Lord Baby Runs A Romance Fantasy With Cash [EN]: Chapter 28

☆ Chapter 28 ☆

* * *

I stared blankly at the cover of Akitus [likely a magical artifact or book].

Nothing changed by doing so.

The heart-cut crystal, once tinged with pink, had long since returned to its transparent state.

I opened the status window again.

– Currently Equipped Abilities: –

Once again, the empty ability slot greeted me.

It was only natural, as I had used up all three remaining uses on Ixion. I tried to conserve them, thinking the status message would only appear for three hours, but I had used them all up before I knew it.

‘At least that served as a guide, but what do I do now?’

Thud.

I put Akitus in the drawer and left the room.

‘Now that I don’t have any abilities to rely on, I need to follow the progress of the romance fantasy heroines even more!’

I need to find Ixion and show him my face!

I mustered my energy and diligently scurried around the castle.

But Ixion was nowhere to be found—not in his room, not in the training grounds, not even in the office.

‘Where did he go?’

Inside the dressing room.

Behind the curtains.

Even inside the jars.

I searched every nook and cranny, but not a single strand of hair was to be seen.

The Duke’s castle was so vast, and the four-year-old baby was starting to feel the ache in her legs.

Fortunately, there were beautifully decorated rest areas throughout the castle.

“I’m getting old, I’m getting old!”

As I sat on a chair, tapping my legs, I heard a soft chuckle.

I looked up and saw a boy leaning slightly against the wall. Even that sight was as beautiful as a painting.

“Ares!”

Ares smiled gently and approached me.

“What could be making my little sister feel old? That would be a disaster.”

Tap, a long, elegant finger tapped my cheek.

“Life is inherently tiring and difficult, Ares.”

Ares, your sister is so tired.

I thought I could easily win them over since the romance fantasy heroines were all doing so well.

How many childcare books have I read? Sigh….

Even after using up all my abilities, Ixion doesn’t seem to acknowledge me.

“Sigh.”

A sigh escaped my lips.

Ares bit back a smile and sat next to me.

“Although your sighing face is cute, it breaks my heart to think my sister has worries.”

Ares gently stroked my hair.

“Would you like to tell me about it?”

His tone was subtle.

As if I would unknowingly reveal my secrets.

Ares’s eyes, looking down at me, were as clear as burning rubies.

“Ixion keeps ostracizing me!”

Thinking about it made me even more annoyed, so I scrunched up my face and pouted.

Ares’s eyes widened slightly, as if he hadn’t expected that.

Soon, the corners of his lips turned up.

“You two must be close, you and Ixion.”

“Hmph, close? Not at all!”

I huffed and spat out the words.

“He always says I’m annoying! He’s mean to me! He tells me to go away! Blech!”

“You must be really close? That’s fascinating.”

Hmm, Ares made a strange humming sound.

His eyes narrowed.

‘Huh?’

I felt a slight sense of unease, though I didn’t know why.

When I looked at Ares, he narrowed his eyes slightly. It was a very soft and gentle smile.

“I’m a little jealous.”

At those words, I snorted.

What kind of misunderstanding is that!

“I like Ares much, much more!”

“Really?”

“Yes! He’s incomparable to Ixion!”

My brother is my healing and my life’s welfare!

Ares’s smile deepened.

Rustle.

Ares’s hand, which had been stroking my hair, slipped down.

At the same time, Ares leaned closer to me.

‘Huh?’

I thought, ‘Isn’t this too close?’ the moment.

Peck.

A warm, soft sensation touched my cheek.

I was so startled that my eyes widened, not understanding what had just happened.

I looked at Ares in surprise—.

“I’m honored.”

Wow….

The winter afternoon sunlight turned the boy’s cheeks white.

His slightly drooping eyes curved languidly, and deep dimples were etched at the corners of his smiling lips.

Wow….

Wow….

Hooray for handsome younger brother-obsessed older brother!

What’s 10 stars!

I give you 100!

* * *

“Ixion keeps ostracizing me!”

Ixion paused at the loud voice.

‘…Ostracizing. I’m just playing with her.’

He had merely hidden himself after seeing the cotton ball peeking around, looking for him.

That weakling likes hide-and-seek, after all.

Surely, the weakling cotton ball was thoroughly enjoying herself, even looking inside the jars.

But to say that to Ares.

“You two must be close, you and Ixion.”

“Hmph, close? Not at all!”

Seeing Ruatisha [the protagonist] huffing and puffing, Ixion frowned.

“He always says I’m annoying! He’s mean to me! He tells me to go away! Blech!”

Ruatisha was so angry that she was about to get up from her chair, stomping her feet.

“……”

Ixion took a step back and leaned against the wall.

He didn’t realize he was shocked.

“I played with Ixion!”

“It was fun!”

Ruatisha’s smiling face flashed in his memory.

‘In the end, was that all a lie?’

He thought something was strange.

Ordinary humans who can’t even use magic hate and are terrified of Ixion, weak as they are.

That’s normal.

There’s no way that child would be any different.

At that moment.

Ares’s eyes met his.

“……!”

Ixion didn’t react in time, feeling as if he had been caught secretly watching, and Ares’s lips curved into a smile.

It was that unpleasant, sinister smile.

Ixion grimaced.

Before he could say anything, Ares’s gaze returned to Ruatisha.

“I’m a little jealous.”

Ares was acting.

The foolish weakling completely fell for the act.

“I like Ares much, much more!”

“Really?”

“Yes! He’s incomparable to Ixion!”

“……”

Ixion’s jaw tightened.

He felt disgusted.

Not for any other reason, but because he felt bad that he was worse than Ares.

That’s why he felt disgusted.

It didn’t matter to him what that weakling thought of him.

“……Shit.”

What’s so good about that sly bastard that they get along so well?

It was then.

Ares, who had been stroking Ruatisha’s hair in a greasy manner, lowered his head slightly.

Ixion’s eyes wavered at the approaching distance.

‘Damn it.’

Ixion’s mouth opened as if to shout something.

But Ares was faster.

Peck.

A cute and adorable friction sound echoed throughout the Duke’s castle.

‘That bastard……!’

Crack! Snap!

The marble wall crumbled from Ixion’s small hand.

Ares, who had raised his head, smiled at Ixion.

It was the same unpleasant smile as always, but it was even worse today.

“Ares? Is there something over there?”

Ruatisha tilted her head and turned her head, following Ares’s gaze.

Ixion turned around and left the spot.

“Gasp! The wall over there is broken! Was it a shoddy construction!”

A young voice was heard from behind.

‘Foolish weakling cotton ball.’

Ixion gritted his teeth.

He couldn’t understand why he felt so disgusted.

* * *

I surveyed the table with a hawk-like gaze, having removed the tablecloth.

“Hmm……. Not here either.”

Ixion has been missing for days.

At this rate, I won’t be able to put any of the romance fantasy heroines’ ‘Make Your Brother Obsessed With You Project Rules’ into practice.

‘What should I do…….’

It doesn’t seem like the quest will just wait for me.

Didn’t the quest to give Clottie a taste of karma automatically end too?

‘If I don’t get Ixion to acknowledge me as a member of the family and the quest automatically ends…….’

Life ends.

In other words, I die.

I drooped and lowered my head.

Grumble!

But the inconsiderate beggar in my stomach was crying out.

Even in a life-or-death situation, I was hungry.

It can’t be helped. I’m a four-year-old baby.

Babies need to eat a lot!

I returned to my room.

“Welcome back, young lady.”

“Did you enjoy your walk?”

“I’m hungry!”

When I shouted confidently, snacks were served as if they had been waiting for me.

‘The life of a noble is truly the best!’

I asked my sisters, munching on a lemon cake with plenty of lemon icing.

There’s nothing like witness testimony to track someone’s whereabouts!

“Have you seen Ixion?”

“The Third Young Master? No, I haven’t.”

“Young Master Ixion doesn’t usually come out to crowded places.”

“Really?”

“Yes, the Third Young Master especially doesn’t like socializing with people.”

“I see…….”

I nodded, feeling dejected.

“He used to be seen often, though…….”

Was I just lucky?

“It seems Young Master Ixion wasn’t avoiding you, young lady.”

Anna chuckled.

But I couldn’t smile back.

That means Ixion is avoiding me now.

He never did that before, so why is he hiding now?

‘Could my actions have backfired?’

The sweet and sour lemon cake felt rough.

Seeing my gloomy face, Laura smiled.

“It seems the youngest young lady likes the Third Young Master.”

“Who! He’s a completely hateful brat!”

I shouted in a fit of pique, but my sisters only smiled contentedly.

I pouted, feeling sulky.

Well, it’s not like I hate him that much.

He can be a little annoying at times, but,

Still, he’s family.

Wriggle.

‘Anyway, he’s just a really infuriating brat right now! If he’s listed in the family register, he’s a member of the family! What’s with all the acknowledging or not! Even my dad acknowledged me, so who does he think he is!’

I trembled with anger, holding the fork.

‘At this rate, I’m really going to die!’

Would things change if I understood Ixion a little better?

‘It seems like he doesn’t acknowledge me because I don’t have magic.’

It was clear from how many times he used magic to pressure me.

‘Tch, how childish.’

It’s not like I can do anything about that, so why is he discriminating against me because of it?

‘You bad guy. If you were just a little older, I wouldn’t even associate with you.’

Since he’s still a kid, the older sister who’s lived two lives will take that into consideration.

“Hey, what exactly is magic?”

At my question, my sisters fell silent.

They had troubled expressions.

But I didn’t back down.

“I know everyone in our family has magic. But I don’t.”

“Young lady……. It’s not like that’s because there’s something wrong with you.”

“I’m not asking you to comfort me. I just want to know. It’s about me and my family.”

I looked at my sisters with serious eyes.

My sisters exchanged glances for a moment before nodding as if they had made up their minds.

“Magic has been passed down through the Paeraton Dukedom for generations. It’s a power that’s only passed down to the direct line of the Duke’s family.”

“Does that mean you’re a family of wizards?”

“No. Wizards use mana. Magic is…….”

Anna, who was explaining, stopped talking.

Her face was somewhat fearful as she chose her words.

“……It’s a very, very special power.”

Hmm…….

This situation seems familiar.

A special power passed down through the Duke’s family.

It’s different from the mana of wizards and the aura of knights.

Even the color is as black as darkness.

And the way people seem to fear that power.

My romance fantasy experience tells me.

A demon/monster/mastermind Duke’s family.

These keywords are very, very familiar to me, a romance fantasy reader.

I can tell at a glance!

“What, like the power of a demon or something?”

“No!”

Nancy, who had turned pale white, shouted loudly.

I looked at Nancy with suspicious eyes.

There’s a saying that a strong denial is a confirmation.

“W-Well, there are rumors like that, but they’re just rumors.”

“People tend to fear power that is too strong. Even more so if they can’t understand it.”

“We don’t actually know what kind of power magic is specifically. Only the direct line of Paeraton who use that power would know.”

“I see.”

Then I can’t know?

“Because it’s such an overwhelming power, there are many rumors attached to it.”

“It’s scary, unsettling, and frightening just to look at it.”

“The first time I saw it, my legs gave out and I collapsed. The head maid said it was good that I only ended up like that. Thanks to that, I was able to work at the Duke’s residence.”

My sisters’ faces were all pale white.

As if they were talking about something unpleasant and eerie.

I know they don’t have any ill intentions.

But somehow, I felt bad.

“No.”

“Yes?”

“I’ve seen magic too. I’ve seen it several times. It’s not that scary, frightening, or eerie.”

A pitch-black power.

The power of darkness.

It may naturally be the target of rejection.

But.

“I like black.”

“Because it doesn’t show dirt or wear and tear easily.”

That was quite important to me, who was an orphan.

“But I’ve never thought of black as pretty.”

It’s a color I chose for convenience.

I wanted to have clothes in flashy and colorful colors too.

“But magic is—.”

I was overwhelmed the first time I saw it.

So much so that I momentarily forgot to breathe.

“—beautiful.”

The room was silent.

“Magic is night.”

I thought of the time when my dad’s magic completely enveloped me.

The thick, dark shadow wrapped around my dad’s sturdily built body.

My dad’s burning red eyes.

And the pitch-black darkness that instantly cut off Clottie from pointing and despising me.

“It’s a night where I can close my eyes and rest.”

The magic that my dad created surrounded me like a blanket made of night.

“It’s more cozy and snug than anything else to me.”

* * *

“It’s more cozy and snug than anything else to me.”

The child’s clear voice echoed.

Outside the window, Ares, who had been leaning against the outer wall, was silent for a moment.

He raised his head and spoke to the tree.

“That’s what she says?”

Ixion, who had been sitting on the tree, frowned.