Lord Baby Runs A Romance Fantasy With Cash [EN]: Chapter 168

The Empress’s furious roar erupted.

“Steady yourself, Your Majesty. I fear for your well-being.”

Lady Aizel held onto the Empress.

“Who on earth were you trying to connect with? Paeraton? No. Paeraton would have caused a scene as soon as they knew about the plan. They aren’t the type to calmly gather evidence.”

Lady Aizel was inwardly impressed.

Even with her anger reaching its peak, she accurately assessed the foolish devotion of the Paeraton family men.

“Sidrian the Prince? No. You couldn’t have told him about the drug’s effects. Could it possibly be the Empress Consort?”

The Empress’s eyes flashed with fire.

How much humiliation had the Empress Consort inflicted upon her while holding the full power of the inner palace?

And she had joined hands with the Empress Consort?!

The Empress gripped Lady Aizel’s shoulders tightly.

“Bring Chavonne to me at once!”

“Yes?”

“Ha, she dared to deceive me by hiding her true identity and playing with me?”

The Empress pushed Lady Aizel away and slumped onto the sofa.

“I shall teach her a lesson today, showing her what happens when one makes a fool of the Empire’s Empress!”

“…Understood, Your Majesty.”

Lady Aizel bowed deeply and left the lounge.

* * *

Clack.

The moment she closed the door, Lady Aizel exhaled the breath she had been holding.

‘Success!’

Thump, thump.

Her heart pounded relentlessly.

Her hands trembled slightly.

Not from regret over committing such a huge act, but from the excitement of having accomplished it.

She had safely carried out what Ruatisha had instructed.

‘Now, all that’s left is to deliver the stolen vial to the Princess, and it will be perfect!’

That would become the clue for this whole affair.

“Hoo…”

Lady Aizel took a deep breath, lifted her head, and turned around.

Seeing the back of a court lady walking at the far end of the corridor, Lady Aizel composed herself.

She moved her feet as if nothing had happened, thinking.

‘I didn’t expect the Empress to call for Lady Chavonne right away.’

She knew the Empress’s decisiveness well, but had she prepared a countermeasure?

Well, the Empress might not need a countermeasure.

Now, Mrs. Sarah wasn’t just an unknown woman, but someone whose family and status were known.

‘She’ll definitely interrogate her, asking if she betrayed her… Would it be okay to confront them directly?’

What if her lies were exposed?

She had to decide for herself.

Going to meet Ruatisha here would be like announcing, ‘I was Ruatisha’s spy!’

Even rotten, it’s still a crucian carp [a common saying meaning even something bad has some value].

Although the Empress’s influence had weakened due to the complete replacement of the Imperial Palace’s staff, there would still be those loyal to the Empress among the personnel mobilized for such a grand banquet.

‘My judgment, my thoughts.’

The Empress trusted her completely.

In contrast, Lady Chavonne had too many suspicious aspects.

Thanks to hiding her identity, she had been able to act more freely until now.

But now that would backfire and ensnare Lady Chavonne.

Even if Lady Chavonne insisted on her innocence when questioned, the Empress wouldn’t believe her.

On the other hand, if she didn’t bring Lady Chavonne, no matter what excuse she made, doubt would remain in the Empress’s mind.

And that doubt could later become the seed of suspicion.

‘I’ll take Lady Chavonne to the Empress as ordered. And…’

Lady Aizel’s eyes became resolute.

It was a completely different look from when she had worked as one of the Empress’s maids.

* * *

I crossed my arms.

In front of me, my family stood in a row with their heads bowed.

‘Seeing people much bigger than me acting like this makes me feel a bit weak…’

No, no!

‘If I don’t educate them properly from the start, I don’t know what will happen in the future!’

Social events will increase more and more, and if they act like this every time, no one will want to get involved with me.

I steeled my weakening heart and opened my mouth firmly.

“Did I tell you to stay still or not?”

“…You did.”

“Then, did you do well or not?”

“But that bastard…!”

Ixion raised his head abruptly with a face full of injustice.

“Bastard?”

“…Guy.”

“Guy?”

“…Then what should I say?”

“You should use kind, pretty, and correct words.”

Ixion tilted his head and said.

“…That bastard, Sir?”

“…”

No, he doesn’t actually think that’s an improvement, does he?

“Since he’s a child, you could say ‘child,’ or since he’s a prince, you could say ‘Your Highness.’ There are many options.”

At my words, Ixion made a disgusted face.

“How can I use that for that bastard Sir!”

“…”

No, listen here.

“This time, Ixion is right.”

“That bastard—”

Glare!

“—Sir doesn’t even deserve to be called ‘bastard Sir.'”

No, the reason I glared was not to tell you to add ‘Sir,’ but to refine the word itself!

This won’t do.

“Dad, Grandpa! My brothers are using bad words!”

Do some educating of your children and grandchildren!

“There’s nothing particularly wrong with it, is there?”

“Yeah, it’s not like they said something like ♫♬♩.”

♫♬♩?

Suddenly, profanity?!

“It’s commendable that they refrained from saying ♩♬♪ or ♫♬♩, ♫♬♬♪♩.”

“You’ve achieved much.”

“Thank you.”

“…”

That’s what they really wanted to say inside?!

No, more than that, is this the time to be giving compliments?

I stared with blurred eyes at the heartwarming scene of three generations sharing affection.

“Lulu’s kisses have left. They’ve gone far away.”

“What?!”

“No way!”

“Just kill me instead!”

“…How much will it cost?”

“This old man doesn’t have much time left to live…”

“It’s too late. Lulu’s kisses have gone to another world.”

“Another world?!”

Ahem, there is such a thing.

The kisses were hit by a carriage one day…

No, what am I even thinking again.

‘I need to stop summoning and reading so many romance fantasy novels.’

These days, I was living the life of a cash-rich person.

My hobby was summoning and reading romance fantasy novels that I wanted to reread before going to bed.

‘I can summon them from my later if I need them.’

“Anyway! Since you didn’t keep your promise, there will be no morning or goodnight kisses for a month!”

My declaration caused my family to look as if they’d lost their country.

“…That’s too harsh. Make it a day.”

“No way.”

“I’ll give you land.”

“I’ll take a gold mine.”

“This old man will give you a castle. In a place perfect for winter.”

“Shall I give you a knight order? Or a business?”

“I’ll give you headpats.”

“Huh?”

There’s a spy mixed in there at the end.

‘…Does Zeon think headpats are better than all that wealth?’

“Hmph, foolish. You should offer what my sister likes more than what you like.”

“That’s right. Basic negotiation.”

“My daughter likes money.”

“Indeed. My granddaughter especially likes real assets. Real estate is her favorite.”

“…No, what does everyone think of me!”

It’s true that I like money!

It’s also true that I especially like real estate!

“…Where’s the land?”

“Wherever my daughter wants it.”

“Even if someone else owns it?”

“Why wouldn’t it be possible?”

At that moment, a brilliant halo shone behind Dad.

This is the dignity of a diamond spoon! [Referring to someone born into extreme wealth and privilege.]

“…Land, a gold mine, a castle, and a business for fifteen days.”

“I’ll even throw in a horse farm. It’s about time Lulu started riding horses.”

“Ten days.”

“A week.”

“Okay, a week! No matter what else you offer, it’s no more.”

This is for educational purposes!

It’s definitely not for my personal gain.

The family seemed a little disappointed, but they seemed satisfied that they had reduced a month to a week.

I sighed in relief.

‘I need to write a contract as soon as I get home!’

Exciting!

‘Anyway, the reason I kept my family away today was because of Lady Chavonne.’

That goal has already been neatly achieved.

Hmming a tune, I looked towards Lady Chavonne.

Even though the plan had completely gone awry, she didn’t show any emotion on her face.

She simply quietly accepted the champagne glass offered by the court lady.

“…”

“What’s wrong?”

“No, it’s nothing.”

I shook my head at Dad and gave him one last warning.

“Anyway! You can’t make a fuss just because I talk to boys my age. Got it?”

“…I’ll just memorize their faces.”

No, I’m telling you not to do that either.

* * *

“Lady Chavonne, Her Majesty the Empress wishes to see you.”

Miss Izel bowed to Lady Chavonne with an indifferent attitude.

“The Empress is looking for me?”

“She is waiting in Her Majesty’s private lounge.”

“…What for?”

“I don’t know. Perhaps Her Majesty has something to say to a distinguished lady?”

Lady Chavonne smiled, fluttering her fan.

‘I heard that this young lady was the one who got Duke Chaimberk appointed as Esteban’s fencing instructor.’

Indeed, she was capable.

Looking at her nonchalant expression now, she’s no ordinary person.

‘Has she been lying low all this time because she was biding her time?’

“I can’t refuse the Empress’s call. Lead the way.”

Miss Izel responded with a smile and turned around.

The two left the party hall and entered a long corridor.

The royal family’s private lounge was located the furthest away.

Because the quieter the place, the better.

After turning several corners,
the number of people and court ladies passing by decreased significantly as they entered the corridor with the public lounge.

Among them, no one was seen entering the royal family’s private corridor.

No footsteps could be heard on the carpeted hallway.

“Miss Izel.”

“Yes, Lady.”

“I admit that you are much more capable than I thought.”

It was strange to call it a compliment.

Miss Izel, sensing something was wrong, quickly turned around.

“But you should be more careful.”

“What…?”

A rough hand covered Miss Izel’s mouth.

The gloved hand held a pure white silk handkerchief.

“Ugh, mmm…!”

Miss Izel struggled.

But the more she did, the more she felt her mind fading.

Her limbs felt as heavy as if they had stones tied to them.

“Shh, it’s okay. Just sleep for a bit. I won’t kill you yet. Not yet.”

The voice speaking next to her sounded muffled, as if it were underwater.

Miss Izel squeezed out her last bit of strength and grabbed Lady Chavonne’s front.

But—.

“I need to find something from you. Or maybe find out something.”

Thud.

In the end, her body, unable to overcome the power of the drug, slumped down.

* * *

Splash!

Miss Izel woke up to a splash of water.

She immediately realized what state she was in.

Her arms and legs were tied to a chair, and she was trapped in a room without windows.

And Lady Chavonne was standing in front of her.

Her head was throbbing, as if the effects of the drug were still lingering. Her heart pounded with fear.

But the more she did, the more she glared at her opponent.

“Do you think you’ll be safe after committing such an act?!”

“Well, at least it would have been better than going to the Empress like that, right?”

“What?”

“The Empress would have called the Imperial Guards and bound me. Once she secured my safety, she could have attached any crime she wanted. Maybe she could have blamed me for everything that happened this time.”

Lady Chavonne smiled brightly.

“Since she thinks I betrayed her, the Empress would want to silence me no matter what.”

“If I don’t return after being called to see you, Her Majesty will think it’s strange!”

“I don’t intend to waste time either. So I hope you’ll cooperate.”

“Do you think I will?”

Lady Chavonne smiled and grabbed Miss Izel’s cheek.

“Actually, I didn’t want you to cooperate.”

Throb!

A bright red aura emanated from Lady Chavonne’s hand.

“Aaaaaaack!”

“That’s how I can hear this voice. Now, where did you divert the potion to?”

“Keuh, ack!”

“If you don’t answer, you might really die. I kind of like killing people.”

Lady Chavonne said kindly.

In contrast to the sharp screams echoing in the narrow secret room, in a very soft voice.