Lord Baby Runs A Romance Fantasy With Cash [EN]: Chapter 158

“Have you received a reply to the letter I sent before?”

“I am deeply sorry, Your Majesty. There has been no contact yet.”

“I see…”

The Empress bit her lip.

‘If this continues, I might really have to summon Duke Berdin to the Imperial Palace.’

Duke Berdin was the Empress’s older brother.

For years, he had stayed in his territory, only coming to the capital for special occasions.

Bringing Duke Berdin back to the capital was a significant burden for the Empress.

It was clear that he would be a great help once he arrived.

Duke Berdin was a resourceful man who didn’t care about the means to achieve his goals.

The problem was that the Empress herself could be used in those means.

‘Even if I summon him… not yet. Not yet.’

Even though Prince Sidrian had established a considerable position, it was only at the foundation level.

It would not be easy to build something on that foundation.

No matter how much the Emperor acknowledged him, he was not born from the Empress or a Consort.

Moreover, the Emperor had not said anything about Sid’s mother.

Naturally, rampant rumors arose, none of which were good for Sidrian.

“I must send another letter.”

The Empress picked up her pen and quickly wrote on the paper.

The Empress’s face soured as she sealed the envelope.

The fact that her seal had been taken away came to her mind again.

“I must retrieve the seal somehow. I can’t live like this, suffocating.”

The Consort had replaced all the palace staff in the Empress’s palace.

Naturally, the Empress had to be careful about her actions even within her own palace.

“You will soon find it again.”

“Do you have some kind of insight—? No, I almost asked you something unnecessary.”

The Empress shook her head.

Lady Aizel had a slightly eccentric and naive side.

She was not suited for meticulous schemes.

‘So, I didn’t pay much attention to her among the assistant maids, but who knew she would show such loyalty.’

The Empress was somewhat fond of Lady Aizel.

She hadn’t particularly favored her; rather, she might have been discriminated against, yet she was the only lady who showed loyalty.

How could she not feel affection?

Thanks to her, Lady Aizel, still unmarried, had become the Empress’s most cherished maid.

Well, since Aizel was the only maid left, there wasn’t much of a choice.

The Empress was not hiring new maids.

She knew very well that even if she hired maids in this situation, they would only be useless ones who wouldn’t be of any help to her.

“I am not particularly talented at coming up with brilliant ideas, but I will still think about it.”

“You?”

“I must do anything to alleviate Her Majesty’s worries.”

The Empress smiled.

She didn’t think Lady Aizel would come up with a great plan.

But that heart was a little comforting.

“Yes, I’ll be expecting it.”

The Empress handed the sealed letter to Lady Aizel.

“You must go yourself this time. It must not reach the ears of others.”

“Do not worry.”

Lady Aizel put the letter in her arms, bowed her head, and stepped back.

She left the Empress’s palace without delay.

* * *

“This is the letter the Empress sent, you say?”

“Yes.”

Lady Aizel lowered her head.

The person sitting in front of her was neither Madam Sara nor Madam Sara’s henchman.

“What are you planning to do? Princess.”

The person Lady Aizel was facing was none other than Ruatisha.

That’s right.

Lady Aizel was the maid Ruatisha had deliberately left behind at the dawn festival.

“Ruru, I’m wost [lost].”

“……”

“I’m scawed [scared]. I wost [lost] Ruru’s daddy. Waaah.”

“Oh dear, did you lose your daddy? Was the baby scared… Huh!”

Ruatisha’s expression clouded as she recalled her first meeting with Lady Aizel, who had been momentarily entranced before regaining her senses and becoming wary.

“Ruatisha Paeraton, scawy [scary] chiwd [child]…!”

‘I feel like I’m getting used to being cheesy these days.’

In crisis situations, I unconsciously resort to being cheesy.

I guess it’s because I’ve gotten into the habit of dealing with my family like that…

Is this what they mean when they say a leaky bucket leaks inside and outside? [Meaning that one’s true nature will eventually be revealed.]

Anyway, that day, before heading to the Diluculum Hall with the Empress’s maids, Ruatisha had called Lady Aizel aside.

And made her a spy.

“Hmm.”

Ruatisha tilted her head and stroked the letter with her fingertips.

“What’s the content?”

“She wrote it in front of me, but I didn’t see it. I could have seen it if I had craned my neck, but I didn’t. Just as you told me, Princess.”

“Yes, there’s no need to force yourself to snoop now. Even if you don’t find out anything, building trust is more important.”

“Don’t worry. Her Majesty seems quite touched by the loyalty I’ve shown.”

“She must have been suspicious at first.”

The Empress tends to act before thinking, but she’s not a complete fool.

“Everyone betrayed her and left, but only you remained? It would be strange if she wasn’t suspicious. Don’t let your guard down and be careful.”

“I understand.”

Lady Aizel replied gloomily.

“Well, she must be starting to trust you now. It’s been several months since then, and in the meantime, you’ve only acted as the Empress’s maid.”

Last time, when sending the letter to Madam Sara, she didn’t even try to intercept it.

It was because Ruatisha had warned her that she might be followed.

“Keep in mind. If the Empress gives you a secret order, follow it exactly at first. Don’t even tell me in the middle. You can report it later.”

“However, there’s a problem based on what you’ve told me.”

“A problem?”

“The Empress no longer doubts your loyalty, but she doesn’t trust your abilities.”

“That’s…”

Lady Aizel closed her mouth.

She herself knew very well that she had no talent for devising schemes.

Building a career as the Empress’s assistant maid and then marrying a decent family’s son through that connection.

That was the life Aizel’s father had planned for her, and she thought it was the best option.

“Since she doesn’t expect anything from your abilities, she doesn’t consult you on anything important. There’s no need to add another voice that might leak information. She only gives orders without any explanation when you need to move.”

That’s right.

She only told her to send the letter, but she didn’t tell her why she needed to contact Madam Sara or what the plan was.

“Do you have some kind of insight—? No, I almost asked you something unnecessary.”

Even in difficult situations like now, she doesn’t ask for her opinion at all.

Originally, Lady Aizel wouldn’t have been particularly interested in such things.

‘But things are a little different these days.’

She felt like something had changed since she became Ruatisha’s spy.

Even the Empress’s trivial words and actions, the faces of the people coming and going from the Empress’s palace, which she would have normally overlooked.

Everything had become something worth paying attention to.

A different kind of excitement filled her heart compared to when she had only handled the tasks she was told to do.

It felt like a new path had opened up for her.

“How can I earn trust in my abilities as well?”

Ruatisha straightened her posture, looking at Lady Aizel who had asked the question.

‘Her expression has changed.’

It was different from before, when she reluctantly became a spy due to threats and… well, cuteness.

‘……I knew it.’

From her reaction that day, Lady Aizel was a person with unique standards in many ways.

Having unique standards meant she was far from living an ordinary life.

She had just been bored because she hadn’t had the ability or opportunity.

A spy who reluctantly spies because of threats is on a different level from an active spy.

Ruatisha grinned.

“You said the Empress wants to get the seal back, right?”

“You don’t mean… you’re going to help her get the seal back?”

“No, not yet.”

Ruatisha shook her head and placed a small portrait on the table.

“Oh? This person……”

“Have you seen her before?”

“It’s her. The person the Empress is desperately trying to invite. Madam Sara, whom I mentioned before.”

“She’s half-covering her face with a veil, are you sure? She came to the Empress’s palace covered up, too. Isn’t it just that the image is similar?”

“Her ears are the same.”

“You have a really good eye.”

Lady Aizel was inwardly proud.

It was the first time in her life that her abilities were being recognized.

After becoming a spy, her efforts to pay attention to everything were paying off.

‘I didn’t expect her to recognize her at a glance. I was going to give her the portrait and have her compare it next time Madam Sara came……’

Ruatisha was impressed.

‘The ‘Madam Sara’ whom the Empress relies on so much is the ‘witch’ who contacted Mrs. Heuin……’

Ariel had powers related to the ban [likely referring to a magical restriction or curse].

Madam Sara was also likely to be involved with that power.

‘Could it be that the reason Sid was cursed was because of the Empress and Madam Sara, who was instigated by the Empress?’

If that were true.

‘I can never forgive them.’

“Handle this letter as the Empress ordered.”

“Aren’t you going to check the contents?”

“I can guess the contents. It’s probably about compensation for cooperation.”

“I see.”

“Where did she tell you to put this letter?”

“Lankan Florist on Lankan Avenue. Under the crocus pot.”

“Same as last time.”

Ruatisha nodded in satisfaction.

“After placing the letter and returning to the palace, tell the Empress this.”

Ruatisha told Lady Aizel a few things.

Then, after some time, she left the building and got into the carriage.

“Fris, Sandra.”

When she opened the carriage door and called out softly, the two appeared, she didn’t know how.

Their abilities were truly amazing.

“Keep an eye on the Lankan Florist on Lankan Avenue.”

“Huh? Us?”

“You have members, even if it’s not you two.”

“We were ordered to protect you from some thug approaching you when you go out… No, to protect your safety. And that order is our top priority.”

“Fris, what department did you say you were in again?”

“……MyMoneyMyHand YourNeckMyHand PrettyCutePretty OurYoungestGranddaughterPrincess TMI department.”

“Ugh……!”

“Princess?”

“No, hearing the real name suddenly makes me dizzy……”

“You asked first, Princess!”

Fris shouted with a flushed face.

Honestly, he, the head of MyMoneyMyHand YourNeckMyHand PrettyCutePretty OurYoungestGranddaughterPrincess TMI department, was more embarrassed than Ruatisha.

Above all, that wasn’t even the true full name.

Because the phrase ‘My money is my granddaughter’s, your life is my granddaughter’s’ was abbreviated to ‘MyMoneyMyHand YourNeckMyHand.’

TMI was literally an abbreviation for Too Much Information.

In any case, the identity as an information organization was being maintained.

The problem was that information gathering was only done on Ruatisha.

Ruatisha, who had recovered from her dizziness, asked Fris.

“As evidenced by the department name, Fris and the members of the SSS department’s lives are mine, right?”

SSS was an abbreviation for Super GranddaughterPrincess News.

The members created an abbreviation that didn’t remind them of the original name as much as possible.

“No, our lord didn’t create it with that meaning……”

Fris trailed off.

Was that really not the case?

Die if my granddaughter princess wants you to.

It was as if such a voice was being heard from somewhere…….

“Hoo, I don’t want to use this again.”

Ruatisha twisted her hair and looked at the two with an innocent face.

Fris and Sandra swallowed hard.

They knew very well what kind of devil was lurking behind that innocent face.

“If Dad and Grandpa find out that I secretly went to see Prince Sidrian at the Imperial Palace last time without my family knowing, they’ll be really surprised, right?”

Smiling brightly.

“You two didn’t tell Dad and Grandpa about that, either.”

That’s because you threatened us, Princess!

The two screamed silently.

“Here’s a question. Who will get scolded, me or you two?”

In the end, Fris and Sandra had no choice but to gather members from the SSS and WBD departments and send them to Lankan Avenue.

* * *

Ruatisha, who had returned to the Duke’s residence, took a bath first.

The trap had already been set.

Now, all that was left was to wait.

‘Since that’s been taken care of, I should meet with Mrs. Sheruin soon.’

The quest to be introduced to the social club 〈Metis〉 by Mrs. Sheruin remained.

〈Metis〉 was the most prestigious club among social clubs, where intellectuals gathered.

‘This will be an opportunity to make up for the influence that was reduced due to the forced activation last time. And……’

Ruatisha watched the otter waddling around and then bowed her head deeply.

Splash!

Water splashed.

Hot water covered her face.

‘Ugh, really!’

Ruatisha lifted her head sharply and shook off the water.

‘I’m going crazy. I just nursed him, so why do I keep thinking about him!’

It wasn’t like this when I nursed him in the past.

But now, if she stayed still, she thought of Sid.

The pale face covered in sweat.

The smile he gave when their eyes met.

The voice that called out, Ruatisha.

The sculpted back.

That awkward moment.

And…….

‘The wound on his side.’