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n“Come on, sweetheart. Try this.”

nThe Duke of Reston handed a cookie to Theor.

nIt was a sweet voice as if dripping honey.

nIt was a figure that no one could ever imagine.

n“……I won’t eat it.”

nTheor ran behind the chair, avoiding the Duke’s hand.

nHe hid behind the back of the chair, revealing only his face.

nThe Duke smiled and put the cookie back down on the bowl.

n“You don’t like sweets?”

nTheor replied while wary of him trying to catch him.

n“No, I do not want it.”

nThen he hid completely behind the back of the chair, avoiding his eyes.

nTheor hated the man named the Duke.

nThe nape of his neck he had held still throbbed and hurt.

nIt was also strange that he suddenly smiled kindly, having grabbed his neck a moment ago and angry.

nHe seemed like a high-ranking person, but just looking at him frightened him.

nThe Duke smiled contentedly as he wiped his hands with a napkin.

n“You’re not like a normal kid. Is it because you have precious blood?”

nThe Duke thought children would like sweets like this.

nIn fact, the Duke did not like children.

nChildren were just noisy and annoying creatures.

nBut he likes this little one.

nThis child is the heir to the throne.

nWhen this child becomes emperor, he will become a regent and lawfully rule the empire.

nBecoming a regent had long been his dream.

nFor that dream, he educated Astelle as the future empress.

nAlthough he failed because of Kaizen, Astelle still did her part.

nBecause she gave birth to such a cute and clever prince.

n‘If this child becomes emperor, I will rule the empire.’

nWhile the Duke was imagining such happiness, there was a commotion in the hallway.

nbang!

nThe door of the drawing-room opened with a bang.

nFritz entered the drawing-room.

n“Father!”

n“Have you forgotten how to knock?”

nFritz walked towards his father angrily.

n“I heard you brought Theor. Where is he—”

n“Uncle Fritz?”

nTheor, who was hiding behind a chair, heard a familiar voice and raised his head.

n“Theor?”

n“Uncle Fritz!”

nTheor rushed out and hugged him.

n“Theor are you o-”

nFritz, who was about to ask if he was okay, stared blankly at Theor’s tearful face.

n‘His eyes……’

nHis eyes are red.

n“……uncle?”

nWhen Fritz didn’t respond, Theor grabbed the hem of his robe.

n“Why do you look like that? Are you surprised?”

nThe duke ridiculed his son.

n“Father, he is……”

n“That’s right. As you can see, your nephew is His Majesty’s son.”

nThe Duke laughed as if pleased to see his son’s silly expression.

n“You were the emperor’s playmate when you were a child, but you can’t recognize your nephew? Just by looking at his appearance, it is clear he is Kaizen’s son.”

nFritz looked at Theor with trembling eyes.

nThe tearful eyes were still ruby red.

nAs soon as he saw Theor, he knew he was Astelle’s child.

nTheor doesn’t look like Sigmund at all.

nRather, his thin stature, the shape of his ears, lips, and hands, were all very similar to Astelle’s.

nAnd Fritz, who was close to Sigmund like a best friend, was well aware that Sigmund had no lover.

nHe could not believe it when he heard that a child from Sigmund had been born, so he had written several letters to his maternal grandfather.

nThe moment he put all of these together, there was only one answer.

nThat Theor is Astelle’s child.

nBut he did not know who the father was.

nHe once thought Theor looked a little like the emperor, but he never thought he would be the emperor’s son.

nAbove all, the color of his eyes was the most convincing evidence, so he did not doubt.

n“Duke.”

nLyndon was standing by the door.

nA little while ago, Lyndon had sent a knight to the Imperial Palace to inform the Emperor about Theor.

nHowever, even before the answer came back, a messenger sent by the Emperor arrived first.

n“His Majesty has asked you to bring the Prince…… Young Master Theor to Lady Astelle’s mansion right now.”

n“It seems that my daughter has accepted His Majesty’s proposal, huh?”

nLyndon did not answer the Duke’s question and hugged Theor.

n“Young Master Theor, I will escort you.”

n***

nAstelle was waiting for Theor.

nKaizen left the drawing-room after saying he would meet the conditions.

nI don’t think he left the mansion.

nHe seemed to need some time to be alone for a while.

nHe suddenly heard the incredibly shocking news.

nSo it takes time to calm his emotions.

nMarriage to Kaizen is now decided.

nThe marriage was nothing more than a formal marriage.

nAstelle will live as an empress, but she will not be a real couple with Kaizen.

n‘There is no other way for now.’

nRunning away from the imperial palace is possible only when Theor’s biological father is not revealed.

nSince Theor’s identity had already been revealed, there was no other way to escape.

nShe hated the fact that she had to return to the imperial palace again, but she could endure it if it was to protect Theor.

nIt was better to gain the position of Empress and protect Theor than to go on a battle without any power outside the Imperial Palace.

nI will do everything I can.

nThe important thing is to protect Theor.

nHannah opened the door and came in.

n“Lady Astelle! Young Master Theor is—”

nBefore Hannah could finish speaking, Astelle stood up from her seat.

nFootsteps were heard from the stairs.

nAstelle hurriedly ran downstairs.

nOn the stairs were Sir Lyndon and Theor.

nTheor found her and shouted with joy,

n“Aunt Astelle!”

nAstelle ran and hugged Theor.

n“Theor……”

nShe could feel the familiar warmth and soft body.

nShe was so happy that she cried feeling the presence of the child in her arms.

n“Theor, are you okay? Are you hurt?”

n“Yes……”

nTheor nodded, then put his hand on his neck.

n“My neck hurts.”

n“Do you have a sore throat?”

nAstelle unbuttoned his shirt in surprise.

nThe red marks left on his slender neck could be seen.

n“You have a bruise. Where did you get hurt?”

n“The bad guy grabbed me like this!”

nTheor grabbed his neck with both of his hands.

n“What does that mean?”

nShe was about to ask more, but Lyndon, who was watching, coughed.

n“Mhm. Lady Astelle.”

n“Oh, Sir Lyndon, thank you for bringing Theor back.”

nLyndon looked at Astelle with a complex look.

nThere was a little anger on his serious face.

nAre you angry?

nThat’s understandable.

nNow Theor’s eyes were red like blood.

nThe former Empress, who was expelled, hid the emperor’s child and raised him as an illegitimate child.

nAs the emperor’s servant, he deserved to be angry.

n“Whatever you think, Sir, I have no reason to deny it,” Astelle said calmly.

n“Lady Astelle, I am not blaming you.”

nLyndon denied her words.

nThen a familiar voice could be heard.

n“Lyndon.”

nKaizen was standing on the railing on the second floor.

n***

nKaizen, who was waiting in the break room, came out when he heard that Theor had arrived.

nPeople were gathering under the stairs.

nTheor was seen in Astelle’s arms.

nKaizen walked slowly towards the two of them.

nLyndon and the other knights hurriedly bowed.

nAstelle also bowed her head.

nFinally, Theor turned and looked at him.

n“Your Majesty?”

nWhen he turned around, his red eyes could be seen clearly.

nHe had already heard from Astelle, but that was the moment when he faced the truth with his own eyes.

n‘Really……’

nTheor is my son.

nAt that moment, Kaizen felt an indescribable deep emotion.

n“Theor.”

nKaizen approached him.

nHe then gently stroked Theor’s face.

nHis soft, milky cheeks touched his fingertips.

n“Your Majesty, what’s wrong?”

n“Not Your Majesty.”

nKaizen bent his knees to meet Theor’s eye level.

nHe had the same red eyes as himself.

n“Call me Father.”

nThe knights and servants who saw the two could barely keep their mouths closed from the shock.

nWhen Lyndon entered the mansion with Theor in his arms, they were all astonished to see the color of the child’s eyes.

nTheor blinked, not understanding what he was saying.

n“My father is in heaven.”

nKaizen’s hand fell helplessly.

nTheor looked at Astelle in bewilderment.

n“Aunt? His Majesty is talking about Dad.”

nKaizen gritted his teeth when he heard that.

n“You don’t have to lie anymore. Just call her mother.”

nTheor, as if frightened by the low-pitched voice, grabbed the hem of Astelle’s skirt and turned his head away.

n“Theor, it’s okay. His Majesty was very worried about you.”

nAstelle hugged Theor and comforted him.

n“Your Majesty, Theor seems to be very surprised and tired today. Please come back tomorrow,” said Astelle.

n“……”

nKaizen is feeling sad and miserable.

nThe son, whom he met after six years, did not think of him as a father, but was afraid and turned away.

nKaizen also knew that he could not be recognized as a father by the child right now.

nKaizen endured his sorrow and turned around.

n“I will go to the Imperial Palace,” he said.

n

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