Choosing the Baby’s Father From the Following – Chapter 2

𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟐

Of course, even though it was suspicious, it wasn’t something to jump to conclusions about.

‘The commonality between the three is that they all die.’

And that they were close to Louise.

Just like the nickname ‘Mad Dog’, Lurik has killed more than a few people……

‘It seems all of them were related to Louise’s death.’

Then now that Louise isn’t dead, have all their lifespans been extended?

“Ugh.”

As if that’s possible!

‘If I’m really pregnant, at least one of them will still die!’

Because my older brother is that very ‘Mad Dog’ Lurik!

🔹🔹🔹🔹🔹🔹

“Congratulations, you’re pregnant.”

A few days later, after much difficulty, these were the words I heard after meeting with a doctor.

‘I went through all sorts of trouble to meet a doctor other than the Imperial Palace physician……’

Even though my face wouldn’t be visible because of the robe, I barely managed to swallow my tears in front of the doctor’s smiling face.

‘So, I’m pregnant.’

It’s okay, I’m okay.

It’s not a terminal illness, and babies are so cute……

They’re cute…… I’m confident I can take good care of it……

‘But I have to give birth?’

Ugh, I guess I have to find the baby’s father!

Find the baby’s father and escape the Imperial Palace before someone finds out about the pregnancy……!

‘Who cares what happens to this fictional world? Let’s run away and achieve the dream of a long and healthy life I couldn’t in my past life!’

I took off the black robe, shoved it back into the large container, and quickly left the bathroom.

As soon as I opened the door, I ran into Phoebe.

“Your Highness, did you have an upset stomach? To use a public restroom for so long……”

I found out from Callisto’s letter that the back door of the general store’s restroom leads to an alley, and that a black robe was hidden in the restroom’s storage compartment.

‘To be precise, Callisto had prepared it because this general store is owned by the Babenberg Trading Company.’

And I learned from the market street map that Tower Master Ren had sent me for fun that there was a shabby clinic in this alley.

‘The map was full of stars marking Ren’s favorite restaurants……’

I had miraculously succeeded in the adventure I had painstakingly planned, but I couldn’t escape the shock of the pregnancy confirmation.

‘I’m, actually, pregnant!’

Is the baby’s father even among those three?

‘What if there isn’t one?’

Seeing my dazed face, Phoebe looked puzzled and reached out her hand.

“Your Highness? Are you truly unwell?”

Only when Phoebe’s cool palm touched my forehead did I flinch and come to my senses.

“No, it’s just…… It’s been difficult to use the restroom lately.”

Phoebe suddenly frowned.

“As I thought! I suspected you couldn’t go yesterday as well!”

……She was checking all that?

“L-Let’s go now.”

Flustered, I started walking, and my revitalized arms and legs stretched out more vigorously than necessary.

‘Oh dear, it’s hard to control.’

Is this what it feels like to go from driving a MoX to a FerrarX?

‘My body is so light even though I’m pregnant!’

Fortunately, Phoebe didn’t seem to notice anything strange.

“Yes, Your Highness. I’ve retrieved the items.”

As she gestured, a servant followed, holding a large, luxurious box in his arms.

We immediately boarded the Imperial carriage, and the box was placed next to Phoebe.

She stroked the surface of the box with her palm and said,

“His Grace the Grand Duke is subtly romantic, isn’t he? If he wanted to give you a gift, he could have just sent it to the Imperial Palace, but look how he makes you go through all this trouble to retrieve it.”

Well, maybe he’s trying to create an opportunity for you to get out of the palace and enjoy some fresh air?

So, Callisto, whom I had set as the ‘Snake of Babenberg’, was this considerate towards Louise.

‘It’s said that he always made sure there were gifts galore for her to take whenever she visited the shops owned by Babenberg.’

Even so, all I could think now was,

‘Is he the baby’s father?’

🔹🔹🔹🔹🔹🔹

―Clatter clatter.

The Imperial carriage was the enemy of an early pregnant woman.

A while later, I got out of the carriage, my face pale from suppressing nausea.

‘If I don’t do something about this morning sickness, I’ll be found out before my belly even shows.’

I managed to straighten my back when a strong perfume scent wafted from somewhere.

‘Ugh.’

I had to suppress the urge to vomit again.

But the source of the smell seemed to be getting closer and closer.

‘Oh, don’t come closer……’

However, the person seemed to have no intention of stopping and approached me, casually linking arms and clinging to me.

“Louise!”

If someone can call my name so openly, they’re generally a member of the Imperial Family.

Before I could even figure out who it was based on that fact, Phoebe bent her knees and bowed her head.

“Second Princess Chilla.”

Chilla.

For the past few days, I had been confined to my room, desperately trying to recall the details of “Going Crazy”, writing down everything I could remember.

For example……

Second Princess (25 years old)

Chilla Areta Brentania

Red hair, golden eyes.

Relatively kind compared to other members of the Imperial Family

Even though I wrote this novel, I can’t believe I remember the middle name of an extra-level supporting princess.

‘Wow, I remember this much?’

The age of the Second Princess in the novel came to mind as clearly as the multiplication table.

I marveled at my memory and put on a smile.

“Sister Chilla……?”

Unsure of the appropriate honorific, I whispered softly, but Chilla smiled brightly.

“I was just about to go see you, what a coincidence!”

Despite not having a very significant role, she was prettier than I expected.

Her golden eyes were mystical, and her red hair, characteristic of the Brentania Imperial Family, shimmered vividly under the afternoon sun.

‘It was set that only Louise and Crown Prince Hart didn’t inherit the red hair.’

By the way, Chilla said she was going to come see me?

‘Lurik and I were neglected and lived separately in the detached palace, rarely participating in Imperial Palace events……’

The reason Lurik poured so much affection solely on Louise was because they had only each other to rely on while growing up in this vast Imperial Palace.

‘Unlike the Crown Prince and the other princes and princesses, only the two of them were the children of the deceased Second Imperial Consort.’

Not only that, but there was also the setting that the Second Imperial Consort was of commoner origin.

I couldn’t respond to her immediately because I was busy organizing my complicated thoughts, but Chilla didn’t wait for my answer and went straight to the point.

“Say, Louise, is Grand Duke Callisto coming to the victory celebration?”

I knew it.

‘She had a motive.’

I gulped nervously.

I’d rather not have a scenario where I get slapped by Chilla after the gift I’m currently holding is revealed to be from Grand Duke Callisto.

‘Look, I’ve been bedridden for a long time, so I’m a bit fragile……’

This is bad if Callisto is the baby’s father!

‘But no matter how much I want to appease Chilla, I don’t know if Callisto is coming to the celebration or not.’

Actually, I hadn’t even thought about the victory celebration.

For the past few days, I had been busy enough just reviewing the novel’s settings, analyzing letters, and figuring out how to find a doctor.

I managed to answer,

“Well……, I’m not sure.”

But to my surprise, Chilla’s lips curled upwards.

“I heard your brother Lurik crossed the Muasak Territory border a while ago, haven’t you received any contact from the Grand Duke yet?”

‘Your brother Lurik’, what a way to put it.

‘He’s your brother too, isn’t he?’

Anyway…… Since I became Louise, I haven’t received any contact from Callisto.

‘Maybe there’s a letter inside that box……, but I haven’t seen it yet.’

So I answered a little more confidently,

“Yes, not yet.”

“I thought you would have definitely been contacted……”

However, there wasn’t a trace of disappointment in Chilla’s tone.

She seemed very satisfied and let go of me cleanly.

“Why don’t you come join us for lunch sometime?”

Even though she probably didn’t mean it, I didn’t want to go to lunch either.

‘The fact that I’m a neglected nuisance in the detached palace is actually a huge relief for me.’

I’m a complete beginner who just possessed this body.

In the midst of not even knowing if the novel I wrote will start or not, it would be a disaster if I made a strange mistake.

🔹🔹🔹🔹🔹🔹

It seemed I was useless to Chilla since I didn’t know anything about Callisto.

After Chilla left with a relieved expression, we safely returned to my room in the detached palace.

As soon as I returned to a somewhat familiar space, the biggest task weighed on my mind again.

‘So who is the baby’s father?!’

Surely no one would refuse to take responsibility, right?

‘I’m a princess, for goodness sake?!’

As I was agonizing over this, Phoebe asked with a mischievous expression,

“Should I give you some privacy?”

Why……?

I thought to myself and then noticed the gift box on the table.

Phoebe narrowed her eyes and whispered,

“Maybe His Grace will finally confess this time.”

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