Lord Baby Runs A Romance Fantasy With Cash [EN]: Chapter 117

☆ Chapter 118 ☆

“Oh, come on… Ixion, really. What romance? I’m still young.”

My face flushed with embarrassment.

I tried to nonchalantly spear a piece of lobster with my fork.

“Then why did you ask all of a sudden?”

“I was just curious after hearing Mom and Dad’s story.”

“Really?”

“Yeah.”

“I see.”

Silence fell over the dining room.

I quickly finished my meal with a clatter.

“Ah, I’m full! I’ll go rest first!”

I was afraid they’d keep prying if I stayed any longer!

I hurried out of the dining room.

* * *

Just after Ruatisha slammed the dining room door shut.

The five men who had been elegantly dining simultaneously put down their utensils.

“Suspicious, isn’t she?”

“Her face was red.”

“And she seemed embarrassed.”

“She barely touched her food from the beginning.”

Clang!

Duke Paeraton’s fork trembled as it stuck into the marble table.

“Which rotten bastard dares.”

His eyes flashed darkly.

His daughter had said she would live with him forever.

But some scoundrel was interfering and ruining that happy future.

“There are over ten couples who paired up in this Dawn Festival preliminary.”

“They went to compete, not to date.”

“Romance is too early for someone that young. She should still be within the family’s embrace.”

“You are absolutely right.”

Marquis Tarenka and the Paeraton dukes nodded, making eye contact.

United in purpose, the bond between the grandfather and grandchildren, who couldn’t even properly express their concerns for each other’s health, strengthened.

“We must kill the son of a bitch who seduced our innocent fluff ball.”

“Killing him isn’t enough.”

“We need to make an example of him so that no man can approach our youngest.”

“Hmm, Tarenka has a secret intelligence organization. They specialize in disguise and infiltration.”

“Oh, if we combine that with Paeraton’s assassination squad, we can help those who have no attachment to life say goodbye to it.”

“We must be careful, as Ruru is clever.”

“Of course.”

The four men looked at each other with trustworthy eyes.

A stronger sense of unity than ever before flowed between them.

At that moment, they truly became a family.

Chapter 25. Three-Way Meeting

As soon as I got out of the carriage, sunlight poured down.

‘Ugh, I should have worn a hat.’

The midday summer sun beat down so intensely that my skin tingled.

“Welcome, Princess. It’s a novel experience to see you in the inner palace.”

“It’s been a while, Count Cheshia. I didn’t expect you to come out to greet me in person.”

“It means His Majesty the Emperor cares that much about you.”

“Oh my, how honored.”

Count Cheshia smiled as if amused by my face, which didn’t look honored at all.

“You are the only lady who dares to show such an attitude to His Majesty.”

“Isn’t that why His Majesty cares about me?”

“Haha! That’s true.”

Count Cheshia laughed with a good-natured face.

“Although I came out on His Majesty’s orders, I am personally interested in you as well, Princess.”

“Because I solved the problem in the Northwest?”

“I was truly amazed back then. I never imagined such an answer would come out at the Dawn Festival.”

“Thank you.”

“But what interests me more is your attitude, Princess.”

My attitude?

The attitude he was talking about wasn’t just about being confident and self-assured.

It was about my political stance.

He smiled as I remained silent.

“You are indeed astute.”

“I won’t say thank you this time.”

He laughed again at my prim reply.

Then, with a serious look, he opened his mouth.

“The Imperial Palace may seem quiet and peaceful, but that’s only because it’s the calm before the storm.”

It is said that the most powerful typhoon is preceded by the greatest calm.

“I believe you are someone who can change the direction of the wind.”

“Huh? I’m just a ten-year-old baby.”

Count Cheshia laughed as I innocently blinked and tilted my head.

“You are so cute and lovely that one might forget they’ve seen your accomplishments.”

Goodness, how embarrassing.

Count Cheshia stared at me intently before saying,

“I am curious to know which side you will take, Princess.”

He’s asking me outright now.

I didn’t understand why Count Cheshia was so actively inquiring about my intentions.

Was it the Emperor’s order?

I don’t think so.

‘Hmm…’

“Shouldn’t you be a little more careful with your words, considering there’s no personal connection between us, Count?”

What if I tell others?

“As the Minister of the Imperial Household, I meet many people, and one develops an eye for character.”

“So, I’m someone you can talk to?”

“I am confident that you will not repeat what I have said elsewhere.”

I stared at Count Cheshia, who was wearing a good-natured smile, and blurted out.

“You’re not particularly troubled even if I do tell others, are you?”

“Haha.”

Count Cheshia laughed as if he had heard a joke, but he didn’t deny it.

‘He certainly has that much power.’

To ask me, whom the imperial family is openly coveting, which imperial family I will choose.

And the power to ensure that even if that story reaches the ears of the imperial family, there will be no problem.

‘I see.’

I looked around.

In addition to Count Cheshia, palace staff were following us.

But their expressions didn’t change, as if they hadn’t heard anything.

Count Cheshia was confident that they wouldn’t go elsewhere and gossip about his story.

‘It means his power within the Imperial Palace is also solid.’

And by not lowering his voice and not dismissing the palace staff, he is subtly informing me of that fact.

‘Why is he showing off his abilities to me?’

Is it goodwill, or a warning?

“Friendship can arise even where there was none before. We’ve had such a long conversation today, Princess, so how about it.”

Count Cheshia smiled at me.

“Have I gone from being a stranger to being a neighborhood uncle?”

Count Cheshia was clearly proposing that I join hands with him.

“Well, I’ve never met a neighborhood uncle before. My home was so large that I could walk all day and still be within its boundaries.”

“Haha, the Paeraton estate is indeed vast.”

Count Cheshia seemed a little disappointed by my roundabout refusal.

I stared at him before opening my mouth.

“Next time, I hope you’ll be an uncle who gives candy.”

I don’t know about being in the same boat as a community of fate.

‘But creating a relationship with Count Cheshia, who has immense power within the Imperial Palace, would be helpful to me as well.’

A relationship of give and take.

That’s the most appropriate.

A different light flickered in Count Cheshia’s eyes, which had been gloomy.

“Candy… I must prepare candy that you will like, Princess.”

“I’ll be looking forward to it.”

In the meantime, we arrived in front of the tearoom.

Count Cheshia personally opened the door to the tearoom.

He whispered to me as I entered the audience chamber.

“Oh, by the way, you shouldn’t follow just anyone who offers you candy.”

What?

Why the sudden baby treatment?

I turned around in bewilderment, and Count Cheshia smiled.

“You’re cute when you’re bright-eyed, but you’re even cuter when your expressions are all over your face.”

“…With that remark, you’ve become someone I should never follow, even if you give me candy.”

“Oh dear, I’ll have to prepare a very large candy.”

With those words, Count Cheshia closed the door.

‘What a strange man.’

Looking ahead, a servant bowed and opened the inner door.

The tearoom was a bit small, perhaps a room for having tea with close acquaintances.

But everything from the decorations on the floor and walls to the furniture and props was extraordinary.

The Emperor, Empress, Imperial Concubine [a consort of the Emperor], Grand Empress Dowager [the Emperor’s grandmother], and even Prince Esteban were present.

‘Wow, this is no joke.’

I widened my skirt and bent my knees.

“The daughter of Paeraton greets the most exalted.”

“How lovely she looks even when she’s greeting us.”

“Come quickly. I’ve been wanting to see you so much, Princess.”

“Come, sit here.”

The Empress gestured, pointing to the seat next to Prince Esteban.

As I sat down, Esteban smiled and greeted me with his eyes.

I nodded once and primly turned my face away.

“I heard you like desserts, Princess, so our Imperial Palace patissiers put in a lot of effort today.”

“Really? I’m curious.”

“You’ll like it.”

The imperial family began to take care of me, subtly keeping each other in check.

It was an overwhelming amount of attention, but it wasn’t bad for me.

If I had met them alone, they wouldn’t have been so careful of my feelings, but they were making a fuss competing with each other.

‘Hmm, the Grand Empress Dowager had been taking a step back until the beginning of the Dawn Festival last time, but she’s different now?’

Unlike before, when she didn’t even offer a word of encouragement while the Empress was giving a speech, the Grand Empress Dowager was now quite actively keeping those around her in check.

I ate a cake with dark chocolate mousse and fresh cherries, watching the power struggles of the imperial family with great interest.

‘So much fun.’

I originally enjoyed the behind-the-scenes power struggles of high society in romance fantasy novels.

It felt like watching a Western-style historical drama in front of my eyes.

After exchanging words with each other for a while, the imperial family spoke to me again.

“Congratulations on passing the preliminary, Princess. I knew from the beginning that you would pass.”

“Her eyes looked so bright. I’m also looking forward to your performance in the finals.”

“Most media outlets are marking you as the next Aurora.”

“But you know that the relationship with Eos [the God of Dawn] is also important for Aurora [the Goddess of Dawn], right?”

The Empress asked me, her eyes shining.

“Yes, I’ve heard that. I’ve heard that it’s very important which young man you partner with.”

“Yes, no matter how outstanding your own abilities are, you can be penalized if your partner is not good. That’s because you can’t shine alone in high society.”

“I understand the point well.”

The Dawn Festival finals are like a three-legged race.

In the worst case, you may not win because of your partner.

“Unlike the preliminaries, the imperial family also participates in the finals. That means my son will be participating too.”

The Empress said subtly, gesturing to Prince Esteban.

I smiled.

They’ve been so blatant about it, how could I not know?

‘Esteban is outwardly the Emperor’s only child.’

Certainly, joining hands with the Empress-Esteban would give me and Paeraton great power.

I glanced at the Emperor.

Why is he so lukewarm in a situation where his son might form a marriage alliance with Paeraton?

Even if the Imperial Concubine or the Grand Empress Dowager didn’t like it, shouldn’t the Emperor be happy?

But now he seemed not only lukewarm but even displeased.

‘The Emperor is wary of the Empress and Esteban.’

That was good news for me too.

I don’t want to join hands with the Empress.

She has a history of trying to swallow our family whole using Lady Aphelia before, right?

How could I like her?

“The competition among the young ladies must be fierce. Everyone will want to be partners with the Prince.”

“Does that sound like you don’t?”

“Five years ago, I was even younger than I am now, but I learned one lesson.”

“What lesson is that?”

“That if you try to take what belongs to others by force, you’ll get into trouble. A certain lady who taught me that fact still can’t show her face in high society.”

“Pfft… !”

The Imperial Concubine couldn’t hide her laughter.

The Empress glared at the Imperial Concubine with a stiff face.

The Imperial Concubine didn’t even blink and opened her mouth with a sneer.

“Oh, excuse me. But wasn’t that incident really funny? Come to think of it, there was also a rumor that someone ordered it.”

It was a reference to the rumor that Lady Aphelia had hidden naked in Duke Paeraton’s bed on the Empress’s orders.

The Empress suppressed her anger and said to me,

“I know what you’re talking about, Princess. But the claim that I was deeply involved is a false rumor. I simply told Aphelia, who is a distant relative, to do as she pleased because she wanted to remarry.”

“I see.”

“I severely reprimanded her for what happened in the past. I was quite troubled by that incident as well.”

It was a way of saying that she had also suffered from the incident, so let’s stop here.

“It seems that the conversation with the adults has bored you, Princess. Esteban is your age, so you’ll get along. Esteban, show the Princess around the garden.”

At those words, Esteban stood up from his seat.

“I was bored too. How about we go out and relieve our boredom together?”

The boy with ash-blonde hair and mysterious blue-gray eyes reached out his hand to me.