Lord Baby Runs A Romance Fantasy With Cash [EN]: Chapter 219

☆ Chapter 219 ☆

“A prior engagement?”

Esteban’s sharp question caused the atmosphere in the party hall to turn icy.

Everyone was pretending not to notice, but they were focusing all their attention on us.

This was the first time Esteban and Sidrian had clashed so directly.

“Ruatisha just took my hand, didn’t she?”

Esteban was implying that I had chosen him.

But Sid didn’t seem to care what he said and just kept looking at me.

The large hand that held mine tightened its grip.

‘……I was a little angry.’

Liliel calling Sid by his name so casually.

Approaching him with such familiarity, as if they were close.

But.

‘How can I stay mad looking at those eyes?’

Sid’s eyes, filled with such earnestness and desperation as they looked at me, made my heart sink.

When I took Sid’s hand in return, his eyes widened for a moment.

A trembling breath.

‘Why are you looking at me like that?’

I might just kiss you.

I turned my head away, feeling embarrassed for no reason.

But I could still feel his gaze following me.

On my eyes, my nose, my forehead, my cheeks.

There was nowhere his gaze didn’t touch.

“Ruatisha.”

Esteban called my name.

‘Are you still here?’

He really can’t read the room.

Why does he always have to interrupt when others are trying to be romantic?

“I’m sorry, Your Highness. I forgot I had a prior engagement.”

“…….”

“Let’s dance together next time.”

Without waiting for Esteban’s reply, I gracefully bowed my head.

As soon as I raised my head, Sidrian pulled me away.

I couldn’t tell if it was an escort or if he was just trying to get me away from Esteban.

As I walked with him to the center of the dance floor, I whispered,

“I don’t think I had any prior engagement with you.”

“You do now.”

“You just indulged me.”

Sid smiled at my words.

“Indulging you is part of a master’s job.”

“Why does a master have to do so much?”

“It’s not easy to own someone. Why did you buy me?”

No, I bid to set you free!

Besides, whoever ran that auction house went bankrupt and didn’t even pay the bill.

We stopped in the center of the dance floor and looked at each other.

After a brief bow, our right hands clasped.

Sid’s hand touched my lower back. I could feel his firm fingers on the slightly hollowed part.

He wasn’t wearing gloves.

“…….”

I felt strange for some reason.

Each time we moved closer and further apart, his fingers brushed against my back.

His gaze, his eyes.

The scent emanating from him was dizzying.

Was it because I couldn’t concentrate?

‘Ugh?!’

I missed a step.

In an instant, my body tilted.

At that moment,

“……!”

Sidrian pulled me close.

His large hand firmly gripped my waist, and his strong arm supported my body.

My feet lifted slightly off the ground.

Thanks to him, I avoided falling awkwardly while dancing.

‘I don’t usually make mistakes like this, but I’m too aware of him…….’

I raised my head awkwardly and paused.

Sid’s face was right in front of my eyes.

Only then did I feel the solid, warm sensation enveloping my entire body.

His body was completely pressed against mine.

Ah.

It felt like time had stopped.

* * *

“Then we’ll proceed with the investment attraction as planned.”

“…….”

“Lady.”

“…….”

“Lady?”

I was startled by the hand suddenly grabbing my arm.

I placed my hand on my pounding heart and saw Baron Dier in front of me.

Oh, you scared me.

“Lady, is something wrong? You’ve been spacing out since earlier……. You seem feverish too. A-Are you sick? Doctor, doctor!”

What is he saying?

“Uncle Dier.”

“Yes, my lady.”

Baron Dier stopped fussing and grinned.

I wondered why, but without realizing it, I called him ‘uncle’ as I sometimes did when I was young.

‘I must be really out of it.’

“Do you want to dance with me?”

“Yes! I want to! Right now!”

Seeing him nod without asking or questioning my random question, I felt deflated.

“Never mind. I don’t want to.”

“Why not! Let’s dance, I’m a good dancer!”

“No, I don’t want to.”

I was ignoring the whining Baron Dier when.

“Lady, your friends have arrived.”

Orca, who had entered with a knock, said to me.

“Is it that time already?”

“Yes, it’s that time already. You workaholic.”

“Aren’t you working too much? I’m worried.”

Tiriel and Jasmine peeked out from behind Orca.

I unconsciously looked at the desk.

‘None of the documents have been processed…….’

My conscience pricked.

Tiriel, who had been quietly watching me, tilted her head.

“Lulu, is something bothering you?”

“Huh? How did you know?”

“I can tell just by looking at your face. How many years have we been friends?”

Jasmine nodded in agreement.

The quick-witted Orca said, “I’ll prepare some refreshments for you here,” and dragged Baron Dier out.

I got up from my chair and sat on the sofa.

“Why, is work not going well? Is it because you have to compete with Lalael over the investment attraction?”

“No, it’s not that.”

Jasmine, who had been staring at me, blurted out,

“It’s a love problem.”

“No way? What love problem?”

I waved my hands, but Tiriel and Jasmine narrowed their eyes and gave me strange smiles.

“Okay, it’s not a love problem. I just keep thinking about it.”

“Hmm, you keep thinking about it?”

“It’s not like that. I’ve danced a lot, you know.”

“Hundreds of times.”

“Most of them were with family, though.”

“But I’ve never felt like that before.”

“Felt like what?”

“I don’t know. Just, somehow—”

Just thinking about it made my heart pound and my cheeks flush.

“What should I do?”

Tiriel and Jasmine went wild as I covered my face and mumbled.

“Oh my? Has spring really come to our Lulu!”

“It’s definitely Prince Sidrian, isn’t it? What was with that ‘It’s not like that!’ I’m still annoyed!”

“The atmosphere was no joke when you two danced that day. When did you two get like that?”

“……I don’t know.”

“Did the Prince confess? What did he say?”

“Tell your sisters everything.”

Giggles, giggles.

Jasmine and Tiriel were very excited and linked arms with me.

“I’m sorry to disappoint you, but I didn’t get a confession.”

“What?”

“Then did Lulu confess?”

“No…….”

“What, I didn’t think Prince Sidrian was like that. Why hasn’t he confessed yet?”

“And he was so busy keeping other men in check?”

“But you kissed.”

“……!”

Jasmine and Tiriel’s eyes widened.

“Oh my, a ki-kiss before a confession…….”

“Lulu is the first among us…….”

After clearing their throats for a moment, the two finally spoke.

“I think we have a lot to talk about, should we stay over?”

“Let’s have a pajama party!”

* * *

“Commander, the personnel you ordered earlier—. What are you doing?”

Nemis, who had entered the room with a knock, frowned.

Echen was staring at a life-sized bear doll with a serious expression.

“What, did you make an enemy of a bear doll? Why are you looking at it so fiercely?” Baren asked, entering with Nemis.

“Strange.”

“A bear doll? Don’t tell me there’s a bomb inside—.”

“What is the meaning of a hug?”

“Excuse me?”

Unlike Baren, who asked back in disbelief, Nemis nodded as if he was used to it.

“It’s normal for your heart to pound when you even brush fingers with a girl you like.”

“It’s not just beating fast. I feel like I’m going to die.”

“People don’t die that easily. Someone who came back alive from the Demon Realm, honestly.” Baren grumbled, but Echen didn’t hear him.

I want to see her.

To see her face and talk, to hold her hand, to hug her, to kiss her round forehead, to bury my lips in her soft hair, and, and—.

Smooth cheeks, cute nose.

Soft and moist-looking red lips.

“Okay, that’s enough.”

Nemis slammed the documents on the table.

“We’ll be going now.”

Nemis dragged Baren, whose face was flushed red, out.

Thud.

As soon as the door closed, Baren let out a breath he had been holding in.

“Seriously, how can someone have eyes like that? Shouldn’t we lock him up somewhere? If he walks around with those eyes, innocent girls will misunderstand and think he likes them. Even my heart was pounding.”

“Can you lock him up?”

“……No. His eyes are so unhealthy, but his reaction to just a hug is so extreme, in a way he’s pure. Is that what they call a ‘low-key gentleman’?”

“You just learned that word, didn’t you.”

“N-No, I didn’t?”

Nemis chuckled and shook his head.

‘Anyway, our Commander always ends up being seduced by Ms. Surah. I wonder if he’s doing what I told him to do?’

I couldn’t bear to see the Commander lose to another man.

Nemis, who was making a resolution, paused.

“But……. I never asked if the Commander confessed.”

“He must have done it already.”

“Right?”

“Yeah, surely. He wouldn’t have not done that, would he? Even if they confirmed their feelings, he needs to confess properly to make it a memorable moment. Confessions, proposals, these big events need to be done right.”

“That’s right. Even Baren knows that, surely the Commander…….”

“Yeah, surely.”

“Yes, surely.”

But why do I feel uneasy?

The two looked at the closed door.

* * *

Bang!

Landwell, the CEO of Pasis, slammed the desk roughly.

A glass of water spilled, soaking several newspapers he was looking at.

The newspapers were filled with Ruatisha’s face. Also, the images of Sidrian and Esteban with her between them.

From daily newspapers to gossip magazines, Ruatisha’s ears and neck were adorned with jewelry from Pasis [the company’s] jewelry.

Even a full-page advertisement wouldn’t get this much exposure.

“I told you we should have given it to Princess Paeraton as originally planned.”

“Shut up!” Landwell shouted.

“It was fine at first. Everyone was curious why we gave it to the Saintess instead of Princess Paeraton, and there were even exclusive articles about it!”

It was the first imperial palace party to open the social season.

Even during the party, third-rate media companies were constantly printing gossip magazines using magical technology.

“And they said the two princes were fighting over the Saintess. But why are the results like this?”

“We bet wrong.”

Landwell gritted his teeth at his subordinate’s frustrating words.

“Hey, if you’re going to say things like that, you can quit!”

“It’s you who should quit.”

Landwell was surprised and looked at the doorway at the sudden low voice.

“L-Lord Tarenka!”

Lord Tarenka leaned against the door with a crooked smile.

“H-How did you come to a place like this in person……. If you had given me a heads-up, I would have gone to greet you.”

“I don’t need your hospitality.”

Landwell shrank back at the cold words.

“I’m going to withdraw all the orders from Paeraton and Tarenka, so take care of it.”

“E-Excuse me?! What does that—.”

“I put my granddaughter and some Saintess on a scale, did you think I would just quietly buy the jewelry you sell?”

“T-That’s not it!”

Landwell rushed towards Lord Tarenka.

“How dare we compare Princess Paeraton to any other young lady. It’s just that we gave the Saintess a gift for corporate image purposes because she did good deeds.”

“Consider yourself lucky that I came. If my son-in-law had come, your tongue would have been cut off before you could finish that nonsense.”

Landwell closed his mouth as if suffocating at the eyes containing a cold aura.

But silence made him even more afraid.

Landwell knew well how many companies that stubborn old man had built and destroyed.

He was more afraid of Lord Tarenka than Duke Paeraton.

“Of course, Liliel can’t match the Princess’s reputation. We know that very well.”

He rubbed his palms together with a servile smile.

“But we are also business people. Honestly, we only care about the Princess, but we inevitably have to promote in a way that gets more attention—.”

“You fanned the flames to compare my granddaughter with some Saintess to get more publicity?”

Landwell closed his mouth.

Honestly, that’s what he was aiming for when he gave the gift to Liliel.

The calculation worked, and Pasis’s gift became more of a hot topic than anything else that happened at the imperial palace party.

In the beginning.

“Pasis has grown this much thanks to my granddaughter. Have you forgotten that you were pushed back by Aderon [competitor company] and Belton [competitor company] just ten years ago?”

“L-Lord.”

Landwell looked somewhat aggrieved.

He didn’t want to admit that it was only thanks to Princess Paeraton when he had worked so hard to grow the company.

Lord Tarenka smiled at the sight.

“Let me tell you some good news.”

“Yes?”

“I won’t do anything.”

“……!”

“I won’t do any of the things you’re worried about. Cutting off funding or putting pressure on other places, things like that.”

“I-I wasn’t worried about that. How dare I to Lord…….”

Landwell coughed and made excuses. But there was clear relief on his face.

“I, and Paeraton, will stay still, so let’s see what happens.”

Lord Tarenka’s eyes were sharp enough to be unbelievable for his age.

Like an old, famous sword that emits a blue aura the moment it’s drawn from its scabbard.

Lord Tarenka glanced at Landwell and left the room without waiting for an answer.

Landwell collapsed onto the sofa as if falling.

“Hah……. How can an old man be so…….”

His shirt was soaked with sweat.

“It’s still good. I’m grateful that he’s not doing anything.”

“Why did you give the gift to the Saintess while being so scared?”

“Scared! If the reaction had gone according to my plan, Lord Tarenka wouldn’t have been able to shake me. A small current can be blocked with one hand, but a large current cannot be blocked even with both hands spread out.”

“But it failed.”

“Shut up!”

Landwell frowned.

He couldn’t forget Lord Tarenka’s eyes, which said to see what happens.

‘……It’s just that I dissed Princess Paeraton and gave a gift to someone else, what big deal is going to happen.’

Of course, it’s a shame that he didn’t see the promotional effect, but he wasn’t about to collapse because of that.

‘If it doesn’t work out, I’ll just give Princess Paeraton a gift, what else can I do?’