Lord Baby Runs A Romance Fantasy With Cash [EN]: Chapter 97

☆ Episode 98 ☆

Klatier’s face flushed with shame at my wide-eyed remark.

“What? You two aren’t acquainted?”

“They are cousins, but the Paeraton Duchess probably spends most of her time on the estate…”

Klatier forced another smile amidst the murmuring.

“Oh, you’re so funny! We grew up together like real sisters in the same house.”

“My only siblings are my brothers, though.”

*Know your place, okay?*

But Klatier wouldn’t back down so easily.

After glaring at me for a moment, Klatier put on a sorrowful face and lowered her gaze.

“That’s so mean… I’ve always considered you like a real sister, Ruatisha… It hurts that you’re pushing me away like this.”

She looked so pitiful that I almost wanted to comfort her and tell her it wasn’t true.

The gallery immediately reacted.

“They grew up in the same house? Is the Paeraton Duchess pretending not to know her on purpose?”

“But she might genuinely not know. She wouldn’t remember if it was when she was a baby.”

“Even so, they’re definitely cousins. Should she really be embarrassing her like that in front of everyone? I feel bad for Lady Klatier.”

The lady who had been clinging to Klatier earlier was deliberately speaking loudly.

Considering my reputation, it might be better to wear a mask and act accordingly rather than cutting her off so sharply.

*But do I need to do that?*

*I’m not Klatier, after all.*

“Ah, I remember now.”

I clapped my hands to lighten the mood.

“I remember seeing you at Yutra’s boutique last time. You acted like you knew my brothers then too, right?”

“Huh?”

Klatier looked noticeably flustered at that.

“Why, you said something bad about me then, didn’t you? So when my brothers got angry, you suddenly acted like you knew us, saying, ‘It’s me, it’s Klatier,’ right?”

“Something bad? I was just expressing my doubts—”

“But my brothers said it was their first time meeting you.”

Klatier’s face turned bright red.

The gazes of the gallery, who had been paying attention, also turned strange.

“Why do you keep acting like you know people you’ve just met so casually?”

I tilted my head, looking at Klatier as if I couldn’t understand.

“It’s nice to be kind to strangers. But this is different from kindness, right? Some people might find it rude.”

*I already gave you etiquette lessons when we met at the boutique, do I have to do it again?*

Klatier’s lips trembled as she read my gaze.

“What, so Lady Klatier was doing that to the princes she just met too?”

“And she said something bad… Usually, you’d say something nice in front of family, wouldn’t you?”

“No, well. Still, isn’t it too much to embarrass Lady Klatier by pretending not to know her?”

Klatier’s follower tried to defend her, but it was no use.

“Well, if she insulted them in front of their family and then acted like they were close in front of others, of course the Paeraton Duchess would be angry, wouldn’t she?”

“It’s generous of her to just pretend not to know her. Considering she’s only ten years old, she’s quite sophisticated.”

“It doesn’t seem like they grew up like siblings in the first place.”

Klatier clenched the hem of her dress at the murmuring.

*She’s getting a lot of flak for trying to do media play [attempting to manipulate public perception].*

*Serves her right.*

It would be better to end it here to lose the least, but unfortunately, Klatier didn’t seem to think so.

*Ah, is she conscious of the royals?*

The Emperor and Empress had left, but the Prince and Princess Consort were still in the hall.

She must have decided that she couldn’t make an impression on them if she backed down now.

“I just, I just wanted to get along with my cousins. If I was rude, I’m sorry…!”

Klatier trembled pitifully with teary eyes.

I almost yawned at the same, pathetic strategy.

It was then.

“Oh my? It looks like His Highness the Prince is going to step in.”

The Prince, who had been watching us, began to approach.

“Well, His Highness the Prince is already acquainted with Lady Klatier, isn’t he?”

“I heard the atmosphere between them is good too, oh my?”

The ladies blushed at the premonition of a pink atmosphere.

The Prince saving his sweetheart from a difficult situation.

Isn’t it just like a romance novel?

Klatier’s eyes also lit up with anticipation.

However, that novel-like event did not happen.

“Paeraton Duchess.”

The Prince smiled at me, completely ignoring Klatier.

*Of course.*

For those in power, it doesn’t matter who pretends to be nicer.

And did you forget?

This isn’t a festival, it’s a competition.

How are you going to compete in a bloody battle while pretending to be nice?

“I greet Your Highness the Prince.”

I curtsied and raised my head.

The Prince, who had inherited only the good parts of the Emperor and Empress’s beauty, smiled at me.

Ash blonde hair and mysterious blue-gray eyes.

The nobility flowing from his face seemed to indicate his status without having to say it.

“I am Esteban.”

“It is an honor to hear Your Highness’s name directly.”

I smiled nonchalantly.

A strange light flickered in Prince Esteban’s eyes.

“Oh, I didn’t know I would regret not being able to participate in the preliminaries because I am a royal.”

Esteban raised the corner of his lips. It was a genuine smile, different from the polite smile from before.

“I hope to see the Duchess in the finals.”

He left after saying those words.

“D, did the Prince just allow her to call him by his name?”

“Isn’t this the first time? Oh my goodness.”

“Wow, but the Paeraton Duchess is refusing it?”

Amidst the commotion, the Princess Consort walked gracefully towards me.

“Ruatisha.”

“Your Highness the Princess Consort.”

I spread my skirt and curtsied.

The Princess Consort smiled faintly.

“Oh my, you’ve become quite mature. I feel strangely sad. It feels like just yesterday you were giving greetings while jumping around.”

“You remember everything.”

The Princess Consort chuckled at my blushing face.

“Everything? Those are lovely memories to me. By the way, it’s been a long time. Have you been well?”

“Thanks to Your Highness’s concern, I have been well.”

“I’m very happy to see you in the Imperial Palace. My offer is still valid.”

“I’ll think about it.”

The Princess Consort laughed as if amused by my prim reply, then left.

“What, even Her Highness the Princess Consort?”

“The Paeraton Duchess must be very pleasing to her. I heard she’s not one to speak first.”

“What is the offer she made to the Duchess?”

The ladies and gentlemen all began to exchange words about what was happening.

Meanwhile, Klatier was silent with her head bowed.

Her slender arms trembled.

* * *

After all the royals had left, Count Chesia, the Minister of the Imperial Household, stepped forward.

“Welcome, everyone. Many of you must be nervous after meeting His Majesty the Emperor for the first time. First, relax with some delicious cake and warm tea.”

Count Chesia spoke with a very gentle smile.

“There is a winner, so it may seem like a competition, but the Dawn Festival is a festival. The most important thing is the enjoyment of the participants.”

His words and tone were as kind as his gentle impression.

“It’s rare to be in one place with so many peers. Making friends and memories is also the charm of the festival, isn’t it?”

*But the Minister of the Imperial Household wouldn’t be just a nice person.*

He is in a position to be responsible for the Imperial Palace and at the same time in the middle of the central power vortex.

I read the tension on the faces of the officials assisting him.

“The boring adults will leave, so have a comfortable and enjoyable tea time. Ladies, please go to the right, and gentlemen, please go to the left.”

The guides opened the doors on both sides of the hall.

Inside, a splendid tea party was prepared.

Having tea time at the Imperial Palace itself would be exciting for the children.

The guide smiled at the exclamations bursting out here and there.

“Then, I hope you have a good time.”

With those words, the doors closed. Not a single adult remained. Not even the maids and servants.

Only the children participating in the Dawn Festival remained.

*Hmm, this is a new method.*

I had heard how the previous Dawn Festivals were conducted, but there had never been a case where peers were left alone from the beginning.

“Haa, I was nervous, but I feel alive now.”

“I wonder if Count Chesia is in charge of this Dawn Festival?”

“I guess so. For the Minister of the Imperial Household to take charge himself, isn’t this the first time?”

“I’m glad Count Chesia seems like a good person.”

Those who already knew each other began to gather in groups of three or five to form groups.

*It’s a little late for me to delve into that.*

People who had become close through social gatherings such as mothers, chaperones, or book clubs naturally sat at the same table.

There’s no need to squeeze into it.

I’m already getting enough attention.

*Rather, the problem is that everyone is too conscious of me.*

I sat at a roughly empty table.

I felt a burning gaze and turned to see Lady Poshette glaring at me with fierce eyes.

*She said she’d show me she’s more wonderful, but she’s being incredibly conscious of me.*

Klatier was saying something next to her, but she wasn’t listening at all because she was looking at me.

It seemed that Lady Poshette was the only one my age.

*Well, you can only participate in the Dawn Festival once.*

It’s much more advantageous to participate at fourteen than at ten, so the ladies my age seemed to be aiming for the next Dawn Festival.

A fragrant scent wafted as I poured tea into a pure white teacup.

*But it’s too bitter for a child’s taste.*

I plopped in sugar and poured in a lot of milk.

It was then.

“U-um, Paeraton Duchess.”

A group of ladies approached my table.

They swallowed nervously when our eyes met. I could feel they were nervous.

“It’s an honor to meet you. I am Tiriel of the Andersen County. The last cure was a great help.”

“I’m glad it helped.”

The girls’ eyes sparkled like stars as I smiled.

*Cute.*

“I, I’m Jasmine of the Lindhall Barony. Thanks to the cure you sent, our territory was able to survive.”

Both families must have suffered greatly because they were adjacent to the Miaren Territory, the source of the Black Death.

The other ladies who came with them also introduced themselves.

“Aren’t your legs tired from standing all the time? Please, sit down if you’re okay with it.”

“R-really?”

The ladies sat down with bright faces.

“Your Grace is my benefactor. Actually, my mother contracted the Black Death. I don’t know what would have happened without your cure.”

“My cousin too. I was really surprised when I heard the news, but thanks to you, she survived.”

The ladies had great favor towards me for creating the Black Death cure.

I felt proud to hear directly that the cure had helped so many people.

Above all, I was excited because it was my first time having such a time with peer ladies.

It was then.

“How much did she make with that one cure, and they’re still making a fuss even after five years.”

“Isn’t it a bit pathetic? Going all the way there and fawning over her.”

A sharp voice was heard from a table a little further away.

The faces of the ladies sitting at the same table as me hardened.

“W-what’s so pathetic about thanking someone who helped us?”

“Oh my, goodness. Lady Andersen, are you eavesdropping right now?”

She was speaking loudly as if on purpose.

*Right. When this many people gather, especially when there are only energetic teenagers, there’s bound to be someone like this.*

However, Lady Andersen didn’t know what to do with the attention and attack she was receiving for the first time.

I felt it when she first spoke to me, but the ladies around me all seemed to have gentle and slightly timid personalities.

The other party was even more excited by Lady Andersen’s reaction.

“And did I say anything wrong? How much did the Paeraton Duchess take away with that cure back then?”

“And she’s still showing off that she helped. If she really wanted to help, she should have distributed it for free all over the country.”

I smiled and looked back at the ladies.

“Have you ever tried making a cure?”

“…I haven’t made it.”

“Right. It’s easy to say this and that about things you haven’t done. That’s why I thought you wouldn’t have been able to make it.”

The other party flared up at my words.

“If I had made the cure, I would have definitely given it away for free all over the country—”

“Do you know how much that quantity is?”

The lady’s face was filled with annoyance, but she couldn’t say anything.

Yeah, she wouldn’t have anything to say. Because she doesn’t know.

I’m sorry, but I have no intention of stopping here.

I know from my school days that these kids look down on you more if you keep your manners.

“What about the production costs for making that many cures? Have you thought about the costs of developing the cure?”

Of course, the development cost was 0 cash.

Because I summoned the novel I had already summoned again and extracted the ability.

“Did you also calculate the distribution costs for obtaining the materials and transporting the cure?”

“…….”

“I believe you wouldn’t have said anything carelessly about other people’s affairs without even thinking about that much.”

“The Paeraton Duchess’s wealth is known to everyone. She can do that much!”

“All the mana went into making the cure. All the wizards of the Paeraton Territory were involved.”

I stopped smiling and asked sharply.

“Should I order them to work without any compensation?”

“S-persuade the wizards—”

“Even if they volunteer without pay, would that be a proper administrative system and territory management? As the Paeraton Duchess, I have a duty to take responsibility for the territory’s people.”

The ladies who had been picking a fight couldn’t find anything to say and closed their mouths.

“And there’s something you’re misunderstanding.”

I smiled leisurely at them.

“In the beginning, I said I would give the cure for almost free. For the sake of the Empire and the people.”

This is a well-known fact.

Didn’t Count Miaren, who rejected my offer, have his title taken away by his younger sister?

“That was the case for the Miaren Territory as well as its adjacent territories.”

“T-that’s right. I remember it clearly.”

“Me too!”

Lady Andersen and Lady Lindhall nodded.

“It was the other nobles, not me, who contacted me and asked for the cure, saying they would give me this and that condition.”

I tilted my head.

“Could it be that you criticized me for showing off or how much I made without even knowing this cause-and-effect relationship?”