Choosing the Baby’s Father From the Following – Chapter 88

𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟖𝟖

That same night, the Imperial Guard had to drag the Empress, exhausted from crying, out of the Crown Prince’s Palace.

Ren happened to be walking down the hallway at that time and saw the Empress being dragged away, her feet dragging on the floor.

“Tower Master, Tower Master……!”

The Empress cried out in a mournful voice when she saw him.

He understood her desire not to lose her child, but Ren had no reason to exhaust his own magical power to keep the dying First Prince alive.

‘Unless it was an Imperial order.’

Ren forced himself to look away and passed the Empress, heading towards the First Prince’s room.

“De…… ath……”

The First Prince on the sickbed muttered about death as if in a nightmare.

Perhaps due to his ashen face, his voice sounded strangely sincere.

Ren sighed once and lifted all the magic surrounding the First Prince at once.

“Gasp, gasp……”

The First Prince’s breathing became more ragged, but it didn’t seem like he would die immediately.

Ren was inwardly relieved and ordered the Imperial Guard.

“Summon the Imperial Physician.”

He didn’t bother waiting for the Imperial Physician to arrive and headed straight to the Emperor’s office.

“I have carried out the Imperial order.”

The Emperor, upon receiving the report, turned pale and gasped for breath.

Although he had given the order, he seemed to be mentally unprepared, his voice trembling.

“……What happened?”

“He will be alright for now, but it would be best to prepare yourself.”

Only then did the Emperor slowly nod his head.

He seemed to be belatedly struck with grief, but Ren didn’t have the luxury of waiting for the Emperor to compose himself.

Because of Hart, Ren had been tied to the Imperial Palace for far too long.

“Having fulfilled my duty, I request permission to return to the Magic Tower with my teacher.”

The Emperor asked in a faint voice.

“How is Moghald? I heard he’s barely clinging to life, like Hart was.”

At that question, Ren’s voice also became somber as he answered.

“I plan to return to the Magic Tower and discuss treatment for my teacher with the other mages. It’s not a decision I can make alone, as everyone in the Magic Tower considers him their teacher.”

The Emperor slowly nodded.

“Narses must be like family to you. You haven’t even been able to stay by his side because you were taking care of my son. You may return to the Magic Tower now.”

Ren bowed politely to the Emperor and left the office, hurrying towards his teacher.

🔹🔹🔹🔹🔹🔹

Lurik heard the news about Hart the next morning.

“……So, the Tower Master has already left for the Magic Tower?”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Helena replied with a slightly apologetic look.

In truth, she had stepped in and declined the Tower Master’s farewell on Lurik’s behalf.

‘For safety’s sake, Ren-nim should have minimal information.’

Helena thought, steeling her resolve.

However, as Lurik rose from his seat with a heavy expression, she stopped her contemplation and stood up as well.

“I should go see my brother.”

Lurik was not pleased that the magic sword that had tormented him for half his life had consumed his half-brother.

Even if he was a brother he resented, there was no need for him to live as the sword’s host in his stead.

That was not the revenge Lurik desired.

Unexpectedly, Helena asked.

“Can I go with you?”

It had already been more than two months since she began posing as a maid in the Imperial Palace.

Since she had actually worked as a maid in the monastery until last year, there was nothing easier for Helena than pretending to be a maid.

Despite this, Lurik’s face was filled with worry.

“I wouldn’t mind, but…… I’m worried because there are many eyes watching at the main palace.”

He hesitated for a moment before speaking.

“If it becomes known who you are and what you can do, the Empress will surely misunderstand, and also……”

Helena smiled bashfully and took a step closer to him.

“The only woman you can trust and rely on is me.”

After hearing Princess Louise’s advice, Helena had mustered her courage.

Instead of running away in fear when he hesitantly reached out his hand, she sometimes reached out and grabbed his hand first.

Then, the changes came slowly, but surely.

As a result, she now stood hand in hand with the man she once had to look up to endlessly, gazing in the same direction.

‘I still can’t believe it.’

Helena stretched out her arms and wrapped them around Lurik’s firm waist.

“Helena……?”

Her lover’s sweet voice rang in her ear.

“I’m worried. I’m afraid the traces of the magic sword attached to him might transfer back to you. I don’t want you to go alone.”

A moist pair of lips touched her forehead as she pleaded.

“As expected, you’re the only one in this castle who worries about me.”

“It’s only because Princess Louise is absent that I get to hear such words, right?”

Helena giggled and slipped out of Lurik’s embrace.

“Let’s go. Actually, I wanted to see his condition myself.”

Lurik’s gaze was heavy as he looked at his lover.

If she wanted to, his lover could heal Hart.

Whether Helena knew Lurik’s feelings or not, she winked playfully and asked.

“Oh, would it be too conspicuous to go to the main palace with a maid?”

🔹🔹🔹🔹🔹🔹

The Crown Prince’s Palace was filled with the sound of weeping.

“Sob, sob…… Father……”

It was because the First Prince’s wife and his two daughters were huddled beside the bed, crying.

Hart’s condition was that dire.

He could no longer even mutter in his sleep, only gasping for breath before falling into a death-like slumber, repeating the cycle.

A high fever that couldn’t be controlled by medicine raged within him, half of his hair had turned white in a single day, and his skin was drenched in sweat.

The Empress sat among them, her face as white as a ghost, and then abruptly stood up when she saw Lurik.

“What business do you have here?”

Even though her son was already dying, she was defensive, as if Lurik would suddenly harm him.

Lurik bowed slightly to the Empress and then introduced Helena, who had changed into her nun’s habit.

“We have sent a monk from Kaisarea Monastery after hearing the news. Would you allow her to…… see my brother?”

Helena clasped her hands together and bowed deeply.

“I am Helena Garnier.”

The Empress swallowed her sobs and asked.

“Did Brother Didio send you?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Helena felt a slight pang of guilt borrowing Brother Didio’s name, but it was true that she had ended up at the Imperial Palace due to various circumstances on the pilgrimage he had permitted.

The Empress weakly nodded and said.

“He doesn’t have…… much time left. Please pray for my son……”

However, the Empress couldn’t finish her sentence and swayed.

Lurik tried to support her, but she harshly shook off his hand.

“Don’t try to pity me now.”

At her cold voice, Lurik sighed and stepped back.

Helena left Lurik at the door and approached the sickbed with the Empress.

She gasped in surprise as she looked down at Hart.

‘Oh my God……’

His condition was even worse than when she had last seen him.

The magic of the magic sword swarmed over the First Prince’s shrunken body.

‘No, that can’t even be called magic anymore…… It’s evil itself.’

It was different in both color and form from the controllable magic of the Tower Master or Moghald.

It was devouring all his life force, leaving the First Prince moaning, neither dead nor alive.

‘I’m glad I didn’t let Lurik-jeonha go alone.’

The magic of the magic sword had a desperate quality, like a living creature, and it wouldn’t be strange if it tried to latch onto someone else.

The Empress saw the horror on her face and asked in a trembling voice.

“What is it? Do you see something, by any chance, in my son?”

Helena caught her breath.

‘Both Her Highness the Princess and Master Moghald didn’t seem to want the First Prince healed……’

But now that she had encountered him like this, she couldn’t just leave him be.

‘This is what I have to do.’

She looked back at Lurik with an apologetic smile.

And then she spoke.

“Allow me to…… introduce myself again, Your Majesty.”

The Empress’s face contorted at Helena’s words.

She seemed to be beyond being surprised by anything anymore, but Helena continued speaking resolutely.

“I am a monk from Kaisarea…… and I have a unique ability. I can purify the magic that is controlling His Highness the Prince.”

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