Lord Baby Runs A Romance Fantasy With Cash [EN]: Chapter 21

[Ability is activated.]

[Targeting…Target locked. Marquis Tarenka.]

[Marquis Tarenka’s emotional state messages will be displayed for three hours.]

As soon as the notification appeared, Marquis Tarenka’s emotions were displayed.

[Marquis Tarenka is astonished and enraged by the reader’s words and actions.]

But I didn’t need to see it to know his feelings.

His expression was enough.

“You came to get your money?”

“Yes, my money.”

“You…!”

“Shall we sit down first?”

I said, sitting at the tea table in the greenhouse.

The Marquis’s eyes twitched at my behavior, not only interrupting him but also sitting down without permission.

“How dare you act so presumptuously!”

The family servant tried to step forward at the loud noise, but I quickly stopped him with a gesture.

He’s my prey!

No more flat soda!

“I don’t need to show courtesy to someone who stole my money.”

“Huh, I stole your money?”

“You filled your own pockets with the money given to raise me, so you stole my money.”

“You ungrateful wretch! I didn’t abandon you on the streets and raised you until now!”

Marquis Tarenka raged.

[Marquis Tarenka doubts the reader’s sanity. He wonders what the reader had for dinner.]

‘…These are useless notifications.’

I wish I could read the Marquis’s thoughts like the female lead in .

I shouldn’t have dropped it.

‘I need information, so should I poke him a little more?’

“I heard you bought a mana stone mine and mining rights with my upbringing expenses?”

“What nonsense! Duke Paeraton invested in me!”

“So, either way, you bought it with Paeraton’s money?”

“Ahem…!”

[Marquis Tarenka feels ashamed that he was outsmarted by a child.]

I smiled and continued.

“That’s strange. The only money you received from Paeraton was my upbringing expenses.”

“No! What I received was an investment, and I never received your upbringing expenses!”

That’s odd.

I tilted my head, looking at the shouting Marquis Tarenka.

[Marquis Tarenka is both angry and relieved. He is much more relaxed.]

‘Why is he relieved and regaining his composure?’

Like someone relieved that they weren’t caught doing what they were most worried about—

‘Ah!’

A flash of realization struck me, and I stared intently at the list and opened my mouth.

“Upbringing expenses.”

[Marquis Tarenka feels joy and superiority.]

‘That’s not it.’

“…Or the mana stone mine.”

“Hmph, what does a child know about adult business?”

Marquis Tarenka puffed himself up and pretended to be nonchalant.

But—.

[Marquis Tarenka is anxious.]

‘Bingo.’

I really didn’t expect this.

‘What’s there to hide about the mana stone mine?’

If he’s worried about lying that Paeraton invested, shouldn’t he react more to the upbringing expenses?

Anyway, let’s stir things up.

“I heard you were selling Paeraton’s name while encouraging other nobles to invest in the mana stone mining business. I find that a bit strange.”

“What’s strange about it? Mining requires a lot of money! It’s natural to receive investments. It’s none of a child’s business!”

Is that so?

“Then why are you so flustered?”

Marquis Tarenka was good at managing his expression, but it didn’t work on me.

“What?”

“—It’s like.”

[Marquis Tarenka vehemently denies the reader’s words and is anxious.]

“—Like you’re hiding something. Pathetic.”

Pupils of Marquis Tarenka trembled.

I stared at the notification window changing so quickly I couldn’t read it.

That meant the Marquis was very agitated.

‘I’ve shaken him properly for now.’

“I’ve been watching quietly, thinking of our past relationship, but I really can’t stand it anymore.”

He’s trying to act calm, but his emotional state is a mess.

“Now that I think about it, it’s really strange. The math doesn’t add up.”

Mana stone.

It’s a mineral filled with mana, like in novels.

But there was something unique about this place—.

‘Empty mana stones come out.’

It means that after spending money, time, and manpower to mine mana stones, empty cans with no mana come out.

It wasn’t like that in the past.

In the past, all the mined mana stones were full of mana.

But empty mana stones started appearing about 300 years ago.

The frequency has increased, and recently, there are more empty ones than those filled with mana.

Naturally, the price of mana stones has increased.

It’s truly a high-risk, high-return business.

‘You could use a strategy to diversify the risk by receiving a lot of investment.’

But why?

Not just anything, but the mana stone mining business?

‘Ah…!’

At that moment, realization struck me.

‘Yes, that’s what it was.’

The corners of my mouth turned up on their own.

“Come to think of it, there were a lot of people visiting the mansion from last spring to summer.”

“I am Marquis Tarenka. I always have many guests.”

Marquis Tarenka scoffed and tilted his chin arrogantly.

But I didn’t lose my smile.

Because I could see it clearly.

[Marquis Tarenka is shocked by the reader’s words. He is in denial.]

It was then.

Knock, knock, a knock on the door, and the butler entered.

He whispered something, and the Marquis rose from his seat.

[Marquis Tarenka is excited with anticipation. He feels a slight anxiety but soon denies it.]

“I’m not free enough to listen to your useless stories. Go back!”

He left the greenhouse without waiting for an answer.

‘Anticipation and anxiety?’

I tilted my head, recalling the emotions that appeared in the butler’s whisper.

“What’s going on?”

No, but if he leaves like this, what about me?

‘My quest! If I fail, I’ll become a baby again!’

Now that the penalty has disappeared with the quest acceptance benefit, and I’m maintaining perfect rational thinking, I realize how big of a problem this is.

My reason, once lost and regained, is even more precious.

‘I can’t get a mine and mining rights from someone who doesn’t have them… Should I just steal the documents?!’

“It seems other nobles have arrived.”

I turned my head at the family servant’s words.

Uncle, you heard that? Even though you were farther away than me?

“They said they are waiting for the Marquis after making a decision.”

My eyes widened at those words.

“Let’s go!”

I quickly got up from my seat and ran out.

“They’re probably mana stone investors! Then they must be in the reception room!”

“I think so too, but are you going to follow? Miss, in front of the Marquis—”

“Uncle!”

I turned around to look at the family servant.

He was the one I had to bring because Dad would never send me to Marquis Tarenka’s mansion alone.

“Don’t stop me! You promised not to interfere unless I’m in a dangerous situation in the carriage! You even got paid for it!”

“I stroked the young lady’s head to my heart’s content.”

“Yes, so keep your promise. This is give and take!”

“But I didn’t promise to stay still in front of other nobles.”

This uncle, really!

“Cheek.”

He spat out.

“This time it’s the cheek. Just once! Let me pat it.”

I narrowed my eyes and looked at him.

Honestly, I didn’t trust him.

“This time it’s not prepaid. It’s postpaid. You tried to interrupt the Marquis earlier!”

“But I didn’t stay still in the end. I did well, didn’t I?”

“So it’s postpaid. If you don’t bother me, I’ll let you pat it later.”

“…Is there an additional payment if I’m helpful?”

“Of course.”

“Deal.”

“Deal!”

It’s settled.

I confidently moved my steps. Of course, I know where the reception room is.

“And young lady.”

“What again!”

“About the story you were about to tell earlier.”

“Just don’t say it.”

“You were cool in front of the Marquis. You’re different from ordinary children.”

Ouch.

I glanced at the family servant’s expression.

Even I thought it wasn’t something a four-year-old could say.

‘Oh, no, what if he thinks I’m weird?’

“As expected, you’re a Paeraton!”

“Huh?”

“I was more excited than when the third young master beat a monster when he was two years old.”

What? A two-year-old beat a monster?

But uncle… you were excited?

“Honestly, I’m more excited about excellent eloquence than force, because I’m in liberal arts.”

Ah, yes.

I learned information I didn’t really want to know.

“That eloquence that you can never think of as four years old! If the young lady wasn’t a Paeraton, I would have thought she was a reincarnator, haha! A reincarnator, there’s no way such a thing exists! Hahaha!”

“Oh, uh, uh. Right. There’s no such thing as a reincarnator! It’s because I’m a Paeraton! This much is natural for a Paeraton!”

“As expected, Paeraton is the best! Honestly, I was disappointed… no, I was sad that the young lady didn’t have . Paeraton’s blood doesn’t go anywhere!”

“Of course, of course!”

Haha, hahaha, hahahaha!

I smiled awkwardly and asked cautiously.

“But uncle, what’s your name?”

“Oh, do you like me?”

No, I’m trying to avoid you.

Even if you do a somersault, it’s not normal.

* * *

“Did you enjoy the wine?”

“As much as the Marquis put his heart into it.”

Marquis Tarenka smiled at that answer.

“There’s no need to drag out the story. I heard you’ve made a decision.”

Duke Delbatren, Duke Iskamil, and Marquis Sherodel exchanged glances at those words.

“Solid evidence is more reliable than words.”

“What do you mean?”

“I will withdraw the investment recovery.”

An unmistakable smile bloomed on Marquis Tarenka’s lips at that declaration.

Yes!

This is the end of everything!

It was that moment.

“Well.”

A clear voice poured cold water on the Marquis’s joy.

The three nobles raised their eyebrows at the small child in the doorway.

“Who are you?”

“Hello. I am Ruatisha, daughter of Paeraton, greeting you esteemed guests.”

“Oh, isn’t that Paeraton’s youngest princess!”

“I think I’ve seen her somewhere….”

“A truly cute and lovely princess. It’s hard to believe she’s a Paeraton.”

Ruatisha smiled brightly and entered the reception room.

“What is this rudeness! No matter how bored you are, you shouldn’t interfere in adult conversations!”

Marquis Tarenka, who missed the timing because he was flustered, hurriedly scolded Ruatisha and bowed to the nobles.

“Please forgive my niece’s rudeness.”

“No, it’s not exactly rude. Honestly, who isn’t curious about Paeraton’s youngest princess?”

“But what do you mean? It’s better to think again.”

“Duke Paeraton must have ordered it! To use even a child!”

Marquis Tarenka shouted, veins popping out. He couldn’t ruin it here when everything was going well.

“You shouldn’t think of Paeraton’s children as their age. Don’t you all know!”

“Wow! As expected, Uncle also thinks our family is outstanding! Thank you!”

Ruatisha smiled brightly and bowed deeply.

The child tilted her head, looking at Marquis Tarenka, who was momentarily speechless.

“But Uncle, why are you so excited?”

“What?”

“Whether Dad ordered it or not, there’s no need to be so excited. It’s just a child’s words, as Uncle said.”

Ruatisha blinked her big eyes innocently.

“Dad said he gets angry like that when he feels guilty.”

Marquis Tarenka paused to choose his words.

He was too agitated because she interfered at the moment he thought everything was going well.

‘I need to calm down now.’

The gazes of those old men have changed.

“It’s bad to drive a wedge between friends. You have to be strict when educating children. If you confuse the wisdom of the Duke and Marquis here with false words—”

“Huh? I heard that Duke Delbatren, Duke Iskamil, and Marquis Sherodel are really great people.”

The corners of the three men’s mouths loosened as she moved her head, tilting it.

“My words won’t confuse them. They’re the kind of people who would laugh off a child’s absurd words.”

Ruatisha looked at the three men. Her Paraiba-colored eyes shone softly.

“Also, even if it’s a child’s words, they’re the kind of people who will listen if it makes sense.”

The three nobles had blank expressions for a moment before bursting into laughter.

“Heh, heh.”

“This is Paeraton for you.”

“Yes, so what sensible words will the little princess give us?”

“Uncle said Dad invested in the mana stone mine.”

“Yes, he did. And your dad said he didn’t.”

“I have evidence!”

Marquis Tarenka pointed to the check.

Ruatisha wouldn’t mention upbringing expenses here, and even if she did, there’s no evidence.

“But why would Uncle say that?”

“The fact that Paeraton invested is like a guarantee that there will be mana in the mana stone.”

Ruatisha nodded.

In a situation where empty mana stones come out more often than not.

But the mining business that Paeraton invested in always produced mana stones full of mana.

A 100 percent success rate.

People thought.

Paeraton can check whether the mana is full or empty before mining.

Isn’t it a family that uses an unidentified power called ? [Likely referring to a unique family ability or magic]

It’s clear that they’re using it to check.

“That’s a very strange thing.”

“What’s strange?”

“If my dad invested, then the mana stone is full of mana, right?”

“That’s right.”

“Then if we just mine, we’ll get a shower of money, right? But why are you getting investments from the Duke and Marquis?”

Ruatisha tilted her head.

“We could just share it with Dad, but we have to share a lot of money with the Duke and Marquis too.”

A low-risk, high-return business becomes a low-risk, low-return business.

Why would you give up the profit?

“As expected, you can’t have a child. You don’t know, but the mana stone mining business requires a lot of money.”

Duke Iskamil nodded at Marquis Tarenka’s words.

“It’s amazing that you thought that far at such a young age. But Marquis Tarenka is right. If you don’t have enough money, you have no choice but to get an investment.”

‘Yes, that’s obvious.’

Ruatisha nodded.

The nobles here aren’t fools, so there’s no way they wouldn’t have thought of this.

But.

“Isn’t my dad’s money from scamming enough?”

“What, scamming?”

“Extorting!”