Chapter 90

Kaizen turned around without saying a word and left the mansion.

As he left, his back looked lonely and bleak.

Although he didn’t show it on the outside, he seemed deeply hurt by Theor’s ignorance of him as his father.

But Astelle, who was still hugging Theor, didn’t feel too bad about it.

“Then see you next time, Lady Astelle.”

After Lyndon also said goodbye to Astelle and Theor, he went out with Kaizen.

“Mom? Why did His Majesty the Emperor talk about father?”

After Kaizen left with the knights, Theor, who was still in Astelle’s arms, looked up.

“Isn’t my father in heaven?”

Theor tilted his head, confused by what Kaizen said.

“Theor.”

Astelle hugged Theor affectionately.

And she put her lips to Theor’s forehead.

Along with the relief that the child had returned safely, there was anxiety about the future to come.

She said quietly as she embraced the child, “I was going to tell you later when you’re older.”

At least five or six years later, I was planning to explain the situation.

That’s when he will grow enough to understand the situation.

But now I had to tell Theor the truth.

After Astelle becomes Empress, Theor will become Crown Prince.

At least he should know who his father is.

Astelle sighed, hugged Theor, and went upstairs.

“Let’s go up to the room first. Hannah, prepare Theor’s clothes.”

“Yes, Lady Astelle.”

Hannah, who had been watching them quietly, came closer to Theor.

Theor waved his hand at her.

“Hello, Hannah.”

“I’m glad you came back safely, Young Master Theor.”

Tears welled up in Hannah’s eyes.

Theor raised his hand in surprise.

“Don’t cry, Hannah.”

“It’s because I’m so happy.”

Hannah smiled and held Theor’s hand.

“Aren’t you hungry? I’ll prepare meals while you take a bath.”

“Yes, I’m hungry.”

Hannah burst into laughter.

Astelle also smiled as she went up to the second floor with Theor.

Hannah quickly went to prepare bath water and a change of clothes.

Astelle sat Theor on the bed and bent her knees to meet his eye level.

“Theor, you had a hard time, right? Everything’s okay now. It’s safe here.”

“What about Mom and Grandpa? Grandpa put me in the closet, then he disappeared.”

Theor looked worried.

Astelle reassured him by patting him on the shoulder.

“Grandpa is fine now. He will be here soon.”

“Really?”

“Of course.”

Maybe when Theor was in the closet, the kidnappers had a fight with the Marquis.

Then he must have been wounded.

At the thought of her wounded maternal grandfather, her anger at her father soared.

woof woof!

Blynn, who was in the bedroom, found Theor and ran to him with a welcome bark.

“Blynn!”

Theor grabbed Blynn’s neck and rubbed his face against its soft golden fur.

Maybe it was happy to meet Theor, its fluffy tail waving gently.

Theor hugged Blynn and whispered in a desperate voice as if he had reunited his separated family again after a decade.

“Blynn, I missed you.”

Blynn licked Theor’s cheek as if in response.

Theor laughed out loud.

“Blynn missed you a lot while you were away.”

Ever since Theor left, Blynn has been lying down in Theor’s room without energy every day.

When Hannah and Astelle tried to make it go for a walk, it lowered its tail and walked helplessly, and finally returned to Theor’s room.

Astelle took out the ointment she had put in the drawer and looked at Theor’s neck again.

Upon closer inspection, it was even worse.

He was bruised so badly that his veins burst.

Astelle looked at the bruise and asked worriedly, “How did your neck become like this?”

“A bad guy grabbed my neck.”

“Who?”

Theor replied without hesitation, “A man named Duke.”

“……”

I can guess what happened with just that word.

‘What would have happened to Theor if he weren’t Kaizen’s son……’

If Theor were really Astelle’s illegitimate child, her father would have locked him up in the attic and left him unattended.

Considering her father’s cold and heartless personality, it was quite possible.

Astelle applied herbal ointment to Theor’s neck.

“I’ll apply this medicine first. Let’s apply it again after taking a bath.”

Theor waited patiently for Astelle to apply the medicine.

Astelle started to apply the grass-smelling medicine to Theor’s soft skin.

The child’s neck was thin and weak enough to be held in one hand.

Her anger soared again.

How could he treat such a young kid so badly that he was bruised?

He is still his only grandson.

When she divorced and was kicked out of the house, her affection for her father disappeared, but she still wanted her father to live safely for the past six years.

If her father got into trouble, Astelle herself won’t be safe.

But now things have changed.

He kidnapped and hurt Theor.

I couldn’t forgive you.

I won’t leave you alone.

Astelle intended to usurp the title and power of her father.

In order for Astelle and Theor to live comfortably, the Duke had to disappear.

As she closed the lid of the ointment and rose from her seat, an innocent voice stopped her.

“Mom.”

Theor, who was petting Blinn, looked up at Astelle.

“Why did His Majesty the Emperor say that?”

“……”

Astelle knelt down and looked at Theor.

“Theor.”

Astelle paused for a moment and took the child’s hand.

“I haven’t been able to tell you until now because I’m afraid it will become dangerous if this fact becomes known.”

Astelle paused again, choosing her words carefully to avoid hurting the child.

“Actually, His Majesty is your father. You are the son of His Majesty the Emperor.”

Theor widened his eyes.

Theor was smarter than other children his age, but he was still at an age where he couldn’t understand how dangerous the imperial bloodlines were.

Theor pondered and asked, “Is that why His Majesty also has red eyes?”

“Yes.”

“But why didn’t he live with us?”

Confused, Theor tilted his head.

“Does His Majesty not like living with us?”

“……”

Astelle hugged Theor gently.

She had no idea where Theor heard this from.

Her heart ached as she looked into his clear ruby eyes, but she couldn’t tell the young Theor everything.

Instead, Astelle said, “It’s not like that. His Majesty couldn’t live with us because he was too busy.”

“Is that so?”

Astelle stroked Theor’s dark hair.

“Yes…… But now everything’s okay. We will now go to the Imperial Palace and live with His Majesty.”

I didn’t want to go to the Imperial Palace, but it’d be better to move quickly.

I do not know when it will be, but sooner or later I will enter the Imperial Palace.

It’s safer to stay in the Imperial Palace than this mansion.

“Then are we not going home?”

“……”

Astelle did not answer the question for a moment.

The six years of living in the countryside were difficult but peaceful.

She and her grandfather lived happily watching Theor grow day by day.

I will never be able to go back to those days again.

My heart ached at the thought that the peaceful and simple happiness had ended forever.

Astelle looked at Theor and replied, “Yes, we are not going home.”

***

The next day, Astelle invited Fritz to the mansion.

In fact, he didn’t even need to be invited.

This is because Fritz arrived at the mansion as soon as she sent the invitation.

“You came early.”

Fritz stood by the doorway, staring at Astelle with heavy eyes.

His eyes were filled with worry, still not believing that his only sister had hidden such a secret.

Fritz asked, “How is Theor doing?”

“He slept all night and is feeling better now.”

Even though Theor looked tired, he was fine now.

After taking a bath and having dinner, he fell asleep immediately.

Fortunately, after waking up in the morning, he regained his energy and played with Blynn in the room.

“I’m sorry I couldn’t save Theor in advance. It wouldn’t have happened this way if I had brought him first.”

“There is no need to blame yourself for what’s already happened.”

Astelle will soon become empress again and enter the Imperial Palace.

So there is no need to regret what’s already happened.

Fritz looked at Astelle with a painful look.

“I heard that you accepted the proposal.”

“I wanted to meet you because of that matter. I have something to tell you.”

Astelle continued calmly, “I want to make father step down from his post. So, please become the Duke of Reston, Brother.”

Fritz opened his mouth wide and was taken aback by the unexpected offer.

“Would that be possible? Father will never step down from the position of head of the family.”

“We have to make it possible.”

Of course, the Duke would rather die than give up the title.

But Astelle knew her father well.

Her father, the Duke of Reston, was someone who would offer a title or anything to escape the moment when his life was really in danger.

“I need your help, Brother. I will tell you how to do it after I enter the Imperial Palace.”

Fritz seemed to be in conflict for a while.

However, the time to ponder was short.

He was very sorry after Astelle left six years ago.

Now, Fritz made a promise in front of Astelle.

“Okay, I’ll help you.”