Choosing the Baby’s Father From the Following – Chapter 50

𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟓𝟎

The morning after the commemoration ceremony, Ren came to visit and told me about the title bestowal ceremony.

“As expected, His Highness the Second Prince seems to have only received the new magic sword without using it.”

I sighed, half-lying on the bed.

Actually, I was itching to ask about Moghald, but Louise seemed too close to the former Tower Master to use the excuse that I had forgotten about him.

“Then what should we do? Should I go to my brother and recommend that he try using the new magic sword?”

Ren shook his head at my suggestion.

“It would be better for me to go to His Majesty the Emperor and advise him to retrieve the magic sword once again.”

Indeed, the Emperor also wanted to retrieve the magic sword, even if it was late.

‘I don’t know if he’s worried about Lurik now, or if he just wants to use him for longer.’

Except for those two reasons, I couldn’t think of any reason why the Emperor would need to make a new magic sword.

“Lou, wait here safely. Okay?”

“Yes……”

Although the plan to feign illness and skip the commemoration ceremony was successful, it would all be for nothing if Lurik didn’t give up the magic sword.

After Ren stroked my hair and left, I got out of bed.

‘I need to check the diary.’

No new diary entries appeared the night before.

Phoebe had been by my side since early morning, so I couldn’t check the diary.

However, when I hurriedly opened the diary, instead of the story of Moghald that I had longed for, a diary entry with completely different content appeared.

It seems I can’t write a reply to my brother.

My heart sank just from reading the first line.

This was the second time Lurik’s story appeared in the diary.

The first time my brother’s story came up was about a month ago, and it was only one line.

A letter came from my brother.

That was all.

And then, after about a month, it says she can’t write a reply.

Then, would Lurik have been waiting for a reply for a whole month?

Why is he suddenly asking how I’m doing when he pushed me to the Academy, which I never wanted to attend, talking about the rights of the royal family?

Princess Jenais’s ignorance, Princess Chilla’s bullying, my only friend being Erni……

My life is always the same.

Somehow, my heart ached.

I had seen Lurik’s letters among the mountain of correspondence in that drawer, but of course, I hadn’t seen Louise’s replies.

So I didn’t realize that her attitude was this cold.

‘Considering that Lurik will be on the battlefield for the next three years, there’s no way their relationship would have improved during the four years Louise spends at the Academy……’

Then, did Lurik go berserk because of his distant sister’s death?

Moreover, I cannot tolerate him ordering me around just because my brother is temporarily staying at the Imperial Palace.

If he’s so curious about my life at the Academy, he should enroll himself now.

Oh my, Louise……

The fact that Lurik couldn’t attend the Academy because he was in charge of the battlefield was actually an inappropriate treatment for a prince.

It was never a path that Lurik chose himself……

‘Louise had no idea that Lurik would go back to the battlefield.’

The diary was filled with resentment towards Lurik after that.

I couldn’t bear to read them in detail and closed the diary.

‘Louise had a huge misunderstanding about Lurik……’

I lay back in bed, but my heart was heavy as if a rock was placed on my chest.

🔹🔹🔹🔹🔹🔹

Around the same time, the Crown Prince went to pay his respects to the Empress and heard unexpected words.

“I think I should send Louise some good tonic.”

Hart’s eyebrows twitched.

“Tonic? The Tower Master is by her side, so I’m sure he’ll take good care of her.”

“That’s why I’m saying this because she’s so frail that she couldn’t even attend the commemoration ceremony! If she had come out and sat there like a silent flower, we could have fueled the rumors about finding her a husband.”

“Seeing how the Crown Prince of Flavi didn’t stop dancing for a moment, it seems the rumors have spread. I’m trying to draw attention to myself so that people don’t mind the rumors.”

Hart chuckled.

“In the end, you’re going to send her to Babenberg, so don’t worry about her too much. You’ll get old, Mother.”

“Crown Prince!”

The Empress yelled.

“Don’t you understand? This is not the time to be complacent. Now I see that His Majesty is intoxicated by the successive victories!”

“Intoxicated by victories?”

Hart muttered in wonder, but he quickly understood the Empress’s meaning.

“Do you really believe that all those victories are thanks to that Lurik bastard?”

belatedly, his father’s voice echoed in his ears, saying that he would hastily forge a new magic sword to save Lurik’s life.

“If you dare to interfere with my decision, show me at least half the achievements of that bastard.”

His father, who had never given him a chance, was trying to insult him by attributing the achievements of the magic sword to Lurik.

‘If that bastard wins again with the new sword……’

Hart felt a new sense of anxiety.

The Emperor’s trust that Lurik would gain by winning again with the new sword, and the new territory he would gain by winning with the previous magic sword.

‘Which one is more valuable?’

The Empress didn’t answer, looking displeased, but Hart’s red eyes shone with an unusual light.

“Now I see that it wasn’t the time for me to be envious of that bastard’s shiny new sword.”

The Empress said, as if trying to soothe her son belatedly.

“That’s the least of your worries. I hear the Second Prince doesn’t even glance at the new magic sword.”

“Whether that bastard uses the old magic sword or the new one, wouldn’t it be the same if His Majesty attributes the victory to him?”

Hart bit his lower lip hard and then said,

“In that case, it would be better to induce him to use the new magic sword. Then there’s at least a chance he’ll fail.”

“Crown Prince.”

The Empress stopped him with a low voice.

Hart was the Crown Prince, the legitimate heir, and no one could threaten his position.

No matter how capable the Second Prince Lurik was, he was destined to play a supporting role to his older brother.

‘So, even if your pride is hurt, you should consider the practical benefits.’

In the Empress’s eyes, the value of Whitney was that high.

It was more important than Lurik’s life, which would be sacrificed in exchange for continuing to use the magic sword, and even more important than her own son’s pride.

But Hart was already agitated.

“All the victories so far were not due to that bastard’s skills, but to the power of the magic sword.”

Empress Dorothea clicked her tongue inwardly.

“I will defeat that bastard without even needing that damn magic sword!”

It was admirable that her son was honestly expressing his determination in front of his mother, as he did in his younger days.

However, telling him too late about the deadly side effects of the magic sword that she had only given to his half-brother had become poison.

Because Hart had been trying to beat Lurik for too long before he knew that cruel reality.

‘Such a useless inferiority complex.’

The Empress had to sigh as she watched her son turn away in displeasure.

🔹🔹🔹🔹🔹🔹

Two days had passed since the Founding Festival, but Lurik showed no interest in the new title or territory he had received.

Ostia, which was relatively close, would have been worth a visit, but he didn’t have the mental space for it.

He only glared at the new magic sword placed by the doorway from time to time.

‘Surely, Father wouldn’t be trying to take back the sword by giving me such a ridiculous fake.’

Every time Lurik saw the sword, a strange anger surged within him, and he would grip the hilt of ‘Belich’ tightly.

‘What should I do if Father uses the magic sword as an excuse to force me into war?’

The voice that echoed in his head whenever he had a moment spoke again.

―Offer victory to the hungry sword!

Had he gone mad because he didn’t want to lose the sword?

“I don’t want to. I don’t need any more victories.”

He remembered Louise, who had clung to him and sobbed those words.

That child was still sickly, and they were just starting to open up to each other and become close again.

A sword could never be more precious than Louise.

But if he achieved another victory……

‘Maybe I could ask to postpone the marriage until Louise finds someone she truly wants.’

Lurik was rubbing his forehead with such thoughts when he heard a knock.

―Knock, knock.

His deputy commander, Jesus, appeared after the knocking sound.

“His Highness the Crown Prince…… has sent a message requesting a visit.”

Lurik asked in disbelief,

“My brother?”

It was certainly unusual for the Crown Prince to visit Lurik at his detached palace.

Jesus replied with a troubled look.

“It’s become a bit awkward. His Highness the Crown Prince said that he would like to see you handle the new magic sword and has requested a duel.”

Does he want to die?

Lurik thought nonchalantly.

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