Choosing the Baby’s Father From the Following – Chapter 74

𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟕𝟒

“Be grateful, Older Brother.”

So that later, even if he realizes his younger sister’s shotgun wedding, he won’t hate his nephew, who even shares his name……

“Please, I’m begging you, don’t take the father away from my nephew.”

I prayed, filled with selfish desires.

🔹🔹🔹🔹🔹🔹

Soon, Ren arrived.

“Here.”

He was holding a bunch of something, and upon closer inspection, it was the star and moon-shaped lamps I had requested before.

“Wow! Do they work?”

“Of course.”

We went to the baby’s room, drew the blackout curtains, and tested the lights.

The lights, shining softly in the darkness, were like real stars.

“They’re so pretty! You’re the best, Ren.”

When Ren looked down at me, his blue-violet eyes sparkled like stars, reflecting the light of the lamps.

“After making them, I realized they were better than I expected. The mages want to make them for their nieces and nephews or their own children. They were making a fuss, asking how I came up with such an idea.”

I smiled, delighted by Ren’s words.

Looking at the cute crescent moon-shaped lamp, ideas sprung to mind.

“Can you make them smaller with a dimmer light? I think it would be pretty if they were connected and hung up.”

“Hmm…… I can do that.”

Ren answered positively and then chuckled, his shoulders shaking slightly.

His smile shone brightly even in the darkness.

“It’s the first time I’ve seen you this proactive.”

It was similar to what Ernst had said.

‘Should I be more careful?’

As I carefully chose my next words, a large hand touched my cheek.

“I’m happy. Just tell me anything, Lou. I’ll make anything you want happen.”

It was the same thing Callisto had said in front of the artisans.

“There’s nothing in this land that the Madam desires that cannot be done.” (#Flashback)

His firm fingertips gently caressed my cheek as if to encourage me.

‘Everyone is so united in supporting me……’

Now, the choice that would come someday was terrifying.

I became inwardly somber, but I clapped my hands brightly, pretending not to be.

“Right, I had a favor to ask.”

To change the mood, I opened the curtains and left the baby’s room.

The sudden sunlight made me squint, but I rummaged through my desk and found the blueprint for the rocking chair.

I hadn’t thought of it yesterday in the heat of the moment, but I had to show it to Ren while he was here.

“Can the Magic Tower help commercialize this if it’s developed?”

“What is this?”

Ren seemed surprised by the unexpected suggestion, but after hearing the explanation, he smiled leisurely.

“I won’t be working on it personally, and I won’t do it for free. You know there’s a fee for using Magic Tower technology, right?”

No, I didn’t know.

“How much?”

“On average, about 50%?”

I was startled and asked again.

“50%?”

He had already returned to his arrogant Tower Master persona.

“Products incorporating Magic Tower technology are all classified as luxury goods. The selling price goes up tremendously.”

“But I agreed to receive 10%……”

Ren tilted his head.

“From whom?”

“From the furniture craftsman.”

He chuckled and held up four fingers.

“Alright, then I’ll make it 40% just for you. If you sell a lot to the nobles in the capital, you won’t regret the money you pay to the Magic Tower.”

“Then, can the star ornaments we talked about earlier be mass-produced?”

When I asked again, a low laugh burst from him.

“I’ll have to talk to the glassblower about that.”

“You can take your time.”

Ren rolled up the blueprint and handed it back to me as if there was nothing more to see.

I cautiously changed the subject.

“Ren, are you being bothered a lot at the Imperial Palace these days?”

I could picture the Empress harassing the innocent Ren.

He shrugged, and his blue cloak billowed up and then settled down.

“I can quit if I get angry. If you’re not staying at the Imperial Palace, what reason do I have to be the Tower Master?”

Of course, the Emperor wouldn’t easily let Ren go, but hearing his lighthearted voice made me feel a little relieved.

There was something I realized the other day while recounting the plot of the novel to Helena.

‘Ren is the character who has deviated the most from the original flow of the novel.’

Therefore, it was safer to get Ren out of the Imperial Palace before Lurik made his move to usurp the throne.

Unaware of my inner thoughts, Ren added,

“Prince Lurik seems to want to keep you here for the time being. So you don’t have to worry him anymore by saying you’re not feeling well. What do you think?”

“Then can I tell him I’m getting better?”

He nodded.

“Write that in your next letter. He’ll be happy.”

I thanked him once again.

“Thank you. If it weren’t for you, Ren, I wouldn’t be able to leave my brother’s side with such peace of mind.”

“No matter how many times I hear you say thank you, it doesn’t lessen my desire to be by your side right now.”

Ren took my hand and lightly kissed the back of it.

“But I have to endure it for the sake of ‘our’ baby.”

Thinking about him struggling at the Imperial Palace for me and the baby, I couldn’t refute him by saying it was ‘my’ baby.

Unable to say anything, I left the room with my hand in his, and we bumped into Helena.

She blushed as if she had done something wrong, even though she hadn’t.

‘I’m sorry, Helena……’

Now, on top of my pregnancy, Helena had to keep the secret that the baby’s father was the Tower Master all to herself.

‘Especially with Lurik supporting Ernst as my suitor.’

It was unfortunate, but there was nothing I could do about it for now, so I just kept my mouth shut.

🔹🔹🔹🔹🔹🔹

A week later, several chests arrived from the Imperial Palace.

“Huh? What’s all this?”

Surprised, I opened the letter that Lurik had sent along with them.

My dear Louise,

I’m so happy to hear that your illness is improving.

Please convey my gratitude to the Crown Prince of Flavi for taking care of you.

It’s already the end of the year.

I’ve prepared candies so you can enjoy your time indoors.

Share them with the employees.

I hope you return healthy in the new year.

Lurik.

Candies?

I tilted my head in confusion, and Phoebe gasped as she opened a chest.

“Oh my, what a thoughtful gesture! His Highness must have considered that you might want to participate in Flavi’s Candy Festival!”

“Ah, the Candy Festival……”

I echoed her words naturally, recalling the diary I had read a while ago.

I don’t know if there will ever be a day in my life when I’ll laugh this much again.

I came to the Flavi Royal Palace.

Ernst and I wore masks and participated in the New Year’s festival.

During the festival, you can throw candy at anyone you’re interested in and court them freely?

Even though I was wearing a mask, so many people threw candy at me!

Sugar powder got into my clothes and made everything sticky, but I’ve never had a more enjoyable day in my life.

Well, that was the gist of it.

Ernst chimed in excitedly from beside me.

“Are you going this year? I wasn’t expecting you to, since you’ve been experiencing morning sickness and fatigue, but if you’re feeling up to it, I’ll prepare masks now.”

“Hmm……”

Looking at Phoebe’s sparkling eyes, I asked Ernst,

“If I wear a mask, can Erni come with me too?”

“Of course, Lou.”

He replied gladly. Just then, there was a commotion outside, followed by a knock.

—Knock, knock.

Callisto appeared through the open door.

“Cal, weren’t you supposed to come in the evening?”

I asked with a smile, and he approached me gently, kneeling on one knee.

“I finished work early. I couldn’t bear to be away from you any longer.”

Ernst turned his head away with a frown, but Callisto simply kissed the back of my hand slowly.

He must have rushed over, as his lips still held the chill of the north.

Callisto stood up nonchalantly and examined the stacked chests.

“Why the candy? Is it for the New Year’s festival?”

Ernst answered truthfully.

“Lou wants to attend, so we need to get new masks.”

“Can I request one for myself as well?”

At Callisto’s brazen question, the Crown Prince of Flavi’s handsome face crumpled for once.

“Are you free at the beginning of the year, Grand Duke?”

“Isn’t it a festival where you throw candy at the person you want to court?”

Callisto asked, tilting his head.

He crossed his arms firmly in front of his chest, and I felt a strange sense of pressure from him.

“I can’t let Lou go to such a festival alone. I will stay by Lou’s side even if war breaks out on the northern border.”

Callisto declared unnecessarily solemnly, but Ernst seemed to ignore him.

“Suit yourself. I’ll decide on the mask design.”

Callisto nodded nonchalantly.

He seemed to think it didn’t matter what the mask looked like, but it remained to be seen whether things would go his way.

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