Choosing the Baby’s Father From the Following – Chapter 65

𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟔𝟓
Sometimes, it’s better not to know.

‘It’s a shame I couldn’t meet Her Highness the Princess……’

Having met Helena by chance at the beach and even being able to dispel the shadow of the magic sword that had been constantly threatening the Second Prince, he felt content to return to the earth and become nourishment for great magic.

‘However, at that time, I will surely take that book with me.’

Ren had vented his frustrations and left the blacksmith’s workshop.

After he left, Moghald deactivated the video memory orb that he had secretly replayed in the corner.

‘I entrust the aftermath to you, Lennie.’

The face of the non-mage who had accepted death looked more peaceful than ever.

🔹🔹🔹🔹🔹🔹

A few days later, renowned artisans from various fields flocked to the hotel.

“Wouldn’t it be better to have triple curtains? One that is subtly see-through, one that is not, and one that completely blocks out the sunlight.”

“It would be good to have a 10-seater sofa, right? Then the guests who come to see the baby will be able to rest comfortably.”

“One tea table by each window should do. Should we make them for three people each? Would that be too small?”

I shook my head in confusion amidst the flood of suggestions.

“Wait a minute…… This is a baby’s room. There’s no need for guests to come in here……”

“Of course there is, Madam.”

The artisan who was talking about the 10-seater sofa interrupted me.

“Wouldn’t a cozy baby room be the pride of the kingdom’s nobles? Here, with the baby’s father……”

The artisan trailed off and smirked, glancing at Callisto.

‘Even though they don’t know he’s the Grand Duke and I’m the Princess……’

The surprising thing was that our Grand Duke of Babenberg generously tolerated the artisan’s absurd behavior without reprimanding him.

Thanks to that, the artisan was able to continue.

“The elegant Madam holding the baby and enjoying a moment of family togetherness……”

“There’s no need to show it to others.”

I firmly interjected and continued what I was trying to say earlier.

“I won’t have any furniture for guests. I will tell you what I need, so if you are confident in making it, please raise your hand and let me know.”

The artisans seemed disappointed, but they kept their mouths shut for now.

“First, a wardrobe.”

The artisan who had suggested making the tea table raised his hand.

“Yes, Madam! First, we will make the body with luxurious mahogany and the handles with gold plating……”

I shook my head and said.

“I don’t need gold-plated handles. However, can you make the wardrobe about this…… size?”

When I asked, placing my palm at chest height, the artisan asked back.

“Excuse me? The wardrobe?”

“I want the child to be able to open it by themselves when they grow up and start walking.”

“Ah……, I can make it, but children grow up unexpectedly fast, and……”

Callisto, who had been watching until now, finally intervened.

“If they grow up fast, we can just make another one. Make it as the Madam wishes.”

The artisan immediately replied.

“Ah, yes, sir!”

It seems like he thinks that side will be paying?

‘Erni would be upset if he saw this.’

Actually, it was Ernst who called the artisans.

However, it wouldn’t look good for the Crown Prince to be decorating a pregnant woman’s baby room, so he was waiting on a different floor.

‘Well, Callisto is nominally the owner of this hotel.’

And I was just a guest staying in the upper-level suite.

I couldn’t reveal my identity for such a trivial matter, and the fact that the Princess was pregnant was an absolute secret, so I reluctantly moved on.

“And I want to make a slide about this…… high.”

This time, I bent down to point at knee height, and Callisto hurriedly supported my arm.

‘This makes him look like the baby’s father.’

As I glared at him for being overly fussy, someone asked.

“Madam, excuse me, but what is a slide?”

They don’t know what a slide is?

Dumbfounded, I brought paper and a pen and drew a slide.

“It looks like this. It’s for children to play on.”

“Oh, I’ve never seen anything like it in the kingdom. After making this object, would it be alright if I made more and sold them to other nobles?”

Callisto suddenly intervened and barked.

“Don’t even think about it.”

But it was a very tempting story for me.

I held up one finger to the artisan.

“10 percent.”

“……Excuse me?”

“I want to receive 10 percent of the sales price as my share. If you refuse, I will hire another artisan and make and sell it first.”

“But, how can a noble lady……”

Callisto, as if he had already pushed the incident where he had just reprimanded the artisan to the back of his mind, intervened again.

“There’s nothing in this land that can’t be done if the Madam wishes it. So, will you make it or not?”

While the other party was pondering, the artisan who had decided to make the wardrobe jumped in.

“I’ll give it a try!”

“No, you’re……”

While he was flustered, another artisan also stepped forward.

“No, he’s going to be pressed for time since he’s making the wardrobe. I’ll make it!”

Amidst the overflowing volunteers, I was able to place orders for the items with satisfaction.

🔹🔹🔹🔹🔹🔹

That same night, at the Imperial Palace.

Although it was a time when he would normally be asleep, the Emperor took heavy steps towards the Empress’s bedroom.

He had something to ask her since the afternoon, but she had been stuck in the Crown Prince’s Palace all day, so he couldn’t even catch a glimpse of her.

“His Majesty the Emperor is here.”

Seeing the Imperial Guard announce that, it seemed she had finally returned to her room.

The Emperor entered the room and asked the Empress, who was calmly preparing for bed.

“……Why did you take the fragment of ‘Belich’?”

The Empress didn’t even flinch.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

The Emperor sighed.

“Even though it’s broken, it’s an heirloom of the Imperial Family. To move an object imbued with the glory of the Empire as you please, I know the Empress is despondent over the Crown Prince’s situation, but……”

“I will restore ‘Belich’.”

The Emperor’s sigh deepened.

“Empress.”

“I’m certain that the Crown Prince’s confinement to bed is due to the evil spirit of ‘Belich’. It’s because the Crown Prince was closest when the magic sword broke, isn’t it? If the sword is restored, everything will return to its place.”

What the Emperor heard was utterly absurd.

“Do you not know how much effort I’ve put in to prevent the fact that the Second Prince has been possessing that terrifying thing, the fact that the Crown Prince was bewitched by it, from leaking outside the Imperial Family? To restore the magic sword while being intoxicated by a delusional fantasy! Even if you could, which mage would follow that order? Would the Tower Master stand by and watch?”

The Emperor extended his large palm towards the Empress.

“Give it back.”

However, the Empress did not even look at him.

“I’ve already given it to Moghald.”

“Who?”

The Emperor frowned.

The former Tower Master, Narses Moghald, had disappeared without a trace seven years ago, leaving only a unilateral farewell message.

The young man he had placed in the position of Tower Master as his successor had never been as trustworthy or loyal as Moghald, not even for a single moment.

The Empress sneered and said.

“Don’t you remember how much the former Tower Master tried to dissuade the use of the magic sword? I assumed he would come to the Imperial Palace if he heard about the accident that happened to the Crown Prince. You didn’t actually believe Tower Master Ren’s words that he couldn’t contact him, did you?”

The Emperor asked back with a dumbfounded expression.

“So you’re saying he actually appeared?”

The Empress nodded.

“The Tower Master’s oath is valid until death, isn’t it? He will restore ‘Belich’ and make the magic sword choose its host once again.”

The Emperor burst into anger.

“This is madness! You’ll lose your remaining son as well!”

“My remaining son!”

Then she screamed.

“My remaining son is your son, not mine. I will sacrifice anything if there’s a way to save my son. Even if it’s your son.”

“……Dorothea.”

“I’m tired, so please leave.”

The Empress brazenly opened the blanket and lay down in front of her husband.

Seeing her black eyelashes close, the Emperor shook his head.

He left the room and quietly ordered the Imperial Guard waiting outside the door.

“Bring the Tower Master immediately.”

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