Lord Baby Runs A Romance Fantasy With Cash [EN]: Chapter 208

The Empress widened her eyes and then smiled.

Cidrian stared at her face for a moment.

The tip of his hand twitched.

But it didn’t move beyond that.

His violet eyes turned to Ruatisha.

Ruatisha hugged her own shoulders and patted them. Then, she pretended to wipe away tears.

Still, Cidrian’s hand didn’t know how to move.

Ruatisha patted her shoulder again and leaned in.

Cidrian, who had been staring intently at Ruatisha, finally raised his hand and stroked his mother’s shoulder.

Pat, pat.

A slightly awkward touch.

The Empress watched her son and smiled with tearful eyes.

Cidrian couldn’t meet her gaze and quickly turned his head away.

‘He’s feeling awkward, Cid,’ Ruatisha thought.

Ruatisha smiled gently.

‘But he will gradually learn what family is and become accustomed to it.’

‘Just like I did.’

Ruatisha lifted her head.

Thanks to the snow that fell overnight, the sky was endlessly clear.

‘Ah, I miss Dad.’

And my brothers and grandfather too.

It was then.

Ruatisha, lost in longing as she thought of her family, saw things she shouldn’t have seen.

‘……Fris? And…… Sandra?’

Doubt soon turned into certainty.

Ruatisha’s pupils widened as if an earthquake had struck.

‘Crazy. Why are they here?!’

The presence of those two meant that WBD [likely an abbreviation for a protective unit] and SSS [likely an abbreviation for another protective unit] were all here.

She knew very well that they were secretly guarding her一.

‘This is the Imperial Palace!’

Sneaking into the Imperial Palace! Did they want to be arrested for treason?

Sandra and Fris, who had made eye contact with Ruatisha, began to send hand signals.

A large X mark.

‘Not allowed?’

And suddenly, they grabbed each other’s hands tightly and pressed their foreheads together.

“……?”

The two of them turned their heads in that state and looked at Ruatisha.

‘Why are they suddenly being so lovey-dovey?’

Ruatisha’s expression soured.

Of course, Fris and Sandra’s expressions were already sour.

They were disgusted and let go of each other’s hands.

‘No, if that’s the case, why did they do a forehead kiss?’

Ruatisha was dumbfounded.

‘But if you look closely, Fris’s ears are a little red, even if Sandra isn’t…….’

Oh ho.

A smile appeared on Ruatisha’s lips.

Nothing is as exciting as someone else’s love life.

Ruatisha pointed at Fris and Sandra and made a heart with her hands.

‘Are they dating?’

She was just trying to tease them, but a happy smile appeared on Sandra’s face. Fris was twisting his body and liking it.

“……?”

What, Fris is creepy.

It was when Ruatisha frowned.

“Womanizer.”

A low voice dug into her ear.

She raised her head and saw Cidrian standing next to her, looking down at her.

“Wo, womanizer?”

“You gave hearts to just anyone.”

“Huh?”

Cidrian gestured towards Sandra and Fris.

“Even to two people at the same time.”

A sulky gaze.

Ruatisha blinked as she looked at Cidrian’s sulky face.

‘Is he really jealous?’

“No, that heart doesn’t mean that…….”

“If the heart doesn’t mean that, then what does it mean?”

“…….”

“You’ve never given me anything like that.”

“…….”

What is with him?

‘Why is he so cute?’

Did he only learn how to be direct in the Demon Realm?

Ruatisha tried hard to lower the corners of her lips, which were about to rise.

At that moment, the Empress asked.

“Lulu, who are those two people?”

“Th, that’s…….”

Now was not the time to be happy that Cidrian was cute.

Ruatisha was sweating cold.

‘What should I say…….’

“You know them, right? If not, they are intruders in the Imperial Palace and I will immediately一.”

“Ah, yes, I know them!”

Ruatisha, startled, answered quickly.

“Is that so? Even so, entering the Imperial Palace without permission is a big deal. If someone else had seen it, they would have been punished.”

“Yes, I know. I’m sorry.”

“Why is our Lulu sorry? It’s those people who did wrong. So, who are they anyway?”

“Th, that is…….”

The leader of the MyDaughterProtectionUnit of Paeraton and the leader of the MyMoneyMyHandYourLifeMyHand PetiteCutePretty OurYoungestGranddaughterPrincess TMI Unit of MyMoneyMyHandYourLifeMyHand.

‘How can I say this myself!’

Ruatisha hesitated, unlike her usual self, and the Empress’s eyes narrowed.

“I know that our Lulu is so compassionate that she tries to protect others. But these things must be clearly revealed and punished.”

No, Empress.

I really know them, and they are my companions.

‘How can I say this!’

She was going crazy.

“How dare you set foot in the Imperial Palace without permission? Come out and reveal your affiliation and name!”

The Empress’s dignity and charisma emanated from her body as she shouted.

Sandra and Fris looked at each other, came out from the bushes, and knelt before the Empress.

“Greetings to Her Majesty the Empress.”

“Affiliation and name?”

“……I am Sandra, the leader of the MyDaughterProtectionUnit of the Paeraton Duchy.”

“MyDaugh…… what?’

“……MyDaughterProtectionUnit, Your Majesty.”

“…….”

The Empress was silent.

‘Of course. I would be speechless too.’

Ruatisha wanted to dig a hole in the ground and hide right away.

“I am Fris, the leader of the MyMoneyMyHandYourLifeMyHand PetiteCutePretty OurYoungestGranddaughterPrincess TMI Unit of the Tarenka Marquisate.”

“MyMoneyMyHandYourLifeMyHand?”

“It’s an abbreviation for ‘My money is my granddaughter’s, your life is my granddaughter’s’.”

“…….”

The Empress was silent again.

Ruatisha wondered if she should find a shovel right now.

Finally, the Empress’s lips opened.

“……Wow.”

“Yes?”

“I’m jealous.”

Fris and Sandra forgot their manners and stared blankly at the Empress.

Ruatisha scratched her ear.

‘Did I hear wrong?’

“I didn’t know that Marquis Tarenka’s naming sense was this good.”

……Excuse me?

“Hoo, well. He was originally famous for being resourceful. Being resourceful means having a good sense.”

Sense? That is?

“……I’m so envious. But if I create a secret escort team for our Lulu…… cough, there will be controversy over preferential treatment, right?”

The Empress looked at Ruatisha with eyes that seemed to regret it.

Ruatisha inadvertently looked at the Empress with somewhat disrespectful and insolent eyes.

‘Was the Empress too stressed? Or did meeting her son stimulate a part of her brain that shouldn’t be stimulated because she was so happy?’

She felt complicated.

Even in the midst of that, the Empress smiled, putting her hands together, saying that she had a good idea.

“Ah, I can become my daughter-in-law. Who would say anything about giving a family an escort?”

“That’s an excellent idea.”

Cidrian, who had been silent, suddenly chimed in.

The Empress’s face lit up.

“Right? Hehe, we are indeed mother and son. We match so well. What should I name it?

I want to surpass Marquis Tarenka.”

It was when the two were sharing family affection(?).

Sandra cautiously opened her mouth.

“About that, Your Majesty. His Excellency the Duke had a special order.”

“……?”

“Even if the ‘m’ of marriage comes out, I must risk my life to interfere.”

“The Marquis told us to run away with the young lady.”

‘Ah…….’

Ruatisha realized.

‘So that forehead kiss earlier wasn’t just being lovey-dovey, it meant marriage.’

Wait a minute.

‘Then they even infiltrated the Imperial Palace because of that? What if they get caught for treason?’

Of course, the Empress wouldn’t do that.

‘Ha, my head hurts.’

“Our Princess has no intention of getting married for the next hundred years.”

“She won’t have any even after a hundred years. Then we’ll be on our way.”

Sandra grabbed Ruatisha and ran away.

“Wh, what!”

“The Marquis said that since we safely brought Prince Cidrian to the Imperial Palace, there’s no need to get involved any further.”

“Didn’t the Princess want to see her family anyway? Let’s go home. They prepared honey cake.”

“No, I don’t want to see them. I don’t want to see them anymore.”

I want to be alone!

However, Ruatisha’s cry did not reach anyone’s ears.

* * *

The Empress was stroking the soft silver fox fur with a smile on her face.

The newly presented items were all to her liking.

“Hmm, I should tell Esteban to take good care of Baron Norten.”

At that moment, one of her close maids hurriedly returned to the room.

“Your Majesty the Empress, something has happened.”

“What is it that you are acting so rashly?”

The Empress asked back in a sharp voice, as her pleasant feelings were disturbed.

“Prince Cidrian has returned.”

“……!”

The Empress’s movements stopped abruptly.

She threw away the silver fox fur that she liked so much and jumped up from her seat.

“What are you talking about! Prince Cidrian has returned?!”

The close maids lowered their heads at the Empress’s angry voice.

“He is meeting with His Majesty the Emperor.”

“With His Majesty?”

The Empress gritted her teeth.

“Why is that guy popping up now! Shouldn’t he have died a long time ago?!”

“……We thought so too.”

The maids blurred their words, not knowing what to do.

But it wasn’t exactly their fault.

Everyone, even the common people, thought that the missing Prince Cidrian was already dead.

Six years was a long time.

Even though the Emperor had issued a major search order several times, he couldn’t find him.

At that point, they should have been able to find even a corpse, but the fact that they couldn’t find it meant that it was either damaged beyond recognition or that even the corpse was destroyed, so it was such a strict search that even such rumors circulated.

“Your Majesty, calm down. Getting angry is not good for your health.”

“Do you think I can calm down?!”

“As Your Majesty the Empress said, he has returned now, hasn’t he?”

The Empress’s gaze turned to her close maid.

“The Crown Prince is already His Highness Esteban. What will change even if Prince Cidrian pops up now?”

“That’s right, Your Majesty. His Highness Esteban has already completed the investiture ceremony a long time ago and is also participating in state affairs, isn’t he?”

“Deposing an already appointed Crown Prince is not something that can be done easily. The Empire is not a country without roots.”

The Empress slowly calmed her anger.

“…….”

As she sat down, her close maid quickly pushed the tea to her.

“Yes, that’s right.”

The Empress nodded.

So many things had happened before Esteban rose to the position of Crown Prince.

He overcame all those things and eventually rose to that position.

“No matter how much a bug wriggles, the Crown Prince is still my son. The position of the next Emperor as well.”

The Empress smiled and sipped her tea.

“You came back too late, Cidrian. If you were going to come this late, you should have died six years ago.”

The Empress said to the maids.

“It’s a happy day that the Prince has returned. How can I, as the Empress, stay still? Send a gift to Cidrian’s palace.”

At those words, the close maids smiled.

“I understand, Your Majesty. We will choose carefully and send it.”

* * *

“Surah! The leader is back!”

“Yeah, that’s good.”

“Hahaha! It’s good! Of course it’s good! There couldn’t be anything better than this!”

Baren hugged me tightly and spun me around.

‘Hmm, it’s like riding an amusement park ride.’

Because his body was so big and strong, it felt even more stable than wearing a seat belt.

“What…… are you doing?”

A chilling voice that seemed to freeze the spine was lowered in the room.

Baren froze in the position he was spinning around in.

“Baren.”

Baren released the hand that was hugging me as if a button had been pressed.

“Ugh!”

How can you let go of me like this from up here!

As I was horrified, a gentle wind wrapped around me.

“Baren, Miss Surah could have been hurt.”

“S, sorry, Surah!”

“It’s okay. Thank you, Nemis.”

“You’re welcome.”

Nemis smiled gently and then gasped.

His gaze was subtly off me.

When I turned my head, Echen was standing below me, floating in the air, with his hands spread out.

The moment I confirmed that, the wind that was wrapping around me disappeared.

Echen naturally caught me as I fell.

“Did you get very close while I was gone?”

A crooked smile.

But Baren, who couldn’t read the atmosphere, laughed heartily and nodded.

“Of course, Surah was practically leading our guild during the time the leader was gone. Now she’s practically one of our family!”

“Hmph.”

‘No, wasn’t Baren quick-witted, unlike his big size? Where did he suddenly lose his sense of awareness?’

As I was flustered, Echen hugged me even tighter.

My cheek touched his firm chest.

‘Wow, it smells really good.’

I unknowingly sniffed, but suddenly felt that the room was too quiet.

When I raised my head, Cidrian was red up to his neck and avoiding my gaze.

Thump, thump, thump!

The sound of my heart beating from my touching cheek sounded like thunder.

“Yeah, well. Should we give you some privacy?”

“You are both adults and have reunited after suffering, so I won’t stop you, but you should still be aware of the time and place…….”

“Hey, can a couple on fire do that? You have a lover, so don’t you know that? We should give you some privacy.”

“Ah, I was oblivious.”

No, that’s not it!

It’s just that Echen smelled good…….

‘Huh? Come to think of it, doesn’t that sound a bit perverted?’

I quickly changed the subject.

“In celebration of Echen’s return, I have something to tell you.”

“……It seems like a serious story, but you shouldn’t do it in that state, right?”

At Nemis’s point, I finally realized that I was still in Echen’s arms.

“Ugh!”

As I was surprised and tried to get down, Echen whispered, “Stay still,” and gently lowered me.

Carefully touching the ground from my feet so that I wouldn’t stagger.

It was strangely quiet after I got down on the floor.

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

“Ah, no, well, that’s.”

“Ah, it’s nothing. I, you said you had something important to say?”

The faces of the two people who were flustered were red.

I looked at them suspiciously, nodded, and opened my mouth.

* * *

A few days later, the Imperial Palace.

I checked the video stone [a device for recording and playing videos] in my arms for the last time and straightened my back.

As I nodded, the servant announced inside.

“Your Majesty, the Princess of Paeraton has arrived.”

“Let her in quickly.”

The tightly closed door opened, and a rather small room came out, which was said to be the Emperor’s room.

However, unlike the small size of the room, it was filled with all sorts of precious objects.

This was the inner room where only people whom the Emperor thought of intimately were greeted.

Count Chezia, the Minister of the Imperial Household, who was with the Emperor, smiled at me.

“I greet His Majesty the Emperor.”

“Oh, come in quickly. Ruatisha, there’s no need for such formalities between us, so sit down.”

I smiled and sat in front of the Emperor.

The table was filled with my favorite things.

“So, you said you had something to tell me?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“What kind of news has my lovely lark brought today?”

The Emperor’s eyes were full of anticipation.

‘Oh dear, what should I do? Today’s news is not something that His Majesty will like.’

It was news that would bring turmoil to the Imperial Palace.