Lord Baby Runs A Romance Fantasy With Cash [EN]: Chapter 13

Chapter 13

* * *

The atmosphere in the conference hall was extremely tense.

The cause was clear: Duke Paeraton.

Having attended the court after nearly a dozen days, he exuded an overwhelming aura.

‘Ugh, he was always like this, but he’s even more so today?’ one noble thought.

‘Why is he so scary after coming to court after so long?’ another wondered.

The nobles sweated and cautiously watched him.

“The differences of opinion are not easily narrowed down. The distribution of rewards for this war will be reviewed again based on the reports submitted by each division, and further discussions will be held later,” Count Crophel, who was presiding over the meeting, announced, clearing his throat to wrap up the situation.

“Haha, yes, yes. We’ve been in meetings for hours without a break. Let’s take a breather. We have other agendas to look at, don’t we?” Another noble said, and others brightened up as if they had been waiting for this, changing the atmosphere.

“Oh dear, is it already this late? I promised to buy éclairs for my daughter, and I’m in trouble.”

“Heh, you worry about everything. Can’t you just have a footman do it?”

“That man doesn’t know anything. Is it the same to my daughter whether a footman buys it or her father buys it himself?”

“The Count is right. Whenever I buy something to eat and bring it home, she’s so happy. I deliberately buy it myself instead of sending a footman to see that look.”

“I know it well. When I return home, she wiggles and examines my hands, so how can I return empty-handed?”

“That’s right! My granddaughter kisses me to thank me when I buy her éclairs! She’s so adorable!”

Hehehe!

The nobles, who were chatting happily, flinched.

A stinging gaze was felt—a sharp gaze that couldn’t be ignored no matter how hard they tried.

They awkwardly stopped laughing and glanced sideways.

‘Eek!’

Duke Paeraton’s cold face was glaring at them as if he wanted to kill them.

*Shashashak*, the startled nobles turned their heads so quickly that it made a sound.

‘Oh, right, Duke Paeraton hated idle chatter!’

The image of him freezing the conference hall, saying, “We didn’t gather here to idly chatter,” was vivid in their minds.

‘I forgot about that workaholic face after he hadn’t shown up for so long!’

“L, l, let’s proceed with the meeting quickly,” one stammered.

They tried to salvage the situation in a hurry, but it was already too late.

“Baron Tercho.”

Baron Tercho shuddered at the deep, low voice calling his name.

Baron Tercho forced his head to turn and looked at Duke Paeraton.

“Where was that again?”

“Yes?”

‘Where was what? Is he asking where my grave is……?’

*I couldn’t even buy éclairs for my daughter*, he thought.

As he anticipated his death and swallowed hard, Duke Paeraton’s lips opened again.

“That dessert shop.”

“For my daughter…… Yes?!”

Baron Tercho’s eyes widened at the unexpected words.

‘Could he be asking about that éclair shop?’

*That can’t be*, he reasoned.

Baron Tercho wasn’t a great noble or a seasoned politician.

However, he held a position to attend selection meetings as a senior central official.

In other words, he was very familiar with the indirect way of speaking among nobles.

*Right now, Duke Paeraton isn’t asking about the dessert shop*, he realized.

*He’s rebuking him for happily chattering about how difficult it is to buy snacks for his daughter in a place where state affairs are being discussed.*

‘No, it’s not just a rebuke. I’m nothing more than a dessert to the Duke…… Yes, this is a threat that my life isn’t worth saving!’

It was certain.

There’s no way that Duke Paeraton is genuinely curious about the dessert shop.

‘Duke Paeraton, a scary man…….’

Perhaps other nobles had the same thought, as they stared at Duke Paeraton with empty eyes.

However, when many people gather, there’s always one who can’t grasp the atmosphere.

“Hahaha! Duke Paeraton, are you also interested in desserts? You don’t seem like it at all!”

Everyone glared at Marquis Shueb, horrified by the frustrating words.

‘Read the room!’

‘Did you think before you spoke?’

As expected, Duke Paeraton glared fiercely at Marquis Shueb.

“Ahem, let’s resume the meeting. The next agenda is regarding the official letter from the temple,” Count Crophel announced, judging that a murder was about to happen, and quickly proceeded with the meeting.

At that moment, an aide approached Duke Paeraton and whispered something in his ear.

In an instant, Duke Paeraton’s eyes changed.

Everyone was taken aback by the Duke’s appearance as he abruptly stood up and left the conference hall without looking back.

“D, Duke Paeraton! Where are you going! There are still many agendas to discuss一”

“Something urgent has come up.”

“But haven’t you attended the court after a long time! We must finish today一.”

“Since when was attending selection meetings mandatory?”

Duke Paeraton glared at those who were trying to stop him.

Those who met his red eyes hesitated and closed their mouths.

Only after Duke Paeraton left the conference hall did the nobles open their mouths.

“What on earth is going on…….”

“Didn’t he suddenly leave last time too?”

“It doesn’t seem like a trivial matter. Duke Paeraton might have information that only he knows……. He’s not someone who would move for nothing.”

“That’s right. We need to check the international situation and inspect our territories for any issues.”

Chief Aide Baron Erkel, who was leaving the conference hall a step behind Duke Paeraton, sighed deeply as he listened to the nobles’ murmurs.

‘It’s nothing. So relax,’ he thought.

He looked at the back of his lord, who was striding away.

‘The reason he suddenly left last time was because he heard that the youngest lady was cleaning the windows.’

At that time, Baron Erkel never imagined that Duke Paeraton would run out of the conference hall.

He had simply relayed the message from the flustered maids without thinking much of it.

‘The reason he hadn’t come out for a while was because he wanted the youngest lady to not feel unfamiliar with him.’

He seemed like he would stay home all the time, but Duke Paeraton, the biggest contributor to the discussions related to the distribution of rewards, couldn’t be absent.

So, after delaying it, he finally attended today.

‘Today, it’s because he heard that Lady Tarenka had come to visit the youngest lady.’

No matter how much he answered in his mind, the nobles inside wouldn’t be able to hear it.

“Tarenka must have gone crazy too,” Duke Paeraton muttered quietly.

“Did he think I couldn’t do anything if he sent his daughter?”

It was a fierce voice like the growl of a beast.

Looking at his profile, Baron Erkel swallowed hard.

‘How can Tarenka be so ignorant of His Grace, even though he’s his brother-in-law?’

It’s a mistake to think he’ll be lenient just because she’s a child.

‘Well, he wouldn’t have done such a thing if he knew.’

To dare to commit fraud using the Duke’s family name.

It was a perfect way to commit suicide.

‘But somehow…….’

Baron Erkel glanced at Duke Paeraton’s face.

‘It seems like he’s more furious about the cold treatment of the youngest lady than that.’

The Paeraton family is different from ordinary humans.

You shouldn’t assume that they’ll be angry because they neglected, mistreated, or made a child work.

They might be angry because they disregarded the Paeraton lineage, but they wouldn’t be angry because they made their child suffer.

‘They probably don’t even have the concept of abuse.’

The Paeraton bloodline doesn’t need any emotional exchange.

They learn a certain amount to blend into human society, but it’s not for their own mental well-being.

‘The same goes for the three young masters above the youngest lady.’

Recalling the excessively bleak appearance of what could be called a father-son relationship, Baron Erkel inadvertently said,

“It’s good to see.”

Only after feeling Duke Paeraton’s gaze on him did he realize his mistake.

But perhaps it was because he had seen so many different sides of his lord, who had been like a monster without any emotions, that his mouth opened on its own.

“W, well, I mean, it’s good to see Your Grace cherishing and doting on the young lady…….”

“She’s a Paeraton. It’s natural to protect and guard her until she comes of age.”

It seemed like he took it as guarding a treasure well rather than cherishing his daughter.

“That’s not一.”

Baron Erkel, who had hurriedly opened his mouth, closed it again.

‘I was going to say that Your Grace looks like an ordinary father in front of the young lady…….’

Would the Duke even understand this meaning?

Does he even know what an ordinary father is?

Wouldn’t he just reply with something like, ‘I am her father, so it’s natural to look like a father’一or something like that?

“Your Grace, isn’t the youngest lady cute and lovely?”

Duke Paeraton stopped walking. His red eyes were directed straight at Baron Erkel.

Unlike his eyes, which contained a clear color, his gaze was neither warm nor even cold.

Eyes so indifferent that no warmth of emotion could be found at all.

‘Ah.’

Baron Erkel realized.

‘He doesn’t know.’

He doesn’t know the feeling of being cute or lovely.

For some reason, Baron Erkel felt sorry for this strong and great man.

And also for the youngest lady, who was clearly different from the other members of the Duke’s family.

“You’re saying trivial things.”

“I misspoke.”

Duke Paeraton, who had been looking down at Baron Erkel, who had lowered his head, started walking again.

“Well, it’s not unreasonable for you to ask that. There are more than one or two strange things about the youngest.”

“What do you mean?”

Baron Erkel asked with a cautious face.

‘If Your Grace judges that the young lady might not be of the Paeraton bloodline…….’

What would happen to that little lady?

“She falls too easily. And she even cries.”

“Isn’t that inevitable since she doesn’t have [Magi – magical power]?”

Even as he said it, he knew that this answer didn’t defend the youngest lady.

Because there had never been a direct descendant of Paeraton without [Magi].

“That’s not all. She says she missed me, kisses me on the cheek, and even fell asleep on my lap the other day.”

*Yes?*

The story was progressing in a direction that was increasingly different from what he was thinking.

Baron Erkel, who had been serious all by himself, looked up at Duke Paeraton with a slightly dazed face.

‘Somehow, Your Grace’s face looks triumphant today.’

He had the same expressionless face, but somehow he looked arrogant.

“What’s even stranger is me. When I look at the youngest…… my body has strange reactions.”

“Yes?”

“At first, I thought it was a mistake, but after observing it, it’s certain. It’s only when the youngest is next to me that it happens.”

Did he forget what just happened? He thought he shouldn’t be serious, but Baron Erkel couldn’t help but become serious.

Because it was an unprecedented event for something to be wrong with the Duke’s body.

‘Could it be Marquis Tarenka’s conspiracy?’

He had heard that there were curses in black magic that used the blood of the family.

“What kind of physical abnormalities are they specifically?”

“My chest…….”

“Your chest?”

“It’s itchy. Like there’s a bug inside.”

“…….”

*I was the only one who was serious again*.

No, more than that, a bug, really?

What kind of words are those to say to your daughter? Especially to such a lovely daughter.

“Yes, well. My heart beats fast and my chest feels stuffy?”

“Yes. My chest feels stuffy and I keep wanting to feed her something…….”

The expression was a bit much, but Baron Erkel looked at Duke Paeraton with a little expectation.

*He keeps wanting to feed someone something.*

Isn’t the meaning of this obvious?

However, the Duke’s next words thoroughly betrayed his expectations.

“It seems like she can only eat that, so it’s frustrating.”

Baron Erkel looked at his lord with cloudy eyes.

*Oh, my lord.*

“I feel like I want to do more than just feed her, and sometimes my hands move on their own.”

The pride and glory of the empire.

“When I look at her, I want to bite her and break the wall.”

A great and noble living legend.

“Now that I’ve sorted it out, it’s a serious illness. Both physically and mentally.”

Sigh.

‘What living legend? He’s just a living idiot.’

*Our Duke still has a long way to go.*

‘But this is a big improvement.’

Isn’t he someone who’s experiencing the emotions of being cute and lovely for the first time and calling it a strange symptom?

‘Someday, he’ll know the name of the strange symptom.’

Baron Erkel smiled contentedly.

The two had already arrived in front of the carriage.

It was the moment when Baron Erkel was about to follow and get into the carriage.

“Ah.”

Duke Paeraton stopped him.

“Find out about the dessert shop that the nobles were talking about earlier.”

“Yes? Even if I find out now, it’ll all be sold out. Considering the conversation earlier…….”

Duke Paeraton didn’t answer. Instead, he just stared.

The baron flinched at the intimidating gaze that made him tremble.

‘I forgot who Your Grace was because of the conversation just now.’

What kind of existence is Duke Paeraton?

‘I’ve been treating the young lady lately, so I unknowingly…….’

“I’m sorry. I’ll find out right away. Should I buy any éclairs if there are any left?”

“Yes. Because she likes sweets.”

“I understand一.”

“No, no. Don’t buy them.”

“Yes?”

“I’ll buy them later.”

“Y, Your Grace will buy them yourself?”

Duke Paeraton is going to go to the dessert shop and buy éclairs?

It was a scary thing to say, even as a joke.

At that moment, something flashed through Baron Erkel’s mind.

“Whenever I buy something to eat and bring it home, she’s so happy.”

“When I return home, she wiggles and examines my hands.”

“My granddaughter kisses me to thank me when I buy her éclairs!”

Could it be because of that?!

“While you’re finding out, find out about other famous dessert shops too.”

“Yes…….”

“Be sure to include a pudding specialty shop.”

“Yes…….”

“Ah, and a toy store that children would like.”

“Yes…….”

“I’ll let you know if I think of anything else through the communication stone [a magical device]. I have to go quickly.”

*Is this not the end?!*

But Duke Paeraton was the boss, and Baron Erkel was a thorough subordinate.

“Yes…….”

*Thud*, the door closed, and the carriage left without looking back.

A single tear streamed down the face of Baron Erkel, who was left alone.

* * *

“You have a lot to say, considering you stole my daughter’s clothes,” Duke Paeraton’s voice echoed in the noisy room, and everyone stopped moving.

He was used to being the center of attention in an instant, and he was relaxed.

‘Why is the Duke already home?’

Didn’t he say he was going to the Imperial Palace today to take care of the backlog of work and would be coming home late at night?

The Paeraton Duchess looked at him with trembling eyes.

However, there was someone who approached Duke Paeraton before his daughter.

“Uncle! Tiel is here!” Clatie ran up with a bright smile on her pretty face.

No one would refuse her arms wide open as if asking to be hugged.

However.

“Why are you holding such rags?” Duke Paeraton passed by Clatie as if she didn’t exist.

Clatie’s eyes widened in shock.

‘He ignored me一.’

Ignoring her is something that would never have happened in the first place, but it’s possible because it’s Duke Paeraton, not anyone else.

But.

‘He’s picking her up……?’

Someone who is far inferior to her.

A bastard who is not even Duke Paeraton’s biological daughter.

That was something that could never happen.