Chapter 113
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nAstelle continued reading the document.
nIt was a report sent by the Ministry of the Interior to write down the budget for the imperial palace event.
nAfter carefully reviewing the document, Astelle handed it to Hannah.
n“I think the budget should be like this.”
n“Yes, Your Majesty.”
nThe imperial palace banquet came a few days later.
nThis banquet was Astelle’s first meeting with the nobles as an empress.
nIt was also the first imperial palace event she prepared as an empress.
nThe wedding was prepared by Kaizen himself, so there was not much for her to do, but this time, Empress Astelle took care of everything from start to finish.
nAs this is her first event as empress, she must prepare thoroughly and perfectly.
n“Organize the remaining documents and send them to the Minister of Home Affairs.”
nAfter giving instructions to Hannah, Astelle turned to Naen, who was standing nervously in the corner.
n“Miss Naen, did you bring what I ordered?”
n“Yes, yes, Your Majesty. I have it ready.”
nNaen put the thick document down on the table carefully.
nNaen had been working in the empress’ palace as per Astelle’s orders.
nEven if it’s called work, it was a simple task to write down simple errands or memos.
nAstelle had Naen write down what she currently knows about socialites or the ties of each noble family.
n‘Because I need it to send invitations.’
nShe gave that reason, but in fact, it was because she didn’t know much about the current capital’s social circle.
nAstelle had been away from the capital for the past six years, and her family in the capital was only her father and brother.
nMost of her close friends left the capital because their families collapsed.
nAlthough she memorized all the official information of each family, there is always unknown information where people gather.
n‘Especially in social circles.’
nAs a result of asking a few questions, Naen surprisingly knew a lot about the ladies of the social world.
nWhenever her mother, the marchioness, went to a social gathering, she grabbed Naen and told her what happened that day.
nAfter looking through the long explanatory notes written by Naen, Astelle glanced at her.
nNaen had an anxious expression on her face.
nIt seemed she was still afraid of Astelle.
nShe didn’t seem to understand why she was here.
n‘Anyway, this is unexpected.’
nIf you know the relationship and power of the noble ladies, you will be able to take over the social world, and, at the very least, you will be able to perfectly prepare for this banquet.
nNaen wasn’t bad at all, but she had a naive side, so she did what Astelle asked for without a single doubt.
n“You organized it well. Good job.”
n“T-thank you, Your Majesty.”
nPushing aside Naen’s report, Astelle said, “Make sure to send an invitation to Lady Florin for this event as well.”
n“S-sorry?”
nNaen raised her head in surprise.
n“To my older sister?”
n“The Croychen family has withdrawn from the front line because of the Marchioness’ sin, but Lady Florin is innocent. If I leave it like this, the path of her marriage will be blocked, so I want to help. It is the duty of the empress to protect her people and provide a home for them,” Astelle explained with a friendly smile.
n“Yes……”
nIt was a reasonable explanation.
nOriginally, the empress was supposed to take care of and support noble ladies whose families had fallen or who had no guardians.
nNaen seemed to understand but was still confused.
nThere was a bit of fear in her gentle-looking eyes.
nFlorin tried to hurt Empress Astelle, so why is she trying to help?
nI guess it might be a conspiracy or something scary.
nMaybe that’s what Naen was thinking.
n‘Obviously, Florin had asked this naive little sister of hers to get information about the empress’ palace.’
nThe maid watching Naen said she saw Naen secretly meeting a maid.
nWhen Florin hears about her marriage, maybe Florin will think Astelle is trying to get her revenge by forcing her to marry an unworthy person. Thus, she will plan a trifling plot again.
nAs Astelle was lost in thought, the maid rushed in and announced, “Your Majesty, His Majesty the Emperor has arrived.”
nBefore she could even respond, Kaizen came in.
nAstelle rose from her seat.
nKaizen walked in and stopped when he saw Naen.
nHe cast an unpleasant look at Naen, who was bowing her head.
nAstelle quickly let Naen go.
n“Miss Naen, you can leave and rest now.”
n“Yes, Your Majesty the Empress.”
nNaen stepped back carefully and walked out.
nBefore the door could even close, Kaizen let out a sigh.
n“Why are you letting that child by your side without giving any punishment?”
n“She’s just a girl who is still underage, so I want to show some mercy.”
nOf course, that wasn’t Astelle’s only reason.
nKaizen didn’t seem to believe much either.
n“I don’t know what you’re thinking, but do whatever you want.”
nAstelle planned to trap Florin.
nKaizen lightly clicked his tongue as he looked down at the papers on the table.
n“Looks like you are having a hard time preparing for this event. If there’s anything I can help with, let me know. Or if this is too much, don’t overdo it and let Vellian do it.”
n“……”
nIt was a low voice with friendly concern.
nKaizen comes to the empress’ palace every day but still returns to his palace at night.
nWhen he met Astelle, he treated her as usual.
nHe has been doing this for over a month already.
n‘What the hell are you thinking?’
nHe used to sleep here every night even though she didn’t like it.
nAstelle was much more at ease now than before when Kaizen acted as he pleased.
nHowever, it was obvious that others would misunderstand this.
nIf people misunderstand something, useless things can happen.
nBut no matter what happens, it doesn’t matter as long as Theor is not in danger.
n“Where is Theor?”
n“He is still in class. It will be over soon.”
nTheor officially started studying a few days ago.
nThe tutor was Sir Seibel, as Astelle wanted.
nHe taught simple basic lessons for about two or three hours every day, and it was only about learning a little swordsmanship posture.
nAs soon as the class was mentioned, Kaizen frowned.
n“Isn’t it too much for him to have a class every day? Theor is only five years old.”
n“Your Majesty has been learning from teachers since the age of four.”
nAstelle smiled softly and reassured him.
nTheor enjoyed the new experience of the class.
nThere was no sign of him having a hard time.
nAstelle did not miss the opportunity and brought up the topic she had been thinking about.
n“Though it was only natural since you became the crown prince at the age of four.”
n“You’re right.”
nHe was lost in thought for a moment and then turned to Astelle.
n“After this event, I will choose Theor as the crown prince.”
n“Your Majesty, Theor is not yet…… wouldn’t it be too early for him?”
n“As you said, I myself became crown prince at the age of four. And the more we delay it, the more people gossip.”
nKaizen continued to speak, slightly frustrated.
n“Theor, of course, is my successor.”
nHe had already said that before they got married, but after that, a lot of things happened, so the awarding of the title of the crown prince to Theor was also delayed.
nAstelle didn’t think the crown prince position was urgent either.
nBut now that her relationship with Kaizen was already like this, she wanted to make Theor the crown prince as soon as possible.
nAstelle bowed her head, hiding her feelings.
n“Thank you, Your Majesty.”
nThere was no answer.
nWhen she raised her head, she saw red eyes sinking into the darkness.
n“I know what you are worried about. Don’t worry. I will protect you and Theor no matter what.”
n***
nThe Duke of Reston entered the palace through the entrance to the palace.
nThe servants, accustomed to his visit, bowed politely and opened the door.
nWith the fall of the Croychen family, the number of visitors to the duke’s mansion increased significantly.
nThe Croychen family, who was the emperor’s henchman, fell, and the Duke of Reston’s daughter became the empress and brought a young prince with her.
nThe emperor even appointed Fritz to be the Lord of the West and sent him down to the West territory.
nThe nobles competed to impress the duke.
nEven the nobles, who had been hostile towards him, came to him and tried to look good in front of him, flattering him and offering gifts.
nEverything is working perfectly like the cogs of a clock.
nThe old butler of the duke’s mansion was moved and wept every day that the duke had regained his prestige.
nBut the Duke of Reston knew that things were not as easy as they seemed.
n‘It all depends on the emperor’s heart.’
nThis happy reality was possible because Kaizen was obsessed with Astelle now.
nIf Astelle loses the emperor’s love, the situation will go downhill again.
nThe duke wanted to get rid of the emperor before such a future came, but he needed time to seize the opportunity.
n‘Astelle must hold onto the emperor’s heart until the perfect opportunity comes.’
nHowever, ominous news was constantly heard from the empress’ palace.
nRumor has it that they use separate beds.
n‘tsk tsk. It hasn’t been long since they got married.’
nThe emperor’s side did not miss this opportunity and worked together to bring a new woman to the emperor.
nIt is said that they had already found a suitable woman and sent her to the imperial palace.
nOne of the nobles involved in the plan rushed to tell him.
nWhen the duke heard this, he left the mansion thinking that he could not stay still.
nAs he entered the prince’s playroom, he saw Theor and the Marquis of Carlenberg.
nTheor was sitting and writing something on the table.
n“This is how I write it.”
n“You learned well.”
nThe marquis gently stroked Theor’s hair and stopped when he saw the duke entering the room.
nTheor also stared silently at the duke.
nBoth of them were wondering why he was here.
nEven though he was being treated as an uninvited guest, the duke approached Theor with a smile.
n“Our prince, what are you doing?”
n“……I am writing what I learned today.”
nAs Theor began to learn court manners, he began to speak politely to his bad maternal grandfather.
nThere were a few sentences on the paper.
nIt seemed that Seibel, who had been appointed as a teacher, was teaching grammar so that he could write long sentences.
n‘Why did Astelle choose Count Ecklen’s adoptive son as the prince’s teacher?’
nIt made sense in my head, but I still didn’t like it, the duke thought.
n“You are doing well. Indeed, our prince is as intelligent as Her Majesty the Empress.”
nAs he tried to stroke his hair, Theor got up and avoided him in an instant.
nHe then ran away into the arms of the marquis, hugging his teddy bear that had been lying on the table.
nThe marquis asked the duke with a dissatisfied expression on his face, “What brought you here today?”
nIt has another meaning: ‘If you don’t have a business, then go.’
n“I’m here to see our prince.”
n“I don’t like my maternal grandfather.”
nTheor hugged the teddy bear, still hiding in the marquis’ arms.
nThe Duke of Reston asked with a smile as if his grandson was cute, “Prince, wouldn’t you rather have a younger brother than a teddy bear?”
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