Choosing the Baby’s Father From the Following – Chapter 54

𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟓𝟒
“Lu……”

I ignored Lurik’s regretful gaze and added,

“I’ll go to Flavi. It’s the warmest and safest place, and there’s a gate there.”

🔹🔹🔹🔹🔹🔹

Four days later.

“His Majesty the Emperor has granted permission. We will welcome you with honor in Flavi.”

Ernst’s voice was as smooth as silk, but Lurik must have frowned.

Although I couldn’t see it because the bed curtains were drawn.

“Cough! Cough, cough!”

I regretted it a little, tearing Lurik’s heart with my incessant coughing.

‘Whether I leave the Imperial Palace because I’m this sick, or because I’m pregnant, maybe Lurik would be equally upset.’

But the latter would greatly damage my position in the Imperial Family, so it can’t be helped.

My position is also Lurik’s.

Unexpectedly, Lurik spoke as if he was worried about Ernst.

“As you can see, her condition is not very good. The medicine from the Magic Tower doesn’t seem to be working well, and the physician says it’s highly contagious.”

Of course, Ernst knows that I’m not really sick, so he wouldn’t care.

‘But even if I were really sick, Ernst would have done the same.’

I’ve confirmed that fact over and over again in countless letters and diaries.

I found out that Erni missed class because of me.

That foolishly kind guy……

My grateful friend, Erni.

The way Ernst’s name appeared in the diary was consistent, and more frequent than anyone else’s.

……My beloved friend, Erni.

And every time I saw his name, I thought,

‘Is this a friend? If this is a friend, then Lee Ji, who lived in South Korea, didn’t have a single friend.’

My beautiful friend, Erni.

Really, that’s what I thought every time I saw it.

I even wondered if Louise adding the phrase ‘my friend’ before his name every time was a kind of self-suggestion.

Anyway, Ernst replied politely.

“The physician will accompany us, and the Tower Master will assist with the travel, so please do not worry too much. If her condition improves, I will make arrangements for Your Highness to visit as well.”

Lurik asked bluntly,

“You’re going to Edessa, not the capital? You plan to stay at a hotel?”

“Yes, Her Highness wished it so.”

Ernst skillfully omitted the fact that the hotel was owned by the Grand Duke of Babenberg.

It would be unpleasant news for Lurik, and Ernst wouldn’t want to upset my brother any further at this moment.

“Don’t think about incurring unnecessary debt, send me the bill.”

Ernst replied neatly once again.

“I will, Your Highness.”

However, Lurik will soon find out that the hotel is owned by Babenberg, and the Grand Duke would rather die than charge me for my stay.

I prayed for Lurik’s psychological stability, hoping that the baby would resemble its father, but it would be nice if it resembled me a little too.

Lurik asked again,

“Will you be ready in three days?”

“As it is a fully equipped facility, we don’t actually need three days. However, I allowed for ample time as I thought you might be anxious if we moved on a tight schedule.”

I coughed violently, worried that if Lurik continued to question, it would disrupt the schedule.

“Cough, cough! Cough, cough!”

Finally, their conversation ended.

“Louise seems to be struggling, so let’s leave the room. If you have any difficulties, ask for help.”

“Of course, Your Highness.”

After hearing the sound of the door closing, I coughed and pounded my chest.

My throat was actually sore from the forced coughing.

‘Let’s get out of here quickly, quickly……’

Our secret community was all hoping for the same thing.

🔹🔹🔹🔹🔹🔹

Three days later, on the coast near the Duros territory.

Helena spotted the pilgrimage group passing the opposite side of the curved bay and let out a cry of joy.

“I see them! We finally caught up!”

A few weeks ago, she had to send the pilgrimage group ahead while waiting for the mage who was later than promised.

The mage returned belatedly about four days after the pilgrimage group left, but as soon as he arrived, he not only helped Zariya recover but also promised to help the two rejoin the group.

“Since I failed to keep my promise and became separated from the group, it’s only right that I do so.”

Helena felt extremely apologetic.

Zariya had recovered, and they had obtained a lot of expensive magic potions, so she was truly indebted to the mage.

However, no matter how much she declined, it was no use.

“If you had followed this beach, I could have caught up with them in an instant with magic, but I know that would diminish the meaning of your pilgrimage.”

Therefore, the mage had taken care of and guided the two women, finally allowing them to catch up with the pilgrimage group.

“Thank you so much, Mage-nim. I wonder if I’ll ever be able to repay this kindness in my lifetime……”

With the pilgrimage group just ahead, Helena even teared up as she expressed her gratitude to the mage.

Then the mage chuckled.

“It seems the innocent nun doesn’t know yet, but there’s no such thing as a free lunch among mages. You have a special ability, so please grant this old man a request someday.”

“I hope that day comes.”

Helena smiled faintly, unable to fully grasp the idea that she could help someone with her ability, which she still didn’t know what it was or how to use.

Just then, as if they had spotted them from the pilgrimage group, a monk came running hurriedly.

“You’ve returned safely! We’ve been worried about you both since we left you behind, and it truly gladdens me to see you recovered like this!”

Zariya quickly bowed her head.

“I apologize for causing concern. The Mage-nim here helped us recover from our injuries and travel.”

“That’s truly fortunate. Thank you, Mage-nim.”

The monk, teary-eyed, bowed his head before Moghald and then rummaged through his robes with a somewhat urgent expression.

“However……”

He held out a luxurious letter sealed with a wax seal to Helena.

“After we parted ways with you, letters arrived from several monasteries. Among them, there was this.”

The reason the monk had rushed over to deliver the letter was because of the Imperial seal on it.

Helena gulped and received the letter.

She had attracted the mage’s attention because of her encounter with the royalty, but she never dreamed that she would receive a letter from the Imperial Family in front of him.

“They said to deliver it urgently. They said that the youngest Princess left it at Kaisarea Monastery.”

To think that the Princess would send her a letter first, even though she left without being able to express her gratitude for all the kindness she had received.

Helena opened the letter without hesitation.

She thought there was no way the youngest Princess would send her something harmful.

Helena, congratulations on becoming a nun.

I know you’re on an important journey, but there’s something I really need to tell you.

Could you come to the Imperial Palace when you see this letter?

Louise.

The letter was short, but its contents were perplexing to Helena.

‘Come to the Imperial Palace? Suddenly?’

She had never been to the Imperial Palace, and it was too far a place for her to go alone.

‘But is it okay to refuse the Princess’s command? If I want to obey her command, how do I get to the Imperial Palace?’

As Helena pondered, the mage asked,

“What does Her Highness say?”

Surely, the mage had said he had seen the youngest Princess since she was a child.

“Ah, Mage-nim. Actually……”

The mage received the letter from the youngest Princess and glanced at it before chuckling.

“My, my……”

Then, he handed the letter back and added,

“I truly didn’t intend for you to repay your debt this quickly.”

“……Yes?”

When Helena asked blankly, the mage threw off the black robe he had been wearing.

As his mystical white hair fluttered in the wind, the old mage’s gray eyes gleamed strangely.

“Actually, I am the former Tower Master, Narses Moghald.”

The monks who had gathered one by one gasped in surprise.

“Her Highness wouldn’t lightly summon you to the Imperial Palace, so would you accompany me?”

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