Episode 74
‘You should be grateful, Brother.’
So that even when he later realizes his sister’s… premarital situation… he won’t hate his namesake niece/nephew…
‘And please, I beg you, don’t deprive the child of its father.’
I prayed with all my selfish heart.
Soon enough, Ren arrived.
“Here.”
He was carrying an armful of something. Looking closely, it was the star and moon-shaped lights I had requested earlier.
“Wow! Do they work?”
“Of course.”
We went to the nursery, drew the blackout curtains, and tested the lights.
The lights glowing softly in the darkness were just like real stars.
“They’re so pretty! You’re the best, Ren.”
Ren looked down at me, his sapphire eyes capturing the light from the lamps and sparkling like stars.
“After making them, they turned out better than I thought. The other mages said they wanted to make them for their nieces or their own kids. They made a fuss, asking how I came up with the idea.”
I laughed happily at Ren’s words.
Looking at the cute crescent moon light, ideas started bubbling up.
“Can you make smaller ones with even softer light than that? I think it would be pretty to connect them and hang them in a cluster.”
“Hmm… It can be done.”
Ren answered positively, then shrugged his shoulders and laughed.
His smile shone brightly even in the darkness.
“It’s the first time I’ve seen you so proactive.”
It was similar to what Ernst had said.
‘Maybe I should be a bit more careful?’
I was carefully choosing my next words when a large hand touched my cheek.
“I’m glad. Just say anything, Lu. I’ll make all your wishes come true.”
It was the same thing Callisteon had said in front of the craftsmen.
“If the Madam wishes it, there is nothing in this land that cannot be done.” (#Flashback)
His firm fingertips stroked my cheek gently, as if encouraging me.
‘Everyone is so united in their support for me…’
Now, I was terribly afraid of the choice that would inevitably come someday.
Though I felt solemn inside, I pretended otherwise and clapped my hands brightly.
“That’s right, I have another request.”
To lighten the mood, I opened the curtains and left the nursery.
Even squinting from the sudden sunlight, I rummaged through the desk and found the rocking chair blueprint.
I had been too preoccupied the other day to think of it, but I had to show it to Ren while he was here.
“Can the Magic Tower help commercialize this if we develop it?”
“What is this?”
Ren seemed surprised by the unexpected proposal, but after hearing the explanation, he laughed leisurely.
“I won’t be doing the work myself, and it won’t be for free. You know there’s a usage fee for Magic Tower technology, right?”
No, I didn’t.
“How much?”
“On average, about 50%?”
I was startled and asked again.
“As much as 50%?”
He had already reverted to the face of the arrogant Tower Master.
“Products containing Magic Tower technology are all classified as luxury goods. The selling price increases tremendously.”
“But I already arranged for a 10% cut…”
“From whom?”
“From the furniture craftsman.”
He chuckled and held up four fingers.
“Alright, then a special rate of 40%. If we sell a ton to the imperial nobles, the money paid to the Tower won’t be a waste.”
“Then, can the star decorations we talked about earlier be mass-produced?”
When I asked again, a soft laugh escaped him.
“I’d have to discuss that with the glass workers.”
“We can take our time.”
Len rolled up the blueprint and handed it back to me as if there was nothing more to see.
Seizing the moment, I cautiously changed the subject.
“Ren, are you having a hard time at the imperial palace lately?”
I could easily imagine the Empress hounding the blameless Ren, pestering him.
He shrugged his shoulders, his blue cloak swirling as if stirred before settling.
“If it gets annoying, I can just quit. With you not staying at the imperial palace, what reason do I have to remain the Tower Master?”
Of course, the Emperor wouldn’t let Ren go easily, but hearing his light tone, as if it were nothing, was somewhat reassuring.
That’s because I had realized something while reciting the novel’s plot to Helena the previous day.
‘Ren is the character who has deviated the most from the novel’s original flow.’
Therefore, it was safer to extract Ren from the imperial palace before Rurik officially began his attempt to seize the throne.
Unaware of my ulterior motive, Len added.
“His Highness Prince Rurik seems to want to keep you here for the time being. So you probably don’t need to worry him further by saying your health is poor. What do you think?”
“Then, can I tell him there’s been an improvement?”
He nodded.
“Write that in your next letter. He’ll be happy.”
I thanked him again.
“Thank you. If it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t have been able to leave my brother’s side so peacefully.”
“No matter how many times I hear ‘thank you,’ it doesn’t lessen my desire to be by your side right now.”
Len grabbed my hand and gently kissed the back of it.
“But it’s for ‘our‘ baby, so I must endure.”
Thinking of him suffering at the imperial palace for me and the baby, I couldn’t bring myself to retort that it was ‘my‘ baby.
Speechless, I let him hold my hand as we left the room, only to run into Helena.
She blushed as if guilty, even though she had done nothing wrong.
‘I’m sorry, Helena…’
Now, on top of my pregnancy, Helena was burdened with the secret misunderstanding that the Tower Master was the baby’s father.
‘And this while Rurik supports Ernst as my marriage prospect.’
It was a pity, but there was nothing I could do about it immediately, so I just kept my mouth shut.
One Week Later
A few crates arrived from the imperial palace.
“Huh? What are all these?”
Surprised, I opened the letter Rurik had sent along.
My dear Louise,
I am overjoyed to hear your condition has improved.
Please convey my gratitude to the Crown Prince of Flavi for caring for you all this time.
The year’s end is already upon us.
I have prepared some sweets so you may enjoy your time, even if indoors.
Please share them with the staff.
I hope you return healthy in the New Year.
Rurik.
Sweets? Why?
As I tilted my head in confusion, Phoebe opened a crate and let out a gasp.
“Oh my goodness, how could he be so thoughtful! He must have considered that Your Highness might want to participate in Flavi’s Candy Festival!”
“Ah, the Candy Festival…”
I repeated innocently, recalling the diary entry I had read not long ago.
I wonder if there will ever be another day in my life where I laugh this much.
I came to the Flavi Royal Palace.
I attended the New Year’s festival with Ernst, wearing masks.
They say during the festival, if you see someone you like, you can throw candy at them and court them as much as you want!
Even with my mask on, so many people threw candy my way!
Sugar powder seeped into my clothes, making everything sticky, but I have never had a day more joyful than this in my entire life.
So, that was the story.
Ernst, beside me, cut in brightly.
“Are you going this year too? I didn’t expect it since you had morning sickness and were tired for a while, but if you’re okay, I can prepare masks now.”
“Hmm…”
Looking at Phoebe’s sparkling eyes, I asked Ernst in return.
“If we just wear masks, you can come too, right, Erni?”
“Of course, Lu.”
He answered happily. Just then, a commotion came from outside, followed by a knock.
—Knock knock.
Callisteon appeared in the opened doorway.
“Cal, weren’t you supposed to come in the evening?”
I asked, beaming. He approached smoothly and knelt on one knee before me.
“I finished work early. How could I possibly resist wanting to come to you?”
Ernst turned his head away with a wry expression, but Callisteon simply slowly kissed the back of my hand.
His lips still held the chill of the north, as if he had hurried here.
Callisteon stood up nonchalantly and examined the stacked crates.
“What’s with the candy? For the New Year’s festival?”
“Lu wants to attend, so I need to have new masks made,” Ernst answered truthfully.
“Can I request one too?”
At Callisteon’s brazen question, the pretty face of the Flavi Crown Prince wrinkled for once.
“Aren’t you busy at the start of the year, Grand Duke?”
“Wasn’t it the festival where you throw candy at someone you want to court?”
Callisteon tilted his head and asked back.
A strange pressure emanated from him as he firmly crossed his arms over his chest.
“I can’t possibly send Rue to such a festival alone. Even if war breaks out on the northern border, I will guard Rue’s side.”
Callisteon spoke with unnecessary solemnity, but Ernst seemed to take it lightly.
“Suit yourself. I’ll decide the mask designs as I please.”
Callisteon nodded indifferently.
He seemed to think the mask design didn’t matter, but whether things would go as he thought remained to be seen.
