Lord Baby Runs A Romance Fantasy With Cash [EN]: Chapter 86

☆ Episode 87 ☆

* * *

I tried to act as nonchalant as possible, smoothly ending the impromptu wall slam as if it had been my intention all along.

“You have to cherish food, Zeon. More than anything, Dad made this himself.”

I sat down on the floor and picked up the overturned pudding bowl.

Seeing the pudding all mashed up, the frustration I had forgotten in my embarrassment washed over me.

‘I didn’t even get one bite…’

I was going to save it for my birthday night, but I cherished it so much that I hadn’t eaten it yet.

‘I was going to share this precious thing with him.’

Zeon, who had been watching quietly, sat down next to me.

“If you tell the kitchen, they’ll make you another one.”

“That won’t do. This is one of a kind in the world. Dad made this pudding.”

Zeon’s gaze turned to me. His eyes were still unreadable.

“It’s a good thing, in a way.”

“What?”

“A pudding made by an expert would be more delicious than what His Excellency made.”

What?

“It’s not about the taste right now!”

“The most important thing for intake is calories and nutrients. We eat food to get energy.”

“…….”

“But looking at the prices in the market, you can see that many people value taste more.”

“…….”

“In that sense, this pudding is more worthless than a pudding made by a *patissier* [pastry chef].”

Worthless.

The pudding that Dad made for me with his own hands.

“So, a new one made by a patissier—”

Thwack!

I jumped up and pushed Zeon away.

I thought he would resist, but Zeon was pushed by me without resistance, remaining seated.

But my anger didn’t subside.

I didn’t expect an apology from the start.

But worthless?

“You should be grateful.”

I looked down at him with cold eyes.

“That I stopped myself from slapping you with the pudding.”

* * *

Bang!

The door slammed shut.

Zeon remained motionless, pushed over by Ruatisha.

He recalled Ruatisha’s face as she looked down at him a moment ago.

The paraiba-colored [a vibrant blue-green] eyes that shone coldly.

He touched his chest where her small hand had touched him as she pushed him.

“Ah.”

Zeon lowered his head. Black hair slipped down, covering his eyes.

His hidden face was even more unreadable.

However, the corners of his lips that were revealed,

“It’s really my first time.”

Were drawing a clearer arc than ever before.

* * *

I sat in the flower bed and pulled out a bunch of innocent weeds.

After a while, a shadow fell over my head.

“Ruru.”

Looking up, I saw Dad looking down at me.

“Dad…”

Seeing Dad’s face, the sadness I had managed to suppress surged up again.

Dad immediately reached out and picked me up.

“What’s wrong?”

“Dad, I’m sorry. I dropped the pudding.”

“Is that why you’re so sulky?”

When I nodded, Dad smiled faintly.

“It’s okay.”

His large fingers gently stroked my hair.

“I’ll make you another one.”

That’s really appreciated.

But Dad.

You only managed to make one properly after baking forty-seven puddings…

Are you going to do that again?

I looked at Dad with suspicious eyes, and Dad avoided my gaze.

“Now that I’ve made one well, I’ll be able to make another one well.”

Well, it seemed more like a product of chance than a result of improved skills.

“Let’s make it together next time!”

Still, it was good.

Hehe.

As I felt better, Zeon came to mind.

I was too angry to think about it then, but it seemed like there was no malice in Zeon’s words.

“…….”

He was just telling me what he thought, sincerely and efficiently.

If he hadn’t let anyone around him, it would mean he hadn’t formed any relationships with anyone.

So he wouldn’t attach any meaning to something someone else made with their heart.

Because he doesn’t know.

Zeon doesn’t know what even an orphan like me knew.

There are so many *sol* [lonely people] in the Duke’s residence like this.

“Such things are not necessary for Paeraton, where magic flows.”

No. I think differently.

So I’m going to let Zeon know too.

And I have to get an apology!

“What are you thinking about?”

Dad asked, tapping my cheek.

When I looked up, Dad was looking at me with narrowed eyes.

“You have a scheming look on your face.”

Scheming? No.

I’m just trying to strengthen the brotherly love between siblings.

Kids are supposed to grow up bumping into each other, right?

* * *

Zeon Paeraton was under a great threat to his peaceful life.

The problem was that the person posing the threat was not a dragon, an emperor, a mage tower master, or a sword master—

“I picked this up on the way.”

It was a five-year-old child handing him a fairy tale book.

Moreover, she had pink cotton candy-like hair and soft, squishy cheeks.

Zeon stared at the fairy tale book Ruatisha handed him.

I’m Not Alone

“…….”

Zeon ignored her and turned around.

In the first place, why is this child in his room?

These days, whenever he goes out and comes back, she’s sprawled out on the sofa very naturally.

Zeon was about to go into the inner room when he stopped.

The stuffed animals had increased again.

His gaze naturally turned to the culprit who had brought them there.

“It was just there?”

Ruatisha shrugged indifferently, as if she didn’t know anything about it.

“Take it or leave it.”

She tossed it and went back to the sofa, which had become her nest.

She wrapped herself in a pink blanket, opened the fairy tale book, and crunched on cookies.

Zeon looked around his room again with a fresh perspective.

The room, which had always been neat and clean, was contaminated with all sorts of things.

A flower with a sweet scent.

Rabbit, sheep, and cat stuffed animals.

A fairy tale book by the bed.

A blanket for children, soft cushions, and snacks always ready to be eaten.

And above all.

A small girl who proudly occupies a corner of that sofa.

She was acting as if that was her territory.

At first, she secretly brought things in, but once she was caught leaving a flower, she said this.

“I’m just throwing it away *to* Zeon.”

She was truly a brazen child.

From then on, she became bolder and took her place openly like this.

Zeon stopped trying to ignore it as always.

Although the method was a little different, the things that kept approaching him all said the same thing.

“Now tell me.”

Ruatisha’s eyes widened as she looked at Zeon, who was looking down at her.

“Tell you what?”

“I’m the only one who knows your pain.”

“Huh?”

Ruatisha’s eyes widened even more.

“The reason you slaughter monsters like that is because you’re sacrificing yourself for the people.”

It was truly amazing in a way to recite those lines with a straight face.

“Actually, you’re not such a bad person. I know it. I can tell. Only I understand you.”

Ruatisha was impressed.

“Wow, who said that?”

“Many people.”

Ah.

Ruatisha smiled as if she understood.

‘Zeon does have a side that evokes such romantic fantasies.’

Originally, if you’re handsome, people want to understand you.

Even more so if that person looks lonely.

“But Zeon doesn’t really have any pain.”

“How do you know?”

“Of course I know.”

Pain only arises when you bump into people.

But Zeon didn’t even brush against anyone, let alone bump into them, so what pain could he have?

It’s not like he has trauma and avoids people, he just didn’t let anyone near him from the start.

‘But I think that’s even sadder.’

Ruatisha shrugged.

“Zeon said he just likes smashing monsters’ heads.”

“…… Yeah.”

“Then that must be it.”

Zeon stared at Ruatisha without a word.

There were always people approaching him. Especially when he went to the capital.

They all gave meaning to Zeon’s every action.

Then they said their interpretation was correct and that they understood Zeon.

“…You don’t understand me?”

“How can I understand you when you haven’t told me anything? Of course I can’t understand you because I don’t know you well.”

Ruatisha raised her head and looked back at Zeon.

“But I want to get to know you because you’re my brother.”

Zeon was still expressionless. His eyes, as beautiful as a craftsman’s work, were just as indifferent.

Ruatisha lowered her voice and asked.

“But did those women trap Zeon against the wall?”

“…You’re the only one who’s done that.”

Ruatisha’s expression changed like a deflated bun.

Please forget about that.

* * *

Zeon, who had taken a shower, naturally checked the sofa.

And he was somewhat surprised to realize that.

Why did he check for this child’s presence?

Ruatisha was fast asleep on the sofa, oblivious to the world.

Her slender breaths. He could almost feel the pulse throbbing at her neck.

He stared at the sleeping child’s face for a long time.

It was a very strange feeling.

He was unfamiliar with the very fact that someone was moving within his territory.

Even more so with her sleeping so defenselessly like this.

After watching for a while, the fairy tale book Ruatisha was holding slipped down.

Zeon reached out and grabbed the fairy tale book.

That’s when it happened.

The child’s small hand grabbed his hand tightly along with the fairy tale book.

Zeon’s eyes narrowed sharply.

“…….”

The child was still in dreamland. She was even smacking her lips, dreaming about something.

Zeon didn’t pull his hand out and remained still.

It was a strange thing.

But the child’s body temperature was warm, and she was sleeping very deeply.

Zeon quietly felt the small warmth on his fingertips.

For him, who was particularly sensitive to magic, the presence of others only brought unpleasantness.

Just being near them made him feel like bugs were crawling on his skin.

The only exceptions were his biological father and brothers, who also possessed magic.

But that wasn’t just a small bug, it was a bigger presence that bothered him even more.

But why is this child like this…

“How can I understand you when you haven’t told me anything? Of course I can’t understand you because I don’t know you well.”

“But I want to get to know you because you’re my brother.”

‘…Has anyone ever said they wanted to get to know me?’

Everyone came up to me with kind eyes, saying they knew the ‘real’ me, and when I pushed them away, they gave me a painful smile like a tragic heroine.

But Ruatisha is different.

She shouts, pushes, and gets angry without hesitation.

She was the first person to clash with him like this.

Zeon Paeraton didn’t need to be understood.

Zeon Paeraton didn’t need someone to be by his side either.

But.

Zeon’s hand reached for Ruatisha’s hair.

That’s when it happened.

Ruatisha opened her eyes with a start.

She saw a large hand approaching her as she was sleeping.

It’s not Dad’s hand.

The moment she realized that in her daze, the emergency lights turned on.

And her ability reacted to that sensation.

[Ability is activated.]

Immediately, Ruatisha’s body moved on its own.

She roughly grabbed the wrist approaching her and pushed it down under her.

It was instantaneous.

Thump!

Zeon lay on the sofa, staring blankly up at Ruatisha, who was pressing down on him.

Long pink hair tickled his forehead and cheeks.

Paraiba-colored eyes, like the clear sea of a foreign country, were capturing him very closely.

It was the first time he had seen himself reflected in someone else’s eyes.

“…Zeon?”

Only then did Ruatisha come to her senses.

Her hand roughly twisting Zeon’s wrist.

The other hand was on the sofa next to Zeon’s face.

And Zeon’s face was very, very close, as if their breaths could touch.

She could clearly see his densely packed black eyelashes and the red eyes shining beneath them, even the irises.

The wall slam that had failed because it was too short had been successfully replaced with a sofa slam.

‘…No, I didn’t want to succeed in something like this.’

It was something a five-year-old couldn’t do, but it was made possible thanks to her great ability.

“…You’re the first child to do this to me.”

Zeon whispered, making eye contact.

Yes, it would be the first time.

But this isn’t fun at all, okay?

This repetitive stuff is no fun.

Why has the activation frequency suddenly increased!

Sob sob.

Then, the corner of Zeon’s lips lifted slightly.

He pulled Ruatisha’s arm away.

In an instant, Ruatisha’s body fell downwards.

Zeon looked down at Ruatisha lying on the sofa and opened his mouth.

“I was a little excited.”

Hey. It’s obvious you’re teasing me, okay?

Ugh, I’m so embarrassed.