Lord Baby Runs A Romance Fantasy With Cash [EN]: Chapter 225

Sid took my hand in his.

Slowly, he guided my hand to his neck.

I felt his hot skin and the throb of his pulse.

“Like this.”

His lips barely moved as he whispered, his words a breath against the air.

I stared, unblinking.

The curve of his lips deepened.

My hand, resting on his neck, crept upward.

My fingertip brushed against something soft, warm, yet firm.

Sid’s lips, where my finger touched, parted slightly.

I saw a glimpse of pure white, even teeth.

His mysterious purple eyes locked on mine.

He nipped the tip of my finger lightly.

“……Ugh.”

It didn’t hurt.

But the heat of his mouth, soft, moist, and hot—.

“Y-You’re teasing me!”

I yanked my hand away and stumbled back.

Dugun, dugun, dugun—.

My heart hammered in my chest.

My face burned, as if steam were about to pour from my ears.

Thankfully, Sid didn’t approach, instead settling back beside me.

It was fortunate, but—.

As I stared, speechless, Sid smiled.

“Are you disappointed?”

“N-No way!”

“Then why are you looking at me like that?”

“I’m being cautious.”

“That’s not what your eyes are saying.”

Sid tilted his head, a playful smile on his face.

What had happened in the Demon Realm to make him so bold?

I took a sip of tea, needing something to do.

The refreshing scent of the garden drifted in on the breeze.

Sid watched my hair flutter in the wind and spoke.

“You seem less preoccupied lately.”

“Huh?”

“You’ve been lost in thought quite a bit.”

Now that I thought about it, Sid had been paying close attention to that.

He’d even asked what I was smiling about the other day.

‘I was just looking at the notification window.’

“It’s not like I have any particular worries.”

“Then that’s even more of a problem.”

“Huh?”

“You’re not worried, but you keep spacing out in front of me.”

Ha, spacing out!

Sid pulled me closer.

“To keep a playboy from straying, you have to make them think only of you.”

“Huh…….”

I was dumbfounded.

“Who’s calling me a playboy?”

“Our baby [referring to their child, either adopted or biological] said so? That you have another papa.”

“Th-That’s……!”

Actually, it’s the same person!

I was too embarrassed to admit it now.

Plus, I’d been pretending not to know and adding to the confusion.

‘……Should I tell him now, though? He’s so worried.’

As I looked up at Sid while he held me close, he whispered.

“And you even told me directly. You asked what to do because I seem like a playboy.”

“…….”

Oh.

‘Y-Yeah, there was a time like that.’

I remembered something I’d tried to bury deep in my heart after realizing Echen and Sid were the same person.

‘I gave Echen all the advice about Sid!’

Relationship advice to the person himself!

What was frustrating was that I never intended it as relationship advice, but that’s what it turned out to be.

‘How embarrassing!’

What was Sid thinking then?

‘Huh? Sid back then?’

“Come to think of it, Sid, you knew I was Surah from the first time we met!”

When I told Sid, who had returned from the Demon Realm, that I was actually Surah, he acted like he already knew.

I’d just glossed over it then!

“How could I not recognize my master?”

Sid smiled and cupped my cheeks.

“You really pretended not to know while listening to me talk about Sid?”

His eyes narrowed slightly.

But even that didn’t faze me.

“You’re so good with words!”

How embarrassing!

What was Sid thinking then?

At that time, I treated Echen as a delusional romantic, saying, ‘Why is this a love story?’

‘Echen was right about everything back then!’

How funny would that have been?

“It was cute.”

“Do you want to die? Wipe that laugh off your face before you say that.”

Thump, thump!

I hit Sid playfully, but he caught my hand.

His large hand covered mine, and I felt his firm chest against my palm.

“…….”

I froze.

I’m definitely not doing this to feel his pectorals.

Really.

‘Putting emotion into it means putting anger into it, not ulterior motives.’

It’s just that the chest was the best place to hit.

“Sorry.”

He whispered.

“But you showed me a side of you that you never show me.”

“…….”

“I wanted to see that side of you a little more, so I did it.”

What.

I couldn’t argue with that.

Back then, I’d been suspicious of Sid’s intentions when he approached me after returning to the Imperial Palace.

“……That’s mean.”

Sid smiled as I pouted.

“And—.”

Slowly, he lowered his head, and his sparkling blonde hair tickled my forehead.

“I was glad to know my master’s true feelings for me.”

What?

“Master is so oblivious to romance.”

“…….”

“I told you that I liked you, not that I had other intentions, but you insisted that it wasn’t.”

“Hey.”

I pushed Sid’s chest away.

Thud, Sid fell back onto the long sofa.

Even then, Sid was smiling at me.

‘I hate him so much!’

What was I even thinking about telling him that we are the same person?

‘Never! No matter what happens, I shouldn’t tell him!’

After Sid finds out on his own, I’ll tease him about it for the rest of my life!

As I made that decision, Sid hummed strangely and muttered to me.

“How can someone so oblivious to romance be a playboy?”

“Enough, okay?”

I grabbed Sid’s collar.

“If you tease me one more time—.”

My angry words trailed off.

Sid’s face was right in front of mine.

His pink hair sparkled around his eyes.

The hair that had come loose from my updo cascaded down, partially covering him.

His blonde hair and my hair were tangled together.

Only then did I realize what I had done.

I had been so determined to grab him by the collar and pounce on Sid, who was lying down.

Purple eyes blinked before my eyes.

Whirr—!

‘C-C-Crazy!’

I tried to pull away.

Thud.

A large hand pressed down on my back.

“……!”

I tried to get up, but the failed attempt made me fall completely on top of Sid.

Dugun, dugun.

I felt his heartbeat against my cheek, which was pressed to Sid’s chest.

No, it might not be Sid’s heartbeat, but mine.

My head was spinning.

A familiar yet unfamiliar scent.

Hot body heat.

Everything was dizzying.

“……I won’t do anything.”

Sid whispered, his voice slightly deeper.

His hand around my waist tightened.

“So just for a little while, let’s stay like this.”

The late spring sunlight, slanting in to avoid the shade, enveloped us.

The garden was in full bloom, and butterflies and birds flitted about.

But we were alone.

Just the two of us.

I didn’t move.

* * *

Flap, flap, flap—.

The sound of dozens, hundreds of butterflies flapping their wings echoed loudly.

The figures of Ruatisha and Sidrian, lying in the late spring sunshine, were reflected on the transparent butterfly wings.

“They’re putting on an act.”

“It’s sickening.”

“Are they the only ones allowed to date?”

Originally, they harbored animosity towards Ruatisha, but at this moment, their emotions were more intense than usual.

Liriel waved her hand.

The gathered butterflies scattered instantly.

“You’re having a lot of fun. How can you be so happy when you dared to steal His Majesty’s things?”

“Dating when you’re falling behind in the face of an important competition.”

“How on earth did you gather so much influence?”

“I know you hate that prankster who stole my fame.”

“Your Majesty……!”

“Still, let them be happy for now.”

Liriel smiled benevolently.

“Aren’t they pitiful and pathetic since they’ll be falling into hell soon?”

The followers were impressed by her words.

“You even have compassion for that kind of woman……!”

“That vulgar human who inherited the dirty power of Aftanes [likely a reference to a magical lineage or entity].”

“How generous and kind you are, Your Majesty!”

Liriel smiled and asked her subordinate.

“What about the temple?”

“They have decided to meet. But they seemed resistant to the idea of calling you the Saintess.”

“How dare they!”

“It seems they didn’t like the fact that you were being called that by the people even though they hadn’t officially bestowed the title of Saintess.”

Liriel chuckled.

“Humans are always like that. They are extremely wary of fame that they didn’t grant but was acquired independently. They think it undermines their authority.”

“How presumptuous.”

“Isn’t it pitiful that they are so concerned about their authority but can’t deny that you are the Saintess?”

Liriel rose from her seat and continued.

“They are afraid of the responsibility they would have to bear if they denied me and then I performed a miracle.”

“Ha! That’s the kind of thought that only dirty and petty humans would have.”

“Yes, humans are always like that, sadly.”

Liriel opened the window wide.

Bright sunlight streamed in, and a soft breeze swirled around her.

“I will save those lacking and pathetic humans.”

Liriel turned her head and smiled at her followers.

“With death.”

* * *

“I’m home.”

I called out as I entered the house.

‘……Huh?’

None of my family members, who usually rushed out to greet me when they heard my carriage arrive, were there.

“Welcome back, Miss.”

I nodded to the maids, but the atmosphere of the mansion felt chaotic.

‘Did they find out that I met Sid?’

Every time I met Sid, my dad, brothers, and grandpa would make a fuss as if they were about to cry, so I tried to keep it discreet.

“Where’s Dad?”

“His Excellency is out with the Marquis.”

“Really?”

Then they’re not making a fuss because I met Sid.

That was a relief.

Then why is it so chaotic?

“What’s with the atmosphere?”

“That’s…… We have a guest.”

“Guest?”

I mentally checked the date and recent schedule.

“There’s no scheduled guest.”

“It’s a guest for Master Zion.”

“For Zion?”

That was unexpected.

Zion, like my other brothers, hated having people in his personal space.

So, aside from Sheila’s intrusion last time, my brothers’ guests had never even set foot in the house.

‘……Are my brothers’ friendships okay?’

I suddenly felt a little worried, but.

“Anyway, that’s good. It looks like Zion has made a friend!”

I smiled brightly, but the maids’ reactions were strange.

“That’s, Miss.”

Tilda hesitated, but Anna stopped her.

I could tell they were debating whether to speak or not.

Why?

Then, Nancy blurted out.

“Miss! You should go to Master Zion’s room right away.”

“Nancy!”

Annie tried to stop her, but I asked Nancy.

“Why?”

“Th-That’s……. Something seems strange.”

“You’ll understand if you go there.”

I looked at Anna.

Anna nodded in resignation.

‘What is it?’

Huck!

‘Could it be that Zion is attacking his guest because he’s annoyed!’

I wanted to dismiss the thought, but it was entirely possible for Zion.

I hurried to Zion’s room.

“Zion.”

As I opened the door and called out, Zion turned to me.

But.

‘Ah…….’

Ferociously murderous crimson eyes.

I couldn’t believe it.

That those murderous eyes belonged to Zion.

And the person Zion was looking at—.

‘Why me……?’

I’d never been on the receiving end of such a look before.

A gaze I’d never experienced, not even when I first met Zion as a child.

It sent shivers down my spine.

“Master Zion.”

Then, someone called Zion’s name.

A slender arm wrapped around Zion’s chest.

Zion looked at the owner of that arm.

‘Ah.’

That gaze.

Sheila smiled brightly at me.