Choosing the Baby’s Father From the Following – Chapter 53

𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟓𝟑
The Empire had been inherited by sons for generations, and even if they wanted to pass it on to a daughter, the current Imperial Family lacked a suitable child.

Jenais was already promised in marriage, Chilla was simple, and Louise was frail.

“That bastard attacked the Crown Prince. He injured my son with that dangerous sword!”

The Emperor’s voice was cold as he answered the Empress’s wails.

“Lurik has lived with the magic sword for over a decade. Not only that, but Empress, you’ve already heard it haven’t you? That Hart went to find Lurik himself, saying he wanted to spar.”

Although the Imperial Guard and adjutants all gave the same testimony, the Empress continued to insist.

“Even so, what reason would Hart have to touch that bastard’s sword first? He already knew how dangerous that sword was!”

In truth, the Empress knew better than anyone.

Hart had coveted the magic sword since he was young, and had even once secretly taken it from Lurik and used it for several days without his parents’ knowledge.

Fortunately, there were no major incidents at that time, but the couple was horrified and severely reprimanded him to prevent such an event from happening again.

The Empress pretended not to remember all of that and raised her voice, but the Emperor only shook his head.

“Have you forgotten how tightly the Crown Prince was gripping the sword, which now only has a hilt left? If the Tower Master hadn’t been passing by that hallway at that moment, we would have lost our eldest son.”

“Haven’t we already lost him? Is he considered alive just because he’s breathing? The Crown Prince has a family too! He has a wife and children!”

The Empress treated her living son as if he were already dead, but inwardly, the Emperor shared the same sentiment.

“……Isn’t the Tower Master doing his best to treat him?”

“You said it yourself. That excellent Tower Master was there!”

The Empress said with a glare.

“The man who swore on his life to serve the Emperor couldn’t protect the Crown Prince right in front of him! Did he conspire with the detached palace siblings beforehand?!”

The Emperor repeatedly shook his head.

“The Tower Master’s oath uses his own life as collateral, so its target can only be one person. I, the target of the oath, wasn’t there, and everyone present was my child, so he did his best.”

The magic power of the magic sword erupted outwards, cracking the outer walls of the detached palace and causing nearly half of Lurik’s room to collapse.

Even amidst the chaos, the Tower Master gathered the scattered magic power and defended against the magic sword exploding from within, and cast a protective spell on the youngest Princess, which should have been cast on himself, saving her life.

Even though he healed quickly, the Tower Master was actually injured in the process.

“It seems true that he thinks of the youngest rather specially, but that doesn’t mean he would have revealed anything about the magic sword. He needs to survive first to stay by the youngest’s side.”

The Emperor said decisively and left.

The Empress sobbed, unusually disheveled, but the Crown Prince, lying blankly on the bed, only repeated the same words.

“Starving…… sword…… victory……”

The Empress clutched her chest in despair.

“That damned sword bewitched my son!”

Hart was the Emperor’s avatar, perfectly born and meticulously crafted by her.

She couldn’t accept that he had crumbled so easily due to a momentary accident.

🔹🔹🔹🔹🔹🔹

“Cough, cough! Cough, cough!”

I pretended to cough myself half to death in front of the physician and Lurik.

I felt incredibly sorry for Lurik, but the biggest problem had disappeared, albeit somewhat dramatically, so I couldn’t delay any longer.

Physician Zita put down his stethoscope with a worried expression.

“You’ve been pushing yourself quite a bit these past few days, haven’t you? I’m afraid you’re showing signs of pneumonia.”

Lurik, I’m sorry……

He would feel immensely responsible for my health deteriorating due to the recent incident, but I had no time left.

‘My stomach has subtly started to swell.’

Fortunately, thanks to my slim physique and the cumbersome dress, it wasn’t noticeable yet, and since the magic sword was broken, there was no need to worry about Lurik going berserk.

‘But him not going berserk doesn’t mean he’ll turn a blind eye to my premarital pregnancy.’

I didn’t want to ruin the slowly recovering relationship between the siblings again.

“I don’t think His Majesty will persecute the Second Prince for this incident.”

That was the common opinion of Ernst and Callisto.

‘They are well-versed in politics, so their judgment must be right.’

Then I had to seize this opportunity and leave.

Lurik frowned, but he couldn’t get angry knowing that the reason I pushed myself was because of him.

“Pneumonia? Then what should we do?”

Zita spoke cautiously.

“Since it’s highly contagious…… If pneumonia breaks out in the Imperial Palace, it’s customary to go to the quiet countryside for recuperation. Actually, staying in a place with good air and clean water is beneficial for the patient.”

Lurik immediately asked again.

“Recuperation? Is it necessary to go?”

Zita silently bowed his head.

“……If it becomes known, everyone will recommend it. As you know, the Magic Tower’s medicine only alleviates the symptoms, it’s not a fundamental cure. It will take time for the pneumonia to heal, and winter is approaching, isn’t it? How about leaving for the warm southern territories……?”

I interrupted before Lurik could answer.

“Cough! If it’s alright with Brother, I want to go. The restoration work is too noisy, making it difficult to sleep……”

Ren said he deliberately omitted the noise cancellation magic during the restoration work so I could use this excuse.

Lurik’s face darkened, but he hurriedly came up with a countermeasure.

“Alright. Let’s go together.”

Are you crazy, Brother?

‘Do you know how much I’ve suffered to leave you here……?’

If you have the time, go visit your newly acquired territory.

“Absolutely not, Brother.”

Lurik was indebted to me because of this incident.

‘If he had gone berserk like in the novel, he could have killed everyone nearby, and I stopped it.’

Of course, as the author of the novel, I’m also responsible, but Lurik doesn’t know that.

“Why don’t you understand? Cough, cough!”

So I lowered my voice and boldly demanded.

“This is your chance. While Elder Brother is unable to get up, you must prove that you are the more suitable son.”

Perhaps thanks to me lowering my voice, Zita tactfully excused himself and left.

Even in this situation, Lurik didn’t forget to order him to keep my illness a secret for now.

“But Louise……”

Now I was alone with Lurik, but I still lowered my voice and spoke as if only moving my lips.

“Prove who the true Crown Prince material is.”

His reaction was more underwhelming than I expected.

“Well, I’m not really……”

In the novel, after breaking free from the influence of the magic sword, Lurik was consumed by revenge, overthrew the Emperor, and ascended the throne himself.

‘Is he really free from the magic sword’s power?’

I sighed inwardly and whispered.

“Aren’t you even resentful? Brother, you’ve been bearing that dangerous magic sword alone all your life! If you hadn’t noticed your eye color changing and taken precautions, cough! If the situation had worsened, what would have happened?”

Lurik sighed softly and placed his hand on my shoulder.

“Stop talking, you keep coughing. I understand what you’re saying.”

No, Lurik didn’t understand.

Was it because the berserk episode wasn’t complete?

‘Can’t he go down the revenge route?’

Perhaps he considered all of this just an unfortunate accident.

I desperately grabbed his hand.

“No, Brother. Look at the Emperor’s and Empress’s attitudes. Could any of them truly have not anticipated this accident? They knew the danger, and yet, cough, cough……!”

I pretended to cough and caught my breath for a moment before gripping Lurik’s hand tighter.

“You deserve compensation, Brother. It’s fortunate that His Majesty needs a healthy son right now, isn’t it? Ren risking his life to heal the Crown Prince is something that will never happen. Cough!”

But it seemed Lurik didn’t hate the Crown Prince, despite his foolish and petty actions.

“Lou, you wouldn’t be preventing the Tower Master from healing my brother, would you……?”

Indeed, even in the novel, Hart’s death was an accident caused by his berserk state, not something Lurik intentionally caused.

Ironically, it was Hart who felt inferior to Lurik.

“Of course not. Do I seem like such a bad child to you, Brother?”

Right, if Ren could heal Hart, I would gladly become the villain and stop him.

‘But Ren can’t heal him.’

If Hart was controlled by the sword like Lurik, then perhaps only Helena could heal him.

And if I, the original author, was the only one who knew that, I would never tell anyone.

“……Yes, I spoke out of turn.”

Lurik apologized with a light sigh, and I drove the point home.

“Wait just four more days. If there’s no improvement within that time, I’ll leave. Cough.”

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