Chapter 181

“Uh…… grandpa?”

It was clearly Theor’s voice.

“……grandpa?”

At the sound of that voice, the three of them stiffened at the same time.

They looked towards the bedroom door and saw Theor in his pajamas walking over with half-closed eyes, holding the teddy bear he carried every day.

The teddy bear that was gripped in one hand was dragged across the floor.

Gretel was so startled that she was speechless for a moment.

“Uncle Fritz? Aunt Gretel?”

Theor looked at the two with sleepy eyes.

“Why are you two wet?”

Gretel belatedly realized that she was drenched in water. Fritz was also not much different from her.

Fritz glanced at Gretel before he hurriedly answered, “Well…… we went out to the lake and fell into the water.”

“Why did you two leave without saying a word?” Theor asked, blinking his drowsy eyes.

This time Gretel answered quickly, “Be- because it was hot. I am sorry I woke you up while you were sleeping, Your Highness.”

Theor, still sleepy, rubbed his eyes with his hands.

“Uh…… it’s okay. But why are you two in grandpa’s room?”

At the endless barrage of questions, the two of them shut their mouths with embarrassed faces.

Theor still had a sleepy face.

As they exchanged questions and answers, he would gradually come to his senses, and it was obvious that more detailed questions would arise.

Fritz asked his grandfather for help with a troubled expression.

The Marquis next to him hugged Theor. He said, “They were just passing by and I came out hearing them. Now let’s go inside and sleep again.”

The Marquis, who embraced Theor, dismissed the two as if nothing more had to be heard.

“Hurry out.”

Fritz and Gretel passed through the break room and quickly went out into the hallway.

Fortunately, no one was in the hallway.

The two were able to safely enter Fritz’s room across the hallway.

As they entered the bedroom and closed the door, a feeling of relief came over them.

The two leaned against the doorway and looked at each other.

The moonlit room was calm and quiet.

Gretel looked at him and asked cautiously, “Why…… why are you looking at me like that?”

“There’s something I want to tell you.”

“Y- yes?”

Fritz turned slightly with a soft smile.

“Yes, but I want to say it after I prepare it properly.”

Gretel involuntarily blushed.

It was because she seemed to know what he wanted to tell her. And her answer to that seemed to have already been decided.

***

The next morning, as everyone gathered for breakfast, Theor tilted his head and said, “I think I saw Uncle Fritz and Aunt Gretel last night.”

Gretel almost dropped her spoon.

The Marquis glanced at Fritz and answered in a calm tone, “Maybe you had a dream.”

Theor nodded his head while munching on a sweet pancake.

“I think so. In my dream, Uncle and Aunt Gretel were soaked.”

“…….”

Kaizen glanced at Fritz but didn’t ask anything in particular.

Fortunately, Kaizen did not seem to be interested in anything but Astelle’s condition.

Fritz wasn’t agitated at all and just spooned down his soup. Gretel focused on eating again as if nothing had happened.

Astelle was still in her bedroom and missed breakfast.

First of all, Gretel decided not to tell anyone for now, including Astelle.

I think it’s better for the two of us to discuss our plans further before telling anyone else. I don’t want to spoil Astelle’s vacation.

‘Next time there’s a good chance, I’ll say it step by step.’

But unexpectedly, it happened today.

That’s how their story ended.

***

As soon as the story was over, Astelle asked again in surprise.

“So grandpa knows too?”

Fritz slightly avoided Astelle’s sharp eyes and replied, “I asked him to keep it a secret.”

Even Theor witnessed them together.

Astelle realized that she was the only one who didn’t know about the relationship between the two, and she felt an absurd rage.

Kaizen, on the other hand, was sipping cold tea with a bored face.

‘It’s not even that big of a deal.’

He couldn’t say it out loud though.

He was going to enjoy the ball with Astelle who has gotten a little healthier these days, and have a tryst like young lovers.

Instead of enjoying a sweet tryst, he wasted his time listening to this long story.

Kaizen put down the teacup and said calmly, “I listened to your story very well. I didn’t know it would be long. Anyways, good to hear you two are having a child.”

It was a polite way to say, “Now that I’ve heard the story, get out of here.”

“What are you talking about?”

However, Astelle had no intention of letting them go easily.

In fact, Astelle was angry.

‘I can’t believe you two have a child. Even though it wasn’t long before you started dating…….’

But she couldn’t say it out loud for fear of embarrassing Gretel.

“I understand why you didn’t tell me you were pregnant. But does it make sense that you are still like this?”

Astelle glared at Fritz, asking why her brother was so irresponsible.

At least publicizing the relationship and showing an attitude of responsibility is the bare minimum

Gretel tried to make an excuse for him. But before she could say anything, Astelle held her hand first.

“I’m so sorry, Gretel. I shouldn’t have asked for an explanation all of a sudden.”

I didn’t know it was such a long story.

Had she known it would be like this, she would have talked to Gretel privately.

Gretel asked with a worried look, “Are you not against it?”

She had been wasting time waiting for the opportunity to speak up because, more than anything, she was worried about Astelle’s reaction.

Of course, Astelle couldn’t possibly hate Gretel because of the difference in status, but she thought she might be disappointed since she had hopes for the Dukedom.

But Astelle held her hand kindly. “If the two of you are good, do I have any reason to object?”

She glanced at Fritz and added, “Actually, I’m more worried about you, Gretel.”

Fritz looked back at Gretel with a soft smile. And this time, he changed his expression and turned to Kaizen.

He said, “I would like to formally ask Your Majesty for permission.”

For a moment, a light silence passed between the four of them.

Fritz continued in a serious tone, “I intend to marry Miss Gretel. I beg your permission.”

Kaizen looked at the two of them and asked, “Have you two agreed to each other?”

Fritz met Gretel’s eyes. Actually, he had officially proposed to Gretel today. And he got the answer he wanted.

That’s why he invited Gretel to the ball.

He held Gretel’s hand under the table. He felt the ring on her tiny but slightly rough finger.

Fritz turned to Kaizen again and replied, “There’s no way I would dare ask permission to do something that hasn’t been agreed upon, right?”

“…….”

It was a very natural thing, but Kaizen was silent for a moment.

That was because he had a history of asking permission from the Reston family to proceed with the marriage at will, without Astelle’s approval.

In an instant, he remembered the two marriages between him and Astelle and the process before and after.

Looking at the couple in front of him as he recalled all of that, he felt somehow strange.

Should I say it’s a kind of envy?

“If the two of you are good, there’s no need to oppose it.”

Kaizen’s eyes turned to Astelle.

Astelle showed a gentle smile and added quickly, “I think Millet would be good. It is also close to the capital. It’s a forested area, so it’s a place that suits Gretel well.”

“Uh, what…….”

Gretel turned to Astelle in surprise at the sudden remark.

Kaizen calmly declared, “I will give you land and a title as a reward for your services, Miss Gretel.”

Gretel opened her mouth blankly.

Kaizen added with a smile, “Didn’t I say I’d give you a reward?”

“Well, yes, but…… that’s too much…….”

“I should have returned the favor to you earlier. You are our benefactor,” said Astelle to her soothingly.

That meant Gretel’s status would be raised so she would have no problem marrying Fritz.

Gretel finally understood what they meant and lowered her head.

“Thank you, Your Majesty the Emperor, Your Majesty the Empress.”

Gretel held Fritz’s hand and smiled at each other.

Seeing the two of them looking genuinely happy, Astelle also felt a sense of happiness.

***

After a long conversation, the two returned.

Astelle went back to the bedroom to take a bath and change her clothes.

It was already close to midnight.

It was time for everyone to go to bed, so the palace was quiet.

Astelle came into the bedroom in sky-blue pajamas over a light nightgown.

A slow voice came from behind.

“I will leave the wedding preparations to Hannah.”

When she turned around, Kaizen was waiting for her in her bedroom.

“Why to Hannah?”

What does Fritz’s marriage have to do with Hannah?

Kaizen answered honestly after a while. “I’m afraid you’ll be exhausted if you also take care of that.”

“No way.”

Astelle sat down on the bed and continued, “It’s Gretel’s wedding, she is free to arrange the wedding as she wants. I can’t interfere.”

If Astelle meddled in the affairs of the duchy, Gretel would feel intimidated.

When Gretel married Fritz, she would naturally become a Duchess.

So Astelle couldn’t just meddle in her marriage even though she is the empress. But if Gretel asked Astelle for help, of course she would be happy to help.

“But it is my duty to prepare nice presents.”

“Good.”

Kaizen, who was by the window, approached Astelle and sat down on the bed.

He wrapped his arms around Astelle’s shoulders and pulled her into his arms.

“The ball ended in a boring way.”

“You were bored?”

Was there something wrong with the ball?

As Astelle looked at him cluelessly, Kaizen raised an eyebrow and answered, “We couldn’t do anything but dance to one song.”

“Then what should we do other than dancing at the ball?”

Kaizen didn’t answer and avoided her gaze. He couldn’t say that he wanted to enjoy a tryst like young lovers do.

Then he lightly placed his lips on the nape of Astelle’s neck.

As Astelle felt the familiar warmth, she slightly closed her eyes.

“I didn’t know you held the ball with that in mind. Had I known that, I would have helped too. If so, how about finding other people’s partners as well?”

“No, I changed my mind.”

Astelle quietly shook her head. “I think it would be better for everyone to find someone they like without having to force them to decide.”

Astelle now realized this.

She wanted to find a marriage partner for Fritz, but it turned out that Fritz and Gretel have been in a relationship for a long time.

It’s better to do something like that yourself, not because someone is helping.

“Yeah, they looked happy.”

Kaizen’s hand that had touched her waist slowly descended to her belly.

A low voice came from the side.

“You are…….”

Astelle turned her head to look at him.

In the dimly lit room, red eyes full of affection could be seen.

“Your Majesty and I were not ordinary lovers.”

Astelle leaned her face into his arms again and said, “It took a long time for us to get to where we are now, but I think the happiness we have is meaningful because there is a path we have walked together.”

Kaizen hugged her tightly.

Astelle closed her eyes in a feeling of carefree bliss. She could feel the gentle warmth of his careful hand on her belly.

“Our children will have a cousin.”

Astelle also touched her belly with one hand.

There was still no change on the outside, but now the baby will be growing little by little inside.

“I know.”

She smiled at the thought of a cousin of the same age as her child playing together in the garden.

Theor would play along while taking care of his two little siblings.

It was a happy future just by imagining it.