Lord Baby Runs A Romance Fantasy With Cash [EN]: Chapter 272

“Oh my, Saintess.”

“When did you arrive?”

“The real Saintess is here!”

Smirk, smirk.

The noble ladies smiled as they looked at me.

Seeing my face, which seemed a bit embarrassed, their cheekbones seemed to rise even higher…

‘It’s just my imagination, right?’

“Just looking at the Saintess’s painting makes me feel like everything will work out. It’s like receiving a blessing.”

Well, that might not be wrong.

“It’s like my head clears and my vision becomes clear just by looking at the painting?”

It probably is true.

But that’s definitely not because it’s my portrait.

‘It’s because Dana painted it!’

* * *

“Lady.”

Dana smiled and approached Ruatisha as soon as she spotted her.

“Dana, how have you been?”

“Thanks to you, Lady.”

“But… why did you paint my picture?”

Seeing her speak in a sulky voice as if she were embarrassed, Dana held back her laughter.

To celebrate Ruatisha, who was officially recognized as a Saintess and would soon hold her inauguration ceremony, and to help her in any small way she could, and for many other reasons—.

Rather than saying those things…

“…Is it not allowed? I wanted to paint Lady…”

When she looked dejected, Ruatisha was surprised and shook her head.

“No, it’s rather that I’m more grateful. Our Dana’s paintings are truly precious.”

Seeing her even hold her hand and praise her made her laugh.

“Hehe.”

Ruatisha’s eyes narrowed.

“What is it? Are you teasing me?”

“Teasing you? Never.”

Dana held Ruatisha’s hand tightly.

Ruatisha’s hands felt smoother than silk against her own rough hands, damaged by paint and thinner.

But she wasn’t ashamed at all to hold Ruatisha’s hand with these hands.

“Because I like you.”

Dana really liked this kind and gentle lady.

If it weren’t for Ruatisha, she would have lived her whole life with the scars of her childhood intact.

Ruatisha was the one who painted over them.

The one who showed her that there was infinite potential even in a life that seemed like a canvas ruined by Cynthia and Aphelia’s reckless painting.

“The magic in my paintings is all thanks to you, Lady.”

“There you go again. That’s all because of Dana’s hard work.”

Ruatisha said with a firm face.

“The result is what we see today.”

Long ago, Dana sent Ruatisha a painting along with a letter, saying she wanted to show her the scenery she had seen.

Looking at that painting, Ruatisha realized.

Why saving young Dana from child abuse was returning to her as fame.

This wasn’t just a well-drawn painting.

‘People say that great works of art have a magic that stirs the heart.’

A truly captivating charm.

Stories about such intense works sometimes become topics of conversation like ghost stories.

The story of being captivated by a song and unknowingly climbing onto the roof when the full moon rises.

Falling in love with a statue, or even people who committed suicide because they were so engrossed in the protagonist of a tragic novel.

It wasn’t just bad stories.

There were also people who made a fortune in business after hanging a painting that brings money.

‘I thought those were just ghost stories or superstitions….’

Ruatisha felt a faint, foreign energy from Dana’s landscape painting.

Was it because it contained her earnest desire to show Ruatisha the scenery she had seen, the emotions she felt in front of the overwhelming nature?

It was on a different level from simply getting a refreshing impression from looking at a well-drawn landscape painting.

It was clearly a magic that directly affected people’s minds.

Just as a person who has reached the extreme of swordsmanship wields sword energy, a strange energy emanates from the fingertips of an artist who has reached the extreme.

‘Is this even possible?!’

Not all of Dana’s paintings had such power.

The only painting in which Ruatisha felt this sensation from the numerous paintings Dana sent her was that one.

So, when Mrs. Sherwin came with Grand Duchess Crophel and said that she would recommend her as a member of 〈Metis〉 [a prestigious art society] with the authority of the chairman.

“I think I’m getting more than the price I paid to Mrs. Sherwin. Above all, you’re using the only opportunity on me.”

“So, you’re saying you’ll refuse?”

“No. I can’t miss such a great opportunity. I also mean to pay an additional fee.”

Ruatisha showed them the painting.

Both of them were people who had a reputation for their discernment and artistry.

So, she thought it would be much better for Mrs. Sherwin to take charge of raising Dana.

And that choice was right.

“It’s been a while, Lady.”

The day Dana, who didn’t even come out of her studio, came to visit.

“Lady, I succeeded.”

“……!”

“So, tell me. I will gladly become Lady’s chess piece.”

Dana had mastered how to handle her power.

“But I still couldn’t be of help to Lady.”

Dana said dejectedly.

“Lady even told me that I’m not Lady’s chess piece, and even made me a knight….”

“What are you talking about? Don’t think like that.”

It’s not that she doesn’t know what Dana is talking about.

‘I was planning to use Dana’s painting as a counter to the sacred painting of Liriel.’

Originally, she was planning to show off our pretty Dana to the world after Liriel held her Saintess inauguration ceremony.

‘I didn’t know Liriel would act like that at the Rite of Communion.’

If you’re a Saintess, you naturally leave behind a sacred painting.

And this sacred painting plays a pretty important role.

For people who rarely have the opportunity to meet the Saintess in person, there’s nothing as satisfying as a portrait of the Saintess.

It’s a Saintess who appeared after hundreds of years.

Ruatisha’s interference made it a bit ambiguous, but in fact, that alone was enough to excite the people of the Empire.

Everyone would be happy that a Saintess was born in the same era and would want to have a sacred painting of the Saintess.

There was even a rumor that the Saintess’s sacred painting itself brings blessings.

And this was a huge red light for Ruatisha.

When Ruatisha and Liriel clashed repeatedly, wouldn’t people naturally want the Saintess hanging in their living room to do well rather than some unrelated Princess?

It seemed like nothing, but it was an important issue in people’s subconscious.

Why would so many powerful people have their portraits or photos hung everywhere?

That’s the case with the Thai royal family, and in North Korea and China.

‘I was planning to announce Dana’s painting exactly when Liriel’s sacred painting became an issue.’

Unlike the sacred painting, which is just a portrait of the Saintess, so it must be blessed—.

‘Dana’s painting is real.’

Of course, there would be rumors that Liriel’s sacred painting is not as good as Dana’s painting.

‘I wanted to watch Liriel’s expression from 1 meter away at that time.’

Oh, there was still so much cider [a metaphor for satisfying revenge] left to feed her, but it was a shame that she left like that while she was losing her mind.

Of course, she had even prepared an ultra-small video stone [a magical recording device] with the intention of sending her off completely.

‘I definitely don’t want her to come back to life just because I’m sad. It was dirty to be with you, and let’s never meet again!’

Dana was still in a sulky state.

“Of course, our original plan went awry, but it’s not like it’s not helping, right?”

Ruatisha gestured towards the side where the painting was hanging.

“As expected, it’s true that the Saintess’s sacred painting brings blessings and peace of mind.”

“Mrs. Sherwin, are you not selling this painting?”

The noble ladies’ voices could be heard all the way here.

“The fact that they feel that way when they look at my portrait is all thanks to Dana’s ability. Thanks to you, I won’t hear that the sacred painting is nothing special.”

When she winked, Dana looked dumbfounded as if asking what she was talking about.

“They feel that way because it’s Lady’s portrait. It has nothing to do with me. My paintings are trash that can’t even capture half of Lady’s loveliness—.”

“Oh, okay. Sorry.”

I forgot.

‘She was also a crazy fanatic of mine.’

It was when Ruatisha was looking at Dana with a sullen expression.

“What’s all the noise?”

A commotion began on the side where the painting was.

“It seems Mrs. Sherwin said she would sell the painting for charity.”

“No, that commotion with just one word? As expected, Dana’s paintings are the best—.”

Ruatisha stopped talking.

‘Huh? That’s the Empress’s person?’

It wasn’t a well-known figure like the Empress’s maid or aide, but a close aide who worked secretly.

‘Sandra and Frith?’

The figures of the WBD [likely an intelligence agency] and SSS [likely a special forces unit] unit leaders and members, who rarely show themselves, could be seen.

When they quietly whispered something to the nobles who were shouting that they would buy the painting, the nobles’ faces turned white.

Like people who had been caught with a weakness.

And they immediately gave up buying the painting.

‘No, even the brothers’ aides?’

They were among the aides who didn’t do external activities.

That wasn’t all.

‘Nemesis? Why is Nemesis even here?!’

The person who first asked Mrs. Sherwin if she had any intention of selling was being pushed away without being able to use his strength.

“Wow, look at the price going up. It’s not even an auction, but it’s amazing.”

“To be honest, I came prepared because there were rumors that the sacred painting would be revealed at today’s tea party, but I can’t handle it at all.”

“But who are those people? I’ve never seen them before.”

People were shaking their heads at the people who were frantically demanding that she sell it to them—Ruatisha’s family, the Empress, and those who were clearly ordered by Sidrian.

“Ugh.”

Ruatisha clicked her tongue.

“They’re really my family, but it’s a bit serious.”

“It’s Lady’s painting, so it’s understandable. I don’t show my favorite Lady’s painting to anyone and keep it only to myself. Of course, even that is so pathetic that it’s not even a hair compared to Lady’s real self—.”

“Oh, okay.”

Ruatisha nodded vaguely with cloudy eyes, then her eyes lit up.

“Ah, right. Dana.”

“Yes?”

“Draw our Nike for me.”

“Nike is….”

“I mean my mythical beast. You know?”

“Of course.”

“He’s so cool. Did you see the video? Draw him in his big form and his young form.”

“His young form?”

“I’ve saved all of our baby’s childhood in the video stone. Huhu, if I had known he would grow up like this, I would have taken more pictures. Of course, his grown-up form is also dignified, cute, and cool, he does it all alone!”

“Yes….”

“If you watch the video of him when he was young, Dana will be surprised too! Our soft, fluffy baby, how cute, adorable, and lovely he was when he was young, in this world, I was born and that much—.”

Dana eventually smiled as she watched Ruatisha, who was so excited and kept talking.

The fool-for-family blood didn’t go anywhere.

She always shook her head, saying that her dad, brothers, and grandfather were serious, but Ruatisha was the same.

* * *

Nemesis staggered into the hideout, looking like she had been robbed everywhere.

“The sacred painting?”

As soon as he saw her in this state,

He felt resentment rising up when the leader asked about the painting without even asking if she was okay.

But what could she do?

Nemesis couldn’t say anything even when the leader was just a leader.

Now she even knew that he was the prince of the Empire.

“…It was taken by a person presumed to be from the Paeraton Duchy.”

“What?”

“That woman… she’s not normal. Her name is Sandra, and she’s like a crazy person…. Frith seemed like he was with her, but she even tore his hair out, you know?”

“So, you didn’t get it?”

“…I’m sorry.”

The temperature in the room dropped in an instant.

Nemesis sweated profusely and watched Sidrian’s mood.

She almost thought it would have been better to fail a large-scale request.

“See! I told you it would have been better for me to go!”

Baren thumped his bulging chest.

“No, that’s definitely not the case.”

Nemesis felt dizzy at the thought of Baren causing a ruckus among the nobles.

Sidrian clicked his tongue and took out a small portrait from his arms.

It was a portrait of Ruatisha.

Nemesis’s mouth dropped open when she saw it.

“What, what is it! You already have one!”

“Just one.”

Nemesis felt so frustrated at Sidrian’s words that she felt like she was going to get sick.

She had suffered so much to get that one!

‘That’s why couples…!’

She even forgot that she had a lover herself.

It was then.