor turned to look at me.

Although his eyes were red, the expression on his face as he looked at me was stern and solemn.

I felt like an outsider who had intruded on the two men’s touching reunion.

I scratched my cheek in embarrassment when Count Kandor approached me.

And then, he knelt down on one knee in front of me.

His arm bent with precision, and his head bowed in proper etiquette.

He was as elegant and dignified as a knight making an oath.

“I have no way to repay the grace of revealing the truth related to my wife’s death and finding my son while I live.”

Wow…….

“I, Alexander Kandor, dedicate the rest of my life to my lord. Please allow me to serve you as my lord.”

I was a little surprised and looked at Count Kandor.

Such a normal oath of allegiance…….

This is the first time I’ve received something like this.

Finally, a normal person is with me.

It was touching.

“……I allow it.”

[You have received an oath of allegiance from Count Kandor!]

[He is a man who governs the territory, is responsible for the lives of hundreds of thousands of people, and is respected by knights and officials!]

[He is also the leader who supports the core of the vast duchy!]

[Congratulations!]

[You have received an oath of allegiance from a ruler-level figure!]

[Your influence has greatly increased!]

[You have completed the quest.]

[You have been awarded a 5000-cash gacha ticket.]

[You have received loyalty beyond recognition from your vassal!]

[Quest conditions over cleared!]

[Additional rewards will be given!]

[Influence within the Paeraton Duchy increases!]

I was very pleased to see the notifications popping up.

I thought I could build a good relationship by being recognized by Count Kandor, but unexpectedly, I even received an oath of allegiance.

Then I should use it right away!

“Grandpa, there’s something I want you to take care of.”

“Please tell me.”

“I brought Oppa here. The employees saw me and Oppa together. Everyone must be curious about this and that, right?”

Especially our dad and brothers.

To be honest, I didn’t even think a person would really come out, so I don’t have any countermeasures.

But I can’t just leave Oppa in that messed-up experimental state.

I called the sisters, washed him, put on new clothes, and fed him.

And there must be people who saw me and Oppa together while coming to the gazebo, right?

An child is a very noticeable existence in the Duchy Castle.

This is because there are no children other than the direct line due to the magic.

Fortunately, Oppa doesn’t seem to be affected.

Anyway, even if his identity is confirmed as Grandpa’s son, everyone will investigate how he came to the Duchy Castle and was with me, right?

To be honest, I don’t know what to say to explain it.

“I’ll leave the rest to Grandpa!”

I end the turn by placing a ruler-level figure!

“……I don’t care about anything else, but I’m really looking forward to His Excellency and the young masters’ reactions. I understand.”

He didn’t look forward to it at all.

“Come to think of it.”

Count Kandor stared at my face and continued.

“I heard that you make a special oath of allegiance to the Princess.”

Oh, isn’t this what I’m thinking of?

“……Who says that?”

“Viscount Dier said that only those who have been recognized as loyal servants by the young lady can perform that rite.”

Viscount Dier, Viscount Dier!

I can picture him excitedly and flippantly bragging about it everywhere.

“That’s not like that, it’s just…….”

A pinky swear.

“……I fully understand if you doubt my loyalty. It’s natural since I was rude to the Princess before.”

He was speaking without wavering, but the angle of his shoulders dropped by about 3 degrees.

“But that was before I served the Princess as my lord. This person is not a rebellious person who abandons grace.”

“…….”

I pretended not to notice Count Kandor’s gaze.

Don’t do this. Grandpa is my ☆normal friend.

I don’t want to make such a crazy oath.

No, more than anything, Grandpa will look at me with a disgusted face, asking if this was an oath?

I can’t stand that look! I didn’t make Dier do it! I’m normal!

“……I couldn’t prove it, and I spoke first. I will try to be recognized for my loyalty to my lord. Then.”

Grandpa bowed his head and turned around.

Ah, no…….

I don’t want to see the lonely back of an old man with a bent back!

Ugh!

Suddenly, K-Confucian girl’s [Korean Confucianism emphasizes respect for elders] respect for elders is activated!

“Grandpa!”

In the end, I called out to Count Kandor.

I think I saw a subtle smile on the Count’s face as he turned to look at me, but I must be mistaken, right?

“Do it, do it!”

I held out my pinky finger.

Huhuhu.

What is going on because of one wrong promise?

Chapter 12. I Raised an Obsessive Slave Emperor

Inside the office.

I was holding a secret meeting with Count Kandor and Viscount Dier.

“Indeed. Is that why you bought so many empty mana stone mines?”

“Amazing. This has much more mana content than the existing mana stones. Such purity…….”

Viscount Dier clicked his tongue as he examined the mana stone with a mana meter.

The mana stone, which awakened the dormant mana, was as black as if it had absorbed all the light, unlike the existing ones.

“The method of awakening mana is as simple as I told you.”

“Yes, mass production is definitely possible.”

“I want to start selling it in earnest, but I want to do it secretly. I don’t want this information and technology to fall into the hands of others.”

“It’s not particularly difficult for me. If you leave it to me, I’ll handle it neatly.”

“No! Count is busy with other things anyway, right? You must have ordered the young lady to take control of the Senate! Leave this to me!”

Sparks flew between Count Kandor and Viscount Dier.

“Hmm, but this will involve overseas trade. There may be things that Viscount Dier alone cannot handle because it exceeds his authority. You also need connections.”

“Are you talking about overseas trade? I’m good enough for that too.”

“Yes, but this is a little different. To be exact, it’s pretending to be. That I brought this from overseas.”

Do you know what a paper company is?

“Indeed. You’re trying to launder the source.”

I nodded at Count Kandor’s words.

“Amazing. To think of that.”

Yes, in modern capitalist society, all sorts of things happen to make money.

“The Imperial Palace is restricting the trade of existing mana stones, right?”

“It’s okay within the Empire. However, there is a mandatory ratio that must be delivered to the Imperial Palace. Also, there are restrictions on the amount of exports to foreign countries. It’s a sensitive resource after all.”

Yes, I knew it.

What head of state would allow you to sell oil without any restrictions?

“Does this look like a mana stone?”

I smiled and picked up the black mana stone.

Count Kandor and Viscount Dier both smiled slyly, as if they knew what I meant.

“It looks like a completely different item.”

“If it’s not a mana stone, it won’t be subject to legal restrictions, right?”

“That’s right.”

“Okay, then let’s give it a new name.”

Am I just going to sell it as a mana stone and only do good for the Imperial Family?

I heard that my dad went to war because of the imperial order.

I won’t accept mandatory deliveries or trade restrictions.

“What name would you like? Since you found it, Princess, you should name it.”

Hmm, I thought for a moment and then opened my mouth.

“Black Gold.”

People often call oil black gold.

Doesn’t this solid be more suitable for that name than liquid?

“Black gold, indeed.”

“Considering the value of this mana stone, there is no name more fitting than that.”

My heart was pounding.

Oil is a huge axis that moves the world economy.

Is there anyone living on Earth who hasn’t been affected by the oil shock?

I have almost monopolized that resource with immense influence.

But no one knows that.

This is a hidden munchkin [overpowered character]!

“I’m going to bluff that I brought it from overseas, but there will be people who don’t believe it. Especially if it’s sold by a merchant group owned by me or Paeraton.”

“You can guess that it was created using empty mana stones.”

“You bought the empty mana stone mines in a fancy way, saying it was for hobbies and gifts for the young masters.”

“Yes, there’s no good in being suspected like that.”

It’s just increasing the number of enemies.

I thought it was trash and sold it at a low price, but he used that trash to make a fortune?

He didn’t even know how to use it, and it would have continued to be trash if it was in his hands, but he will be angry as if he had been robbed.

“Also, if Paeraton monopolizes and sells something like this, there will be checks from other places.”

Excessive concentration of wealth and power.

‘Even the Imperial Family seems to be keeping Paeraton in check.’

Considering the imperial letter I overheard in the annex last time, it’s certain.

Whether it’s about bringing in a new Duchess or talking about Paeraton’s diplomacy.

I didn’t like either.

It was enough that Dad went to war, why are you trying to get involved again as soon as he comes back?

“In that case, it would be better to create a new merchant group. A place that has nothing to do with Paeraton at all.”

“Since we decided to launder the source by importing it from overseas anyway, let’s make it a trader that travels between continents.”

“A new type of high-purity mana stone imported from another continent. That’s good. Of course, we will never use the word ‘mana stone’ on our side.”

“Then you need quite a bit of capital first.”

“Shall we dispose of the real objects that the young lady received from Marquis Tarenka?”

“But if you dispose of all of that, there will be many people who will be curious about what you will do with that large sum of money.”

They both nodded at my words.

The youngest aide group has just been launched and is doing its first business.

Everyone must be watching the outcome.

“Then where does the capital come from……? The young lady has a lot of private property allocated to her, but even if you bring that money, other people will be curious.”

“Shall I secretly ask His Excellency for it?”

Dad’s backing.

It’s the best.

But.

“No? I don’t need pocket money?”

“Yes?”

“I have a lot of money.”

Because I collected a lot of taxes.

I didn’t steal it. The Arentwell Empire guaranteed it.

‘Thank you, Count Yozenheim.’

I will use your slush fund well.

He really hid it so that it wouldn’t be tracked. So that no one but me would know.

I smiled brightly at the two people who were tilting their heads.

* * *

After finishing work, it’s happy snack time!

Today it was fluffy and thick pancakes with lots of savory butter and sweet honey.

I excitedly picked up a knife, but Ares elegantly cut my pancake for me.

Then he poked it with a fork and held it out to me.

“My sister, ah一.”

“Is it delicious?”

“Yes!”

A beauty smiles softly and puts delicious things in my mouth.

This is the life of an emperor……!

“Tsk. How disgusting.”

Ixion snorted at Ares.

“It’s no use doing that. She’s completely fallen for me.”

He said, pulling me towards him.

“Me?”

When I looked up at him while being held in Ixion’s arms, he nodded as if it were obvious.

“Yes, you have something to give me.”

“Give you?”

“You don’t have to hide it so much. You bought it so splendidly, there’s no way I wouldn’t know.”

What are you talking about?

“Why is that for you? Ruatisha’s only brother isn’t just you.”

“Of course it’s for me. She only gave me chocolate last time. Didn’t you know?”

“Just chocolate? I was looking around the greenhouse with her and she picked a flower for me. Giving a flower, that’s a confession.”

No, why are you doing this again!

Dad! My brothers are fighting again!

I looked at Dad with the eyes of an tattletale.

But.

“……Ruru. Sometimes I want to unwind too.”

Dad?

You want to unwind, so you want to fight with the kids?

These guys are all your sons!

I was dumbfounded, but then I realized.

‘Empty mana stone mine! It was set up as a gift for the brothers’ magic training!’

“So, cotton ball. So which one is it? Him or me?”

“Of course she bought it with the intention of giving it to me.”

“You didn’t just buy one or two mines, wouldn’t there be too many for you to break?”

The eyes of the three men turned to me.

“Uh…….”

I was sweating profusely.

“That, that’s…….”

What should I do?

If I really give it to them, they will destroy that good thing with magic.

My oil!

Ugh, help me. K-knowledge!

“Ruru, I have something to give to Dad and brothers!”

Dad and the brothers’ eyes lit up at my words.

I covered my face with both hands while receiving their expectations.

And then一.

“Ruru flower!”

I shouted proudly while making a flower 받침 [flower pedestal gesture].