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nChapter 2

n6 years ago, when Astelle found out she was pregnant, her first feeling was intense fear.

n“Pregnancy?”

nI couldn’t believe it at first.

nHow? I’m sure Kaizen took birth control pills.

n“There is a chance that such a drug will fail.”

nThe pharmacist explained that it was possible.

nEven if they both take medicine, she still could become pregnant.

nAstell listened to her explanation in fascination.

nIt was about two months after my divorce.

nI set up a new home in a quiet place and lived alone, but I still couldn’t block news from the rest of the world.

nAstelle learned that with the death of the Emperor, the peace of the Empire had disappeared.

nThe previous virtuous and good Emperor did not try to suppress the power of the great nobility.

nIn fact, he had no ambition or ability to do so.

nBut Kaizen was different.

nIt was only after he became the Emperor that everyone learned this young Emperor was different from the old Emperor.

nA month after he became Emperor, Kaizen discovered the corruption of Duke Milstad, the weakest of the strongest nobles, and destroyed his family.

nAfter that, he continued to purge the powerful nobles one after another.

nKaizen wanted to get rid of all the great nobles who threatened the Emperor to gain power.

nHe also proved that he was capable.

nThe high lord of the north caused a revolt but was then suppressed by the Emperor’s army, and his entire family was then annihilated.

nAll those who watched while holding their breaths would know.

nThe days of the former Emperor and some powerful houses being balanced in power were over without any major problems.

nFrom that time on, imperial politics were divided into two factions. The Emperor’s group, made up of new bureaucrats who supported the Emperor, and the aristocratic group of great nobility. The two fractions fought fiercely.

nAstelle’s father, Duke Reston, naturally became the head of the great nobles.

n‘If I tell you that I’m pregnant…’

nWhat will happen to this child?

nShe was no longer the Empress.

nHowever, the child was the Emperor’s child and was the only heir to the present day.

nAstelle quickly determined the situation.

nKnowing that she had a child, her father would make this child emperor and become a regent. (In case you didn’t know, it means that the father will try to become a regent. A regent is a person appointed to administer a country because the monarch is a minor.)

nAnd if he finds out that the child in her stomach is a threat to him, Kaizen will try to get rid of this child.

nI couldn’t expect either side to care or protect the child.

nAstelle couldn’t let her child be used in political battles.

nShe did not desire to leave her child’s life to men crazy about power, and only watch in fear.

nShe was abandoned by both the emperor and her father.

nThe child was all she had left.

n‘It’s not the Emperor’s child, it’s my child. I will protect this child and raise it with my own hands.’

nWhen she found out she was pregnant, she thought about it over and over again and made that decision.

nI’m going to hide the kid and raise him alone.

n* * *

nAstelle walked helplessly, hugging Theor.

nWith each step, dry soil and stone debris were stepped on.

nThe soles of my feet were sore and hurt.

nIt was because she was dragged out from her room wearing thin slippers without changing her shoes.

nThe cold air that permeated my skin cleared my mind each time I took a step.

nAstelle wrapped Theor with the hem of an old coat over her shoulder.

nThe rose bushes on the stone wall filled the chilly dawn air with the smell of light floral scent.

nThe northeastern part of the continent was a place where frost fell on the dry land every morning until April.

nEven though it is now May, the land is still experiencing cold winds from the mountains in the morning and evening.

nA few steps ahead, an old castle used as a permanent residence stood against the backdrop of the bluish dawn sky.

nThe hat was dragged towards it. (From the wind)

nThe knights guided her to the reception room situated in the center of the castle.

nIn the room, there was a man in front of a fireplace with firewood burning.

nWhen she saw him, Astelle felt like her heart stopped.

nShe made up her mind and went inside.

nIt has been six years since they broke up when she was 20.

nKaizen did not change much from that time.

nBlack hair like the night sky and dark red eyes.

nHis appearance, which is more stunning than the torch that decorates the temple, has always been praised by aristocrats.

nAlthough his appearance was the same, Kaizen now has an atmosphere that was more confident and stronger compared to when he was 20.

nLike a man who has lived as an emperor for the past six years, even though he is still young, in his late 20s, his whole body had an air of dignity and honourability.

n‘You’ve become such a wonderful man when I didn’t see you.’

nBitter thoughts filled the depth of my heart.

nThere was a time when I felt a heart-fluttering affection for him.

nBut now all those warm feelings have withered.

nLove disappeared without a trace, and only a dry and desolate emptiness remained like a dry branch.

nAstelle suppressed her bitter feelings and knelt before him with the child.

n“I see your Majesty the Emperor, the Lord of the Empire.”

nNow, this man has become the Emperor, best suited for the title ‘Lord of the Empire’.

nThe political dispute between the Emperor and the nobility ended with the Emperor’s victory.

nAlmost all the great nobles who opposed the emperor for the past six years have disappeared.

nKaizen became the most powerful Emperor who fully ruled the Empire.

nHe has become a real leader with power so strong that no one can blame him for killing someone he doesn’t like.

n“It’s been 6 years.”

nHis voice was not that different from before.

nAstelle stood up and faced him.

nFamiliar red eyes glanced at Astelle.

nHis gaze shifted to Astelle’s monotonous gray cotton dress, with no patterns or decorations, and the rough pelerine laid on top. (FYI, a pelerine is sorta a woman’s cape of lace or silk with pointed ends at the center front.)

nAnd finally, when the gaze fell to the old indoor shoes made of weaving of leftover fabric, a wrinkle was briefly formed in the good-looking brows.

nKaizen’s face was filled with surprise and displeasure.

nIt seemed that he was shocked by Astelle’s poor appearance.

n“I guess things weren’t good.”

nWhat did he expect after dragging me here before it’s even dawn?

nWell, Astelle always looked her best in front of this man.

nAll we had to do was stand face to face for a few minutes, but I put on make-up and groomed my hair for several hours.

nThen, she tightened her body with a corset, and she picked out the most beautiful dresses and jewelry.

nIt was tiring, hard, and sometimes even painful.

nBut for a while, I would endure everything to look beautiful to this man.

nIt was a foolish effort.

nThose days are now over.

nNow Astelle didn’t care about how this man looked at her.

n“I didn’t have time to change clothes. It’s too early.”

nWell, there’s nothing better to change into than this.

nAstelle raised Theor in the old mansion of her maternal grandfather located at the eastern edge.

nBecause it was a poor household without any servants, Astelle planted, cultivated, made, and cooked food from the garden herself.

nShe was not a noble lady now, but a commoner.

nAll her beautiful and colorful dresses were disposed of a long time ago.

n“Why did you keep running away?”

nKaizen looked at Astel as if he couldn’t understand her.

nHe has been trying to find Astelle for the past two months.

nIf Astelle hadn’t run away so cautiously, she would have been caught long ago.

nAfter holding out for two months, I ended up being caught like this.

nWell, I couldn’t run away forever.

nWhere was I going to go? The entire continent was part of the Empire, all of which belonged to this man.

nWhen Astelle couldn’t answer, he laughed.

n“Did you think I would catch you and kill you?”

n“…”

nUntil two months ago, Astelle didn’t run away.

nAt the house of her maternal grandfather, it was tiring for her body, but her heart was still at ease. One day, she was surprised by the news that the Emperor’s knights were looking for her, so she ran away.

nI couldn’t figure out what was going on, so I had no choice but to run away first.

nJust in case.

nI couldn’t meet this man until I knew for sure whether it was related to the child or not.

nStill, after running away for the past two months, I found out that it wasn’t related to this child.

nIt would’ve been upsetting if they were looking for the hidden prince.

nEven so, I still couldn’t guess what was going on.

n‘Why are you looking for me now?’

nAstelle asked Kaizen, hiding her anxious and trembling heart.

n“Why did you try to find me?”

n“You made me look for you for two months, but you want an answer so quickly.”

nKaizen replied irritably.

nTheor was surprised by the sharp gaze of a strange man he saw for the first time and grabbed Astelle’s skirt with his small hand.

nAt that moment, Kaizen’s gaze turned to the child.

n“Who is that kid?”

nAstelle gulped nervously.

nI had imagined and prepared countless times in case this moment would come.

nHowever, simply preparing in the mind did not help much when it came to reality.

nMy heart pounded endlessly.

nAstelle forced herself to pull herself together and face Kaizen with the calmest expression.

nI could see a questioning filled in the familiar red eyes.

nI remember the last time I lied to him and left.

nAstelle still did not regret that moment.

nAnd now I was confident I would never regret this lie either.

n“This is my nephew.”

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