Choosing the Baby’s Father From the Following – Chapter 68

𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟔𝟖
Thinking up to that point, I also recalled what Phoebe had said about Moghald some time ago.

“Does he still wander around reading horoscopes these days?”

If he could read the future through astrology, wouldn’t Louise or Ren have asked Moghald for help?

Yet, seeing how things had come to this point, perhaps even Moghald didn’t deny that the dream was false.

‘Then, is it related to that complicated diary magic?’

However, with the information I had, I couldn’t definitively link Louise’s preparation for death to the magic placed on the diary.

If she had hidden the diary, thinking she would die and disappear, it would be understandable……

‘If that were the case, she could have just burned the diary.’

Why did she make the diary reappear later?

Did she want to show it to someone?

Just then, a large hand touched my forehead.

“Are you feeling unwell, not physically? Do you want to be alone?”

It seemed I had been lost in thought for too long and hadn’t answered him.

I could read deep sadness in Callisto’s icy blue eyes.

His past wounds from having to repeatedly and painstakingly leave the pessimistic Louise’s side.

“No.”

So, I gently held his wrist, the one touching my forehead.

“Stay with me.”

Through the unfortunate and frightening dreams, a part of Louise’s emotions became mine, but in some ways, it was even more confusing.

‘I don’t even know anymore if this feeling of wanting to hold onto Callisto is mine or Louise’s from the novel.’

But seeing his lips relax as if in relief, I didn’t regret holding onto him.

Callisto must have seen the tear stains around my eyes, but he pretended not to and joked.

“To sleep this long during a nap. It seems you’ve become a baby, not just carrying one, Lou.”

I stretched my lips into a smile so his pitiful attempt wouldn’t end in failure.

Callisto turned his palm, the one that had been on my forehead, and held my hand tightly.

I could finally recognize the man who must have comforted me like this countless times.

‘Thank you, Cal.’

I wanted to say that.

“Thank you, Lou.”

Knowing what that gratitude meant, my heart tore for a different reason.

He was grateful that Louise was alive, just that fact alone.

🔹🔹🔹🔹🔹🔹

The next day, Ernst came to Edessa.

I finished my now-routine lake walk with Phoebe and went to find Ernst.

“Erni.”

After Callisto left the previous night, I drew a timeline in a blank notebook and tried to guess what had happened.

I tried my best to grasp the situation based on the novel I had reviewed, the diary, and my experiences over the past three months, but it wasn’t perfect, leaving holes here and there.

‘Now I need to fill in the gaps through conversations with the people around me.’

If I was going to live as Louise anyway, I wanted to be the perfect Louise, and if I fully understood the past, I would naturally find the baby’s father as well.

“Lou.”

Ernst found me and his eyes sparkled like stars, but seeing my expression, he hesitated and lowered the corners of his lips slightly.

“What’s wrong?”

He asked, but he even subtly avoided my gaze.

Come to think of it, he must have dealt with Louise coming to him with a gloomy face countless times.

‘Ernst was closest to Louise.’

Perhaps he was the first person Louise confided in about the dream.

“Well……”

I am Louise, I am Louise Amelie Kaya Brentania, I gave myself a renewed self-suggestion and began to speak.

“I had that dream again after a long time.”

As expected, Ernst’s beautiful face turned pale in an instant, and he hurriedly grabbed my wrist.

“It’s all in the past. It’s all in the past, right? You’re not going to say the dream has changed or anything, are you?”

His voice was low, but it was the first time I’d seen him pour out words so quickly.

He gripped my wrist so tightly that it felt numb.

I was quite surprised, but I shrugged as if nothing was wrong.

“I know. It was just the same dream.”

Ernst breathed a shallow sigh.

Then, he spoke with difficulty.

“Actually, I…… I was worried because you seemed a little different these past few days.”

“……Really?”

I asked back, feeling a pang of guilt.

He shook his head, and his silken hair cascaded down his smooth forehead.

“It means you’re doing that well. You even said you’re going to receive profit sharing from the furniture craftsman for your design? How did you even think of that?”

Looking up at those admiring golden eyes, I couldn’t tell him that I was actually a ghost from a capitalist world.

I shyly averted my gaze, pretending to be embarrassed, slightly avoiding his dazzling golden eyes.

“I learned it all from you.”

After visiting the auction house, I had grasped the nature of his art investment, so I used that as an excuse.

Ernst laughed out loud as if my words were quite amusing.

“Cal would hear that and get angry at me, saying something about the dignity of nobles.”

“It doesn’t matter what Cal says.”

I replied with a bashful smile, and Ernst nodded in agreement.

Then, he said something I hadn’t dared to expect.

“It’s okay to change. You should grow as much as you couldn’t while you were confined to the suffocating Imperial Palace, Lou.”

His words weren’t like those of my child’s father, but rather like those of my own father.

“What?”

I burst out laughing in disbelief, but his face remained serious.

“It’s okay if you’ve changed after crossing that death.”

I swallowed my breath inwardly, surprised by the direct words.

“It’s okay if the changed you is different from my expectations. Because the things you’ve accomplished won’t change.”

Being loved so much.

“Because you’re here with me now.”

How much pain must Louise have felt when she accepted her fate without choosing anyone?

I finally felt her feelings, which I hadn’t truly grasped until now, as my own, and it was agonizing.

As if he could see my heart, Ernst held my hand tightly.

The warmth between our palms was so gentle.

Then, he finally spoke the words he seemed to have been preparing for a long time.

“So, even if you finally have the courage to choose someone…… I’ll be okay. I’ll be by your side forever.”

His sun-like, brilliant yet gentle golden eyes gazed at me unwavering.

His flower petal-like, beautiful lips made a firm promise to me.

“Because I’m your kumquat. Your only friend.”

Of all the men who say they’re okay with remaining friends if it’s not love, there couldn’t be another as confident and wonderful as him.

“Even your choice is precious.”

Ernst knelt on one knee before me like a docile subject.

The midday sunlight streaming through the window shimmered on his beautiful blonde hair.

When he gently kissed the back of my hand, tears glistened under his lovely golden eyelashes.

🔹🔹🔹🔹🔹🔹

A week later, Imperial Palace.

Moghald, who had gone to the Magic Tower, returned.

He officially entered the palace through the Imperial Palace gate and headed straight for the audience chamber.

“I have come to report on the restoration of the magic sword ‘Belich’.”

The former Tower Master calmly presented the magic sword with both hands, but neither the Emperor nor the Empress seemed inclined to accept it.

Eventually, he placed the sword neatly on a large cushion brought by the Chief Attendant.

The Emperor, with a displeased expression, dismissed everyone except the Empress and spoke.

“……Tower Master Ren Dapht predicted that the restoration of the magic sword would be very difficult.”

Moghald replied without hesitation.

“Difficulty does not equate to impossibility. Moreover, each mage has their own specialty, and as you know, crafting is one of my humble talents.”

The Emperor subtly ground his teeth.

“The restoration of the magic sword will be very difficult. Furthermore, if you were truly dedicated to restoring the magic sword, Master, there would be no reason to hide it from me.”

Surely Ren Dapht had said that.

Therefore, the Emperor expected Moghald to pretend to follow the Empress’s order, attempt the sword’s restoration, and then return to report his failure.

‘But to come here so abruptly without any notice?’

At this point, the oaths of loyalty from all the Tower Masters were becoming suspicious.

Then, the Empress interjected.

“Without wasting time, I will summon the Second Prince.”

As the Emperor frowned, Moghald spoke with his head bowed.

“Your Imperial Majesty. If you intend to have the magic sword reclaim its host as planned, both His Highness the Crown Prince and His Highness the Second Prince are required.”

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