Lord Baby Runs A Romance Fantasy With Cash [EN]: Chapter 156

쾅!

Belated embarrassment washed over me.

It had worked so well on our family for years that I unconsciously….

I glanced around, and the court ladies who met my eyes awkwardly began to look away.

“Th-the flowers are blooming so beautifully.”

“Flowers, were they? I must have missed them.”

‘……Are they letting it slide?’

It’s a relief, but is this really okay?

Well, Sid and I have a publicly close relationship, so it might be fine.

A kid came to see his friend secretly, so they can turn a blind eye, right?

Feeling a bit more confident, I asked,

“Where is His Highness Sidrian?”

“……He is in his room.”

“Hmm, then guide me.”

Despite my words, the court ladies hesitated and couldn’t move.

“I’m just going to talk to His Highness Sidrian and leave. If His Majesty the Emperor finds out I came here, it’ll be a hassle, so please keep it a secret.”

If not only the Emperor but also other members of the Imperial Family find out, they might try to involve him politically.

The court ladies exchanged glances and then bowed their heads, taking the lead.

* * *

“What’s with this stuffy air?”

The moment I opened the door, the heavy, stagnant air hit me.

Were they heating the room without properly ventilating it?

Moreover, the room was dim and gloomy.

Winter days get dark early, and not a single light was on.

‘Is he sleeping?’

Still, they should have ventilated it a bit.

What on earth were the servants and court ladies doing?

‘Is my baby not getting proper treatment in the Imperial Palace?’

This grandma’s heart is bruised, bruised.

I strode inside and opened the window.

Sid wasn’t there; he seemed to be in one of the rooms inside.

As I grabbed the doorknob, the court ladies paused.

“Y-Your Grace…….”

“Huh?”

“……No, it’s nothing.”

“……?”

I tilted my head and opened the door.

It was the bedroom.

The air here felt completely stagnant.

“Why is it so…….”

I stopped speaking.

“Sid?”

On the bed, a pale Sid was lying, drenched in cold sweat.

I rushed over and touched his cheek.

‘He’s burning up!’

He was sweating so much that the skin visible through his collar was damp.

Just in case, I touched the blanket and clothes, and they were all wet and cold.

‘This could cause a healthy person to get sick!’

In my distress, I saw the court ladies standing at the bedroom door, looking helpless.

“……You knew about His Highness’s condition?”

“We are sorry.”

They knew and left him like this?

The kid is this sick?

It felt like fire was flashing before my eyes.

“His Highness Sidrian is an Imperial Prince formally recognized by His Majesty the Emperor. If you are neglecting him like this because he doesn’t have a mother to care for him—”

“No, that’s not it!”

“It’s not?”

“Th-that’s because the Prince told us not to enter the room or touch anything…….”

“Even if he said that, how could you leave a child like this when he’s so sick…….”

I bit my lip.

The owner of this place is Sidrian.

Moreover, Sidrian has no mother.

Since there’s no one else in charge, it must have been difficult for the court ladies to disobey Sidrian’s orders.

It would have been different if there was a servant…….

“Where is the servant?”

“His Highness hasn’t appointed one yet.”

Only then did I realize why the court ladies had pretended not to know and guided me here.

They had noticed Sidrian’s condition and hoped I would somehow resolve the situation.

“Why didn’t you inform His Majesty the Emperor?”

“The Prince didn’t want us to.”

‘If Sid decided not to inform him, there must be a reason.’

The Emperor showed a calculating side, considering the pros and cons, even with his own children.

Should I say he’s an Emperor before he’s a father?

“First, we need to change his clothes and wipe his body.”

“Yes, Your Grace.”

The court ladies hurriedly brought hot water, several towels, and clothes to change into.

When I received the towel, the court ladies’ eyes widened.

“Will Your Grace do it yourself?”

“What else can I do? The picky Prince will dislike this and that.”

Even if I was being unreasonable, the anger could spread to the court ladies.

“Don’t worry and go out. I have a lot of nursing experience.”

“Ah, yes. You said you treated Lord Tarenka.”

No, it’s about Sid.

In any case, the rumor that I saved my grandfather was very useful.

The court ladies looked at me with very trusting eyes.

They hesitated for a moment, wondering if they could leave me alone,

but soon they looked at Laura and left the room with relief.

The wind was cold, so it would be better to ventilate after changing his clothes.

I sat on the bed and looked down at Sid.

“He doesn’t even wake up despite all this commotion.”

I thought he had grown up quite a bit, but his sleeping face was no different from when he was young.

Old memories came flooding back.

This grandma used to wash him all the time.

I chuckled and wiped Sid’s face with a towel soaked in warm water.

Deep-set eyes, a prominent nose.

His beautifully shaped lips were pale and pitiful.

A jawline and neck that were much firmer than before.

He’ll probably have his voice breaking soon.

His current youthful voice is nice, but a lower voice might suit him well too.

“…….”

I subtly unbuttoned his shirt.

Gulp.

I was more startled by the sound of myself swallowing.

‘No, why am I getting nervous!’

I’m just nursing him!

‘Why, why is it so awkward?’

I definitely didn’t feel this way before.

“Lady?”

“I, I unbuttoned it to wipe him down.”

“Yes? Yes.”

Laura looked at me strangely and nodded.

I felt embarrassed belatedly, wondering if I had made too much of an excuse.

‘Get a grip. I’m just taking care of a baby.’

“Shall I do it?”

“No!”

Laura looked at me with surprised eyes.

“W-well, I’m better at treating him…….”

“Hmph, yes.”

Laura smiled like a cat and nodded.

“It’s distracting, so Laura, you go out too!”

“Oh my? Is it okay for me to leave?”

“What’s not okay about it?”

“You can say that again~.”

Laura smiled brightly and left the room.

“Sigh, really.”

I sighed deeply and unbuttoned the rest of his shirt.

It was then.

Thud!

A rough hand grabbed my wrist.

“Ouch!”

“Ru……Atisha?”

I looked at Sid, slightly surprised.

Of course, the sudden event was surprising, but…….

‘Has Sid ever called me like this before?’

As our eyes met, Sid’s face, which had been wary like a beast with its fur standing on end, slowly relaxed.

The strength in his hand gripping my wrist slowly faded.

But he doesn’t let go.

“Is this a dream?”

“What dream.”

Pouting my lips and grumbling, Sid smiled as if he was happy about something.

That smile was somehow like a tender sprout breaking through the frozen ground.

“It feels real.”

“It is real.”

I answered more curtly.

Could I have caught a cold?

My cheeks were hot.

Sid, who had been quietly looking at me, suddenly pulled my wrist.

“Huh?”

Naturally, my body tilted and I collapsed next to him.

‘Wh-what is this?!’

Sid was very close.

I could feel his hot body and labored breathing.

I was frozen stiff, unable to do anything.

Thump, thump.

Perhaps because I was so surprised, the sound of my heart was pounding like thunder in my ears.

Sid stared at me blankly and said.

“It’s a relief.”

“……What is.”

“It’s a relief, really.”

“What’s a relief.”

“That I’m sick.”

“……?”

I frowned and looked up at Sid.

He was wearing a very strange smile.

A smile so tender that it looked fragile.

Seeing a sick child make such a face made my heart sink.

“What are you talking about? What’s so relieving about being sick.”

“It’s better than you being sick.”

“It’s better if neither of us is sick.”

“Yeah, that’s right.”

Sid nodded.

He seemed much more tired than before, even though he had only said a few words.

“Get up. You need to wipe your body. You’ll get sicker if you stay like this.”

Judging by the fever, it seems like a bad cold, and it could turn into pneumonia.

I handed Sid a towel.

“Can you do it yourself?”

“……Won’t you wipe me down?”

“Wh-why would I wipe you down.”

Sid narrowed his eyes and looked at me before starting to unbutton his shirt.

I was momentarily flustered and stared blankly at him.

Seeing his side almost completely exposed, I hurriedly turned my head.

‘Is he out of his mind because he’s sick? Sid’s attitude seems different from usual today.’

I don’t think he’s ever spoken informally and called me by my name like this.

Snap, thud.

Because it was quiet, the rustling sounds were easily heard.

Feeling unnecessarily embarrassed, I opened my mouth.

“If you’re sick, at least get some nursing from the court ladies. Didn’t you take any antipyretics [fever-reducing medication] either? Let’s take some medicine after you change.”

“Medicine doesn’t work.”

“It’ll still be better than not taking it.”

“I’m done.”

At those words, I turned my head again and was shocked.

“Why are you naked!”

“You didn’t give me clothes.”

“Ah.”

I hurriedly handed Sid a new shirt.

“Why are you so embarrassed?”

“Wh-when did I get embarrassed.”

“Your face is red. It looks like it’s about to burst.”

Sid touched my cheek.

“You used to be so confident and wipe people down without being embarrassed at all. Telling me to listen to you.”

When did I do that?

No, of course, I did, but.

‘That was all when I was in grandma’s form, wasn’t it?’

Sid’s purple eyes looking at me were clear.

Above them, there were dense golden eyelashes.

I realized anew that the distance was close.

“I must have wanted to see you embarrassed so much.”

What?

As I flinched, Sid moved his body away.

“I couldn’t wipe my back. Wipe it for me.”

“You used to call me Master, Master. Today, you’re completely using me. This is a reversal of roles. It’s insubordination.”

“Didn’t that Master tell me to live as I please?”

“……You did.”

I couldn’t say anything because it was what I said in my true form.

“But I didn’t mean for you to use me.”

“Won’t you do it?”

Seeing Sid’s face tilting his head and asking, I felt like my chest was tightening.

“I’ll let it slide because you’re sick.”

I grumbled but still picked up the towel.

‘How can a kid have such a pretty back too?’

The muscles on his straight spine were nicely defined.

A body like a Renaissance-era boy sculpture.

‘Ah, no! What am I admiring!’

I started scrubbing Sid’s back roughly.

It was then.

‘Huh?’

Something caught my eye.

* * *

“……He’s late.”

Duke Paeraton’s cold voice echoed across the dining table.

The men of the Paeraton family and even Lord Tarenka had been seated for a long time.

But not a single dish had been served.

It was because they couldn’t eat before the hungry youngest returned home.

“I have a bad feeling.”

“I feel very dirty.”

“I think something happened to my sister.”

At those words, Heinz, the butler of the Paeraton estate, who had only been watching, asked in surprise.

“Could something bad have happened to the Lady? Could it be that another family attacked…….”

“No, it’s not that. Something is bothering me…….”

Ixion closed his mouth and held back his words.

There’s a saying that words have power.

“You don’t have to worry about an attack. If something like that had happened, Sandra would have contacted us.”

“That’s a relief. But why……?”

Heinz looked around the Duke’s family with puzzled eyes.

If the Lady wasn’t in danger, there was no reason to have a bad feeling, was there?

At that moment, Lord Tarenka, who had been silent, opened his mouth.

“I’ve felt this feeling before.”

His gaze turned to Duke Paeraton.

“It was the day Inays went to the fireworks display held at the Imperial Palace when she was eighteen.”

Duke Paeraton flinched.

That was the day Duke Paeraton and Inays first met.