Choosing the Baby’s Father From the Following – Chapter 20

𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟐𝟎
“O-Of course, Your Highness.”

Helena seemed a little flustered, but she quickly added wisely,

“I will inform the people nearby beforehand to keep the place empty.”

Only then, at her clever reply, did I feel relieved.

‘Right, Helena is a smart Regressor.’

After she returned, we headed to Kaisarea Falls, escorted by two Imperial Guards.

Famous for its hot springs by the sea, the place was owned by the monastery and strictly prohibited to outsiders.

“I’m going to take a hot spring bath.”

I deliberately spoke coldly in front of the last signpost leading to the waterfall, and the guards stopped abruptly.

“We will wait here, Your Highness.”

I shook off the guards and walked towards the sound of the water.

“Wow……”

Through the trees colored red by autumn, a thick stream of water poured down, and white steam billowed up into the clear, open sky.

It was a sight so wondrous to someone from South Korea that I was briefly lost in thought. Meanwhile, Helena diligently laid out a blanket and began preparing for a bath.

I chuckled and said,

“I’m not taking a bath. I’m just going to dip my feet in.”

“Ah……”

Helena then picked up the blanket she had spread on the flat grass and moved it onto a flat stone by the water.

Then, she quietly bowed her head and waited for me to approach.

“Let me help you.”

I felt a strange feeling watching the female protagonist sit at my feet and take off my shoes.

‘Helena is the main character, and I’m an extra-level supporting character who should already be dead……’

Surviving is good, but the fact that “Going Crazy” is a Regression story is a bit worrisome.

‘If I leave it like this and it goes to Helena’s past life ending, it will be a bigger problem.’

Remembering that fact, I sat obediently where Helena offered.

“Wow, it’s warm.”

The unique, subtle scent of the hot spring wafted around my nose.

The hot spring water touching my bare feet was hotter and more slippery than I expected.

“The hot springs here are not only good for the skin but are also famous for their effectiveness against minor ailments.”

Helena lowered her gaze with a shy face, and finally, as if she had made up her mind, she opened her mouth.

“Although we can’t enjoy a hot bath, we sometimes take turns washing in the stream where the waterfall flows when we are tired.”

Of course, you can’t take a hot bath, but soon you’ll be able to do everything you want.

‘So please help my brother.’

I barely managed to suppress the urge to beg her and replied,

“I see. Just dipping my feet in, I already feel my fatigue melting away.”

Helena, now somewhat relaxed, began to chatter.

“The Imperial Palace is incredibly far, isn’t it? There must be many other monasteries near the Imperial Palace, but you came all the way here, surely because of Priest Didio. He is truly a respectable person.”

I nodded, trying to subtly steer the conversation towards Lurik.

“That’s right. My brother returned to the Imperial Palace a while ago after three years. He won the war, but I can’t imagine how hard and tiring it must have been for him.”

I glanced at Helena, but she still had her gaze lowered without any particular reaction.

“Although it was a glorious victory for the Empire, many poor young men must have died……”

Only when I said that did Helena slowly raise her eyes and speak.

“I didn’t know you would think that way. Since you are a member of the Imperial Family……”

“Just because I’m royalty doesn’t mean I’m happy about soldiers from other countries dying.”

When I cut her off firmly, Helena’s expression brightened considerably.

She said with her emerald eyes sparkling,

“Seeing you, Your Highness, makes me think that His Highness the Prince must also be a wonderful person. I pray that the blood on his blade will be completely washed away here in Kaisarea.”

And she clasped her hands together and began to pray.

‘Hmm, it’s nice that she’s praying for peace, but……’

Actually, my brother needs a slightly more direct prayer than that right now.

‘Like you holding my brother’s hand……’

Could I try to create such an excuse?

🔹🔹🔹🔹🔹🔹

The next morning, Helena came to see me.

“Your Highness, did you sleep well? There are a few apple trees in the monastery, and a couple of fruits in a sunny spot happened to be ripe red.”

On the small tray she offered, two glistening apples were neatly arranged.

“Wow, they’re as pretty as a picture! Thank you, Helena.”

As I watched Phoebe take the tray from the side, I suddenly had a good idea.

“Since there are two, it would be nice to take one to my brother. But I’m not quite ready yet, so could you take it to him?”

Helena was startled.

“Me? Sir?”

“Actually, I haven’t been to my brother’s room, so I don’t know the exact location. But since you were guided to the men’s quarters, try asking around and find him.”

Helena gulped.

“Should I…… tell him that Your Highness…… sent me?”

“Of course, Helena.”

I replied and then took the single blue camellia flower I had picked by the waterfall the day before and tucked it into Helena’s hair.

“Your Highness, how can you give this precious thing to me……”

“You’ll be meeting my brother for the first time, so it would be nice if you looked pretty.”

Helena let out a soft laugh, as if surprised by my words.

“There’s no way His Highness the Prince would even glance at a commoner like me.”

“What are you talking about? You’re so pretty! Your eyes are like emeralds!”

I somehow encouraged Helena and handed her back the tray with one apple.

Then, I practically pushed her out the door.

“Then I’ll leave it to you, Helena.”

After the door slammed shut, Phoebe chuckled and said,

“Why are you tormenting the monastery maid? You know very well how much the maids fear Prince Lurik.”

I smiled confidently.

“My brother promised to behave himself while he’s at the monastery. He promised to be kind to the employees too.”

I had to work up a sweat to get that promise from him on the way here.

But Phoebe sighed.

“Isn’t that only possible when Your Highness is watching……”

Is that so?

Should I have gone with her?

‘But Lurik will definitely notice the camellia flower……’

In the novel, the blue camellia flower was a device that reminded him of his deceased mother and younger sister.

‘It just so happened to be a time when his mood was fluctuating because of the magic sword.’

When Lurik became suddenly depressed, Helena held his hand for the first time and comforted him kindly.

Saying that she too had lost her family and was alone……

‘Ah, I really put a lot of effort into that part.’

Remembering the contents of the novel, I felt strangely melancholic even though I was the one who wrote it.

‘Anyway, Helena, fighting!’

That man is yours.

As the creator, I guarantee he’s worth fixing!

Go for it!

🔹🔹🔹🔹🔹🔹

A while later, I met Lurik in the dining hall.

“Brother, did you sleep well? Did you receive my gift?”

I asked cheerfully, but Lurik looked tired, as if it wasn’t morning.

“Gift? What gift?”

“Hmm?”

I tilted my head and carefully observed his eyes.

‘They seem a bit darker than usual……?’

So, I cautiously spoke while watching Lurik’s expression.

“There’s a maid at the monastery who is in charge of me, and she kindly brought me the first apples of the season this morning. Since there were two, I asked her to take one to you.”

And as I casually held his arm, Lurik’s sharp expression softened.

It was a surprising transformation to behold.

“Ah.”

Come to think of it, unlike in the novel where he was purified through skin-to-skin contact with Helena, it seems that with me, he just needs to somehow touch me to gain peace of mind.

He regained his composure and said as if making an excuse,

“I haven’t received it yet, as I just came back from attending the dawn prayer.”

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