Lord Baby Runs A Romance Fantasy With Cash [EN]: Chapter 243

Though the audience had thinned out, the party atmosphere, which had initially been stiff, began to loosen up again.

This party was to celebrate the Saintess’s coronation, and in any case, Liriel was the star of the day.

Surrounded by people at the center of the party, Liriel smiled.

‘…It would have been perfect if those humans hadn’t disappeared.’

Just showing her appearance at the inauguration would have firmly imprinted her image on the crowd.

She still ground her teeth at the thought of missing that golden opportunity to explode her influence.

Moreover, she looked ridiculous to the watching nobles.

‘My influence has increased, but much less than expected.’

It was only natural, with thousands of people having left.

‘But there are many people here who wield immense influence individually.’

She just needed to bring them over to her side.

“Blessings upon the Saintess.”

“Your Grace, congratulations on your inauguration.”

And it seemed quite easy.

After all, people were favorably disposed toward her, the Saintess.

It was the moment Liriel returned their smiles.

Suddenly, Liriel noticed that the party hall had become quiet.

‘What is it?’

People’s gazes were focused on one place.

Even the people who had been talking to her were looking elsewhere, not at Liriel.

Everyone had stopped talking.

Liriel’s gaze followed the people’s.

The tall doors reaching up to the ceiling were open on both sides, as if welcoming a distinguished guest.

The sunlight pouring in from outside created golden waves on the floor of the hall.

And with that light behind her, a girl was entering the Parmanas Hall.

One step, one step.

With each silent step, her cloud-like hair swayed smoothly.

Paraiba-colored eyes shone bluer than the sky.

‘Luatisha Paeraton…!’

Liriel’s eyes shook like a ship caught in a storm.

‘Why is she here…?’

She didn’t think she would come.

At first, she was disappointed that she didn’t come, but after the crowds had left, she thought it was fortunate that she hadn’t.

But, why.

‘No, it’s no use coming now.’

In any case, the atmosphere of the party had already tilted in Liriel’s favor.

This was an inauguration ceremony held after purifying the evil energy and being recognized as a Saintess by the temple.

In contrast, what about Luatisha?

As soon as it was revealed that she was the head of Anseur’s trading company, she was drawing the ire of the nobles for raising the price of Black Gold.

‘There’s no way they’d welcome her.’

The people’s reactions were obvious.

While Luatisha stayed out of sight, the people’s dissatisfaction had only grown.

‘I feel a little sorry for her.’

The higher a bird flies, the greater the pain of its fall.

Liriel felt pleased at the thought of watching how Luatisha would react to the cold reception she was experiencing for the first time.

Unlike a little while ago when she was flustered, a relaxed smile began to form on Liriel’s lips.

Liriel looked at Luatisha with confident eyes.

As if welcoming Luatisha, an uninvited guest, as the true host of this party.

It was the moment Liriel was about to open her mouth.

“Princess Paeraton!”

“You’ve come, Princess! I was wondering when you would arrive.”

People flocked to Luatisha.

‘…What?’

Liriel stood frozen with her mouth open at the completely unexpected reaction.

She thought that even if people flocked to Luatisha, it would be to question her and express their dissatisfaction.

But.

“I’ve missed you so much, Princess.”

“Oh my, your outfit today is so beautiful. As expected, no one can match Princess Paeraton’s sense of style, can they?”

“Isn’t that Idium’s new collection? Oh my goodness, they said they weren’t selling it, but I knew the Princess would be the owner!”

They gathered around Luatisha, chirping like songbirds.

‘What is going on….’

Just then, Luatisha, who was receiving the people’s welcome, raised her head.

Their eyes met.

With a sweet smile, the corners of Luatisha’s lips curved up smoothly in a perfect arc.

The same smile Liriel had been about to give Luatisha.

“…!”

Liriel’s hand clenched tightly.

* * *

‘Why, did you really think you were the star of this party?’

I chuckled and turned my head away from Liriel.

‘Why do you think I came so late?’

Was it because I didn’t want to see the fake Saintess, who was using evil energy, acting all high and mighty?

That’s also correct.

‘But that’s not all.’

The Saintess’s inauguration was, after all, an authoritative ceremony.

No matter what I did there, it would only damage my reputation.

‘Not only me, but the other nobles would have to quietly keep their places.’

But what about a party?

Movement is free, and the topics of conversation are flexible.

In other words, there is a flow of people.

And what is clear is一.

‘That flow is now flowing to me.’

People’s psychology is so complex and subtle that it flows differently from ‘obvious results.’

For example, let’s say someone suddenly sets control rules.

At first, people curse the controller.

But what if no matter how much they curse, nothing is resolved?

Strangely, some people start to side with the controller.

Or, instead of unconditionally rejecting the controller, some people think practically and try to devise a strategy.

‘It’s in the psychology experiments, too.’

The same is true in this case.

At first, complaints about the price problem erupt, but if it continues, they eventually start to think differently.

‘Above all, the object of the complaint is me, and the only person who can resolve this complaint is also me.’

And if they can’t meet me no matter what, and then they finally get to meet me?

Would they just pour out their complaints, thinking they might not get another chance to meet me?

‘Absolutely not.’

As I expected, people were more enthusiastic than ever in talking to me.

“I was worried because you didn’t come out of your mansion, and I couldn’t meet you even when I visited. Are you not feeling well?”

“When would you be free? I’d like to see you separately.”

“If you need some rest, how about spending some time at Lake Kaleve? If you take a boat and enjoy the scenery, you’ll forget all your worries. I’ll prepare everything, so you just come.”

I opened my mouth to the chattering people.

“Thank you for your concern. But I wasn’t sick.”

“I see. That’s a relief.”

People nodded with smiles, but their eyes were full of undisguised suspicion.

‘Then why didn’t you meet us?’

‘Did you not want to hear complaints about the price increase? Still, you could have said you were sick or made some other excuse.’

一While thinking this, no one asked me.

They were worried about upsetting me.

‘Why else? It’s because you’re like this that I didn’t meet anyone.’

While thinking that way inside, I smiled brightly as if nothing was wrong.

It was then.

“Well, she wouldn’t have been sick. The Princess doesn’t look like someone who’s been ill at all.”

“Far from being emaciated, her skin is glowing.”

Several young ladies approached, openly showing a sarcastic attitude.

I stroked my cheeks and gave the young ladies a smile.

“Oh my? Thank you. My skin is naturally good because I take after my dad, but would you like me to tell you the secret anyway?”

“Wh-what?”

“You praised me because you wanted to know the secret, didn’t you?”

The words that had been meant as a taunt were instantly transformed into flattering words.

The young ladies, who had become flatterers, blushed.

They tried to get angry and argue, but the other young ladies were faster.

“I, I’m curious too! The Princess has never had a single pimple, has she?”

“What’s the secret? Can you tell me? I’m really worried these days….”

The young ladies, who were still younger than me, asked with sparkling eyes.

‘Cute.’

And as cute as they were, they were definitely helpful to me.

‘The flattering young ladies have become a complete laughingstock.’

They glared at me, huffing and puffing, but these young girls didn’t bat an eye.

Originally, middle schoolers are scarier than high schoolers, and elementary schoolers are scarier than middle schoolers.

The girls’ eyes were filled with the desire to find out the secret at all costs.

I stroked my cheeks like the women on television advertising skin care products.

‘Ugh, cheek fat.’

I had been staying inside for a while, eating only delicious food that my brothers, dad, and grandfather fed me, so my cheeks were full.

‘I should cut back on snacking.’

Without showing it on the outside, I boasted about my skin and then opened my mouth.

“It’s thanks to Gyeongokgo!” [A traditional Korean medicinal concoction known for promoting healthy skin.]

“Gyeongokgo…?”

“What is that?”

What else could it be but a new product sold at the Korean medicine clinic?

It was about time to open a branch of the clinic.

The main branch, which was a gathering place for the elderly, would maintain its atmosphere, and the branch would target a younger audience.

“Now, do you understand?”

I deliberately spoke to the young ladies who had been picking a fight with me.

“W-what… I wasn’t particularly curious.”

Really?

But if the Korean medicine clinic sold Gyeongokgo, I think they would buy it from the first day.

“Then why did you ask? Oh, don’t tell me you’re unhappy that I look healthy?”

“Th-that’s not true. We just….”

The young lady, who had been scanning my appearance to find something to say, said with a bright face as if she had found something.

“Aren’t you dressed too extravagantly?”

“Even if you’re Princess Paeraton, you should be more restrained on a day like today.”

“Today is the Saintess’s inauguration. It’s not polite to dress more conspicuously than the Saintess.”

“It’s fortunate that Her Grace has a good personality.”

“Oh my.”

I put my fingertips lightly on my lips and looked back at Liriel.

“Liriel, don’t be too upset, okay?”

Liriel’s expression hardened at my sudden consolation.

But I had no intention of stopping here.

“I never think you’re overshadowed by me. You’re noticeable enough, so don’t worry.”

“What?”

“You don’t need to pay attention to people who judge you by your appearance. If these young ladies said you’re worse than me, it’s because their hearts are ugly, not because you’re ugly.”

The flatterers 1, 2, and 3 went wild.

“W-when did we…!”

“You said I was more noticeable than Liriel, didn’t you? Isn’t that what it means?”

I chuckled, and the flatterers 1, 2, and 3 stammered.

“And if you want to lecture about etiquette, shouldn’t you know it properly first?”

“What do you mean?”

“What did the young lady wear to His Highness Crown Prince Esteban’s inauguration ceremony?”

“That’s….”

Of course, she wore the most luxurious and elaborate dress.

The accessories were also meaningful ones passed down from generation to generation in the family.

“Wearing formal attire at a coronation is a sign of respect. Just as you can’t attend His Highness the Crown Prince’s inauguration ceremony wearing rags.”

The flatterers 1, 2, and 3 had no choice but to shut their mouths at the perfectly correct words.

“Funny, really. Lecturing Princess Paeraton on etiquette, of all people. There’s a reason why she reigns over high society.”

“If you’re really going to talk about etiquette, you should start with your own speech. Seriously. Daring to speak to the Princess like that….”

“Besides, the Princess avoided wearing white, which is the symbol of the temple, right? She didn’t even need to do that. It seems like she was being considerate of the Saintess….”

“But strangely, standing next to her makes the Saintess look a bit blurry. Is it because of the white?”

“After all, the Princess, who is more colorful and splendid, is much more一.”

Listening to the whispering young ladies, I chuckled inwardly.

‘I put in so much effort on purpose to see this reaction!’

I really paid a lot of attention today.

That’s because一.

‘I entrusted my hair to Baron Dier, no less!’

Those who make an effort cannot beat those who enjoy it, but even those who enjoy it cannot beat perverts!

And Baron Dier was a pervert.

It was hard to listen to him talk about my young lady’s first servant or whatever while he was styling my hair.

‘I’m so proud to see our Liriel so angry!’

Liriel’s cheeks were twitching.

I smiled sweetly.

“I only dressed up to show the utmost respect to Her Grace the Saintess. It’s just that I unintentionally arrived late and couldn’t see the coronation.”

That’s a lie.

I was originally planning to show up late and cause a ruckus anyway.

At my words, Liriel finally stepped forward.

“Ah, I see. I was secretly disappointed, wondering if you weren’t coming today.”

“There’s no way. Do I have any reason to not want to come?”

When I smiled and responded, Liriel smiled even more deeply.

“But what happened that made you so late?”

“It was an accident.”

“An accident?”

“Yes.”

“I’m asking just in case, but of course, I don’t think it’s true. I trust Lulu.”

Unlike her smiling lips, Liriel’s eyes looked at me sharply like a sharpened spear.

It seemed like even if everyone else trusted me, you would never trust me.

“But there are people who are suspicious. It’s been mentioned several times during the party… I think it’s just a rumor, but it would be good to clarify it publicly for Lulu’s sake.”

“What are you talking about that you’re being so hesitant about?”

Liriel paused briefly.

To make everyone in this place listen to her words.

Soon, her lips opened.

“Is it related to the crowds who were waiting for the coronation all turning away at once?”

Liriel’s eyes, looking at me, were triumphant.

As if she had laid a trap that I could never escape.

* * *

Liriel smiled deeply.

‘How is it?’

There’s no way you can say it’s true, right?

Because the moment you do, it means that Luatisha deliberately ruined the Saintess’s coronation by plotting something.

‘But the moment you deny it, you’ll fall even further into the abyss.’

Liriel sneered inwardly.

‘The rumor that you scattered Black Gold has already spread all the way here.’

The moment Luatisha denied it, she was going to ask back what it was that scattered the Black Gold.

‘That way, your precious reputation will fall to the ground in an instant.’

Then, Luatisha looked at Liriel and chuckled.

It wasn’t the expression of someone who was cornered at all.

Rather一.

“Yeah, that’s right.”

Luatisha answered confidently.

As if there was no hesitation at all.