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nLyndon beckoned to the knights.

nIt meant to take the marchioness quickly.

nAs soon as the knights entered the banquet hall, a clear and calm voice interrupted them.

n“Yes, it is.”

nThe eyes, which had been shaken by shock, were all focused on one place.

nAstelle stepped forward.

nShe confessed in a calm voice.

n“Theor is my son.”

nAfter confessing, she felt rather comfortable.

nEyes full of shock, astonishment, ridicule, and contempt were inserted down like arrows, but Astelle didn’t care at all.

nThis much is fine.

nAs long as I don’t lose Theor.

nThe Marchioness smirked and muttered, “Dirty and shameless……”

nAstelle walked over to her without saying a word.

nThe Marchioness was startled.

n“Then I will ask you, Marchioness.”

nAstelle asked bluntly, “No matter how many illegitimate children I have, what does it have to do with you?”

nThe Marchioness shouted in surprise, “How can the imperial princess say such vulgar words……”

n“Is it a crime for me to have a child? I’ve been living alone since I got divorced, and I’m not even having an affair with my husband, so what’s the problem?”

nIn the Empire, it is not a crime to have an illegitimate child. If both were single, there was no problem at all.

nHowever, this was always followed by rebuke and criticism from the people of the world.

nEspecially the woman who gave birth to an illegitimate child was ridiculed and looked down on for the rest of her life.

nAstelle turned her back and met the dark red eyes looking at her.

nShe said, “It is wrong to falsify the child’s origin in the documents, and if you punish me, I will accept it, Your Majesty.”

nAfter she said that, she warned the marchioness again.

n“But I will not forgive you if you insult me and my son.”

nThe marchioness shut her mouth at Astelle’s threat.

nShe had nothing more to say because she had already revealed who the child’s birth mother was.

nWhile everyone was shocked, there was a person standing with an unchanged expression.

nKaizen was looking at Astelle with calm eyes.

n“I knew.”

nThose present at this ball were shocked for the third time.

nThe deposed empress had given birth to and raised an illegitimate child, and the Emperor, knowing the fact, proposed to her.

n“Lyndon, what are you doing?”

nAt Kaizen’s rebuke, Lyndon hurriedly beckoned to the knights.

nThe knights dragged the marchioness from the banquet hall.

nThe bewildered Marchioness turned to her husband, but he stood still like a stone statue.

n“Your Majesty…… I’m sorry. Your Majesty!”

nThe Marchioness was dragged out by the knights, belatedly begging for forgiveness.

nAstelle raised her head and looked at Kaizen.

nShe seemed to know only then why Kaizen had proposed to her.

nShe was surprised at first. Kaizen hoped Astelle wouldn’t be hurt and insulted by this scandal.

nIf she were a woman who received the emperor’s proposal, no one would dare to do anything with her.

n“I am sorry for ruining the atmosphere, Your Majesty.”

nBut Astelle was unwilling to get his help.

nAstelle politely bowed and said, “I’m going to leave now.”

nShe was about to leave the banquet hall, but as soon as she took a step, Kaizen grabbed her wrist.

n“My proposal still remains the same.”

nHolding Astelle, he said with earnest eyes,

n“I want to marry you.”

n“……”

nThere was a time when I was infinitely happy to hear that.

nYoung Astelle, who did not know the world yet, was delighted after receiving Kaizen’s proposal.

nEven now as an adult and getting older, I still haven’t been able to understand all the principles of the world, but I do know one thing for sure.

nAstelle and Kaizen are destined to never be together.

nAnd Astelle was now swayed by Kaizen’s heart and did not want to repeat her past mistakes.

nOne such thing was enough.

n“I’m sorry, Your Majesty.”

nAstelle pulled out her gripped wrist.

n“I refuse the proposal.”

n***

nIt was dark outside the banquet hall.

nThe cool air clears my head a little.

nMy heart, which had been beating anxiously, gradually found stability.

n“Astelle!”

nFritz, who followed, came to find Astelle.

n“Brother, I’m fine.”

nIn fact, I’m not fine.

nMy heart was still beating erratically.

nHowever, Astelle, pretending to be indifferent, skillfully hid her feelings.

n“Lady Astelle!”

nHannah brought Astelle’s luggage and came to find them.

nShe heard what happened in the banquet hall and asked Astelle worriedly,

n“Lady Astelle……are you okay?”

n“I’m fine, Hannah.”

nFritz looked around the door of the banquet hall.

n“I think it’s better to go back to the mansion quickly.”

nAstelle agreed.

nIf she stays here long, she will run into other people.

nIt was enough to be a spectacle for curious people in the banquet hall.

nAstelle returned to the mansion with Fritz in the carriage.

nAs soon as she arrived, Astelle headed to her bedroom.

nShe took off her necklace, put it on the dressing table, and sat down on a chair.

nWhen she arrived at the mansion, the accumulated fatigue came over.

nToday, everything was expected.

nKaizen is also aware of the relationship between Astelle and Theor.

nAlso Florin and the Marchioness are up to something related to that.

nI guessed it roughly.

nIt was all things I had expected and prepared for.

nHowever, Kaizen’s proposal could not be imagined even in my dreams.

nI didn’t expect him to propose to me there.

nNo matter how much he wanted to protect me.

nThe emperor of the Empire made an open proposal to the divorced former empress.

n‘Like a fool.’

nNot only would it damage the dignity of the emperor, but it would also undermine the emperor’s face.

nIt was surprising that he could come up with such an outrageous method.

nBefore dawn, all the nobles in the capital will talk about this.

nI think it would be better to pack up and leave immediately.

nNow that I have obeyed the order to attend the ball, I can go home.

nAstelle made up her mind to pack up and leave as soon as the sun came up.

nknock knock.

nA careful knock broke the silence in the room.

n“Lady Astelle.”

nHannah opened the door and came in.

n“Hannah.”

n“I have prepared bathwater in the bathroom,” she said.

n‘Yeah, I have to take off my clothes and remove my makeup.’

nAstelle struggled to get her body up.

nThe dress, which had a puffed skirt, was incredibly heavy.

nHannah supported Astelle.

n“Lady Astelle, don’t think about anything else and get some rest.”

nHannah’s calm voice comforted Astelle.

nAstelle sighed.

n“Okay. Nothing will change if I think about it more anyway.”

nAnyway, the goal was achieved.

nTheor left for the East with his grandfather.

nIt was not revealed who Theor’s biological father was.

nAt least for now.

nAstelle sat down in front of the dressing table.

nHannah loosened Astelle’s hair.

n“Can I prepare some tea before you take a bath?”

nHannah asked, looking worriedly at Astelle’s pale expression.

nJust as she was about to say okay, she heard a sharp voice outside the door.

n“Astelle!”

nIt was a familiar shout.

nIt was Astelle’s father, the Duke of Reston.

n“Astelle! Where are you?”

nAstelle stood up.

nThe untied hair flowed down her back.

nShe walked straight ahead and opened the door leading to the hallway.

n“I’m here.”

nHer father, who was coming up the stairs, found Astelle and stopped.

nShe could see Fritz rushing over his father’s shoulder.

n“Astelle.”

nHer father, the Duke of Reston, came into Astelle’s room grinding his teeth.

n“What are you doing in the middle of the night?”

n“What are you saying! After what happened at the banquet, how did you go back without my permission!”

n“Do I have to get my father’s permission when I return to the mansion?”

nAstelle asked calmly.

nOf course, she didn’t need her father’s permission.

nBecause Astelle had been thrown out of the family.

nThe duke had an expression on his face that he wanted to hit Astelle immediately.

n“Is that true?”

n“What are you talking about?”

n“I’m asking if that child is really your son?”

nThe duke shouted impatiently.

nHis eyes trembled from how angry he was.

nFritz, who followed the duke, stopped him.

n“Father, please stop it.”

nHowever, Astelle was not shaken at all.

nHe’d heard it a while ago, so I don’t know why he’s asking again.

nShe meekly repeated her answer,

n“Yes, you heard it right in the banquet hall. Theor is my son.”

nA cold silence settled in the room.

nThe duke was so shocked that he stood there blankly.

nAfter a brief silence, his face burned with anger.

n“This…… this dirty thing……!”

n“Father.”

nFritz stopped the duke with a cold expression on his face.

n“If you insult my sister, I won’t let you go.”

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