Chapter 141

As soon as Kaizen finished his work, he headed to the Empress Palace.

The event wasn’t over yet so Astelle was still staying there. Instead, Theor, who returned first, was in his room.

Theor, who was playing with something on the table, raised his head to greet Kaizen.

“Your Majesty!”

“Did you enjoy the event?”

“Yeah, it was fun! There were also people in big apples and fairy clothes.”

Kaizen hugged Theor affectionately and sat him back in his chair.

The plate on the table is full of strange greenish cookies and next to it is fruit jam and cream.

“What is this?”

“Cookies with healthy grains and herbs.” The servant next to him answered instead.

Grains and herbs?

It sure doesn’t taste good.

“The new pharmacist has brought medicinal herbs to help the Crown Prince’s health.”

New pharmacist?

Kaizen had already heard about an acquaintance of Astelle – a pharmacist who lived in the countryside with her – who had visited the Empress Palace.

She was the one who made the medicine to change the color of Theor’s eyes.

Astelle has been friends with her for six years. If Astelle trusts her, so does Kaizen.

“But she put it in a cookie?”

“Eating a lot of sweet food at night is not good for the body…… So it is made into herbal snacks like this,” replied the servant apologetically.

Kaizen nodded. Young Theor wouldn’t like it if he was told to take medicine every day. So, it seems to be made as a snack in its own way.

“But what are you doing with the cookies?”

“You can make it like this.”

Theor used a small jam knife to spread the fruit jam and cream on the cookies and then stack them on top of each other.

“You’re good at making it.”

The cookies stacked in a circle are adorable and cute.

‘Did someone purposely make Theor play with the cookies and then eat them naturally?’

Kaizen seems to know why.

The color and shape of the cookie look tasteless because it contains herbs.

If you just give Theor such a strange cookie, he won’t eat it, so making him eat it while playing a game is a good idea.

Theor was engrossed in the game of spreading jam between the cookies. With total concentration, he carefully spread the sweet cream between the cookies.

Seems like a good way to do it.

“Who came up with this?”

At Kaizen’s question, the servant bowed his head, looking troubled.

“It was Her Majesty the Empress who ordered this, she said the Crown Prince would enjoy it.”

“She came up with a good way.”

While Theor was preoccupied with stacking cookies, the servant brought two glasses of fruit juice.

The orange drink smelled fresh and sweet.

The servant put ice in only one glass and put it in front of Kaizen.

“I want ice, too.” Theor looked at the glass in front of him and murmured.

“Your Highness, you must not drink cold drinks at night,” said the servant.

“Are the cookies ready?”

Kaizen asked to distract Theor.

Theor then moved two stacks of cookies on a plate.

“Yes, it’s done.”

Theor first put a finished cookie in his mouth and chewed it. Then he put the stacked cookies on a small plate and presented it to Kaizen.

“This is for Your Majesty.”

Kaizen held back his laughter.

“Yes, thank you.”

On a small plate, there are two round cookies filled with sweet cream.

Theor looked up at Kaizen, his eyes gleaming with anticipation.

Kaizen ate one of the cookies Theor had spread cream on. The taste of soft cream that is not too sweet and the crunchy and savory cookie melt in his mouth.

Surprisingly, it doesn’t taste bad.

* * *

Astelle returned to the Empress Palace only after the sun had set.

“Where’s Theor?”

“The Crown Prince is in the bedroom and has already had dinner.”

Hannah, who came out to greet Astelle, replied so.

It’s already past time for dinner.

“I have prepared dinner and bath water.”

“I have to finish my work for a bit. Tomorrow will be busy again.”

“Oh, Your Majesty… … .”

“What?”

Hannah said a little hesitant. “His Majesty the Emperor is waiting in the study.”

Kaizen is in the study?

He usually spends time with Theor and meets her in the bedroom.

Does he have something to say?

“Well, okay.”

“Shall I prepare some tea?”

“No need. I’ll call you back later.”

Astelle entered the study.

There was a chill in the dark study room.

It was almost summer, and the night air was cold today.

“Astelle.”

Kaizen in the emperor’s formal attire was waiting in the dark study room. He then took a step forward.

“Your Majesty?”

Astelle stood facing Kaizen, unable to avoid him.

“What are you doing here?”

Kaizen looked at Astelle and answered, “I’ve been waiting for you.”

“Why didn’t you wait in the bedroom?”

What had happened in the garden made their relationship awkward and uncomfortable again.

It seems like this is the first time the two of them have had a conversation like this since that day.

Kaizen looked at Astelle without answering.

The red eyes that could be seen in the darkness contained an unknown emotion.

“I’ll give you Dentsu Castle in the East.”

“Sorry?”

“I want you to be comfortable there for the rest of your life.”

Dentsu Castle was a place she stopped by during the journey. It was a splendid castle called the Imperial Palace of the East.

Astelle also danced with Kaizen there. In the castle’s garden, Kaizen injured himself while trying to protect Astelle.

What do you mean by suddenly giving me a castle?

“Are you telling me to leave the Imperial Palace?”

“That means you can leave if you want in five years. No, you can go any time you want.”

Kaizen said so and added, “I won’t remarry for the rest of my life even if you leave.”

“… … .”

Astelle stared blankly at him.

I can’t understand what else this is about.

“For Theor?”

The new empress will be a threat to Theor.

So he won’t remarry because of that?

Kaizen did not deny it.

“Yes, but more importantly, it’s for you. I will let you leave this place whenever you want.”

He won’t remarry for my sake?

Even after five years, Astelle will not be able to leave the palace because she is worried about Theor.

“Why are you saying this?”

Kaizen looked at Astelle with complex emotions for a moment.

“I want to compensate you for what happened six years ago. No, I want to make up for all the time you spent with me since then. And your heart… … .”

Kaizen couldn’t continue his words.

Astelle seemed to know what words he couldn’t say.

He wants to make up for Astelle’s feelings – even if it’s late – that he was not aware of.

Astelle noticed what had happened.

“My grandfather said something useless.”

When she went on a picnic in the garden, she wondered why Kaizen suddenly apologized.

It seems her grandfather told Kaizen about the old days, that young Astelle had loved Kaizen for ten years.

It’s something I don’t want to tell Kaizen.

“Even if I leave, I don’t need such a luxurious castle.”

“Then I’ll give you another castle. Just choose the Maern Castle or any place you want. I’ll give you a warrant. I can give you as much as you want in any part of the East.”

I can’t believe he will give me everything I want.

That’s absolutely ridiculous.

No empress in history has ever received a territory that way.

However, there was no sign of joking in Kaizen’s eyes. He was sincere.

Astelle answered jokingly to evoke a heavy atmosphere.

“If I want the whole East, will you give it to me?”

“I will.”

“You must be joking.”

“I’m serious.”

Kaizen said calmly and took a step closer.

In the dark room, his red eyes contained dangerously deep emotions.

“I am also serious about my vow not to remarry.”

“… … .”

What should I say when I hear this?

Astelle took a step back, trying to clear her mind.

If she stayed close to him like this, she felt like she would cross the line, swept away by the chaotic emotions.

“I’m tired… … I want to be alone.”

Embarrassed, she stepped backward and accidentally stepped on the hem of her dress.

Astelle lost her balance and stumbled.

Kaizen hurriedly grabbed her arm.

“Are you okay?”

“Oh yes… … I’m fine.”

He grabbed Astelle and supported her.

Caught up in Kaize’s arms, a familiar scent struck Astelle. A mature and seductive body scent and warmth coexisted.

Astelle tried to force herself out of his arms.

“You look very tired… … .”

Kaizen’s worried voice made her flinch.

Kaizen, who was supporting Astelle, stood still with a pale face.

“Your Majesty?”

She was bewildered as to why he was doing this all of a sudden and called him, but there was no answer.

Then Kaizen fell to the floor helplessly.

“Your Majesty!”

***

While Astelle and Theor were outside the Imperial Palace, the Marquis of Carlenberg went to the office attached to the outer palace.

He was asked to visit the government office the day before because he had to process documents related to the estate.

It had only been a few days since he was told he would get the estate back, but the work was done quickly.

There were a lot of people in the office and it was cluttered.

Even during the harvest festival, the officials seemed to be busy working.

The Marquis checked the documents given by the official and signed them.

‘I didn’t expect to get my land back at this age.’

Even when his granddaughter was the fiancée of the crown prince and his son-in-law was the prime minister during the reign of the previous emperor, he couldn’t imagine this.

After checking the documents, the Marquis walked down the hallway as the sun was setting.

He saw a middle-aged man walking from the other side. The man found the Marquis and approached him with a surprised face.

The Marquis realized who the man was only after he took a few steps forward.

That man is Count Ecklen.

“Oh… … .”

“Marquis.”

The Marquis paused and his face hardened, but Count Ecklen looked at him with a very happy face.

“How have you been?”

“… … you seem to be doing well.”

After exchanging formal greetings, he said nothing more.

The Marquis felt uncomfortable in this atmosphere. He never expected to see his old lieutenant again in this way.

‘Now, what should I talk about?’

At the time, it was all my fault.