Choosing the Baby’s Father From the Following – Chapter 26

𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟐𝟔
Helena stepped out into the hallway carrying a tray laden with snacks that the Princess had generously prepared for her.

She felt incredibly heavy, not only because she had barely slept the night before, but also because of the strange sensation she had experienced when the Princess held her hand. It was a feeling unlike anything she had ever felt before.

‘Oh, my head……’

In fact, she had had a very ominous dream last night about the monastery crumbling and the Empire falling into ruin.

Of course, she was just a humble maid, not a devotee……

‘Could there be a reason why someone living under the roof of the monastery had such a blasphemous dream?’

She had sought out Sister Melots early in the morning, wanting to ask about it, but seeing the nun’s face filled with anticipation for the pilgrimage, she couldn’t bring herself to speak.

‘And the harbinger of misfortune in that nightmare was none other than the Second Prince……’

The face of Sister Melots, who had rejoiced that it was a rare occasion for a member of the Imperial Family to visit the monastery, and the face of the Prince she had seen at the waterfall the day before, alternated in her mind.

‘Red eyes……’

Helena, before she had actually seen a member of the Imperial Family, had never imagined that blood-red eyes could be so beautiful.

‘But the Prince’s eyes in my dream were black……’

That’s what made it even more confusing.

It was too far removed from reality to dare call it a prophetic dream, yet it was too long and vivid to be meaningless.

Helena shook her head.

There was much to do as the next day was the Sabbath.

She hurried along with the tray in her hands, and as she turned the corner of the hallway, she came face to face with the Tower Master.

Her heart skipped a beat, but it wasn’t out of fear.

‘What…… is that?’

It hadn’t been like this when she encountered him the day before, but now it felt as if a strange energy, different from others, was filling the Tower Master’s entire being.

It was a truly strange sensation.

This energy was neither visible nor audible, but it was undoubtedly within him.

—Thump-thump, thump-thump……

At the same time, the two heartbeats she had felt from the Princess seemed to seep into her palm once again.

Helena gasped for breath.

The Tower Master passed by her as if he hadn’t seen her at all.

“Ah……”

Suddenly, a sharp, piercing headache shot through her head.

The tray Helena had been holding slipped from her grasp.

—Clang.

With a loud clatter, Helena collapsed.

🔹🔹🔹🔹🔹🔹

The Sabbath arrived.

The monastery’s day passed busily, even as Phoebe and I were confined to a small room, taking turns embroidering.

‘Lurik will be attending the service, so hopefully, I can see Helena at the chapel.’

I spent most of the day lying in bed, hoping for such a fortunate encounter.

Around the time the sky outside was painted red, Sister Melots came to find me.

“Your Highness.”

She quickly stopped me from getting out of bed and bowed her head respectfully.

“How are you feeling?”

I smiled, feeling a bit embarrassed.

“I apologize for causing you concern. Are you leaving now?”

The nun smiled gently at my question, remembering that she had mentioned leaving for the pilgrimage on the Sabbath.

“Actually, that’s why I came to see you. This pilgrimage is a meaningful and glorious journey to the Goldie Holy Land on the border of the Muasak Territory, with only one person selected from each monastery across the Empire.”

Muasak was another small nation that Lurik had incorporated into the Empire’s territory after three years of war.

“Ah, I see.”

The reason I was able to give such a nonchalant reply was, of course, because I had no idea what Sister Melots was about to say.

The nun continued.

“I had been waiting for this for so long, praying for victory…… but in the end, I have to relinquish the pilgrimage to someone else.”

“What?”

Only then did I look at the nun with a wavering gaze, a sense of foreboding rising within me.

Sister Melots took out a thin letter and handed it to me.

“Although it was a short period, it seems I have gained spiritual enlightenment while serving you, Your Highness.”

As I hastily lowered my gaze to the letter, I saw the neatly written name, ‘Helena Garnier.’

I gasped in surprise and asked,

“Are you saying that Helena is going on the pilgrimage in your place? But she’s just a maid……”

Sister Melots nodded.

“Enlightenment comes regardless of one’s status. Sometimes, a young child who hasn’t even reached adulthood can hear the divine call before a nun who has devoted her entire life to the monastery.”

Helena gained enlightenment?

“The devotee Helena Garnier said that all of this was thanks to Your Highness.”

Thanks to me?

Not because of meeting Lurik?

‘Could it be because she realized I’m pregnant?’

I couldn’t even bring myself to open the letter in front of the nun, just repeatedly reading Helena’s name written on it.

“H-Helena became a devotee?”

Sister Melots calmly replied,

“Yes, although it was a bit hasty, I vouched for her qualifications. That’s why she left this letter for you, Your Highness.”

However, if Helena had gained recognition for her abilities by using the fact that she knew about my pregnancy, even though it was water under the bridge, I had to fix it.

“I can keep a secret, Your Highness.”

Remembering Helena’s voice as she said those words, I asked with a trembling heart,

“What kind of…… enlightenment did she gain?”

“I apologize, but I can’t reveal the details. When it comes to religious enlightenment, the monastery has a strict code of silence.”

Sister Melots smiled meaningfully and continued her explanation.

“Anyway, I will be able to personally attend to Your Highness for the remaining two days. To think it would turn out this way…… even at my age, I still can’t fathom God’s will.”

Contrary to her words, the nun’s face was filled with faith and fulfillment.

It no longer mattered to me who attended to me.

I had missed the female protagonist, whom I had envisioned every day since my possession, right in front of me, and was left holding only a thin letter instead.

“D-Do you happen to know when she’ll be back?”

Sister Melots kindly answered,

“It’s a pilgrimage to the border of Muasak, which takes almost a month even on horseback, and they’re traveling on foot. Please pray for their good fortune.”

How could this be……!

The nun bowed to me, just as she had before, and disappeared.

🔹🔹🔹🔹🔹🔹

Only after hearing the door close did I let out a small, high-pitched scream and unfold Helena’s letter.

To the esteemed Princess Louise,

During the three days I served Your Highness, so many thoughts and memories passed through my inadequate body that I barely had time to sleep.

Although nothing is clear yet, there is one thing I am certain of……

Your Highness is the gentlest light of this continent, so please continue to illuminate the Emperor’s sword as you have done, and do not lose your brotherly love.

I swallowed dryly.

‘Do not lose your brotherly love?’

It seemed clear that Helena had realized the past.

She had seen the past, realized that she had regressed, and yet……

‘She left everything to me? To that Lurik?’

Why?

What about me made her trust me so much?

My bewildered gaze fell upon the final farewell.

Please take care of your health.

Call upon my meager self again when you need me.

Call upon her again?

I finally managed to calm my racing heart.

‘All of this is only possible because Lurik hasn’t gone berserk yet.’

So it seemed Helena had judged that it wasn’t her time to act yet.

‘But she clearly saw Lurik go ballistic when I collapsed last time!’

Didn’t she think he was unstable, that it would be too late once he went berserk?

‘Why, how……!’

Perhaps the problem was that I had calmed him down immediately in front of Helena that day.

Perhaps the whole situation was so different from the content of her dream that it gave Helena a lot to think about.

In any case, Helena had left on an indefinite journey, and the only way for me to leave the Imperial Palace had disappeared.

‘Oh, I’m doomed……!’

🔹🔹🔹🔹🔹🔹

On my last day at the monastery, I gifted Sister Melots the camellia handkerchief I had diligently embroidered.

“Oh my, you should have rested while you were unwell……!”

Sister Melots was greatly surprised and declined, saying it was a gift she didn’t deserve.

“I made it because I was bored. I’ve been a real burden this past week.”

I handed her another letter.

“And this…… if Helena happens to return, could you give it to her?”

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