Choosing the Baby’s Father From the Following – Chapter 8

𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟖

‘The time of other transmigrators flowed just fine.’

Why, haven’t you seen plenty of those?

Things like 「1 year later」……

‘I think I’ve even seen 「3 years later」 or 「5 years later」.’

However, my imperial time was flowing the same as in South Korea, so the official dinner just a week after transmigrating wasn’t easy.

‘It’s a good thing I watched a lot of medieval-style American dramas.’

After a while of sitting like a princess I saw in dramas and imitating Jenais across from me, the dinner finally ended.

‘I’m so glad Ernst was by my side.’

It would have been a disaster if I had to receive greetings from people I didn’t know without a beautifully shining shield.

‘If I had to endure morning sickness and nausea, I would have fainted.’

I couldn’t dare leave my seat first, and only when everyone seemed to be dispersing was I able to barely escape the main palace.

I heard footsteps behind me, and when I turned around thinking it was Ernst……

“Lou.”

Unlike my expectation, the protagonist of today was standing in the darkness.

“Oh, Brother. You’re already out……?”

If you’re the protagonist, couldn’t you have come out a little later……

I didn’t have the confidence to talk to Lurik, so I shrunk my shoulders a little. The hand that was reaching out to me slowly fell, and then habitually brushed against the handle of his sword.

At that moment, under the dim lighting, Lurik’s red eyes were once again engulfed in a black vortex.

‘Gasp, no……’

As I gulped in fear, his voice continued.

“You’re still afraid of me.”

……’Still’?

I’m scared that Lurik will go berserk, that he’ll notice the changes in his sister.

‘But even without that, was Louise originally afraid of her brother?’

I only used Louise’s death as a device for Lurik’s rampage, I never considered Louise’s perspective.

‘Is this what they call reaping what you sow……’

Of course, if the two of them weren’t close, it would be a blessing for me.

It would be difficult to easily find the changes in his younger sister after three years.

But……

“No, Brother!”

His blood-red eyes, shadowed with darkness, were chilling, yet so desolate that I couldn’t help but grab onto Lurik.

How much Lurik loved her……

‘You foolish Louise.’

I blamed her inwardly and was about to lightly grab Lurik’s sleeve.

The black vortex that was about to engulf his red pupils disappeared in an instant.

‘Is this a coincidence?’

I cautiously observed his gaze and added.

“Th…… That is, since you were the protagonist of today’s banquet, I thought it would have been nice if you had stayed in the banquet hall a little longer.”

Lurik stared down at my fingers holding his sleeve, then answered a beat later.

“……I’m not feeling very well.”

“Of, Of course you must be tired.”

I said so and squeezed my eyes shut.

‘I think I need to flatter him a little.’

At this point, he’s not just a brother, but a walking time bomb.

So, I casually linked my arm with his.

“Then let’s go to your room and rest. I’ll escort you.”

Out of awkwardness, my arm and leg on the same side stretched out at the same time, but I swear I tried my best.

Even so, Lurik just frowned as if he had heard something strange.

“I’ll be the one escorting you.”

“Ah……”

How can that be?

‘We’re inside the palace anyway, and you said you weren’t feeling well.’

I didn’t understand, but I nodded vaguely.

Lurik started walking.

I quickened my pace to keep up with his large strides, and forced myself to speak.

“Did you eat properly, Brother? It seemed like you barely ate because there were so many guests.”

“……So you were aware that your brother was by your side.”

How could I not know, sitting right next to him and feeling his presence?

When I tilted my head in confusion, Lurik added coldly.

“I thought you were just busy flirting with that Flavi Crown Prince.”

Ah…… Hahaha.

Why do bad premonitions always come true?

‘If Erni is the father of the baby, he won’t survive, absolutely not……’

🔹🔹🔹🔹🔹🔹

Lurik only asked me after we entered the hallway of the detached palace.

“I heard that you used the Tower Master’s flame instead of the Imperial Palace gate when you returned from the Academy.”

So that’s what Phoebe meant by ‘a different way.’

Is that related to why I survived?

‘Does that mean Ren’s magic changed the content of the novel I wrote?’

I thought about it inwardly, but quickly answered so as not to upset my brother.

“I, I just wanted to come back quickly.”

Lurik’s eyes clouded with puzzlement, but then a relieved voice followed.

“I thought you…… wouldn’t want to come back.”

Only then did Louise’s perspective come to mind.

An outcast royal who couldn’t stay in the main palace and had to use the detached palace, and even feared her only brother……

‘She must have hated coming back to the Imperial Palace.’

However, I quickly spoke to appease Lurik.

“No, Normally, I would have. But since the war is over and you’ll be returning too……”

Lurik’s footsteps, which had been gradually slowing down during our conversation, stopped completely.

I squeezed out my voice and continued.

“I thought it would be nice…… if I arrived first and waited.”

He looked down at me as if I were something strange and fascinating.

“……Is that so.”

Was it just my imagination that I felt a slight moisture in his voice?

Lurik averted his gaze from me and started walking again.

“I know you’re close to the Tower Master, but don’t do anything that would displease His Majesty. I’ve told you repeatedly, he is His Majesty the Emperor’s man.”

That was the superficial reason why Lurik got rid of the Tower Master in the novel.

‘But is it true? Could Lurik have misunderstood?’

I don’t know Ren well yet, but I can’t even imagine him choosing the Emperor over Louise.

“I will protect you. You will not suffer any pain.”

Is Ren, who said that, actually on the Emperor’s side instead of mine?

‘That can’t be……’

We finally arrived in front of my room, and Lurik started to speak.

“Still……”

And then, just before turning around, he said,

“Thank you for waiting.”

Seeing his red, transparent eyes settle into a warm and healthy color, I felt both relieved and guilty.

‘Just a moment ago, I was thinking of him as a time bomb……’

If Louise is his one and only precious sister, wouldn’t it be fair for me to treat him as a ‘brother’ rather than a ‘male protagonist’?

“It’s alright, Brother.”

Yes, it was fortunate that he didn’t go berserk today.

But, what if he eventually does?

‘Of course, Helena can quell the rampage, but……’

Knowing that many people will die and get hurt after that painful incident, and that Lurik will be dragged to prison unconscious, should I just stand by and watch?

‘Until he, like a true protagonist, steadily walks his thorny path and finally finds his way?’

I should be finding the baby’s father and escaping the Imperial Palace, but I couldn’t help but worry.

‘Moreover, this is the book I wrote……’

To leave the male lead, who will be imprisoned after committing murder due to the rampage episode I wrote, like this……

‘Is there such an irresponsible original author in this world?!’

Not only that, if I leave the unstable Lurik alone and he goes berserk, it would undoubtedly affect my peaceful and long life.

I shook my head and thought.

‘No, this won’t do. Let’s observe Lurik a little more.’

🔹🔹🔹🔹🔹🔹

The next morning.

I was about to leave my room, making up an excuse to see Lurik before the banquet started again.

An unexpected altercation was taking place in the hallway in front of my room.

“What brings you to see my sister so early in the morning?”

Lurik growled.

But Ernst, his face unaffected, blinked a few times and then smiled softly.

‘Is it just me, or does my heart flutter every time he blinks unnecessarily?’

Ernst finally replied politely.

“I heard that Princess Louise hasn’t been feeling well lately and hasn’t been eating properly, so I thought I would brew her some tea.”

Now that he mentioned it, he was holding a tea set on a golden tray.

Lurik’s eyes narrowed more fiercely.

“Instead of ordering a maid, you’re doing it yourself?”

“It’s a rewarding hobby I’ve enjoyed since my time at the Academy.”

Ernst answered with a grin and added.

“Not only that, there’s an important matter to discuss with Princess Louise today……”

An important matter?

‘Could it be, the baby’s name?’

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