Choosing the Baby’s Father From the Following – Chapter 66

𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟔𝟔
“Hmm, it seems like the morning sickness has ended,”

My doctor said, holding a stethoscope. I asked, delighted,

“Really? So I won’t suffer from that nausea anymore?”

“There are rare cases where it recurs, but it’s uncommon.”

The doctor smiled, seemingly relieved as well.

After learning that Helena would be staying by Lurik’s side, everything went smoothly.

All I had to do was occupy this spacious hotel suite, eat delicious food, and spend my time leisurely!

‘This is the reincarnation life I’ve always dreamed of!’

Callisto and Ernst must have made an agreement to take turns staying by my side. When one was at the hotel, the other would leave to attend to their own affairs.

‘Thanks to that, I don’t have to witness their subtle power struggle, which makes me feel so at peace!’

How many days had passed like that?

The craftsmen who had taken my furniture orders started to return one by one.

“This is a drawing of the wardrobe in actual size. Would this be appropriate?”

The craftsman who was to build the wardrobe brought various wood samples along with the blueprint.

“I’ll choose this wood.”

I chose the wood with the brightest color.

Since the wardrobe would occupy a large area in the room, I thought it would be nice to make it in a bright color to make the room look brighter.

The craftsman who was to build the rocking chair brought and introduced a textile craftsman who would make and attach the cushions.

“This friend is the most famous embroiderer in Edessa. He will start working next week, so if you have any specific patterns you would like, please let me know in advance.”

When I asked the embroiderer to embroider the initials of ‘Prillice,’ Phoebe’s eyes widened.

She whispered softly,

“Prillice? Is that the baby-nim’s name?”

We don’t know the gender yet, so we can’t finalize the baby’s name.

But whether it’s a son or a daughter, I was planning to name the baby after Lurik’s third name, ‘Friesland.’

However, it was risky to openly mention the Second Prince’s name, so I made an excuse to the craftsman.

‘Whether it’s a girl’s name or a boy’s name, the initials are the same anyway.’

Now that Lurik had met Helena, all that was left for him was to thrive as the protagonist.

Therefore, I could only hope that he would cherish his nephew or niece, who was named after him.

The craftsman who was to build the slide unfolded the blueprint and showed me the wooden planks.

“I happen to have children myself, so I’ve tested it out appropriately.”

He said, informing me of the slide height that his four-year-old and six-year-old children enjoyed.

I shook my head and insisted again.

“As I said, the height of my calf is enough. My baby will be sliding from the time they can toddle.”

When I was hospitalized for a long time, I used to visit the playroom for infants on a different floor just to watch the children.

‘Usually, they were bored children who had accompanied their older siblings who were sick.’

I couldn’t really play with them because I was carrying IV fluids, but watching the children made time seem to pass faster.

Hearing their laughter seemed to infect me with their good mood.

‘That’s where I first saw the calf-height slide.’

Looking at the craftsman’s disappointed face, I asked,

“What was your name again? Did your children enjoy it?”

He replied cheerfully,

“Of course, Madam! My name is Mesh Echo!”

“Yes, Mesh. Did you make a proper slide for your children too?”

This time, Mesh hesitated a bit before answering,

“I couldn’t use the same quality wood as this product, and I only tested it by placing thin planks on bricks……”

“Make the same one for your children as you would for my baby. I’ll cover the cost.”

“……Yes?”

He didn’t seem to understand what I meant.

“You can display them in your workshop according to height and invite noblewomen for promotion. Oh, and……”

I handed him a crude drawing I had made beforehand.

“For older children, it would be good to combine a slide and a swing like this.”

Mesh’s eyes widened as he looked at the drawing.

“Th, thank you! But how can you come up with such ideas so quickly, Madam? You’re truly amazing……!”

I couldn’t tell him that these things were commonplace in the world I used to live in.

“The profit sharing will be the same as before. If this item sells well, let’s brainstorm some other good products next time.”

The craftsman left joyfully.

Callisto, who had been quietly by my side, spoke up dejectedly.

“Couldn’t you have consulted me about the baby’s name? I wasn’t going to object even if you wanted to name the baby after His Highness the Second Prince.”

I felt a little sorry inwardly, but pretended to be surprised.

“But it’s my baby’s name?”

Behind Callisto, who was disappointed, Phoebe stood, trying to suppress her laughter.

Only then did I smile softly and say to Callisto,

“If it’s a girl, I want to name her Prillice, and if it’s a boy, Priestly. What do you think?”

Callisto’s face brightened instantly.

His blue eyes were filled with joy.

“Good. I like it.”

He looked so happy that I decided to omit the fact that it was my baby’s name.

🔹🔹🔹🔹🔹🔹

Two days later, after a bath, Phoebe asked,

“Shall we apply the oil that Ren-nim gave you, Your Highness?”

I looked down at my still slightly swollen belly and blushed, feeling needlessly shy.

“Already? You said it’s to prevent stretch marks when my belly starts to show.”

“The doctor-seonsaengnim said it’s more effective if you apply it beforehand!”

Phoebe cheerfully opened the bottle and rubbed the oil in her palms.

“Just a moment, I’ll warm it up like this……”

I burst into laughter at the maid’s touch as she rubbed my lower abdomen.

“Kyaa! It tickles, Phoebe!”

“Please stay still, Your Highness.”

It was then, while we were having a brief playful struggle.

Suddenly, I felt a tiny movement in my belly.

“Oh, wait a minute.”

“Yes, yes. It’s all done, Your Highness.”

Phoebe stepped back, satisfied after applying the oil, but I was tense, feeling the unfamiliar sensation in my belly.

“Your Highness?”

I lightly touched the side of my belly where Phoebe had just rubbed.

Then, I felt a very faint, tapping sensation.

“Ah, I think the baby is moving.”

“What? Let me see, Your Highness. I want to touch it too.”

We both widened our eyes and focused all our senses on our palms. Tap.

“Kyaa, Your Highness! It’s really moving!”

Just as Phoebe exclaimed, there was a knock from outside.

—Knock, knock.

And then a voice followed.

“Lou, are you alright?”

It was Callisto.

Phoebe hurriedly got up and hastily dressed me in an indoor dress.

She brushed my still-damp hair to one side and ran to open the door.

“Your Grace, what brings you here at this late hour?”

“It’s alright if nothing’s wrong. I was just passing by and heard a commotion inside.”

I just sat still, touching my belly, while listening to their conversation.

‘The baby moved.’

It was even more surprising than when I first heard the heartbeat.

‘So, that means the baby now has limbs and kicked my belly.’

The baby, who had been with me since I came to this world, had revealed its presence for the first time.

Phoebe was just as excited as I was, so she answered in a high-pitched voice,

“It’s not that, but the baby-nim in the womb kicked.”

“What?”

I approached the doorway for Callisto, who must have been anxious.

His hesitant blue gaze finally met mine, and he called me, his lips moving slightly.

“……Lou.”

“Cal, do you want to touch it too?”

After Phoebe discreetly stepped aside, Callisto entered the room, his face slightly tense.

“The baby moved?”

I nodded, and he took a deep breath, flustered.

“I didn’t know it was time for that already.”

“……Me neither.”

We stood awkwardly for a moment before sitting down on the bed side by side.

“It was around…… here.”

Callisto hesitated to reach out, even as he watched me move my palm.

Although I had boldly invited him into the room, the baby wasn’t moving constantly, so I couldn’t take his hand and guide it myself.

“May I touch it?”

He finally asked after a long while.

I nodded, and his large hand, stiff with tension, touched my belly.

“You really…… have a belly now.”

Translator’s Blog

Blog

• Anime With Good Plot, But One Thing Makes It Unwatchable: My ‘Black Clover’ Criticism
• The Great Manhua Crash: Why the Hype Died Down
• Who’s Your Waifu? Why Choosing Your Anime Spirit Animal Is Deeper Than You Think (And Who I’d Pick)
• Aqua Hoshino: The Ultimate Husbando?
• Gojo Satoru the Ultimate Husbando?! Is This a Thing?