Chapter 81

Astelle was a princess of a prestigious family.

A woman who gave birth to an illegitimate child was still viewed with contempt.

“That’s a relief.”

But hearing Hannah’s words, Astelle felt relieved.

The maids and servants here were very kind to Astelle.

Some servants already called her ‘Your Majesty the Empress’, saying that she would become empress again.

Astelle forbade them from calling her that.

However, it was already considered a fact that the two would remarry.

Since Kaizen himself proposed to her, everyone thought it was decided.

No one cared about Astelle’s opinion.

‘Did Grandpa and Theor get home safely?’

What bothered Astelle the most was how Theor and his grandfather were doing.

On the second day of her confinement here, Lyndon asked Astelle where her grandfather and Theor were.

Astelle said that the two went back home.

Lyndon couldn’t say anything more, because it was the Emperor who gave the two permission.

Then he returned to the Imperial Palace and informed Kaizen of the fact.

Hearing that, Kaizen did not say anything.

‘Hope everything is fine.’

She had managed to send Theor back home.

Nevertheless, Astelle felt strangely anxious.

She was worried whether the two of them left without a hitch.

It’s been a few days since they left, so they’ll be home soon.

‘Why do I keep getting this ominous feeling.’

Two days ago, Astelle met Fritz and asked for his help.

She asked him to send someone to Theor and her grandfather to protect them until they return home.

Had it not been for what happened at the ball, she would not have had to worry about the well-being of Theor and her grandfather.

However, Kaizen had openly proposed to her and now even imprisoned her in the mansion.

Now Theor was known to the public as Astelle’s illegitimate child.

There may be someone who wants to harm Theor because of his hatred for Astelle.

Astelle briefly explained the reason and asked for help from Fritz, who was the only one who could help.

Fritz promised to send someone right away.

Hannah came to Astelle who was standing by the pond.

She tried to comfort Astelle.

“Lady Astelle, do not worry too much. The young master and the marquis are going home safely.”

“Yeah, I hope so.”

I feel like I’ve become hypersensitive because I have so many thoughts.

There’s no point in worrying about it.

Astelle turned around and walked away from the end of the garden.

It was time for her to go into her room and rest.

“Lady Astelle.”

One of the maids was rushing along the side path leading to the main building of the mansion.

“What’s going on?”

Hannah stopped her and asked her.

The maid took a deep breath and bowed to Astelle.

And she gave the unexpected news.

She said, “His Majesty the Emperor has visited.”

***

“I have come to deliver the Emperor’s personal letter.”

Vellian politely handed over the Emperor’s letter with a displeased look.

In front of him, the Duke of Reston looked at the letter the emperor had sent and exclaimed with ridicule.

“I can’t believe His Majesty sent me a personal letter. I’m so honored.”

Vellian ignored the duke’s ridicule and placed the emperor’s letter on the desk.

“It’s about Princess Astelle.”

When Astelle’s name came out, the smile disappeared from the duke’s neat face.

He read the letter sent by the emperor.

As he roughly skipped the formal greeting at the beginning and went down, the first sentence came into his eyes.

[This is to convey the marriage proposal to the Duke of Reston……]

The Duke turned his gaze to Vellian.

“This is not a personal letter, but a marriage proposal.”

Vellian wasn’t surprised at all.

It seems he already knew what it was.

The duke read the main body of the letter again.

There was useless rhetoric to show polite manners, but there was one conclusion; the emperor wants to marry Astelle again.

According to custom, of course, Kaizen had to ask permission from the father of the bride-to-be, the Duke of Reston.

The duke was speechless as he read the emperor’s letter.

‘Come to think of it, something’s been weird since the ball.’

The Reston Charity Ball was an event initiated by his late wife by raising money for charity.

There were many noble ladies listing or donating. They considered it a virtue to give alms. It is a kind of show-off virtue.

The duke had never been interested in the work of women.

However, Kaizen suddenly informed that he would hold the charity ball in the imperial palace.

The duke was bewildered.

Why was the emperor who returned from his journey so interested in the duke’s small event?

Fortunately, Fritz, who was there, answered his doubts.

Fritz explained that the emperor was doing this to repay Astelle.

It was only a reward for helping to complete the late empress dowager’s will with ease.

It was a little suspicious, but the duke believed his son.

Because he couldn’t guess the reason other than that.

Instead of asking the emperor for a reward in money or gold, the foolish Astelle asked to hold her late mother’s ball in the imperial palace.

However, the duke realized it later as he watched Kaizen propose to Astelle. The reason Kaizen held the charity ball at the imperial palace was that he was going to propose to Astelle.

Kaizen fell in love with Astelle.

Obviously, it was the look of a man who was passionately in love.

I don’t know what happened during the journey, but Astelle finally captured the emperor’s heart.

After six years of divorce……

‘This is ridiculous……’

It was shocking, but it was an opportunity not to be missed.

After the last assassination attempt failed, he lived as if he were walking on a thin layer of ice.

It was an anxious life, not knowing when he would be caught and executed.

However, an unexpected breakthrough occurred.

‘If I make Astelle the empress again……’

I can make Astelle the empress and buy some time.

If Astelle is in the imperial palace, then I will be able to plant people in the imperial palace.

Now Kaizen is blind to Astelle and will do whatever she asks to do.

Hopefully, I will have a golden opportunity to get rid of Kaizen.

‘Who knows, if I’m lucky, Astelle might get pregnant with the emperor’s child.’

When Astelle gives birth to a child who will become emperor, the Reston family will regain their powers.

Get rid of Kaizen and his grandson will become emperor. It was a dream-like future.

So Astelle must not refuse to become empress.

“It is an honor I don’t deserve, I don’t know what to say.”

The duke put down the emperor’s letter and continued to speak slowly.

“Although some of the previous empresses were from my family, it is still amazing to experience such a glorious thing over and over again, isn’t it?”

“……”

Ignoring what the duke said, Vellian calmly said,

“His Majesty asked me to get permission from you, Duke.”

“Of course, I am in favor. I will be grateful for the rest of my life for the grace of His Majesty the Emperor for choosing my daughter.”

“All right.”

Vellian bowed his head lightly and quickly walked out as if he didn’t want to deal with him anymore.

As soon as Vellian disappeared, the duke asked his subordinate who was beside him.

“Did you find him?”

“Yes, we found where he stays.”

The duke tapped the armrest with his finger.

Kaizen fell in love with Astelle, and even proposed to her and wanted to make her the Empress.

However, Astelle was stubborn and refused his marriage proposal.

The duke decided to take Astelle’s weakness in order to get her to marry Kaizen.

It was very clear what Astelle’s weakness was.

‘Her child must be very precious to her. If I catch her illegitimate child, she will do whatever I tell her.’

The duke gave an order with a satisfied smile,

“Take him to the capital.”

***

Astelle headed to the mansion’s living room.

At the entrance of the mansion, she saw knights she had never seen before.

They seem to have been knights that followed Kaizen.

Seeing the unfamiliar faces, she realized that Kaizen was waiting in the mansion.

Astelle calmed her mind and entered the mansion.

Kaizen stood in the living room.

“Astelle.”

He was the same as usual.

His appearance in the emperor’s robe is full of strong dignity, just like a true owner of the empire.

‘The world is so unfair.’

Born to become an emperor, Kaizen was always able to handle everything as he pleased.

While Kaizen is ruling the empire with such a dignified and handsome appearance, Astelle is trapped here like a prisoner of war.

“Your Majesty, what made you come here?”

“Didn’t you say you wanted to meet me?”