Episode 47
“What? You haven’t even confirmed the location yet!”
“That’s exactly why it should be here. I can’t stand the thought of you staying in just any unsecured hotel either.”
Callisteon said bitterly, then picked up the communication orb and turned it this way and that.
“Look. It should be quite nice once the renovations are done. It’s by the lake, so the air and scenery are good, and any external approach is very visible.”
His face disappeared, replaced by a view of the surroundings.
The sky was blue, and not far off was a beautiful lake, just as he had said.
I finally grasped the reality that Callisteon had left his own territory and was in Flavi to renovate a hotel.
“Weren’t you busy, Karl? What about Babenberg?”
The communication orb, which had been showing the scenery, shifted back to Callisteon.
Now that I thought about it, the heavy fur that always adorned his shoulders was missing.
As Callisteon shrugged, the thin hem of his cloak fluttered.
“Preparing a place for you is the most urgent matter. I had no attachment to that warm territory, but if I’d known it would come to this, I should have bought an island in the southern Empire.”
I was speechless for a moment before replying.
“Um, well, Sister Chirilla told me something… Big Brother is tracking your movements.”
“Why?”
“Well… It seems he’s looking into the parts related to me.”
He tilted his head slightly, as if pondering.
Then, raising one eyebrow, he continued.
“No, I mean, why do you think the Second Princess told you that fact?”
“That is…”
It felt awkward to convey another woman’s affections to a potential father of my child, so I hesitated. Callisteon cut me off and interjected.
“Can you trust the Second Princess? She’s on the Crown Prince’s side. She’s the type whose inside and outside are different, who prioritizes her own benefit above all else in the world. Don’t get close to her, Ru.”
He wasn’t wrong.
As I sighed, unable to deny it, he added.
“Frankly, I have no reason to hide what I’m doing from the Crown Prince, but if it worries you, I’ll be careful.”
Finally feeling a bit relieved, I nodded.
“You must be careful. We can’t let it be discovered that I plan to go there for convalescence.”
Then I remembered and whispered softly.
“Oh, and thank you for the flowers. The room was so bright when I woke up this morning.”
“You said you couldn’t even take walks in the garden.”
callisteon said that, then slightly reddened under his eyes.
“I miss you, Ru.”
The sincerity that sprang from his lips was weighty.
‘Think good thoughts, think good thoughts…’
I tried hard to brainwash myself that this perfect man was just one of three candidates for the baby’s father.
But despite my efforts, Callisteon continued in a serious voice.
“I don’t care if it’s Flavi or anywhere else, just get yourself to a location with an unofficial gate soon.”
“I’m trying.”
He glanced around, then subtly kissed his palm and sent the gesture toward me.
My chest tingled, and I held my breath. Callisteon’s long, narrow eyes faintly furrowed.
“Are you just going to receive it?”
I felt my ears burning, but that wretched Archduke wouldn’t budge until he got a response.
As I closed my eyes tightly and sent back a hand kiss, his peach-colored smile remained firmly fixed on me.
Then, he mouthed the words silently.
“…I want to touch you.”
Even though it wasn’t an audible voice, the impact of those words pierced straight to my heart.
Flustered, I ended up dropping the communication orb on the floor.
—Thud.
A dull sound echoed, and the connection severed.
“Whew.”
It was probably for the best.
It might have been the best thing I’d done in the past few days.
‘If it had continued, I don’t know what answer I might have given Callisteon.’
How much time had passed?
Phoebe came rushing in, making a fuss.
“Your Highness, Lord Ren has formally entered the palace.”
It seemed the new sword was complete.
“You’re saying a new sword has finally been completed?”
The Empress stormed in as soon as the Magic Tower Master left.
The Emperor looked down at her, shaking his head as if annoyed, yet he thrust the impossibly beautiful sword right before her eyes.
“Good heavens… The entire hilt is made of magic stone? And you wouldn’t even bestow a proper sword upon your firstborn!”
The Emperor clicked his tongue at her greed.
“It’s just flashy on the outside, no different from a fake. To one who once possessed the true demonic sword, it’s just a pretty shell.”
“If it has no effect, won’t it be useless for territorial expansion?”
The Emperor replied with considerable firmness.
“Does the Empress truly believe that the Second Prince’s numerous victories were solely due to the demonic sword?”
“Does Your Majesty now wish to praise him, claiming it was all that child’s own ability?”
At the Empress’s sharp question, the Emperor slowly ran his fingers over the glittering sword hilt.
“If the Second Prince achieves victory with this sword as well, then I will do so.”
The Empress scanned her husband with a suspicious look.
“Have you made your decision? The Crown Prince looked into the matter of the Babenberg Archduke, and it seems he’s fallen for that Louise creature far more than expected.”
The Emperor asked nonchalantly.
“…Is that so?”
“Yes. They say the Babenberg merchant guild’s shops in the city always have gifts prepared for Louise, or something? He’s more romantic than he looks, isn’t he?”
As he smiled, the Empress proposed.
“We must ensure Louise doesn’t give him any sense of security. This is our chance to finally get rid of that unjust defense cost.”
“Unjust defense cost…”
It was an absurd thing for anyone to hear.
And for good reason; the defense costs Babenberg charged the Empire were legitimate.
Because they erected barriers and provided protection all the way to the Empire’s northeastern border, which wasn’t even their own territory.
But the Empress went a step further.
“I’ll make sure a rumor reaches the King of Flavi’s ears that Louise is looking for a husband.”
The Emperor’s eyebrows twitched in surprise. The Empress explained.
“If Flavi proposes first, the Archduke won’t be able to wait any longer. Since we’re becoming family anyway, how about requesting they use the imperial calendar?”
Asking them to use the imperial calendar.
That was a demand that significantly infringed upon Babenberg’s sovereignty.
“Hmm…”
The Emperor turned his head with an expression of not wanting to answer further.
“It seems the youngest has been suffering from poor health ever since returning from Babenberg.”
“I heard about that too, but no one dies from a mere ailment. However, as the Archduke gets older, he might seek a healthy woman for an heir, so we must hurry.”
The Empress’s voice was resolute.
The Emperor finally declared solemnly.
“During the Foundation Day ceremony, I will bestow this sword upon the Second Prince, along with the title of Duke of Ostia.”
The Empress immediately asked sensitively.
“Only now?”
“It would be more strange to have postponed it until now. Who would follow responsibility without reward?”
The title of Duke of Ostia was a hereditary title traditionally given to the Emperor’s second son upon reaching adulthood, but it was not inherited by the next generation.
In short, when the Emperor changed, it had to be immediately returned and bestowed upon the new Emperor’s second son.
The Empress still seemed displeased, but the Emperor continued.
“Along with Ostia, I will bestow the territory of Signac.”
“Two places at once?”
As the Empress’s eyes widened, the Emperor spoke with a pitying expression.
“Signac is a barren northern territory. For me, it’s nothing but a headache, but the Second Prince won’t refuse it just because of its proximity to Babenberg. He’ll know Louise will eventually marry there. So, don’t add unnecessary nonsense.”
Only then did she glance at the demonic sword with a somewhat pleased expression and say.
“Please do not forget our Cyril’s sacrifice. Having her first love stolen by a half-sibling, how heartbroken she must be.”
The Emperor sighed.
“If you feel so sorry for her, then find her a good match yourself.”
“The sword is finished, Lou.”
Ren came to find me immediately after his audience with the Emperor and told me.
It had been exactly a fortnight since I asked him to hurry.
“Thank you, Ren…”
I spoke gratefully, but the amethyst eyes facing me were clouded with worry.
“As I said before, the new sword is different from ‘Velih’. His Majesty the Emperor intends to bestow it upon His Highness the Second Prince during the Foundation Day ceremony.”
“Then we must wait until the Foundation Day? I’m about to enter my fifth month of pregnancy soon…”
Ren explained with a serious face.
“As a reward for his last victory, they say he will bestow a title upon His Highness the Second Prince at this Foundation Day commemorative ceremony.”
“Really?”
My eyes widened at the unexpected news.
‘That didn’t happen in the novel, what’s going on?’
Perhaps the Emperor was making an effort to send Rurik to a new battlefield.
While I was pondering the Emperor’s ulterior motives, Ren continued.
“If you don’t participate in the title bestowal ceremony, citing poor health, the rumors about you being ill will spread like wildfire.”
