How to Hide the Emperor's Child - Chapter 105

Theor had no intention of leaving the garden.

He really liked the wooden sword he received as a gift, so he played with it until the sun went down.

Blynn was also excited and ran around the garden.

Trained as a hunting dog, Blynn who saw Theor wielding a sword probably thought he was hunting.

Every time Theor swung his wooden sword, Blynn jumped up, wagging its tail.

Astelle opened the window and called Theor.

“Theor, you should stop now and get ready for dinner.”

“Can’t I play a little more?”

Somehow Theor looked like a puppy when he begged.

Blynn, who followed him, also looked up at Astelle and lowered its tail.

‘They both look alike.’

Holding back her laughter, Astelle said, “Then, after dinner, you can play a little more before taking a bath.”

“Yes!”

Theor immediately recovered his spirits and quickly ran to his room holding his wooden sword.

Kaizen, who was next to her, looked at him and smiled.

“He looks just like me.”

“……”

Astelle didn’t say anything. Sooner or later Theor becomes the Crown Prince and one day the Emperor.

In fact, if he wants to become the monarch of the empire, he better have a ruthless and relentless personality like Kaizen.

Still, Astelle didn’t want Theor to grow up like Kaizen or his grandfather, Emperor Gilbert.

Putting the bitter thoughts aside, Astelle changed the subject.

“By the way, how about the Theor’s teacher?”

At that word, Kaizen’s face hardened in an instant.

“Oh, yeah. As you wish, I leave it to Sir Seibel.”

“If you don’t like Sir Seibel, I will just ask my maternal grandfather.”

When she lived in the countryside, she couldn’t even dream of finding a tutor.

Because it was so remote, there were no schools or educational institutions to send children to.

All this time, Astelle herself had taught Theor basic education, and would ask her grandfather to teach him swordsmanship when the time came.

Anyway, anyone can teach basic swordsmanship if they know the basic posture.

“No, do whatever you want. You can leave it to Sir Seibel.”

When Astelle turned to look at him, he slowly avoided her gaze.

“He is a good knight.”

Kaizen suddenly changed his words.

Then why did he seem to dislike Sir Seibel at that time?

“……it made me angry to see a young nobleman so close to you.”

Astelle managed to hide her expression, but inside, she was very surprised.

Kaizen was now honest in saying that he was jealous.

She was so bewildered that she almost opened her mouth and looked at him blankly.

“Your Majesty, what……”

Kaizen turned and looked directly at Astelle.

“I’m jealous to see you with a man other than me.”

“……”

But I think I talked to Vellian more often.

Is he an exception?

As if he had read Astelle’s mind, Kaizen muttered, “A guy like Vellian is fine.”

Astelle looked out at the window to calm her embarrassment.

I don’t know why Kaizen said something like that.

As if we really were a couple or lovers.

But we are not in that kind of relationship.

It’s just a contractual relationship.

“Now that I am the Empress, I will have to visit other nobles in the future. If it makes you uncomfortable, I will limit my participation in social events as much as possible.”

Astelle deliberately spoke more coldly.

She wanted to draw a clearer line so Kaizen would not be mistaken.

Kaizen’s eyes turned cold at Astelle’s words. The embarrassing atmosphere disappeared like smoke in an instant.

But rather than getting angry, Kaizen said with sad eyes, “I know. I have no right to interfere with anyone you do anything with.”

“……”

“I’m sorry.”

He turned around before Astelle could answer.

Such an uncomfortable relationship has been continuing since they got married.

Kaizen continued to be kind to Astelle, but she did not even accept his heart.

Kaizen was hurt every time by Astelle’s cold attitude.

‘It can’t be helped.’

Astelle stopped thinking about useless things. Now was the time for her to focus on real problems.

“Hannah.”

She opened the door and called Hannah.

“Tell Sir Lyndon to keep a closer eye on the Marquis of Croychen. In particular, keep an eye on Lady Florin.”

When Florin finds out that Astelle has not kept her promise, she will reveal the secret letter to the public in an attempt to repay her.

Thus, Astelle had to keep an eye on Florin’s movements.

***

Two days later the Marchioness of Croychen was sentenced.

She was exiled to the North.

Her husband, the Marquis of Croychen, lost his position as Minister of State and more than half of his new estate.

The nanny comforted Florin, who was in shock.

“Anyway, the worst has been avoided.”

“Have I escaped the worst?” Florin asked sharply.

The nanny hesitated and continued, “Miss, your mother tried to kill the empress.”

“……”

Florin knew.

That this is a lenient punishment. She was told that the dressing room owner and the maid who helped her mother were executed.

But Florin couldn’t accept it.

Due to this incident, the Croychen family lost everything they had built up.

If Florin’s own life continues like this, she and her family will be pushed back.

Florin was furious to think this all happened because of her stupid mother.

However, it was Astelle’s betrayal that made her the angriest.

‘You’re not keeping your promise.’

Do you think that you can survive even if your family collapses because you have a prince? Just because the emperor loves you, you think you will be all right?

‘Let’s see how it goes.’

Florin had nothing more to lose anyway.

Even if the duke’s secret letter is revealed, she will not be at a disadvantage.

Florin called the servant to give direct orders.

This servant was the one who had kidnapped the servant of the duke.

Leaving him with the secret letter, Florin said, “Send this secret letter to the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Imperial Palace. You have to do it quietly without anyone knowing.”

***

As soon as Astelle received the report, she headed to the place where the emperor conducted government affairs.

The knights and nobles in the hallway bowed in surprise when they found her.

It has been several days since she became the empress, but it was her first visit to the emperor’s palace.

It was also the first time since the wedding that she appeared in front of the nobles.

Astelle stood in front of the emperor’s office as she received the gaze of the officials.

“I want to see His Majesty the Emperor.”

A guard knight announced her arrival to the emperor.

The door opened right away.

The emperor and several ministers had gathered in the office.

Everyone had a surprised face at Astelle’s sudden visit.

“I greet you, Your Majesty.”

Astelle politely bowed to Kaizen, then lowered her head and made a sad voice, “Your Majesty, I came here to complain about the absurd accusations against my father.”

All of the gathered ministers looked at the empress with bewildered eyes.

Vellian, who was next to the emperor, was also staring blankly at Astelle.

It was only half an hour ago that the duke’s secret letter was discovered.

An Interior Ministry official sent it to the emperor who was in a meeting. Because of the secret letter, the cabinet meeting quickly turned into a heated atmosphere.

The secret letter was clearly stamped with the seal of the Duke of Reston.

Not long ago, the duke’s daughter became the empress, and now a letter was discovered which was clearly proof that he had plotted treason.

“What do you mean?”

“Your Majesty, my father is a man of great loyalty.”

“……”

Even Kaizen looked bewildered at her words.

So did the other people who attended the meeting.

Vellian almost asked if she was joking.

But Astelle was very serious.

“Neither do I think this is a letter from the Duke of Reston. If you check the seal closely, the truth will be revealed.”

Kaizen had one of the servants bring documents from the imperial palace archives.

It was a valuable document reporting inheritance and succession of titles.

Such a document must be stamped with the seal of the house owner.

The seal of the family was as precious as the seal of the emperor.

It cannot be faked.

The official in charge of the document carefully compared the seal on the document with the seal on the secret letter.

The official who looked at the document for a long time reported to the emperor, “The seal is different.”

Those who were watching were a little disappointed.

Some sighed silently.

Astelle stood still and listened to the results with a grim face.

She then asked Vellian, “Who brought the anonymous accusation?”

“We don’t know the identity of the accuser. It’s because the letter was sent anonymously……”

Vellian realized that Astelle was trying to increase his workload.

At first glance, it was clear that this was the work of a noble who hated the duke.

Most of the nobles who hated the duke were loyal servants to the emperor.

‘Did Astelle purposely plan this to get her father to regain his position?’

Given the current situation, this was reasonable suspicion.

Perhaps the ministers who were watching also thought so, they were looking at the empress with cold eyes.

Without caring about others’ eyes, Astelle asked Kaizen, “I would like you to call Sir Lyndon.”

Soon after, Lyndon entered the office with an expression as if he had expected this to happen.

Astelle asked him, “Did you catch the person who brought the anonymous letter?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Lyndon bowed politely and made sure the emperor and the other ministers could hear his voice clearly.

“He is a servant of the Marquis of Croychen.”