n

n

n

nAstelle stayed in the mansion for several days after Theor returned, waiting for her maternal grandfather.

nKaizen wanted Astelle to enter the Empress Palace immediately, but Astelle wanted to stabilize Theor’s position first.

nThe most important thing was to properly maintain the palace before entering the Empress Palace.

nAstelle paid a lot of attention to choosing Theor’s bedroom and residence.

nAstelle wrote down a detailed order and handed it over to Hannah.

n“Give it to Vellian.”

n“Yes, Lady Astelle.”

nHannah could get in and out of the Imperial Palace with ease.

nThe maids to be brought to the Empress Palace were chosen by Hannah herself.

nMost of them were maids who used to serve the Empress Dowager.

nIn the meantime, time flew by.

nWhen the preparation to enter the Imperial Palace was over, the Marquis arrived at the mansion.

n“Grandpa!”

nAs soon as the Marquis arrived, Theor ran to him.

nHe had a bandage on his left arm.

nHe looked into Astelle’s worried eyes and said quickly, “Don’t worry. It’s not serious.”

nTheor, who was in his grandfather’s arms, asked as he looked at his injured arm, “Grandpa, are you hurt?”

n“Grandpa is fine. What about you, Theor?”

n“I’m not hurt. I’m okay.”

nThe Marquis took Theor’s teddy bear out of his luggage.

n“I brought your doll.”

n“Levin!”

nTheor took the old teddy bear and held it in his arms.

n“Theor, Grandpa must be tired from coming a long way.”

nWhen Astelle blinked as if giving instructions, Hannah took Theor outside.

nAstelle went into her room with her grandfather.

nHe said it wasn’t serious, but her grandfather’s wound was worse than she thought.

nHis left arm could not move and he had a scar on the back of his head.

nThe Marquis sighed as Astelle looked at his injured arm.

n“I should have protected Theor no matter what. It’s pathetic to be old.”

n“Don’t say that. I’m glad you weren’t badly hurt.”

nIt was heartbreaking to see her maternal grandfather injured.

nIt looked like she was about to cry, but she held it back.

nIf she cried in front of her grandfather, he would feel even more guilty.

n“I decided to take Theor to the Imperial Palace.”

nAstelle explained the situation to her grandfather.

n“……that’s how it happened.”

nAfter hearing Astelle’s explanation, the Marquis sighed long.

n“Are you okay?”

n“It’s better than letting Theor go there alone.”

nAstelle spoke very calmly, but there was a painful look in her eyes.

nHowever, she immediately regained composure.

nIf she shows signs of sadness with her grandfather in front of her, her grandfather would be even sadder. Because Astelle had to go through an unwanted marriage and was forced to return to the Imperial Palace.

nAstelle took her grandfather’s hand quietly.

n“Do not worry too much. It’s just a formal contract marriage.”

n“When are you going to enter the Imperial Palace?”

n“I have to go to the Imperial Palace tomorrow.”

n“Tomorrow?”

n“I decided to go to the Imperial Palace after grandfather arrived.”

nAstelle told Kaizen that she would stay in the mansion until her maternal grandfather returned.

n“Grandpa, can’t you stay with me and Theor?”

nAstelle felt uneasy at the mere thought that her grandfather would be outside the Imperial Palace.

nAstelle’s most precious people were Theor and her grandfather.

nIn other words, they were Astelle’s weakness. There may be someone who harms the two to threaten her.

nAnother dangerous thing could happen if her grandfather was outside the Imperial Palace.

n“Did the emperor allow it?”

n“He did. He said you were free to stay with me.”

nKaizen looked a little displeased, but he allowed Aselle to do whatever she wanted.

nShe asked why he looked displeased, but he didn’t answer.

nThe Marquis also had a reluctant face, but he understood Astelle’s will and nodded his head.

n“It would be okay if the emperor allowed it.”

n***

nSince the Marquis had arrived, there was no reason to procrastinate any longer.

nIn fact, Astelle wanted to procrastinate, but she couldn’t.

nThe next day, carriages were sent from the Imperial Palace.

nKaizen also seems to have heard the news that the Marquis had arrived.

nAstelle packed her belongings and entered the Imperial Palace in the prepared carriage.

nThe Empress’s Palace was a splendid building to the east of the Imperial Palace.

nTaking Hannah’s hand and getting out of the carriage, Theor looked at the magnificent palace in front of him, and his eyes widened.

n“Wow, that’s huge! Are we living here now?”

n“Do you like it, Young Master?”

n“Yes! It’s like a palace.”

nHannah replied with a smile, “This is the Empress’s palace.”

nAstelle went inside the Empress’s Palace and looked around.

nOn the day of the charity ball, she came here to change shoes.

nThe furniture she had brought with her when she was the Crown Princess was still there, so she had a strange feeling as if she had just moved into the Crown Princess Palace.

n‘I didn’t know I would live here.’

nAfter Kaizen’s mother passed away, this palace was empty for a long time.

nThere were days when she dreamed she would live here.

nShe thought that she would start her new life as the hostess of the Imperial Palace.

n‘It was a foolish thought.’

nThe day she divorced and left the Imperial Palace, she thought that living in the Imperial Palace was over.

nBut now she came back here again. She really had no idea how fate worked.

nAs she looked around the bedroom and was immersed in her feelings, the maid announced Kaizen’s arrival.

n“Lady Astelle, His Majesty is here.”

n“Yes?”

nKaizen is here?

nIt was noon now.

nNow is the time to attend the political affairs in the emperor’s palace, so why is he here at this time?

nAstelle entered the next room under the guidance of the maid.

nKaizen was in Theor’s room.

nAs she entered, Kaizen, who was standing next to Theor, turned to her.

n“Astelle.”

n“What brings you here, Your Majesty?”

nVellian, who was with him, found Astelle and hurriedly greeted her.

n“Lady Astelle. How have you been? I wanted to greet you in advance, but I didn’t get a chance—”

n“Yes, it’s been a while.”

nAstelle answered indifferently, but Vellian came closer with a friendly attitude.

n“If there is anything I can help you with, please let me know. Whatever it is, I will do my best.”

nIt was a somewhat sarcastic voice.

nEver since learning of Theor’s birth, Vellian seemed to want to look good to Astelle

nEvery time she sent orders for the Empress’s affairs, a sincere reply came back.

nAstelle will soon become Empress, and Theor will become Crown Prince.

nVellian, the Emperor’s aide, tried to ignore what happened in the past and get along with Astelle.

nAstelle replied with a smile, “Okay, I’ll keep it in my mind. Don’t forget what you just said, Count.”

n“Haha……”

nVellian laughed awkwardly at Astelle’s firm voice.

nAnxiety flashed across his face as if he realized that what he said was useless.

nAstelle turned around indifferently and checked Theor’s room.

nTheor’s room was larger and more splendid than Astelle had ordered.

nInitially, Astelle did not ask for decorating the room, but asked for a change in structure and location.

n‘This is a bit too much.’

nThere was a small study full of fairy tales and a bedroom as large as the Empress’s bedroom.

nThere are other rooms on either side of the study.

nOne was a small living room overlooking the garden, and the other was a playroom full of toys.

nIn the playroom, there were so many toys that the room looked cramped.

nKaizen looked at Theor and asked, “What do you think? Do you like this place?”

nTheor was hugging Levin—the teddy bear his grandfather had brought—while looking at his new toys.

n“……yes.”

nTheor answered hesitantly.

nLooking at the overly spacious and luxurious room, it seems impossible to believe that it is his own room.

nHis bedroom in the mansion was also gorgeous, but it wasn’t this spacious.

n“Prince, you should thank His Majesty.”

nSeeing Kaizen’s disappointment, Vellian quickly stepped in.

nVellian looked a little impatient.

n‘What’s wrong with him?’

nAstelle watched silently and realized why he was like that.

nSeeing the frightened Vellian look into Kaizen’s eyes, Astelle was able to find the answer.

nKaizen seems to have ordered Vellian to decorate the room that Theor would like.

nTheor bowed his head helplessly toward Kaizen.

n“Thank you, Your Majesty.”

nTheor has been a little unfamiliar with Kaizen since he learned he was his father.

nCome to think of it, it was understandable.

nFor Theor, a ‘father’ was like a dream that didn’t exist in reality.

nHe must have been confused and surprised that Kiazen, with whom he was quite close, was actually his father.

nKaizen spoke to Theor again, “First of all, stay here. I will give you a new palace for you later.”

nTheor didn’t pay much attention to those words.

nHe couldn’t even adapt to this splendid palace yet, so the word ‘new palace’ didn’t catch his ears.

n“Young Master Theor, there are also cute dolls here.”

nHannah showed him the toys one by one.

nAstelle went into the next room to look around again.

nKaizen followed her.

n“Astelle.”

nAstelle ignored the look of despair that appeared in his eyes.

n“Yes, Your Majesty.”

n“Is there anything else you need? I’ll send the attendant to get it.”

n“I don’t need anything. I just want you to keep your promise to me.”

nKaizen’s eyes turned cold at Astelle’s stiff reaction.

n“You don’t believe me?”

n“Yes, I don’t believe Your Majesy.”

n