Lord Baby Runs A Romance Fantasy With Cash [EN]: Chapter 215

After Cheshia’s party, rumors about the Saintess spread like wildfire. People practically tripped over each other to invite Liel, the woman of the hour, to social gatherings, and Liel never refused.

“Well, Lady Liel一.”

“Lady Liel told me just the other day一.”

“I heard that His Highness the Crown Prince personally escorts her to every party Lady Liel attends?!”

“As expected, the Saintess is different.”

Liel’s name was invariably mentioned amidst the hushed conversations.

“What are you doing?”

I looked up at the blunt question and, unsurprisingly, saw Raphael.

“What do you mean?”

“Are you just going to let it go like that?”

Raphael gestured towards Liel with his chin.

“Let it go? What else would I do?”

Raphael frowned, clearly displeased with my answer.

I sighed and put down my teacup.

“Liel hasn’t done anything wrong. She hasn’t slandered or insulted anyone, has she? She’s just being treated as befits a Saintess.”

“You’re usually so sharp, why are you acting like this now?”

“What?”

Raphael plopped down next to me and lightly bumped his forehead against mine.

“You dolt.”

It was a playful jab, but the usual lightheartedness was absent from his eyes.

Olive-green eyes, a subtle mix of yellow and green, looked at me earnestly.

“I know very well how you got to where you are. It’s not because you rode on Paeraton’s coattails [benefited from Paeraton’s influence or connections], and it’s not just because you’re pretty.”

“……”

“I know better than anyone else how hard you’ve worked, because I’ve always been by your side.”

I had never heard him say anything like that before.

Yes, Raphael had always been by my side.

“……”

I started to speak, then stopped myself.

Then, I casually draped my arm over Raphael’s shoulder.

“Are you worried that your sister is going to lose her reputation?”

“Who’s your sister!”

“Aww, you’re still far from being considered mature if you get so upset at being called ‘sister.’”

“Hey! I’m being serious for once一.”

“I know.”

Raphael stopped protesting at my words and looked at me.

I smiled at him.

“Don’t worry.”

“……Worry? When did I ever?”

Raphael turned his head away, his cheeks flushed.

You shy thing.

‘Well, it doesn’t feel bad.’

While Raphael and I were bickering, the usher announced the Emperor’s arrival.

“His Imperial Majesty enters!”

* * *

“Everyone, relax. I’ve called you young ladies and gentlemen here today because I want to hear your honest opinions.”

The Emperor said, looking at the people seated around the large table.

The people invited by the Emperor today were either from prestigious families or were peers known for their outstanding character.

“I’ve been grappling with a problem lately, and I want to hear perspectives other than those of the stiff-necked senior officials. I’m curious to know what you young, innovative people think.”

“What kind of problem is it?”

“It’s about water management.”

“Water management……? Are you talking about water infrastructure?”

“Yes, the Empire is vast. There are many prosperous regions, but there are also many places suffering from drought and floods.”

Listening to the Emperor and the others, I felt very uneasy.

‘……Isn’t this something Her Majesty the Empress was promoting?’

Clearly, a few months ago, specifically on the day it was revealed that Sid and the Empress were mother and son一.

“The new waterway project that you are promoting with the Emperor’s permission. I’ve heard about it too.”

“How did you一.”

“His Majesty the Emperor told me. He seemed to think I would naturally know?”

We had such a conversation.

And there was only one reason why the Empress was promoting such a large-scale project.

‘To weaken the Empress’s power.’

If successful, it was a project that would immediately have the people of the Empire singing the Empress’s praises.

But what if rumors spread that the Empress was trying to overshadow the Emperor by putting her son forward?

‘Naturally, public opinion of the Empress and Crown Prince Esteban would worsen.’

I thought it was a very clever move, and the Emperor was actively supporting the project, so why一.

‘……Could it be that the senior officials opposed it?’

With the Empress’s influence curtailed, Crown Prince Esteban’s power would naturally diminish.

In that situation, even Sid returned.

‘Naturally, those who believed that Esteban would be the next Emperor and had sided with him would be quite embarrassed if the Empress succeeded in the water management project.’

“The original plan for the waterway project had the problem of being too expensive. With the increasing need to defend against monsters being a priority now, the consensus is that we cannot afford such costs.”

Ah.

So, they opposed it by complaining about the excessive cost?

It was obvious without even looking.

‘They tried to take the waterway project entirely for themselves, and of course, the Emperor wouldn’t want that.’

At that moment, the Emperor and I made eye contact.

The Emperor nodded very slightly.

Indeed.

The Emperor was using the excuse of ‘giving the young ladies and gentlemen a chance to develop their insight and experience’ to stop those who were trying to seize control.

‘So, it came down to us.’

No, to be exact一.

‘To me.’

To pass on the Empress’s stolen achievements to me!

As I blinked, the Emperor turned his head, seemingly satisfied.

‘I have to take it on no matter what.’

Otherwise, it would be like doing all the work and getting none of the credit.

At that time, Claudia spoke up.

“But, Your Majesty. Looking at the current data, this level of cost is unavoidable. Water management projects are inherently expensive. This is a very reasonable budget.”

“I think so too.”

“Yes?”

“But I cannot ignore the claims of the senior officials.”

Claudia’s face fell.

I thought I heard something like, “Anyway, the old men are just trying to take care of their own interests.”

It must be a misunderstanding, right?

There’s no way our elegant Claudia would have said such a thing…….

Then Raphael whispered in my ear.

“She’s becoming more and more like you as the years go by. I wonder what will happen to the Micheloins……. Is this why you should choose your friends carefully?”

“Shut up.”

I quietly warned Raphael and then opened my mouth with a smile.

Anyway, the way to solve this is very simple.

“I understand the concerns of the senior officials who are worried about monster defense. Budget issues are sensitive. I have a good idea一.”

“The Lady’s words are correct.”

A lively voice cut me off.

I turned my head and saw Liel smiling brightly.

“Since the national treasury is limited, it would be good if we could reduce costs.”

“But Lady Liel, as you can see from the data, there is no waste in the budget, and only the necessary things are included.”

Liel shook her head at Claudia’s rebuttal.

“It seems to me that there are quite a few places to cut, Lady Micheloin.”

“Yes?”

“If you look here一.”

“There’s no need for such a discussion.”

I cut off Liel’s words.

“The national treasury is limited. Now is the time to focus on national defense, so we cannot allocate a huge budget to the water management project. Isn’t that the problem?”

“That’s right.”

“Is there really a need to use it? The national treasury.”

“……!”

The room went silent for a moment at my words.

Only the Emperor was smiling at me.

Lady Poshette frowned and asked me.

“Does that mean Paeraton will provide the funds?”

“Of course not. That’s not the way to manage a territory or a country.”

“Then…….”

I opened my mouth.

“We can attract investment.”

However, these words did not come from me.

Just before I spoke, Liel preempted me.

“……Attract investment, you say.”

“Yes, Your Majesty. Use the minimum cost from the national budget, and attract investment from other sources for the remaining amount.”

“Hmm…….”

The Emperor reserved his answer to Liel’s words and looked at me.

“I was thinking the same thing.”

“Really? The opinion of the Paeraton Lady is trustworthy. Do you also have an investment attraction plan?”

“Of course.”

“Indeed.”

The Emperor nodded, satisfied.

“Your Majesty, the Saintess was the first to suggest the idea, so why are you only listening to the Lady’s opinion?”

Boldly, a young lady asked the Emperor a question. Then, others began to agree from the side.

I checked their faces and understood.

‘They’re people from the Empress’s side.’

They made such a fuss to take this project away from the Empress, but if I took it over, it would all be for naught.

They had no choice but to say something, even at the risk of falling out of favor with the Emperor.

“It is only natural that His Majesty values the Paeraton Lady, given the work she has done so far. She is simply receiving the treatment she deserves.”

Liel took my side.

“But I too have lived my life helping people.”

Liel stood up and knelt before the Emperor.

“The water management project will save many people in the Empire. Please allow me to lend a hand in this matter as well.”

It seemed as if a clear light was emanating from Liel, who was bowing her head.

“Saintess…….”

“She’s amazing as expected…….”

I heard murmuring admiration from around me.

The Emperor frowned, looking troubled.

“Saintess, raise your head.”

“Your Majesty.”

“The investment attraction is very important, but before that, there remains the question of whether you can take the plan and go find investors.”

In short, he meant that connections were important, but would you be able to do it since you haven’t been in the capital for long and have weak ties with merchants or nobles?

“I am ashamed to say, I have traveled all over the Empire doing many things. Helping people was not something I could do with my own strength alone. It was possible because there were people who helped me.”

“……Good.”

After a long silence, the Emperor finally nodded.

“Then, let the Paeraton Lady and the Saintess Liel prove the investment attraction plan and its effectiveness.”

“……!”

“The deadline is one month. After one month, I will make a final decision and give full authority to the chosen one.”

Full authority.

The young ladies and gentlemen buzzed at the words.

‘The Emperor made a big bet.’

Well, it’s understandable to be pissed off.

Water management is a very important issue for the Emperor’s reign.

If left alone, the Empress would have done well on her own, but the nobles on the Empress’s side took it away and tried to control it themselves, and the Emperor tried to stop it by saying, ‘Let’s have the kids try it for experience.’

In fact, the Emperor would not have thought of giving full authority on such an important issue.

‘But since the influence of the Empress’s adults has already reached among the children…….’

The Emperor and I made eye contact.

I believe in you.

His eyes were saying that.

‘Yes, the Emperor’s bet is based on my victory.’

If I lose to Liel, the full authority will go to Liel.

Conversely一.

‘The moment I win, the Empress and Esteban’s people will not be able to touch this matter.’

I clenched my fist tightly.

* * *

“Isn’t His Majesty the Emperor too biased towards the Paeraton Lady?”

“The Saintess was the first to suggest the idea today.”

“Why bother including the Paeraton Lady when we could just leave it to the Saintess?”

“Stop it. The Lady has made numerous contributions so far. She is simply receiving the treatment she deserves.”

“What about the Saintess? The Saintess has also performed numerous good deeds.”

“You continue to defend the Paeraton Lady until the end……. I am truly impressed. If it were me, I would have questioned His Majesty at that time rather than pleading.”

“Helping people comes first. To do that, you have to be extremely pragmatic.”

“Wow, as expected…….”

The voices echoing from down the hallway gradually faded away.

I released the hand that had been covering Raphael’s mouth.

“Puhah! No, why did you stop me!”

“I was afraid you’d jump out.”

“What are you talking about? I wouldn’t do that.”

“Sure, you wouldn’t.”

I shrugged and dusted off my hands.

Claudia frowned beside me.

“It’s ridiculous. Liel clearly didn’t think about attracting investment.”

“…….”

“That’s right. When she first refuted my words, she clearly said, ‘There are quite a few places to cut costs.’”

“That’s right. If she had been thinking about attracting investment from the beginning, why would she have said that?”

“She just stole our Lady’s idea.”

The Asheltein twins echoed Claudia’s words.

“Stealing someone else’s opinion and acting like she’s the originator.”

“She even made it seem like Ruatisha was adding a spoon [unnecessarily interfering or meddling].”

“When you think about it, it’s her fault, but she’s covering for Lulu like a generous person.”

I couldn’t help but laugh as I looked at my friends grumbling for so long.

‘Well, I should say I’m glad Jasmine and Tiriel aren’t here.’

It was only natural that the people invited by the Emperor today were limited.

If the two people who are honest with their emotions were here, it wouldn’t have ended with us talking among ourselves like this.

“What? Why are you laughing?”

“How can you laugh in this situation? I’m so annoyed.”

“If you’re in a good mood, can you give me just one strand of hair?”

Um, let’s ignore the last words.

“It’s just. I’m happy to see you all thinking of me like it’s your own business.”

“What, what are you talking about? I’m definitely not like that?”

“I am originally a person who cannot tolerate irrational things.”

Yes, but why are you suddenly using honorifics, Lady Micheloin?

It’s like you’re embarrassed.

“We like the Lady.”

“We’re on the Lady’s side.”

The twins clung to my sides.

Um.

“Take your hands off my hair. Take your hands off my nails.”

“Tch.”

* * *

I smiled as I looked at the notification window that popped up.

“Who are you thinking about?”

I looked up at the words and saw Sid’s face.

“Wh-who else…….”

“You’ve been looking elsewhere and smiling since a while ago.”

His face got even closer.

His slender eyes caught my attention again.

‘Why, why is he so sexy?’

Does a person need to be this sexy?

“My master, I wish you would only look at me and smile.”