Chapter 146

“Astelle.”

Astelle left Theor’s room after Fritz returned.

“I sent someone to the West. I told him to run without rest and bring it.”

“How long will it take?”

“It will take at least a few days. Maybe five days or so… … .”

Fritz looked at Astelle’s expression and couldn’t continue his words. In fact, it was impossible to come so quickly. It will take at least a week.

“Okay. I’ll stand by His Majesty, so go back and get some rest.”

“Do not worry about me. I will wait at the Ministry of Home Affairs office.”

Astelle nodded.

It was midnight, but the corridors of the Empress Palace were as bustling as daytime.

Not only the knights but also the servants and maids, no one slept. It was a sleepless night for everyone.

As she was walking to the emperor’s bedroom, Hannah ran to her.

“Your Majesty, the Duke… … .”

Before Hannah could finish speaking, Astelle walked into the drawing room where her father was waiting.

The Duke of Reston, who was in the drawing room, was preparing to leave.

“Where are you going?”

“I’m going back to the mansion.”

Astelle looked at him with a puzzled look, but the Duke of Reston didn’t seem to care.

“The Emperor will die soon anyway. What will change if I stay here longer?”

The Emperor will die, so he will return to the mansion and prepare for his future.

Her anger had reached its peak.

“Hannah, bring the guardsmen.”

Astelle ignored her father’s brazen reply and called the guards.

The Duke of Reston frowned.

“Why are you calling the guards?”

“Stay here.”

“You want me to stay here?”

“It’s not ‘here’.”

There are numerous rooms in the palace, some of which are places where people can be secretly locked up.

She couldn’t send her father to prison, so she would lock him up secretly so he wouldn’t be gossiped about.

“Are you going to imprison me?”

But the Duke of Reston snorted upon hearing Astelle’s words.

“Not many troops in the capital right now, wouldn’t it be difficult if the Rosewood Knights came now?”

“What do you mean?”

“It means that Rosewoods are on my side.”

Hearing the unexpected confession, Astelle paused and looked at her father.

The Duke smiled contentedly as he looked at Astelle’s hardened face.

“Did you think I would have started doing this without having an army?”

“I heard he’s close to the Croychen family.”

The Duke of Reston averted his gaze and picked up his coat.

Astelle walked closer to her father and asked again. “What did you promise them?”

The Duke didn’t seem to want to answer, but when Astelle asked him with a fierce look, he replied, “I’d give him the empress seat.”

“To the Knight Commander of the Rosewood?”

“You don’t seem to know that he has a young daughter.”

“What about the Marquis of Croychen?”

“The head of a family wants to somehow revive his family.”

He will forget his past grudges and decide to help the Duke. To regain his lost position.

“… … .”

Even if the Knights of Rosewood betrayed, the capital would not collapse immediately. The capital also has guards and knights.

It was obvious that a civil war would break out and become chaotic.

If the Emperor dies, it will be even more chaotic.

“I see.”

Hearing Astelle’s clear voice, the Duke of Reston cast a suspicious glance.

Astelle spoke again. “I will do as my father will.”

“Can I trust you now?”

“You need me, too.”

When Theor becomes emperor, formally Astelle becomes regent. Although mostly the maternal grandfather or maternal uncle acted as regent. Still, it’s nice to have the Empress Dowager in the Imperial Palace.

Only when Empress Dowager reigns as the hostess can she control the palace’s household and maintain it thoroughly.

The Duke of Reston looked at Astelle for a moment and made such a calculation, and eventually took a step back.

“Yeah, I see. I will persuade the emperor’s ministers more. I believe you will take care of the imperial situation.”

Astelle nodded her head.

“Do not worry.”

* * *

read only at

After returning home, Vellian was the last to hear the news from the palace.

It was only after the ministers who had been called to the Empress Palace returned to their respective residences that he could hear the news.

He hurried back to the palace.

Due to the emperor’s illness, the inside of the palace was in a strict atmosphere.

Vellian met Lyndon at the palace and listened to him.

“His Majesty has suddenly collapsed and is resting in the Empress Palace.”

“What?”

Lyndon briefly explained the situation before leaving. Vellian held him in for even a little more information.

Lyndon reluctantly added, “His Majesty seems to be in critical condition.”

“What?!”

Vellian felt like he was being hit on the head.

Lyndon gave the same answer to his question several times.

According to him, His Majesty the Emperor who went to the Empress Palace suddenly became in critical condition.

‘What nonsense… … .’

Of course, even a healthy person can suddenly collapse and die.

I heard that even a person without a medical condition may die one day suddenly from sudden cardiac arrest or blood rushing to his head.

Young and healthy people are no exception.

‘But it’s weird.’

After the summer, Astelle became Empress and the new young Duke became Minister of Home Affairs. It hasn’t even been that long since the Crown Prince’s official coronation.

It all happened quickly within a few months, and now, as if someone had been waiting, His Majesty the Emperor is in critical condition.

And the Emperor is now in the Empress Palace.

It was a suspicious situation for anyone to see.

Vellian tried to meet the emperor’s doctor, but he couldn’t because he was in the Empress Palace.

Reluctantly, Vellian went to Count Ecklen, the minister of military affairs and Seibel’s adoptive father.

The Count still remained in the palace.

“I met the Empress last night and heard the explanation. You must be careful so that His Majesty’s condition is not known to the outside.”

“Shouldn’t we call in the troops to protect the capital?”

“The capital’s gates are locked but I’ve already called Seibel.”

The Count’s words were like confirmation of the fact that the emperor’s condition was unusual.

Vellian wanted to cry.

He returned to the palace in search of the emperor’s servant, and the servant from Empress Palace was looking for him.

“Sir Vellian. His Majesty the Emperor is looking for you.”

* * *

Astelle went to the bedroom after leaving her father.

She couldn’t leave Kaizen in the Empress Palace forever. It was fine to stay here for a day or two, but in the end, she had to send him to his own palace soon.

As she pondered that, she entered the bedroom.

Nothing has changed in the bedroom. The doctor and attendants are still there.

Gretel, who was sitting by the bedside, saw her and got up.

“I just gave His Majesty medicine to slow down the effects of the poison,” Gretel said, showing Astelle the vial. “It remains to be seen how effective it will be.”

If only we could slow down the poison’s effect as much as possible, we should try any medicine.

The effect of the medicine appeared sooner than expected.

After a while, Kaizen, who was lying as if asleep, slowly came to his senses, frowning.

“Astelle?”

“Your Majesty!”

Astelle hurried to the bed.

“Your Majesty, are you okay?”

The red eyes looking at Astelle couldn’t focus well.

Kaizen tossed and turned and tried to get up, but he couldn’t.

“I’m a little dizzy.”

“Just lie down.”

The doctor came over and checked Kaizen’s condition.

“The pharmacist’s medicine seems to have worked to some extent.”

Gretel spoke quietly to Astelle, “It’s not detoxified. The effect of the poison only slowed down and made His Majesty conscious for a moment.”

Hearing that, Kaizen looked at Astelle and muttered.

“Poison?”

“… … .”

Astelle didn’t answer.

However, Kaizen seemed to have grasped the situation even with a hazy mind.

Without further ado, he turned to the servant at his bedside.

“Call Vellian. Ask him to bring the Emperor’s Seal.”

After seeing the servant go out, Kaizen reached out to Astelle.

Astelle sat by the bedside and took his hand.

She felt a familiar warmth in his hard, callused hands.

Kaizen’s eyes still look hazy. As he held Astelle’s hand, he closed his eyes several times. He was struggling to get his mind right.

“Are you all right? And Theor?”

“I’m fine. Theor too.”

Kaizen held Astelle’s hand firmly when he heard the answer. He was relieved to hear that the two were safe.

Seeing him feeling relieved, Astelle’s heart ached.

Kaizen sighed. “I don’t even need to ask who did it.”

“… … .”

Astelle clasped Kaizen’s hand with both hands and put her lips to his fingertips.

“Hold on a little longer. I sent someone to the west estate to bring detox herbs.”

Kaizen opened his eyes wide and looked up at Astelle.

Was he surprised that Astelle tried to save him?

From Astelle’s point of view, it was advantageous for Kaizen to die.

If the emperor dies, she will become the Empress Dowager as well as a regent.

But Astelle doesn’t want that. She wants Kaizen to live.

Astelle grabbed his hand and whispered quietly to him. “You have to hold on for me and Theor.”

Kaizen looked up at her in confusion, licked his lips, and spoke helplessly.

“You–”

However, he could not continue his words to the end. The door opened and Vellian came in with a pale face.

“Your Majesty, are you okay?”

Kaizen, who had barely maintained his mind, looked back at Vellian.

“Write down my orders.”

He tried to speak clearly, but his voice trembled.