Lord Baby Runs A Romance Fantasy With Cash [EN]: Chapter 73

☆ Chapter 74 ☆

* * *

“Duke Paeraton, Ares, Ixion, and Lady Ruatisha are here!”

The herald’s voice boomed loudly.

Ruatisha appeared, held regally in her father’s arms.

The retainers and officials nodded approvingly, having already witnessed the scene at the New Year’s banquet and discussed it for days.

But Cynthia was different.

‘Hmph, hogging Dad’s arms all to herself!’

And Ares and Ixion, standing on either side of her as if guarding Ruatisha—it was a sight that would make anyone envious.

‘I’ll be a Paeraton lady soon too. Why do I have to look up to the Paeraton family like this?!’

Amidst everyone’s admiration, Duke Paeraton began to speak.

“There’s no need to draw out this celebration with a long speech.”

He hugged his daughter tightly, as if showing her off.

“My daughter wanted to celebrate my birthday. Everyone, please offer your sincere congratulations.”

That was all.

The Duke Paeraton descended from the central platform and sat at the head table, still holding Ruatisha in his arms. The two young lords took their places on either side of them.

“…….”

The people stared at the scene, feeling awkward.

“I canceled my schedule and rushed here after hearing about this sudden birthday celebration.”

“I gave up my day off and worked like crazy to finish everything for today’s banquet.”

“He threw a party because his daughter wanted to celebrate his birthday?!”

“Okay! I actually expected that much! It’s been a few months since the young lady returned, so it was more than predictable!”

“But to invite us and then act like that—is he showing off! He must be showing off! Ugh. I’m jealous, damn it.”

Those who felt their stomachs twisting with envy were popping up everywhere.

Of course, thankfully, not everyone was so consumed by jealousy.

“I expected it, but he really held the birthday celebration because of the youngest lady. To move His Excellency, who hates parties, so easily…”

“But didn’t Lady Aphelia say earlier that His Excellency was holding the banquet because of her words?”

“I thought it was ridiculous the moment I heard it, but wow…….”

Lady Aphelia couldn’t lift her face in shame.

Cynthia gnawed at her fingernails beside her.

‘It’s Dad’s birthday, but Ruatisha is the star of the show today!’

From Duke Paeraton’s speech to the people’s conversations.

Everyone was talking about Ruatisha, Ruatisha, Ruatisha!

‘How greedy does she have to be to try to steal more attention on Dad’s birthday?’

She’s so inconsiderate and rude.

“Cynthia, fix your expression.”

“Mom……!”

“Okay? You have to treat Ruatisha well.”

“……Okay.”

In the meantime, the gift presentation began.

“Oh, isn’t that a mermaid’s tear! With just one of those pearls, you’re as good as blessed by the gods of the sea.”

“Viscount Tanua put in quite the effort! A frost flower cloak. It’s an ancient treasure; how did he get it?”

The gifts being presented were all rare and precious.

Lady Aphelia was flustered by the higher-than-expected caliber of the gifts, but she soon straightened her shoulders.

She deliberately waited until the last moment, then approached the Duke with Cynthia, walking with dignified steps.

“Ah, Dad. Just a moment.”

Ruatisha jumped off the Duke’s lap.

“Where are you going?”

“It’s a secret!”

The child smiled mischievously, putting a finger to her lips, and ran off.

Cynthia smirked at the sight of her back.

‘She must be jealous of me giving a gift to His Excellency. What a shame. You should have seen how amazing the gift is with your own eyes.’

She smiled brightly and greeted Duke Paeraton.

“Your Excellency, happy birthday!”

It was a confident smile, but Duke Paeraton only raised his eyebrows once, as if annoyed.

‘My dress today and I look much cuter than usual.’

“To celebrate Your Excellency’s birthday, my daughter and I have prepared a small gift.”

Lady Aphelia smiled gently and gestured to a servant.

The servant brought up an object covered in red velvet, and Lady Aphelia personally removed the cloth.

“That, that’s……!”

“Could it be? Is it real?”

A blue flower shining alone in the middle of a transparent glass case.

The shape of the flower was truly mysterious.

At some moments, it seemed to have soft petals like an ordinary flower.

But the next moment, it looked like a solid, shining jewel.

Then again, it looked like it had dense, short fur like an animal, making it look glossy.

No one in this place had ever seen the real thing.

But even if they saw it for the first time, they couldn’t mistake its appearance.

“I thought the rumors were exaggerated, but it really looks like that.”

“How can it be so mysterious……! I wonder what will be born!”

The venue was ablaze with excitement and commotion.

Lady Aphelia reveled in the atmosphere and confidently announced.

“It’s a Mythical Beast Egg!”

With its identity clearly revealed, the venue became even quieter.

Everyone held their breath and gazed at the Mythical Beast Egg.

This was not something you could get just because you had a lot of money or great abilities.

It was truly luck.

Pure luck.

And that meant it was virtually impossible to obtain with human power.

“I would be happy if you would recognize my heart in wanting to celebrate Your Excellency’s birthday.”

Lady Aphelia smiled seductively and took one step, one step closer to Duke Paeraton.

Indeed, the Mythical Beast Egg must be amazing, as this arrogant man can’t take his eyes off the glass case.

‘Good, now…… Huh?’

As she got closer and looked more closely, she saw that the Duke’s gaze was slightly off the glass case.

‘What is he looking at?’

Even so, to stare so intently at something else with a Mythical Beast Egg right in front of him.

Lady Aphelia turned her head and followed his gaze.

‘A partition?’

It was a partition commonly found in banquet halls, nothing particularly special.

It looked very expensive and beautiful, but there was no way it would attract more attention than a Mythical Beast Egg.

Then, something poked out from under the partition.

‘……A child’s foot?’

The foot went back in.

Then, this time, the hem of a dress poked out from the side of the partition.

As Lady Aphelia frowned and looked at the same place as the Duke, people’s gazes also turned towards that direction, one by one.

‘A baby’s butt?’

A baby’s butt, puffed up with underwear, wiggled.

Rustle, wriggle, rustle again.

“……?”

Before they knew it, everyone was watching to see what it was.

Soon, something popped out from inside the partition.

Black…… A ghost?

‘Huh?’

The ghost ran and revealed its identity in front of the Duke.

“Lulu brought a wreath!”

The black cloak was lifted, revealing Ruatisha.

♥I love you, Daddy♥

★Lulu is the gift★

Hanging a large flower ribbon with those words written on it around her neck.

Her pink, cotton-candy-like hair was slightly disheveled from running and wearing the cloak.

Her paraiba-colored [a shade of blue-green] eyes sparkled like stars.

Her plump cheeks were flushed.

Duke Paeraton jumped up and shouted.

“A painter! Bring a painter here immediately!”

“Bring a sculptor too!”

“A muralist too!”

Ares and Ixion also shouted, their eyes bloodshot.

Duke Paeraton glared at the head of the magic department with a sharp look.

“Is the development of the video stone I mentioned not done yet?”

“I, I apologize. Not yet.”

At those words, the eyes of Duke Paeraton and the young lords turned fierce.

“We have made a prototype. However, it requires too much mana stone…….”

“It doesn’t matter how much it costs!”

“Bring it here immediately!”

“Are you going to walk to get it! Use warp [teleportation magic] and bring it in 1 second!”

“We need to capture Lulu’s appearance even 1 second faster!”

The head of the magic department, terrified by the nagging of Duke Paeraton and the young lords, immediately cast warp.

He was a perceptive person, so he brought not just one, but all the prototypes he had.

The maids, servants, butlers, and Viscount Dier rushed in like madmen and snatched the video stones.

The tattered head of the magic department shed tears.

Regardless, those who obtained the video stones were busy filming, and Duke Paeraton was already holding Lulu’s wreath.

Meanwhile, he didn’t even glance at the Mythical Beast Egg.

“Do you like it?”

Ruatisha asked, fidgeting with her fingers with a flushed face.

“The best gift I’ve ever received in my life.”

The Duke kissed the child’s cheek.

“Take care of these on your own.”

He gestured to the gifts he had received so far, and Hedwick bowed his head, saying, “Yes, Your Excellency.”

Thus, the Mythical Beast Egg, which Lady Aphelia had brought with ambition, left the banquet hall without receiving a single glance.

* * *

‘This is ridiculous……!’

What kind of object is a Mythical Beast Egg!

To leave that in front of him and be so happy just because a child came with a ribbon!

What’s even more absurd is the reaction of the people around him.

“Hehe, our youngest lady is so ingeniously cute. How did she come up with such an idea……!”

“If I had a granddaughter like that, my final years would be happy.”

“I should have had a daughter after all.”

The retainers looked at Ruatisha with softened eyes.

The employees who were supposed to be serving were lying on the banquet hall floor or holding video stones, positioned like acrobats on the stairs.

A gesture to find the optimal angle, even though it was the first time using a video stone.

It was indeed a world that referenced K-Romance [Korean Romance dramas], but Lady Aphelia only saw them as crazy people.

It was then.

“Oh my god! So cute! The best! I almost missed that sight!”

A voice that echoed loudly through the banquet hall was heard.

Yutra Phelia ran to Ruatisha without stopping, even though she was panting.

“Our cute, cuddly, soft lady!”

Yutra had long since revealed her true colors while making clothes for several months.

“Why did you come? It’s not time to make clothes yet. Didn’t you come a while ago?”

“Your Excellency! You’re too much. How could you hold such a banquet without even mentioning it when I came last time! If I had known, I would have made a separate dress for the young lady for today!”

“……I didn’t plan to have a party then. So don’t cry, Yutra.”

“Our young lady is so kind and considerate.”

Yutra snapped her fingers, shedding tears.

Then, the clothing store employees, with dark circles down to their knees, brought clothing boxes.

“It’s a birthday present for Your Excellency.”

“I don’t need一.”

“It’s a family look with the young lady?”

“You came at the right time.”

At Duke Paeraton’s gesture, Chadwick quickly took the clothing boxes.

Then, Ares asked with a gentle smile.

“If it’s a family look with my sister, of course there will be one for me too, right?”

“I’m a cotton ball oppa [a cute way of saying ‘older brother’ in Korean], so there’s no way there wouldn’t be one.”

Even Ixion joined in, pressuring Yutra.

He felt the will to kill her if she didn’t bring out a set of clothes with his younger sister.

“Ha, haha, today is Your Excellency’s birthday and it was so urgent……”

“So?”

“I’ll make it and bring it soon.”

“As soon as possible.”

Cynthia stared blankly at the scene.

‘What, why is Yutra Phelia, who said she wouldn’t make clothes for young girls, like that……’

Her gaze turned to Ruatisha, who was held in Duke Paeraton’s arms.

She was shining much more brightly than her own dress, which was a gift from the Empress.

At the same time, it looked light and comfortable, unlike her own heavy clothes, which were heavily embroidered with jewels.

‘So, all this time, she’s only been making clothes for girls for Ruatisha?’

In her tightly clenched fist, her nails sharply pierced her palm.

‘Why, why does she always have everything I want!’

This is so unfair!

So much!

Then, a cold hand grabbed her shoulder tightly.

“Mom?”

“Don’t worry, my daughter.”

Lady Aphelia looked down at her daughter and bit her lip.

“This mother will pay back the humiliation our mother and daughter suffered today a hundredfold, a thousandfold.”

“How…….”

“Once I become the Duchess, managing the inner palace will be my authority. Of course, it will be difficult to do anything right away with His Excellency’s attention, but it’s better this way.”

A smile like a poisonous flower bloomed on her lips.

“It will be more fun to slowly dry her up and kill her.”

* * *

Lady Aphelia passed through the darkened corridor, wearing a robe.

She had already figured out the way to the Duke’s bedroom, so her steps were confident.

‘He doesn’t like people very much,’ so there was practically no security.

Most of the guests at today’s party were said to be staying at the Duke’s castle.

It seemed that they had placed most of the security personnel there for security.

‘It really feels like a preparation for me.’

Lady Aphelia smiled and opened the Duke’s door.

Inside the darkened room, she could see several doors.

It wasn’t difficult to find the bedroom among them.

Click.

“Duke…….”

Aphelia approached the bed slowly, making a languid and seductive voice.

“On a day like today, isn’t the night too long to sleep alone?”

Swoosh, the robe slipped off, revealing her body in the moonlight.

A sweet scent emanated from her body, which had been bathed in fragrance, and her skin shone as if finely ground pearls had been applied.

She smiled and opened the canopy of the bed.

And gently placed her hand on the bulging duvet.

“I will soothe Your Excellency’s night一.”

“Kyaaaaaaa!”
The duvet was thrown back, and a scream that seemed to tear through the air rang out.

“A thief! A thief! A thief has broken in!”

The loud voice of a five-year-old echoed like an alarm in all directions.

What, what?

Why is this child here?

What一.

Before the flustered Aphelia could react.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

All the doors connected to the bedroom opened simultaneously.

“A thief?”

“Did you say a thief!”

“To dare to break into the Duke’s castle!”

“It’s time to show the young lady how cool I am!”

Duke Paeraton, in a bathrobe, came out of the bathroom.

Maids, servants, butlers.

Even the knights who were nearby.

Everyone entered the bedroom with the momentum to beat up the thief.

But…….

Silence flowed among them as they looked inside the bedroom for a moment.

Whoosh一.

After a cold wind passed, the employees and knights uttered embarrassed voices.

“Lady Aphelia?”

“Why, here…….”

“Even in that outfit…….”

They knew why she came without even looking.

Among them, who were bewildered and even solemn, the clear and innocent voice of a five-year-old rang out.

“Huh? It wasn’t a thief, it was just an ajumma [a Korean word for ‘middle-aged woman’]!”

Ruatisha blinked her big eyes and asked with a face that knew nothing.

“Why is ajumma wearing only a piece of cloth and coming into Daddy’s room?”