Lord Baby Runs A Romance Fantasy With Cash [EN]: Chapter 235

☆ Chapter 235 ☆

“Well, he’s still a bit of a pain.”

“But this version of him is better.”

Ixion and Ares stood beside Zeon.

A little awkwardly, or perhaps naturally.

“…Welcome back.”

Ares and Ixion nudged Zeon with their fists.

Zeon frowned slightly but didn’t dodge or retaliate.

Soon, faint smiles spread across the three brothers’ faces.

Bright moonlight filled the corridor.

Black hair was gently soaked in the moonlight.

The brothers stood there in the moonlight for a long time without a word.

Side by side.

Chapter 34.

The day of the public contest for the water management project.

The Diluculum Hall in the outer palace of the Imperial Palace was filled with people.

Lips moved incessantly behind fluttering fans.

“Did you hear? His Majesty has delegated full authority to the winner.”

“A winner-takes-all situation. The winner gets everything. That’s why so many people are watching closely, don’t you think?”

What good would it do to try and get in on the water management project after winning?

This was the last chance to get in line.

The quick ones had already been working hard to get their foot in the door.

“Hmm, I wonder who will win the water management project today?”

“Isn’t it obvious? It’s gotta be Princess Ruatisha Phaeton. Look at everything she’s done so far.”

“According to the young ladies who were there that day, His Majesty was planning to give Princess Phaeton the job from the start.”

“But Lady Liriel kept expressing her opinions and wanting to help, so it came down to a contest. Lady Liriel is quite something, isn’t she?”

“So, the winner is practically already decided as Princess Phaeton.”

“Why? Lady Liriel is also praised as a saint in the south, where she mainly operates.”

“Even so, she can’t compare to Princess Phaeton. Not only is it His Majesty’s intention, but isn’t the Princess quite the capable one?”

“Besides, that saint title wasn’t officially given by the temple, was it?”

“Hmm, I have a slightly different opinion.”

“Oh?”

“Isn’t it more fun when an upset happens rather than the expected result?”

“Well, that’s true, but…”

The noblewoman who spoke lowered her voice to a whisper, seeing the doubtful looks.

“That upset might happen today. I heard that the place Lady Liriel is getting investment from is so amazing that even His Majesty is tempted.”

“Hmph, no matter how amazing it is, can it compare to Princess Phaeton’s connections?”

“Well, we’ll see when the results come out.”

* * *

Listening to the chattering of the crowd, Liriel smiled.

Most people were saying that Ruatisha would win.

‘Even if the Empress is someone who acts before thinking, she knows when to keep her mouth shut.’

She had hinted to the Empress about the place she was getting investment from, so she was prepared for rumors to spread.

‘Thanks to that, a very dramatic performance will be possible.’

How great would the effect be if she beat Ruatisha, defying everyone’s expectations?

‘Lulu, you’ve worked hard so far. Now it’s time to dedicate your influence to me.’

Liriel smiled sweetly and looked at the entrance of the Diluculum Hall.

Ruatisha was entering with her family.

“We have confirmed that Princess Phaeton contacted several businesses before coming to the Diluculum Hall.”

A close aide whispered in her ear, handing her a small folded paper.

Liriel unfolded the paper and asked.

“Did she contact that place?”

“No.”

Hmph.

Liriel leisurely checked the list of businesses written on the paper.

There were many huge businesses that had influence throughout the empire.

“As expected, Lulu’s connections are amazing. Even though she made appointments so suddenly, the representatives here cleared their schedules to meet her.”

If Zeon Phaeton hadn’t been cursed by black magic, he would have talked to even more places.

Maybe he would have even contacted ‘that place’ she was talking to.

‘Even though my conversation was going well with them, I don’t know how the situation would have changed if Ruatisha had intervened.’

The best thing is to prevent her from getting involved from the start.

“As expected, Your Excellency’s insight is amazing. Using tricks on Zeon Phaeton to completely tie up Princess Phaeton’s nerves.”

“Even if Princess Phaeton urgently requests a meeting later, they won’t meet her. He’s a weirdo who even refuses meetings with the Emperor.”

Liriel sighed as if she felt sorry for her.

“She bought time by even changing it to a public contest, but it’s a pity.”

“Since she wasted that time, all that’s left for Princess Phaeton is to be publicly humiliated.”

“Oh, how pitiful.”

Liriel smiled and fluttered her fan.

Her gaze turned to Ruatisha.

Ruatisha’s family was standing proudly by her side.

Of course, Zeon Phaeton too.

‘…Zeon Phaeton seems to have really come to his senses.’

She couldn’t believe it even after seeing it with her own eyes.

‘What on earth did he do?’

It was a black magic that couldn’t be resisted with willpower or determination alone.

Even at this moment, Zeon would be tested.

Liriel turned her gaze away.

Shuela Prussian was standing not far from Zeon, looking anxious.

Ordinary people wouldn’t be able to see it, but Liriel could see the evil energy rippling inside Shuela’s body.

‘The contract hasn’t been broken.’

Shuela kept trying to approach Zeon, watching for an opportunity.

Soon, Zeon turned to look at her.

Shuela’s face brightened.

However, Zeon’s eyes were full of murderous intent as he looked at her.

Shuela turned pale in an instant, as if the color had drained from her face.

Ruatisha seemed to be telling Zeon not to kill her, saying something to him.

What was funny was that Shuela was glaring at Ruatisha with resentful eyes.

‘How can she be so stupid and low-dimensional.’

Liriel clicked her tongue as she looked at Shuela.

That’s why she was easy to use, but she couldn’t help but feel disillusioned.

‘Humans.’

She turned her head because she didn’t want to see it, and then Sidrian came into the hall.

He was walking straight towards Ruatisha as if he didn’t see anyone else.

‘Hmm.’

Liriel fluttered her fan.

Anyway, victory was hers today.

‘Should I shake things up a bit?’

From what she had seen so far, Ruatisha was good at improvising and had a good way with words.

It wouldn’t be bad to shake her emotions so that she couldn’t respond properly during the contest.

‘It’s good if it works, and if it doesn’t, it doesn’t matter.’

Liriel approached Ruatisha with quick steps.

“Lulu!”

Calling her affectionately and linking arms, Ruatisha looked at her with surprised eyes.

“How have you been?”

“Fine, thanks to someone,” Ruatisha replied, smiling at Liriel.

It was somehow a barbed remark.

Liriel smiled innocently.

“Hey, are you keeping your distance from me now that we’re competing for the water management project?”

Liriel held Ruatisha’s hand tightly and shook it gently.

“Competition is competition, and friendship is friendship. It’s good to have someone to compete with. I’m happy to be able to compete with Lulu.”

“Really?”

“Yeah! Above all, this water management project is for the people’s livelihood. If the best result comes out through competition, wouldn’t that be a valuable thing in itself? In reality, victory or defeat doesn’t matter.”

Liriel’s face was firm as she said that, and her eyes shone with righteousness.

Who wouldn’t be charmed by that appearance?

But Ruatisha looked at Liriel with a sullen face.

Liriel widened her eyes.

“You don’t think competition is everything, do you? Lulu, you think the same way as me, right?”

Ruatisha didn’t answer.

Instead, the people around them watched their conversation and whispered incessantly.

Liriel pondered for a moment, then grabbed Ruatisha’s hand firmly with a serious face.

“If Lulu is so interested in the water management project, I’ll let you participate in the water management project even if I win.”

“…”

“His Majesty said he would entrust full authority to the winner. Then Lulu can also take charge of the water management project.”

“Under you?”

“Hey, under me. That doesn’t sound right.”

Liriel smiled awkwardly.

“Lulu tends to think a bit hierarchically. Is it because she’s Princess Phaeton? But how about broadening your mind a little?”

“…”

“What I felt while living among people in the south is that people are all the same in the end.”

All equally foolish, stupid, and pathetic creatures who don’t know their place.

Liriel smiled sweetly and turned her head.

“Right, Sid?”

Until then, Ruatisha’s face, which had been responding with an expression as if a dog was barking, changed completely.

‘Bingo.’

Liriel clapped her hands together and made a mistake.

“Ah, now I have to call him Prince Sidrian. It’s a big problem that my old habits are sticking to my tongue.”

“Get lost.”

Sidrian said coldly.

“That’s too much. Sid, you’ve changed since coming to the Imperial Palace. Have you forgotten? How much we used to—”

“Liriel.”

Liriel stopped talking as Sidrian called her name in a low, grinding voice.

“Oh, dear. I almost said something strange. Lulu, let’s do well today!”

Liriel greeted Ruatisha kindly and left.

“…”

Ruatisha was silent with a stiff face.

Sidrian, who was watching her, opened his mouth.

“Lulu—”

“Everyone endured well. You absolutely must not cause an accident today, okay?”

Ruatisha said to her family with a sweet smile.

“I’m going to beat that bastard to a pulp.”

* * *

“His Majesty the Emperor and Her Majesty the Empress enter!”

With the cry of the announcer, the Emperor and Empress entered the hall.

The Empress did not attend because the confinement order had not yet been lifted.

The Emperor, who ascended the platform, praised Ruatisha and Liriel and gave a speech on the significance of today’s competition.

“…The two young ladies are so talented… It is truly a wonderful and amazing thing. The future of the Empire is bright.”

Even while speaking at length, the Emperor’s mind was complicated.

‘What on earth are you thinking?’

The Emperor’s gaze turned to Ruatisha.

Ruatisha was smiling with a relaxed and leisurely attitude as always.

Even though he had called her separately and hinted at Liriel’s investment source, Ruatisha had said nothing until today.

‘I heard that she has been reducing her external activities lately.’

He was anxious, but he couldn’t postpone the announced public competition date, so he had no choice but to proceed as planned.

‘I have done everything I can do.’

Considering the nobles who colluded with the Empress and made a mess, he hoped that Ruatisha would take charge.

‘Since Liriel has decided to receive investment from ‘that place,’ I have no choice but to choose Liriel as well.’

“Both Princess Ruatisha and Lady Liriel’s plans were excellent without any flaws. However, the reason why the water management project plan was rewritten in the first place was the budget issue. It is clear that the budget has been reduced compared to the previous plan, but it is only a slight level. In fact, the success or failure of this competition depended on who could better demonstrate their ability to find a cooperative business.”

The Emperor looked at Ruatisha and Liriel, who were standing in front of him.

He first asked Liriel.

“Lady Liriel, can you cover the budget you have prepared?”

“Of course, Your Majesty. The water management project is a project for the people’s livelihood. Fortunately, there was a place that wanted to help the people of the Empire with me. That is—” Liriel paused for a moment.

Just before people’s curiosity was filled to the brim and about to explode, she opened her mouth.

“The Ansur Merchant Guild!”

“…!”

“Ah, the Ansur Merchant Guild?!”

The hall became noisy in an instant at the unexpected words.

What kind of place is the Ansur Merchant Guild?

The owner of black gold [unspecified valuable resource].

A great merchant group that exerts a strong influence throughout the continent beyond the Empire!

Isn’t it a place that even the imperial family is eager to bring to their side?

However, from the identity of the guild leader to where they get the black gold, it was a place shrouded in mystery.

“Is that really true?”

Liriel nodded at the bewildered Empress’s question.

“Yes, of course. The guild leader is also here.”

At Liriel’s introduction, a man came up onto the platform.

Water-colored hair and water-colored eyes.

A perfectly sculpted figure was as beautiful as a fairy or spirit, not a human.

“Oh my goodness… The Ansur Merchant Guild leader was such a young man? I thought he would be an old man in his eighties, looking at his cunning business skills.”

“He’s even such a handsome man, he has everything. Ability, money, and even looks.”

“Now all I need is me.”

The man’s face on the platform turned slightly red at the voices of the giggling young ladies.

The girls giggled again at his shy and innocent appearance, which was unlike a great businessman.

“Are you the guild leader of Ansur?”

The man bowed his head at the Empress’s question.

“I greet His Majesty the Emperor and Her Majesty the Empress. I am Azl.”

“Oh, I’m finally seeing the expensive Ansur Merchant Guild leader.”

“To be exact, I am the representative of the Ansur Merchant Guild.”

The Emperor frowned at Azl’s awkward addition.

“Representative? Then you don’t have the authority to make decisions?”

“Ah, but I heard that Azl has been delegated full authority by the guild leader.”

Liriel said confidently.

Azl nodded at the Emperor’s gaze asking for confirmation.

“Unless there is an order from the representative, I usually decide everything.”

“Then—”

“However, I don’t think I can decide today.”

Liriel’s face hardened.

“What do you mean…”

“The guild leader is here at this place.”

“…!”