Lord Baby Runs A Romance Fantasy With Cash [EN]: Chapter 181

☆ Chapter 181 ☆

He was looking at me with a calculating gaze.

When our eyes met, he chuckled and muttered,

“I like this version of you better.”

“……”

‘What on earth is he trying to say?’

Prince Esteban held out his hand to me.

“Since I encountered a lady on the promenade, I should escort—.”

“I’m fine.”

“……I knew it. I figured as much.”

He withdrew his hand smoothly, as if not embarrassed, and grinned.

It was a smile that would make young ladies’ hearts flutter, but it didn’t affect me at all.

‘I didn’t like him before, but he’s even more annoying now.’

I was already angry about the Empress’s performative mourning, so there was no way I would see her son, Esteban, in a good light.

“Then, I’ll be going.”

I bowed slightly and briskly walked past him.

* * *

“……Isn’t it interesting?”

Esteban, watching Ruatisha walk away with hurried steps, spoke slyly.

The knight next to him looked at him, dumbfounded.

“Pardon?”

“It was amusing when she was giggling and bustling around like she wasn’t a Paeraton [referring to her noble family], but seeing her so subdued like that is even more amusing.”

The knight’s expression turned strange.

He was already feeling sorry for the bright child who was exuding a gloomy aura that didn’t suit her age.

‘But he finds that fun?’

“I thought she was completely dead inside, but she’s still coldly hostile and prickly towards me.”

“…….”

The knight was silent for a moment, unable to find the right words.

The boy’s face looked happier than ever as he said that.

‘As if he had found a new prey.’

‘I heard he was publicly rejected by Lady Paeraton a few times. Is that why he’s gone crazy?’

In any case, the words he had to say at this point were decided.

“How dare you be so arrogant to His Highness the Prince—.”

“Yes, how dare I.”

Smirk.

Esteban interrupted the knight and narrowed his eyes.

The eyes of the girl who seemed to have lost her will and looked depressed.

He thought that she wouldn’t reject his outstretched hand now.

‘I thought that would be good too.’

The sight of the hand that had always rejected his now holding his hand and nodding, saying, “Yes, yes.”

It would be lifeless, but wouldn’t that also be beautiful, like a preserved flower?

But.

Even in that state, Ruatisha was fiercely hostile to him.

The eyes that had been dead shone sharply and captured him.

‘This is the first time she’s shown such hostility.’

She had always treated him with a bit of annoyance, as if she didn’t care.

Rather, now that she was dying inside, she was recognizing him more clearly than ever.

“It’s very interesting.”

“Yes?”

“Who else would bother with me and treat me as if they didn’t care? You may have thought you weren’t showing it, but I saw it all.”

“Y-Yes……”

“And now she doesn’t even hide that she hates me.”

“Yes……”

The knight couldn’t find the words to say and just nodded.

To be honest, he could tell that Lady Paeraton hated the Prince so much that he couldn’t deny it.

‘I thought I was good at socializing in my own way.’

He didn’t know whether he should agree with him now, or say that Lady Paeraton also liked the Prince but was just pretending not to.

‘Why is he saying it’s fun in the first place? Is he serious?’

When he glanced at Prince Esteban’s face, he really looked happy.

‘Is he really happy?’

He couldn’t understand at all.

Prince Esteban slowly moved his steps to the meeting place.

An open space beautifully landscaped with a natural blend of oriental arborvitae, Japanese cypress, and juniper trees appeared.

The young masters were already there, chatting.

They found Esteban and jumped up from their seats.

“Have you arrived, Your Highness the Prince.”

“Yes.”

Esteban’s face was slightly contemptuous as he looked at their faces.

But soon he calmly managed his emotions and smiled.

“I’m very happy to see your faces after a long time. Please, sit down.”

“Yes, Your Highness the Prince.”

“Haha, Your Highness, you seem to be getting more radiant every day.”

“Whenever the young ladies gather, they only talk about Your Highness……. I’m just envious.”

“Do you perhaps have a secret? Please tell us.”

Esteban sat down and quietly listened to the young masters’ flattery.

They were all eager to impress him.

No matter how suddenly Sidrian appeared, he had been the Emperor’s only child for over a decade.

Also, unlike Sidrian, he was the Prince born from the Empress, the legal wife.

Even if Esteban’s sky was cloudy for a while now, many nobles thought that the sun would eventually shine above him.

‘……How boring.’

Even those who had connections with Sidrian did not openly show their hostility in front of him.

The only exception—.

Those paraiba-colored eyes that were glaring at him.

The blue eyes with a brighter light than any other color.

Slowly, Esteban’s lips opened.

“I saw something very interesting on the way here.”

“Yes? What interesting thing are you talking about?”

“Lady Paeraton was taking a walk alone.”

“Lady Paeraton?”

At those words, the young masters asked back with puzzled expressions.

It was a huge coincidence.

But was there anything interesting about it?

The puzzled expressions of the young masters soon began to fill with excitement.

Lady Paeraton was a girl who would undoubtedly become the Empire’s most sought-after lady.

The Aurora [a person of remarkable brightness of character or intellect] of this generation.

The immense background of the Paeraton family.

Yet, unlike other Paeratons, she is not intimidating.

Most of all—.

‘She’s pretty.’

In any case, they were adolescent boys.

“But alone…….”

“Isn’t it dangerous? Even if this is a well-managed promenade exclusively for nobles.”

“She could get lost, or she could meet a strange person.”

“Is that so?”

Prince Esteban chuckled inwardly.

‘Those simple-minded guys.’

They were the ones who couldn’t even dare to say a word to Lady Paeraton at parties.

They would feel that this was a golden opportunity.

He didn’t bother to mention that the entire Paeraton family was with her.

He just opened his mouth, inwardly ridiculing the young masters who were like restless puppies.

“Then that would be a big problem.”

“Yes, yes, it’s a big problem.”

“Someone should go and escort the Lady…….”

The young masters were fidgeting, but they couldn’t easily get up.

No matter what, they couldn’t leave the Prince behind.

“How can we neglect the Lady’s safety just to have a chat? As the Prince of the Empire, I cannot tolerate such a thing.”

“T-Then…….”

“The sun is nice. It’s perfect weather for a walk. Since I came out of the Imperial Palace, I’ll take a look around.”

This was no different than pushing them on the back and telling them to go.

The young masters hurriedly got up with brightened faces.

‘Stupid bastards.’

That’s why he despised them.

They had no sense of what was going on and coveted things that were beyond their means.

He wouldn’t have associated with them if Sidrian hadn’t appeared.

‘But their families are useful.’

Esteban gave a bitter smile.

The knight, who had been quietly beside him, opened his mouth.

“Why are you doing this? They’re going to go and hit on Lady Paeraton.”

“The Lady would be quite embarrassed too. If those who don’t know their place cling to her without any tact.”

The knight frowned.

‘Is this revenge for being rejected by the Lady earlier?’

“Aren’t you curious?”

“What are you referring to?”

“If I, whom she hates so much, were to resolve that embarrassing situation for her.”

A gentle smile spread across Esteban’s face.

“What kind of expression will that face show then?”

“…….”

The knight stared at Esteban, forgetting to manage his expression.

So, is this revenge for being rejected, or is he teasing a girl he likes?

‘No, it can’t be the latter, can it?’

Even so, this is not just a casual poke.

“She won’t be able to welcome me right away with her high pride, and she won’t be able to help but express her gratitude to me with her high pride.”

The knight forgot to manage his expression as he watched Esteban chuckle.

‘Wow, he’s really gone crazy.’

He was born with a silver spoon in his mouth and had a slightly annoying personality, but he wasn’t mentally unstable.

Lady Paeraton was a truly amazing child.

To drive a person this crazy.

Esteban, who had no idea what blasphemous thoughts the knight was having, smiled deeply as he thought of Ruatisha.

Those ambivalent feelings would confuse Ruatisha’s heart.

Intensely, fiercely.

Will she reject his hand this time too?

* * *

I swallowed a sigh and looked ahead.

I just wanted to walk alone and punish myself.

“It’s dangerous to be alone, so I’ll escort you.”

‘Being with you guys is more dangerous, you know?’

‘It’s a red light for my eye health.’

“Hey, don’t refuse. Being too reserved isn’t attractive.”

‘If this looks like I’m being reserved, you should just take your eyeballs out.’

“Lady, are you embarrassed by my hand? Stop being shy and take it.”

‘It’s a shame you feel embarrassed.’

‘It’s not that you should be embarrassed, but your hand should have been broken. Unfortunately, I don’t have superpowers.’

“Isn’t it good for the Lady too? When else would you get to monopolize so many young masters?”

‘I wouldn’t even accept if you paid me to monopolize you.’

“Even though it looks like this, I only hear that I’m handsome every morning and evening.”

‘Your parents must be huge fools for their child.’

‘I thought there was no one more foolish for their child than my family, but I think your parents won.’

‘How thick must the rose-colored glasses be to think that face is handsome?’

‘Why are they doing this?’

Prince Esteban appeared earlier, and now young master minions 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 were blocking my way.

In a way, it really felt like I was being punished.

I sighed deeply.

Ignoring them is the answer in these situations.

I turned around, but a young master blocked my way, saying, “Uh-uh!”

“Your oppa [older brother, used by females] will take you.”

I couldn’t help but swear.

“Who are you?”

“What?”

“I don’t remember having such an ugly oppa.”

“Lady!”

“Shut up. I’m not deaf.”

The young masters hesitated when I glared at them coldly.

Soon, they looked at each other, cleared their throats, and approached me again.

“I don’t know why you’re committing such rudeness. We’re just being kind to the Lady—.”

“Kindness that the other person doesn’t want is just rudeness. Don’t you even know such basic common sense?”

The young masters’ faces turned red.

“Rejecting the other person’s goodwill like this is not polite—.”

“First, I hate ugly men.”

“Ugly…… what?”

“Second, I hate people who block my way.”

“…….”

“Third, I hate men who call themselves oppa when they’re not my oppa. I guess you could say I get hives when I hear that?”

“…….”

“Now, here’s a question.”

I looked around at the young master minions 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 and said,

“How disgusting do you think I feel when an ugly man calls himself oppa and blocks my way?”

“…….”

They just stared at me, speechless.

They probably never imagined that they would hear such words to their face in their entire lives.

‘I mean, you should at least know how to read the room when someone is already pissed off, instead of sticking your ugly faces out and being clingy.’

‘If you’re ugly, you should at least be good at reading the atmosphere.’

“I don’t usually judge people by their looks. But you have to know your limits.”

I crossed my arms and leaned to one side.

The young masters seemed flustered by my delinquent posture.

‘I guess they didn’t expect me, who is known for being a well-mannered Aurora, to be like this.’

“Not very handsome, but has a great personality? Then they’re a great person.”

‘But that’s just the etiquette you keep in front of people.’

“But what if you’re ugly and have an ugly personality?”

I spat.

“You’re scum who aren’t worth living for.”

‘Aren’t you guys trash?’

“For the peace of humanity, according to the laws of nature, how about saying goodbye to the world now? You’re wasting air.”

“Lady! Are you acting up like this because you trust the Paeraton family?!”

The young masters, who had been listening to me blankly at the unexpected outburst, began to shout, veins popping out of their necks.

“The esteemed young masters and the Duke aren’t here right now!”

“Ugly! My mom said I’m the most handsome in the world!”

“Ugh, my eyes! I’ve only been looking at good things for my eyes every day, so I don’t have any resistance to ugliness, and my eyeballs are weak, but I’ve seen too much ugliness.”

The young masters stuck out their tongues as I covered my eyes and staggered.

“Eek!”

“You need to taste something bitter to come to your senses!”

As I watched them rush at me, I lightly clenched my fist.

‘I guess they think I’m weak, so they’re acting like this.’

‘You need to be beaten up by a Sword Master to come to your senses.’

‘I can’t let them hit on our cute young ladies like this, so I need to make sure they can never show their faces again.’ It was then.

A hand reaching out from behind lifted me up.

A familiar touch and scent.

“Zeon?”

‘Why is Zeon here?’

Zeon gently covered my eyes.

“Our youngest must have been in a lot of pain.”

His voice was filled with sincerity.

‘……No, I just said that because I was pissed off.’

‘It’s not like my eyes really hurt because I saw something ugly…….’

Zeon hugged me tighter and said in a cool voice,

“Everything that defiles our youngest’s beautiful eyes must be cleaned up.”