𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟖𝟎
There was a tearing sound in the air for a while, as if something was being shot.
However, thanks to the strong arms that held me and the warm body temperature, I wasn’t anxious.
Soon, Callisto’s voice was heard again.
“You can open your eyes now.”
He put me down on the floor.
Before I could even feel awkward about the solid floor beneath my feet, a magnificent gallery filled my vision.
A voice filled with laughter was heard.
“This is the place I……”
Callisto extended his neat palm towards me.
“wanted to show you the most, the Babenberg Castle Gallery.”
I smiled brightly and placed my hand on top of his.
It seemed the twelve-year-old Sword Master had finally fulfilled his wish.
🔹🔹🔹🔹🔹🔹
“Whi- While the Lady is staying in Babenberg, Chacha will be attending to you……”
“And, Collie.”
The maid, who introduced herself as Chacha, added.
“Of co-course, there are veteran maids, but since this is your first time in Babenberg, we decided to help you.”
I rounded my eyes, looking at the two maids who had a strangely similar atmosphere.
Chacha, as if reading my gaze, added an explanation.
“We- We don’t look very much alike, but we’re twins.”
This time, Collie spoke.
“We may not look like it, but we’re discreet!”
Unable to bear it any longer, Phoebe burst out laughing.
Only then did I come to my senses and replied.
“Oh, hello.”
The twin maids stiffened as one and bowed their heads deeply.
Seeing their nervous appearance, I continued speaking softly.
“I don’t know what His Grace introduced you as, but there’s no need to be so nervous. I’m only staying for a short while, and……”
Then Collie’s expression darkened ominously.
“So it’s true……?”
“Huh?”
At that moment, the outside became noisy.
“She said she’s only staying for a short while!”
“Why, why? Can’t she stay forever?”
“She’s definitely the one our Grand Duke has cherished in his heart for half his life……!”
They might have thought they were lowering their voices, but every single word was clearly audible to me.
Embarrassed, I blushed slightly, and then suddenly the surroundings became deathly silent, and with a loud flurry of footsteps, everyone disappeared.
Soon, Callisto appeared and ordered Chacha in a chilling voice.
“Write down the names of those who were chattering in the hallway just now and submit them. Slacking off during work hours, they’ll be docked pay.”
Seeing Chacha’s face turn pale, I hurriedly grabbed Callisto’s wrist.
“Cal, I don’t want to be hated by everyone as soon as I arrive.”
He flinched and immediately reversed his order.
“……Cancel the order I just gave. Tell everyone not to make a fuss.”
While Chacha was just barely breathing, Collie answered bravely.
“Thank you, Master!”
Then, looking at me, she added softly.
“Thank you, Lady.”
I finally laughed out loud.
Callisto gently put his arm around my shoulder and led me into the room.
“This is the room my mother used.”
His voice was low, but it was enough to stop me in my tracks.
Seeing my startled face, he loosened his lips and smiled.
“Don’t make that face. My mother would be happy to feel human warmth in this room again.”
“Thank you, Cal.”
His gaze, looking down at me, was as coldly blue as ever, but I felt a warm glow within it.
He tightened his arms around me.
“Since you’ve come all this way, let’s have a good time. However, it will be quite cold for you, so let’s spend time inside the castle until the Ice Festival.”
“Yes, I’d like that.”
Now that I think about it, the fireplace was blazing as if it were about to boil the room.
Chacha and Collie, trailing behind us, had red faces, and Callisto was dressed in a thin shirt that seemed to be for summer.
I shook my head and called him.
“Cal.”
A pair of blue eyes looked at me warmly.
“Yes?”
“I’m not that cold. Isn’t the fireplace burning a bit…… ferociously?”
“That’s impossible.”
Callisto immediately denied my words.
Then a large hand approached and the back of it brushed against my cheek.
“You’re cold. Your cheeks are cold.”
No, you should know that better than anyone.
“But Cal looks hot too……”
As I tried to make an excuse, a low chuckle escaped him.
“Would being a bit hot be a problem when you’re here?”
Now that I looked, blue flames were also burning in his eyes.
‘This is why the maids don’t come to look.’
My face felt hot, and I fanned myself with my hand, but I couldn’t tell anymore if it was really because of the high temperature of the room.
“Dinner will be interesting. Get some rest.”
“……Okay.”
I reluctantly nodded.
As soon as he disappeared, Chacha and Collie looked at each other and moved their lips silently.
Callisto treated everyone but me as invisible, but my situation was different.
‘If I wasn’t pregnant, I wouldn’t be this embarrassed……!’
When I decided to come to Babenberg out of pity for Callisto, I think I was a bit lacking in awareness of my own body.
Since I’m clearly here as Callisto’s guest, I can’t pretend to be a married woman like I did in Edessa.
‘A near-full-term noblewoman visiting the Grand Duke’s castle alone and using the former Grand Duchess’s room is not normal no matter how you look at it.’
So it’s understandable that the castle employees are making a fuss.
‘But what if later, the fact that I’m a princess is revealed, and the father of the child turns out to be someone else, or I marry someone else……?’
Then this trip will be recorded in the Babenberg history books as an atrocity committed by royalty. Ugh.
🔹🔹🔹🔹🔹🔹
“We- Well, in Babenberg, we have a custom of eating seven different flavors of food during the first week of the New Year. It’s believed to bring good health.”
Collie continued Chacha’s explanation, excitedly pointing to each of the dishes in front of me.
“Salty, sweet, spicy, bitter, sour, hot, and cold.”
“Wow, really?”
I looked at the food with sparkling eyes.
Collie continued.
“This spinach saute on this plate is salty, and it tastes good with the salmon with cream.”
This time, Chacha chimed in.
“This black bread is topped with cacao nibs, but just try a little and don’t eat too much. My mother said it’s not recommended for pregnant women.”
I unconsciously lifted the glass and took a sip, then asked in surprise.
“What is this drink?”
Callisto, who had appeared at some point, said.
“It’s calamansi juice. You can just try it for fun. It’s not something you drink because it’s particularly tasty……”
“It’s…… absolutely delicious.”
As I emptied half of the large cup in one go, Chacha’s eyes widened.
“Our…… mother also liked sour food when she was pregnant. But don’t drink too much at once, as you might get an upset stomach.”
Callisto frowned slightly and spoke.
“Do you think they’ll understand if you just keep calling her ‘mother’?”
Then he explained to me softly.
“Those children’s mother is the head chef of our castle. It’s not wrong.”
I had no desire to argue whether it was wrong or not.
‘This is the first food that’s been this eye-openingly delicious since the persimmon.’
Callisto’s blue eyes scanned my already empty glass in surprise.
He ordered Collie in an uncertain voice.
“Go and see if it’s alright for her to have…… one more glass.”
“Yes, Master.”
As Collie jumped up and left the dining hall, I slowly tasted the remaining six flavors of food.
The stew simmering over the brazier, the spicy soup, the fish, and the meat were all delicious, but the best of all was the cold dish I ate last.
“Oh my god, this is so delicious……”
I was almost in tears as I tasted the peanut bingsu, and Callisto laughed with a bewildered expression.
“I’ve never seen you so happy even when I’ve given you anything else.”
Regardless, I sniffled and diligently scooped up the bingsu.
I was almost sad to see the shrinking mountain of ice.
“While I’m here, I want to eat this every day, no, every meal. You’ll do that for me, right?”
Everyone’s laughter echoed through the vast dining hall.
Phoebe whispered to me in the midst of it.
“The baby in your belly must be the heir of Babenberg, right?”
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