n

n

n

nAstelle woke up early in the morning.

nA bluish light shone through the curtains.

nAstelle got up and opened the curtains. The dark view brightened.

nKaizen kept his promise.

nHe returned to the Imperial Palace at dawn.

nAstelle put on a shawl and opened the bedroom door.

nAs soon as she closed the door, she saw Kaizen lying in the lounge.

n‘I thought you had returned to the Imperial Palace.’

nAt dawn, she heard the sound of the door closing.

nAt that time Kaizen who was in the lounge went out.

nFeeling uneasy, Astelle thought about going back to sleep.

n‘Why did you come back?’

nWell, if the emperor goes to his palace on the first night of his honeymoon, there will be a lot of gossip.

nKaizen lay on the sofa and fell asleep.

nHe must be very tired.

nAstelle walked carefully so as not to wake him up.

n“Astelle.”

nJust as she was about to walk past the sofa, his low voice stopped her.

nKaizen was slowly getting up.

nAstelle bowed her head out of courtesy.

n“Your Majesty, did you sleep well?”

nTo be honest, he didn’t sleep well.

nBut of course, Kaizen didn’t say it.

n“The sofa is pretty good.”

nHe got up from the sofa and slowly approached Astelle.

nIn the warm morning light, his handsome statue-like face was clearly visible.

nHe just woke up but he looks handsome.

nHe only wore a shirt and pants, revealing his firm shoulders and stout body.

n“Aren’t you tired?”

nHis hand reached Astelle’s messy hair.

nAstelle hurriedly bowed before his hand could reach it.

n“I am good.”

nShe didn’t want to be alone with him in this atmosphere again.

nIt was enough to be swept away by this kind of atmosphere once.

nAstelle turned quickly.

n“I will ask the servants to prepare breakfast.”

nAfter saying that, Astelle went out.

nHis hand that couldn’t reach her fell helplessly down.

n***

nWith the help of the maids, she bathed and changed clothes, then entered the restaurant attached to the Empress Palace.

nA simple breakfast is served on the table.

n“Mom!”

n“Theor.”

nFrom the other side of the hallway, Theor ran to Astelle.

nKaizen came first into the restaurant and was waiting.

nHe sat on a chair and was fully clothed like an emperor.

nKaizen sat Theor down next to him.

n“You brought that teddy bear.”

n“I slept with Levin. Blynn too.”

nAlthough it was a simple breakfast, it was more luxurious than usual because the emperor was present.

nDifferent types of pies and pancakes with meat and fruit.

nA variety of freshly grilled fish with a sweet and sour sauce was prepared.

nTheor, who was eating the pie Hannah had cut, looked at Kaizen and asked, “Your Majesty, are you living here now?”

n“Yes.”

nTheor asked innocently, “Why?”

nKaizen’s hand stopped in the air as he was about to put down his fork.

nThe servants also held their breath at the sudden change in the atmosphere.

nKaizen smiled again and asked, “You don’t like me living here?”

n“……”

nTheor didn’t answer.

nHe just looked up at him with his clear red eyes.

nBy that time, Kaizen seemed to be perplexed as well.

nThen, Astelle intervened quietly.

n“Your Majesty, you will be late for the government meeting.”

nKaizen looked at Astelle and stood up.

nA short sigh was heard from his mouth.

n“I’ll come back in the evening.”

nKaizen stroked Theor’s head with one hand and went out with the attendant.

nAstelle, Hannah, and Theor remained in the restaurant.

nAstelle cautiously asked Theor, who was stirring the soup.

n“You don’t like His Majesty here?”

nTheor answered without a second thought.

n“No, I don’t.”

nAstelle exchanged glances with Hannah.

n“Why?”

n“No reason.”

nTheor didn’t look at the two of them and only looked down at the soup.

nYou don’t want to tell me?

nIt is said that the more children grow, the more secrets they have.

nTheor followed Kaizen well until he found out that he was his father.

nAfter realizing that he is his father, he treats Kaizen quite strangely.

nHannah, seeing Astelle’s worried expression, suddenly picked up the teddy bear lying on the chair.

nHannah knelt down on the floor and lifted the teddy bear onto the table.

nThen she waved the teddy bear’s arms with both hands.

n“Good morning, Prince. I am Levin.”

nThe teddy bear walked around the corner of the table, waving its soft hands.

nThe teddy bear also danced with its arms raised.

nTheor who saw that, laughed cheerfully.

nWaving its arm, the teddy bear asked, “Why do you hate His Majesty?”

nThis time, he answered.

n“……because my mom hates him.”

nThe teddy bear, which was dancing gently, stopped suddenly.

nTheor continued to look down at the soup.

n“My mom, grandfather, and Hannah hate him either.”

n“I do not hate His Majesty, Prince.”

nHannah poked her face out from behind the teddy bear.

nShe glanced at Astelle and said again, “I mean it.”

n“……”

n‘I didn’t know that Hannah hated Kaizen.’

nHannah was always calm and never showed her feelings.

nShe didn’t really have any reason to like Kaizen, though.

nTheor lowered his head and stirred the soup.

n“So I hate him too.”

n“Theor.”

nAstelle held out her hand to Theor, who was sitting across from her.

nTheor hesitated and put his hand on Astelle’s.

nAstelle grabbed his little hand tightly.

n“It’s not that I hate His Majesty. I’m still awkward with him, so I’m just a little uncomfortable.”

n“Really?”

n“Yes.”

nYou can’t fool children’s eyes.

nI tried not to show it in front of Theor.

nI didn’t know that young Theor was paying attention to my feelings.

nDo children quickly realize what adults like and dislike?

n“And you don’t have to hate someone just because someone else hates him. You have to be honest with yourself, whether you like that person or not.”

n“Yes.”

nHe answered while stirring the soup again. Theor seemed to understand Astelle’s words.

n“I hope His Majesty will come often.”

n***

nAs Kaizen was walking down the corridor of the Empress Palace, he saw an old man walking from the opposite direction and stopped.

nHe is Astelle’s maternal grandfather, the Marquis of Carlenberg.

nThe old marquis approached him and bowed his head.

n“Your Majesty, the lord of the empire–”

n“It’s okay. You don’t have to be so polite.”

nWhen Theor’s birth was revealed, the misunderstanding about old marquis was also resolved.

nAt that time, Kaizen thought Astelle was suffering alone because of this old man.

nBut it was all a misunderstanding.

nIt was the old marquis who suffered while caring for Astelle and Theor.

n“By the way, I couldn’t say thank you properly. I heard you got hurt trying to protect Theor. Are you all right now?”

nThe marquis bowed his head with a grateful look.

n“Thanks to Your Majesty, I recovered quickly.”

n“Thank you for being with the Empress all this time. I hope you will live comfortably in the Imperial Palace from now on.”

nThe Marquis silently listened to Kaizen.

nThis young emperor was speaking as if he was giving him a great favor to let him stay in the imperial palace.

nTo be honest, the marquis wanted to return to his country house immediately.

nHe would not have returned to the capital if it had not been for Astelle and Theor.

n‘But I’m relieved you seem to be in love with Astelle.’

nHe wasn’t very relieved.

nKaizen’s grandfather, the former emperor he served was also very fond of his wife, whom he had forcefully brought to the imperial palace at first.

nBut in the end, he quickly looked for other women.

nAt that moment, a low voice was heard next to the two of them.

n“Your Majesty the Emperor.”

nThe Duke of Reston approached the two.

n“Why are you here?”

n“I came to visit my daughter–no, Her Majesty the Empress.”

nThe Duke looked very happy.

nAstelle became empress, and he was delighted to have captured the wife of his nemesis, Croychen.

nWhen Kaizen ignored him without answering, the Duke turned his gaze to the Marquis.

n“Father, how’s your body?”

nThe old marquis frowned.

n“Why am I your father?”

nThe Marquis asked a little annoyed, but the Duke replied with a small, relaxed smile.

n“You are my wife’s father, and you are like a father to me.”

nKaizen also frowned.

nThe Duke’s words apply to Kaizen as well.

nHe also married Astelle, the daughter of the Duke.

nIf he could, he wanted to hit the Duke right now.

nSuddenly, his eyes met the old marquis’. At that moment, Kaizen and the Marquis of Carlenberg found something in common.

nBoth of them hate the Duke of Reston to death.

n***

n“Is my father still in his study?”

nFlorin looked out the window and asked her nanny.

nHer nanny quietly nodded her head.

nEver since her mother was taken to prison, her father stayed in his study and did not come out.

nHe seems to be discussing a solution in his own way with some nobles.

nFlorin rubbed her throbbing head.

nHer mother was caught trying to poison the empress’ dress.

nThe emperor’s soldiers were guarding the marquis’ mansion.

nThere was no right solution to this situation.

nThe nanny looked at Florin with pitying eyes and said, “Lady, the maid sent to the duke’s mansion has brought important information……”

nThe maid who had infiltrated the duke’s mansion brought important information.

nWhile the emperor was away on tour, the duke sent a secret letter and money to the lord of the west.

nIt is said that he secretly contacted the lord of the west and ordered something.

nFlorin understood the situation as soon as she heard the information.

n“The Duke of Reston was preparing a rebellion while His Majesty was away.”

nAt that time, His Majesty was on tour, so the capital was vacated, and the Knights of Lanberg–the capital’s best power–were also sent to the north.

nIt was a golden opportunity for anyone to rebel.

nI don’t know why but for some reason, he gave up halfway.

n‘I have to make a deal with Astelle.’

n