CFCF 36

Episode 36

“Thank you, Brother.”

I expressed my gratitude sincerely.
Since Rurik was also necessary for today’s plan anyway, this suited me perfectly.

“It’s been hard to see you lately, Louise.”

I was on my way to the banquet hall with Rurik when I stopped short, startled by Crown Prince Hart suddenly acting familiar.
“My apologies, Your Highness the Crown Prince.”
Whether he was the Crown Prince or not, I honestly had no interest in him whatsoever.
Even though he was a villain I created, Hart was so incompetent that he was the first to die when Rurik went berserk.
‘That’s why the Emperor couldn’t bring himself to kill the berserk Rurik and instead imprisoned him in a monastery.’
Because he only had one son left.
Anyway, having encountered a member of the imperial family, it was time to execute my plan.

“Cough, cough. Have you been well?”

Hart laughed, his blood-red eyes glinting.

“It’s only the beginning of autumn, and you already have a cold? It feels strange to receive a question about health from you.”

Although my plan was unfolding smoothly, hearing the Crown Prince’s words, which seemed to belittle me, strangely hurt my feelings.
He laughed just like a villain, obvious to anyone.

“Well, I suppose we should be grateful the Grand Duke has such… unique taste.”

I was so surprised I even forgot to cough for a moment.
‘For my plan to work, I can’t have others provoking Rurik like this first…!’
Just then, Ernst intervened.
“Your Highness the Crown Prince, Your Highness the Second Prince.”

“You’re here, Ernst. If you’re going to have an audience with His Majesty, shall we go together?”

Fortunately, Hart’s attention was quickly stolen by Ernst.
However, Rurik’s expression didn’t improve much even after Ernst disappeared with the ‘bomb’.

“Is the Grand Duke also planning to attend the Thanksgiving Festival?”

I immediately shook my head at Rurik’s question.

“Cough! No, I haven’t heard anything like that.”

Rurik followed up, as if setting a trap.

“Do you contact the Grand Duke often? I believe he frequently sends messenger orbs.”

“Lord Ren sends them more often.”

I answered smilingly to show that my relationship with Callisteon wasn’t special, but it only served to further furrow Rurik’s brow.

“I didn’t know you were so close with the Magic Tower Lord either.”

I immediately switched tactics to garner sympathy.

“They are all precious people who helped me in the lonely Academy. Cough, cough!”

According to the diary, Ernst was the only one who had properly helped Louise so far, but it was clear the other two also showed considerable promise for the future.
Rurik reluctantly patted my back.

“Look at this, you’ve even started coughing since coming outside.”

I tried hard to ignore my prickling conscience and went to sit in my assigned seat.

The incompetent Crown Prince Hart was unusually talkative today.

“Brother, you’ve rested for about a month now, isn’t your body getting restless?”

His voice was unnecessarily loud, drawing the attention of everyone nearby to us at once.
‘The imperial family’s dysfunctional siblings are probably already eager to know how they stab and poke each other, why is he like this?’
Fortunately, Rurik didn’t seem the type to react to every one of his provocations.

“Yes, well… I pass the time training the knight order at the training grounds.”

I was too busy anxiously watching Rurik’s reaction, but the foolish Crown Prince kept picking a fight.

“A body that’s roamed battlefields for years won’t be satisfied with just knight order training.”

Birds of a feather flock together, as the Crown Princess joined in.

“Why? Is there another battlefield that might catch Your Highness the Second Prince’s eye?”

My heart sank as I looked at the Crown Prince and his wife.
Rurik had returned to the palace less than a month ago after a three-year war.
‘Do they see people as nothing but war machines?’
I was utterly appalled but couldn’t argue back, only letting out timid coughs.

“Cough, cough!”

Hart answered his wife nonchalantly.

“That’s not it. Since Rurik ended the war so neatly, the borders are peaceful for once.”

Phew, I was inwardly relieved.
The Empress, sitting somewhat apart, suddenly spoke.
It seemed she had been listening to our entire conversation.

“But now that we hold the entire upper reaches of the Dunez River, the plains of Whitnil are quite tempting. If we could incorporate that land into the Empire, the homeless Zedelren would naturally follow.”

That was bad enough, but Hart insistently brought the previous topic back.

“The Grand Duke of Babenberg is putting considerable effort into our youngest. If our youngest were to marry, Rurik would be unbearably lonely.”

“But I…!”

It was the moment I could no longer hold back and was about to say something in retort.
A black shadow coiled around the pupils of Rurik, who was sitting right beside me.

“Brother.”

Startled, I called out to Rurik and grabbed one of his hands.
And I realized this very moment was the opportunity to both suppress the signs of Rurik’s rampage and execute my planned act.

“Cough, COUGH!”

So, I coughed loudly and rose from my seat.

“My apologies, but I feel terribly unwell….”

Rurik’s angry gaze finally shifted from Hart to me.

“Louise?”

“Cough! I’d like to return to the detached palace….”

It took a bit of courage to collapse right there.
‘I’m pregnant, after all.’
But who is my brother?

“Louise!”

Rurik lifted me into his arms before my body could even touch the floor and immediately asked the Emperor for permission.

“I apologize for spoiling a good day, Your Majesty. If you permit, I shall take Louise to the detached palace….”

“Go ahead.”

After the Emperor’s brief acceptance, all I had to do was endure my morning sickness in my brother’s shaking arms.

“Bring the palace physician!”

Lying in bed pretending to be unconscious and listening to Rurik’s voice made my blood run cold.
Phoebe also whispered beside me.

“His Highness Rurik is too angry. If Dr. Zita gets startled and makes a mistake…”

But there are still no visible signs of pregnancy.
‘For the physician, nothing could be more difficult than revealing my pregnancy to Rurik.’
In that case, the poor Dr. Zita absolutely had to do well today.
To help him somehow, I subtly pretended to regain consciousness, stirring slightly.
Noticing this, Phoebe promptly asked in a loud voice.

“Oh my, Your Highness! Are you waking up?”

Rurik rushed over.

“Lou! You brat, why on earth are you like this…?”

…Worrying me so much.
He probably wanted to say that.
But instead of saying that, Rurik stroked my cheek.

“Are you alright?”

His voice, which had been highly agitated, was now lowered as much as possible for me.
I fluttered my eyelids feigning weakness and grabbed his large hand.
I rubbed the back of his hand, hoping he would calm down, hoping he would break free from the demon sword’s influence.

“I’m sorry, Brother… Cough!”

Soon, Zita from the detached palace appeared, his face pale.
Succeeding in examining me with trembling hands right in front of Rurik, he said,

“Since rest isn’t helping and the cold symptoms are worsening… I am quite concerned.”

“Did you prescribe the medicine correctly?!”

Rurik flared up immediately, but it seemed the attending physician had also been diligently seeking a way out.

“Of course, Your Highness. However, I believe you mentioned stopping by Babenberg’s Heim during your monastery trip?”

“…That’s true.”

Zita appropriately hardened his expression.

“According to news I heard from Academy professors, pneumonia has been epidemic lately in southern Babenberg. As you’ve been near that area, it would be best to be extremely cautious for the time being.”

Rurik’s face instantly turned pale.

“Pneumonia?!”

Zita embarrassment waved his hands.

“I only mentioned it as a precaution! I didn’t mean that Her Highness the Princess has contracted pneumonia immediately.”

When Rurik suddenly grabbed his sword hilt, we all had to hold our breaths.
He growled.

“They say words can become reality. How dare you utter such ominous words about the Princess?”

Startled, I reached out and grabbed Rurik’s wrist.

“Brother… Cough! Your voice is too loud, my head is ringing.”

He flinched and withdrew his sharp gaze.

“…Sorry.”