Lord Baby Runs A Romance Fantasy With Cash [EN]: Chapter 68

☆ Chapter 69 ☆

“I’ve always wanted to have such a cute younger sibling.”

Ah, so that’s what this is about.

I thought it was something else.

“Oh, right, Your Grace.”

Cynthia approached Dad and clasped her hands together affectionately.

“Please put up a shield.”

A shield?

It seemed she needed protection from the mana emanating from my brothers.

“At your age, staying here for a few days won’t have any impact.”

“But we don’t know how long we’ll be here yet, do we?”

Cynthia smiled brightly.

“I mean, your conversation might take a while.”

Dad’s gaze flicked to me briefly, then he sighed softly and snapped his fingers.

Dark mana flowed out, washed over Cynthia, and disappeared.

Perhaps because there was no intention to attack, the mana was simply plain, without any fierce energy.

But it wasn’t as gentle or warm as when it enveloped me, making me feel shy for no reason.

“Thank you, Your Grace.”

Cynthia greeted him, her cheeks flushed with excitement.

“Mother, I’ll play with this child.”

Me?

I don’t particularly want to play with her.

“Have a good time with His Grace.”

Cynthia winked at her mother.

“Oh, you.”

Lady Aphelia waved her hand as if embarrassed, glancing at Dad.

“Come on, let’s go. Luatisha, I’ll show you to your room!”

“I want to stay here longer.”

I want to hear more of Dad and the lady’s conversation.

To see if they’re really thinking about getting married or not!

“You can’t. You shouldn’t interrupt adults’ conversations. Your sister will play with you so you won’t be bored.”

Cynthia, after a brief struggle, picked me up and started walking.

Behind us, I heard Lady Aphelia say, “The children are getting along so well.”

Playing? What playing!

I’m being dragged away by the lady’s daughter!

* * *

“Haa, to be protected by Duke Paeraton.”

Walking side by side with Cynthia, I tilted my head, puzzled.

“Is that such a happy thing?”

“You don’t know anything. Being protected by Duke Paeraton is very, very special. Everyone will be envious of me!”

“Really?”

Cynthia stared at me, seemingly not liking my reaction, then nodded as if she understood.

“Well, you’re enjoying that privilege just because you’re his daughter.”

Huh?

“Everyone who has received the Duke’s mana has either died or been injured. But I’m the only one being protected like this!”

“I’m here too, though.”

“Everyone is clamoring to be protected by His Grace even once, but only I get this special treatment!”

She can’t hear me.

She’s already lost in her own fantasy.

Anyway, I get what she means.

The untamed, dangerous, and alluring beast of Paeraton.

And I’m the only one that beast protects.

‘A steady seller [a popular trope].’

I nodded.

“Anyway, since he even created a shield, it’s practically permission for me to stay here.”

It didn’t really seem like that to me.

Well, I don’t really know what Dad is thinking either.

The way he treated Lady Aphelia was extremely businesslike, but you never know.

In the meantime, we arrived at my room.

“Wow, this is your room?”

Cynthia looked around the room with a surprised expression.

“Seriously, you just use these expensive things as toys? Other families would keep them under lock and key, worried about getting a scratch on them!”

Was that so expensive?

Ixion just left it here, saying he “picked it up on the way.”

“Wow, isn’t this painting a Kerta piece? It’s worth as much as a mansion, and you’re just using it…”

Ares left that, saying, “Paintings are good for children.”

“But this is a bit childish. Well, you’re still young, so.”

Cynthia frowned at the scallop chair and fountain tea table.

‘That… Dad picked those out.’

With a very serious face, even checking the seating comfort.

“But this is really pretty. What do you think?”

Cynthia put my hair accessory on her head and smiled brightly.

“Aren’t you too young to wear something like this yet? It would look better on me. Right?”

“No?”

“Huh?”

Cynthia looked at me with a dumbfounded expression.

I guess she didn’t expect this kind of answer since I hadn’t said much until now.

“That suits Lululu, the cutest being in the world, who will conquer the world, the best!”

“What…?”

“Cynthia isn’t cuter than me, is she?”

No offense.

Look at the pure, clear eyes of an innocent child.

Cynthia’s face turned red.

But she couldn’t possibly fight a five-year-old over cuteness, so she took off the hair accessory, grumbling.

“Looking at it again, it’s too childish. It doesn’t suit me. It would be perfect for you.”

It would have been more prideful not to say that.

Cynthia must have thought that staying still meant losing, so she opened and closed my accessory drawer, rummaging through it.

“It’s bad to touch other people’s things without permission.”

“What does it matter? We’ll be family soon.”

Oh.

My eyes sparkled.

“Family? I heard you came because of the land.”

“Oh my, that’s just an excuse.”

Cynthia looked at me as if I were an ignorant child and chuckled.

Good.

I widened my eyes even more innocently and tilted my head.

“But the vassals [feudal retainers] who come to our house said it would be hard to get married.”

“Ha, what does it matter what the vassals think? The Empress wants this marriage.”

Ah.

So she’s related to the Empress; there’s an Empress behind her after all.

Then how deeply are they involved?

“What about the Emperor?”

“Th-that’s… The Emperor is the Empress’s husband. Of course, he would support the Empress’s wishes!”

It doesn’t seem like the Emperor is involved.

That’s why they indirectly approached, using the land as an excuse.

I was about to ask more when Cynthia clasped her hands together, looking ecstatic.

“So cool! Duke Paeraton is going to be my dad!”

She spoke in a dreamy tone.

“I want to meet my younger brother and second older brother soon. They’re so popular in the capital. I’m so curious to see what they’re like in person!”

Unlike me, who didn’t really want to meet them, Cynthia was full of anticipation and kept chattering on.

“It’s a shame my first older brother isn’t here. I saw him from afar once, and he was really cool.”

‘What on earth is the first one doing…’

While I didn’t really want to meet him, Cynthia continued to talk, full of expectations.

“But Aphelia didn’t seem to want to get married very much?”

“That’s—”

Cynthia stopped talking, about to say something.

“You’re still young, so you don’t understand, but you never know with matters between men and women.”

What are you talking about?

I’ve read thousands of romance novels.

There are all kinds of stories about men and women written there.

“But don’t call her ‘auntie’; she’ll be your mother soon.”

What confidence does she have?

“Call me ‘sister’ instead of my name. When families come together, you have to establish the hierarchy right away.”

“Hierarchy?”

“You don’t know much, do you? I understand since there hasn’t been a Duchess before. Don’t worry. This sister will teach you a lot from now on.”

Cynthia smiled brightly.

It was a kind smile, as if there was no malice at all.

“Are you saying I didn’t learn because I don’t have a mom?”

Cynthia looked surprised at my words.

“Oh my, why are you saying such scary things? Absolutely not~”

“……”

“You’re my younger sister; why would I say such mean things? It’s a misunderstanding, a misunderstanding.”

Cynthia stroked my hair gently and opened her mouth in a subtle tone.

“But this is your sister speaking out of concern, so it’s best not to talk like that when you go somewhere else.”

“What?”

“If you react so sharply to other people’s kindness, they’ll think you’re feeling guilty.”

My expression stiffened.

Can she really be this clueless and innocent, without any malice?

“Oh dear, our Luatisha. Don’t make that face; it’s scary. Are you angry? Are you sulking?”

Cynthia started to coax me exaggeratedly, making a nasal sound.

“Oh dear, she’s a baby, a baby! So cute.”

Ah…….

My blood pressure.

[Reader! Aren’t you being too lenient because she’s a child?]

‘I have to be lenient because she’s a child!’

She didn’t participate in the abuse like Clatie, so it’s not right to react like I’m going to kill her over this.

[You’re a child too!]

[Cynthia has lived more than twice as long as the day you were reincarnated!]

[Or do you need a penalty enhancement?]

Penalty enhancement?

‘Does that mean I’ll lose more of my reason as a reincarnator?’

To deal with her completely with a five-year-old’s mindset?

That’s really not it.

[Well, fine. I’ll respect your wishes for now.]

[But you need to find out what you need to find out, right?]

[A new quest has arrived.]

It was a quest that came after a long time.

I didn’t particularly want to focus on the conversation with Cynthia, so I immediately checked the quest.

〈If You Meddle in a Marriage, You’ll Get Slapped Three Times (1)〉

The Empress is trying to bring the Paeraton family under her influence by marrying Lady Aphelia to Duke Paeraton.

Lady Aphelia came here after receiving such hints, but what is she really thinking?

Has she completely joined hands with the Empress?

Or will she marry but have her own purpose, regardless of the Empress?

Or does she not want to marry but was forced to come because of the Empress’s orders?

Her daughter, Cynthia, strongly supports this marriage.

That’s fine, but her attitude towards you is quite unusual.

A romance novel reader never avoids a fight that comes her way!

You have to break the frustrating situation!

But if Cynthia is just a naive and clueless young lady, then you can’t say she started a fight.

In that case, you just need to give her proper education.

But what if she really started a fight?

Find out the true intentions of the mother and daughter!

– Conditions:

1. Uncover Lady Aphelia’s purpose

2. Confirm Cynthia’s true feelings

– Rewards: 3000 Cash Gacha Ticket, Linked Quest 〈???〉 Progress

Good.

I was going to find out about Lady Aphelia anyway.

‘Then…’

I was calculating how to move when I heard a distracting noise from the side.

“Luatisha, are you still sulking? Huh? Hey? Turns out our baby is a sulker, a sulker.”

Hah.

Should I show her what real sulking is?

* * *

I went to the back door used by the employees, carrying a lot of food.

In the backyard, Dana was drawing on the ground with a stick, her head hanging low.

“Dana!”

Dana, who looked somewhat dejected, brightened up when she saw me.

“Young Lady!”

“What are you doing? Drawing?”

Peeking at the ground, I saw….

‘Picasso…!’

There was a drawing reminiscent of Picasso.

Of course, it wasn’t a Cubist painting, but it was just as well drawn.

“Is this perhaps me?”

“D-do you feel bad?”

“No! You drew it really well. Wow, amazing! I even want to keep it as it is!”

Dana gave a shy smile.

I sat down next to Dana and shared the food I had brought.

I had become quite close to Dana, and we shared many stories with each other.

Dana was the daughter of Cynthia’s nanny.

Lady Aphelia’s employees had entered through the basement of the main building, which the carriages passed through, so I hadn’t seen her.

“But you were playing alone again without eating?”

“I was about to have a meal with my mother when Cynthia called me…”

“Still…”

Aren’t the other adults taking care of her?

Even so, they should have given the child at least one bread.

“My mother is Cynthia’s nanny, so it’s natural for her to care more about the young lady than me.”

“What do you mean?”

“It’s okay. I was going to eat with my mother when she came back.”

Seeing Dana smile brightly made me feel sorry for her.

“Children need to eat well. Eat a lot.”

“You’re younger than me, Young Lady.”

“In society, a two-year age difference is the same as none.”

Dana tilted her head at my words.

“But is your health really okay? Is there anything hurting?”

I was worried after seeing her put up a shield for Cynthia.

Dana is much younger than Cynthia.

Maybe it’s just my imagination, but she doesn’t look too good.

“Yes, I’m fine. You ask me every time we meet. Don’t worry.”

Did she receive a shield from Dad separately?

Well, Lady Aphelia might have asked him.

Even so, she wouldn’t have brought a young child to the Duke’s mansion without any thought.

We chatted while waiting for Dana to finish eating.

I subtly asked, “Does Aphelia want to marry our dad?” or “What kind of person is Cynthia?” but there were no gains.

‘Dana is also secretly tight-lipped and loyal.’

Well, her mother had been Cynthia’s nanny since she was born, so it was understandable.

I didn’t particularly treat Dana well to pry, so I wasn’t too disappointed.

I parted ways with Dana and walked through the garden.

The weather was too nice to go straight to the back door, so I was thinking of walking outside for a stroll and entering through the west gate.

At that time, I heard a voice calling me.

“Cotton ball, where are you going?”

When I turned around, Ixion and Ares were there.

“Ixion, Ares!”

I waved my hand in greeting, and a white hand came out from behind Ares.

“Oh my, Lulu!”

Cynthia smiled brightly at me, linking arms with Ares.