Lord Baby Runs A Romance Fantasy With Cash [EN]: Chapter 256

☆ Chapter 256 ☆

Ruatisha smiled brightly as her eyes met the Empress’.

The Empress’ hand, clutching her wine glass, tightened.

That seemingly innocent, clear smile was incredibly unsettling.

* * *

“So, is it my turn now?”

“W-What do you mean, the Duchess’ turn? What are you talking about?”

I chuckled at Count Pibes, who couldn’t hide his bewilderment.

When you stab someone, you should consider that you might get stabbed back.

Did he think he could just throw the first punch and then say, ‘Oh, never mind. Sorry, sorry,’ and get away with it?

A generous and forgiving person might, but unfortunately for the Count, I was a romance fantasy reader who always paid back what I received.

‘Especially if it’s frustrating.’

“The water management project is proceeding smoothly without any issues. In fact, by receiving Aquilem [a fictional resource, likely water-related] from Ardella, we’ve secured even greater stability than before. So, why are you questioning me like this?”

“W-Well, of course, it’s because I’m concerned about the people’s welfare.”

“Really? This isn’t a place to discuss state affairs, and you suddenly started yelling at me at a banquet, accusing me of lacking responsibility. Was that all just out of concern for the people, with no ulterior motives?”

At my words, Claudia, who was standing among the people, fanned herself and opened her mouth.

“Ha! You need to say something that makes sense. Don’t you know what happens when there’s trouble with such an important national project? If public sentiment wavers, the repercussions will be uncontrollable.”

“It’s a relief that Lulu responded immediately so that no other nonsense could come out.”

“She even said that you were neglecting your work because you were playing around with a man? Are you really saying that was unintentional?”

“The moment such rumors spread, not only Lulu but also His Highness the Prince would lose public support.”

“If you really cared about the people’s welfare, wouldn’t it be normal to speak quietly, even if there was a problem? This isn’t just any banquet; it’s Viatranze [likely a significant event or location]. How many reporters are here?”

“And you expect us to believe that you were only worried about the citizens of the Empire, with no ulterior motives?”

“If that’s true, then he’s just stupid.”

“Look at him, holding his head up high, not even realizing he’s admitting he’s stupid.”

Kiddick, kiddick.

The words and laughter weren’t softened at all, as if they wanted everyone to hear.

Count Pibes’ face turned bright red.

‘They’re my friends, but they’re really good at getting on people’s nerves.’

[Who do you think they learned from?]

[There’s a reason why they say birds of a feather flock together.]

‘Shut up.’

But I couldn’t refute the devil’s words.

Clearly, when I first met her, Claudia wasn’t the type of person to add fuel to the fire like this.

That’s why the system called her a ‘quiet genius’.

Jasmine couldn’t say anything back either, as Brante’s and Sellando’s daughters completely deflated her spirit.

‘Well, they’ve all grown up well.’

My friends now have carbonated drinks flowing through their veins!

I looked at my friends with a proud expression and opened my mouth leisurely.

“The budget for the water management project has been made public due to the previous competition. There were detailed adjustments as we went into practice, but we didn’t change the major framework. To avoid undermining the meaning of the competition.”

Count Pibes looked at me with a suspicious expression.

He had good reason to.

My words sounded exactly like—.

“So, when you heard that the West had raised the price of Aquilem by a whopping three times, you must have been very surprised, Count.”

—I was defending him.

“Aquilem is an irreplaceable resource. The water management project itself could fail. If a large portion of the budget is spent on purchasing Aquilem, there will inevitably be problems with the execution of other expenses. For example, replacing materials with cheap and weak ones. So, you spoke without considering the time or place because you were so desperate? The reason you couldn’t choose your words was because you thought you had to speak strongly due to the importance of this matter.”

“T-That’s right!”

Count Pibes nodded repeatedly at the flood of words.

At first, he was suspicious, but he thought there was no reason to deny it since my words were completely on his side.

Besides, Count Pibes was originally the type to listen with his mouth open, without thinking for himself, when someone spoke fluently.

‘Idiot.’

Even if he’s stupid.

Why would I be on your side here?

‘It’s to gain momentum to beat you up even better.’

“But it’s strange, isn’t it?”

I slowly tilted my head to the side.

“Someone who was so desperate that they didn’t even have the time to consider what kind of situation this is, or to choose their words to me—.”

Count Pibes flinched as his eyes met mine.

“—You even confirmed that I hadn’t signed a contract with the West for Aquilem.”

“……!”

Count Pibes gasped, finally realizing my intentions.

I was embarrassed that he was so flustered, even though it wasn’t much of a twist.

So, I need to beat him up even better.

“If you were so desperate that you couldn’t tell the difference between front and back, you wouldn’t have had the time to check whether the Aquilem contract had been signed.”

I smiled brightly.

“It’s so strange, isn’t it? That you were selectively careful only in that part.”

“I’m also very curious. Confirming the contract isn’t something that can be done easily.”

Count Pibes’ face turned black at Sid’s words.

It carries a different weight when the Prince openly raises questions about the matter.

“Y-Your Highness, I just……!”

“You can’t just call and ask if they signed a contract and expect them to answer right away, and if they did, that would be even more of a problem. It would mean that there’s such a strong connection between the Western local powers and the Count that they dare to ignore national law.”

‘Our Sid is beating him up well, without any room for escape.’

The moment he denies it, the Count will have used all sorts of methods to find out whether the contract was signed.

But if he says it’s true, he’ll be admitting collusion with the local powers.

‘It feels like just yesterday that I was feeding him, putting him to bed, and raising him. When did he grow up so well?’

Praise him.

I looked at Sid with a proud face.

But I could see my grandfather and father on the other side, looking like they were dying to say something.

Twitching, twitching.

To others, they may always seem like the imposing and weighty Marquis Tarenka and Duke Paeraton, but I could see it clearly.

I want to be praised by my youngest too!

—That’s what they were thinking.

‘No way!’

Of course, Dad and Grandpa can say anything about this as the Duke and Marquis of the Empire.

‘But it’s a national project, of all things. There’s no need to create something that could be used as an excuse to say I’m using my family as a shield.’

My grandfather and father became sullen at my look.

‘But what about my brothers?’

Ixion, Ares, and Zion looked like they wanted to remove Count Pibes from this world right away.

‘No!’

My brothers flinched when their eyes met mine and quietly killed their murderous intent.

But looking at my family glaring at Sid, it didn’t seem like it would be easily resolved.

‘Sigh, I can’t help it.’

When I get home, I’ll have to do ‘that’.

‘Sigh, being the youngest in a romance fantasy world isn’t an easy job.’

* * *

“O-Oh, it’s a misunderstanding! I-I certainly didn’t do that.”

Count Pibes kept sweating and bowing his head.

He thought this would be easy.

He just had to say what the Empress had prepared for him, and it would be over.

But suddenly, the story about signing a deal with Ardella and Aquilem came out, and the situation began to spiral out of control.

‘Damn it! In the first place, everything about not signing a contract with the West for Aquilem was what I heard from the Empress!’

He had never contacted the West.

But Count Pibes was smart enough to know that he shouldn’t mention the Empress’ name here.

Not because of loyalty, but because he knew that the Empress was the only one who could save him in this situation.

He kept glancing at the Empress.

‘That crazy bastard!’

The Empress was frustrated.

He didn’t say it, but looking at her like that was like admitting who was behind him.

“Count Pibes? Why do you keep looking at Her Majesty the Empress?”

As expected.

That cunning woman, who never let anything slip by, pointed it out right away.

“Are you taking this matter so lightly that you’re thinking about other things even in this situation? Or is it that.”

Ruatisha looked straight at the Empress.

“Is Her Majesty the Empress involved in this?”

“Duchess Paeraton!”

In the end, the Empress, unable to bear it, jumped up.

“Of course, I believe that’s absolutely not the case.”

Ruatisha smiled brightly.

‘That bitch I want to kill!’

The Empress was furious.

But it wasn’t just about being angry.

“Really?”

“Looks like it, doesn’t it?”

They didn’t say the subject or predicate outright, but people exchanged glances and nodded.

“I thought it was strange that she kept mentioning the Saintess earlier, so I thought the Saintess was behind it.”

“Even so, she’s the Saintess. If the water management project fails, it’s the citizens of the Empire who will suffer, so she wouldn’t do that.”

“Hey, do you still believe in the Saintess? Would someone like that try to take another woman’s man?”

“I think the Empress and the Saintess planned it together. Why, the Empress is the one who brought the Saintess to the Empire.”

“Shh! Something terrible will happen if you do that. Watch your mouth!”

The Empress gritted her teeth.

She wanted to shout and grab those who had just spoken right away.

But doing that here would only make things worse for her.

‘It’s okay. After all, it’s just a circumstantial guess.’

No one could be bound by circumstantial speculation.

Especially since she was the Empress of this country.

‘It’s enough as long as my name doesn’t come out of Count Pibes’ mouth.’

“H-Her Majesty the Empress has nothing to do with this. I wasn’t looking at Her Majesty, but just avoiding eye contact because I didn’t know what to answer…….”

It was the moment when the Empress was relieved at Count Pibes’ words.

“Really? Then I’ll have to ask someone else.”

Ruatisha said calmly.

As if she didn’t expect Count Pibes to confess in the first place, and had prepared a witness in case that happened.

‘Someone else?’

The Empress’ eyes wavered.

‘Could it be…….’

“Oh my, it’s been a while since I’ve stepped up like this.”

Count Fermain laughed and stepped forward.

* * *

Count Fermain.

A man who colluded with the Western local powers. Seven years ago, as the Western local powers collapsed due to Ruatisha’s scheme, his power naturally decreased significantly.

‘I can’t believe Count Fermain would step up here……!’

The sight of him confronting Ruatisha at the dawn festival was still vivid in her mind.

He was also the one who demanded a public trial on the grounds that the Empress had committed test fraud in order to weaken the imperial power.

‘He’s taking Ruatisha’s side? No way!’

Ruatisha was the one who created the opportunity for Count Fermain to decline.

‘……That’s right, he would never help her. Rather, he’s probably grinding his teeth at Ruatisha even more than I am!’

Above all, Ruatisha and Count Fermain had never had any contact.

‘Hmph! Not everyone tells the truth. I thought you knew that too. Are you still young and naive?’

The Empress raised the corners of her lips.

She was nervous about what tricks that cunning Ruatisha would use, but she was using such a poor strategy.

Well, how could she have prepared for this situation?

She couldn’t have dreamed that she would suddenly be blamed for the price of Aquilem.

She’s just trying to give the right to speak to everyone involved in order to somehow link the Empress, who noticed that the person behind her was the Empress.

In short, she’s thinking, ‘Anyone is fine, just get caught.’

‘How foolish. Even if Count Fermain goes crazy and tells the truth, it doesn’t matter.’

After all, she wasn’t the one who had ties to the Western forces.

‘It’s the Grand Empress.’

The Empress looked at the Grand Empress with a more relaxed attitude.

The Grand Empress seemed to be thinking the same thing, and their eyes met immediately.

The Grand Empress nodded to the Empress.

It meant that she would take responsibility even if things went wrong, so she should move Crown Prince Esteban to rescue her well.

‘Good.’

The Empress smiled with satisfaction.

‘Finally, you’ll realize today that not everything in the world goes your way.’

Although she didn’t manage to defeat and bring down Ruatisha as planned, she gave and took one thing with this.

It was the moment she thought so.

“There’s no need for any words in such an important matter. Only the truth matters. So, I’ll cut to the chase.”

Count Fermain’s gaze turned to the Empress.

“Her Majesty the Empress asked me if I had contracted Aquilem from the West to use for the water management project.”

“……!”

The Empress’ eyes widened as if they would tear.

But Count Fermain’s words were not over yet.

“And also if I had any intention of raising the price of Aquilem.”

“W-What?”

“That’s ridiculous!”

There wasn’t even silence.

The venue was filled with commotion at the unexpected matter.

A deafening noise.

Only Ruatisha stood calmly in that.

With a faint smile on her face.