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nIt was only natural for the Emperor to wear such clothes in the Imperial Palace.

nDuring the tour, he was wearing casual clothes like ordinary nobles.

n“Greetings to the Emperor, the Lord of the Empire.”

nKaizen strode towards the two of them, and looked at Seibel.

n“Sir Seibel, what are you doing here?”

n“Your Majesty.”

nSeibel answered politely, “I have come to deliver a gift to Lady Astelle at the order of my father.”

nKaizen seemed uncomfortable for some reason.

nHis sharp eyes turned to Astelle.

n“What is the gift?”

n“It’s a book.”

nShe showed him the history book that was on the table.

nKaizen frowned and chased Seibel away.

n“Go back when your business is over.”

n“Yes, Your Majesty.”

nSeibel came to Astelle.

n“I hope to see you again next time, Lady Astelle.”

n“Yes, see you.”

nAfter saying that, Seibel went out.

nThere was a heavy silence in the room.

nKaizen just looked at Astelle with displeased eyes as if he wasn’t feeling well.

n‘Why didn’t you say anything when you came looking for me?’

n“Your Majesty, what have you come here for?”

n“I did not come to see you.”

nKaizen said in an annoyed tone.

n“I came to see Theor.”

n“Theor?”

nWhat does Kaizen have to do with Theor?

n“Where is he?”

n“He is with my grandfather.”

n“Call him.”

nHe asked the maid to bring Theor.

nAfter a while, Theor ran to the library.

n“Your Majesty!”

nAs soon as Theor found Kaizen, he was delighted and ran to him.

nKaizen lifted Theor and held him in his arms.

n“How have you been?”

n“I like the gift. There are silver soldiers.”

nIt felt strange to see the two of them become so close.

nI feel anxious.

n‘It’ll be fine.’

nNow, if I leave tomorrow, Theor and Kaizen will never meet again.

n“I promised to take Theor to the theater beforehand but I couldn’t because I didn’t have time and he would be leaving tomorrow.”

nAstelle was surprised to hear what Kaizen said.

nWhen did you make that promise?

nAs Theor looked disappointed, Kaizen pinched Theor’s soft cheek.

n“The fair is open today. Shall we go take a look there?”

n“Let’s go!”

n“Wait, a fair?”

nAstelle shouted in surprise, and the two of them turned around just then.

n“Well, since I promised to him, so I’ll take him.”

n“Your Majesty and Theor are going alone?”

n“The escorts will follow us.”

n“No, that’s not it……”

nWell, when the emperor goes undercover in a fair, the guards guarding the emperor secretly follow him.

nHowever, it was like Kaizen and Theor were alone.

nLetting Theor to the fair alone with Kaizen……no way.

nAstelle was forced to step forward.

n“I’m going too.”

nA smirk appeared on Kaizen’s handsome face.

n“You don’t believe me.”

n“……”

nHow can I entrust my child to you?

nKaizen was a capable emperor.

nBut he never takes care of a child.

nHe wasn’t the kind of person who can take care of a five-year-old.

nShe’d rather leave Theor with Vellian than with Kaizen.

nKaizen found it interesting that Astelle asked him to take her too.

nHe said with a low smile, like a big benevolent,

n“Well, if you want to follow us, do whatever you want.”

n“Is Aunt Astelle going with us too?”

nTheor was so happy to hear that both of them were going.

nAstelle answered with a sigh, “Okay. Let’s go together.”

nSo the three of them went to the fair together.

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nThe capital was a very large city.

nThere were numerous densely populated areas in the east, west, north, and south, centering on the downtown area south of the Imperial Palace.

nThe fair was held in the capital’s grand park.

nThe long marble walkway running through the center and the octagonal fountain square were the park’s trademarks.

nThe square, which creates beautiful and charming scenery, has always been clean and safe due to thorough management.

nBut, there were way too many people.

n“Theor, be careful, don’t let go of my hand. Never.”

nTheor, who had never seen so many people, was too busy looking around.

n“Wow.”

nWhen they rode the carriage across the center of the capital city, Theor didn’t even look at Astelle because he was busy seeing a lot of people.

n“Yeah, I won’t let it go.”

nAs he entered the crowd, Theor held Astelle’s hand tightly.

nTheor looked around the east road of the square where many people came and went with a curious look.

nIt was something he had never seen before.

nHe rarely went out, so for him, everything was so amazing.

nHe watched carefully at the people selling colorful goods.

nKaizen, who followed the two from behind, murmured, “There are so many people.”

nAstelle glanced back at Kaizen, who was walking while crossing the crowd, taking care not to let his head touch the lamp hanging from the pole.

nAs the situation changed rapidly, the great nobles fell, and a civil war broke out not long ago, but the capital was prospering more peacefully than before.

nIt was all Kaizen’s merit.

n“Have you been here before?” (Kaizen)

n“Yeah.”

nKaizen seemed surprised to hear Astelle’s answer.

n“Why are you surprised?”

n“I didn’t know you like to come to a place like this. In the past, it seemed that you would only live in a mansion. I don’t think your father would allow you to go to a place like this either.”

nLadies of noble families don’t come to places where commoners hang out like this.

nAstelle muttered, avoiding his gaze.

n“Well……I didn’t come out with my father’s permission.”

nThere are many noble ladies in the capital, but few of them have a father who will gladly allow them to go to such a place.

n“I went out with Brother Fritz. Ah, Brother Sigmund too.”

nCome to think of it, Brother Fritz, like Kaizen, also grumbled while crossing the crowd.

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n“What makes this dusty market so much fun? I can’t understand it at all.” (Fritz)

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nAstelle just smiled bitterly.

nIt was dusty and there were a lot of people, but I would like to see more when the opportunity arises.

n‘Because I thought once I entered the Imperial Palace, I wouldn’t be able to go out at will.’

nKaizen, who was complaining, was surprised to see Astelle looking lonely.

nAs he was about to say something more, Astelle suddenly pointed to a corner of the square.

n“Theor, there’s a puppet show. Shall we go take a look?”

n“What is a puppet show?”

n“A play with puppets.”

nAt the word of the play, Theor was ready to run in that direction.

n“I want to go see it!”

nAstelle went there with Theor.

nA small simple stage was set up in a corner of the square and a play was played with puppets.

nIn front of the stage, there are seats on the floor for people to sit and watch.

nSmall children gathered together in front of the stage.

nAstelle chose a seat with a good view and sat Theor down.

n“Sit quietly here and watch.”

nOn the stage were a rabbit doll and a teddy bear hanging by a string.

nIt was a story like a fairy tale because it was a performance for children.

nThe conversation continued, going for a walk and eating delicious food.

nTheor sat down on the bench, and Astelle stood on the floor behind him and watched.

nKaizen also came over and stood next to Astelle.

nWhile watching the play for a while, Kaizen next to her brought up another story.

n“Have you met your father?”

nAstelle wondered if he was spying on her.

nAfter all, she was living in the mansion the emperor gave her, and she thought it would be known through the mouths of the servants.

nOn the other hand, Astelle thought that Kaizen was not monitoring her, but rather her father, the Duke of Reston.

n‘How is the investigation of the assassination going on?’

nIt must have been her father.

nWhat happens when the truth is revealed?

nNot only her father, but Fritz also couldn’t be safe.

nAstelle herself could not be safe.

nAstelle answered as she hid her growing anxiety,

n“Yes, I met my father.”

n“What did your father say?”

n“We didn’t talk much. It was just about housework.”

nKaizen frowned upon hearing Astelle’s vague answer.

nWhen he heard that the Duke of Reston had come to see Astelle, he was not in a good mood.

nA few months ago, when Kaizen inquired about Astelle’s whereabouts, Duke Reston said with tears in his eyes,

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n“My poor daughter left the mansion and disappeared as soon as the divorce trial was over. How heartbroken I am that the daughter I wholeheartedly raised has left the capital and disappeared……”

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nIt was the image of a poor father who was heartbroken over the loss of his daughter, but he was blaming Kaizen while pretending to be sad.

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