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nTL: Lilac | PR: Faith

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nFritz approached Theor, he made eye contact with him, and said, “So you are Sigmund’s son, I really wanted to meet you.”

n“Who are you?”

n“Theor, this is Uncle Fritz. He is my brother.”

nAt Astelle’s explanation, Theor looked at Fritz carefully and smiled brightly.

n“Hello, Uncle Fritz.”

n“What a cute little boy.”

nTheor was very cute.

nHis soft black hair and blue eyes were the beautiful color of a deep, clear lake.

nHis curious eyes looked bright and there was not a single speck on his marble-white skin.

n“You look cuter when you smile.”

nFritz admired and stroked Theor’s hair.

n“If you have nothing to do, please go back. I just arrived and I want to rest.”

nAstelle, who was watching from the side, said with an indifferent look on her face.

n“Astelle……”

nFritz, who was about to beg again, turned to Theor and bit his lips.

nHe sighed then explained the reason for his visit.

n“I came to see you because of the belongings left behind by the Empress Dowager.”

n‘What does this mean again?’

n“There were not only wills but also keepsakes?”

n“Yes. She didn’t tell the Emperor, but the Empress Dowager also left you a few keepsakes.”

nIt was the first time Astelle heard it.

n“Theor, go to your room. If you wait patiently, I will give you a delicious cookie.”

n“Okay!”

nBefore leaving, Theor looked at Fritz and bowed his head.

n“Goodbye, Uncle Fritz.”

nFritz couldn’t take his eyes off Theor until he disappeared.

n“He is so cute. He grew up well.”

nAstelle diverted his attention.

n“Tell me about the keepsakes.”

n“Okay.”

nHis explanation continued.

n“They’re not great things. If things that were too precious had been lost, the Emperor would have noticed. So the Empress Dowager only chose what she really wanted to give to you. Paintings and jewels… well stuff like that.”

nEmpress Dowager loved Astelle a lot.

nLeaving such a provision in her will was also her own consideration for Astelle.

nIt was no surprise that she had secretly left behind keepsakes.

n“The Empress Dowager secretly sent them to our mansion before she died, in case the Emperor realized it.”

n“Where are they now?”

n“That’s… father…”

nFritz let out a sigh before answering.

n“Father has them, and even if I ask for them, he won’t give them to me.”

nAstelle frowned.

nIs Duke Reston even greedy for the keepsakes from the Empress Dowager now?

n‘It wasn’t because he wanted them .’

nThe Duke cannot be interested in the miscellaneous belongings left by the Empress Dowager.

nIt was most likely that he was stubborn because of his anger toward Astelle, not because of his greed.

nAstelle spoke to her brother with a firm voice.

n“Please go back and tell father. If he doesn’t bring the keepsakes right now, I will tell His Majesty about the items and press charges against him.”

nFritz asked with surprised eyes.

n“T-Then His Majesty will confiscate them.”

n“I think that’s what father thought, that’s why he hasn’t given them to me.”

nThose are the items Astelle should have received, but her father must have thought that it did not matter whether he gave them to her or not as they were secretly hidden from the Emperor’s eyes.

nHe must have thought that even if Astelle wanted to have them, she wouldn’t go as far as to sue him.

nBecause the emperor hated Astelle and if this story was leaked, he would take them back.

nAstelle wouldn’t be able to do anything even if she lost the keepsakes.

nIt was obvious that the Duke was calculating like that.

n“It doesn’t matter. It’s better to give them to the Emperor, the grandson of the Empress Dowager than to give them to father.”

nFritz smirked slightly at Astelle’s callous remark.

n“It is true.”

nHe was about to go find his grandfather and say hello to him.

nHe paused for a moment before leaving the room, and then addressed Astelle, “How long do you plan to stay in the capital?”

n“I will leave soon.”

n“……can’t you stay a few more days? Mother’s charity ball is just around the corner.”

nUntil her death, Astelle’s mother held a regular charity ball at this time of year at the mansion.

nIt was an event that invited guests to collect donations to help the poor.

nHowever, after her mother’s death, the charity ball was not held for many years.

nAfter her socialite debut, Astelle resumed her mother’s charity ball to honor her.

nShe organized one at the mansion every year until she married Kaizen and then left the capital.

nAfter leaving, the mansion remained empty of guests since there was no hostess.

nAstelle asked the question while counting the date.

n“Did you keep holding the charity ball while I was away? ”

n“Yes…… I organized it myself.”

nAstelle was a little surprised.

nThe ball was supposed to be prepared by the hostess, Fritz had never done that before.

nIn the past, he didn’t even pay attention to such events.

n‘Are you really sorry?’, Astelle thought.

nIt was hard to believe that Fritz, who had a stubborn personality, was regretting the past so much.

n‘Yeah, it is all in the past.’

nWhatever Fritz did now, it was none of Astelle’s business.

nShe didn’t even plan to stay here long enough to go to the charity ball.

nShe was not in a situation where she could attend leisurely.

n“I’m sorry. I have to leave in two days, so I cannot attend.”

nFritz sighed sadly at Astelle’s resolute answer.

n“Okay……then there is nothing I can do.”

n‘I think we’re done talking now.’

nAstelle was afraid that she might say unnecessary things while arguing.

nShe calmly but coldly asked him to return.

n“Then, please go back now. I have to wash Theor and feed him.”

nAt those cold words, Fritz’s pale green eyes filled with sadness again.

nHowever, he meekly obeyed Astelle’s will.

n“Yes. If it is okay, I will go to see Grandpa. I want to ask for forgiveness since I haven’t seen him in such a long time.”

nAstelle couldn’t stop him from meeting his grandfather.

n“I think Grandpa is in the garden.”

n“Okay.”

nFritz looked at Astelle for a moment and said,

n“If you need anything, feel free to contact me.”

n“Okay, I will do that .”

nAstelle didn’t really want to get Fritz’s help, but there’s something called ‘if’.

nShe could use his help if by any chance she needed it, he was the heir to the family after all.

nShe said that she would contact him if there was anything she needed, and would not contact him otherwise, but Fritz was satisfied just to hear Astelle’s reply.

n“Thank you.”

n“……”

nAfter Fritz said those words, he turned around and headed towards the garden.

nAstelle looked at his back then closed the door.

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n***

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n“His Majesty the lord of the empire has come.”

nThe door opened at the attendant’s polite words, and the men who were sitting around the round table got up from their seats.

nThe emperor’s office in the capital’s imperial palace was large and splendid.

nIt can’t even be compared with the offices of the castles visited during the tour.

nGorgeous paintings were drawn symmetrically on the high ceiling with large chandeliers that twinkled according to the angle of light.

nIt was a painting depicting the history of the imperial family and the achievements of the founding emperor.

nKaizen sat down on the top seat.

n“Your Majesty.”

nHe turned his head and looked at the Marquis of Croychen.

nSuddenly, the marquis got up and knelt on the floor.

nFor an instant, all eyes were focused on him.

n“What’s going on?”

n“Your Majesty, I apologize for causing trouble through my wife and my daughter.”

nThey were expected words.

nKaizen frowned.

nThere were two useless disturbances during the tour because of the women of that family.

nMarianne was trying to frame Astelle, but she was caught and was still imprisoned in the Maern Castle.

nMarianne’s mother, the Marchioness, was house arrested.

nKaizen gave a cold command in a voice that showed no sympathy.

n“Lady Marianne dared to frame the guest I had invited, so she will be sent off to the island as a nun to reflect on her sins. And the Marchioness…”

nHe thought of the Marchioness for a moment.

nHe hated her way more than Marianne.

nThat woman even tried to kidnap Theor.

n‘But she can’t be punished for lack of evidence.’

nThe maid, who was caught as the kidnapper, was tortured by him, but she died without mentioning the name of the Marchioness.

nKaizen looked at Marquis Croychen with annoyance.

nIf the wife is severely punished, the husband, Marquis Croychen, must be punished as well.

nIt is not a pity to kill such a woman, but Kaizen could not lose such a loyal subject just because of his wife and daughter.

n“The Marchioness has a problem with her conduct, so tell her to stay in the mansion, she will be on house arrest.”

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