Lord Baby Runs A Romance Fantasy With Cash [EN]: Chapter 149

☆ Chapter 149 ☆

“Wh, what kind of child is this…”

For a moment, people were speechless, as if dumbfounded.

“The Ascentrum Hall was built hundreds of years ago, so its security is weak. That’s why I installed video stones, just in case.”

The Ascentrum Hall mainly hosts events like academic conferences or presentations, so there weren’t any particularly valuable items.

The hall itself was a cultural asset, but apart from the magic locks on the front and back gates, there wasn’t much security.

‘At this rate, what if someone sets it on fire like Sungnyemun [a historical gate in Seoul that was damaged by arson]?’

Of course, unlocking the magic locks would require considerable ability.

Normally, when important items are moved in advance like this time, mercenary groups or private soldiers are hired to stand guard, but Ruatisha didn’t do that.

Naturally, it was because she expected Mrs. Huen and Sophia to cause trouble.

“If I hadn’t installed and checked the video stone, Her Majesty the Empress Dowager would have suffered a great misfortune when the shockwave device was demonstrated today.”

The Empress Dowager shouted with a flushed face.

She seemed dizzy at the thought that she would have suffered a great misfortune if she hadn’t noticed it.

“The crime of insulting the Empire’s Princess and the Duke’s family. The crime of slandering the Princess as a fraud. The crime of telling lies to these many nobles and royals. The crime of trying to harm people by maliciously installing a shockwave device.”

The Empress Dowager’s eyes coldly glared at Ariel.

“This sin will not be easily washed away!”

At that moment, Ruatisha grabbed the Empress’s skirt.

“But Sophia is still a child. What would a child know? It’s all because she saw and learned wrong.”

At those words, people’s attention turned to Mrs. Huen.

“Come to think of it, Mrs. Huen is ignoring the chaos? When the child insulted Princess Paeraton earlier, she should have apologized or stopped her.”

“Seeing her ignoring the child until she is punished…”

“Surely the child didn’t prepare such a shockwave device? Mrs. Huen must have unlocked the magic lock. She can create potions, so she must have that much ability.”

“Gasp, then did she tell her daughter to go inside and attach the shockwave device while she was unlocking the lock?”

It was quite a plausible story.

Ruatisha quickly seized upon those words.

“Maybe Sophia didn’t even know what that shockwave device was. She might have just attached it because her mother told her to…”

At Ruatisha’s words, Mrs. Sheruin approached Mrs. Huen with a stiff face.

“I’m really disappointed in you.”

“M, Madam.”

“The matter of attaching the shockwave device is too serious for me to easily dismiss.”

Mrs. Huen’s lips twitched.

She seemed to want to argue that she had nothing to do with the shockwave device, but she couldn’t open her mouth.

Even if that were true, who would believe it?

“But what did you say in front of the child that made her say the Princess has no mother?

Doesn’t Sophia also have no father? She should know that sorrow!”

“I, I have never said such a thing一.”

“Instead of thinking about honing her skills, she envies others’ skills and even commits such slander! Even to that young child!”

Mrs. Sheruin’s eyes flashed sharply.

A charisma that seemed to come from somewhere in her small frame overwhelmed the audience.

“My support ends here. Don’t expect help from anyone while locked in prison.”

Mrs. Sheruin left those words and turned away coldly.

The lifeline that had been firmly supporting Sophia and Mrs. Huen was cut off in an instant.

As if waiting, the imperial knights arrested Mrs. Huen.

* * *

“Princess, are you very tired?”

“Oh my, when I think about what this little child went through today, this old woman’s heart is still pounding.”

“Come on, try eating this. Eating something sweet will make you feel better.”

Not only the Empress and Empress Dowager, but also the noble ladies didn’t seem to want to leave my side.

I gave a weak smile.

“I’m fine. More than that, I’m sorry for showing everyone who came today such an unsightly sight… I really wanted to do well…”

“What are you talking about!”

“The Princess did very well. How could you do better than this?”

“My husband said that if he had a child as smart as the Princess, he would have made her his successor long ago.”

“Don’t worry about anything and get some rest, little one.”

“Grandma…”

When I looked at the noble ladies with sparkling, touched eyes, they all gave kind smiles.

“I will take care of the child.”

At the Empress’s words, the noble ladies nodded with regretful faces.

The Empress Dowager seemed to hesitate a little, but she seemed to be leaning towards trying the shockwave device one more time.

‘She really likes the shockwave device.’

I had a feeling.

‘The day when a Sarangbang [a traditional Korean men’s quarter or study] disguised as a neighborhood clinic is established in the Empire is not far off!’

That soon means the gathering of information!

I giggled inwardly and grabbed the Empress’s skirt tightly and shook it.

“Your Majesty, I have a favor to ask.”

“What favor could our Ruatisha have for me?”

“Could you give Paeraton the authority to punish Mrs. Huen and Sophia?”

The Empress opened her eyes wide at my words and then fell into thought.

“…Unless the Empress Dowager had an accident. Since that’s not the case, I will hand over the authority of this matter to Duke Paeraton.”

“Really?”

“Yes, the Princess of Paeraton is the most harmed, so Paeraton must get the blood price.”

No, well. A blood price.

Her Majesty the Empress looks kind, but she’s subtly cold-hearted, isn’t she?

“Hehe, thank you.”

When I got up from the sofa and bowed, the Empress laughed and swept my hair back.

“If you’re thankful, come visit the Empress’s Palace. I always have snacks ready for Ruatisha.”

Her eyes towards me were affectionate, and her touch was very gentle.

Perhaps the dead Princess was about my age, so she thinks of her daughter when she sees me.

I felt a little touched and took the Empress’s hand.

“You have to prepare delicious things. With lots of chocolate.”

“Hehe, I will.”

“I’ll give you acupuncture too when I go.”

I winked one eye.

“Acupuncture? Are you talking about the acupuncture that saved Marquis Tarenka?”

“It’s a special service. Ruru likes Your Majesty very much!”

Since I was doing a service, I even acted cute, and the Empress liked it, laughing.

“Oh my, that’s an honor.”

I smiled as I watched her clear smile.

It would have been nice if the Princess were alive.

I think we would have been very good friends.

* * *

There were twists and turns, but the presentation ended successfully.

I received a lot of praise just for going out at the end and showing my face to the guests.

When the guests had all left, I turned around.

“Everyone worked hard! Today’s success is all thanks to you.”

Baron Dier proudly puffed out his chest, and Yelloche smiled brightly.

Pianke nodded indifferently, and Gründer smiled and joked, “Of course. We worked overtime a lot, you know?”

But even in this good atmosphere, there were people with deathly pale faces.

“What’s wrong?”

I asked, looking at Friss, the deputy commander of the Black Wind, and Sandra, the head of the WBD escort.

“…Then please save my life.”

“Life? Why suddenly? Who’s going to kill you?”

I asked in surprise, and Friss said with a dark, dead face.

“The commotion that happened today will also reach the ears of the Duke and Marquis, right?”

“I guess so?”

“Then won’t it all be revealed that I hid everything that happened that day under the orders of the young lady?”

“‘Ah?’ is not it!”

Friss shouted desperately.

I quickly put on a serious face and said.

“Don’t worry. It happened because you were helping me with my request, so of course I have to help.”

“Then this Friss will trust only the Princess.”

“Only the Princess can save us from the clutches of death!”

“Okay.”

Friss and Sandra’s expressions brightened at my words.

“…But clutches of death. That’s a bit harsh to your own family.”

Friss and Sandra flinched at my words.

And they whispered to each other.

“The Princess is also quite the devoted fool…”

“Isn’t it flowing in the blood…”

No, the two of them are key figures in secret organizations belonging to different families, but when did they become so close?

“I can hear everything?!”

At my shout, the two pretended to be startled and lowered their heads.

“Hmph!”

I pouted my lips.

Anyway, how do I save these two?

The reason they’re like this is all because of me.

To be exact, because of what happened at Mrs. Sheruin’s tea party.

* * *

Going back in time to the day of Mrs. Sheruin’s tea party.

I, who had left the tea party early because of Sophia, didn’t get into the carriage right away.

Instead, I said just one word.

“Come out.”

At my sudden words, Anna, the footman, and the coachman looked puzzled.

“Come out quickly. Otherwise, I’ll tell Dad that I received bouquets from a hundred young masters today.”

“Yes?”

Anna looked even more puzzled.

Then, a voice was heard from a completely unexpected place.

“Even so, receiving bouquets from a hundred young masters, not just ten. Who would believe that?”

“Well, my dad, brothers, and grandfather?”

“That’s… I can’t argue with that.”

Anna, the footman, and the coachman were surprised and looked at the place where the voice came from.

A pair of men and women in light black armor stood in the middle of an empty space where there seemed to be no place to hide.

“B, but there was definitely no one there?”

Anna hugged me tightly, on guard.

Hugging me tightly and protecting me with her whole body, I could feel her will to give her life if something happened.

I patted Anna.

“It’s okay.”

“Sandra, the head of the Paeraton Ulddalranggu Escort, greets the Princess.”

“Friss, the deputy commander of Tarenka’s information organization, Black Wind, greets the young lady.”

The two bowed respectfully in front of me.

But the name of the unit was strange.

“Ull… Ddalranggu Escort?”

“His Excellency the Duke established it after coming to the capital.”

“Why is the name like that…”

“His Excellency personally gave the name.”

“…”

I feel sorry for the people who belong to it for no reason.

“I really don’t want to reveal where I belong…”

“That’s why we use abbreviations.”

“Abbreviation?”

“We call it the WBD Escort.”

“What abbreviation is that?”

“World Best Ddalranggu.”

“…”

Is that abbreviation okay?

No, more than that, why is it World Best Ddalranggu instead of World Best Daughter?

Is this also a remnant of K-Romance [Korean romance tropes]?

‘Let’s not try to understand. It’s better for your mental health not to understand this.’

What they were saying wasn’t the alphabet or English, but it was more painful because it was naturally filtered that way to me.

I tried hard to ignore the name of the escort and held out my hand.

“Give it to me.”

“Yes? What are you referring to?”

“You filmed it all with the video stone earlier.”

“What are you talking about… We are just moving under the order to escort the young lady in the dark.”

“Really?”

“Of course.”

The way they bowed with precision didn’t seem like they were lying no matter how I looked at it.

Even I was starting to doubt, ‘Am I catching an innocent person?’

They do their job well.

“That’s strange? Then how was Ares watching the video of me, Jasmine, and Tiriel eating five plates of cake at the dessert shop?”

“I wonder? It’s amazing. Isn’t it all Young Master Ares’s ability?”

They must have been caught off guard, but neither of them blinked an eye.

Hmph. So that’s how you’re going to come out?

“Anna, I’m not going home today.”

“Ah, Miss?”

Friss called me in a panic for the first time.

Anna lowered her head without saying anything.

“I understand, Miss.”

At the coachman’s question, I made eye contact with Sandra and Friss and smiled mischievously.

“I heard the Echesis Mercenary Corps is so good at their job?”

“P, Princess?”

This time, even Sandra looked at me with surprised rabbit eyes.

The footman smiled and answered me.

“They are truly the unrivaled No. 1 mercenary corps among the S-class. People call the leader of Echesis the Mercenary King with reverence.”

Well, Echen and King don’t match at all.

When you get to know him, he has a bit of a pushover tendency, so I’m worried.

I’m the one who benefited from that pushover tendency, so I shouldn’t be saying this, but he shouldn’t get scammed anywhere.

Anyway, it’s 신경 쓰이는 [a Korean expression for ‘ 신경 쓰이다’ which means to be worried or concerned about something]一.

“What kind of work are you thinking of commissioning?”

I snapped back to my senses at Anna’s question.

And I laughed even more mischievously than before.

“Tell them to kidnap me.”

At those words, Sandra and Friss opened their mouths wide.

“It’s better not to stop me by force. Even my dad can’t stop my steps.”

“…”

“Well, shall we talk again?”

I smiled brightly and spread my palm to the two people who had a deathly pale face.

“Give it to me.”

* * *

After obtaining the video stone in that way, I cut out only the part where I was with Sophia in the greenhouse and told them to bring it to my family.

They would be suspicious if I didn’t bring it at all.

And I was planning to scratch Sophia’s nerves at today’s presentation, and when she acted like a victim again, I would release it at just the right time.

‘Sophia found out that the shockwave device wasn’t an ancient artifact, so its use changed completely.’

But how did she find out that it wasn’t an ancient artifact?

‘I can just ask her directly.’

I realized it clearly today.

Sophia is not a child as I expected, and she is not in a mother-daughter relationship with Mrs. Huen.

The reason why I publicly pressured her, saying that it must be Mrs. Huen’s instigation, was that reason.

Unlike Sophia, Mrs. Huen seems to be quite vulnerable.

Since the Empress has delegated the authority to punish to Paeraton, the two people’s custody will be transferred to the Duke’s residence.

As soon as I get home, I was going to interrogate the two of them myself.

But.

“Ah, Dad…”

I had to completely revise that plan.

Because of my dad, brothers, and grandfather who were waiting outside the main gate.