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n“I’ve checked all of this, so pass it to the housekeeper.”

nAstelle handed over the document to Hannah.

nIt was about a harvest festival that would be two months later.

nThere was a lot of time left until the day of the event, but since it was such a big event, she started preparing early.

nFrom the first day Astelle became Empress, she gained authority to manage the Imperial Palace.

nSome would be concerned that the daughter of the Duke of Reston, who opposed the Emperor, took over the household of the Imperial Palace.

nWithout hesitation, Kaizen entrusted Astelle with all the imperial households.

nIt wasn’t too difficult. Because even when she lived as the prince’s fiancée, she also helped with the affairs of the imperial palace.

nAfter all, Astelle was familiar with it.

n“Where is His Majesty?”

n“He is in the bedroom with the prince.”

nAstelle got up and went to the bedroom.

nKaizen has not missed a single day to sleep in the Empress palace since the first night of the wedding.

nThat way, the nobles considered the emperor and empress as a good married couple.

n‘Though everything is completely different from gossip.’

nKaizen came every day to have dinner with Astelle and Theor but slept on the sofa outside the empress’ bedroom.

nOthers will shock if they find out about this.

nThe Empress sleeps comfortably in her bed but His Majesty the Emperor sleeps on the sofa.

nAstelle didn’t want Kaizen to sleep on a sofa either.

nShe repeatedly offered, “You can use the bed, I’ll sleep on the sofa,” but Kaizen flatly refused.

nHe insisted on saying that the sofa was comfortable.

n‘But it looked very uncomfortable……’

nHow long is he going to continue like this?

nAfter some time, she had to tell him not to come.

nIt would be better if rumors spread that the imperial couple split rooms instead of putting the emperor on the sofa every night.

n***

nKaizen and Theor were sitting by the window in the living room attached to the bedroom.

nA black and white chessboard was placed on the table in front of the two of them.

n“Mom, I learned how to do this!”

nSaid Theor who was sitting across from Kaizen holding a chess piece in his hand.

n“I was teaching Theor how to play chess. He’s pretty good.”

nBlack and white chess pieces are scattered on the chessboard.

n‘Looks like you both had fun.’

nAs before, Theor and Kaizen got along very well.

nAstelle hugged Theor and kissed him lightly on his forehead.

n“It’s getting late Theor, go to your room and sleep.”

n“Yes.”

nTheor got down to the floor and looked at the two of them.

n“Good night, Your Majesty, Mom.”

nKaizen looked calmly at Theor, who was led by the maid.

nHe seemed to have gotten used to the title of His Majesty by now.

nAstelle and Kaizen were the only two left in the room.

nAstelle inadvertently turned her gaze to the chessboard on the table.

nSeeing that, Kaizen suggested, “Would you like to play after a long time?”

n“Aren’t you tired?”

nYou must have been working on government affairs all day.

nWhile Astelle is a little tired even though she had only worked with the household affairs of the Imperial Palace, Kaizen doesn’t look tired at all.

n“I can’t sleep.”

nAstelle contemplated for a moment before she sat down.

nIt was too early for her to fall asleep anyway.

nWhile Kaizen was arranging the chess pieces himself, Astelle turned her gaze to the maid.

nThe quick-witted maid immediately brought fruit desserts and cold wine.

nAstelle held a chess piece carved from ivory in her hand.

n‘I don’t know how long it’s been since I’ve tried this.’

n“Theor is smart. He quickly learned the rules.”

nThere was a faint sense of pride in Kaizen’s voice.

nTheor has a better understanding and concentration than other children his age.

nEven when he was acting, he was quick to understand, so he quickly learned the rules.

n‘But it ended up like this.’

nKaizen saw Astelle put the chess piece down on the chessboard and said again, “You had a hard time doing this when you were young.”

nAstelle was thinking about it too.

nWhen she was young, she sometimes played chess with Kaizen.

nThinking of those old days, Kaizen laughed softly.

n“Your skills were really bad.”

nKaizen was used to chess, but Astelle had just learned it, so her skills were poor.

nShe lost to Kaizen every time.

nKaizen looked at the chessboard and said, “I’ve let you win a few times in case you’re too disappointed.”

n“I knew.”

nKaizen raised his head at Astelle’s calm reply.

n“I knew that Your Majesty deliberately lost for me,” she said.

nShe didn’t find out on her own, but because her brother Fritz told her.

nAfter watching the two of them play, he said, “His Highness lost the game for you.”

nIt seemed that Fritz, who was older than the two of them, could see it clearly.

nAt that time, Astelle was moved by Kaizen’s consideration.

n‘After all, the Crown Prince is a kind person.’

nShe thought so.

nA few years later, Astelle became proficient at the game of chess and was able to beat Kaizen.

nBut she never once beat Kaizen.

nBecause she purposely lost to Kaizen, who hates losing.

n“Did you lose on purpose too?”

nKaizen couldn’t believe it.

n“Yes, I did.”

n“I never imagined it.”

nHe seems to have never guessed that Astelle was better than him.

nBut she wasn’t offended.

nHe raised a glass of wine and made a strange proposal.

n“Well, let’s do it properly this time.”

nSipping some cold wine in the glass, Astelle replied, “Okay.”

nAfter that, the two focused on the game without saying a word.

nThe game was fast-paced and came to an end quickly.

nThere were a few tense moments, but Astelle successfully captured Kaizen’s King.

n“I won.”

nAstelle put down the last chess piece.

nKaizen chuckled as he looked at the chessboard where he had been completely defeated.

n“You played pretty well.”

n“I apologize if you offended.”

n“No, that’s good. Now I feel like I’m sitting face to face with the real you.”

nAstelle agreed with that statement.

nDuring her engagement, she couldn’t say what she wanted in order to remain polite to the Crown Prince.

nShe lied that she was happy even when she was sad, and laughed without showing any sign of hardship and suffering.

nIt was the same with Kaizen.

nHe hated Astelle, but pretended to be a friendly crown prince on the outside.

nBut now, both of them showed their true feelings.

nRed eyes filled with deep light looked directly at Astelle.

nHe asked in a light tone as if joking, “What else were you hiding during our engagement?”

n“……”

nAstelle looked into those familiar red eyes.

nKaizen had not yet noticed that Astelle had loved him in the past.

nBut now she didn’t want to say something like ‘In fact, I really loved Your Majesty.’

n“I have nothing to hide anymore.”

nAstelle put the chess pieces together and stood up.

n“I’m tired, so I’m going to my bedroom. May your Majesty sleep well too.”

nAstelle politely bowed and entered her bedroom.

n***

nEven the moonlight did not enter the dark prison.

nMarchioness Croychen, leaning against the cold stone wall, forced herself to sleep.

nThe Marchioness had been in prison for several days in a miserable condition.

nNeither her daughter nor her husband came to visit her.

nShe wanted to contact them, but she had no way.

n‘They will definitely save me.’

nShe held on to that belief, but she wasn’t sure either.

nShe confessed everything the moment she witnessed the maid being whipped.

nBecause if she didn’t, she would end up in the same situation as her.

nAlthough she is not from a high-ranking aristocratic family, she has lived a prosperous life.

nShe could not have imagined that she would be tortured by the lowly.

nShe had confessed, but in return, she was now unable to get out of prison.

n‘But he’ll save me. I am his wife.’

nThe Marchioness reassured herself with such hope.

nAlthough her biological daughter, Florin was unlikely to help her.

n***

n“Who?”

nAstelle, who was checking the budget of the Empress Palace, raised her head when she heard the maid’s words.

n“Lady Florin is here.”

n“Lady Florin?”

nFlorin was still an unmarried lady, so she couldn’t enter the Empress Palace unless she had special business.

n‘Is it because of her mother?’

nAstelle didn’t expect her to come here.

nShe had no reason to come.

n“Tell her to come in.”

nAfter a while, Florin came inside.

nFlorin was dressed as cutely as she had ever seen before.

nShe wore a lavender dress embellished with lace and ribbon, like a cute doll used as a decoration on a cake.

nFlorin said in a soft voice, “It’s late, but congratulations on your marriage, Your Majesty the Empress.”

n“Thank you, Lady Florin.”

nAstelle hasn’t held any social events yet.

nThis was her first time meeting a noble lady after becoming the Empress.

nAfter the maids had left on Astelle’s orders, she asked Florin, “What did you come here for?”

n“I would like to make a deal with Your Majesty.”

nFlorin brought it up before she could even sit down.

n‘A deal?’

n“Are you here to save your mother?”

n“No, I am not. I don’t care what happens to her.”

nHer voice was soft but firm.

n“I want my father to keep his position as Minister of State, and I want our family to be protected. I want Your Majesty to help make it happen.”

n“Why should I help you?”

nA young lady, who had just become an adult, unhesitatingly said she would abandon her biological mother for herself and her family.

nShe was offended by the fact that her mother was a terribly stupid woman.

n“You’d better make a deal with me. I have evidence of the Duke, Your Majesty’s father.”

n“Evidence?”

n“While His Majesty the Emperor was on a tour, the Duke prepared for rebellion by communicating with the lord of the west.”

n“My father prepared a rebellion?”

nAstelle was genuinely surprised.

nBut she didn’t show it on her face. While Kaizen went east, her father had sent an assassin to kill him. At the same time, he was also prepared to rebel.

nIt was surprising that her careful father prepared such a huge task at once.

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