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n“You need my help?”

nThe Duke ridiculed Astelle, “You seem to have come to your senses now.”

n“I will soon become the Empress, and Theor will become Crown Prince, but there is no one to help me.”

nAstelle said frankly that she needed her father’s help.

n“Isn’t the Emperor so into you?”

n“How long will it last?”

nRight now, Kaizen is obsessed with Astelle and doing whatever she wants, but Astelle doesn’t know when Kaizen will change again.

nThe Duke of Reston clicked his tongue as if agreeing with Astelle.

n“Well, it won’t last long. He is too old now.”

nFritz glared at his father, stunned.

nAstelle beckoned him to remain still and then turned to the Duke.

n“I asked His Majesty to make Fritz the Lord of the West.”

n“What? Why?”

nThe Duke, leaning on the back of the chair, was surprised and looked back at his son when he heard that the Emperor was going to give Fritz the position he should have.

n“I asked him to return your position, but he didn’t allow it. I had no choice but to ask him to appoint Fritz,” Astelle explained.

nKaizen removed the Duke from the position of Lord of the West two years ago after he became embroiled in a rebellion in the North.

n“Did he give his permission?”

n“Yes, he promised.”

n“Good job.”

nThe Duke looked at Astelle with eyes full of affection as if appreciating her.

nAstelle’s weakness was that she wasn’t young anymore, but she was still quite beautiful.

nShe was still wearing a plain dress like a maid, but there was dignity in her beautiful face and her skinny body.

nIt was not unreasonable that Kaizen fell for Astelle.

nHowever, it was surprising that he would return the position of the Lord of the West to the Reston family.

nKaizen has made every effort to destroy the Reston family.

nBut he changed his mind as easily as turning his palm over just because of Astelle’s words.

n‘This turned out to be easier than I thought.’

nThe Duke said, “Okay. Trust this father of yours. I’ll do anything for you and the prince.”

n“Thank you, father.”

nAstelle smiled as if touched.

n‘I’m sorry, but it’s not going to go your way.’

nAstelle had a clear picture of what her father was thinking.

nHowever, Astelle had no intention of doing what her father wanted.

nShe could feel Fritz’s gaze looking closely at this side.

nAstelle blinked at him.

nFritz nodded as if understood.

n***

nThe next day, as soon as I woke up after sleeping overnight, Kaizen sent an attendant to deliver a message.

nI was told to take Theor to the temple.

n“Already?”

nI heard that the Theor would go through the verification process at the temple, but I didn’t know he would go this early.

nAstelle finished breakfast quickly in her room and changed. Theor was still asleep in his room.

nThe Emperor’s attendant bowed his head as if he was sorry.

n“His Majesty has ordered me to bring the prince as soon as possible. The priests in the temple have already finished the preparations and are waiting.”

nKaizen seems to want to check the lineage in the temple as soon as possible and grant Theor the status of a prince officially.

nReluctantly, she woke Theor up and prepared to head to the temple after finishing his light breakfast.

n“Where are we going?”

nTheor rubbed his sleepy eyes as he ate a slice of potato pancakes with apple jam.

nCooling down the cream soup in the bowl, Astelle said, “We are going to the temple with His Majesty.”

n“Why are we going to the temple?”

nTheor didn’t seem to understand well that he had to go somewhere again before he could adapt to the Imperial Palace.

n“We are going to the temple to pray and to let others know that His Majesty the Emperor is your father.”

nAstelle bathed Theor, changed his clothes, and headed to the outer palace where the carriage was waiting.

nWhen she arrived at the outer palace of the Imperial Palace, Kaizen was waiting for the two of them.

n“Theor, did you sleep well yesterday?”

n“Yes, Your Majesty.”

nKaizen, who was stroking Theor’s hair, looked at Astelle and hardened his expression for a moment.

nKaizen said reluctantly, “If you feel uncomfortable, you don’t have to go.”

nAstelle wondered what this meant, but it seems that Kaizen is worried that she will be uncomfortable because she will face numerous nobles in public.

nAt that unfamiliar concern, Astelle replied calmly, “It’s okay. I can’t just let Theor go. I will go with him.”

nWhat’s there to be uncomfortable about?

nHe had already publicly proposed to her at the charity ball.

nKaizen looked at her and carefully reached out to escort her.

nShe wanted to say no, but Theor was watching the two with sparkling eyes.

nAstelle took his hand slowly, reluctantly.

nHis hard, calloused hand wrapped around hers.

n“I’m sorry for calling you in a hurry. I want to finish the temple work as soon as possible.”

n“It’s okay, Your Majesty. It’s something you have to do anyway, so it’s better to finish it quickly.”

nUnder the bright sunlight, Astelle looked at Kaizen who was wearing an emperor robe.

nEven though there must be a lot of backlog of work, he came out early in the morning to stabilize Theor’s position as a prince.

nShe had to admit that he cares for Theor.

nAlthough Astelle herself gave up her expectations from Kaizen.

nAs she was walking side by side in the Imperial Palace, the memories of the past came to mind.

nIn the past, she used to meet him at the outer palace of the Imperial palace and go to the temple together.

nIn particular, whenever Empress Dowager’s health deteriorated, Astelle and Kaizen went to pray for her.

nKaizen came out first and waited for Astelle.

n“Astelle.”

nHe politely reached out to her, took her hand, and walked along.

n“Thank you for coming with me, Astelle.”

nIn her memory, the teenage Kaizen smiled affectionately.

nAstelle blinked her eyes at the bright sunlight as past memories came and went.

nNext to her was Kaizen, who had now become an imposing emperor, and the young Theor.

nThe two headed to the temple with Theor.

n***

nAs the attendant explained, the priests had already been in the temple and were waiting for the emperor.

nIt was early, but the altar was crowded with nobles who had gathered to see this historic scene.

nIn the past, when Astelle came here to sign the Empress Dowager’s will, only the ministers and other high-ranking nobles were present.

nBut now, even noble ladies and young noble ladies were filling the altar.

nThere seemed to be more people than on the day of the charity ball.

n“The Emperor has come.”

nAstelle followed Kaizen with Theor.

nPeople’s eyes focused on the three of them.

nTheor seemed a little nervous when too many people looked at him.

nAstelle held Theor’s hand and whispered, “It’s okay, Theor.”

nAt Astelle’s words, Theor walked confidently.

nAt that moment, the old high priest poured gold-colored water into the holy grail.

nIt was a special water used to test blood ties.

nWhen Theor was born, he proved that he had a blood relationship with the Marquis of Carlenberg.

nThe blood of the Marquis and the newly born Theor was put into the water in the holy grail.

nThe test process was simple.

nIf there is a direct blood relationship, it shines, and if there is not, then no change occurs.

nOf course, the stronger the blood ties, the stronger the light.

nAt that time, the light appeared on the surface of the holy grail and then disappeared.

nStill, it was enough to prove that Theor was a great-grandson of the Marquis of Carlenberg.

n“Prince, your hand……”

nThe priest reached out to Theor. Theor looked at Astelle with a slightly frightened face.

n“It’s okay, Theor. It won’t hurt much.”

nThe High Priest poked Theor’s finger to draw his blood.

nTheor frowned at the prickly pain, but bit his lip and endured it.

nDrops of blood fell into the holy grail.

nIn an instant, there was a light that shone so brightly that it blinded the eyes.

n“Oh, my……”

n“He really is His Majesty’s son……”

nThere were murmurs of admiration among the gathered people.

nEveryone knew that Theor was Kaizen’s son, but when they saw it officially confirmed, they were more surprised.

nThere was shock and confusion in the eyes of some.

nThe High Priest comforted Theor kindly, “It’s all over, Prince.”

nTheor stopped crying and touched his painful finger.

nAstelle took his hand and applied the medicine she had prepared.

nKaizen gazed at Theor with a look full of pride and beckoned, “Theor, come here.”

nTheor hesitated and walked over to him.

nKaizen lifted Theor with one arm and hugged him in his arms.

nThe high officials who were watching at that sight belatedly approached Kaizen and bowed.

n“Your Majesty, I congratulate you for finding the Prince.”

nKaizen nodded his head in satisfaction.

nBut Astelle couldn’t even pretend to be happy.

n‘Congrats on finding the prince……’

nI hoped that this day would never come in my life.

nToday was an important day for Theor to be recognized as a prince.

nHowever, the two parents had different mixed feelings.

nKaizen showed his son to others with a happy face, but Astelle, standing next to him, felt nothing but vain and bitter feelings.

nAstelle hoped Theor would spend the rest of his life comfortably without getting involved in political strife as the emperor’s son.

nEven though she knew it was hard, she wanted to let him live a quiet life without his identity being revealed forever.

nBut her hopes were shattered in vain.

nNow, like it or not, she had no choice but to live here to protect Theor.

nAs Astelle was standing still and having such thoughts, someone looked at her and approached.

nHe was a skinny, middle-aged man.

n“Um, Lady Astelle. Long time no see. I am Viscount Bürgen, Minister of Home Affairs.”

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