Choosing the Baby’s Father From the Following – Chapter 34

𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟑𝟒

‘It feels strangely like I’m being brainwashed.’

I pressed my hand against my heavy chest and read the next line.

Unlike me, a freshman, Erni took my hand with a gentle and dignified attitude and rescued me from that pain.

My gold, my kumquat, my Erni.

Kumquat?

I alternately pictured the small citrus fruit and Ernst, then chuckled.

‘They said they’ve been friends since childhood……’

What a funny analogy for that large man.

You must remain unchanged and always on my side.

My precious friend, Ernst.

My precious ‘friend’ Ernst.

So, did Louise feel betrayed when she no longer wanted him to be a friend?

‘I don’t know.’

The Crown Prince, who was both gold and kumquat, is dazzlingly beautiful just by looking at him closely.

But through this short diary, I learned for sure that Ernst’s value is not just his beauty.

‘The problem is that the baby’s father isn’t decided based on who’s the nicest person.’

🔹🔹🔹🔹🔹🔹

“Are you still suffering from travel fatigue?”

It was the very next day that Lurik’s patience ran out.

“It’s been almost a week since you returned from Kaisarea. Are you saying you’re still not feeling well? Stop using travel fatigue as an excuse and call the palace physician.”

Phoebe, who had already coordinated with Ernst, quickly intervened.

“I’ve already informed the annex’s Head Physician, Zita-nim, this morning. He’s scheduled to visit this afternoon.”

Fortunately, the palace physician Ernst had arranged happened to be the annex’s Head Physician.

Otherwise, I would have had to come up with another excuse to call a specific physician.

Lurik nodded in satisfaction.

“Alright, I’ll leave it to you.”

Phoebe’s cheeks flushed as she suddenly received the Prince’s approval.

‘Maybe she feels guilty about deceiving Lurik.’

I watched the two of them with wary eyes, wondering if Lurik might receive some protagonist buff, and quickly feigned a shiver, feigning pain.

“It’s only autumn, but I don’t know why it’s getting cold so fast.”

Sure enough, Lurik’s gaze quickly returned to me.

“Cold? What are you talking about with the sun so high? That means you’re not feeling well.”

He reached out his large hand and touched my forehead.

“You seem to have a fever again today. It’s not a small matter for a fever to last this long.”

According to the physician Ernst had introduced, a pregnant woman’s body temperature is naturally higher than usual.

‘But Lurik doesn’t know that, so he can’t help but be puzzled.’

He added to Phoebe.

“I’m worried you might have developed another illness. When the physician arrives, tell him everything about your usual symptoms, even the smallest details.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

After Phoebe politely bowed her head in response, Lurik turned away from me.

🔹🔹🔹🔹🔹🔹

In the afternoon, the annex’s Head Physician, Guillermo Zita, arrived.

‘According to Phoebe, he’s a physician who frequently visits……’

He was so nervous that his hand holding the stethoscope trembled.

I hoped he would calm down a little while examining me, but the Head Physician became paler as he learned more about my condition.

‘Erni must have given him a heads-up about the pregnancy.’

The poor Head Physician must not have believed it, or hoped for some misunderstanding.

After the examination, the palace physician stammered.

“S-So, Your Highness……”

He took a deep breath and finally started to speak again.

“You have a severe cold…… You are suffering from persistent fever, headache, and pain in your limbs.”

……Did I?

“I-If your throat becomes sore and you have a dry cough without any improvement, and it gradually turns into a deeper cough…… you need to be careful as it could progress to pneumonia.”

Aha?

Understanding the physician’s intention, I coughed, “Cough, cough.”

The Head Physician continued with a worried look on his face.

“If it turns into pneumonia, it would be good to go on a recuperation trip before the germs spread throughout the Imperial Palace…… I recommend a warm seaside or lakeside city.”

Hmm.

It seems my friend (?) or potential baby daddy candidate Ernst has handled things very thoroughly.

I asked what I was worried about.

“If…… if I’m diagnosed with pneumonia, would the palace physicians of the main palace try to diagnose me again?”

Zita shook his head.

“Unless Your Highness doubts my diagnosis and strongly requests it, there’s no reason for other palace physicians to step forward. After all…… there’s a risk of infection.”

That’s quite good.

I was inwardly satisfied when he added.

“If Your Highness starts coughing and your maid is infected…… there will be no reason to particularly doubt my diagnosis.”

Phoebe interjected bluntly.

“Understood.”

Zita lowered his voice and whispered.

“Is…… is there anything troubling you regarding the…… pregnancy?”

I widened my eyes, and he elaborated.

“If something goes wrong, the responsibility for not detecting it early will fall entirely on me. His Highness the Crown Prince of Flavi promised to transfer you to the Royal Palace in case of emergency, but……”

Ernst went that far?

“If something happens to the baby, the Flavi Royal Family will lose face.”

The Flavi Royal Family too……?

“Since I’ve learned about it, please let me know if there’s anything troubling you.”

So, the palace physician seemed to think Ernst was the baby’s father.

‘Or maybe Erni told him so.’

I tried to hide my surprise and smiled brightly.

“There’s no problem. Just help me leave the palace before it’s too late.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Zita finally calmed down and answered, but he added one last thing.

“But if you feel any discomfort, please let me know anytime, day or night.”

“I will.”

“Then, I’ll go report your symptoms briefly to His Highness the Prince.”

It’s reassuring that he seems to understand that we’re in the same boat.

After Zita left, Phoebe, who had seen him off, grumbled.

“If someone with a healthy constitution like me gets pneumonia, my parents will be shocked.”

“I’m sorry, Phoebe.”

I apologized immediately and added.

“If you’re worried about your parents, I’ll let you go home under the pretense of illness. You’ll have to feign illness appropriately even when you’re there, but if they can see you, your parents won’t worry too much.”

“What are you talking about, Your Highness?”

Phoebe widened her eyes and retorted.

“Have you forgotten what you did when I finally got a five-day vacation after all these years?”

Then, crossing her arms firmly, she declared.

“The only day this Phoebe Nillo will leave Your Highness’ side is the day I die! So you know!”

Well, if that’s your will, there’s nothing I can do……

‘By the way, you got pregnant in just five days?’

And yet there are three candidates for the baby’s father!

What in the world did the youngest Princess of Brentania do with this innocent and cute face!

🔹🔹🔹🔹🔹🔹

That same evening, at the main palace.

Crown Prince Hart went to the audience chamber with a satisfied look on his face.

“His Highness the Crown Prince has arrived.”

After dismissing all the guests, the Emperor looked tired from pondering various matters.

Hart presented two thick documents to his father.

“This is the crop report for Muasak and Duros that you requested. After reviewing it, considering the timing of the ceasefire, it’s quite good.”

The Emperor chuckled.

“Quite good, you say.”

Hart corrected himself.

“Actually, ‘quite good’ is a bit of an understatement. I’d say it’s promising.”

The Emperor stroked his short, red beard.

“Of course. Considering the marine resources we gained by incorporating Duros, the money spent on the war wasn’t wasted.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Hart replied with a smile and carefully asked.

“Does Lurik seem to have calmed down after visiting the monastery? I haven’t had a chance to talk to him at length.”

“Hmm.”

The Emperor feigned ignorance and said.

“It’s clear that he’s still on edge about our youngest, Louise.”

Actually, it wasn’t just about Louise.

Lurik was already in an unstable state.

What he, who had given him the magic sword, hadn’t noticed, his youngest, whom he had seen as just a silly child, had hinted at.

“I don’t know if I’m overthinking it, but I’m worried because my brother’s gaze seems different after his return……”

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