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nAstelle was in the study on the second floor.

nI was often told that Astelle spent time there as she had nothing to do.

nKaizen, who was in front of the study room door, opened the door hesitantly and went inside.

nAstelle, who was sitting by the window, looked at him and got up.

n“Your Majesty?”

nAstelle looked tired.

nHer white skin was pale and the corners of her eyes were shaded.

nIs it so difficult to stay here?

nI told the courtiers to take good care of her so that there is no inconvenience.

n‘It must be because she is worried about her child.’

nThe figure of Astelle, who cared for Theor affectionately, flashed before his eyes.

nAstelle and Theor looked happy.

nThe light green eyes looking at the child were full of affection.

nWhen the two were together, there was always a peaceful and happy feeling around them.

nBut now Astelle looked tired, lonely, and exhausted.

nI felt bad when I saw her like that.

nI wanted to make you feel comfortable.

nBut it became like locking you up here and making you suffer.

nStill, Kaizen could not let Astelle go.

nHe has already ordered the preparation for the wedding in the imperial palace.

nNo matter what happens, I will officially hold a wedding ceremony and bring her to the imperial palace.

n“I have something to tell you.”

nKaizen was silent for a moment as if he was choosing his words.

nEven though he swore firmly that he would never let Astelle go, he couldn’t say anything when he saw her tired face.

nIf I tell her about this, she will be shocked.

n“Your Majesty? What’s wrong?”

nKaizen approached Astelle with a sad face.

n“This is about the Marquis and Theor.”

nAstelle’s face turned pale in an instant.

n***

n‘Why did you return?’

nI thought he had left, but Kaizen returned to the study.

nAstelle, who was looking out the window, found Kaizen and got up from her seat.

nUntil then, Astelle thought he was going to continue the previous conversation.

nAfter a long time, the uncomfortable silence was broken by Lyndon.

n“What’s going on?”

nKaizen seemed a little hesitant.

nAstelle realized that something bad had happened.

n“I think there was an attack before my knights arrived. The Marquis was injured.”

n“An attack?”

nSomething I was worried about was happening.

nAstelle almost fell from losing her balance.

nKaizen quickly came over and helped Astelle.

nHe hugged Astelle and comforted her.

n“Astelle, it’s fine. He is safe now.”

n“How hurt is he?”

n“It’s not serious. It’s at a level that can recover quickly.”

nAstelle let out a sigh of relief.

n‘Fortunately, you are safe.’

nWhen she heard that his grandfather was injured, she had imagined the terrible consequences.

nAstelle, who was relieved, looked up at Kaizen again.

n“How about Theor?”

n“……”

nThis time, Kaizen didn’t answer easily.

n“Your Majesty, is Theor safe?”

nWhen Astelle urged him to answer, Kaizen answered hesitantly and carefully,

n“I think your father took Theor.”

n“I beg your pardon?”

nAt the word father, Astelle’s eyes darkened.

n‘Did my father take Theor?’

n“The Duke’s men were near the inn. I’ve sent Lyndon over there now, so don’t worry too much.”

nAstelle understood the situation with that single word.

nHer father, the Duke of Reston, wanted Astelle to become Empress again.

nBut, Astelle did not listen to him, so he kidnapped Theor.

nHe kidnapped her son and tried to threaten her.

nAnger erupted at her father’s callous and selfish behavior.

nOn the other hand, she was also afraid.

nIf my father kidnapped Theor, it would be discovered that his eyes were red.

nMy quick-witted father will grasp the situation in an instant and find out that Theor is a prince.

nHiding her anxiety, Astelle asked,

n“Are you sure? What if it was someone else’s……?”

n“Why did other people kidnap Theor?”

n“Maybe someone who has a grudge against me……”

nAstelle did not directly refer to Florin and her mother, but only said ‘someone who has a grudge against me’.

nBut Kaizen knew who she was talking about.

n“Even if the Marchioness of Croychen had a grudge against you, there was no way she kidnapped the child of someone who would become Empress. The Marquis of Croychen would not allow that to happen.”

n“……”

nAstelle was silent at Kaizen’s confident words.

nKaizen was right.

nUnless it’s revealed that Theor is his son, no one else would try to kidnap Theor except Duke of Reston.

nKaizen said while comforting Astelle, who was trembling slightly.

n“Don’t worry too much. Your father probably didn’t kidnap him to harm him.”

nBut Astelle could not be so relieved.

n‘If my father finds out Theor’s true color eyes……’

nThat is the worst thing that could happen.

nAstelle was still anxious but had a glimmer of hope.

nHer father’s men weren’t the only ones near the inn where her grandfather and Theor had stayed last night.

nThere were also her older brother’s men, Fritz.

nMaybe the people near the inn weren’t his father’s men, but Fritz’s?

nMaybe the people Fritz sent had defeated her father’s men and saved Theor.

nMaybe her grandfather was injured, couldn’t escape, and could only take Theor to safety.

n‘Even if Fritz took him, he would notice the color of Theor’s eyes.’

nStill, it’s not the worst if Fritz finds out.

n“Your Majesty, may I go see my grandfather?”

n“Don’t worry, your grandfather will arrive in the capital as soon as everything is settled.”

n“Thank you, Your Majesty.”

nFritz was her only hope.

nAstelle turned her gaze to the window.

nIn the glass window, she could see the reflection of her pale face.

nKaizen reflected in the window raised his hand toward Astelle.

nAstelle turned to him.

nIn an instant, Kaizen’s finger touched her ear.

nKaizen reassured Astelle and stroked her platinum hair.

n“Theor will surely come back. Don’t worry too much.”

nAs Kaizen whispered, his warm breath reached Astelle’s ear.

nAfter meeting again in six years, Astelle sometimes felt unfamiliar with Kaizen.

nIn particular, whenever he acted so kindly, she wondered if he was the Kaizen she knew.

nKaizen of the past played as her sweet fiancé, but he was always cold.

nHe always pretended that he cared for Astelle, but despite such planned kindness, there was a somewhat heartless part.

n‘I didn’t realize it at the time.’

nThat the present Kaizen is unmistakably sweet and kind.

nThere is no pretense at all.

nIs he really sincere?

nEven though her feelings had wavered for a while with the friendly Kaizen, her heart froze again every time the old image of Kaizen crossed her mind.

nWhat’s more, she is furious to think that none of this would have happened if this man had done nothing.

nAstelle took a step back and walked away from him.

n“Thank you for your kind words, Your Majesty.”

n“……”

nKaizen’s gaze followed Astelle.

nHe sighed and said, I’ll be back soon, so if you ever need anything, just tell me.”

nAstelle bowed her head in an unwavering manner to show respect.

nKaizen’s sad eyes stared at her for a while.

nWhen Astelle raised her head, she saw Kaizen’s back as he walked out the door.

nAfter the door closed, Astelle swallowed dry saliva and looked back at the window.

nI could see the view of the capital city turning dark.

nNow, I have no choice but to pray in my heart that Theor is okay.

n***

nTheor woke up hearing a rattling sound.

n‘Where is this place?’

nWhen I slowly opened my eyes, I saw an unfamiliar landscape.

nThere was a patterned roof and windows a little away.

nEven when I was lying still, my body was constantly shaking.

nI couldn’t remember how long I slept. I don’t even know where this is.

nBlinking slowly, Theor realized he was in a moving carriage.

nThe blue sky and tree branches could be seen through the glass window.

n“That kid has come to his senses.”

nStartled at the unfamiliar voice, I turned my head.

nSitting across from me were men I had never seen before.

n“Are you awake?”

nTheor looked at them in surprise.

nBoth were strangers.

nHe looked similar in age to His Majesty the Emperor, but unlike His Majesty, they were men who looked scary.

nWho are these people?

n‘Why am I here?’

nTheor looked around and looked for his grandfather.

nHowever, there were only two strangers in the narrow carriage.

n“Grandpa……”

nAnother man, who had been silent all this time, said,

n“The Marquis is not here.”

nTheor shuddered and stiffened in surprise.

nThe moment I heard that voice, I remembered what happened last night.

nLast night, someone opened the closet door where Theor was hiding.

nHe was the man with a black cloth covering his face.

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