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nKaizen pulled Astelle up onto the water at once.

n-Cough cough-

nAstelle coughs and spits water out.

nWhite ice was seen as the snow piled up on the floor scattered.

nFrom a distance, it looked like a snowy field, but this was not a field but a lake.

nSnow was piled up on the frozen lake.

nAstelle, soaked in water, was looking at him, shivering.

nKaizen reached out his hand.

n“Are you okay?”

n“Yes… Your Majesty, thank you.”

nAstelle grabbed his hand.

nThe watered dress was drooping.

nKaizen grabbed her with his hands and pulled her to help her stand up.

n“It would have been a big deal if you didn’t come. Thanks.”

nAstelle just smiled.

nUnlike Kaizen who soaked in water, Astelle’s condition was a little more serious.

nThe dress was torn in several places, and the hair that had been twisted up tightly was scattered.

nThe knees seen through the torn dress were hurt and bleeding out.

n“You’ve been hurt a lot.”

nTwo horses wandering along the lake came to Kaizen.

nOne was the white horse that Astelle was riding on, and the other was Kaizen’s horse.

nKaizen captured the horse he was riding on.

nThe mane was cold and wet because of drowning together.

nHe patted the horseback and apologized.

n“I’m sorry.”

nNext to it was a white horse that Astelle was riding on.

nHe grabbed the reins and reached out his hand to Astelle.

nIn that state, it seemed to be difficult to get on the horse. So he carried Astelle.

n“Thank you, Your Majesty.”

nKaizen picked up Astelle and sat it on his horse.

nAnd he dragged two horses and went out to the lakeside.

nKaizen suddenly asked.

n“But what were you doing here?”

nAstelle just laughed slightly.

n“I was just… I was looking at the scenery.”

nThis was the center of the forest.

nIt was too far to come to see the scenery alone.

nIt seemed like a lie, but Kaizen didn’t dig deeper anymore and went on to his words.

nWhile returning to the castle the two trembled in the cold.

nThey had fallen in icy water and crossed the forest wet.

nIt was cold enough to shake Astelle’s fingertips.

nKaizen had a very healthy constitution, but Astelle looked pitiful enough.

nHer pale blue lips trembled.

nWould you like me to hold your hand? Kaizen thought about it, but he stopped because he seemed to bother the sick person for nothing.

nAfter wearing wet clothes and crossing the forest in the wind blowing, Astelle got a fever and lay on the bed.

nThe next morning Astelle apologized to Kaizen who visited her.

nWith a faint smile on her pale tired face from high fever.

n“I’m sorry, Your Majesty. Don’t mind me and enjoy the hunting with other people.”

nAstelle looked as pale and slender as her white eyes.

nA long loose white blonde and a white face without a complexion.

nHer arms and wrists protruding over her blanket are as fine as branches.

nAstelle was lying in a bed in a pure white pajamas. There was a bandage on her slender finger without any skin.

nIt was because her skin had been scratched while saving Kaizen.

n‘……’

nAt that moment, he thought about staying with Astelle.

nIt wasn’t because he really liked or felt sorry for Astelle, but because he was worried that he would look bad if he still went on a hunt with his sick fiancee.

nShe also got hurt while saving himself and got sick.

nBut the time to worry was short.

n“Yes, then take care of yourself.”

nKaizen walked out of her door.

nAnd he didn’t go to Astelle until the day was over.

n* * *

nKaizen, recalling his old memories, stopped his steps.

nThe cool breeze from far away gently shakes the tranquil forest.

nThe setting sun sprinkled the last remaining light on the green forest.

nHe raised his head and turned to Astelle.

nThe sunset shined on Astelle’s head sitting on the grass with her knees bent.

nA white nape is visible under the lifted head.

nHer shoulders and back had graceful lines as before, but she looked much thinner and weaker than at that time.

nAstelle was prying the herbs without hesitation with her hands as delicate as willow branches.

nShe was the fiancee of the former Crown Prince, and she was the highest aristocratic’s daughter in the empire.

nFar from plowing and growing medicinal herbs, she did not even take care of the flowers in the garden.

nEven the flowers put in the vase were not cut directly.

nIt was surprising that Astelle touched the soil casually and picked out herbs, and it was so pathetic.

nHe knew she had lived a hard life, but it was a moment to see with his own eyes how miserable Astelle’s environment was.

nKaizen regretted that after the divorce, he was indifferent to Astelle.

nHe had only sent money, estates, and her grandfather’s pensions.

nHe would have given a new mansion to her grandfather, the Marquis, if Astelle didn’t insist that she wouldn’t take it.

nIf so, she would have lived with fewer troubles.

nLooking back on his old memories, Astelle gave herself all her devotion to him as his fiancee.

nShe always tried to right by his side and even saved himself and hurting her finger.

nEven if it was a loveless engagement, Astelle has put a lot of effort into it.

nBut when he regretted he couldn’t look back.

nSitting with her knees bent and digging for herbs, Astelle turned her head to the sound of the heavy steps behind her.

nKaizen, who had been a few steps away, came close to her.

nAstelle was surprised and raised her body.

n“Your Majesty…?”

nIt was Kaizen’s red eyes that caught Astelle’s first gaze.

nThe eyes with a dark red color like blood.

nHis red eyes, always filled with his arrogant self-confidence.

nWithout her words, Kaizen took off his coat and put it over Astelle’s shoulder.

nHis long black coat covered her skinny shoulders and stretched to her ankles.

n“Your Majesty?”

n‘What is this?’

n“Wear it, you’re not in good shape.”

nAstelle was wearing a thin dress.

nShe wasn’t very cold, but she was a little chilly as the sun was setting.

nStill, it wasn’t cold enough to get the coat on.

n‘Why are you doing this all of a sudden?’

nThe muddy Vellian also looked over here in amazement.

nPerhaps because of the emperor’s clothes, she was very warm even though it was a light and luxurious fabric.

nAstelle rolled up the coat with her calm hand and held it back to Kaizen.

n“Thank you for your consideration, but I’m okay.”

n“I take off my coat, but do you need to throw it away?”

n“I didn’t throw it away.”

nRather than throwing it away, Astelle politely arranged the coat and brought it back to Kaizen.

nKaizen clenched his teeth and accepted the coat.

n“Huh… yeah, do whatever you want.”

nWhatever he thought, Astelle didn’t want to go along with Kaizen’s whims.

nAstelle walked slowly and found a small white flower that had bloomed a step away.

nShe grabbed and pulled a small flower stuck between the blades of grass.

n“Your Majesty, I found the flower.”

nAstelle called Kaizen.

n“I have found all the herbs I need. We have to go back to the castle now.”

nKaizen, who had walked a few steps forward, turned and approached.

nKaizen’s red eyes carefully looked at the flowers in Astelle’s hand.

nAnd he looked at Astelle with a cool gaze.

n“Isn’t it better to find a little more?”

n“This is enough.”

nShe looked for medicinal herbs to make a cure for fever.

nThe eye’s medicinal herbs that were secretly found were put in the basket.

nIf you look for more, it will be difficult to keep.

n“Theor will be waiting, so now I want to go back to the castle.”

n“You’re really very devoted to him.”

nSuddenly an old memory came to mind.

nThe memories in the forest that Kaizen talked about.

nSnowy forest. Frozen water was as cold as a blade.

nThe aftereffect of falling into ice water caused Astelle to suffer from a fever overnight.

nIt was a fever that made her whole body tremble.

nAstelle suffered from a high fever and waited for Kaizen all day long.

nMay Kaizen, who returned from the hunt, come to see herself at least once.

nHowever, although she waited until the sun went down, she looked out the window, but Kaizen did not come to see Astelle in the end.

nAstelle shed off her useless memories of the old days and replied honestly.

n“That’s obvious, it is because Theor needs me.”

n“……”

n“Can I go back to the castle now?”

nAfter a breath passed, the answer came back.

n“Yes, let’s go back to the castle.”

n* * *

nAfter returning to the castle, Kaizen returned to the main building with Vellian, saying that he would wash and change clothes.

nAstelle returned to the castle tower alone.

nThere was a young maid in the castle tower.

n“I have been ordered to wait for you, Lady.”

nShe decided to use the room separately from Theor, so she will need a maid to take care of him.

nShe won’t worry too much anyway.

nBecause she only sleeps in the next room with the corridor in between.

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