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nTL: Lilac | PR: Faith

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n“I think it’s too much.”

n“I’m only going to stay for a day or two.”

nAs soon as the will was completed, Astelle wanted to return immediately.

nKaizen also allowed her.

nBecause of the assassination, Theor was forced to come all the way to the capital.

nAstelle wished to leave as soon as possible.

nSo it didn’t matter where she stayed.

nAfter entering the mansion, she couldn’t help but be surprised.

nInside, the mansion was much more splendid.

nClean marble floors and chandeliers.

nLuxurious statues and ornaments.

nIt was more glamorous and luxurious than the Dentsu Castle where she stayed until recently.

nIt was more luxurious than the standard nobleman’s mansion.

nAstelle whispered while looking at the statues lined up in the hallway.

n“It looks new.”

nAs Astelle murmured while looking at the gold-decorated wall, the servant who opened the mansion’s door quickly answered,

n“His Majesty has sent a letter in advance, ordering this mansion to be renovated.”

n“……”

n‘This……is really too much.’

nIt’s just a place to stay for two days, but to do it like this…… Astelle was speechless.

nThe bedroom was more glamorous.

nFull of luxurious furnishings and bedding.

nEverything was new.

nIt was a luxury that was not inferior to the empress’ bedroom, where Astelle had stayed for a day or so in the past.

nWhen she entered the bedroom where she was staying with Theor, gift boxes were piled up like a mountain on the table.

n“What is that?”

n“These are gifts from His Majesty to the Young Master.”

n‘For Theor?’

nTheor grabbed a gift box with both hands and asked Astelle,.

n“Can I open it?”

n“Okay. Let’s rip it off.”

nThe box was full of silver finger-sized soldier dolls.

nThere was also a small cannon for the little soldiers.

nIt was a small, elaborately crafted, lifelike weapon with a set of artillery soldiers the size of a finger.

nIn another box, there was a sailing boat the size of a melon, made just like a real ship, and in a large box, there was an elaborate three-tiered castle.

n“Wow……”

nTheor looked at the toys and admired them.

nKaizen has been strangely good to him for a while now.

n“You should say thank you when you see His Majesty later.”

n“Yes!”

nAstelle smiled, hiding her anxiety.

n‘It doesn’t matter. I will only stay for two days. Two days only.’

nAs Astelle unpacked her luggage in the room, Hannah came in and helped her.

nHannah formally resigned from the Imperial Palace and she returned to the capital with Astelle.

nWhen she was done here, she decided to go to the eastern countryside with Astelle.

n“Hannah. I will organize my luggage myself. Go to your room and rest. You must be very tired.”

n“No, Lady Astelle. I’m fine.”

n“Okay. Then you don’t have to unpack everything.”

nShe would be leaving again in just two days, so there was no need to unpack everything.

nAstelle only organized what she needed to use for the next two days and put the rest in the closet.

nShe spotted Theor playing in the garden outside the window.

nHe went out with the Marquis and Blynn.

nWhen Astelle saw Theor’s bright face, she suddenly thought of Kaizen.

nShe hasn’t had a proper conversation with him since the last day at Dentsu Castle.

nEven if she had a chance to meet him, he always seemed to be busy.

n‘I’m glad. If we had met often, it would have been uncomfortable for both of us .’

nAstelle decided to go to the temple the next day.

nThere, she would meet Kaizen and finish the Empress Dowager’s will, and there would be no more meetings.

n‘Should I go back to the mansion or find a place to escape?’

nGoing to the mansion would prevent Theor’s identity from being revealed.

nWhat would happen to the assassination case?

nYou’d never know what was going to happen.

nIf the truth about the assassination was revealed, Astelle wouldn’t be safe.

n‘Shall I find a place to escape? However, if I were to suddenly hide myself, I might end up hurting my grandfather and Theor.’

nAstelle put the luggage together while thinking about complicated things.

nAfter packing up, she went downstairs to join Theor and her grandfather.

nAs she passed the living room, a maid approached her.

n“Lady, a guest has arrived.”

n“A guest?”

nAstelle, who had unintentionally turned to the drawing-room, noticed the man standing by the door and instantly stiffened.

n“Ah……”

nFacing the man, she was speechless for a moment.

nTall stature and a neat and handsome face.

nShe saw the familiar white blonde hair and light green eyes.

nHis pale green eyes filled with shock and joy.

nHis heart was pounding and his eyes were wet with tears.

nOn the contrary, Astelle’s eyes grew cold.

nHer face, which looked surprised for a moment, rapidly became colder.

nThe man who came into the room, and after noticing Astelle’s cold expression, quickly stopped walking.

nAstelle called out his name.

nThe name she’s almost forgotten for the past 6 years.

n“Brother Fritz.”

nIt was Fritz, Astelle’s older brother.

nTwo-year older brother, he was her only sibling and the only person she considered to be family.

nAt the cold voice of his sister calling out to him, Fritz’s sculptural, well-groomed face was distorted with regret and remorse.

n“Astelle……”

nFritz begged for forgiveness with a face that seemed like it would shed tears at any moment.

n“I’m sorry Astelle. I made a mistake.”

n“……”

nTo young Astelle, Fritz was a being that was too high to reach.

nThey had the same parents, but her brother who was the heir to the family from birth was the difference between heaven and earth from Astelle who was born as a daughter.

nBesides, Fritz was a perfect son, smart enough to be acknowledged as a gifted child from an early age.

nHe was so great that she couldn’t even dare to be jealous.

nFritz, who resembled his father, was a cold and proud nobleman, but he was still a kind brother to her.

nHe would teach her to study, and if Astelle wanted to go out, he would take her with him.

nAside from Kaizen, the person Astelle loved most was her older brother, Fritz.

nHe was the only person she could rely on instead of her hard-hearted and greedy father.

nEven when she got divorced and returned to the mansion, Astelle believed that her brother would understand.

nBut Fritz did not understand her.

n‘Why did you get a divorce without our father’s permission?’

nIt was Fritz’s first words to Astelle, who returned with a tired face.

nWhen she left the house feeling exhausted and about to collapse, Fritz grabbed her and got angry at her.

n‘Don’t be stubborn and ask father for forgiveness.’

nHer feelings at that time were so devastating that words could not describe them.

nShe felt as if the last rope she had managed to hold on to, had broken.

nAfter that, Astelle abandoned all her hopes and left the capital.

n“You don’t have to apologize to me. Go back.”

n“Astelle……”

nFritz’s expression as he faced Astelle’s cold eyes was filled with sadness.

n“Can’t we start over? Can’t you just give me one more chance……?”

n“We haven’t spoken to each other in six years, so what opportunity do we need now?”

nAstelle turned down Fritz’s request.

nIt was a calm voice that did not contain any emotion, but when Fritz heard those words, his expression became even more sorrowful.

nHe called out to her in a sad voice.

n“Astelle…… I am……”

nAt that moment, the door opened with a crackling sound.

nBoth siblings looked toward it at the same time.

nTheor was grabbing the half-open door and sticking out his face.

n“Aunt Astelle……?”

nAstelle looked at the child and was startled.

nHer chest plummeted.

n‘Will my brother find out Theor’s identity?’

nFritz has played with Kaizen since childhood.

nKaizen didn’t really like him, who was two years older than him, but he still couldn’t ignore him as the heir of the duke.

nAnd since his younger sister, Astelle, was Kaizen’s fiancee, Fritz also visited the Imperial Palace from a very young age, and he was like a playmate with Kaizen.

nIf you look closely at Theor, you can tell that he resembles the young Kaizen.

nFritz seemed a little surprised.

n“That kid is……”

nAstelle responded quickly before Fritz finished his question.

n“He is Theor. He is Sigmund’s son. Have you not heard of it? That Sigmund has a son.”

nFritz turned to Astelle.

nFor a moment, complex emotions appeared in his pale green eyes and then disappeared.

n‘What? Maybe…… did you notice it?’

nBefore Astelle could say anything, Fritz approached Theor.

n“Are you Sigmund’s son?”

nFritz smiled pleasantly and knelt down in front of Theor, at eye level with him.

n“Nice to meet you. Your father was my cousin.”

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n***

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n‘Did you not notice it?’

nFritz and Kaizen were two years apart. When Kaizen was a child, Fritz was also young.

nFortunately, he didn’t seem to remember young Kaizen very well.

n‘Phew.’

nAstelle, who was watching the two of them, was secretly relieved.

nDear Wattpad account @snowie-san, stop reposting my translations.

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