Lord Baby Runs A Romance Fantasy With Cash [EN]: Chapter 99

☆ 100 ☆

The Emperor stroked his chin, seemingly unfazed despite surely noticing the gazes directed at him.

“Let’s summarize. It’s clear that Lady Tarenka was the one who initially set a positive tone.”

“Yes, Your Majesty. There was a brief… disagreement with Duchess Paeraton when you left the hall.”

“Oh? With Duchess Paeraton?”

The Emperor seemed more intrigued by the mention of Duchess Paeraton than by Lady Tarenka’s involvement, despite her usually demure nature.

Count Chesia then explained the situation in detail.

“Hmm, I see. Duchess Paeraton has quite the personality.”

The Emperor chuckled.

“It was a first for Lady Tarenka, so she must have been quite taken aback, but she quickly regained her composure.”

“Indeed, when tea time began, she smoothly guided the conversation, just as the rumors suggested.”

“Yes, she is a model lady. Quite different from Lady Poshet sitting next to her.”

“One’s true worth is revealed in times of trouble, not when everything is fine. Her recovery after the commotion is quite impressive.”

The Emperor nodded.

“Besides her, there were a few others who seemed to be key figures among the ladies.”

“But nothing particularly noteworthy. We’re not simply picking the most popular girl.”

“That’s right. However…”

Count Chesia subtly slid forward a portrait of a lady with long, blue hair.

The Emperor nodded.

“It might be worth keeping an eye on Lady Michellone. She’s quiet, so she doesn’t stand out, but she’s quite capable.”

“Yes, and the ladies around her are quite respectable as well. You can tell by the company she keeps.”

“In contrast, Duchess Paeraton was just so-so at the beginning.”

“I heard it was her first time at a social gathering. It’s only natural since she didn’t know anyone. Many ladies were interested, but they must have hesitated to approach her.”

“True. They might be interested in Duchess Paeraton’s status, but they wouldn’t know what she’s like as a person.”

“In a normal social gathering, they might have struck up a conversation out of mere curiosity, but the stakes of the Dawn Festival would have been a factor as well.”

“Right, if they associated with someone with an odd personality, they’d be immediately penalized. And the incident with Lady Tarenka, who has a good reputation, would have been another deterrent.”

“Yes. Public opinion ended up favoring Duchess Paeraton, but it also revealed that she’s not one to be underestimated.”

“Many people are predicting Lady Tarenka as a strong candidate for the win, so they would have been even more cautious.”

“But now, Duchess Paeraton has turned the situation around in an instant.”

“Haha, shouldn’t Lady Brante and Lady Selando be thanking Duchess Paeraton for this?”

“She provided a very good opportunity. But how they use that opportunity is entirely up to their ability. She could have done it moderately, but she decisively eliminated them.”

“Considering it’s her first time attending a social gathering and that the Dawn Festival has just begun, it would be impossible without exceptional nerve. Or she’s the type to just act without thinking.”

“But judging by how she handled things afterward, she doesn’t seem like the type to not think?”

“Is that so? I don’t think it’s possible to judge that yet. It worked out quite luckily.”

“Are you referring to how she involved the other ladies?”

“Yes, that was a risky move. What if the other ladies asked why she was dragging them in too?”

“It seems Duchess Paeraton calculated that they wouldn’t.”

The Emperor’s eyes gleamed.

The Emperor had only received brief reports about the ladies’ background information, not as detailed as Count Chesia knew.

“Tell me more.”

“Lady Brante and Lady Selando have extremely poor reputations. Most of the ladies harbor unpleasant feelings towards them.”

“That means there are many ladies who have considered embarrassing them at least once. Duchess Paeraton capitalized on that?”

“It’s not just that. There were a few other key figures among the ladies. The reason why she didn’t mention Lady Tarenka is probably because of the previous incident. But why did she specifically mention those three?”

The Emperor clapped his knee.

“Duchess Paeraton made a selection in that short amount of time? Only those who would react positively?”

“That’s what I think. Otherwise, there’s no explanation for why it had to be those three.”

“Hoo, amazing. To assess the ladies in that short amount of time and pick out those who would be helpful to public opinion…”

“All the ladies were paying attention to Lady Brante and Duchess Paeraton when they were talking. She must have been observing their reactions at that time.”

“Indeed, even when she was sitting alone at the beginning, she didn’t look awkward. It felt more like she was waiting for the right moment. She started figuring things out from then.”

“It’s very subtle. In particular, Lady Michellone wouldn’t have agreed because of her goodwill towards Duchess Paeraton or her contempt for Lady Brante. But—”

“Right, she’s not the type to step forward there. In fact, she only glanced at them when Duchess Paeraton first mentioned the Michellone family. I see. She really figured everything out.”

The Emperor fixed his gaze on Duchess Paeraton’s portrait and nodded several times.

* * *

The conversation wasn’t much different elsewhere.

The Empress tapped Duchess Paeraton’s portrait and smiled.

“Amazing. She’s the youngest, but she understands everything. It seems like she even knows the major businesses of each family?”

“I was surprised when she rattled off the academy, military academy, magic books, and hospitals. Knowing it and actually using it in a conversation are different things.”

The Empress turned her head to the side.

“Esteban, what do you think?”

“After seeing the Duchess, I regretted that she couldn’t participate in the preliminaries. But that regret has just disappeared.”

“Oh?”

“Yes, if she had participated in the preliminaries, I wouldn’t have been able to see this side of her directly and would have had to hear it through someone else’s ears.”

The Empress chuckled.

“You seem to like her quite a bit. Duchess Paeraton… Not bad. I’ve always coveted that family. If only that foolish Aphelia hadn’t failed.”

The Empress gritted her teeth.

It would have been one thing if she had just failed quietly, but what a disgrace.

Even now, she felt annoyed when she thought about how she had been dragged into the gossip and how the hateful Empress had taken advantage of the situation to portray herself as caring for the empire even amidst the black plague, causing her to be constantly compared.

‘But no matter how much the Empress tries, she can’t beat me.’

The Empress looked at her son with a proud gaze.

* * *

At the same time the Empress was grinding her teeth at the Empress Consort, at the Empress Consort’s palace.

The Empress Consort rubbed her temples and raised the corners of her lips.

“Well, an awl in a pocket cannot be hidden [meaning, talent will always reveal itself]. But I didn’t expect her to show her talent so quickly.”

“The Empress will start working on her right away.”

“She’s not someone who’s easily swayed. Even if the Empress tries to seduce her, she won’t fall for it right away.”

“That’s a relief.”

“It’s a relief, but it’s also a difficult task for me. She’s quick-witted. What should I give her to balance the scales?”

The head maid smiled as she watched the Empress Consort pondering.

“But you don’t seem to be in a bad mood.”

“I suppose so. Here I am, in this position, worrying about winning over a child. Well, it’s incomparable to haggling with old nobles.”

The head maid gave a faint smile as she watched the Empress Consort playfully joking.

‘How wonderful it would be if the Princess were still alive.’

If the Princess were alive, she would be the same age as Duchess Paeraton.

It pained her heart to see the Empress Consort so happy while looking at the Duchess.

* * *

The Empress Dowager’s greenhouse.

The Empress Dowager, who was wiping the broad leaves of a Monstera [a type of tropical plant] with a cloth, nodded.

“Everyone will be keeping an eye on Duchess Paeraton.”

“What should we do? Should we approach her too?”

“Let’s wait and see for now. This old woman has been waiting in the back room for decades. It won’t make a difference if I wait a little longer now.”

“Then…”

“Keep an eye on her without showing interest, and report immediately if anyone else makes a move.”

“Of course, Your Majesty.”

The Empress Dowager pondered for a moment before opening her mouth.

“That child, Sid, was it? Where is he now?”

“His Majesty the Emperor is hiding him in the Delluman Palace. Neither the Empress nor the Empress Consort have noticed at all.”

“Hmm…”

The Empress Dowager was silent for a while, concentrating on wiping the leaves.

“I’m questioning that child’s origins.”

“Yes? Are you implying that he might not be His Majesty the Emperor’s child? But surely the reaction of the sacred stone—”

“No, no. Not that.”

The Empress Dowager stopped herself from saying more.

“How are the young nobles doing? Duke Delvatren participated, didn’t he?”

The aide bowed and opened his mouth to the Empress Dowager, who was asking a completely different question.

“Duke Delvatren is skipping out.”

‘Ugh, this is so annoying.’

Raphael Delvatren lay in the shade among the bushes, leisurely looking up at the sky.

His grandfather, Duke Delvatren, had ordered him to participate in the Dawn Festival, but it just didn’t suit him.

‘Whether it’s my grandfather’s order or whatever, if it weren’t for that sword, I would have blown it off.’

Since he was carrying the heirloom sword of the family, he had no choice but to participate.

‘What’s with this tea time? I’ll just hang out here for a while—’

That’s when it happened.

Thud!

“Ouch!”

A stone that suddenly fell from the sky hit him in the stomach.

He coughed and looked at the stone.

A gentle-looking, clear face with large blue eyes and fluffy pink hair.

Rather than a stone that fell from the sky, the image of an angel descending was more fitting.

However, Raphael didn’t have that much sensitivity.

“Sorry, I’m sorry. I didn’t know there was someone here…”

Raphael frowned at the girl who was apologizing, seemingly unsure of what to do.

“What, who are you?”

“Um, just someone passing by?”

She smiled brightly.

Judging by her appearance, she was a participant in the Dawn Festival.

“Are you skipping out too?”

At those words, the girl put her hand on her waist and puffed out her stomach.

“What are you talking about? Do I look like someone who would skip out?”

It’s good to be confident, but now wasn’t the time to say that.

“What was that jumping out of the window just now?”

The girl shook her head.

“I didn’t jump out of the window. I would never do such a dangerous thing.”

Raphael glanced at the window where the stone had come from.

“I just came out through a place that wasn’t a door.”

“…”

Raphael was speechless for the first time in his life.

He thought he was shameless himself, but this girl was the real deal.

“I’m sorry for hurting you! If there’s anything wrong, contact Viscount Dier! Then I’ll be going!”

The girl quickly apologized and then walked away without looking back.

Raphael frowned as he watched her pink, cloud-like figure flutter away.

“I’ve seen all sorts of strange people.”

* * *

I looked around and asked Hermes Jjack.

“Why couldn’t you come in?”

“There’s a barrier set up, Jjack!”

He passed through the barrier of the Duke’s castle well, but the barrier of the Imperial Palace must be different.

“It’s not that I’m lacking, Jjack! I haven’t fully unleashed my power yet, Jjack!”

“Okay, okay.”

‘They said that Hermes Jjack’s abilities were limited because my influence was low.’

I was about to receive a letter from Hermes Jjack.

“What’s the price?”

As expected, the spirit of capitalism.

“I can’t give it to you now. I’ll give it to you when I get home later.”

Hermes Jjack flew higher without answering.

“White chocolate macadamia cookies and Amande Chocolat!”

“You’re a good person after all, Jjack!”

Hermes Jjack liked chocolate flavors, even though he was a bird.

‘If he’s sending a message so suddenly, something big must have happened.’

I hurriedly opened the letter.

The sender was Echen, the leader of Echesis Mercenary Group.

And the content was….

There’s a fortune teller among our members who told me about your fortune.

You’re going to meet your destiny today.

Good luck.

“…”

Are you kidding me!

‘What, I was nervous because I thought it was an urgent matter.’

Even though it was the first floor, I even climbed out the window to get out!

‘Weren’t they a busy mercenary group? I guess he’s pretty bored too.’

I envied that leisure.

I was about to tear the letter to shreds in annoyance.

“Master.”

A low, quiet voice from behind.

Even though it was the first time I heard that voice, my heart sank.

I slowly turned around.

A boy was standing in the middle of the dazzling spring sunshine.

Radiantly shining blonde hair, mysterious and subtle purple eyes.

A high nose and sharp jawline, deep eyes.

Even though it had been several years, I recognized him at a glance.

I couldn’t help but recognize him.

“Sid…”

He smiled at my moan-like call.

“It’s been a while, Master.”

“…”

I didn’t know how to react.

I thought that I might run into Sid if I came to the Imperial Palace.

Because he was definitely of the Imperial bloodline.

What would I do if I met him, what would I say, how would I greet him, what kind of expression would I make.

I thought about it several times.

But there was only one conclusion.

‘I should pretend not to know him.’

Sid will pretend not to know me either. He’s a prince, so he has his position to consider.

The fact that he was a slave, even for a short time, would be a huge flaw for him.

Above all, I wasn’t a good master to him.

I even said harsh things several times to stop his obsession.

I have overflowing memories with him, but he doesn’t.

‘Because I’m not the one who healed Sid, gave him warmth, and gave him a name.’

It was me, but it wasn’t me.

To Sid, it was not me, but a completely different person.

So, even if we meet again, this relationship will not continue, like that—

Rustle.

The letter I tore was trampled under Sid’s feet.

You’re going to meet your destiny today

That half-torn phrase was clearly visible.

Slowly, Sid came to me.