n

n

n

n‘I wasn’t worried at all, but it was difficult if my mother kept getting angry and even collapsed,’ Florin thought.

n“Yes. I think so.”

nThe Marchioness, weary of her anger, agreed with her daughter.

n* * *

nThe Marchioness walked the path of the garden.

nShe was upset because of Astelle, and wanted to cool her head a bit in the fresh air.

nThe garden was quiet in the afternoon.

nThe clear sunlight warmly enveloped the garden.

nThe white lily of the valley bloomed in the flower bed, fading in the sunlight, and exuding a fresh scent.

nThe Marchioness, who was looking around the garden, noticed a child hiding among the yellow flowers in the distance, and she stopped.

nThe boy she had met at Astelle’s annex a while ago was playing in the flower bed.

n‘Why did he come all the way here?’

nThe child ran through the yellow flowers that filled the flower bed.

n‘It seems rude.’

nThe child, who had been wandering through the flower bed for a while, bent down on his knees and stroked a large bundle of golden fur.

nThe Marchioness couldn’t see it from afar, but it was probably a large dog with golden fur.

nThere was Astelle from a distance.

nAnd next to her stood His Majesty the Emperor.

nEven from a distance, it was a friendly atmosphere.

n‘You are fooling His Majesty, that cunning…!’

nThe Marchioness watched what the two of them were doing for a moment.

nAstelle, who came with the emperor, called the child in the flower bed.

nWhen the child came out of the flowerbed, she gently stroked his head.

n‘… did she say nephew?’

nShe’s not sure, but she heard that the child was Astelle’s maternal relative.

nIt is said that Astelle raised him on her own since he was a baby.

nMaybe that’s why Astelle seemed to care for him like her own child.

nA young child running on the grass and Astelle looking at the child lovingly.

nAs the Marchioness was looking at it, a clever idea came to her mind.

nIt was a clever enough idea for the short-minded Marchioness to think of.

n“You there!”

nThe Marchioness called the maid.

nShe was a maid she had known for a long time.

nWith the tip of her fan, she pointed to Theor playing near the flower bed in the distance.

n“Get that kid secretly.”

n“Pardon?”

nThe maid raised her head in surprise.

n“But he was invited by His Majesty…”

n“Don’t worry. I’ll only use him for a while.”

nThe Marchioness decided to retaliate against Astelle by using the young child.

n‘A cheeky thing!’

nI will definitely pay you back.

nI will watch you weep and cry.

nThe emperor with great power could not be touched, so she was trying to vent her wrath against Astelle.

n* * *

nAstelle washed Theor and took him to his bedroom, then returned to her grandfather’s bedroom.

n“Why did you say strange things to His Majesty?”

nAstelle asked slightly annoyed.

n“He will misunderstand, Grandpa.”

nThe Marquis was sitting by the window and drinking tea.

n“Just let him misunderstand. After all, he already thought I was an arrogant old man.”

nIgnoring the rebukes of his little granddaughter, he drank the tea leisurely.

nThen he saw Astelle’s angry face and made excuses again.

n“Wouldn’t it be better to misunderstand like that? That way, it would be more natural for him to think I kicked the child’s mother out because of her status.”

nIt wasn’t entirely wrong.

nIf the Marquis gives the impression that he is a kind and open-minded person without being bound by his status, then he will be able to tell the story of Theor’s birth.

nIt’s going to be hard to explain, starting with letting the mother go as soon as the baby is born.

nAstelle sighed and sat across from her grandfather.

n“I’m sorry. Because of me, you received such a misunderstanding.”

nAstelle had always felt sorry for her grandfather.

nFrom the moment she found out she was pregnant for the first time, she continued to receive help from him, and now he is suffering so much because of Astelle.

nShe couldn’t help but be sorry.

nBesides, her grandfather became an accomplice in this and was taking risks with Astelle.

n“If it is to protect you and Theor, I don’t mind being misunderstood.”

nAfternoon sunlight filled the garden seen through the window.

nThe petals that adorned the flower bed showed off their colorful colors in the sunlight.

nThe Marquis said quietly while looking out at the peaceful landscape.

n“I had only two children, but all of them are dead. My grandson Sigmund is also dead, so now it is only you and Theor.”

nAstelle, who was listening quietly, replied.

n“How about my brother, Fritz?”

n“He’s not even contacting me. What a brat…”

nWhen the Marquis was framed and expelled, Duke of Reston quickly drew a line with him, saying that his wife had died and the relationship with him had been cut off as well.

nAs a result, the two became enemies, and Astelle and her brother could not see their maternal grandfather very often.

nStill, Astelle would avoid her father’s eyes and write letters to her grandfather.

nHowever, her older brother, Fritz, cut off contact with his grandfather at the behest of his father.

n‘Come to think of it, we haven’t seen each other since I left.’

nThe two got along very well. Since they were the only siblings, they had no choice but to be close.

nFritz was a sincere and capable man.

nWhen he was young, he devoted himself to studying day and night, and as he grew up, he worked tirelessly.

nSix years ago, when she was divorced and left the capital, Fritz chased her to the mansion’s front door and stopped Astelle.

n“Where are you going? Don’t do anything wrong and ask father for forgiveness.”

nAt that moment Astelle gave up her expectations of her only brother.

nLove also ceased.

nShe didn’t need to have her affection for her reproaching brother without a word of consolation to his sister, who returned to her home after a day of marriage.

nAfter that, they did not see each other for six years.

nShe heard that Fritz was also quit the Knights of Templar when his father fell, but she hasn’t been told how he’s been doing since.

nShe doesn’t even want to know how he’s doing.

n‘We will never meet again anyway.’

nEven if she went to the capital, she had no desire to visit her family.

nShe wanted to avoid accidental encounters if possible.

nThe Marquis looking out the window put down the teacup and asked.

n“Then, why did the emperor suddenly come to visit? He didn’t seem to have such a polite personality.”

n“That…”

nAstelle passed on Kaizen’s words to her grandfather.

n“Did he tell you to attend the ball?”

n“It’s not a big deal.”

nAnyway, the ball was a good opportunity.

n‘If you want to get permission quickly, it is better to speak up when you are in a hurry.’

nIt’s good to make a quick decision without giving you time for long conversations by asking questions.

nSo this time, Astelle deliberately chose the ballroom to get the Emperor’s permission.

nAstelle made that commitment.

n“Are you all right…?”

nAsked her grandfather with a worried look.

nAstelle knew what her grandfather was worried about.

nShe was a former Empress who was deposed. Besides, her family lost its power.

nStanding in front of people, she will hear uncomfortable gossip.

nThe Marquis was worried about it.

n“Of course.”

nAs long as she could send her grandfather and Theor back home safely, it wouldn’t matter.

nAfter watching his granddaughter carefully, the Marquis sighed.

n“… they look alike.”

nAstelle looked up at her grandfather’s complicated voice.

nA bitter feeling permeated her grandfather’s blue eyes.

n“After coming here and seeing the emperor, I can understand it. They certainly look alike. It’s surprising that other people don’t recognize it.”

n“……”

nThat was it.

nAstelle just wished that Theor did not resemble Kaizen.

nIt is said that children in the womb are born against the wishes of their parents.

nAstelle smiled, hiding her bitter thoughts.

n“Your father may recognize him.”

nThe Marquis’ voice as he said that was filled with anxiety.

n“Your father is one of the most cunning and clever people I know. He also has good eyes. He could immediately recognize Theor when he saw him.”

nAstelle had the same thought.

nHer father, the Duke of Reston, had been watching Kaizen grow since he was a newborn.

n‘What would happen if my father saw Theor?’

nTheor resembles Kaizen’s childhood.

nAnd next to Theor is Astelle.

nHer quick-witted father may notice everything as soon as he sees him.

nThings are even worse if her father notices.

nIt was far more sinister than being caught by Kaizen.

n