Lord Baby Runs A Romance Fantasy With Cash [EN]: Chapter 109

☆ Chapter 110 ☆

Upon hearing the news, Marquis Tarenka collapsed, unable to rise.

By the time he regained his senses and mobility, several months had passed since his daughter’s death.

Despite his doctor’s advice, Marquis Tarenka’s first act was to visit his daughter’s grave.

What words could possibly convey the devastation in his heart as he stood before his daughter’s tomb?

He was consumed by the urge to end his own life then and there.

The only thing that stopped him was the realization that he had been a terrible father to his living daughter, and he couldn’t bear to present such a pathetic spectacle, even in death.

His body, not fully recovered, struggled against the harsh northern winter, but he paid it no mind.

The physical pain was almost a welcome distraction.

Returning to his territory, he formally passed the title to Nicholas.

The reason he didn’t relinquish all family authority was that he couldn’t trust his son, even now.

After that, Buchanan Tarenka, the former Marquis Tarenka, retreated into complete seclusion.

He ceased all involvement with outside matters, intending to spend his remaining days in quiet suffering as the years drifted by.

It was a time of leisurely and peaceful suffering.

How long had he lived, cut off from the world like that?

Then, he received a message from Duke Delvatren.

It stated that his incompetent son was attempting a major fraud against several prestigious families.

He had been quietly awaiting the day he could close his eyes forever, but even that simple wish was proving elusive.

While investigating the situation, he discovered that Nicholas had purchased a mana stone mine using his granddaughter’s alimony [financial support after separation or divorce], which was the root of the entire scheme.

“Alimony? Does that mean the child was living at the Tarenka residence?”

“Yes, it appears Duke Paeraton left her there when he went to war.”

Buchanan frowned deeply at these words.

Duke Paeraton’s decision to go to war so soon after his wife’s death had troubled him from the beginning.

“Am I the only one who didn’t know about this?”

“Master, you always reacted so negatively to any mention of Paeraton….”

He had no response to that.

He had indeed been grumpy and irritable at even the slightest reference to Paeraton.

He had effectively shut himself off from any news about his own family.

If it hadn’t been for Duke Delvatren’s letter, he would have remained ignorant of the whole affair.

Nicholas, summoned to the territory, groveled on his hands and knees, begging for forgiveness.

Buchanan couldn’t even bear to look at him.

How could he stoop to such schemes, especially with his niece’s alimony?

Moreover, as he delved into this case and examined the businesses Nicholas had managed, he uncovered a multitude of problems.

Buchanan covered his head, overwhelmed by the extent of the crimes.

He had been completely unaware of the rot spreading within his family while he lived in isolation.

Buchanan resolved to excise this tumor, even though it was late.

“Father, Father! Please…!”

“Shut up! Who’s your father!”

Thus, Buchanan once again became the Marquis Tarenka.

After losing his daughter and disowning his only remaining son, everything felt pointless.

“What about that child?”

“Duke Paeraton has taken her back.”

“I see….”

“Would you like to see her?”

“……No. It’s enough that her father came and took her. What would I see her for?”

Although he had reclaimed the title of Marquis, Buchanan still refrained from engaging in external affairs.

He entrusted even the family’s business to trusted vassals and remained secluded.

He lived as if he were already dead and gone from the world.

And he believed he would continue to live that way until his actual death.

But he never imagined he would witness such a scene.

Words from his own granddaughter that killed his dead daughter twice over.

Furthermore, she tried to frame his great-granddaughter and socially destroy her, then clicked her tongue, telling her to polish her shoes.

“……I’ve lived too long.”

If he had lived that long, he should have done what he had to do right away.

But during the years he spent with his eyes closed and his ears shut, he failed to fix anything.

The tumor he thought he had completely cut out was still there.

It was time to fix it, even now.

A typhoon swept through the Imperial Palace.

The Paeraton ducal family was incensed by Clatie’s insults.

The Emperor, fearing that Duke Paeraton and his sons would take immediate action against Clatie, had her imprisoned first.

Clatie resisted fiercely as she was dragged away, but Marquis Tarenka did not intervene.

Instead, he summoned Mrs. Austin, who was responsible for Clatie in the capital, and listened to her account of Clatie’s behavior.

The Paeraton men were determined to remain until Clatie’s matter was resolved.

Eventually, late at night, Clatie was brought out of the prison again.

Her face was haggard, as if she had suffered greatly during her brief imprisonment.

Even though it was a prison for nobles, resembling an ordinary room, her dress was crumpled and disheveled, revealing the extent of her struggles.

However, no one present offered Clatie a sympathetic glance.

Instead, the Paeraton men exuded a fierce aura.

If not for Ruatisha holding them back, they would have attacked her immediately.

At that moment, Marquis Tarenka strode towards Clatie.

“Clatie Tarenka.”

Clatie flinched at Marquis Tarenka’s stern voice and looked up.

“I am expelling you from the Tarenka family.”

“G-grandfather?”

Clatie’s eyes widened in disbelief.

Marquis Tarenka did not repeat himself.

Clatie began to struggle as she recognized the firm resolve in his face.

“No, Grandfather! No!”

“I have already made many mistakes.”

Clatie tried to interrupt, but Marquis Tarenka ignored her and continued.

“I should have kicked your father out of the family when he committed his first great wrong.”

“……!”

“The consequences of not doing so have accumulated and accumulated, and are now returning like this.”

Clatie bit her lip until it bled. Tears streamed down her face, overwhelmed by despair.

“In the end, that’s it? You were always strict with my father too, Grandfather! Did you ever consider how much our father was hurt because you only cherished and loved your aunt?!”

“Why do you think I was strict with your father!”

Marquis Tarenka rebuked her.

“Clatie, don’t think I don’t know what you’re trying to do by mentioning your father. If you cared so much for your father, why didn’t you follow his example?”

“…….”

“I opposed your going to the capital. Do you know why?”

“It’s because you didn’t like me!”

“It’s because I could foresee how you would behave if you gained power and influence!”

Clatie glared at Marquis Tarenka through tear-filled eyes.

“Still, I gave you a chance. I hoped that my judgment might be wrong. But what is the result!”

“…….”

“If you had succeeded in framing her, an innocent child would have been socially destroyed!”

“…….”

“What’s more, you’ve been tormenting your cousin like a tyrant since you were young. You become unhinged when you have any power.”

He knew her nature and had tried to discipline her strictly in the territory, but it was all in vain.

Perhaps even abusing the servants was a trait she inherited from her father.

According to Mrs. Austin, she had assaulted several maids since arriving in the capital.

“Clatie, I know you.”

Marquis Tarenka lowered his stance and addressed Clatie.

“You didn’t sincerely believe Ruatisha was illegitimate.”

“Yes?”

“You deceived yourself into believing Ruatisha was illegitimate, but you knew it wasn’t true. Didn’t you?”

Clatie trembled.

Her silence was an admission.

“You inflict insults worse than death without a second thought, to hurt others and elevate yourself.”

“…….”

“Then it wouldn’t be bad for you to be in that position. It will be the last lesson I can give you. If you realize something here, you will change.”

Marquis Tarenka straightened up and turned away.

“If Your Majesty wishes to punish Clatie for insulting the imperial family, please do so as you see fit.”

“……Is that acceptable?”

“That child is no longer a member of Tarenka.”

Those words were more devastating to Clatie than a death sentence.

Not a member of the family?

Then a commoner?

Was he condemning her to live as a commoner?

She had even abandoned her mother because she didn’t want to be a baronet’s daughter.

Clatie crawled towards Marquis Tarenka on her knees.

“I was wrong! Huh? I’ll apologize! I’ll apologize to Ruatisha!”

Marquis Tarenka did not look at Clatie.

Clatie turned her tear-streaked face away.

She looked at Ruatisha in Duke Paeraton’s arms and shouted with bloodshot eyes.

“Ruatisha, I’m sorry. I’m sorry, huh? Please forgive me quickly. Please say something to Grandfather, huh? We were just kidding!”

Ruatisha’s expression remained unchanged.

Seeing that, Clatie’s eyes turned venomous.

“How well I treated you! How dare you…! This is all Ruatisha’s fault! She used dirty tricks to trap me一”

Clatie’s words were cut short.

“It’s better not to make too much noise.”

“If you’re not careful, your tongue might be cut off.”

“It’s better not to put my sister’s name in your dirty mouth.”

Black magic surged within Clatie’s mouth.

“Ugh, uh-huh, uh, sob…….”

Clatie could not close her mouth or move her tongue, and could only weep in terror.

The Emperor, who had been observing the scene quietly, spoke.

“Since she is no longer a member of Tarenka, she will be returned to her father, Nicholas.”

“That is correct.”

“I heard that Nicholas still uses the Tarenka surname, even though he is no longer a member of Tarenka or a nobleman. Is that correct?”

“That is correct.”

“Then I will strip Nicholas Tarenka and Clatie Tarenka of their surnames. I can no longer allow the prestigious name of Tarenka to be tarnished.”

“……!”

Clatie’s eyes widened as if they would burst.

The Emperor’s words to strip her of her surname meant that she could not even use another surname.

Even ordinary commoners have surnames.

To place a stigma on her, who was nobly born and incomparable to commoners, making her worse than a commoner!

If things continued like this, even commoners would scorn her!

Clatie forgot that her mouth was overflowing with magic and went berserk.

“I, I hate it! No! Who are you telling to put such a stigma on me! No! I hate it一!”

To her, who dreamed of climbing to the highest position and seizing power, a life worse than a commoner was more cruel than death.

It’s over.

Everything was over.

* * *

After Clatie, who had lost her qualifications to be in the Imperial Palace, was dragged out, I looked at my brothers.

“Brothers.”

“Why, I used safe magic on purpose.”

“I wanted to cut off her tongue as it was…….”

“I held back because I couldn’t tarnish my sister’s pretty eyes.”

I was dumbfounded to see my brothers making excuses because they were poked just by calling them.

“I’ll let you off since it was safe magic with no intention to attack.”

At my words, my brothers sighed in relief.

The reason I bothered to mention safe magic was on purpose.

From the Emperor’s point of view, it might seem like my brothers were threatening him with knives while he was interrogating me.

It wasn’t a real knife, it was a toy knife!一I was letting him know.

The Emperor smiled at me as if there was no need to worry.

“The princess must have been very surprised.”

“I was a little, but I’m okay because I have my family.”

“It’s late, so how about sleeping in the Imperial Palace? You can stay in any palace you want. Sevrian Palace is especially beautiful in spring.”

“I am honored, Your Majesty, but I think it would be better to rest at a familiar home today since there have been many things.”

“Yes, I guess so.”

Even while nodding, the Emperor looked very disappointed.

It was not surprising considering that all the imperial family members were coveting me earlier.

“I would be happy if Your Majesty invites me after taking a few days to calm my mind and body.”

The Emperor’s face lit up at my words.

“That’s right. I should also show the princess around my palace.”

“I’m looking forward to it.”

I bowed my head.

This was settled for now.

My father picked me up and got up from his seat, saying to the Emperor.

“Then, Your Majesty, I think my daughter is tired, so I will go back now.”

“Please do so.”

“We will discuss later the pain my daughter experienced at the dawn festival today.”

The Emperor twitched his eyebrows but soon nodded.

“I will.”

As I left the hall, I looked at Marquis Tarenka.

He was standing upright with his back straight.

His calm face showed no regrets about his decision.

But somehow I saw the lonely old man who had lost everything and bowed his head in a humble manner.

No matter how wrong he was, how would he feel after disowning his son and even his own granddaughter?

“…….”

I seemed to have misunderstood Marquis Tarenka…….

I thought he would be the same as Nicholas or Clatie, but he was not at all.

‘And I didn’t know much about myself either.’

How could you not know?!

一I also felt that way, but on the other hand, I also thought, ‘What happened that he didn’t even know about his granddaughter’s affairs?’

At that time, Marquis Tarenka raised his head.

Our eyes met.

He moved his lips as if to say something, but he couldn’t say anything and bowed his head.

I could read his mind that he had no shame to talk to me.

‘……I would have just ignored him if he had said something.’

My heart was uncomfortable seeing the old grandfather looking so dejected.

‘That’s why K-Confucian girls have a hard time [referring to the emotional burden and societal expectations placed on individuals in cultures influenced by Confucianism].’

I sighed deeply and then opened my mouth.

“Marquis Tarenka.”

Marquis Tarenka raised his head in delight even though I didn’t call him grandfather.

“Y-yes. Ruatisha, what’s wrong?”

“I don’t want to go to the Tarenka Marquis residence. I have a lot of bad memories.”

“……I see.”

Pain crossed the old man’s face.

“So, instead of me going, I want you to come to our house sometime.”

Marquis Tarenka’s eyes widened at my words.

“R-really?!”