Choosing the Baby’s Father From the Following – Chapter 16

𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟏𝟔

I glanced up at Lurik and breathed a sigh of relief.

‘It’s a relief that he’s at least perceptive.’

While I was away, my younger brother must have been left alone in the detached palace and treated like a nuisance.

Just as Crown Prince Hart persecuted him, it was obvious that the other princesses would have tormented their youngest sibling.

It wasn’t just between the princes and princesses either.

‘Who else would the children learn from?’

The Empress had left the banquet hall early on the first day of the victory celebration, using the excuse of feeling unwell.

It seemed she couldn’t even stand to congratulate Lurik on his victory.

I quickly beckoned Phoebe and asked Chilla,

“Older Sister, would you like some almond tea? It may not be the same top-quality as the one we drink at the main palace, but it’s made with fresh almonds roasted and mixed with black tea.”

“Almond tea? Do you drink that sort of thing here?”

I replied with a smile,

“I don’t know much about it, but the Crown Prince of Flavi enjoys tea. He often shares new imported teas with me.”

Chilla paused for a moment, seemingly displeased that I had received and tasted the new tea first, but she soon moved on to the next topic.

“Ah, that doll-like, pretty Crown Prince? You two are still quite close?”

“Friendship is eternal.”

She listened, her face mocking the way I packaged the Crown Prince’s obvious affection as friendship.

‘Still, with Lurik present, there’s a limit to how much she can bother me.’

Just then, Phoebe brought the tea set.

While I prepared the tea, Chilla opened her mouth to achieve the purpose of her visit to this remote detached palace.

“I heard you’re going to Babenberg.”

Unexpectedly, the answer came from Lurik.

“She’s going to accompany me on my way to carry out the Emperor’s orders. Is there a problem?”

As expected, Chilla’s shoulders slumped slightly at Lurik’s imposing presence.

“No problem. It’s just, I’ve never been to Babenberg, so I’m envious.”

I realized that Chilla had come to ask Lurik to take her to Babenberg as well.

But she wouldn’t dare to say the same thing to Lurik directly.

Lurik responded coldly,

“Don’t be childish. It’s already snowing in northern Babenberg. Every time I visit, I feel like it’s not a place fit for human habitation.”

His tone was sharp, as if he was implying that Callisto, who lived there, was not human either.

Chilla, startled by the unexpected reaction, blinked her dazzling golden eyes and asked,

“Oh my, then Second Brother, you don’t intend to send Louise to Babenberg for marriage?”

Don’t do that, please……

I became anxious that Lurik might show signs of another outburst, so I quickly filled a teacup and offered it to him.

Fortunately, Lurik calmly took a sip of tea and said,

“I don’t decide Louise’s marriage prospects.”

Chilla, fearlessly, asked again,

“What if His Majesty approves? Brother, are you not considering Babenberg as a potential marriage partner for Louise?”

I noticed that Lurik’s shallow patience was wearing thin, but Chilla seemed oblivious.

However, instead of ignoring Chilla, Lurik answered seriously,

“If my opinion is considered important, I’m against it. Babenberg is cold and too far away.”

The problem was that my brother looked at me instead of Chilla when he said that.

Chilla smiled brightly with a relieved expression,

“As expected! I knew you’d think that way, Brother. Actually, I feel the same way. Louise is too delicate to go to the North.”

Lurik suddenly turned serious,

“Don’t worry, I’ll take good care of her during the short trip.”

Chilla bit her lower lip as if caught off guard.

‘Oh no, you don’t.’

No matter how strong you are, my brother will never take you instead of me……

🔹🔹🔹🔹🔹🔹

After tea time, Chilla returned to the main palace, albeit with a grumpy face.

Finally alone, I took out the diary tucked away in the corner of my desk and opened it.

No matter how much I fiddled with it, a new entry never appeared, but I couldn’t give up just like that.

Like the tenacious woman I am, I opened the diary to the second page and placed my fingertip on the embossed pattern.

‘Appear, please.’

This time, the letters appeared as soon as I touched it.

Year 16 of the Charles Era, ninth month, fourth day.

Finally, it appears!

My heart pounded.

With nervous eyes, I quickly read the second diary entry.

Today, there was an event where we toured the Academy with our mentors.

However, my mentor, the Snake of Babenberg, no, Callisto Veil Babenberg, only guided me to the dormitory.

He declared that my limbs looked too weak to tour the entire Academy at once.

Just reading that far, Callisto’s shallow trick was obvious, and I couldn’t help but sigh.

‘Cal must have either genuinely thought that, or he used it as an excuse to postpone the tour and meet Louise more often, right?’

Either way, it suited Callisto, but I don’t know if his intentions worked out as planned.

As expected, the owner of the diary was furious.

Even though I had anticipated that he wouldn’t respect me, a castaway of the Imperial Family, I felt embarrassed and ashamed, unable to lift my head.

Of course, a noblewoman who had just turned twenty couldn’t have a body as strong as a Sword Master’s!

I waited for a while, but nothing more appeared, as if the diary entry ended there.

‘Poor Callisto.’

Comparing it to the letter that mentioned being a senior, he must have gone through a lot of trouble to win Louise’s heart.

He might not have won her love in the end, but he seemed to have gained her friendship at least……

‘Suddenly, Louise became a different woman.’

I carefully flipped through the notebook, which now had only two pages revealed, all the way to the last page.

Judging by the embossed pattern on each page, more diary entries might appear in the future.

‘But when will that be?’

If it appears every other day like this, it might take years for this notebook to be filled.

‘No, it’s too early to jump to conclusions.’

Only two pages of the diary have been revealed so far.

With luck, another entry might appear tomorrow.

‘It would be great if it all appeared within a year.’

Then, by the time the baby is born, I’ll surely be able to find the father.

I pondered more about the magic of the diary.

‘Did Ren help me perhaps?’

Even if he didn’t, I felt like I could check the remaining diary entries with Ren’s help.

‘But what if there’s something secret in the diary that shouldn’t be shown to anyone?’

Unsure, I put the diary back in its place.

I needed to gather more information for now.

🔹🔹🔹🔹🔹🔹

I woke up before dawn the next day.

It seemed my curiosity about the diary had overcome even the drowsiness of an early-stage pregnant woman.

‘If I don’t wake up before Phoebe arrives, I won’t have time to look at the diary.’

I quickly went to my desk and took out the hidden notebook.

With trembling hands, I opened the page and placed my finger on the embossed pattern.

Indeed……

‘Gasp, it’s appearing!’

Another diary entry began to appear.

I calmed my racing heart and read the entry.

Year 16 of the Charles Era, ninth month, fifth day.

Today, I was sitting in the banquet hall when I was startled.

It wasn’t the season to light the fireplace yet, but with a bang, the fireplace roared to life.

Screams and questions from the freshmen filled the grand banquet hall, and then something black popped out of the blazing flames.

Then, that something kicked the ashes in the fireplace and grumbled in annoyance.

“Damn it, XX! I have to repeat my second year again?”

As the freshmen by the doorway started to run away in fear, Callisto appeared at the entrance of the banquet hall.

“Ren Dapht, who’s not even a senior anymore. I told you the banquet hall fireplace is not for transportation. You’re being held back because you can’t even memorize that simple rule, even though you’re going to be the Tower Master.”

Then, the flames in the fireplace grew fiercer……, and that was the end of our meal.

The diary entry, which featured two potential fathers at once, was quite exciting, but it was mentally exhausting to read first thing in the morning.

‘Ren……, you were quite the troublemaker, weren’t you?’

Suddenly feeling nauseous, I looked for the medicine box.

As I took the potion and grabbed the candy jar, I saw the label and sighed.

‘A son who resembles Ren would be difficult to raise……’

Still, having a diary entry is definitely better than not having one.

Otherwise, I would have been completely fooled by that large puppy-like Ren’s act.

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