Lord Baby Runs A Romance Fantasy With Cash [EN]: Chapter 138

Conquer High Society! (1)

Congratulations!

Mrs. Sherwin wants to befriend you!

Mrs. Sherwin is the host of the private reading club, wielding immense influence in all circles.

Capture her heart and receive an invitation to [a prestigious social gathering]!

– Condition: Receive an invitation to [the social gathering]

– Reward: 3000 Cash Gacha Ticket, Increased Influence within the Empire, Linked Quest

I checked the quest window once more and then closed it.

I had received this quest when I hosted the salon as part of the Dawn Festival.

Mrs. Sherwin, whom I met at the end of the salon that day.

She had tested me and then asked what I wanted as an apology and thank you.

“I want that Pavlova!”

That’s what I answered.

As a result, today, I was invited to Mrs. Sherwin’s tea party.

‘Good. Very good!’

Mrs. Sherwin’s tea party is an event that social celebrities are eager to attend!

‘I’m going to go and sweep them all away!’

I’m going to steadily conquer high society like this and beat down any foreseen tragedies!

No one can stop this Lulunim!

“Hehe, our young lady is in a really good mood?”

“Did you want that Pavlova that much? Shall I find out the secret recipe for you?”

Nancy smiled as she draped a frost flower cloak over my shoulders.

“I’m going to take a book too!”

It made me feel better to carry it around in case I needed its power, like last time.

‘In the end, I couldn’t figure out that error.’

I even tried talking to that demon, but there was no response.

He’s so good at meddling when it’s unnecessary.

I took Akito from the side table and hugged it tightly.

“Hehe, you really love that book, don’t you?”

The sisters seemed to think of Akito as just one of the many books I owned.

‘Well, looking at this appearance, how would they know it’s the same book as that worn-out heirloom?’

Anyway, it was fortunate for me.

‘Dad also stopped asking me about Akito’s whereabouts after asking me once a long time ago.’

He must think I broke it after seeing me cry so much back then.

‘No, but is it okay to just let it go like that when a kid breaks an heirloom they got by whining?’

I’m glad he let it go, though.

Our dad has a soft spot, so I need to take good care of him!

Determined, I went down to the lobby with vigor.

Everyone, including Dad and my brothers, was there.

“Everyone’s here?”

“It’s my sister’s outing, so seeing her off is a must.”

“Should Dad go with you?”

Dad picked me up and asked.

“It’s okay. Dad’s busy.”

“I don’t have work. Should I go with you?”

“There’s no way you don’t have work?”

“I’m going.”

“Zeon, do some work……”

Amidst the noisy send-off from my family, I got into the carriage.

“It’ll be alright. I made sure no boys my age would be attending.”

“Just in case, for any unforeseen circumstances, we’ve prepared……”

“The Marquis also……”

I could hear my family’s voices through the closing door.

I shook my head.

‘Honestly, they’re such a fuss!’

* * *

Mrs. Sherwin’s tea party was held at a very famous tea house.

It’s a place that’s hard to get into without a reservation, and she had rented the whole place.

I could see why it was so famous.

‘To waste so much space in such an expensive area…….’

The winter garden was beautifully decorated, and there was even a glass greenhouse.

As I entered the building, the interior was decorated like a hotel wedding.

“Welcome, Princess.”

“Hello, Mrs. Sherwin!”

As I greeted her brightly and spread my skirt wide, Mrs. Sherwin and the other adults smiled warmly.

“Oh my, isn’t this Aurora-nim. It’s an honor to meet you.”

A middle-aged gentleman greeted me with great politeness, as if humoring a child.

“The honor is mine! Count Yualen!”

“Oh? Do you know me?”

“Of course! I enjoyed reading [Count Yualen’s book title]!”

“Oh, a young princess reading that book?”

“Truly, she is Aurora, who will usher in the dawn of the empire.”

“I see why Mrs. Sherwin invited you.”

Mrs. Sherwin smiled proudly and led me to my seat.

My seat was at the most central table, next to Mrs. Sherwin.

Even though I was Princess Paeraton and Aurora, it was an excessively good seat for a ten-year-old.

There were many socially famous figures invited to this tea party.

I was surprised, but there was also silent commotion among the other nobles attending the tea party.

“Now, this is our Pavlova [a meringue-based dessert] that the princess wanted to eat! I brought it all the way here. The patissier put in extra effort today, I hear.”

“Wow! It looks so delicious! Can I eat it?”

“Of course.”

I cheered and ate the Pavlova.

The crispy outside and chewy inside. Sweet meringue with tangy fruits.

In an instant, the meringue melted and disappeared.

I quickly took another bite.

“Hehe, it seems the princess likes it very much.”

“I’ve eaten a lot of Pavlova, but this is the most delicious one ever!”

“Yes, it’s not as sweet as other Pavlovas, so it’s easier to eat.”

“Since the princess likes it so much, we should give all the Pavlova to her.”

“No! Delicious things are more delicious when shared! When I have a snack I like, I save it and eat it with my dad.”

“I never thought I’d be so envious of Duke Paeraton because of his daughter.”

The atmosphere was quite good.

Mrs. Sherwin wasn’t an extremely affectionate person, but she still took care of me in small ways.

Not everyone likes children.

But no one dislikes a child who is smart, quick-witted, and obedient.

Especially considering the tendencies of the people in this place.

“I hear that about half of the mana stone mines are now producing empty mana stones.”

“Geologically speaking, there must be a cause for this phenomenon, but it’s a mystery……”

“We’re fortunate to have black gold [a valuable resource]. Otherwise, the depletion of energy resources would have caused great chaos.”

“Doctor, do you think there must be a geologically sound cause?”

“Oh, is the princess interested? Well, it’s hard to accept the claim that mana existed but was naturally depleted. I believe there’s a difference in the formation process itself.”

“Like how carbon becomes diamond or graphite depending on temperature and pressure?”

“That’s right. Both are made of carbon. The princess is very smart.”

“Hehe, I am quite smart!”

The adults laughed at my confident boast.

It was then.

“I’m sorry I’m late, Mrs. Sherwin.”

There was a person holding a young child’s hand, rushing in.

“Mrs. Huen!”

Mrs. Sherwin rose from her seat, looking pleased.

‘Mrs.?’

Not the Mrs. used to address a noblewoman, but the Mrs. used to address a married woman without a title, like a commoner.

“I thought you weren’t coming.”

“I’m sorry. The child kept crying…… I had no choice but to bring her, but is that alright?”

Mrs. Sherwin looked at the child with a slightly surprised face and then smiled.

“It’s perfect timing. Princess Paeraton is here, and she must have been bored surrounded by adults. It would be good for the princess to have a friend her age.”

Mrs. Sherwin turned to me, so I stood up and approached them.

“I wasn’t bored or tired at all! Everything you were saying was so interesting! But it would be nice to have a friend.”

“Oh my.”

Mrs. Sherwin stroked my head and introduced Mrs. Huen to the people.

“This is Mrs. Huen. Although she is not a noble, I don’t think anyone at my tea party would discriminate against someone because of such a matter.”

“Of course not.”

“Nice to meet you, Mrs. Huen.”

The people smiled and greeted her.

But I saw some people’s expressions harden when Mrs. Huen entered.

A well-maintained but old-fashioned dress and hair without any proper decorations.

There were those who thought she was lowering the tone with such an appearance.

“I believe Mrs. Huen will leave behind achievements worthy of being granted a title. There’s no harm in being included in such a gathering in advance.”

“If Mrs. Sherwin says so, she must be a person of great ability.”

“A treasure found in the mud.”

It was then.

The child, who had been shyly holding onto Mrs. Huen’s skirt, ran to my seat.

And began to eat the Pavlova with gusto.

“Oh my? That’s the princess’s seat. And that Pavlova……” A lady at the table muttered to herself.

Everyone had been refraining from touching the Pavlova, thinking of me, so they must have been momentarily concerned.

Mrs. Huen was startled and scolded the child.

“Oh, I’m sorry. Sophia, get up! This is the princess’s seat. It’s not a place for us to sit!”

The child, suddenly scolded, teared up and didn’t know what to do.

“And that dessert is not something we can dare to eat. It’s the princess’s. Apologize to the princess!”

I was surprised at how she was pushing the child as if something terrible had happened.

Well, being among nobles, it was understandable to overreact.

“It’s okay. I’ll sit somewhere else. Enjoy your meal.”

I smiled at the child and looked around at the other tables.

“Princess.”

Mrs. Sherwin approached me with an apologetic face.

Which seat you sit in at such a tea party was very important.

But a baby who didn’t know anything had committed the act after seeing something sweet, so I had no intention of saying anything about it.

I smiled at Mrs. Sherwin and went to the remaining seat.

It was originally the seat where Mrs. Huen would sit.

“Wow, the princess is sitting at this table.”

“It’s an honor, Princess.”

The people sitting at this table were excessively courteous and kind to me.

I couldn’t remember them even with the [my special] ability, so they must have been nobles who didn’t have a high standing.

‘Well, this table would have been more comfortable for Mrs. Huen.’

Here, they were mainly talking about social gossip rather than academic discussions.

‘Wow, Baron Marcus had an affair with his cousin?!’

Can these people really be telling such stories in front of a ten-year-old baby?!

Of course, it was quite an exciting story for me to listen to.

‘At this rate, how will I receive an invitation to [the prestigious social gathering] from Mrs. Sherwin?’

At this rate, the tea party will just end.

How much of a makjang [over-the-top] drama had I been listening to?

Suddenly, I felt something tugging at my dress.

“Oh my, Sophia! What are you doing to the princess? I told you it would be a big problem if you touched the princess without permission! Apologize before the princess punishes you!”

Mrs. Huen scolded her daughter with a pale face.

“Princess, I’m really sorry. She doesn’t know anything yet……”

Seeing Mrs. Huen apologizing to me with a desperate face, I felt embarrassed.

‘No, I didn’t say anything…….’

I understand being cautious around nobles.

All the attention from the other tables was focused on this side, making it even more burdensome.

“It’s okay. The baby must have been curious about my dress.”

I got up from my seat and made eye contact with the baby.

“Hello, you’re Sophia, right?”

Nod.

“How old are you?”

“Seven years old……”

Sophia answered, spreading out all seven fingers.

‘Cute…….’

“I’m Luatisha. Were you curious about the butterflies on my dress?”

Nod nod.

This tea party was a bit boring and heavy because there was a seven-year-old baby.

Especially the table where Mrs. Huen was sitting.

‘Before the baby wanders around and touches things, causing Mrs. Huen to apologize, I should just take her out to play.’

If Mrs. Huen keeps apologizing like that, Mrs. Sherwin’s tea party will be ruined.

And Mrs. Sherwin’s reputation will be tarnished for inviting such a person.

Since I can’t talk to Mrs. Sherwin while sitting at this table anyway.

“Then shall we go play in the garden with the butterflies?”

“Yes! No, yes……”

I smiled at the child who was fidgeting with her hands.

“I’ll be playing in the greenhouse.”

The greenhouse was directly connected to the inside of the tea house.

I felt like I would know right away if something happened inside.

“Thank you, Princess.”

Mrs. Sherwin held my hand tightly and greeted me.

‘Hehe, you’re welcome. I’ll be sure to get this debt back [repaid in the future]?’

It worked out even better.

I held Sophia’s hand tightly and went to the greenhouse.

* * *

Thud!

As soon as we entered the flower bed, Sophia roughly shook off my hand.

“Sophia?”

The child didn’t even look at me and looked around.

And then—.

“Ouch!”

Suddenly, she started running and fell over.

She fell so hard that her knees were scraped and her cheek was scratched.

I was flustered and ran to Sophia.

“Are you okay? Oh dear…….”

I stopped talking.

A strange pattern flashed on the child’s scraped leg.

‘……A tattoo? No.’

The moment I tried to take a closer look, the pattern disappeared without a trace.

‘Did I see it wrong?’

But besides the pattern, I felt something was off.

Doesn’t a seven-year-old baby usually cry when they fall?

But Sophia—.

The moment I raised my head, I flinched.

Sophia’s eyes, looking at me, were deeply sunken.

Eyes that you couldn’t possibly see in a seven-year-old baby.

A blank face.

Sophia smirked.

“Is it because you grew up without a mother? You have no sense at all.”

What?

It was that moment.

“Waaaaah!!”

A thunderous cry shook the greenhouse.

Before I could even be bewildered, people rushed out from the inside.

“What’s going on!”

The moment people looked at me and Sophia with bewildered expressions.

“I, I’m sorry. I, I did wrong, Princess……”

The injured child prostrated herself and begged.