Chapter 135

The Duke of Reston headed into the study to look for his son.

But Fritz came out into the hallway before he went up to the second floor.

“Father.”

The Duke of Reston stood still.

He was going to meet Fritz and talk to him properly, but he didn’t seem like he needed to.

The answer was already revealed in the eyes of his son who looked at him silently.

The Duke took a step closer to Fritz as if he couldn’t believe it.

“……do you agree?”

Fritz sighed and replied, “I’m sorry, Father.”

The Duke of Reston looked at his son without a word, feeling a great sense of betrayal.

In fact, he never thought of giving up his title even if Astelle threatened him.

He would rather die than do it.

But he changed his mind the moment he realized that Fritz had sided with his sister.

“Alright. I see.”

Fritz looked at his father a little surprised.

“It’s been a while since you came of age, so it wouldn’t be strange for you to take over the title now.”

The Duke spoke as if it was a trivial matter, but Fritz did not easily believe it.

“Are you serious?”

“Yeah, I’ll give it to you if you want me to. Anyway, it’s going to be yours someday.”

The duke waved his hand, gesturing him to leave.

“I’m tired and I want to rest. Let’s talk about this matter again later.”

“……”

As the Duke was about to enter the study, he stopped his steps and looked back at his son.

“You’re not asking me to leave this house too, are you?”

“……no way.”

The Duke entered the study with light steps, but his heart was boiling with anger.

***

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The next day, Fritz visited Astelle and told her what happened in the mansion.

“He agreed easily.”

Astelle was a little surprised to hear what her brother said.

She thought her father would have an argument with her brother for at least a few days.

‘Does he perhaps have other plans?’

Given her father’s personality, it was hard to imagine he would easily give up his title.

Maybe he had other thoughts that could turn this situation around.

“I am suspicious, too. There’s no way he’d just give up.”

The Marquis interrupted, “He’s looking for a chance to get revenge.”

Astelle agreed with her maternal grandfather.

Fritz sighed. “Since we’re living together in the mansion, I can keep an eye on what he’s doing.”

“Will you be okay?”

“I can’t help it.”

A slight sense of guilt crossed Fritz’s eyes.

Astelle understood his heart.

As a son, he would definitely feel guilty for forcibly taking his father’s title.

Despite the Duke’s personality, Fritz has a strong bond with his father as he was raised as the only heir.

“The official appointment letter will be issued within tomorrow.” Astelle changed the topic.

“I never imagined that.”

Fritz also looks very surprised.

Kaizen said he would appoint Fritz as Minister of Home Affairs –although it has not yet been officially announced.

After Fritz said goodbye, Astelle was left alone with her maternal grandfather.

“I can’t believe that kid will become a duke……”

The Marquis sighed and noticed Astelle had a complicated expression.

“No need to worry too much. No matter how angry he is, he can’t hurt him. He is his only successor. So are you.”

“I guess so.”

Although her father is a selfish and cruel human being, he values his family above all else.

If Fritz dies, there will be no successor to the Duchy.

The Duke can’t hurt Astelle either.

It was all thanks to Astelle that Kaizen now favors the Reston family.

If Astelle dies, Kaizen’s favor will disappear like a bubble.

The people who will protect Theor will also disappear.

That’s why the Duke can’t hurt the two of them.

Neither would he endanger Theor, the hope of the family, because of a personal grudge.

“Since Fritz lives with him, he will be able to monitor what he is doing.”

“That’s right.”

Although the Marquis agreed with Astelle, he felt a little uncomfortable.

Astelle and the emperor seemed to be trying to get rid of the Duke in the least troublesome way possible.

Probably for the sake of Theor’s future.

If his maternal grandfather becomes a sinner, Theor will be labeled as a traitor’s grandson for the rest of his life.

‘I’m not saying it’s wrong but……’

He understands Astelle’s feelings, but he disagrees with the two.

The Duke of Reston won’t just stand by.

He thought it would be good to get rid of the Duke and disguise it as an accident.

Of course, it would be difficult to do it neatly so as not to give rise to suspicious rumors.

‘I think I’m being too cold-hearted.’

Still, the Duke of Reston is the biological father of Astelle and Fritz.

Killing their parents can’t be an easy decision.

***

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After that, for a while, the news of the new duke became a topic of discussion.

There have been many speculations about the Duke of Reston’s abrupt transfer of the title to his son.

But most of them didn’t think much of it.

The Duke of Reston was once an enemy of the Emperor.

Now, his daughter has become empress and captivated the emperor’s heart, but it’s too difficult to return to the position of prime minister again.

So everyone guessed that he was trying to meddle in politics by putting his son in the prime minister’s seat instead of him.

Fortunately, this gossip about the Duke was spurred on by bigger news.

In late summer, Theor was officially crowned crown prince.

***

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On that day, as customary, a grand celebration was held at the Imperial Palace.

Theor, as cute as a doll, standing in a newly made blue robe to formally attend the celebration.

The maid admired Theor.

“You look really good in it.”

Astelle looked closely at Theor and asked, “Isn’t it uncomfortable?”

“No!”

After entering the Imperial Palace, all of Theor’s clothes were newly made, but now the newly tailored clothes are a larger size.

“You’ve grown a lot in just a few months.”

Astelle felt the passage of time again.

Now, the clothes he used to wear in the countryside are too small to wear.

Anyway, he won’t be wearing such plain clothes anymore.

“Today, you have to be quiet by His Majesty’s side.”

Astelle said, gently stroking his well-combed black hair.

At the fact that Theor was going to become a crown prince, she was a little scared.

Theor nodded his head confidently.

“Yes, I can do it. I practiced with my grandfather.”

Theor took a step forward and did the polite greetings of the nobles.

It’s cute when a doll-like child imitates an adult. He is good in his own way.

Astelle burst out laughing seeing Theor acting like an adult.

Hannah, who was next to her, also laughed lightly.

Theor, who was doing the greeting in his own way, looked at the two of them and shouted.

“Don’t laugh!”

“Yes yes, you are good at it.”

Astelle took Theor’s hand.

“Now, let’s go to the hall.”

*

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Throughout the celebration, Theor stood confidently and received congratulations from the nobles beside Kaizen.

Astelle also greeted the noblewomen and then went out to the terrace to cool her head for a moment.

Someone cautiously stepped out onto the terrace, approaching Astelle.

“Your Majesty, have you been well?”

“Sir, it’s been a while.”

That’s Count Ecklen, Seibel’s father.

Astelle hadn’t met him since the last meeting in the Empress Palace before.

“Sir Seibel left for the North, and Theor was very sad.”

With Sir Seibel’s dispatch to the North, Theor’s education became the responsibility of Marquis Carleberg for a time.

Looking at Theor through the glass door, Count Ecklen said, “His Highness the Crown Prince is resolute in front of people. He will surely become a great monarch.”

He resembles Kaizen.

Little by little, Theor grew more and more like Kaizen.

‘I wish they won’t have the same personality though.’

As the two of them had a brief conversation, another person opened the door to the terrace.

Astelle turned to him involuntarily, startled.

Even though it had only been a month, it felt like she had not seen her father for a long time.

Before Astelle could greet him first, the Duke smiled politely.

“Congratulations, Your Majesty.”

Count Ecklen also greeted him.

“It’s been a long time since I’ve seen you, Duke.”

“Yes, it’s been a while.”

The Duke replied stiffly. His tone was stiff, but his eyes were like looking at something contemptuous.

The Count looked at him calmly and said, “I heard about the succession news.”

For a moment, displeasure passed in the Duke’s light green eyes.

“Now that I am old, it is time to lay down the heavy burdens.” The Duke of Reston replied with a smile.

Pretending to be a caring father full of affection for his son, he added, “It’s really nice to have a son to pass on to the title. He is my own son who inherited my blood, so I can trust him with anything.”

How childish. It was sarcasm. Count Ecklen adopted his nephew because he had no biological son.

“You must be proud to have a great son. The new duke is impeccable.”

On the other hand, Count Ecklen was still polite.

He’s not a man full of intimidation, but his honest attitude gives him a sense of dignity.

“Count, I’d like to have a word with my father for a moment.”

Astelle felt sorry for Count Ecklen, so she decided to separate the two.

The Count bowed politely and calmly retreated.

“Long time no see, Father.”

“Yeah, it’s been a while.”

He replied in his usual manner.

“A lot of time has passed since the national wedding, now he has finally become a crown prince.”

Her father is still a duke.

It will take some time for the successor to take over the title while the predecessor is still alive because the document is complicated.

“I heard from my brother.”

Astelle wanted to ask him what he thought that he agreed so easily.

But there was no doubt in his father’s eyes.

Even if he has a plan, there is no way he’ll reveal it.

“Isn’t that what you want? If Fritz wants the dukedom, all I have to do is to hand it over to him.”

“Is that all?”

“What else could there be?”

The Duke looked at Theor standing next to Kaizen through the glass door.

“Even if I am not the Duke, the fact that I am the crown prince’s maternal grandfather does not change.”

Astelle tried to say something more but at that moment, the door to the terrace opened again.

A servant came in and said to Astelle. “Your Majesty, His Majesty the Emperor is looking for you.”

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“Then I’ll see you at the succession ceremony, Your Majesty.” The Duke said goodbye to Astelle.