Lord Baby Runs A Romance Fantasy With Cash [EN]: Chapter 255

Baby Runs the Romance Novel with Cash – Episode 255

☆ Chapter 255 ☆

* * *

“Oh my, look over there.”

“The Paeraton Duchess is coming with Prince Sidrian!”

People admired the sight of the two walking together in the beautifully manicured garden under the summer sun, then—

They flinched and hunched their shoulders.

A few steps away from the couple.

The Paeraton ducal family and Marquis Tarenka were exuding a gloomy aura.

When Sidrian took Ruatisha’s hand, the gloomy aura instantly turned into murderous intent.

“Surely, they’re not going to destroy another building.”

“Ehh, they probably won’t…….”

Even while denying it, people remained tense.

When Ruatisha glanced back, her family cleared their throats and looked elsewhere.

“Looks good, doesn’t it?”

Jasmine approached Ruatisha, grinning and poking her in the side.

Ruatisha pressed her flushed cheeks and changed the subject.

“Where’s Tiriel?”

“He hasn’t arrived yet.”

“Not yet? Is he not coming today either?”

“He didn’t come last time either. Come to think of it, he said he wasn’t feeling well the last time I saw him. Is he very sick?”

“He said he was fine when I contacted him.”

“Hmm, I’m worried.”

“I should visit him after the Viatranje [likely a festival or event] is over.”

Jasmine nodded at Ruatisha’s words.

Meanwhile, the young ladies’ eyes sparkled as they flocked to Ruatisha’s side.

“Um, rumor has it that you two knew each other before the Dawn Festival. Is that true?”

“When did you two become like that?”

“Why did you reject all the interviews?”

“When was your first kiss?”

“Kyaa!”

The young ladies, still young, covered their flushed faces and jumped up and down.

‘How cute.’

However—

‘It would be even cuter if they weren’t asking me all these questions!’

Ruatisha knew how they felt, as she was also the type to jump out of bed and light up at the mention of romance.

‘But it’s so overwhelming to have all this attention on me!’

Is this why understanding each other’s perspectives is important?

She felt embarrassed and a little overwhelmed, but Sidrian, standing next to her, proudly puffed out his chest.

He even held Ruatisha’s hand tightly and dabbed his lips on the back of her hand.

‘Hey, what’s wrong with him!’

Ruatisha’s vision swam at the sensation of his lips touching her hand.

She was too distracted to properly see Sidrian’s expression.

With his lips on Ruatisha’s hand, Sidrian glared at the men who were stealing glances at her.

They flinched!

The embarrassed young men quickly turned their heads.

‘Disgusting, disgusting!’

‘It’s just a glance! Does looking wear her down!’

They already knew that Sidrian hovered around Ruatisha, marking his territory.

How many times had they felt a chill down their spines from his fierce gaze?

But now, he was sticking right next to Ruatisha, acting like that.

‘It’s so unfair!’

Only after confirming that there were no more men stealing glances at Ruatisha did Sidrian withdraw his gaze.

Ruatisha’s cheeks were flushed like ripe plums, and she stubbornly kept her gaze down.

She must be embarrassed.

A smile appeared on Sidrian’s lips.

“Ruatisha.”

He whispered softly in Ruatisha’s ear.

Ruatisha looked at him with a bright red face and mumbled.

“E, everyone’s watching…….”

“I just said your name.”

“Is that just saying my name?”

It was too stimulating to be just saying her name.

A rich, intimate voice.

“At least it’s better than kissing in front of everyone.”

“Sid!”

Ruatisha, horrified, pushed Sidrian away.

Sidrian was smiling, as if he couldn’t be happier even as he was being pushed away.

Ruatisha pouted and suddenly noticed that the surroundings were too quiet.

The young ladies who had been showering her with questions were looking at her with sparkling eyes.

And over there, the older noblewomen were grinning so hard their gums were drying out as they glanced at her.

Even the young ladies who hadn’t approached were covering their faces with fans, peeking at her.

‘What’s the point of covering your face with a fan.’

You can see their cheekbones raised all the way to their eyes.

Even the Emperor and Empress were pricking up their ears in her direction.

‘Seriously, aren’t they going too far?’

As the Paeraton Duchess and a reader of romance novels, she had accomplished many great and small feats.

‘But it feels like they’re focusing on me more than ever before?!’

They were more interested in her romance than her other achievements!

It was at that moment, when everyone’s attention was focused on Ruatisha.

“Paeraton Duchess.”

With a sharp voice, Count Pibbs and his group approached Ruatisha.

“I didn’t know the Duchess was such an irresponsible person.”

“To start an argument without even greeting me, I didn’t know the Count was such an impolite person.”

Snort.

Count Pibbs’ lips twitched at Ruatisha’s mocking words.

‘Your leisurely attitude ends now.’

Count Pibbs’ gaze turned to Ruatisha’s back.

The Empress, who met Count Pibbs’ eyes, nodded slightly.

“Duchess, romance is good, but shouldn’t you pay more attention to the task you’ve been assigned!”

“It’s a water management project. You must know that the stability and peace of countless imperial citizens depend on this!”

“Yet you’re neglecting the people’s livelihood because you’re busy with romance!”

Ruatisha glanced around, ignoring Count Pibbs and his group’s clamoring.

Surprised by the sudden situation, people whispered.

“Why are they doing that?”

“Is there a problem with the water management project?”

“Ehh, no way. The Duchess wouldn’t neglect her work because she’s in love, would she?”

“But they wouldn’t say that if there wasn’t a problem.”

Seeing the people’s agitated reactions, Count Pibbs proudly puffed out his chest.

“What are you going to do about this!”

“……I don’t know what you’re talking about, Count. Speak clearly and accurately.”

Count Pibbs smirked at Ruatisha’s reaction.

“Surely you didn’t know, Duchess? Not only are you failing to resolve the problem, but you’re completely unaware of it?”

“…….”

At Ruatisha’s silence, the nobles who came with Count Pibbs became even more emboldened.

They deliberately spoke loudly.

“Hmph, she didn’t even know there was a problem! Even if she likes playing around with men, this is too much!”

“If Saintess Liriel had been in charge of the water management project instead of the Duchess, this wouldn’t have happened.”

Count Pibbs took another step closer, as if to pressure Ruatisha.

“Did you really not know? That the price of Aquilem [a magical material used to stabilize mana] has tripled from what was stated in the budget!”

“……!”

“A, Aquilem?”

“That’s essential for the water management project, isn’t it?”

Exclamations of shock erupted from the crowd.

The Empire’s dams and waterways were not only managed with magic, but the dams and waterways themselves were essentially giant magical tools.

Such large-scale magical tools require mana stabilization devices.

Otherwise, the circuits would not be able to withstand the mana and would explode, causing damage greater than a dam collapsing.

Aquilem is a magical material with strong hydrophilic [water-attracting] properties that stabilizes mana, which is greatly affected by its surroundings.

In other words, it was one of the most important and essential materials that could not be omitted from the water management project.

“Unbelievable! Even if it’s an opportunity to make money, how can they suddenly raise the price like this!”

“The western tycoons almost monopolize Aquilem. All of the Empire’s Aquilem is mined from the bottom of Lake Lyman in the west.”

Listening to the murmuring of the people, Count Pibbs raised his voice even louder.

“Isn’t this entirely because of the Paeraton Duchess!”

“Everyone knows that the Duchess is not on good terms with the western tycoon forces!”

Everyone knew that Ruatisha had presented a plan to lower the power of the tycoon forces and strengthen the imperial authority during the Dawn Festival preliminary competition when she was young.

“The tycoon forces, not forgetting the grudge from that time, are retaliating now that the Duchess is in charge of the water management project!”

“This wouldn’t have happened if it weren’t for the Paeraton Duchess!”

Ruatisha still said nothing.

Seeing that, Count Pibbs felt a sense of elation.

‘With this, I will become a meritorious subject of the next emperor and gain more power.’

If that happens.

‘Even this arrogant bitch will have to look at me differently.’

He still vividly remembered how Ruatisha had looked at him like he was a bug when he had asked her to have a drink with him.

‘I showed you some favor because you’re pretty, but how dare you ignore me?’

“Say something, Duchess!”

Ruatisha, who had been silently staring at Count Pibbs, tilted her head.

“Do you need me to say something?”

“What?”

“What does the western region raising the price of Aquilem threefold have to do with me?”

“Wh, what are you saying……?”

Count Pibbs was speechless at the words that far exceeded his expectations.

Were those words that should come from the mouth of someone in charge of the water management project?

Commotion erupted among the people who had been waiting for Ruatisha’s words.

“How can she say such a thing? I’m a little disappointed in the Duchess…….”

“The Duchess wouldn’t do that for no reason, would she? Has she already completed the Aquilem transaction agreement with the west?”

“If the west raised the price after completing the contract, then it has nothing to do with the water management project.”

“Well, what kind of person is the Duchess? She must have already taken care of it.”

A firm belief in her perfect handling of affairs.

It was what Ruatisha had created by accomplishing so many things.

‘Hah, is she believing that this kind of reaction will come out and answering like that? Is she trying to calm public opinion for now and then handle it behind the scenes later?’

Count Pibbs smirked.

‘But what to do? Knowing that you would do this, the Empress has already prepared for me.’

“How can you say it has nothing to do with it! As a result of the confirmation, the west has not signed an Aquilem transaction agreement related to the water management project!”

At Count Pibbs’ words, a commotion arose from the audience.

“Re, really?”

“Then the Paeraton Duchess didn’t even know the price had risen, and even after finding out now, she said it has nothing to do with her?”

“What is she planning to do?”

“Is she really not paying attention to work because she’s in love?”

“If such a person were to take on a major role…… Saintess Liriel, who has always acted for the greater good, is much more一.”

The nobles who had received a hint from the Empress stirred up the atmosphere among the people.

‘How is it?’

Count Pibbs looked at Ruatisha with a triumphant smile.

However, there was no change in Ruatisha’s expression.

‘She’s still trying to save face.’

Since the goal had already been achieved, he was thinking of backing down if she pitifully begged him, but.

“Answer me, Duchess!”

“I’m saying, what does that have to do with me?”

“Still一!”

“Since we won’t be using western Aquilem for this water management project anyway.”

“……!”

Count Pibbs widened his small eyes to the point of tearing.

“Wh, what? Not using Aquilem? Enough is enough, Duchess! Aquilem is the most essential material for the water management project!”

“When did I say I wasn’t using Aquilem?”

“Don’t play with words! Aquilem only comes from the west一.”

“Oh my?”

A soft voice interrupted Count Pibbs’ words.

“You’re making me sad by forgetting Ardella, Count.”

Sub-Marquis Poshette’s wife.

No, the Princess of Ardella stood next to Ruatisha with a smile.

Count Pibbs’ mouth dropped open.

“It has already been decided that the Aquilem used for this water management project will be from Ardella.”

Sub-Marquis Poshette’s wife nodded at Ruatisha’s words.

“Everyone knows that the Aquilem mined from Lake Pristalia in Ardella has the best hydrophilic properties. I also expect that this water management project will be more stable than ever.”

“Hah, hah, but I know that Ardella classifies Aquilem as a strategic resource and does not export it overseas…….”

Ruatisha smirked at those words.

“So?”

“Wh, what do you mean, so?”

“Have you forgotten who I am?”

Ruatisha looked at Count Pibbs confidently.

As if no other explanation was needed other than that she was Ruatisha Paeraton.

“Are my name and the words of the Princess of Ardella not enough? Do I have to show the Count the confidential contract documents of the water management project for you to believe me?”

Sweat dripped down Count Pibbs’ forehead as he was driven into a corner.

“Ah, ah, no. I, I didn’t know that…….”

* * *

‘That idiot……!’

What is he going to do if he gives up so easily there!

Originally, the one who comes forward and becomes a spear must also play the role of a shield.

So, she deliberately entrusted it to Count Pibbs, who could be used and discarded at any time.

‘Still, I didn’t know he would be so stupid!’

The Empress bit her lip.

“What, so you’re saying he publicly criticized the Duchess without even knowing properly?”

“Did you hear him say that it would have been different if it was the Saintess earlier? I was a little dumbfounded inside.”

As expected, public opinion rapidly deteriorated.

‘……It doesn’t matter.’

In any case, all the arrows of criticism will be directed at Count Pibbs and his group.

This matter has nothing to do with the Empress herself.

‘That quick-witted bitch made a contract with Ardella of all places……!’

She’s been close to Miss Poshette lately, so that must be why.

The Empress paused as she thought that.

‘No, is it really a coincidence?’

The moment she looked at Ruatisha while thinking that.

She flinched.

The Empress’ body trembled.

Ruatisha was looking directly at the Empress.