Choosing the Baby’s Father From the Following – Chapter 99

𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟗𝟗

So, that was the reason Callisto had come in such a hurry.

A few days ago, while talking through the communication orb, I had casually mentioned that I had painted a portrait, and he had been restless ever since.

The gist of it was, he wanted to buy the portrait I had just finished.

I laughed, unable to help myself.

“The paint hasn’t even dried properly yet, Cal. Are you telling me you want to see the painting more than you want to see me?”

I wanted to hug him, but because of my belly, I figured we wouldn’t be able to reach each other properly and was about to give up.

Callisto, quickly sensing my thoughts, came behind me and wrapped his arms around my waist.

“That’s absurd. I just thought someone else might snatch it up if I didn’t hurry.”

The man’s body temperature against my back was cool, as always.

For some reason, I felt a sense of relief at that temperature and leaned against his broad chest.

“I’m not selling it to anyone. I’m going to show it to the baby later.”

“That’s a shame.”

His breath tickled my earlobe as he lowered his head, sending shivers down my spine.

We had only met again after a week, but I was needlessly nervous.

Callisto’s palm gently stroked my rounded belly.

“Is our Lou’s…… baby doing well?”

He was preemptively saying ‘our’ baby, knowing I would nag him otherwise.

Dumbfounded, I turned slightly to look up at him.

But the moment I met his blue eyes, sparkling like jewels up close, I froze for a reason I couldn’t quite explain.

The smile disappeared from Callisto’s lips, and he just stared at me.

As I belatedly tried to turn my head away again, a large hand cupped my cheek, stopping me.

“Lou.”

“……Yes?”

Now we were too close.

His breath, so close I could feel it, grew hotter.

His bare hand, ungloved, hesitantly brushed against my lower lip.

I couldn’t pretend not to know what his longing blue eyes desired.

I slowly pursed my lips and kissed his palm, and he suddenly closed the distance between us.

‘Ah……’

I couldn’t bring myself to say anything.

Callisto, without even blinking, just kept looking down at me.

His large palm slowly moved, caressing my cheek, his thick thumb tracing my lips.

All the while, our eyes never left each other.

I just watched as he slowly leaned closer.

I knew what he was going to do, but I couldn’t refuse him.

On the contrary, my tongue felt dry, and I was burning with anticipation.

Just as our lips were about to meet……

—Knock, knock.

A clear knock sounded.

Only then did I remember that Phoebe had gone to fetch the portrait to show him.

Callisto still hadn’t moved away from me, but unlike a moment ago, a smile played on his lips.

“How can I not have expectations when you act like this?”

His low voice sounded as if he was teasing me.

He was definitely referring to the conversation we had in Babenberg.

“You wouldn’t choose anyone but me.”

Callisto had been so confident back then.

As soon as I managed to turn away from him and avoid his gaze, Phoebe’s voice rang out.

“I brought the portrait. May I come in?”

Callisto gently held my shoulder and bent down to kiss my forehead.

It was certainly a far cry from what he had originally intended, but he didn’t seem disappointed at all.

I was so frustrated that I felt like I was the only one feeling the loss.

“You may enter.”

Callisto answered for me.

The door opened, and Phoebe entered with two servants carrying the portrait.

My cheeks were flushed, and I was frantically fanning myself with my hand. There was no way the perceptive maid wouldn’t notice my state.

Phoebe pretended not to know anything and naturally addressed Callisto.

“Look, Your Grace. Isn’t she absolutely beautiful?”

Callisto didn’t answer.

He just stared blankly at the painting for a while, then asked me,

“Tell me how much it is, Lou. If it’s really not possible, can I have it replicated?”

“……No.”

Perhaps I refused because I was annoyed by his attitude a moment ago.

Callisto grinned, as if he had expected it.

“When we get married, we’ll paint a portrait of us as a couple, and when the baby is born, we’ll paint a family portrait.”

The words ‘with me’ were omitted, but there was no one in the room who wouldn’t understand their implication.

The strange atmosphere from earlier still lingered around me, and I couldn’t bring myself to coldly refute his words, saying it was my business.

“Lou.”

I looked at him with displeasure, but Callisto whined playfully.

“Let me have it replicated, please?”

“……I said no.”

After saying that, I fled the room as if running away.

Leaving him alone in my room was a foolish act that wouldn’t help anything, but I did it anyway.

🔹🔹🔹🔹🔹🔹

One month later, at the Imperial Palace.

Several weeks had passed since the coronation ceremony, but the new Emperor’s tasks only seemed to multiply endlessly.

The duty Lurik found particularly burdensome was meeting with the nobles.

The Empire, with its long history, had many nobles, and each of them wanted to maintain their own distinct position and attitude.

However, the nobles who had helped Lurik ascend to the throne, those who had turned a blind eye, and even those who doubted his legitimacy and hid daggers behind their tongues, all eventually lined up in front of the Imperial Palace, requesting an audience with the new Emperor.

“How many are left?”

Lurik asked the Chief Attendant, and the answer came immediately.

“Seven, Your Majesty.”

‘It’s endless.’

He swallowed the words down with difficulty.

He wanted to spare even half a day to visit his ailing sister, but it seemed like he would never have the time.

The Chief Attendant whispered,

“Viscount Cellas’ father made his fortune in trade and became a Viscount by marrying into the Cellas family.”

Naturally, the Chief Attendant knew that Lurik had spent most of his life on the battlefield.

Therefore, before the new Emperor met with an unfamiliar noble, he would recite brief information about them.

It was a great help to Lurik.

Just then, Helena appeared from behind the screen.

“Furthermore, the Viscountess is acquainted with Her Highness Louise’s maid. The Cellas family is friendly towards Your Majesty, so remembering their name should suffice.”

The Chief Attendant flinched subtly.

Just half a year ago, she was just a monastery maid.

In his eyes, Helena was suspiciously knowledgeable and provided accurate advice to the Emperor.

Lurik chuckled at the Chief Attendant’s surprised expression.

‘At this rate, I won’t be able to hide the prophetic dream story for long.’

Helena hadn’t yet been granted any official position, but she worked as diligently as the new Emperor, albeit in a place hidden from others.

As soon as Helena disappeared again, the Viscount appeared and bowed his head.

“Congratulations on your coronation, Your Majesty.”

His attendant carefully carried something wrapped in velvet, placed it at Lurik’s feet, and unwrapped it.

“This is a small token of our well wishes for Your Majesty’s reign. Please accept it.”

The Viscount’s shoulders trembled, even though he was simply offering a gift.

Considering Lurik’s nicknames, it was understandable.

The Emperor’s Dog, Mad Dog, the Emperor’s Sword, War Demon, Sword God, God of War……

Even the most favorable of these, ‘God of War,’ was enough to instill fear in ordinary people.

Lurik looked down at Viscount Cellas and forced a smile.

“Thank you. I’ve often heard Cellas’ name from my sister. Please give my regards to your wife as well.”

The Viscount bowed his head repeatedly and continued in a trembling voice,

“I-It is an honor to be remembered. My family will remain loyal for generations to come.”

Lurik maintained his forced smile until the Viscount disappeared, but it was uncertain whether the Viscount recognized it as a smile.

🔹🔹🔹🔹🔹🔹

Lurik was able to get a brief respite only after dealing with the remaining six people.

During his break, he dismissed the Chief Attendant and buried his head in Helena’s neck.

“Have you thought about it?”

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