𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟗𝟏
As I carefully buttoned his shirt, Callisto’s lips curved into a subtle smile.
He cleared his throat and explained,
“The Ice Festival takes place simultaneously in several large cities within Babenberg, usually where there’s a lake.”
“Ah, I heard there’s a lake near here, right?”
Callisto’s blue eyes twinkled mischievously.
“You’d be mistaken to think of it as a pond like the ones in Edessa. Lake Ravenne is vast.”
A snowy landscape flashed through his sapphire irises.
I was so captivated by the sight that I forgot to reply, and Phoebe interjected,
“Lake Edessa was wide too!”
Her words brought me back to my senses, and I blinked. Callisto explained with a proud voice,
“Lake Ravenne is several times larger. That’s why the festival is only held in the eastern corner of the lake.”
I first pictured Lake Edessa, and then imagined a snow-covered lake several times larger.
As soon as we arrived, I understood what Callisto meant.
The vast lake was covered in snow, resembling a white field.
It was almost indistinguishable from the snow-covered plains.
It all looked like an endless sea of snow.
“Wow……!”
I exclaimed, forgetting the cold.
Safety-first Phoebe asked,
“Your Grace, this might be a pointless question, but…… it’s safe, right?”
Callisto let out a gentle laugh.
“It’ll be early summer before the shaded shores of this lake completely thaw. Do you think I would bring Lou to a dangerous place?”
As we walked on the snow-covered ice, a crisp crunching sound echoed with each step, leaving clear footprints.
“Lou, slowly……!”
He even put non-slip boots on me, and yet he still nags.
I left Callisto behind and walked towards the stalls.
He caught up in just a few steps, though.
“What’s that, Cal?”
I asked, looking at the steaming brown lump, and Callisto’s lips softened.
“Roast beef. In Babenberg, eating warm food during the Ice Festival is considered happiness.”
Truly, a romance befitting the north.
“Can I try some?”
When I asked, Callisto’s smile deepened.
“Street food, really?”
“It’s fun!”
Callisto shook his head as if to say he couldn’t help it, and pointed to another stall with his eyes.
“How about that one instead?”
“Wooow……!”
I couldn’t help but widen my eyes at the sight.
“Isn’t that, Bungeoppang?”
Callisto corrected me.
“Bungeo? It’s not Bungeo, it’s Domipang. Since the sea is far from the capital of Babenberg, this is how they get a glimpse of saltwater fish.”
“Anyway……!”
As we hurried to the Domipang stall, the merchant recognized us and bowed in surprise.
“Isn’t that His Grace, the Grand Duke?”
Callisto held up a finger and signaled ‘shh’ before ordering a few Domipang.
Soon, we each received a steaming hot Domipang.
“Mmm.”
The crispy and warm fish-shaped bread was filled with cream and cheese.
Although it didn’t contain the red bean paste I was familiar with, it was similar to the street waffles from my previous life.
“This would be delicious with jam.”
I said it without thinking, and Callisto nodded without question.
“I’ll have it prepared when we return to the castle.”
The people of Babenberg didn’t seem to fear this frozen lake at all.
Countless stalls were selling warm food, making my mouth water everywhere I looked.
“What’s that, Your Grace?”
Phoebe asked, and Callisto replied,
“Fried ice cream. They say the outside is hot and the inside is cold, but I’ve never tried it.”
I widened my eyes and exclaimed,
“I want to try it……!”
After that, we tried everything from fried bananas to cocoa.
It took a little longer to ride the sled that Callisto was looking forward to.
🔹🔹🔹🔹🔹🔹
The sky was a piercing blue, and the wind was harsh.
The fierce wind that descended from the northern winter mountains ruffled Callisto’s black cloak.
But the north wind that tousled his hair and stung his cheeks seemed to have no effect on him.
No, the master of this land, standing firm on his two feet, seemed even more liberated under that wind.
However, I was just bewildered.
“Th, this is, so……”
It was because of the extravagant sled that Callisto had placed before me.
“Let’s sit. The Knight Commander will pull it.”
I looked alternately at the ridiculously ornate two-seater sled, Callisto, and his Knight Commander.
The Knight Commander seemed to have misunderstood something from my gaze and suddenly knelt on one knee.
“It’s an honor to serve you. I am Leander Eugis, Knight Commander of Babenberg, Lady.”
Uh, uhm……?
It seemed unlikely that the Knight Commander of Babenberg wouldn’t know that I was the Princess.
But he greeted me like that, seemingly conscious of his surroundings, and I could only nod awkwardly.
“Nice to meet you. I’ll be in your care.”
After greeting the Knight Commander, I looked back at Callisto.
He must have interpreted my gaze, because he kindly asked,
“Shall I help you sit?”
“No!”
I hurriedly shook my head and moved towards the sled on my own.
It wasn’t a typical wooden sled, but one that looked like a craftsman had meticulously crafted a couch and detached the legs.
As I settled onto that flamboyant thing with Callisto’s help, I could feel the curious gazes of the surrounding people pouring towards us.
When he sat next to me, the gazes became so intense that I felt like I was breaking out in a sweat.
“Cal……”
I called him dejectedly, but the Grand Duke’s face, as he bent down to fasten the safety belt, was only bright.
“Yes?”
“Cal, just in case, you know……”
Callisto listened to me as he fastened his own safety belt.
The sled started slowly, but I stubbornly finished my sentence.
Because I wanted to ask him this at least once, even if not today.
“Even if I safely give birth to the child and my brother’s matters are all resolved, haven’t you considered the possibility that I might not choose you, Cal?”
A large hand in a thick glove cupped my cheek, buried in my hat.
Our eyes met directly, close up.
His sapphire eyes, like spilled ink, were filled with a certainty that I couldn’t comprehend.
“I haven’t. Who else would you choose but me?”
Yes, that’s why he could do this.
Right now, this unmarried Grand Duke had brought a visibly pregnant woman to the New Year’s festival and was riding the most flamboyant sled on the continent with her.
‘What if the baby has blonde hair, what if the eyes are purple……!’
Despite my unspoken anguish, the sled continued onward.
“Oh my god, Cal……”
Perhaps because of me, writhing in embarrassment, Callisto glanced around.
Then, the onlookers quickly averted their gazes like the wind and headed elsewhere.
A generous hand clasped my fur-gloved hand, and a low voice whispered in my ear.
“I thought you wanted me to make it happen.”
“Huh……?”
I asked absentmindedly, then turned to look at him at his following words.
“My twelve-year-old wish.”
The snowy landscape slowly passed by.
His silver hair, backlit by the clear winter sky, sparkled like snowflakes.
As I stared blankly, Callisto smiled, his long eyes curving.
Looking up at his face, I realized that this was his true wish when he was twelve.
‘The winter festival that the young twelve-year-old him wanted to enjoy by inviting the even younger me.’
A smile naturally spread across my lips.
“So, are you having fun?”
“……Very much.”
Callisto’s voice was slow yet firm.
The heating magic stones that filled his pockets were warm, and the wind that brushed against my nose was refreshing.
The baby in my belly moved comfortably.
The ice sled, the first I had ever ridden in both my previous and current life, was quite enjoyable.
I don’t know if it was because it was Callisto’s wish, or because I was with him.
🔹🔹🔹🔹🔹🔹
“How’s the water temperature, Your Highness?”
After returning to Babenberg Castle, Phoebe asked me kindly as she settled me in the bathtub.
“It’s fine.”
“Don’t just say it’s fine. Is it too lukewarm?”
“It’s really fine, Phoebe. The room is almost too warm.”
A hot bath was one of the things forbidden by the physician.
So Phoebe was trying hard to find a water temperature that would warm me up just enough without harming the baby in my belly.
“Let me see your legs. They seem a bit swollen.”
“It’s not really uncomfortable.”
After enjoying a relaxing bath, I dragged my languid body to the dressing table.
Phoebe called in Chacha and Collie to help dry my hair as quickly as possible.
“You need to lie down as soon as possible.”
As everyone’s hands were busy moving, a knock sounded.
―Knock, knock.
Phoebe tilted her head and got up.
“Is dinner here already?”
Callisto had said he would send dinner to my room because I was tired.
However, instead of the dinner maids, Callisto stood behind the open door.
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Translation-(COMPLETED) – Choosing the Baby’s Father From the Following𝐒𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐑𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐍𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐥《⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐》!!
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