Lord Baby Runs A Romance Fantasy With Cash [EN]: Chapter 164

☆ Chapter 164 ☆

* * *

Felix Kaishen stared at Zeon Paeraton, utterly dumbfounded.

Zeon Paeraton, of all people, was indulging in such childish boasting.

However, Zeon’s face was completely serious, as if he wouldn’t leave without an answer.

“…Understood.”

Finally, with that short reply, Zeon smirked and arrogantly raised his chin, passing by him.

Still dumbfounded, Felix watched him go when a small head popped up from Zeon’s shoulder.

Their eyes met, and the head blinked a few times in embarrassment before sticking its tongue out.

“Blegh.”

Then, the head slowly disappeared below his shoulder again.

“…”

And just like that, the Paeraton siblings vanished completely.

Felix lowered his head and rubbed his forehead.

* * *

Returning to the mansion with Zeon, I changed my clothes and went straight down to the dining room.

My family was all seated, waiting for me.

Hehe.

“What’s wrong?”

“I’m just happy.”

In response to Dad’s question, Dad, my brothers, and even Grandpa tilted their heads to the left.

‘If they weren’t family, I’d say they were exactly alike!’

It made me laugh even more.

Sitting down, I was suddenly reminded of my previous life, living alone in a cramped basement room.

Even though it was cramped, even though we fought a lot, I prayed to live with my family in the next life.

It was the same when I lived at my uncle’s house in this life.

Whenever I saw Clottie complaining about not wanting to eat broccoli while having a meal with her parents, I was so envious I didn’t even notice my stomach growling.

‘And yet, somehow, eating with my family has become my daily life!’

Looking back, when I was four or five, Dad and my brothers used to eat separately.

But at some point, it became natural for us to gather together and eat unless there was something special going on.

I poked at the vegetables on my plate.

Then, I gave beans to Zeon, bell peppers to Ares, and carrots to Ixion.

“What’s this?”

“It’s a present!”

“A pre…sent?”

Ixion looked at his plate and began to struggle.

Uncharacteristically for a rabbit, Ixion disliked carrots, but he seemed conflicted since it was a gift.

“You have to eat a balanced diet.”

“Yes, that’s how you grow tall.”

Height is genetic, Grandpa.

In that sense, I may be small now, but I’m about to have a growth spurt!

I stared intently at Dad and Grandpa before picking up onions and broccoli.

Then, I moved them to Dad and Grandpa’s plates.

Dad raised an eyebrow.

A look that said, ‘You just told us to eat a balanced diet, so what is this?’

“Lulu’s present.”

“…Looks delicious.”

I looked at Dad and Grandpa, who were diligently eating the onions and broccoli, with blurry eyes.

‘You said to eat a balanced diet 32 seconds ago?’

Dad, who met my gaze, flinched and spoke sternly.

“Don’t be picky.”

“Yes!”

Hehe, my dad is so cute!

I could see why Mom seduced him.

I nodded my head emphatically and ate a large piece of meat.

‘I’m happy.’

I hope this daily life continues on and on.

‘…To do that, I have to prevent the future tragedy no matter what!’

And to prevent the future tragedy, I need to dig out the sweet potato [a metaphor for a hidden problem] in front of me from its roots!

As I thought that, the conversation I had with Lady Aizelle naturally came to mind.

“I’m sorry, Princess. Lady Sarah kicked me out, so I couldn’t hear what was really important… You even came up with a brilliant idea.”

“No, it’s okay. It’s more important not to arouse unnecessary suspicion from the Empress.”

“Don’t worry about that. I’m always moving with that as my top priority.”

I could guess what Lady Sarah and the Empress talked about in private.

Looking at what Lady Sarah said before sending Lady Aizelle out—.

A story from over 10 years ago.

That she was in cahoots with Ariel.

‘—It must be about when Sid was cursed.’

No matter how much I trust Lady Aizelle, it’s another matter to let someone else hear about your fatal mistakes.

‘So, their goal this time is Sid?’

Otherwise, there’s no reason for Lady Sarah to talk about Sid.

‘Was it not enough to cast a terrible and cruel curse on that young child?’

To dredge up the past and create another vicious plan to torment him.

The image of the child, alone in a vast room where even the air felt stagnant, suffering so much that the blanket was soaked with sweat, came to mind.

I can never forgive them.

‘I’ll stop them no matter what it takes.’

Just then.

Thump.

Another pudding was placed in front of me.

I looked up to see Dad nonchalantly drinking his tea.

Thump, slide, slide.

Pudding and Baumkuchen [a type of German cake] topped with whipped cream too.

Everything gathered in front of me.

My family was pushing their desserts towards me one by one.

“What’s this?”

“A present.”

Seeing Dad, my brothers, and Grandpa answering as if they were indifferent, I finally burst into laughter.

Chapter 28.

The Empire boasts a vast territory that occupies more than half of the continent.

Naturally, there are several central areas as bustling as the capital.

Depending on what criteria you use, people might say that other places are more prosperous than the capital.

But there was one thing that no one disagreed on—.

“Wow, it’s so fancy!”

That was the Imperial Palace’s early summer party, which opened the social season.

Before summer even began, social parties were slowly starting in the central areas of the East, West, South, and North.

However, there was no disagreement that the social season officially began when the party was held at the Imperial Palace.

Because it was a party with such symbolism, it was more dazzling than any party I had ever seen.

As I looked around with sparkling eyes, Ares chuckled and stroked my cheek.

“If you see the fountain show later, my sister’s eyes will be as big as saucers.”

“Fountain show?”

“Yeah. It’ll be even prettier at night. This time, they’re going to fly small magic lanterns like fireflies.”

“I have to see it!”

I clenched my fist.

“Her Majesty the Empress is so sensible!”

Every year, the early summer Imperial Palace banquet was hosted by the Empress, but this year, the Empress Consort held it.

Since the Empress had her seal taken away, the Empress Consort was acting on her behalf.

That’s why it’s said that even more effort was put into it than in previous years.

‘Her Majesty the Empress Consort must be putting her heart and soul into successfully finishing this party.’

Because this party will directly affect the Empress Consort’s reputation.

“…Should I install a large fountain on the mansion grounds?”

I tilted my head at Dad’s words.

“We already have a fountain, don’t we?”

“One that’s bigger than the one in the Imperial Palace.”

“Huh?”

“Should we release firefly magic lanterns in Tarenka Manor all summer long?”

“…”

I closed my mouth at Grandpa’s words.

‘No, why are you trying to compete with the Empress Consort?’

Sometimes, my family gets obsessed with strange things.

“It’s okay.”

“The Empress Consort boasted that my youngest liked her palace garden very much.”

Was that why!

‘I didn’t particularly like it and go to see it.’

It was just a way to secretly go to Sid.

‘No, but why is Her Majesty the Empress Consort competing with our family?’

I couldn’t understand.

At that moment, my eyes met with a noblewoman who was entering the party hall with a seductive gait.

It was Lady Chabonne.

She looked at me and tapped her lips with her fan.

‘Prove your abilities without the help of your family, as promised.’

—That’s what she seemed to be saying.

‘Well, that’s just an excuse to separate me from my family, but still.’

I smiled brightly at Lady Chabonne, pretending not to know.

Then, I asked my family.

“Do you remember what you promised me?”

At my question, my family nodded with reluctant faces.

“If a boy approaches me?”

“We’ll just watch for now.”

“…It was ‘don’t interfere’—.”

I pouted my lips.

But my family didn’t even bat an eye.

“Then, if people say something a little annoying to me?”

“We’ll remember their faces.”

“This was also ‘don’t interfere’—!”

I shouted, jumping up and down, but my family looked at me proudly, as if they had already made many concessions.

“Hmph, then what about the distance from me at today’s party?”

“We’ll move within a radius where we can clean up anything dirty at any time.”

“…Is ‘cleaning’ the cleaning I’m thinking of?”

“…”

Somehow, no one was making eye contact with me.

“As far away as possible! Don’t interfere with my work today!”

“…How can we do that?”

“Even if it’s within a radius where you can clean, the distance is quite far. It just needs to be where my magic reaches.”

It’s not working.

I sighed deeply.

“I’ll give a Lulu’s kiss as a reward to the person who listens the best.”

“…!”

“…!”

My family’s eyes flashed sharply like blades.

Shashashak, shashak!

And they quickly moved away from me.

Whoosh—.

Left alone in an instant, I looked at my family far away with a slightly dumbfounded feeling.

‘Should I say this is a relief, or should I say it’s too much?’

I looked towards Lady Chabonne.

She was wearing a gentle smile, as if satisfied.

* * *

“I’m so glad to meet Aurora like this.”

“The Princess’s answer that day was truly impressive. How can she have such insight at such a young age?”

“Princess! Um, I’m going to hold my first tea party in a month, and I was wondering if you could grace us with your presence?”

“Would you give me the honor of dancing with the Princess?”

As soon as my family disappeared, people rushed towards me.

From adults to children of my age.

“Whew, so popular?”

Raphael whistled, with his hands behind his head.

I grabbed Raphael’s sleeve and dragged him to a corner.

Fortunately, Raphael followed me willingly.

“To drag me to such a secluded place. You’re more daring than I thought?”

He was just making some silly jokes.

“Don’t stay by my side today.”

“Why?”

“Don’t ask why. If you’re bored, stay with Tyriel, Jasmine, and Claudia.”

Raphael frowned.

“I don’t want to.”

“Why?”

They’re all close friends, right?

Before I could hear Raphael’s answer, Sid came into my sight.

“Anyway, don’t come to me.”

I left those words and quickly turned towards Sid.

At that moment, a sharp voice dropped behind my back.

“Because of that guy?”

I was horrified and turned to look at Raphael.

Looking around, fortunately, no one seemed to have heard.

“What if someone heard you!”

Raphael stared at me, shrugged his shoulders, and chuckled.

“Okay. I won’t talk to you today.”

He looked the same as usual.

I hesitated for a moment and opened my mouth.

“Let’s go to Hive Street for ice cream secretly with the other kids next time.”

“It’s a promise.”

Raphael smiled.

I smiled back and headed towards Sid.

‘I think I’ve been too careless with Raphael.’

Raphael has such an easygoing personality that he doesn’t care about trivial things, so I thought it would be easier.

From Raphael’s point of view, I was his best friend, and suddenly, he was forced to hang out with other girls through my introduction.

In a way, he might think he’s been robbed of a friend.

‘If today goes well, let’s make time for Raphael!’

I thought so and approached Sid.

Sid was talking with the Empress Consort.

But.

‘Why does the atmosphere seem so bad?’

They were both exchanging stories with smiles for show, but I could feel the tension all the way over here.

As I quietly approached, I heard the Empress Consort’s cold voice.

“That’s Bonbi’s business. It doesn’t seem like something the Prince should be concerned about. The Princess and the Prince don’t have any particular relationship, do they? Not even family.”

Were they talking about me?!

“It is natural for Eos to take care of Aurora, who is his partner.”

“Well, that doesn’t mean she’s a lifelong partner.”

“There are many things between the Princess and me that Her Majesty the Empress Consort is unaware of. The Princess and I are bound by a rather strong relationship.”

Sid said with an arrogant face.

‘You mean I was his slave!’

Is that something to brag about?

I was dumbfounded.

But what was even more absurd was that the Empress Consort was looking at Sid with a jealous face.

At that moment, Sid found me.

“Princess.”

A smile like the spring sun appeared on his face, which had been as cold as arrogance.

“Luatisha!”

The Empress Consort also recognized me and looked pleased.

I felt an ominous premonition.

It felt like the same thing that happened when I was with my family was about to happen….