Lord Baby Runs A Romance Fantasy With Cash [EN]: Chapter 142

I selected three envelopes from the stack of letters.

The envelopes were sealed with wax, each bearing the crest of the noble family that had sent it.

The Dukedom of Delbartren.

The Dukedom of Iskamill.

The Marquisate of Sherodel.

“I should grab a snack before heading out.”

“The long wait is finally over. I heard that His Excellency burned all the previous invitations…”

“Huh? I didn’t quite catch that.”

“Oh, it’s nothing.”

Count Kandor shook his head.

I narrowed my eyes, studying him, but Count Kandor remained tight-lipped.

I shrugged.

“It wouldn’t be proper to visit my grandfathers empty-handed after they’ve invited me.”

“Then… ?”

I grinned at Baron Dier’s question.

* * *

Madam Huen looked startled by the unexpected visit.

“I was passing by and thought of you, so I decided to stop in.”

“It’s an honor to receive you, Grand Madam Crophel.”

Madam Huen quickly ushered Grand Madam Crophel inside, bowing her head respectfully.

“I apologize for the state of things. I’m not quite used to entertaining guests yet…”

“It’s quite alright. Who can blame me for barging in so suddenly, eh?”

Grand Madam Crophel watched Madam Huen put water on the kettle and inquired, “But you must be quite busy with your research. Don’t you have someone to assist you? With Madam Sheruin’s support, you should easily be able to afford someone to help with the household chores.”

“I find it difficult to concentrate when there are other people in the house.”

“Are you the type to get distracted by company? Is that why you conduct your research alone at home?”

Madam Huen visibly flinched.

Madam Huen’s hand, which was reaching for the tea caddy [a small container for tea leaves], paused momentarily.

“Yes, well, I’m also concerned about my daughter.”

Madam Huen answered casually, as if she hadn’t hesitated at all, and placed tea leaves into the kettle.

However, her eyes sharply scrutinized Grand Madam Crophel.

‘What’s the intention behind her question?’

It was a question that seemed innocuous enough in the flow of conversation, but her wariness grew, fueled by a sense of guilt.

Grand Madam Crophel noticed Madam Huen’s reaction and chuckled heartily.

“Haha, did I startle you by asking about your research?”

“Ah, no, Grand Madam.”

“Hehe, it’s understandable. Researchers are a breed who value their research above all else, wouldn’t you agree?”

Grand Madam Crophel poured tea into a teacup herself and said,

“I was merely curious, so don’t be so guarded. I am planning to present you at my party, so I can’t help but be concerned. Do you understand?”

“Of course, Grand Madam.”

“I decided to introduce you based on Madam Sheruin’s strong recommendation, but… it’s quite a gamble for me.”

A researcher with no significant academic background or professional experience.

For such a person to debut at Grand Madam Crophel’s party was indeed an extravagant opportunity.

If Madam Huen failed to demonstrate promising results that day, Grand Madam Crophel’s reputation would also suffer.

“I will not squander the opportunity you’ve given me.”

“Good, good. I also decided to introduce you after receiving the final report and the elixir [a medicinal concoction], so don’t feel too pressured.”

“Thank you.”

Madam Huen bowed her head.

At that moment, a small child emerged from the inner room.

“Mom?”

The child looked startled to see the guest and bowed awkwardly.

“Hello…”

That clumsiness only highlighted the child’s innocence.

“You must be Sophia. How adorable.”

“I’m sorry. I’ve been teaching her etiquette, but she hasn’t quite mastered it yet…”

“It’s quite alright. Oh, I’m considering moving the party to the afternoon.”

“Yes?”

“Madam Sheruin mentioned she’s planning to bring her daughter to the party.”

“Yes. It’s difficult to leave her alone, and finding suitable childcare is also…”

“An evening party would be difficult for a child. It would be uncomfortable with just adults. We should invite other children as well when we move it to the afternoon.”

“Thank you so, so much, Grand Madam.”

Grand Madam Crophel smiled, emptied her teacup, and stood up.

“The tea was delightful.”

After seeing Grand Madam Crophel off, Ariel, who had been maintaining a shy and awkward demeanor, dropped the act and scoffed.

“Looks like I’ve completely won that old hag’s favor? She’s even trying to connect me with her connections.”

“It seems so, since she mentioned inviting other children as well.”

“I wish that girl would come too.”

Princess Paeraton.

Ariel licked her lips and smiled darkly.

I’ll show her this time for sure.

* * *

Grand Madam Crophel, having left Madam Huen’s house, entered her waiting carriage.

“That took quite a while.”

The old man inside frowned.

“Unlike you, who are so direct, I employ something called rhetoric. To avoid unnecessary suspicion.”

“How impressive.”

The old man, Duke Delbartren, said with a sullen expression. [A Duke is a high-ranking noble, just below a Prince.]

He and Grand Madam Crophel were the same age and shared a deep-rooted relationship that stretched back to their childhood.

The two referred to it as a long-lasting, unpleasant bond.

“They’ll assume I changed the party time for them.”

“Well, you handled it well.”

“Hmph. But there really was no one else in the house besides those two. There were no signs of an assistant coming or going either. And she reacted very defensively when I inquired about it.”

“Suspicious.”

“Yes. Did you suspect something and ask me to investigate?”

“I don’t know anything for certain. I merely had my suspicions.”

Grand Madam Crophel frowned.

“Should we cancel introducing Madam Huen at my party now? I don’t want my reputation to be tarnished for nothing.”

“It will be tarnished. But it will be tarnished even if you cancel it now.”

“I wish I could turn back time to before I accepted Madam Sheruin’s proposal.”

“Not that again.”

Duke Delbartren scoffed, paused for a moment, and said,

“…If your reputation takes a hit, you’ll have another opportunity to rebuild it. Don’t worry too much.”

“Huh? You’re comforting me? Is this old man about to kick the bucket?”

“What?”

Duke Delbartren looked at Grand Madam Crophel in disbelief and shook his head.

Grand Madam Crophel chuckled.

“But why did you buy those cookies?”

Grand Madam Crophel gestured towards the cookie box beside Duke Delbartren.

“He likes them.”

“Raphael?”

“No.”

“Then?”

“There’s a child like that.”

A faint smile played on Duke Delbartren’s lips as he answered.

Grand Madam Crophel looked at him with a slightly strange feeling.

That old man is smiling so softly.

‘Is he really about to die?’

* * *

‘Wow, this is a very classy party.’

Grand Madam Crophel was the mother of Count Crophel, the host of the Central Selection Conference [a prestigious event], and wielded considerable influence in high society.

Perhaps that’s why the party exuded such elegance.

“Ruatisha, let’s go sit on that sofa.”

“Okay!”

I linked arms with Jasmine and Tiriel and headed towards the plush sofa set up in the party hall.

Even though the party was sophisticated, it seemed they had considered the invited children, as there were many comfortable and inviting pieces of furniture.

On the way, I overheard snippets of the adults’ conversations.

“I heard the reason they changed the time and invited the children was because of the person they’re introducing today? Apparently, she’s an inventor.”

“It’s a bit unsettling. I heard she hasn’t had any notable achievements so far.”

“But Madam Sheruin is sponsoring her, so perhaps she’ll have a major breakthrough?”

Everyone is curious about Madam Huen.

However, Grand Madam Crophel remained tight-lipped and only engaged in small talk with those who approached her.

Just as the rumors about Madam Huen were swirling and filling the party hall.

“Ouch!”

A child’s voice rang out loudly.

All eyes turned in that direction.

“Oh my, Miss Poshette?”

Miss Poshette, who had fallen with a thud, quickly lifted her face.

She desperately fought back tears as she looked at the many people staring at her.

“Oh dear, she’s hurt her face.”

“To fall on the marble floor of all places…”

At that moment,

Madam Huen rushed to the child and helped her up.

“Are you alright?”

Miss Poshette nodded, her lips pressed tightly together.

“Sigh, I was planning to use this for the introduction later, but…”

Madam Huen muttered to herself, loud enough for everyone to hear, and produced a small bottle from her bosom.

A bottle containing a mysterious liquid that shimmered with a purple light.

The onlookers were mesmerized.

“Here, drink this. You’ll be alright.”

“Wait a minute.”

Baroness Poshette (the daughter-in-law of Marquis Poshette) stopped Madam Huen, her eyes wide with surprise.

She was taken aback that a stranger was suddenly trying to give her daughter a strange drink.

Grand Madam Crophel intervened, stopping Baroness Poshette.

“It’s not strange, it’s medicine. It’s alright, just watch.”

In the end, Miss Poshette drank the potion一.

“Oh my? The wound?”

“It’s completely gone…!”

The onlookers gasped as the wound vanished cleanly in an instant, as if it had never existed.

I narrowed my eyes and scanned the hall.

‘Miss Poshette fell at such a perfect time?’

Wasn’t it like a meticulously staged play?

“I was originally planning to introduce it a little later, but due to an unexpected incident, I’m revealing it now.”

Grand Madam Crophel announced, holding Madam Huen’s hand.

“Everyone must have heard of the elixir.”

“Elixir?!”

“That ancient panacea [a cure-all]?”

“She created that? Seeing the wound heal so quickly…”

The crowd’s reaction was explosive.

Madam Huen added that ‘this is not a completed elixir, and its effects are very insignificant compared to the recorded effects of the elixir,’ but that wasn’t the point.

“However, I have discovered a clue to reproduce the elixir, and this is the result. I believe that with further research, I can perfectly recreate the ancient elixir!”

The demonstration of healing the wound instantly had a powerful impact.

They couldn’t help but be excited, setting aside any rational calculations.

It was even more surprising because they hadn’t expected much from a researcher with no prior experience.

‘The script is quite well-written.’

This wasn’t Grand Madam Crophel’s plan. The Grand Madam was acting at the behest of Duke Delbartren.

She was simply responding skillfully to the unexpected incident.

I glared at Madam Huen, who was passionately explaining her research to the captivated audience.

‘To deliberately hurt a young child to gain attention.’

Even if she healed her, would the pain, shock, and humiliation simply disappear?

Even now, Miss Poshette was staring up, her lips tightly sealed.

“Today is a very meaningful day for me. In that spirit, I would like to offer a small sample to those who attended.”

At Madam Huen’s words, servants began to serve the elixir in champagne glasses.

The guests cheered and accepted the elixir.

“Wow, I really feel energized.”

“Actually, my legs and feet were aching from standing for so long, but the pain is gone.”

“Haha, this is a remarkable medicine. To exaggerate a bit, I feel like I’ve become five years younger.”

The worse the condition, the greater the effect, so it naturally worked wonders for the elderly.

The nobles of Grand Madam Crophel’s age repeatedly expressed their admiration and approached Madam Huen.

“Those heavy-bottomed nobles are actually moving…”

Even those who hadn’t shown much interest before now watched with a newfound gleam in their eyes.

If so, there was no better gift for the elders of high society.

Inquiries flooded in, with people requesting Madam Huen’s research plans they could invest in.

Of course, there were even more purchase requests.

It was truly the emergence of Cinderella.

With Madam Sheruin and Grand Madam Crophel as Cinderella’s protectors, who could possibly stand in her way?

‘Of course, one of those protectors isn’t actually protecting Cinderella.’

I turned my gaze away from Madam Huen and met Sophia’s eyes.

Kee-hee.

Sophia clung to Madam Huen’s skirt and giggled as she looked at me.

As Madam Huen’s popularity soared, the attitude of the people towards Sophia also changed.

The story of the two mothers and daughters also touched the hearts of sentimental noblewomen.

Sophia glanced at me, flaunting how much she was adored by the nobles.

‘She’s really quite childish.’

I shook my head.

But the more eager she is to show off to me, the better the opportunity.

“Ruatisha? Where are you going?”

“I’m going to wash my hands.”

“Shall I accompany you?”

“It’s alright. I’ll be right back.”

I glanced at Sophia and slowly left the hall.

* * *

“Who is this? If it isn’t the Princess?”

I raised my head at the sarcastic voice, and in the mirror, I saw Sophia standing behind me.

“Yes, I’m Princess Paeraton. And who were you again?”

Sophia’s face contorted at my words.

“Hmph, you used to get all the attention as Aurora, but now that everyone is fawning over me, you’re jealous, aren’t you?”

“Jealous? Me? Of you?”

I scoffed.

Sophia glared at me as if she wanted to tear me apart.

Her eyes were filled with murderous intent, glistening.

‘I’ve thought about it before, but is she really only seven years old?’

Can a seven-year-old possess that kind of expression, those kinds of eyes?

And that strange pattern on her leg.

‘Hmm, should I test her a little?’

“You’re unusually hostile towards me. Why is that?”

I turned away from the mirror and faced Sophia.

“Wanting to be special, wanting the adults to only like you. Anyone can experience those feelings. You and I were the only children at Madam Sheruin’s tea party, so you might have felt a sense of competition with me.”

I crossed my arms and tilted my head.

“But you’re going too far to say it’s just for that reason, aren’t you?”

“…”

“It’s as if you have a specific goal to exclude me from this high society, to prevent me from gaining people’s attention.”

“N, no way…! I’m just annoyed by you一.”

Oh dear.

If you react this strongly, it’s practically an admission that what I said is true.

“I don’t particularly need people’s attention. You can have it.”

“What?”

“Ah, can’t you have it?”

I chuckled and shrugged.

Sophia’s face hardened at my words.

She stared at me with dark, lifeless eyes and muttered.

“…I never fail.”

What does she mean?

“Let’s see if people will still favor you after this.”

Before I could even comprehend what she was talking about, an invisible force enveloped my body.

I was propelled by that force and accidentally shoved Sophia’s small body away.

Huh?

The child’s body couldn’t withstand my strength and she fell to the floor.

And at that moment.

“W, what’s going on?”

Jasmine, Tiriel, and Claudia.

My dear friends were standing in the doorway, looking at me and Sophia with shocked expressions.