Lord Baby Runs A Romance Fantasy With Cash [EN]: Chapter 237

“……The reward won’t be easy.”

Luatisha smiled brightly at the Grand Empress Dowager’s words, which sounded like a retreat.

“I didn’t denounce Lady Prussian without being prepared, or with an easy heart.”

“…….”

“But if evidence is found on Lady Prussian’s body.”

The smile vanished from Luatisha’s face.

Her Paraiba-colored eyes [a shade of blue-green, like the gemstone] shone coldly as she stared straight at Liliel.

“We must reveal clearly who dared to defile Paeraton using wicked sorcery.”

Liliel’s eyes twitched.

“Isn’t that right, Lili?”

“Of course.”

Liliel forced a smile.

However, her golden eyes burned fiercely with unresolved anger.

‘Damn it!’

That insolent thing!

She realized it now.

‘From the beginning, turning it into a public competition wasn’t an unavoidable choice to buy time!’

She just pretended to.

‘To let my guard down!’

Since Anseur Merchant was Luatisha’s, there was no reason to buy time in the first place.

‘The public competition itself was the goal from the start!’

If Luatisha had simply suggested turning it into a public competition, Liliel would have naturally suspected her intentions.

Wondering if she had some brilliant move to overturn the situation.

And in reality, Luatisha had a strike that could completely turn the tables.

Luatisha being the head of Anseur Merchant was revealed, and Liliel was left chasing after nothing.

A public competition for the water management project that even ordinary citizens, as well as nobles and royals, were paying attention to.

Just losing here would cause a lot of talk, but the owner of the investment was Luatisha.

It was as if she was completely played by Luatisha.

There couldn’t be a more disgraceful humiliation.

That alone was a blow—

‘She was aiming for this too……!’

Deliberately provoking Zeon turned out to be a bad move.

Even while hurt and mentally exhausted because of her changed blood relative, Luatisha hadn’t forgotten to sharpen the blade of counterattack.

The situation was perfectly described as being caught in her own trap.

If she hadn’t used sorcery on Zeon, it would have ended with just being disgraced.

‘……This is something I can’t easily overlook.’

The moment it’s revealed that she used fraud, Luatisha is no longer the problem.

All of the empire’s forces will rush to kill her.

Liliel didn’t have the power to handle that right now.

‘If the title of Saintess was real, I could have bought time, but.’

The temple hasn’t decided yet whether to recognize Liliel as a Saintess.

She met them before and shared plausible evidence, but they only said they would contact her after discussion.

Tension dried her mouth.

‘Luatisha Paeraton, how dare you!’

She couldn’t believe that a mere human being had driven her into such a corner.

How many traps did she set with just one move……!

And such deep traps.

Luatisha was still smiling at Liliel.

However, that smile wasn’t filled with a sense of victory, nor was it soaked in superiority or joy.

It was just indifferent to the point of seeming aloof.

As if she was doing what she had to do, returning what was to be returned, and receiving what was to be received.

Just like condemning—

‘……!’

That face evoked a very old memory.

There was someone who looked at her with those eyes, with that face.

‘……But his body was shattered into ninety-nine pieces and scattered.’

Even the corpse couldn’t be recovered.

‘Even if that tenacious lineage continues to this day, nothing changes now.’

Her nails dug sharply into the palm of her tightly clenched fist.

However, Liliel felt no pain.

‘If his power is passed on to you, I will shatter you once again.’

Luatisha will also be torn into ninety-nine pieces and soak the highest altar with her blood.

Liliel’s eyes, looking at Luatisha, shone golden like burning lava.

* * *

“Your Majesty, Grand Empress Dowager…….”

Shuela looked at the Grand Empress Dowager with disbelief.

Until recently, hadn’t she smiled kindly, saying that she was like a granddaughter to her?

But how could she abandon her at such an important moment?

Even at the words of that annoying Paeraton princess!

“It’s alright, Shuela.”

The Grand Empress Dowager said without even looking at Shuela properly.

“Since you are innocent, the truth will be revealed. It’s even better because you can completely clear your name.”

“Better……! How can everything be fine after suffering such humiliation!”

Shuela yelled.

How important is face and prestige in aristocratic society?

Even if her innocence is proven immediately, she will not be the same as before after being publicly humiliated like this.

‘There are already people all around who are jealous of me and ignore me!’

“Didn’t the Paeraton princess say? That she will take full responsibility.”

Shuela bit her lip at the Grand Empress Dowager’s words.

The Grand Empress Dowager seemed more interested in the compensation that the Paeraton princess would give than in Shuela’s safety.

And.

‘……She’s suspecting me.’

That’s why she’s not trying to save her properly.

In case Shuela really used wicked tricks to seduce Zeon.

If so, the Grand Empress Dowager would not be able to avoid responsibility if she defended Shuela.

‘No way…….’

Shuela’s eyes became blank.

‘I really didn’t use such dirty tricks. It’s only natural that Zeon likes me.’

But even her blood relative, the Grand Empress Dowager, is suspecting her, so what about other people?

“Did Lady Prussian really use tricks? It’s not like you can use that just because you want to.”

“But something was strange. I saw them together, and it was a bit…….”

“It’s also suspicious that she suddenly became close to Zeon without any warning and then suddenly became distant again. It’s like she was possessed by something?”

“Did she even use sorcery to get Young Master Zeon? Wow…….”

The voices speaking from below the platform could be heard all the way up here.

Voices that were criticizing, blaming, and mocking her.

Gazes filled with even more malice.

Shuela’s hair and back were soaked with sweat.

She was suffocating.

“No! It’s all, all the Paeraton princess is framing me!”

Shuela gritted her teeth and shouted.

“She’s jealous of the relationship between me and Zeon, that’s why. Yes. She’s disgustingly obsessed with her family, so she sabotages all her brothers from meeting other women!”

The hall became as silent as if cold water had been poured over it at that shout.

The Empress Consort opened her mouth with a stiff face.

But Shuela was faster.

“That’s why she grew up without a mother一.”

“That’s enough.”

A quiet and clear voice.

As if absorbing all the light, a jet-black magic power hung over Shuela’s neck like a blade.

Shuela looked at the person with trembling eyes.

‘Z, Zeon…….’

Her heart tightened madly at his coldly hardened face.

“Tch, I was going to step in.”

“I wonder if there was a need to warn her. Wouldn’t it be better to just kill her?”

Ixion and Ares followed Zeon, who had immediately climbed onto the platform.

Luatisha watched the scene and then opened her mouth.

“Sid, I’m okay, so let go of this.”

Sidrihan slowly lowered his hand that was covering Luatisha’s ear.

Luatisha first bowed her head to the Emperor.

“I apologize for using force recklessly in front of Your Majesty.”

“……I will accept that apology considering the insults Paeraton has suffered. But the Paeraton young masters should act a little more cautiously.”

He scolded them, but letting it go like this was completely favoring them.

Luatisha bowed her head lightly and said to Shuela.

“Lady Prussian, we’ll know if what you’re saying is true if we test it.”

“You……!”

“Your Majesty, I request the use of 〈Phidias〉 [a divine artifact that reacts to sorcery].”

The Emperor nodded at Luatisha’s request.

“〈Phidias〉 reacts to sorcery, so it will be definite evidence.”

Liliel’s face turned pale at the Emperor’s permission.

“But Your Majesty, as far as I know, 〈Phidias〉 is a national treasure of the Empire that cannot be used privately.”

“This is not a private matter. If Lady Prussian really used sorcery, we must reveal the truth quickly, before sorcery takes over the world again.”

Liliel had no choice but to bow her head at those firm words.

There is no justification to stop it.

“Summon the priests!”

The Emperor ordered.

* * *

〈Phidias〉 was a divine artifact excavated from the ruins of the ancient empire, a treasure that reacted to sorcery.

But it was beautiful enough to be convinced that it was a treasure just by its appearance, not just its function.

The priests who came at the Emperor’s call looked at Phidias with stiff faces.

‘I never thought we would use Phidias.’

‘Has someone who uses sorcery really appeared?’

Rumors circulated that there were still those who used sorcery in the dark, but as far as the priests knew, it was all nonsense.

Shuela was trembling while holding Phidias in her hands.

“Then I will activate Phidias.”

With the priest’s declaration, five priests simultaneously began to emit divine power.

The sight of brilliant light pouring out from the priests was a spectacle.

The blue jewel embedded in the very center of Phidias began to shine faintly in response to the divine power.

But it was far from enough to activate Phidias.

Large beads of sweat flowed down the priests’ foreheads, and low groans flowed from their clenched teeth.

Luatisha tilted her head.

‘According to ancient records, it was said to be an item that ordinary priests could easily activate.’

Now, even if five of the highest-ranking priests were clinging to it, it was questionable whether it would be activated.

‘Are the records exaggerated, or…….’

At that moment, the jewel finally began to shine perfectly. The iridescent light softly dyed the surroundings.

And the next moment.

The blue jewel turned red.

The eyes of the priest, who was exhausted and gasping for breath, widened as if they would tear.

“R, Red light! It’s a reaction to sorcery!”

The people who had been watching with bated breath were terrified at those words.

“I, it’s really red!”

“Then Lady Prussian really used sorcery……?”

“Shuela Prussian! What on earth is going on!”

“Arrest her immediately! We don’t know what she’ll do!”

The knights roughly grabbed Shuela’s arms and made her kneel completely.

“I, I’m innocent!”

Shuela screamed.

Why?

Why?

Why did it turn red?

But this was not the time to be lost in that question.

If it goes on like this, really一.

‘I’m going to die.’

“I, I’m really not! How could I use sorcery! I don’t have that kind of power! It’s true, really, please believe me!”

“Shut up! You wicked woman! The evidence is so clear, and you’re still denying it!”

The Emperor shouted at Shuela in an angry voice.

“What on earth were you plotting? The Paeraton Duchy is one of the pillars of the Empire’s military power. Were you planning to take control of the Duchy and plunge the Empire into despair!”

“No, Your Majesty. I am really, really innocent! This is a frame-up!”

Shuela shouted with the momentum of spitting blood, but no one listened to her.

“How dare you rely on the affection of blood relatives to deceive me!”

Even the Grand Empress Dowager stepped forward and fiercely criticized Shuela.

Shuela opened her mouth.

But no sound came out.

Her ears were ringing.

I said I didn’t.

Why doesn’t anyone believe me?

Tears welled up.

At that time, a soft hand wrapped around Shuela’s shoulder.

Shuela was startled and looked up.

It was Luatisha.

At Luatisha’s gesture, the knights who were suppressing Shuela lost their strength.

She could instinctively tell.

Now is the last chance.

Without thinking any further, Shuela clung to Luatisha.

“P, Princess. I’m sorry, I was wrong. B, but I really, really swear I didn’t use any sorcery. It’s true, please…….”

“Is that so?”

“I, I don’t even know how to use it. I’ve never seen s, sorcery in my life…….”

Her voice was a mess because of the bursting tears. But Shuela didn’t stop and begged desperately.

Luatisha looked down at Shuela silently without any reaction, and then slightly opened a way out when she couldn’t bear it any longer.

“Hmm, if what you’re saying is true, it’s possible that you were used by the real culprit without you knowing.”

“T, that’s right!”

Shuela shouted, rolling her eyes.

“I, I was used! I’m innocent! I really d, didn’t use any s, sorcery!”

“It’s hard to believe even if you say that. It sounds like an excuse. How can we trust you if you just say you were used without any reason?”

Shuela’s face turned black at the cold words.

Shuela, who had been biting her nails, suddenly raised her head.

“There’s someone who s, said they would help me get married to Zeon.”

Finally.

Luatisha smiled inwardly with satisfaction.

Suppressing the urge to press her to say who it was right away, she asked in a tone that was neither too slow nor too fast.

“Isn’t it normal for anyone to support and help a friend’s love?”

“N, no, she’s not a friend! It was like we met for the first time!”

Shuela felt like she was going crazy.

Luatisha, as well as everyone else, was still looking at her with suspicious eyes.

Would they really believe her if she said it was Liliel here?

Liliel was, after all, being called a Saintess.

‘I have to say something, anything, before that.’

Everything she remembers.

So that her words have credibility.

‘That’s how I can live.’

“She said she would give me a b, blessing.”

“A blessing?”

“She said that if I received that blessing, Zeon would change and start to like me, so much that he would reject his family’s opposition.”

“……Come to think of it, Zeon suddenly changed.”

“That’s right! It was after I received that blessing!”

At those words, Luatisha looked at the Emperor.

“Your Majesty.”

“Yes. It’s definitely strange. If what she’s saying is true, there’s a high possibility that the blessing is sorcery.”

Although he added a premise, the Emperor had inwardly concluded that Shuela’s words were true.

One must have the ability to use sorcery.

The Emperor knew Shuela, the grandniece of the Grand Empress Dowager, well.

She was not an intelligent child who could use such abilities.

The Emperor asked Shuela.

“Who gave you that blessing?”

That’s it!

Shuela’s eyes lit up.

She swallowed hard and opened her mouth quickly.

“It’s Lili一 Kyaaaaaaak!”