n

n

n

nKaizen’s handsome face hardened at the answer that came out without hesitating.

nAstelle said frankly in a calm voice, “Your Majesty once made an oath of marriage in front of God and demanded a divorce the very next day.”

nHow can I trust such a person?

nAstelle’s words had such a meaning.

nKaizen could not refute.

nAs Astelle said, he was the one who broke the oath of marriage in the first place.

n“So this time, I want to leave solid evidence.”

n“Do you want me to write a contract?”

nKaizen gritted his teeth and asked.

n“Yes, I would like to make the terms and conditions of this marriage.”

nAstelle answered immediately.

n“Haa.”

nAt this point, Kaizen was stunned and smirked.

n“Okay. I will make a contract and sign it as you wish.”

nHe opened the door and shouted toward the next room.

n“Vellian!”

nVellian, who was playing with Theor, ran up to him with a surprised face.

n“Bring a paper and write this down.”

nVellian hurriedly went somewhere and brought a paper and pen.

nHe went to the small table in Theor’s bedroom and wrote down what Kaizen was saying.

n“In exchange for the marriage, I appoint Fritz von Reston as the Lord of the West.”

nVellian, who was diligently writing, glanced at Astelle.

nThe table he wrote on was a children’s table engraved with little stars, moon, and ponies.

nThe sight of Vellian writing on the table like that was really funny.

n“I wrote it all down, Your Majesty.”

nVellian, who finished writing the terms of the contract, raised his head.

nKaizen didn’t say anything.

nAstelle added, “And one more thing, please. I can file for a divorce at any time I want in five years.”

nAt this point, Vellian also looked surprised.

n“Your, Your Majesty……”

n“Write it down.”

nAfter Vellian wrote down Astelle’s terms, Kaizen took a pen and signed it quickly and roughly.

nHe put down the pen and asked, “Now that you have everything you want, what are you going to do?”

nAstelle picked up the paper and said, “Please take care of Fritz’s work properly. As I said before, I will take care of my father.”

n***

nKaizen went out of the Empress’s Palace after finishing his conversation with Astelle.

nVellian followed him and clicked his tongue.

n‘It’s a bad start.’

nToday was Astelle’s first day at the Empress’s Palace and Kaizen’s first visit to the Empress’s Palace.

nVellian, who was always beside Kaizen knew how long he had been waiting for this day.

nThe Emperor urged the knights to bring the Marquis to the capital as soon as possible in order to quickly bring Astelle to the Imperial Palace.

nAs soon as the old marquis arrived, he immediately sent a carriage to pick up Astelle.

nBesides, Vellian thought Kaizen was waiting for Astelle from the bottom of his heart.

nUnfortunately, this meaningful first day in the Empress Palace ended very uncomfortably.

nKaizen, who had been walking for a while, stopped for a moment to catch his breath.

nAs soon as he entered the palace, he was annoyed by Astelle’s request for a contract, but as his feelings subsided, he felt pitiful.

nIt was not unreasonable that she did not believe in him.

nAfter he made an oath in front of God, he broke it in just one day.

n‘……’

nSuddenly, a memory from six years ago came to mind. It was around the time when the wedding date was set.

nWhile preparing for the wedding, Astelle entered the Crown Princess palace and decorated the couple’s room for the two of them.

nAt that time, Astelle looked very happy.

nSometimes she showed him furniture and tapestries and asked him for his opinion.

n“How about this, Your Highness? Do you like it?”

nOf course, he was not very interested in the wedding.

n“Choose as you please. I trust your eyes. Everything you pick will be great.”

nHe gave such a plausible answer every time.

nThen Astelle’s cheeks reddened and smiled. It was the appearance of a happy bride-to-be.

nKaizen hopes Astelle will be as happy as she was back then.

nHowever, Astelle, who has now entered the Empress’s Palace, looked around the splendid palace with indifferent eyes.

nShe even asked him to sign a contract.

n‘A contract……’

nKaizen will somehow change Astelle’s mind before the contract period ends.

nIt’s never going to be an easy task.

n“I don’t know how to change Astelle’s mind.”

nVellian, who was following him, heard his sighs mixed with complaints.

nVellian only listened without a word.

nIn such a situation, it was the role of the aide to cheer up by saying good things as much as possible.

nBut no matter how much he thought about it, it seemed impossible at this time.

n‘No matter what His Majesty may do, I don’t think Lady Astelle will change her mind.’

nWhen he thought about the contract he had just written, it would be nice if Astelle could continue living in the Imperial Palace instead of changing her mind.

nVellian remembered the last condition and felt anxious.

n‘You’re really not thinking about leaving in five years, are you?’

nNo way. Your son is here……

nHowever, considering Astelle’s determined personality, Vellian couldn’t hide his anxiety about what would happen to this marriage.

n***

nAfter Kaizen left, the maid announced another visitor’s arrival.

nThe maid said, “The Duke of Reston and the Young Lord of Reston have come.”

n‘I’m busy.’

nBefore she even unpack her belongings, other guests came.

nHer father and Fritz were waiting in the drawing room.

nWhen Astelle arrived, the Duke of Reston, who was sitting, said admiringly, “I am finally seeing you here. It’s been six years.”

nIt was a voice of satisfaction as if his long-cherished wish had come true.

nHe has been working hard for nearly twenty years to put Astelle here, of course, he was satisfied.

nThe Duke of Reston beckoned to Hannah, who was beside Astelle.

n“It is a hot day. Bring the tea.”

nHe was still as arrogant as before.

nHannah stood still and said nothing.

n“No need to bring it. He won’t be here long.”

nAt Astelle’s brief orders, Duke Reston raised one eyebrow.

n“I came to see our prince.”

n“Theor is not a prince yet. He hasn’t even been verified by the temple.”

nEveryone already knows that Theor is a prince, but in order to be officially recognized, he had to undergo a blood test at the temple.

nAstelle heard that as soon as she entered the Imperial Palace, Kaizen had scheduled the test at the temple.

n“If he’s the emperor’s son, he’s a prince. If you look at his face and the color of his eyes, anyone will know he’s a prince.”

nThe Duke of Reston smiled and continued, “You managed to fool me. I can’t believe you’ve been hiding such a big secret for six years. You’re smart because you’re my daughter.”

nAstelle didn’t respond.

nFritz, who had been standing quietly, asked worriedly, “Is grandfather okay?”

n“Yeah, he’s hurt a little, but I think he’s okay.”

n“That’s a relief.”

nThe Duke of Reston clicked his tongue.

n“Why is he holding a sword at that age? If he just stayed still, he wouldn’t be hurt.”

nFritz frowned at his father’s rude remarks, and Astelle clenched her fists hard.

nHer maternal grandfather seriously injured his arm in the incident.

nShe wanted to make her father, who dared say such a thing, suffer the same.

nBut Astelle did not show her anger.

nNow was the time for her to convince her father.

nAt that time, Theor ran inside.

n“Mom! Look at this! Levin has clothes.”

nTheor, who was running towards Astelle with Levin in knight uniform, stopped at the door.

nTheor’s gaze was fixed on the Duke sitting in the chair.

nThe Duke of Reston stood up with a smile on his face as soon as he saw Theor.

n“Our prince.”

nTheor ran and hid behind Astelle.

n“Mom, I hate him. He is a bad guy.”

n“Theor, he is your maternal grandfather.”

n“My mom’s father?”

nTheor raised his head with a confused look.

nThe only grandfather Theor knew was Astelle’s maternal grandfather, the Marquis of Carlenberg.

n“Yes.”

nThe Duke smiled friendly and beckoned to Theor.

n“Prince, please come to this grandfather of yours.”

nBut Theor ran away, hugging the teddy bear as the Duke tried to come to him.

n“Bad grandfather! No!”

nThe Duke’s face hardened, still maintaining his friendly smile.

nAstelle comforted her father.

nOf course, there was no truth in it.

n“Don’t worry about that. It was because he still hasn’t adapted. I’ll explain to him slowly, so stay away from Theor for a while. He’ll hate you even more if you force yourself to approach him, because he’s a very shy kid.”

n“He is a picky boy.”

nThe Duke frowned as if he was displeased, but there was still a smile on his lips.

n“Well, he is a child who will become the emperor, he shouldn’t open his heart too easily.”

nThe Duke seems to like Theor very much.

nIt must be because he is his own blood that will inherit the throne.

nHe is an important child who will make him a regent.

n“Actually, I wanted to see you, father.”

n“What’s wrong?”

nAstelle looked at her father and spoke in a calm but clear tone.

n“I am going to be the Empress now and Theor will be recognized as Prince. So I need your help from now on, father.”

n