Lord Baby Runs A Romance Fantasy With Cash [EN]: Chapter 286

☆ 286 ☆

* * *

I left Sid’s palace through the secret passage and emerged near Kellan Garden in my inner palace.

‘That took longer than I thought. Crescencio must have left, right?’

But just in case, should I go check?

Leaving the garden and heading down the path where I had parted ways with Crescencio earlier, I saw him sitting with his long legs crossed at the pergola.

I waved my hand in greeting and approached him.

“Crescencio—”

“You.”

Crescencio stood up, his brow deeply furrowed.

“Sorry. I’m lat—”

“Don’t come closer.”

His aristocratic and fastidious face stared at me coldly, more than ever before.

I felt taken aback and stopped dead in my tracks.

Then, Crescencio slightly twisted one eye.

“You really are an annoying human.”

A gaze that looked down on me with contempt.

“I guess I’ve been humoring you too much.”

He clicked his tongue and swept back his hair.

“It’s unpleasant, so don’t come near me anymore.”

“…….”

Crescencio turned away.

So cold that I could feel the chill.

I stood there, left alone, watching Crescencio’s retreating figure.

* * *

A few days later.

Havier Hall in the outer palace of the Imperial Palace.

A gathering was held to pray for the Emperor’s recovery.

With the Emperor ill, all scheduled imperial banquets had been canceled.

The reason for opening a large hall like Havier Hall and gathering the nobles at such a time was one thing.

“Princess Shuriel.”

“Torencia is famous for its tanzanite [a blue-violet gemstone], isn’t it?”

“How do you know His Highness the Crown Prince?”

“Princess Shuriel!”

It was the Crown Prince’s way of ensuring that his lover, Shuriel, could adapt well to the Imperial aristocratic society.

Shuriel smiled as she listened to the voices calling her.

‘Thrilling.’

How long has it been since I received this much attention?

The beautiful dress I’m wearing.

The sparkling jewels on my arms, neck, and ears.

‘Yes. That’s right. I was meant to live this life. This is the life that suits me.’

I will continue to live with this kind of attention and envy.

It was then.

[It’s fine to enjoy yourself, but don’t forget your purpose.]

Shuriel’s hand, holding the teacup, flinched at the voice echoing in her head.

“Princess?”

“Ah, the tea was a little hot.”

Shuriel smiled at the people and murmured inwardly.

‘Don’t worry.’

[…….]

‘There’s no way I’d be satisfied with just this.’

Yes, there’s no way my anger would be appeased by just this.

The memory of lingering in front of the dress shop window, unable to even enter, and then running away.

The memory of running away from people who pointed fingers and cursed.

When Ruatisha’s smiling face was displayed in the square, I wanted to tear up the painting and burn it on the spot.

Unlike my unhappy self, Ruatisha was always smiling confidently, no matter where she was.

‘Not only does she have the excessive status of the Paeraton Duchess, but she’s also the owner of a huge trading company and even a saintess……!’

How much does she need to have to be satisfied?

The more famous Ruatisha became, the more she shone, the more shadows fell on my life.

Shuriel looked down at her smooth hands.

Just a few months ago, they were rough and dry from labor, but now they were smooth and glossy, befitting her noble birth.

‘It’s all your fault that I lived like that, Ruatisha.’

I could feel another presence within me smiling in satisfaction at those words.

It was then.

“Duchess Paeraton!”

“Your Holiness!”

“Oh my, it’s been so long.”

The surroundings suddenly became noisy.

People who had been sitting stood up to greet Ruatisha Paeraton as she appeared.

Shuriel’s gaze turned to Ruatisha.

Ruatisha nodded to the people with her usual confident smile.

Seeing that hypocritical face twisted my insides.

‘How can she live so happily, enjoying everything, after making others miserable? It’s absurd.’

I will repay her with dozens, no, hundreds, thousands of times the pain I suffered.

‘To do that, I don’t care if I fall into a pit of fire and die.’

Just then, Ruatisha, sensing my gaze, looked at Shuriel.

Shuriel smiled brightly at her.

* * *

Havier Hall looked peaceful on the surface, but inside, a tension as thin as ice flowed.

If the Emperor were to pass away, Crown Prince Esteban would naturally become the Emperor.

And Princess Shuriel, Esteban’s lover.

Esteban did not have a Crown Princess.

‘If things continue like this, Princess Shuriel might become the next Empress.’

As a princess of Torencia, her status is acceptable.

‘Everyone was wondering if they should try to get on Princess Shuriel’s good side, and now that I’ve arrived, they have no choice but to be cautious.’

There cannot be two centers in one world.

The conversation flowed into mundane topics, like concerns about the Emperor’s illness.

I took a sip of tea and stood up.

I went to the ladies’ room to wash my hands and looked in the mirror when the door slowly opened.

“Even the famous Duchess Paeraton is nothing special.”

Suddenly, an unprovoked attack.

In the mirror, I could see Clatie’s face with a sneering smile.

“I heard you reduced your attendance at social events to focus on your duties. To think you’d come running with your tail between your legs because it seems like I’m about to become the new center of society.”

“…….”

“Is this the last struggle of a has-been social queen?”

Clatie bumped my shoulder, seemingly on purpose, as if by mistake.

“How pathetic.”

Smirk.

I shrugged, looking at Clatie, who was sneering with one corner of her mouth raised.

“Well, aren’t you the one following me around with your tail between your legs right now?”

“Don’t flatter yourself. I’m just telling you not to become more miserable because I feel sorry for your desperate efforts.”

“It looks like you’re trying to keep me in check. If you were truly the center of society, you wouldn’t come running to a ‘has-been social queen’ to keep her in check, would you?”

Clatie’s cheeks twitched as I tilted my head.

“Isn’t the fact that you’re so anxious and trying so hard to get on my nerves proof of my status in society?”

Not yet, my dear.

You can’t ignore the experience of a romance fantasy novel reader who has mentally trained for social battles thousands of times.

Besides, I have never been pushed out of the top of the social jungle since I came to the capital.

Clatie glared at me, grinding her teeth.

“That’s just what you think. Setting your pride aside and using forced logic—”

“Ah, right. I forgot your level.”

I covered my mouth with a look of regret.

“I guess it’s forced logic to you. You can’t think that far because you’re not smart enough.”

“What……?”

I took one step, one step closer to Clatie.

And I whispered in her ear.

“You can’t think for yourself, so all you do is copy other people’s answer sheets. Your brain hasn’t gone anywhere, has it?”

“……!”

Clatie looked at me with a face hardened white with anger.

Originally, people get more pissed off when you hit them right in the sore spot with their own mistakes than when you just insult them.

I looked down at that face and smiled brightly.

“Why are you so angry? Just admit you’re not smart, and I’ll play along with your level.”

“You!”

“Clatie.”

Clatie flinched at my call.

“……Why do you keep calling me by that name? I am the princess of Torencia—”

“Ah, are you too stupid to understand when I call you that?”

I tilted my head once and then made eye contact with Clatie, pronouncing each word slowly.

“Chulatie.”

[That’s right!]

[Clhada, Chulatie!]

Clatie’s eyes twitched.

Even if you hear the word Chulatie for the first time, you’ll feel disgusted.

The demon is skilled at finding annoying aspects, so the nuance of the word feels off from the start.

[……Is that a compliment?]

It was then.

Clatie bumped into the door with a thud and slid down.

“I, I don’t know what you’re talking about…….”

Weepy eyes.

‘Ah, this is…….’

It’s a common romance fantasy pattern.

Sure enough, the door to the ladies’ room opened as if on cue.

The people outside, startled by the loud noise of Clatie hitting the door, opened it.

Of course, Clatie knew why people were gathered there.

I looked down at Clatie, a little nostalgic.

“Am I…… sob, do I look that much like that Clatie person? Is that why you’re doing this to me?”

Her acting skills have improved.

Clatie looked up at me, shedding pearl-like tears.

“I just…… I just wanted to get to know the Saintess because I respected her. You could have just told me you didn’t like me. Why are you falsely accusing me of a crime that doesn’t exist…….”

People looked back and forth between Clatie and me with bewildered faces.

And from the midst of them, a voice that intentionally raised its volume began to emerge.

“Isn’t Clatie that person from a long time ago? The one who dared to deceive His Majesty the Emperor…….”

“But why are you bringing up the story of such a criminal to Princess Shuriel? You’re wrongly accusing an innocent person.”

“Could it be that there’s no intention at all? Maybe they’re trying to spread similar rumors.”

“Honestly, Duchess Paeraton’s personality isn’t exactly benevolent and generous. It seems like she’s trying to step on anyone who threatens her position in society from the start…….”

Clatie, who had been covering her mouth and crying, smirked as if to show me on purpose.

It was absurd to see her so triumphant with just this much.

‘This kind of behavior is something that only a low-level villain who can’t even become a main villain in a romance fantasy novel and gets kicked out in the beginning would do.’

“What? Step on from the start? What does that even mean? Has the Duchess ever done that without a reason?”

“She’s the one who reached out to the young ladies who were being ostracized in society!”

“Don’t forget that there are young ladies who were admitted to 〈Metis〉 [likely a prestigious academy or organization] on the Duchess’s recommendation!”

I felt a little strange seeing the young ladies who were taking my side with fire in their eyes.

First of all, what’s clear from people’s reactions is that my words weren’t heard outside.

‘Well, if they had been heard, Clatie wouldn’t have been so rude.’

I looked down at Clatie.

What’s the characteristic of a low-level villain?

They commit childish and low-dimensional acts, but it’s frustrating to just ignore them.

And I was a romance fantasy novel reader who didn’t tolerate even small sweet potatoes [a metaphor for minor annoyances].

“Princess.”

“……Hic.”

“Did I hit you?”

“…….”

“Or what, did I even swear at you?”

Ah, is the name Clatie itself a curse?

Then I did swear.

That’s my mistake.

“But you’re suddenly bursting into tears like this.”

I slightly raised the corner of my mouth and covered my lips with my finger.

“How old…… are you?”

“…….”

The atmosphere turned cold.

That’s right.

There’s no one in this world who likes a grown adult crying over something trivial.

I could see Clatie’s face turning red.

“Um…….”

I rolled my eyes as if searching for something to say, then smiled with plenty of courtesy.

“Torencia’s culture is really unique.”

Did your country coddle you when you cried?

The young ladies couldn’t help but laugh at that blatant meaning.

‘Poor Torencia. It’s getting cursed for no reason because of Chulatie.’

“……How dare I say that the Saintess would harm others.”

Clatie said pitifully, touching her shoulder that had hit the door.

As if I had used violence and made her hit the door.

Of course, I didn’t bat an eye.

“Oh my? Torencia’s way of speaking is very unique? I think the princess should learn the Empire’s way of speaking.”

I smiled brightly at Clatie, who was looking up at me as if wondering what I meant.

“I didn’t think the Empire’s way of speaking was particularly unique, but after hearing what the princess said, I think it’s too different from Torencia.”

“……What do you mean?”

“Um, the princess’s words and actions just now. Those were words and actions that could easily lead others to misunderstand that I pushed the princess.”

“…….”

“At least that’s the case in the Empire.”

I felt good seeing Clatie glaring at me with anger.

But what should I do?

I’m not done talking yet.

“And to put it another way, that means the princess framed me.”

There was an uproar around me at my words.

It was not easy to take back the fact that a princess from another country had framed the Duchess Paeraton, the saintess recognized by the temple.

“Framed!”

Clatie bit her lip with a pale face and then lowered her head pitifully.

“……The Duchess is really too much. When have I ever said that the Duchess pushed me?”

“No.”

“But you’re arbitrarily interpreting my intentions and accusing me of a crime that doesn’t exist. It’s so unfair. Isn’t this a frame-up?”

Clatie’s eyes came to life.

It seemed like she thought she had properly refuted and given me a blow.

But—.

‘Bingo.’

You’ve been caught.

I smiled with satisfaction.

“What? Then the Saintess didn’t do anything after all, right?”

“I heard someone muttering earlier that the Saintess pushed her and then pretended not to. Who was it? Speak up now?”

Clatie’s face turned blue at the sound of people’s voices.