Chapter 91

Astelle stayed in the mansion for several days after Theor returned, waiting for her maternal grandfather.

Kaizen wanted Astelle to enter the Empress Palace immediately, but Astelle wanted to stabilize Theor’s position first.

The most important thing was to properly maintain the palace before entering the Empress Palace.

Astelle paid a lot of attention to choosing Theor’s bedroom and residence.

Astelle wrote down a detailed order and handed it over to Hannah.

“Give it to Vellian.”

“Yes, Lady Astelle.”

Hannah could get in and out of the Imperial Palace with ease.

The maids to be brought to the Empress Palace were chosen by Hannah herself.

Most of them were maids who used to serve the Empress Dowager.

In the meantime, time flew by.

When the preparation to enter the Imperial Palace was over, the Marquis arrived at the mansion.

“Grandpa!”

As soon as the Marquis arrived, Theor ran to him.

He had a bandage on his left arm.

He looked into Astelle’s worried eyes and said quickly, “Don’t worry. It’s not serious.”

Theor, who was in his grandfather’s arms, asked as he looked at his injured arm, “Grandpa, are you hurt?”

“Grandpa is fine. What about you, Theor?”

“I’m not hurt. I’m okay.”

The Marquis took Theor’s teddy bear out of his luggage.

“I brought your doll.”

“Levin!”

Theor took the old teddy bear and held it in his arms.

“Theor, Grandpa must be tired from coming a long way.”

When Astelle blinked as if giving instructions, Hannah took Theor outside.

Astelle went into her room with her grandfather.

He said it wasn’t serious, but her grandfather’s wound was worse than she thought.

His left arm could not move and he had a scar on the back of his head.

The Marquis sighed as Astelle looked at his injured arm.

“I should have protected Theor no matter what. It’s pathetic to be old.”

“Don’t say that. I’m glad you weren’t badly hurt.”

It was heartbreaking to see her maternal grandfather injured.

It looked like she was about to cry, but she held it back.

If she cried in front of her grandfather, he would feel even more guilty.

“I decided to take Theor to the Imperial Palace.”

Astelle explained the situation to her grandfather.

“……that’s how it happened.”

After hearing Astelle’s explanation, the Marquis sighed long.

“Are you okay?”

“It’s better than letting Theor go there alone.”

Astelle spoke very calmly, but there was a painful look in her eyes.

However, she immediately regained composure.

If she shows signs of sadness with her grandfather in front of her, her grandfather would be even sadder. Because Astelle had to go through an unwanted marriage and was forced to return to the Imperial Palace.

Astelle took her grandfather’s hand quietly.

“Do not worry too much. It’s just a formal contract marriage.”

“When are you going to enter the Imperial Palace?”

“I have to go to the Imperial Palace tomorrow.”

“Tomorrow?”

“I decided to go to the Imperial Palace after grandfather arrived.”

Astelle told Kaizen that she would stay in the mansion until her maternal grandfather returned.

“Grandpa, can’t you stay with me and Theor?”

Astelle felt uneasy at the mere thought that her grandfather would be outside the Imperial Palace.

Astelle’s most precious people were Theor and her grandfather.

In other words, they were Astelle’s weakness. There may be someone who harms the two to threaten her.

Another dangerous thing could happen if her grandfather was outside the Imperial Palace.

“Did the emperor allow it?”

“He did. He said you were free to stay with me.”

Kaizen looked a little displeased, but he allowed Aselle to do whatever she wanted.

She asked why he looked displeased, but he didn’t answer.

The Marquis also had a reluctant face, but he understood Astelle’s will and nodded his head.

“It would be okay if the emperor allowed it.”

***

Since the Marquis had arrived, there was no reason to procrastinate any longer.

In fact, Astelle wanted to procrastinate, but she couldn’t.

The next day, carriages were sent from the Imperial Palace.

Kaizen also seems to have heard the news that the Marquis had arrived.

Astelle packed her belongings and entered the Imperial Palace in the prepared carriage.

The Empress’s Palace was a splendid building to the east of the Imperial Palace.

Taking Hannah’s hand and getting out of the carriage, Theor looked at the magnificent palace in front of him, and his eyes widened.

“Wow, that’s huge! Are we living here now?”

“Do you like it, Young Master?”

“Yes! It’s like a palace.”

Hannah replied with a smile, “This is the Empress’s palace.”

Astelle went inside the Empress’s Palace and looked around.

On the day of the charity ball, she came here to change shoes.

The furniture she had brought with her when she was the Crown Princess was still there, so she had a strange feeling as if she had just moved into the Crown Princess Palace.

‘I didn’t know I would live here.’

After Kaizen’s mother passed away, this palace was empty for a long time.

There were days when she dreamed she would live here.

She thought that she would start her new life as the hostess of the Imperial Palace.

‘It was a foolish thought.’

The day she divorced and left the Imperial Palace, she thought that living in the Imperial Palace was over.

But now she came back here again. She really had no idea how fate worked.

As she looked around the bedroom and was immersed in her feelings, the maid announced Kaizen’s arrival.

“Lady Astelle, His Majesty is here.”

“Yes?”

Kaizen is here?

It was noon now.

Now is the time to attend the political affairs in the emperor’s palace, so why is he here at this time?

Astelle entered the next room under the guidance of the maid.

Kaizen was in Theor’s room.

As she entered, Kaizen, who was standing next to Theor, turned to her.

“Astelle.”

“What brings you here, Your Majesty?”

Vellian, who was with him, found Astelle and hurriedly greeted her.

“Lady Astelle. How have you been? I wanted to greet you in advance, but I didn’t get a chance—”

“Yes, it’s been a while.”

Astelle answered indifferently, but Vellian came closer with a friendly attitude.

“If there is anything I can help you with, please let me know. Whatever it is, I will do my best.”

It was a somewhat sarcastic voice.

Ever since learning of Theor’s birth, Vellian seemed to want to look good to Astelle

Every time she sent orders for the Empress’s affairs, a sincere reply came back.

Astelle will soon become Empress, and Theor will become Crown Prince.

Vellian, the Emperor’s aide, tried to ignore what happened in the past and get along with Astelle.

Astelle replied with a smile, “Okay, I’ll keep it in my mind. Don’t forget what you just said, Count.”

“Haha……”

Vellian laughed awkwardly at Astelle’s firm voice.

Anxiety flashed across his face as if he realized that what he said was useless.

Astelle turned around indifferently and checked Theor’s room.

Theor’s room was larger and more splendid than Astelle had ordered.

Initially, Astelle did not ask for decorating the room, but asked for a change in structure and location.

‘This is a bit too much.’

There was a small study full of fairy tales and a bedroom as large as the Empress’s bedroom.

There are other rooms on either side of the study.

One was a small living room overlooking the garden, and the other was a playroom full of toys.

In the playroom, there were so many toys that the room looked cramped.

Kaizen looked at Theor and asked, “What do you think? Do you like this place?”

Theor was hugging Levin—the teddy bear his grandfather had brought—while looking at his new toys.

“……yes.”

Theor answered hesitantly.

Looking at the overly spacious and luxurious room, it seems impossible to believe that it is his own room.

His bedroom in the mansion was also gorgeous, but it wasn’t this spacious.

“Prince, you should thank His Majesty.”

Seeing Kaizen’s disappointment, Vellian quickly stepped in.

Vellian looked a little impatient.

‘What’s wrong with him?’

Astelle watched silently and realized why he was like that.

Seeing the frightened Vellian look into Kaizen’s eyes, Astelle was able to find the answer.

Kaizen seems to have ordered Vellian to decorate the room that Theor would like.

Theor bowed his head helplessly toward Kaizen.

“Thank you, Your Majesty.”

Theor has been a little unfamiliar with Kaizen since he learned he was his father.

Come to think of it, it was understandable.

For Theor, a ‘father’ was like a dream that didn’t exist in reality.

He must have been confused and surprised that Kiazen, with whom he was quite close, was actually his father.

Kaizen spoke to Theor again, “First of all, stay here. I will give you a new palace for you later.”

Theor didn’t pay much attention to those words.

He couldn’t even adapt to this splendid palace yet, so the word ‘new palace’ didn’t catch his ears.

“Young Master Theor, there are also cute dolls here.”

Hannah showed him the toys one by one.

Astelle went into the next room to look around again.

Kaizen followed her.

“Astelle.”

Astelle ignored the look of despair that appeared in his eyes.

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Is there anything else you need? I’ll send the attendant to get it.”

“I don’t need anything. I just want you to keep your promise to me.”

Kaizen’s eyes turned cold at Astelle’s stiff reaction.

“You don’t believe me?”

“Yes, I don’t believe Your Majesy.”