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nThis wasn’t the first time she had heard the name.

nHe was a man who was a middle-ranking official even when Astelle lived as a Crown Princess.

nAstelle remembers he was also quite close with the Reston family.

n‘It seems that the great nobles who have fallen have now risen to the rank of minister.’

n“Yes, long time no see. I heard that you were busy renovating the Empress’s Palace. I bet you’ll be busy preparing for a national wedding as well.”

nThe Minister of Home Affairs was happy when Astelle recognized his effort and continued the conversation.

n“Yes, that’s right. I’m preparing for the wedding without any hiccups, so you don’t have to worry about it. I would like to congratulate you in advance because you will soon become the Empress—”

nAstelle cut off his words in a polite but cold manner.

n“I just brought the prince at the orders of His Majesty. The congratulations will be accepted after the wedding.”

nShe didn’t want to receive congratulations from the minister already because she hadn’t become the empress yet.

nIn particular, she had no desire to build friendships with people who move around like migratory birds according to the power landscape.

n“Yes, that’s right. Then I will greet you again later.”

nThe Minister of Home Affairs said goodbye to Astelle with a disappointed expression. Then Astelle went to the temple terrace to avoid people.

nShe took a moment to breathe in the fresh air, admiring the garden in front of the terrace.

nIt was tiring to go to the temple immediately after moving into the imperial palace and to be a spectacle for people.

nShe needs time to cool her head, even for a moment.

n“It’s nice to greet you here again, Lady Astelle.”

nShe turned around and saw a familiar person.

nIt was Seibel’s father, Count Ecklen.

n“I’m seeing you at the temple again, Count.”

n“Please speak comfortably.”

nAs the Count came out to the terrace, he continued, “I am not worthy of receiving this courtesy from Your Majesty the Empress.”

n“I am not yet the Empress.”

nThe Count looked around the temple. Through the glass door, there is Theor with Kaizen.

n“The prince is mature even at a young age.”

nTheor stood quietly, looking up at the people talking to him.

nHe seemed a little confused because there were so many people, but he didn’t look scared.

nThe Count looked at Theor with great respect and continued, “The prince’s calm personality seems to resemble you, Lady Astelle.”

n“He must resemble His Majesty.”

nKaizen was not a calm person, but Astelle said so out of courtesy.

nIn this situation, it was polite to say humbly that he resembled the emperor.

nMoreover, this man was the emperor’s man.

nThe Count smiled as if he had read Astelle’s thoughts.

nHe also seemed to think that Kaizen and calm did not go well together.

n“You really resemble your mother a lot, Lady Astelle.”

n“Do you know my mother?”

nAs soon as she asked the question, she thought that he knew her mother well, of course, since he was her maternal grandfather’s lieutenant.

nCount Ecklen looked at her for a moment and then answered, “Yes, we were friends.”

n“You were my mother’s friend?”

nAstelle thought it would be a relationship between a young lieutenant and the daughter of a superior.

nShe was surprised to hear the word ‘friend’.

nIn an instant, a deep regret passed through the Count’s eyes, as if recalling the past.

n“It’s a bit impolite to say that I was your mother’s friend. We were close because we were the same age.”

n“I see.”

nThe Count spoke as if it was nothing. But it sounded like a pretty close relationship.

n‘I’ve never heard of this before.’

nMy maternal grandfather never said such a thing.

nWhy didn’t he say he was close to my mother?

nIt felt a little odd.

nAstelle smiled, hiding her confusion.

n“Count, if it’s okay with you, would you like to visit the Empress’s Palace?”

n“Can I?”

n“Of course. I’d like to have tea with you. I want to hear more about my mother.”

nAstelle spoke as if she only had that request, but in truth, it was not just that.

nCurrently, there is no one Astelle can trust in the Imperial Palace.

nFortunately, this man was the only person she had a relationship with.

nSince this man was the minister of the military, it would be good to befriend him at this time.

nBesides, he had a relationship with her maternal grandfather, and the Count himself was also favorable to Astelle.

nAstelle invited the Count to the Empress’s Palace with that intention.

n“Thank you, Lady Astelle. I will see you soon.”

nThe Count happily accepted the invitation.

n***

nThe bloodline test at the temple ended without any problems. From that day on, new maids were added to the palace where Astelle lived.

n“His Majesty has sent us to serve the prince.”

nAccording to the principle, Theor, who was recognized as a prince, had to receive his own palace and stay there.

nHowever, since he is still young, he decided to stay here until he adapts to the Imperial Palace.

n“Nice to meet you. Hannah will tell you what to be careful about.”

nThe head of the maids bowed to Astelle.

nAstelle tilted her head and whispered to Hannah after the maids had left.

n“See if they can be trusted.”

nAll the maids of Empress Dowager were selected and brought in by Hannah.

nThe maids sent by Kaizen also must have been chosen with care, but still, Astelle shouldn’t let her guard down.

n‘Those who will be with Theor should be chosen carefully.’

nTheor’s safety was what Astelle paid the most attention to when entering the Empress Palace.

nIt was for the safety of the child that she decided to take care of him here for the time being.

nAstelle paid a lot of attention to the structure of the palace.

nTheor’s residence was placed on the innermost side, with Astelle’s residence on the other side and her maternal grandfather’s room on the other side.

nThe maids wandered all day along both passages, and guard soldiers guarding the palace stood up at novices day and night in the garden.

nPeople’s eyes could always reach around Theor.

n“Mom!”

nTheor ran to the terrace to find Astelle.

n“Theor? I thought you were hanging out with grandpa.”

nRed eyes like ruby looked at Astelle with curiosity and affection.

nAfter returning to the capital, Theor no longer drips color-changing medicine in his eyes.

nTheor seemed to prefer the freedom to call Astelle his mother instead of having to go through the hassle of dripping medicine in his eyes every day.

nWhenever he had a chance, he called Astelle his mother, and followed her.

n“I think grandpa is sleeping now.”

nTheor hung on the armrests of Astelle’s chair.

n“Mom, how long do we have to be here?”

n“You don’t like being here?”

n“No, it’s not like that.”

nIt still seems unfamiliar here.

nThe three of them lived together for many years, and it was difficult to adapt to such a large palace.

nHannah sat down on her knees next to Theor, carefully said, “Prince, would you like a small castle in the garden?”

n“Castle? Can you build a real castle?”

n“Of course. I will ask the servants to make a nice castle out of wood.”

nHannah added, looking at Astelle.

n“In the past, there was such a castle in the Crown Prince’s Palace. It was a playground for His Highness the Crown Prince and the Crown Princess.”

nHannah is talking about a small castle in the garden of the Crown Prince’s palace when Astelle was young.

nIt was a small castle built by Empress Dowager for young Kaizen.

n“Please make one here, too!”

n“Please draw the castle you want. I will make it the same.”

n“Yes!”

nExcited, Theor took Hannah’s hand and went to the study.

nAstelle looked at that sight and smiled bitterly.

nTheor’s eyes were the same red as Kaizen’s because he didn’t take the medicine.

nWhen they stood side by side in the temple with the same hair color and eyes, they really looked like father and son.

nknock knock.

nA maid opened the door and brought a letter.

n“Lady Astelle, the Viscountess Milott, along with the other noble ladies, has asked an audience.”

n“The noble ladies?”

nThe content of the letter was a request to visit the Empress’s Palace and greet Astelle.

nThe names of the participants were all ladies of middle-class nobles.

nAmong them was the Marchioness of Croychen, Florin’s mother.

nPerhaps because of the orders of her husband, who was the minister of state, she was caught between these ladies.

n‘It means you want to keep an eye on me because I’ll be the empress soon.’

nIn fact, Astelle wanted to tell them not to come. However, she would soon become empress, she couldn’t ignore the noble ladies of the society.

n“Okay. Tell them to visit me in the afternoon.”

n***

nA few hours later, the noble ladies came to Astelle.

nWhen Astelle went to the drawing-room, there were about ten noble ladies gathered, and they all bowed their heads towards her.

n“Lady Astelle.”

nThere were faces she knew and faces she didn’t.

nAmong them, the eldest lady hesitated and stepped forward.

nShe seems to be the Viscountess who wrote the letter.

n“Lady Astelle. Thank you for allowing us to attend. Before the wedding, we came to greet you in advance.”

nAmong them, none had a close relationship with Astelle.

nThat’s why they couldn’t come separately but come together.

n“Thank you for visiting. Come this way. The tea will be ready.”

n“Thank you, Lady Astelle.”

nNext to the drawing-room was a reception room for receiving guests.

nAs soon as Astelle asked to bring tea, the maids served tea and dessert.

nAs soon as they put down the teacup, the ladies took turns congratulating Astelle.

n“Congratulations, Lady Astelle.”

nAstelle listened to the endless congratulation. But there is only one noble lady who has not opened her mouth.

nShe was the Marchioness of Croychen.

nThe Marchioness of Croychen, who was sitting farthest from Astelle, was forced to open her mouth after the others began to pay attention to her.

n“Well, me too—”

nAstelle cut her words coldly.

n“You slandered Theor as an illegitimate child.”

nAstelle looked straight at the Marchioness and continued, “If you want to come here and congratulate me, you have to apologize first.”

nSilence filled the reception room in an instant.

nThe Marchioness stared at Astelle with a blazing gaze.

nShe didn’t seem willing to apologize, even formally.

nShe got up in a hurry.

n“I will go back.”

nThe Marchioness rose from her seat, and no one followed her.

nJust by looking at that, Astelle could tell the position of the Marchioness in society right now.

nOn the other hand, Astelle, the only prince’s mother, was in such a firm position in the Imperial Palace.

nAstelle said indifferently, “Please remember, I don’t want to see the Marchioness here in the future.”

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