Chapter 66

It was only natural for the Emperor to wear such clothes in the Imperial Palace.

During the tour, he was wearing casual clothes like ordinary nobles.

“Greetings to the Emperor, the Lord of the Empire.”

Kaizen strode towards the two of them, and looked at Seibel.

“Sir Seibel, what are you doing here?”

“Your Majesty.”

Seibel answered politely, “I have come to deliver a gift to Lady Astelle at the order of my father.”

Kaizen seemed uncomfortable for some reason.

His sharp eyes turned to Astelle.

“What is the gift?”

“It’s a book.”

She showed him the history book that was on the table.

Kaizen frowned and chased Seibel away.

“Go back when your business is over.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Seibel came to Astelle.

“I hope to see you again next time, Lady Astelle.”

“Yes, see you.”

After saying that, Seibel went out.

There was a heavy silence in the room.

Kaizen just looked at Astelle with displeased eyes as if he wasn’t feeling well.

‘Why didn’t you say anything when you came looking for me?’

“Your Majesty, what have you come here for?”

“I did not come to see you.”

Kaizen said in an annoyed tone.

“I came to see Theor.”

“Theor?”

What does Kaizen have to do with Theor?

“Where is he?”

“He is with my grandfather.”

“Call him.”

He asked the maid to bring Theor.

After a while, Theor ran to the library.

“Your Majesty!”

As soon as Theor found Kaizen, he was delighted and ran to him.

Kaizen lifted Theor and held him in his arms.

“How have you been?”

“I like the gift. There are silver soldiers.”

It felt strange to see the two of them become so close.

I feel anxious.

‘It’ll be fine.’

Now, if I leave tomorrow, Theor and Kaizen will never meet again.

“I promised to take Theor to the theater beforehand but I couldn’t because I didn’t have time and he would be leaving tomorrow.”

Astelle was surprised to hear what Kaizen said.

When did you make that promise?

As Theor looked disappointed, Kaizen pinched Theor’s soft cheek.

“The fair is open today. Shall we go take a look there?”

“Let’s go!”

“Wait, a fair?”

Astelle shouted in surprise, and the two of them turned around just then.

“Well, since I promised to him, so I’ll take him.”

“Your Majesty and Theor are going alone?”

“The escorts will follow us.”

“No, that’s not it……”

Well, when the emperor goes undercover in a fair, the guards guarding the emperor secretly follow him.

However, it was like Kaizen and Theor were alone.

Letting Theor to the fair alone with Kaizen……no way.

Astelle was forced to step forward.

“I’m going too.”

A smirk appeared on Kaizen’s handsome face.

“You don’t believe me.”

“……”

How can I entrust my child to you?

Kaizen was a capable emperor.

But he never takes care of a child.

He wasn’t the kind of person who can take care of a five-year-old.

She’d rather leave Theor with Vellian than with Kaizen.

Kaizen found it interesting that Astelle asked him to take her too.

He said with a low smile, like a big benevolent,

“Well, if you want to follow us, do whatever you want.”

“Is Aunt Astelle going with us too?”

Theor was so happy to hear that both of them were going.

Astelle answered with a sigh, “Okay. Let’s go together.”

So the three of them went to the fair together.

***

The capital was a very large city.

There were numerous densely populated areas in the east, west, north, and south, centering on the downtown area south of the Imperial Palace.

The fair was held in the capital’s grand park.

The long marble walkway running through the center and the octagonal fountain square were the park’s trademarks.

The square, which creates beautiful and charming scenery, has always been clean and safe due to thorough management.

But, there were way too many people.

“Theor, be careful, don’t let go of my hand. Never.”

Theor, who had never seen so many people, was too busy looking around.

“Wow.”

When they rode the carriage across the center of the capital city, Theor didn’t even look at Astelle because he was busy seeing a lot of people.

“Yeah, I won’t let it go.”

As he entered the crowd, Theor held Astelle’s hand tightly.

Theor looked around the east road of the square where many people came and went with a curious look.

It was something he had never seen before.

He rarely went out, so for him, everything was so amazing.

He watched carefully at the people selling colorful goods.

Kaizen, who followed the two from behind, murmured, “There are so many people.”

Astelle glanced back at Kaizen, who was walking while crossing the crowd, taking care not to let his head touch the lamp hanging from the pole.

As the situation changed rapidly, the great nobles fell, and a civil war broke out not long ago, but the capital was prospering more peacefully than before.

It was all Kaizen’s merit.

“Have you been here before?” (Kaizen)

“Yeah.”

Kaizen seemed surprised to hear Astelle’s answer.

“Why are you surprised?”

“I didn’t know you like to come to a place like this. In the past, it seemed that you would only live in a mansion. I don’t think your father would allow you to go to a place like this either.”

Ladies of noble families don’t come to places where commoners hang out like this.

Astelle muttered, avoiding his gaze.

“Well……I didn’t come out with my father’s permission.”

There are many noble ladies in the capital, but few of them have a father who will gladly allow them to go to such a place.

“I went out with Brother Fritz. Ah, Brother Sigmund too.”

Come to think of it, Brother Fritz, like Kaizen, also grumbled while crossing the crowd.

“What makes this dusty market so much fun? I can’t understand it at all.” (Fritz)

Astelle just smiled bitterly.

It was dusty and there were a lot of people, but I would like to see more when the opportunity arises.

‘Because I thought once I entered the Imperial Palace, I wouldn’t be able to go out at will.’

Kaizen, who was complaining, was surprised to see Astelle looking lonely.

As he was about to say something more, Astelle suddenly pointed to a corner of the square.

“Theor, there’s a puppet show. Shall we go take a look?”

“What is a puppet show?”

“A play with puppets.”

At the word of the play, Theor was ready to run in that direction.

“I want to go see it!”

Astelle went there with Theor.

A small simple stage was set up in a corner of the square and a play was played with puppets.

In front of the stage, there are seats on the floor for people to sit and watch.

Small children gathered together in front of the stage.

Astelle chose a seat with a good view and sat Theor down.

“Sit quietly here and watch.”

On the stage were a rabbit doll and a teddy bear hanging by a string.

It was a story like a fairy tale because it was a performance for children.

The conversation continued, going for a walk and eating delicious food.

Theor sat down on the bench, and Astelle stood on the floor behind him and watched.

Kaizen also came over and stood next to Astelle.

While watching the play for a while, Kaizen next to her brought up another story.

“Have you met your father?”

Astelle wondered if he was spying on her.

After all, she was living in the mansion the emperor gave her, and she thought it would be known through the mouths of the servants.

On the other hand, Astelle thought that Kaizen was not monitoring her, but rather her father, the Duke of Reston.

‘How is the investigation of the assassination going on?’

It must have been her father.

What happens when the truth is revealed?

Not only her father, but Fritz also couldn’t be safe.

Astelle herself could not be safe.

Astelle answered as she hid her growing anxiety,

“Yes, I met my father.”

“What did your father say?”

“We didn’t talk much. It was just about housework.”

Kaizen frowned upon hearing Astelle’s vague answer.

When he heard that the Duke of Reston had come to see Astelle, he was not in a good mood.

A few months ago, when Kaizen inquired about Astelle’s whereabouts, Duke Reston said with tears in his eyes,

“My poor daughter left the mansion and disappeared as soon as the divorce trial was over. How heartbroken I am that the daughter I wholeheartedly raised has left the capital and disappeared……”

It was the image of a poor father who was heartbroken over the loss of his daughter, but he was blaming Kaizen while pretending to be sad.