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n“What do you mean?”

nThe Marquis of Carlenberg asked in bewilderment.

nTheor put down the brush and looked up at the marquis with clear eyes, and asked, “Marriage is for people who love each other, right? So, did my mom also love His Majesty in the past?”

n“……”

nThe marquis could not find the answer to the young Theor’s logical question.

n‘What should I answer?’

nHe will know the truth someday, but the marquis couldn’t tell him everything right now.

nThe marquis also couldn’t say that Astelle didn’t love the emperor in the past, or Theor would ask why his mother married someone she didn’t love.

nActually, there is no answer to that question.

nThe marquis sighed and spoke frankly, “Yes, Astelle used to love His Majesty.”

nAs a young girl, Astelle was very fond of Kaizen.

nThe letters sent by his granddaughter in cute handwriting always contained Kaizen’s stories.

nWhat did the crown prince say and what gift did he give.

nThere were many other stories similar to those.

nEven then, the Marquis of Carlenberg did not like Kaizen very much.

nHe had been deeply displeased that cute Astelle had married the grandson of the emperor he had served–Emperor Gilbert–who had dishonorably kicked him out.

nAnd although he had only seen him a few times when he was young, he found that Kaizen’s appearance was very similar to that of his grandfather.

nThe marquis, who knew the character of the former emperor well, had a slightly ominous feeling since then.

nStill, looking at Astelle’s letter, they seemed to get along well, so he thought it would be different from what he was worried about.

nIn the end, it turned out like this.

n‘……I should have stopped the engagement first.’

nBut he couldn’t break the engagement that had already been set.

nAt the time, Astelle was the most precious, honorable young noble lady in the empire.

nEveryone thought it was reasonable for Astelle to be the crown prince’s fiancée.

nThe marquis shook off old memories and concluded the story.

n“That’s why the two of them married a long time ago and then you were born.”

n“I see……”

nFortunately, Theor seemed to believe his story.

nTheor looked down at his painting for a moment, then tilted his head.

n“But why my mom hates His Majesty now?”

n“That’s not true.”

nThe marquis hurriedly denied it, “Your mother doesn’t like him very much, but she doesn’t hate him.”

n“Really? Did my mom say that?”

n“Yes.”

nOf course, Astelle hated Kaizen very much now, but he couldn’t be so honest with the young Theor.

nThe marquis managed to convince Theor this time as well.

nHe felt very fortunate that Theor was still young.

nHe was just worried about how he would answer this child’s question in the next year or two.

nAfter fiddling with the tip of the brush, Theor raised his head again and asked innocently, “Then why do you hate His Majesty, Grandpa?”

n“……”

nThe marquis sat blankly with his mouth slightly open.

nHe got through all the difficult questions that kept coming up, but this one left him speechless.

n“Why…… why do you think I hate His Majesty?”

nTheor looked up at his grandfather, blinking his clear eyes as if he was thinking about why his grandfather was asking something so obvious.

n“Don’t you hate him?”

n“……”

nknock knock.

nAt that moment, like a miracle, someone knocked on the door.

nThe person who saved him was the maid who looked after Theor.

n“Prince, His Majesty the Emperor has come.”

nThe maid stepped aside and Kaizen entered.

nFor the first time in his life, the Marquis of Carlenberg welcomed Kaizen.

n“Your Majesty!”

nTheor put down the brush and ran to him and hugged him.

nThe marquis also stood up and bowed to him.

nThe appearance of Kaizen holding Theor in his arms was the appearance of a harmonious father and son.

n“What were you doing?”

n“I drew with my grandfather.”

nKaizen glanced at the painting on the table.

nIn the painting, Astelle, Theor, and the marquis were standing side by side, and Kaizen was standing in a corner.

nHe smiled a little when he saw a picture of himself painted in a corner.

n“Your grandfather must be tired. Now I will play with you.”

nThe marquis hated Kaizen for a long time, but these days, whenever he saw this young emperor, he sometimes felt a little strange.

nAs far as he knew, no emperor loved his son this much.

nThere was also no emperor who was so devoted to the empress.

nHowever, Astelle was still cold to Kaizen, and Theor did not call him father.

n‘It’s a little sad.’

nIt would have been nice if Kaizen showed this side of him from the beginning.

nStill, at least Kaizen wasn’t a playboy like his grandfather. Even after he divorced Astelle, he remained alone for six years without mistresses or concubines.

nThe marquis suddenly wondered what the past Kaizen thought of Astelle.

nDid he just think of her as an annoying fiancée?

nOr did he have any other thoughts?

n‘Well, whatever he had thought in the past, it was all useless now.’

nPulling Kaizen’s hem with his small hand, Theor asked, “Can’t we play chess in my mom’s room tonight too?”

n“Tonight……?”

nKaizen was at a loss for words at Theor’s naive question.

nFor a moment, there was a shadow over his handsome face.

nStill holding Theor, Kaizen glanced at the marquis, and said, “Let’s do it together here today.”

n***

nNaen was walking down the corridor of the empress’ palace.

nThe empress’ palace was not as grandiose as the emperor’s palace, but it looked more splendid.

nNaen blankly followed the maid. She didn’t know where she was going.

nShe was ordered to follow the maid without explanation.

n“This is it.”

nThe maid opened the door at the end of the hallway.

nA small but neatly decorated guest bedroom could be seen.

n“You can stay here for a while.”

n“Here?”

nNaen looked around the bedroom again.

nAlthough small, it was neat and stylish.

nNo matter how she looked at it, it didn’t look like a room given to a sinner.

nThe maid politely bowed.

n“This is an order from Her Majesty the Empress. If you ever need anything, just let me know.”

nThe maid left after saying those words.

n“……”

nActually, Naen couldn’t understand the situation she was going through.

nEver since she entered the imperial palace, everything has flowed uncontrollably.

nWhen the empress said she herself would punish her, Naen thought she would suffer terrible things.

nBut the maid led her here with a polite manner.

n‘What is going on?’

nHer father and second sister passed the responsibility for the duke’s work to Naen.

nThey ordered Naen to go to the imperial palace, admit her guilt, and be punished.

nBut she had already failed the first mission.

nNaen’s lies were easily revealed by the empress’s sudden question.

nSo she thought she would be punished more severely.

n‘But why did the empress send me to this place when she said she would punish me?’

nEverything was full of things she couldn’t understand.

nHad her mother or eldest sister been here, she could have just asked.

nBut Naen was alone in an empty room in the empress’ palace, and there was no one to help her.

n***

nAfter receiving the report from the maid, Hannah came over to Astelle.

n“The maid has escorted Miss Naen to the bedroom.”

n“Okay. Take care of her.”

nAstelle said she would punish Naen herself, but in fact, she had no intention of doing so.

n‘I think she’s treated badly by her family.’

nSo she was pushed out of the mansion instead of Florin.

nThe little girl was just a scapegoat.

nPunishing her would only make Astelle the object of reproach for being vicious.

nRather, it was better to let her stay in the empress’ palace and watch over her.

nOf course, it wasn’t just out of sympathy.

nIf Florin finds out that Naen is here, she will try to use her to do something again.

nHer younger sister is in the empress’ palace, and she won’t be able to sit still, even if she’s not worried.

nHannah also got the point and nodded her head.

n“I’ll tell the maid to keep an eye on her.”

nAstelle put down the document she was reading.

nShe was tired from going through a lot today.

nHannah brought her tea with a worried look on her face.

n“Lady Astelle, please rest early today.”

n“……yes.”

nAstelle stood up. Before she knew it, it was already evening.

n“Where is Theor?”

n“The Prince is in the study with His Majesty.”

n“……”

nKaizen is here already.

nHe must have had a lot of work to do. But he’s already here?

nKaizen would normally come here, and he would wait and look after Theor until Astelle finished her work.

nBut today, it was unlikely that he would see Astelle.

nAstelle herself didn’t have time to meet him after they had argued before.

nThe debate between the two was interrupted without an end.

nKaizen is still angry.

nTonight’s dinner seemed to be even more uncomfortable–though usually not a comfortable one either.

nAstelle sighed. Just as she was about to order to prepare dinner, a maid rushed over to her.

nShe was the maid who looked after Theor.

n“Your Majesty.”

n“What’s going on? Where’s Theor”

nThere was a look of perplexity on the maid’s polite face.

nShe wondered if something had happened to Theor.

n“The Prince went with His Majesty to his palace.”

n“Your Majesty took Theor to his palace?”

nIt’s already time for dinner and a bath, but why did Kaizen suddenly take Theor to the emperor’s palace? Did he want to take him around?

n“When did he say he would come back?”

n“That……”

nWhen Astelle asked, the maid bowed her head with an even more perplexed look.

n“His Majesty said that he will be staying with the Prince in his palace today.”

n“……”

nAstelle looked at the maid in disbelief.

n