n

n

n

nTheor rested his face on the pillow.

nFortunately, Theor had no time to be bored.

nThis is because the toys sent by Kaizen were piled up like a mountain in the bedroom, and people who perform puppet shows came to visit him every day.

nTheor watched the repeated puppet show with enthusiasm.

nHe couldn’t go out to the garden yet, but during the day he roamed the bedroom and played with toys.

nSeeing him play vigorously, his body seems to have recovered completely.

n“Grandpa, what are you doing here?”

nAfter going to Hannah for a while and preparing Theor’s lunch, Astelle went upstairs and saw the marquis coming downstairs.

n“Hey.”

nAfter going down the stairs, the marquis found Astelle and quickly approached her.

nHe said with a frown on his face, “I was looking for you. Your brother is here.”

n“Brother Fritz?”

nIt was an unexpected visitor.

n‘Brother Fritz hasn’t contacted me since he came here on the first day.’

nA look of dissatisfaction crossed the eyes of the marquis.

n“Yes. He said he came to see you.”

nWhen he first came to the mansion, Fritz also apologized to his maternal grandfather, the marquis, and asked for forgiveness.

nThe marquis looked displeased, but he didn’t say anything when he saw Astelle staying still.

nAstelle asked, “What did you say about Theor?”

n“I said he had a cold.”

n“……well done.”

nOf course, Fritz knows Astelle’s constitution.

nIf he knows the detailed circumstances of this matter, he will notice Theor’s birth.

nAstelle walked nervously towards Theor’s bedroom.

nIt was when she reached the bedroom door.

nTheor’s laughter could be heard through the half-open door.

n“So this knight holds a sword……”

nFritz’s voice could also be heard.

nThe scenery in the bedroom could be seen through the half-open door.

nTheor reclined on the bed and Fritz kneeled beside it and talked with two puppets.

nAs Fritz moved the puppets in his hands, Theor burst into laughter.

nAstelle looked at the scene and opened the door.

nTheor, who was immersed in the puppet show, saw Astelle and shouted, “Aunt Astelle!”

nFritz also put the puppets down and got up.

n“Astelle.”

n“Brother, what are you doing here?”

n“I was playing with Theor because he likes puppet shows.”

nAs he said, puppets and small toys were scattered on the bed.

nTheor grabbed the puppet and approached Astelle.

n“Uncle Fritz did a puppet show! It’s called ‘The Knight and the Bear’! Do you know this story, Aunt Astelle?”

n“Yes, I know it.”

nAstelle turned to Fritz.

n“We watched it together when we were young.”

n“Do you remember?”

nFritz looked a little touched.

n“……”

nConversing with my brother made me feel somewhat comfortable even after seeing each other again after a long time.

nIs it because we are blood relatives?

nIt’s probably because of the affection accumulated while growing up together rather than blood ties.

nIn terms of blood ties, I should have been closer to my father, but I wasn’t comfortable with him and didn’t have any affection for him at all.

n“What did you come here for?”

nEven so, I had no intention of sharing the affection with my brother now.

n“I heard that you couldn’t leave the capital because Theor was sick. I’m worried about how he’s doing……”

n“Don’t worry, he is doing well.”

nAstelle cut off her brother’s words in a calm tone.

nWith Theor next to her, she couldn’t get angry or show a cold reaction.

nWithout losing a friendly smile to the end, she politely said, “Now I have to eat lunch with Theor. Can you please come back?”

nAstelle struggled to ignore the sad, pale green eyes that looked at her.

nA deep sense of loss was revealed on Fritz’s handsome face.

nIt wasn’t that she wanted to hurt her brother because she was resentful.

nBut she was worried that her brother would see Theor for a long time.

nBecause they are close blood relatives, she was afraid that he would notice something even a little.

nTheor asked, clutching Fritz’s sleeve, “Uncle Fritz, do you have to go?”

nFritz’s perplexed gaze turned to Theor.

nAstelle said, soothing Theor, “Theor, we should eat lunch and take some medicine. Let’s play again after we’re done.”

n“Astelle, I have something to talk about for a moment. Could you give me some time?”

nFritz intervened between the two of them and begged her earnestly.

n‘What else happened?’

nI felt uneasy.

nIf my brother begged like that, maybe he would have said something important to me.

nOr maybe it was about our father, the Duke of Reston.

nIt wasn’t something she could refuse to listen to.

nAstelle glanced at Theor and said, “Wait a moment.”

nThe two moved into the next room, leaving Theor behind.

n“What’s going on?”

n“Astelle.”

nFritz came closer to her.

nHis eyes shook anxiously.

n“Astelle, I am your brother.”

n“You didn’t call me to say that, right?”

n“Theor……”

nHis anxious, trembling voice stopped for a moment.

nNow, an ominous feeling filled Astelle’s heart as well.

n“If there is anything I can do to help you with Theor, please let me know.”

n“There is nothing you can do.”

nNow, her own voice trembled as the thin thread before it was cut off.

nFritz came one step closer to her.

n“You……don’t you need my help?”

n“……”

nFritz noticed it.

nAbout Theor’s Birth.

n‘How did you find out? Because of the fruit?’

nNo way. When he first saw Theor, Astelle remembered Fritz standing still and looking at him.

nAstelle realized later.

nThat her brother must have been suspicious of Theor’s birth from the beginning.

n“Brother…… I……”

nAstelle couldn’t continue her words because she felt suffocated.

nFritz grabbed her hand.

n“Astelle, I will help you. Trust this brother of yours.”

n“……”

nWhat should I say?

nI don’t need your help?

n‘How much do you know?’

nDid you only find out that Theor is my son?

nOr did you notice that he is Kaizen’s son?

nAstelle wanted to know for sure first.

nHer decision will be different depending on which of the two.

n“Brother, I……”

nBut before Astelle could say anything, a sharp voice intervened between the two.

n“Astelle.”

nThe two siblings hurriedly turned their eyes.

nKaizen was standing at the door.

n

n***

n

nKaizen walked towards the two siblings.

nI felt as if my heart was being trampled on by his steps.

nI felt like I was out of breath.

nDid you hear what I just said?

nIf so, what did you think when you heard it?

nKaizen stopped about a step away.

nThe cold eyes looking at Astelle went down a little further.

nHis gaze stopped on Fritz’s hand that was holding Astelle’s wrist.

n“What’s going on?”

nFritz looked at Astelle in bewilderment.

nAstelle replied indifferently without panicking. In a voice that is not at all different from usual, without shaking, “We were talking about our mother’s ball.”

n“Your mother’s ball?”

n“Yes, my mother hosted a charity ball at this time every year. It is our family tradition, so I was discussing it with my brother.”

nAstelle finished answering and calmly looked down.

nI don’t know why I remembered it at this moment.

nPerhaps when I danced with Kaizen at the ball at Dentsu Castle left a deep impression on me.

nSeeing that the moment I thought of an excuse while looking at Kaizen’s face, I thought of a ball.

nFritz puts Astelle’s wrist down and bows to Kaizen.

n“Yes, I said I was going to help my sister…… There was a difference of opinion, so we talked for a while.”

n‘Will you believe us?’

nAstelle forcibly calmed her nervously trembling heart.

nFortunately, Kaizen didn’t seem suspicious.

n“I see.”

nA faint smile appeared on his lips.

n“That’s a really good thing. I didn’t know there was such a tradition. Why are you fighting when you are discussing such a good thing? The siblings should cooperate together.”

nFritz’s glanced at Astelle.

n‘I think it went well.’

n“I’m sorry, Your Majesty. It’s because I’m not good enough as a brother.”

nKaizen turned to Astelle who was standing without a word.

n“How about Theor?”

n“Thanks to Your Majesty, his condition has improved a lot.”

nAstelle smiled as usual.

n“Thank you for all the puppet shows and toys you sent him. Theor liked it a lot.”

n“That’s a relief.”

nA satisfied smile appeared on Kaizen’s face.

n