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nTheor had no intention of leaving the garden.

nHe really liked the wooden sword he received as a gift, so he played with it until the sun went down.

nBlynn was also excited and ran around the garden.

nTrained as a hunting dog, Blynn who saw Theor wielding a sword probably thought he was hunting.

nEvery time Theor swung his wooden sword, Blynn jumped up, wagging its tail.

nAstelle opened the window and called Theor.

n“Theor, you should stop now and get ready for dinner.”

n“Can’t I play a little more?”

nSomehow Theor looked like a puppy when he begged.

nBlynn, who followed him, also looked up at Astelle and lowered its tail.

n‘They both look alike.’

nHolding back her laughter, Astelle said, “Then, after dinner, you can play a little more before taking a bath.”

n“Yes!”

nTheor immediately recovered his spirits and quickly ran to his room holding his wooden sword.

nKaizen, who was next to her, looked at him and smiled.

n“He looks just like me.”

n“……”

nAstelle didn’t say anything. Sooner or later Theor becomes the Crown Prince and one day the Emperor.

nIn fact, if he wants to become the monarch of the empire, he better have a ruthless and relentless personality like Kaizen.

nStill, Astelle didn’t want Theor to grow up like Kaizen or his grandfather, Emperor Gilbert.

nPutting the bitter thoughts aside, Astelle changed the subject.

n“By the way, how about the Theor’s teacher?”

nAt that word, Kaizen’s face hardened in an instant.

n“Oh, yeah. As you wish, I leave it to Sir Seibel.”

n“If you don’t like Sir Seibel, I will just ask my maternal grandfather.”

nWhen she lived in the countryside, she couldn’t even dream of finding a tutor.

nBecause it was so remote, there were no schools or educational institutions to send children to.

nAll this time, Astelle herself had taught Theor basic education, and would ask her grandfather to teach him swordsmanship when the time came.

nAnyway, anyone can teach basic swordsmanship if they know the basic posture.

n“No, do whatever you want. You can leave it to Sir Seibel.”

nWhen Astelle turned to look at him, he slowly avoided her gaze.

n“He is a good knight.”

nKaizen suddenly changed his words.

nThen why did he seem to dislike Sir Seibel at that time?

n“……it made me angry to see a young nobleman so close to you.”

nAstelle managed to hide her expression, but inside, she was very surprised.

nKaizen was now honest in saying that he was jealous.

nShe was so bewildered that she almost opened her mouth and looked at him blankly.

n“Your Majesty, what……”

nKaizen turned and looked directly at Astelle.

n“I’m jealous to see you with a man other than me.”

n“……”

nBut I think I talked to Vellian more often.

nIs he an exception?

nAs if he had read Astelle’s mind, Kaizen muttered, “A guy like Vellian is fine.”

nAstelle looked out at the window to calm her embarrassment.

nI don’t know why Kaizen said something like that.

nAs if we really were a couple or lovers.

nBut we are not in that kind of relationship.

nIt’s just a contractual relationship.

n“Now that I am the Empress, I will have to visit other nobles in the future. If it makes you uncomfortable, I will limit my participation in social events as much as possible.”

nAstelle deliberately spoke more coldly.

nShe wanted to draw a clearer line so Kaizen would not be mistaken.

nKaizen’s eyes turned cold at Astelle’s words. The embarrassing atmosphere disappeared like smoke in an instant.

nBut rather than getting angry, Kaizen said with sad eyes, “I know. I have no right to interfere with anyone you do anything with.”

n“……”

n“I’m sorry.”

nHe turned around before Astelle could answer.

nSuch an uncomfortable relationship has been continuing since they got married.

nKaizen continued to be kind to Astelle, but she did not even accept his heart.

nKaizen was hurt every time by Astelle’s cold attitude.

n‘It can’t be helped.’

nAstelle stopped thinking about useless things. Now was the time for her to focus on real problems.

n“Hannah.”

nShe opened the door and called Hannah.

n“Tell Sir Lyndon to keep a closer eye on the Marquis of Croychen. In particular, keep an eye on Lady Florin.”

nWhen Florin finds out that Astelle has not kept her promise, she will reveal the secret letter to the public in an attempt to repay her.

nThus, Astelle had to keep an eye on Florin’s movements.

n***

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nTwo days later the Marchioness of Croychen was sentenced.

nShe was exiled to the North.

nHer husband, the Marquis of Croychen, lost his position as Minister of State and more than half of his new estate.

nThe nanny comforted Florin, who was in shock.

n“Anyway, the worst has been avoided.”

n“Have I escaped the worst?” Florin asked sharply.

nThe nanny hesitated and continued, “Miss, your mother tried to kill the empress.”

n“……”

nFlorin knew.

nThat this is a lenient punishment. She was told that the dressing room owner and the maid who helped her mother were executed.

nBut Florin couldn’t accept it.

nDue to this incident, the Croychen family lost everything they had built up.

nIf Florin’s own life continues like this, she and her family will be pushed back.

nFlorin was furious to think this all happened because of her stupid mother.

nHowever, it was Astelle’s betrayal that made her the angriest.

n‘You’re not keeping your promise.’

nDo you think that you can survive even if your family collapses because you have a prince? Just because the emperor loves you, you think you will be all right?

n‘Let’s see how it goes.’

nFlorin had nothing more to lose anyway.

nEven if the duke’s secret letter is revealed, she will not be at a disadvantage.

nFlorin called the servant to give direct orders.

nThis servant was the one who had kidnapped the servant of the duke.

nLeaving him with the secret letter, Florin said, “Send this secret letter to the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Imperial Palace. You have to do it quietly without anyone knowing.”

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n***

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nAs soon as Astelle received the report, she headed to the place where the emperor conducted government affairs.

nThe knights and nobles in the hallway bowed in surprise when they found her.

nIt has been several days since she became the empress, but it was her first visit to the emperor’s palace.

nIt was also the first time since the wedding that she appeared in front of the nobles.

nAstelle stood in front of the emperor’s office as she received the gaze of the officials.

n“I want to see His Majesty the Emperor.”

nA guard knight announced her arrival to the emperor.

nThe door opened right away.

nThe emperor and several ministers had gathered in the office.

nEveryone had a surprised face at Astelle’s sudden visit.

n“I greet you, Your Majesty.”

nAstelle politely bowed to Kaizen, then lowered her head and made a sad voice, “Your Majesty, I came here to complain about the absurd accusations against my father.”

nAll of the gathered ministers looked at the empress with bewildered eyes.

nVellian, who was next to the emperor, was also staring blankly at Astelle.

nIt was only half an hour ago that the duke’s secret letter was discovered.

nAn Interior Ministry official sent it to the emperor who was in a meeting. Because of the secret letter, the cabinet meeting quickly turned into a heated atmosphere.

nThe secret letter was clearly stamped with the seal of the Duke of Reston.

nNot long ago, the duke’s daughter became the empress, and now a letter was discovered which was clearly proof that he had plotted treason.

n“What do you mean?”

n“Your Majesty, my father is a man of great loyalty.”

n“……”

nEven Kaizen looked bewildered at her words.

nSo did the other people who attended the meeting.

nVellian almost asked if she was joking.

nBut Astelle was very serious.

n“Neither do I think this is a letter from the Duke of Reston. If you check the seal closely, the truth will be revealed.”

nKaizen had one of the servants bring documents from the imperial palace archives.

nIt was a valuable document reporting inheritance and succession of titles.

nSuch a document must be stamped with the seal of the house owner.

nThe seal of the family was as precious as the seal of the emperor.

nIt cannot be faked.

nThe official in charge of the document carefully compared the seal on the document with the seal on the secret letter.

nThe official who looked at the document for a long time reported to the emperor, “The seal is different.”

nThose who were watching were a little disappointed.

nSome sighed silently.

nAstelle stood still and listened to the results with a grim face.

nShe then asked Vellian, “Who brought the anonymous accusation?”

n“We don’t know the identity of the accuser. It’s because the letter was sent anonymously……”

nVellian realized that Astelle was trying to increase his workload.

nAt first glance, it was clear that this was the work of a noble who hated the duke.

nMost of the nobles who hated the duke were loyal servants to the emperor.

n‘Did Astelle purposely plan this to get her father to regain his position?’

nGiven the current situation, this was reasonable suspicion.

nPerhaps the ministers who were watching also thought so, they were looking at the empress with cold eyes.

nWithout caring about others’ eyes, Astelle asked Kaizen, “I would like you to call Sir Lyndon.”

nSoon after, Lyndon entered the office with an expression as if he had expected this to happen.

nAstelle asked him, “Did you catch the person who brought the anonymous letter?”

n“Yes, Your Majesty.”

nLyndon bowed politely and made sure the emperor and the other ministers could hear his voice clearly.

n“He is a servant of the Marquis of Croychen.”

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