Episode 109
Just as Callisteon was the first to approach the doorway, one of the Babenberg Knight-Captains appeared and hastily knelt.
“My apologies, Your Excellency. The Imperial Guards are all refusing to speak…”
Before Callisteon could even ask him anything, a chilling voice rang out.
“Duke, what is the meaning of this here?”
Good heavens, it was Rurick.
Helena’s eyes widened as if they were about to pop out, then she quickly handed the baby to me and stood up.
“Your Majesty, I was just about to return…”
“Waaah…”
Perhaps because of the sudden oppressive atmosphere, Frilis began to cry.
Pheobe frantically gestured for me to hide the baby, but a flimsy bed curtain could never deceive Rurick’s eyes.
In the end, I got up from the bed, holding Frilly in my arms.
“Brother, it’s been a long time… since I’ve seen you.”
At that moment, Callisteon knelt.
He was the head of a sovereign state, on friendly terms with the Empire but not a vassal of the Emperor.
The Empire even owed him a debt for entrusting him with the defense of the northeast.
No one had expected Callisteon to take such a humble posture, so everyone froze.
He spoke seriously in an unadorned voice.
“It was never my intention to hide it for so long. I dare not even ask for forgiveness, but for the woman I love and our child, I will spare nothing, including my own life.”
The sound of Rurick grinding his teeth was audible, but Callisteon flinched not at all and continued.
“I seek appropriate punishment, Your Imperial Majesty.”
He acted as if he had completely forgotten the other two men who had persistently claimed to be the father.
“Th-this…”
As Rurick’s handsome face contorted with rage, Helena knelt before I could.
“Your Majesty, I! I knew all about it. I’ve known since the two of them came to the convent last year. Her Highness Louise has not yet recovered her health. I too failed in my duties as an intermediary, so please, I beg for your magnanimity…”
Because of the baby in my arms, I couldn’t kneel like Callisteon or Helena.
No, I shouldn’t have. Recalling how Louise, facing death, had staked her very fate to have the child of the man she loved in the past, it simply wasn’t right.
Rurick clearly loved and worried about Louise, but Louise was his sister, not his property.
Louise had made her own choice, and that was not something she needed to apologize for to anyone, not even to Rurick.
And now, I too, like Louise, had chosen someone, and I would protect that decision and my baby.
So, holding Frilis precious in my embrace, I approached Rurick and only bowed my head slightly.
“Using lies repeatedly to deceive you, Brother, was wrong. I understand if you cannot forgive me. But… I did it to save the baby. I was afraid you wouldn’t allow the birth. I was afraid you wouldn’t forgive the man I love.”
Rurick finally seemed to regain his composure and spoke coldly.
“Fortunately, it seems you are prepared for the fact that you may not be forgiven.”
Then, without even a glance at Frilis, he said to Callisteon,
“You dared to impregnate an unwed Imperial Princess on a whim? A child born out of wedlock? Is that the claim the Grand Duke is making?”
On a whim? As if.
The fact that I didn’t know Louise’s past clearly was so utterly frustrating.
‘It must, it must have been a choice made out of love.’
But Callisteon did not make excuses.
“…That is correct, Your Majesty.”
Rurick spoke again, his face hardened as if chewing his words.
“To my knowledge, the Grand Duke is twenty-six years old. If you had sent a letter of proposal to my sister even once a year after coming of age, it would have been at least five times. Yet, you never did so once. Is that also correct?”
“But back then…!”
Back then, it was because Louise was fated to die. Because Louise was anxious.
‘It’s clear he didn’t send one for that reason…’
But Rurick sharply cut off my words.
“I did not grant you permission to speak.”
Callisteon affirmed once more.
“That is true. I have no excuses to make, and I admit my fault.”
“Then, you will also admit that this insolent and reckless act towards an Imperial Princess of the Empire, in my judgment, constitutes a grave transgression that could potentially incite an international dispute.”
Rurick was speaking of war.
In the room, no sound could be heard except for Frilly’s soft whimpering, not even breathing.
My brother finally declared,
“As of this moment, Brentani severs all exchanges with the Duchy of Babenberg and bans all those of direct Babenberg lineage from entering the Empire. I have no wish to behead a father before his newborn infant’s eyes, so depart with haste.”
“Brother, but…”
As I tried to persuade Rurick somehow, Callisteon suddenly spoke.
“A fitting judgment. However, I will take my woman and my child with me. Though I cannot invite you, I intend to hold a grand wedding ceremony all the way to the Imperial City…”
“I forbid it.”
Rurick coldly cut him off.
“The decree of expulsion applies only to you, Duke. My sister and her child cannot go anywhere. Because, my sister and the Grand Duke are…”
His voice was fierce, yet at the same time, each word was slow, as if being chewed and spat out multiple times.
“…are they not, in fact, nothing to each other? Am I wrong?”
I realized that this time, it was my turn not to yield to anyone, and I stepped in front of Rurick.
Then, I knelt before the kneeling Callisteon.
Not towards my brother, but towards my lover.
My heart felt torn to shreds seeing Callisteon’s expression of such agony.
In early pregnancy, back when we could have eloped unnoticed if only we had married, it was I who had inevitably stopped him when he insisted on proposing immediately.
Holding back my tears, I asked,
“Carl, will you grant me one last request?”
If we were to be separated, even if not for long, I didn’t want to be remembered crying.
It would only hurt him more.
Callisteon shook his head before even hearing my words.
“I cannot leave without you.”
But if I remained silent, the outcome of what was to come was all too clear.
Both were master swordsmen of the continent, matched in skill, but currently, Callisteon’s forces held the advantage.
Rurick wouldn’t have brought a horde of knights just to visit his convalescing sister.
In contrast, since the last attack by the Damiani family, the Babenberg Knight-Order had never even left this place.
Holding Frilis, I pressed my lips to Callisteon’s ear and whispered,
“I promise. I will calm my brother’s anger, and I will return to you. I will come back. I promise. Okay?”
He didn’t answer.
Choking up, I poured out the confession I had cherished and saved.
“I love you, Carl.”
Please, let Carl understand that this wasn’t just words to persuade him, but my true feelings.
“Please, please don’t harm my brother.”
As I stood up again, a blue gaze met mine directly.
He rose slightly and kissed my lips briefly, regardless of whether the Emperor saw.
I shuddered briefly, regretting the coolness of his body temperature moving away from me.
Callisteon whispered softly,
“One month. I cannot wait longer than that.”
I nodded and let him hold Frilly for the last time.
Callisteon gently soothed the whimpering baby and kissed her forehead.
“See you soon, my child.”
Only then did he rise from his spot.
Rurick glared at Callisteon as if his gaze alone could strike him dead.
Yet, Callisteon received my brother’s gaze indifferently and gave a slight bow.
Then, he opened a temporary gate and left instantly, leading the Babenberg Knight-Order away.
As if he knew that looking back at me even once would make it impossible to leave, he never did.
I was left alone before my ill-tempered brother, who seemed to want to grind his teeth through my lover.
Without the Grand Duke to protect me, without the Tower Lord, without a friend.
Left with a powerless maid, a nanny, and a baby.
