Lord Baby Runs A Romance Fantasy With Cash [EN]: Chapter 102

☆ Chapter 103 ☆

Etienne’s expression returned to its usual blankness after my remark, as if he had never smiled at all.

Then, with a perfectly composed face, he spoke casually.

“So, you were incredibly concerned about that slave, and that’s why you secretly treated him? You didn’t mean any of those harsh words? And then what?”

*When you put it like that, it sounds like I was head over heels for that slave.*

“It wasn’t me, it was my friend, remember?”

“Yes, your friend.”

I pouted, and he nodded as if he understood.

“After that, my friend set the slave free, and the slave became an incredible… well, let’s say a Sword Master and came back to find her.”

“So?”

“So? The slave you treated so badly came back incredibly strong! He made a point of coming back!”

“He could have just come back.”

“It wasn’t *just* coming back. That slave, get this, he gave her the key to his shackles. The key to the shackles that used to bind him.”

“Hmm.”

“What do you think that means?”

“Sounds like exactly what it means.”

“I guess so.”

Sigh, I couldn’t help but sigh.

Etienne flinched at my reaction. He seemed to be studying my face as he asked.

“Was it not good? You don’t want to receive it?”

“Of course not? I don’t know when or how he might strike.”

Etienne frowned at my words.

“What do you think it means exactly?”

“He hasn’t forgotten the woman who kept him as a slave. He’s telling me to look forward to the fun. He’s going to slowly drive me crazy and repay me double for the humiliation I caused him.”

“…….”

“What? Why that expression?”

Etienne wore an expression I couldn’t quite decipher.

“You’re… never mind.”

Etienne quickly turned his head away.

“Why did you stop talking?”

“…You’re quick-witted when it comes to negotiations, but you’re really clueless about things like this.”

“What?”

*I’ve never been called clueless before.*

*Romance fantasy heroines, maybe, but I’m a reader!*

“People who are clueless usually don’t know they’re clueless.”

Etienne’s words made me sulky.

But I was the one seeking his opinion.

“Then what does it mean?”

“I told you. It means exactly what it means.”

I tilted my head.

*If it means exactly what it means, then what I thought is right, isn’t it?*

Etienne gave me a strange look before speaking.

“What do shackles do?”

“Well, they restrain you.”

“Then what’s a key?”

“Something that decides the restraint?”

“Then who is the owner of that key?”

“…….”

I’m not an idiot.

Etienne said I was clueless, but I’m not so dense that I can’t understand this.

“…Is that what it is?”

“That’s what it is.”

I thought for a moment, then shrugged.

“Well, you don’t know the whole story. Besides, you heard it from my friend’s perspective.”

If I had treated and cared for Sid in my own form, Etienne’s words would have made sense.

*Isn’t that one of the staples of romance fantasy?*

The heroine who shows warmth for the first time to a tragic, beautiful slave man.

And the obsessive, possessive emperor male lead who is fixated on that heroine.

‘But I was an old lady.’

Besides, he’s not just a Sword Master who’s good with a sword, but a prince.

I met the royals a while ago, and I could tell just by looking at their faces how high their pride in their status was.

A man who was at the top of the ruling class from birth.

How deep would his resentment be after being suddenly dominated and humiliated?

‘After all, when you think about it logically, that’s not it.’

I shook my head, and I noticed Etienne staring at me.

“Why?”

“No, your reaction is completely different from what I expected… but watching you, I like it as it is.”

“……?”

“Anyway, you… your friend must be filled with thoughts of that slave. She’ll keep thinking about him from time to time, even when she’s doing other things.”

Etienne smiled.

Wait, this is a little weird?

“…Why do you think so?”

“If you’re bringing up this story while you’re here to negotiate with me, how deep must your friend’s worries be?”

“Well, yeah.”

I nodded, feeling suspicious.

‘But why does he look so happy?’

I tilted my head, then realized, ah!

“Etienne, do you like romance stories?”

My eyes sparkled.

To be honest, I really enjoy listening to other people’s romance stories.

‘I lose interest after they start dating, but I love hearing about the push and pull before they get together.’

To think I’d meet someone here who shares my hobby!

Etienne chuckled as he saw my sparkling eyes.

“Well, I didn’t really think so. But this story is quite interesting.”

“I see.”

He just didn’t realize it because he was in a rough mercenary group, but Etienne is definitely one of my kind!

He’s wearing romance goggles and coming to such delusional conclusions.

‘I should have known when he wrote me a letter saying I was going to meet my destiny.’

Etienne, who was watching me grinning to myself, spoke.

“I used to hate people who were clueless.”

“Well, yeah. Who would like them?”

“But now that I see it, it seems pretty good.”

“Huh?”

Etienne leaned his chin on his hand and spoke.

“No, not just good, but maybe even cute.”

His brown eyes were on me.

I felt awkward and rubbed the back of my neck.

The ends of my short bob brushed against my fingers.

For the first time, I wondered if Etienne might not be trying to manipulate me for a favorable negotiation.

Chapter 23. Freeze! Are you cheating?

In front of the Diluculum Hall of the Imperial Palace, where the Dawn Festival was taking place.

The carriage stopped, and I jumped out.

For the past two weeks, I had been attending the Imperial Palace every two or three days for various events.

There wasn’t really anything that felt like a competition.

True to the name of the festival, there were tea parties, various social clubs, and even games – all kinds of opportunities for socializing.

It was a very, very enjoyable time.

‘Of course, they were watching and scoring us.’

The closest thing to a competition was opening a salon and discussing various political situations and artistic trends.

I could definitely tell that the young ladies and gentlemen were quite prepared and nervous at that time.

And today was the day of the main competition.

Looking around, I could see determination on people’s faces.

And for good reason.

‘Even if they haven’t attracted attention so far, if they do well in this competition, they can expect to advance to the finals.’

Conversely, even those who were certain to advance to the finals could be eliminated if they didn’t meet the standards in this competition.

Just then, I felt a hand tap my back.

“Hey.”

I turned around to see Raphael looking at me with a sulky expression.

“What? You startled me.”

We had become quite close since the diving kick incident.

Raphael is a bit annoying, but he’s quite easy to get along with because he doesn’t stand on ceremony.

‘Even though he’s from a prestigious noble family, he doesn’t act like it at all.’

Raphael walked beside me as I moved and asked.

“What are you thinking about so hard?”

“Today’s the competition, so this and that.”

“Do you even care about that kind of thing?”

“Of course? If I’m going to be here, I should win.”

“Well, that sounds like you. I thought you lived like there’s no tomorrow, so you wouldn’t care about that kind of thing.”

“Live like there’s no tomorrow? I’m living a very wholesome life.”

Raphael scoffed at me as I frowned.

“Well, to others, ‘wholesome’ would refer to him, wouldn’t it?”

Raphael gestured with his chin at someone.

It was Clatier.

“What, is that your type?”

“Are you crazy?”

Raphael jumped.

“I hate that kind of two-faced type.”

“But he’s wholesome.”

“He looks like it, *looks* like it. Look at him now. He’s being nice to the other girls, but he’s actually trying to stand out in any way he can.”

“That’s true.”

“And the ones he approaches first are all the children of influential families.”

“Ooh?”

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

“No, I just realized that you’re always skipping out and living like there’s no tomorrow, but you’re seeing all that. I have a new respect for you.”

“I’m originally better than I look. Of course, I look good too.”

“Oh, is that so.”

We looked at each other and chuckled.

“But if your goal is to win, isn’t it better to act like him? He’s constantly expanding his influence. Isn’t that also an evaluation factor?”

Raphael gestured at Clatier with his eyes.

“What’s wrong with you? A lot of people like me too.”

“That’s not what I mean.”

I know what he means.

The young ladies who are close to me are not particularly outstanding in terms of status or family.

It was comparable to Clatier becoming the ultimate kingmaker.

‘The Esheltein young lady is showing a bit too much interest, but their circles are different.’

Many other young ladies were friendly to me, but they weren’t close enough to stick together.

But what does it matter?

“Me? Why bother?”

Raphael shook his head, saying I was annoying as I tilted my chin and spoke haughtily.

“Well, it doesn’t really matter to you.”

“Right? And I like the young ladies who are close to me now. They’re all kind and cute.”

“Hee.”

“Sometimes you need to associate with people based on their background, and I don’t necessarily think that’s a bad thing. But you don’t have to associate with everyone based on that alone, do you?”

Raphael looked at me for a moment, then clasped his hands behind his head.

“If you’re going to the finals, I might as well try harder.”

“Oh? Can you even go if you try harder?”

“You don’t know my true worth.”

“Sure, sure.”

We bickered like that and arrived inside the hall.

“Princess Ruatisha!”

The young ladies who were already there greeted me.

I tapped Raphael’s arm once and approached the young ladies.

“What were you talking about with Prince Delbartren?”

“He was just picking a fight, so I fought back.”

The young ladies exchanged glances at my words. Then they lowered their voices and asked in whispers.

“Is it true that you and Prince Delbartren are… like that?”

Huh?

I looked around.

Flushed cheeks and sparkling eyes.

‘Ah…….’

“Absolutely not. Raphael would jump if I told him that.”

“Oh, I see. You two just seem so close.”

“We are close… but Raphael is Raphael.”

“Oh my, Prince Delbartren is so wonderful? And so popular…….”

I know Raphael is popular too.

He’s quite handsome, and his mischievous, playful side seems to set the young ladies’ hearts on fire.

I quietly observed and then grinned.

“Perhaps Miss Jasmine, you like Raphael?”

“Oh my! N-no. Just, just a little…….”

Jasmine blushed and lowered her head.

‘So cute!’

Jasmine is too good for Raphael.

Still, it was exciting. Looking around, I could see that the other young ladies couldn’t control their rising cheekbones.

‘Well, it’s the early teens, so it’s time for everyone to start their first love.’

I’m not in my old lady form, but I somehow felt like an old lady and looked warmly at the young ladies.

It was then.

“Princess!”

The Esheltein young lady hugged me from behind.

The fourteen-year-old treated me like her youngest sibling, hugging me and rubbing her face against mine.

She said she always wanted a younger sibling.

“Oh, I’ve been dying to see you for the past two days? Have you thought about it?”

“I refuse.”

“That’s too much!”

“The request to give you my fingernails or hair is even more too much.”

“Hehe, it’s purely for research.”

True to her nickname as a heretic of alchemy, the Esheltein young lady was truly unique.

‘She’s super smart but super weird!’

The Esheltein young lady stroked my hair with lingering hands before leaving.

I was glad that she didn’t do anything more than that if I said I didn’t like it.

I shook my head and made eye contact with some of the young ladies. They all greeted me with a smile, so I smiled back.

‘Oh, there are so many pretty and sparkling sisters. It’s a feast for the eyes.’

Romance fantasy is the best.

The Taisel young lady winked at me again, making my heart flutter even more.

I have a loving family and good friendships.

It may not be anything, but this ordinariness filled my stomach warmly.

It was when all the participants were seated and chatting.

The voice of the herald echoed loudly with the sound of a horn.

“The Emperor and Empress, the Grand Empress Dowager, and the Imperial Concubine are entering!”

The imperial family, who had not appeared since the beginning of the Dawn Festival, appeared.

Unlike last time, the Grand Empress Dowager came instead of Prince Esteban.

‘They must be the judges for this competition.’

As everyone bowed with nervous faces, the Emperor’s hearty voice rang out.

“Everyone, raise your heads.”

The Emperor smiled and looked around at the young ladies and gentlemen, then laughed heartily.

“You all look brighter than before. It seems you are enjoying the festival. I am also pleased! After watching, I thought that each and every one of you is a talent of the Empire, so I wondered if there was a need to distinguish between you… but it is a festival to determine the winner of the Dawn Festival.”

The young ladies and gentlemen seemed to strengthen their resolve at those words.

“If you dream of honor and glory, today’s competition will be a very important turning point. I look forward to seeing what abilities the pillars of the Empire will display.”

As the Emperor stepped back, Count Chesia, the general manager of the Dawn Festival, stepped forward.

“The competition will be held separately for men and women. Young ladies, please enter to the right, and young gentlemen, please enter to the left.”

I was used to this, so I went to the right door.

Everything was the same as usual up to this point.

Except that the Empress and Grand Empress Dowager came together.

The Empress opened her mouth with a relaxed smile to the surprised young ladies.

“Nice to meet you, young ladies.”

“It is an honor to meet you, Your Majesties.”

Clatier stepped forward first and greeted them, and the other young ladies also paid their respects.

The Empress’s gaze briefly turned to Clatier and then returned.

“It’s foolish to say a long word when you’re in a situation where you won’t hear anything I say.”

The Empress snapped shut the fan she had spread out and said.

“I’ll cut to the chase and tell you the topic of the competition that the young ladies will be holding.”

The young ladies waited with bated breath for the words to come out of the Empress’s mouth.

The Empress enjoyed that gaze enough and then opened her mouth.

“It’s relief.”

A moment of silence fell in the hall.

But the bewildered young ladies moved their mouths.

“Relief?”

“Usually, the Dawn Festival focuses on other skills rather than this…….”

Everyone seemed surprised by the competition theme, which was so different from the previous Dawn Festivals.

On the other hand, I smiled inwardly.

‘Good.’