Chapter 129

The accident itself was only a small explosion.

However, the aftermath of that incident was far greater than the actual explosion.

The party hurriedly returned to the Imperial Palace, leaving behind a few knights and soldiers.

The time to arrive at the Imperial Palace was short.

The place where the incident took place in the first place was not far from the Imperial Palace.

Moreover, because this had happened, the carriage drove down the road at full speed.

“Your Majesty? What happened?”

Theor asked while looking at the two people sitting silently.

He was asleep in Astelle’s arms, but the sound of the explosion seemed to have completely awakened him.

Kaizen smiled sweetly, and with one hand, stroked Theor’s messy hair.

“There was an accident on the bridge. The railing is old and broken.”

“Really?”

Theor startled.

He blinked and said in relief, “I’m glad no one was hurt.”

Kaizen smiled and ruffled Theor’s hair.

“Yeah, that’s a relief.”

Astelle only looked at the two of them and said nothing.

***

As soon as the carriage passed through the gates of the Imperial Palace, it headed for the Empress Palace.

As soon as she arrived, Astelle changed her clothes, bathed Theor, and put him to bed.

Upon arrival, Kaizen immediately headed for his office.

He finished reporting today’s incident to his men and went to the Empress Palace late at night.

It was after midnight when the two met again.

“Your Majesty.”

Astelle, who was sitting by the window, got up and greeted him.

He didn’t even have time to change clothes, so Kaizen was in the same outfit as before.

“Where’s Theor?”

“He fell asleep a while ago.”

It was late, so the palace was quiet.

The empress’ bedroom in the center of the palace was also enveloped in silence.

“You must be tired, too. Get some rest.”

Astelle didn’t answer and was looking at him worriedly.

There’s a complex look in her eyes.

Kaizen knew what Astelle was thinking about.

He himself had already passed down orders to his men in the office because of today’s incident.

Vellian was bewildered for a moment and said he would find out right away what had happened.

‘Who did it?’

There were a few people he could guess.

In the first place, the purpose of this work was so clear.

How dare you.

I will never forgive you.

Kaizen hid his anger and spoke reassuringly to Astelle.

“Don’t worry too much. I’ll take care of everything.”

Astelle watched him still.

Kaizen showed Astelle a calm smile, just as he did to Theor.

His eyes also looked sweet and friendly.

But Astelle could tell because she has been with him for a long time.

That Kaizen is now furious to the end of his head.

“They probably didn’t have time to come up with an elaborate plan.”

He’s right.

The visit to the theater had been scheduled two or three days in advance.

Whoever the culprit was, it was difficult to come up with an elaborate plan in such a short time.

‘The knights and soldiers must have checked the route the emperor was going to take, but the culprit was able to avoid their eyes.’

This plan was only aimed at Kaizen.

Astelle and Theor were also in the carriage, but as soon as Kaizen got off, the bomb went off.

It was as if they left Astelle and Theor alone and aimed only at Kaizen.

What will happen if Kaizen dies suddenly?

Naturally, Theor becomes emperor, and legally Astelle becomes regent as Empress Dowager.

“You don’t have to worry about anything.”

Kaizen’s strong voice drew Astelle’s attention again.

“I will definitely find out who did it. I will not forgive the culprit or those who dare to act stupid this time.”

Astelle looked at him blankly, and Kaizen frowned, puzzled.

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

“……I’m surprised that you’re so sure it was a stupid act.”

“I know you can’t be one of them.”

Theor is the only heir, and Astelle is Theor’s biological mother and the Empress of the Empire.

Astelle’s biological father, the Duke of Reston, had attempted to kill the emperor not so long ago.

Even though she is in a suspicious position, Kazen believes in her.

‘……’

Astelle was still burdened with Kaizen’s passionate affection.

Just by looking at the strong trust and affection in his red eyes staring at her, she could feel his sincerity.

Kaizen looked away and grumbled. “If you had tried to kill me, you would have used a much smarter method. There’s no way you would use such a stupid thing.”

It was a joke of half praise and half ridicule.

Hearing that, Astelle also laughed lowly.

“I’ll take it as a compliment.”

Kaizen laughed as well, and then Astelle immediately changed her expression as if she just remembered something.

“Your father is not a man to do such a stupid thing. Though it would be better if he was a fool.”

“……I’ll take that as a compliment, too.”

The man who made it up must have wanted the emperor to suspect Astelle and the Reston family.

Given the purpose of the crime, it will be possible to quickly identify the culprit.

‘It must be one of the emperor’s side instead.’

Kaizen’s will is clear, so we can move on without any problems.

But I’m afraid there will be conflicts between ministers.

***

“So the Emperor was not hurt?”

“Yes, no one was hurt.”

The Duke of Reston received a report from his henchman at dawn.

Last night, the emperor took the empress and the prince to the theater, and he heard that there had been a minor accident on the way back.

‘He has a long life.’

It would be better if he just died.

I bet the culprit hid the bomb in the crevice of the railing.

Such a small explosive would not kill a passing bird.

Whoever it was, if he tried to kill the emperor with it, he would be an empty-headed human being.

‘Or he didn’t want to kill the emperor in the first place.’

The Duke felt anxious again.

A spy who entered his estate.

A sloppy attempt to assassinate the emperor.

A series of events pushed him into a corner.

The documents stolen from the estate were not very important.

It was merely evidence of a few things that happened in the past.

If it was that important, he would have burned it sooner.

But the problem is the fact that someone has found it.

That means there are traitors around him.

‘……’

He called Fritz in, just in case, but he couldn’t figure anything out.

‘There’s no way Fritz would have done that.’

Just as Astelle was raised as an empress from an early age, the Duke of Reston thoroughly raised Fritz as his successor.

Fritz also considered the family to be the most important.

‘Then who the hell is it?’

Could it be that the emperor’s side did it?

But the spy in his estate…… The Duke of Reston knew that none of the new aristocrats on the emperor’s side had such a skill.

‘Don’t tell me……’

Maybe this is all the emperor’s work.

When you think of it that way, it all makes sense.

It wasn’t unfounded.

The emperor might want to keep Astelle and the prince by his side, but also eliminate the Duke that is a threat.

The Duke ordered his henchmen after much deliberation.

“Find out more about this. In particular, closely monitor the Emperor’s movements.”

***

Florin walked cautiously on her toes.

With the lights off, the room is terribly quiet.

In the break room on the second floor of the castle, there is a small hole in the wall.

To be exact, it is a small hole made by hollowing out the wall.

A large tapestry is hung on the outside, so it is invisible at first glance.

This old castle, which the family moved to, is an old citadel inherited from the ancestors, so this unique structure remains.

Florin, who was about to go inside with the tip of the tapestry lifted a little, paused for a moment.

Inside the room is a woman with honey blonde hair cut to shoulder length.

That’s her older sister, Marianne.

“Shh.”

Marianne hurriedly brought her index finger to her lips.

That means don’t make a sound.

Florin was dumbfounded and asked, moving her lips without making a sound.

“Why are you here?”

“I also wanted to ask that.”

Marianne’s eyes were saying so.

Her finger this time pointed to a small hole in the wall.

Florin came here for the same reason.

There is a small hole in the wall, covered in cobwebs.

Through the hole, you can get a peek into the other side of the room.

The room on the opposite side is the study of her father, the Marquis Croychen.

Her father’s voice can be heard through the small hole.

“Will His Majesty suspect the Empress for something like this?”

Marianne looked again at the hole in the wall.

Florin’s also standing next to her, peeking.

Inside the dimly lit study are her father and two nobles.

“Even if His Majesty does not suspect the Empress, he will suspect the Duke of Reston.”

The person who said that was the Minister of Home Affairs.

The two sisters listened intently to them.

“Isn’t that too sloppy? His Majesty may be suspicious of us.” The Marquis said in disbelief.

“Don’t worry too much about it, we won’t be caught. It would be great if the trust between them was broken even a little bit.”

Florin frowned.

She didn’t know what they were talking about.

‘You shouldn’t be in a dangerous situation by doing something useless for nothing.’

Now is the time for all of her family to take care of themselves.

Florin thought so, but her father had a different opinion.

Although he lost his position and was expelled from the capital, Marquis Croychen still had influence among the ministers.

That is why her father, the Marquis, took up residence in this old citadel.

It’s a citadel that was about to collapse, but it’s the closest place to the capital among the remaining estates of the marquis.

“How’s the Count’s work?”

“It’s going well, too.”

“Hmm…… I’ve said it a few times before, but Count Ecklen was very lukewarm about the Empress.”

When Marquis Croychen spoke with no confidence, the Minister of Home Affairs immediately refuted.

“The Count has no regrets for the Empress and Prince, but he hates the Duke of Reston.”

The Minister of Home Affairs continued confidently.

“If you can get rid of the Duke, the Count will join you in anything.”