Lord Baby Runs A Romance Fantasy With Cash [EN]: Chapter 77

☆ Chapter 78 ☆

‘Well, I’ll know when I get there.’

There’s no point in thinking about it now!

I helped Susan up and called Yelloche.

“I want to accept them as residents of the estate. Please handle the procedures.”

“Yes, I understand. This way, please.”

Yelloche smiled faintly and guided Susan and Dana.

‘Yelloche is the gentlest and kindest of my aides, so she’ll take good care of them!’

I smiled as I watched the mother and daughter walking hand in hand.

* * *

After Aphelia and Cynthia were kicked out, I was enjoying a leisurely tea time with my family for the first time in a while.

‘Ah, this is nice. This peacefulness.’

There’s no chance of Cynthia popping out of nowhere and saying something frustrating, or Aphelia appearing from behind and flirting with Dad.

“Here, have this too, little sister.”

“This too.”

“Lulu, ah, say ah.”

It’s not like I’m happy just because my mouth is full of sweets.

But the combination of flour and sugar is the best!

I happily ate the strawberry cake.

“Come to think of it, Ares, you said before that it’s not your business to worry about that woman.”

“I did.”

“Why isn’t it your business? If Dad remarries, that woman will become our stepmother and the Duchess.”

“Because it’s obvious.”

Obvious?

I tilted my head, and Ares explained.

“His Grace would never bring that woman in as the new Duchess.”

“Would he marry a woman who came under the Empress’s orders unless he’s gone senile? That’s crazy.”

Even Ixion joined in, and I gaped.

‘So that’s why you were all so calm.’

When I heard Aphelia was coming, I was surprised that you two didn’t care at all.

‘No wonder Baron Dier and Count Kandor were teasing me so much.’

Damn it.

You enjoyed watching me fret!

“Sigh, I was so surprised, thinking Dad was going to marry that woman.”

I grumbled, and Dad stared at me.

“You don’t want me to get married?”

Huh?

“Of course not!”

I won’t allow you to marry such a strange woman, even if dirt gets in my eyes!

“If I don’t remarry, you’ll continue to be without a mother?”

Hmm?

Dad’s words were subtly strange.

‘Gasp? Could it be?’

Does he think I need a mother, so he’s trying to marry someone he doesn’t like?

“Dad!”

I hugged Dad tightly.

You must never marry someone you don’t want just because you’re thinking of me!

That’s a path to unhappiness!

“I only need Dad! So don’t get married and live with Lulu!”

“Alright.”

The corners of Dad’s lips lifted slightly.

Phew, that’s a relief.

I’ve saved Dad from unhappiness.

Then, Dad hugged me tightly and murmured softly.

“Forever.”

Forever?

Does he never intend to marry again?

‘Was our mom Dad’s true love?’

I looked up at Dad, and he smiled faintly, pressing down on my head.

Well, whatever, it’s enough if Dad doesn’t make a decision he doesn’t like because of me.

I happily accepted the strawberry cake that Dad gave me.

* * *

“Look at this. My son packed an umbrella for me today, thinking it might rain.”

“Isn’t your son only nine years old? It’s admirable that he cares for his father at such a young age.”

“There’s no greater joy than when your children express their love. My daughter loves me so much. If I ask her who she likes more, Mom or Dad, she immediately says Dad.”

“Hahaha, your wife must be upset.”

“Of course, she’s upset. But I’m happy.”

The mid-session break of the monthly meeting.

The vassals [feudal lords or subordinates] were chatting and laughing about their children and grandchildren.

Then, Duke Paeraton, who was sitting in the highest seat, crossed his long legs languidly.

The vassals, who had been laughing and chatting, flinched and whispered.

‘Doesn’t crossing his legs mean he’s not happy about something?’

‘Come to think of it, his eyes… He’s glaring at us intensely.’

A murderous gaze flashed.

‘H-has the break ended? No, there’s still plenty of time left.’

‘What on earth is wrong with him?’

‘Everyone, prepare yourselves.’

‘Huh?’

‘It’s been too peaceful since the New Year’s banquet. Now that half a year has passed, he’s thinking of settling the first half of the year.’

‘Settling the first half of the year… means?’

‘He’s going to look at what we’ve done during the first half of the year and decide who to save and who to kill.’

‘Eek!’

The vassals trembled.

‘Ah… To not be able to return home on the day my son packed an umbrella for me. Was this foreshadowing?’

‘I fought with my daughter today, and that was foreshadowing. I should have said something warm instead of just getting angry.’

‘Sob, my grandson’s first birthday is tomorrow, and this was foreshadowing. Just one day before. Ah….’

Everyone thought of their families, facing the end of their lives.

Finally, Duke Paeraton’s lips opened heavily.

“Are there many cases where daughters tell their fathers not to get married?”

“Excuse me…?”

“No, I’m just curious if it’s common. Have any of you heard of it?”

“W-well….”

The vassals rolled their eyes.

Could their lives depend on this answer!

“I guess not.”

A smile appeared on Duke Paeraton’s lips.

Then, one vassal mustered the courage to ask.

“Has Your Grace ever heard of it?”

Duke Paeraton tilted his chin arrogantly.

“My daughter told me. She said she only needs me. So she told me not to get married and to live with her.”

“……”

“She even insisted that Dad should live with her forever.”

“……”

“There’s no need to ask who she likes more, Mom or Dad.”

“……”

No, what is His Grace doing right now?

If he’s going to brag about his daughter, he should just brag, why is he being so serious about it!

I’m already jealous, and now you’re making me feel even worse!

Then, a voice that was both gentle and infinitely cold cut through the meeting hall.

“Well, it remains to be seen what she really thinks.”

At Ares’s words, Duke Paeraton’s eyes flashed.

“What do you mean?”

“My sister asked me the other day if I was a mixed-blood.”

“Mixed-blood?”

“A mix of Heaven and the Empire.”

“……”

Ah, that’s a bit much.

The vassals, who had been watching with bated breath, were stunned.

“It doesn’t sound like anything special, does it? That cotton ball said she feels a wall between us.”

A wall?

Isn’t that a bad thing?

Only after fully enjoying the vassals’ puzzled gazes did Ixion open his mouth.

“Per.fect.”

“……”

Hmm, hmm, hmm.

Everything our youngest Princess says is always right, but.

Hmm, still, this is a bit much.

While everyone was showing signs of embarrassment, Baron Dier shouted with a resentful face.

“Why! I, Redian Dier, am the Young Lady’s closest aide! Why! Why didn’t she say that to me!”

“Sob, I wasn’t even chosen as the Young Lady’s aide!”

Vassals were weeping in various places, lamenting that they hadn’t heard such praises.

“Doesn’t Your Grace have anything to say?”

Ares asked Duke Paeraton with a confident smile.

Ixion leaned back against the backrest, adding.

“Saying she only needs Dad is infinitely lacking compared to this.”

“……”

Duke Paeraton was silent.

He was just looking at his daughter with endlessly sunken eyes.

That’s right.

Luatisha was also present in this place.

Since she had launched the aide group and formally became involved in the family’s affairs, she naturally had the right to attend the monthly meeting.

While Dad and her brothers were making such a fuss, she was trembling, silently screaming,

‘Stop it.’

‘Please stop it, everyone.’

‘Please shut up!’

‘I’m so embarrassed that I can’t lift my head!’

But even in this moment of bowing her head deeply, she felt piercing gazes.

She glanced up and saw Duke Paeraton staring at her without blinking.

“D-d-don’t we have a meeting?”

“There’s still time left.”

Why is time not passing?

While each minute and second passed slowly, the meeting hall was enveloped in a heavy silence.

Duke Paeraton did not avert his gaze, and the vassals were all watching his every move.

‘Please! Young Lady, please! Say something!’

‘I’m suffocating. I’m going to die of suffocation like this! Save me!’

In the end, Luatisha swallowed hard.

“D-Dad… you must never go to the racetrack.”

Duke Paeraton frowned.

“Why? Do you think I’ll lose money?”

“Because, when I see Dad, I can’t say anything!”

Embarrassing.

Embarrassing.

Embarrassing!

In front of so many vassals!

No, you guys asked me to save you!

Luatisha covered her face completely.

‘It’s okay. People’s memories aren’t perfect. It will be forgotten someday. Embarrassment is only temporary.’

Then, Duke Paeraton shouted like thunder.

“Did you record it?”

“Yes! I recorded it!”

Baron Erkel shouted, holding a video stone 一significantly upgraded from the last prototype一.

“……”

Luatisha covered her forehead.

Ah, should I not attend the meeting next time?

Chapter 17. I Picked It Up On the Way

A black and smooth stone.

It looked like obsidian, but the hardness was completely different.

Most of all, the biggest difference was,

“This is a new type of mana stone?”

That it contained mana.

Moreover, it contained much higher purity mana than existing mana stones.

At a time when the mining volume of proper mana stones was decreasing exponentially, there was nothing more eye-catching than this.

“It’s not a mana stone, but ‘Black Gold,’ Your Majesty the Empress.”

“Hmph, a stone containing mana is a mana stone.”

Clink—.

The Black Gold collided in the Empress’s hand, making a sound.

“Giving it a new name. They’re using their heads to avoid the restrictions on mana stones.”

“Shall we arrest them for using loopholes to evade the law?”

“No.”

The Empress shook her head firmly.

“He’s clever. A very outstanding person.”

A smooth smile appeared on the Empress’s beautiful face.

“Black Gold. Yes, it’s definitely a fitting name for this item. It’s a name that can only be given if you know the value of this item well.”

“In that case….”

“There’s nothing more foolish than ruining our relationship with him for immediate gain.”

The Empress clenched the Black Gold in her hand.

“Of course, the story would be different if we found out about this Black Gold mine. Did you say it’s on another continent?”

“Yes, that’s all we’ve found out so far. It’s a new merchant group based abroad, so it’s difficult to find out the exact travel route.”

“Difficult?”

The Empress’s voice sharpened.

“I’m sorry. But the trade route doesn’t make sense. They stop in all sorts of places, and the destination of the merchant ships changes every time. It’s as if they’re deliberately trying to prevent us from finding out.”

“…Deliberately, huh. Why would they want to be robbed of such a treasure?”

“Indeed, the moment we find out where it is, other merchant groups will flock to the Black Gold mine and ask to trade.”

“What kind of person is the head of the merchant group?”

“I’m sorry. I’ve investigated in every way, but I couldn’t find out.”

“Again?”

“Even within the merchant group, they didn’t seem to know much about the owner. No, they didn’t seem to know anything about the merchant group itself, not just the head. They only knew the tasks they were given.”

“Hmm, a cautious person.”

Tuk, tuk.

The Empress, who had been silent and tapping the table, finally opened her mouth.

“If we snoop around investigating, we’ll only arouse the wariness of such a cautious person. Stop the investigation for now and maintain the most amicable relationship with this merchant group.”

“Of course, Your Majesty.”

“Even if they sell us things we don’t need while trading, buy them at a good price.”

“We will buy everything they recommend for now.”

“Yes, we must maintain the best relationship. We must bring them over to our side!”

“Leave it to me!”

The Empress nodded as the man bowed.

“So, what’s the name of that merchant group?”

* * *

Inside the Silver Rose Palace where the First Empress resides.

“Black Gold?”

“Yes, Your Majesty. It seems they named it that way to deliberately avoid the law.”

“His Majesty the Emperor will be angry if he finds out.”

The Empress smiled at the people’s words.

“Will he really?”

“Excuse me?”

“But they won’t supply it to the Imperial Palace, saying it’s not a mana stone. Wouldn’t he be angry?”

“He would be angry. But that’s not all.”

The Empress’s eyes gleamed.

“He will want him more greedily than any of us.”

“……!”

“But we can’t just sit back and watch. Find out which place this merchant group is connected to. And if they haven’t joined hands with anyone yet一.”

Tak.

The Empress placed the Black Gold on the table.

“Bring them over to my side unconditionally.”

* * *

“The Grand Empress Dowager is already moving quickly.”

“The old woman is still going strong.”

“Each Duke and Marquis family, the Frontier Counts, as well as the Magic Tower and large guilds are trying to win over this merchant group.”

“So.”

“I will definitely bring this merchant group into Your Majesty’s arms.”

The deepest part of the Imperial Palace.

The most secret place even within the tall Imperial Palace.

The Emperor’s bedroom, where his head reaches the sky.

“This Anseur Merchant Group, that is.”

Within it, the name of Anseur echoed.