How to Hide the Emperor's Child - Chapter 20

In the last letter to her maternal grandfather, Astelle wrote about her worries about her grandfather’s head.

Her maternal grandfather knew what Astelle was most concerned about when she wrote ‘I’m worried because you had a headache’ in the letter.

As expected.

Astelle was relieved deeply and shed fake tears.

However, the two people who saw her appearance had no choice but to feel flustered.

As Vellian glanced at the emperor, he was more flustered.

Kaizen watched Astelle with his brows drooping down.

Astelle pulled out a handkerchief and wiped her tears.

“Grandfather has been away from home for so long…… you weren’t feeling well even at the usual time……”

“That…… don’t worry too much, I don’t think his condition is too bad.”

Vellian tried to comfort her in his own way, but Astelle held the handkerchief back to her eyes with a sad face.

The tip of her hand holding the handkerchief trembled.

“You already old, too…… because of me…… after suffering in a remote place……”

Kaizen looked at Astelle and bit his lip.

He later became a little regretful for his own actions.

‘I should have sent someone to tell him the situation and ask for his help.’

In that case, Astelle wouldn’t have run away knowing the emperor was looking for her.

He thought it would be easier if he sent an attendant to explain the situation and asked Astelle to come over.

But he sent knights and soldiers without notice, causing Astelle and the old marquis to misunderstand and run away.

Thanks to this, Astelle had to run away for two months with a five-years-old child.

The old marquis even got a little sick from the aftereffects.

He thought he had done something wrong.

He was confused when saw Astelle, who was crying and mourning like that unlike usual.

Kaizen rarely regrets his actions.

And Astelle noticed that he was regretting his actions.

“Your Majesty, may I ask you a favor?”

Astelle asked, looking up at the emperor with tearful eyes.

She was really lucky this time, but she didn’t think she would have this kind of luck again next time.

She had to hide the child out of sight of this man as soon as possible.

Astelle planned to go to Dentsu Castle, where her maternal grandfather is, to get out of Kaizen’s sight.

And then she has to send her grandfather and Theor back home first.

He wouldn’t refuse if she begged.

Because Astelle is the only one Kaizen has to take to the capital.

He wouldn’t need to take Theor, who is only five years old, and her grandfather who wasn’t feeling well.

He wouldn’t even have to.

“If you allow me, can I take Theor and go to Dentsu Castle, where my grandfather is?”

Astelle wiped her tears and looked up at Kaizen earnestly.

“I want to take care of my grandfather myself. When my grandfather sees Theor, he will be a little bit energized.”

Vellian listened to Astelle’s request and turned to Kaizen.

He thought, of course, the emperor would allow it.

Dentsu is the road to the capital anyway.

After a while, the emperor and his party will also go through there on the way to the capital.

And this former empress wasn’t even held here as a prisoner, rather help His Majesty the Emperor.

Even though the emperor was sorry, he had to accept all her requests.

The old marquis was not in good shape, so it was not difficult to send his granddaughter there first.

‘Anyway, Lady Astelle has no way to run away either.’

Even if he sent her first, she would not run away because Astelle would not be alone, but would go with the knights.

There was no reason to refuse her request.

Vellian thought of course Kaizen would grant Astelle’s request.

But when Kaizen opened his mouth, he was just as surprised as Astelle.

“No, I can’t.”

Kaizen rejected her firmly.

And he made a completely unexpected offer to the two who looked at him in amazement.

“We all move together, as you say, as soon as possible, we’ll be able to get there within 3 or 4 days.”

‘What……?’

It was a kind suggestion, but in Astelle’s point of view, it was like she had been struck by lightning.

Astelle quickly wiped her tears and refused, “You’re finally hunting after a long time, but I can’t bother you with a matter like this. If you give me a carriage, I will take the child first—”

“I can’t do that. I was going to go there anyway, so let’s go together.”

“I can’t bother Your Majesty. If I go quickly, it will take only 3 or 4 days from here, so I will take a carriage and leave first.”

“No, go with me. I can’t let you and a child go alone.”

“……”

At Kaizen’s unexpected reaction, Astelle groaned inside.

‘Didn’t you say you were going to stay here for a few more days because the weather was bad? Why do you suddenly want to go together?’

Astelle guessed that Kaizen was extending his stay here for some reason.

Even though he said the bad weather as the reason, the Kaizen that Astelle knew couldn’t stay in the secluded castle for a few days for that reason.

She didn’t know for what reason, but she thought he had more to take care of here……

She couldn’t even insist on going to Dentsu Castle alone when Kaizen offered to go together again and again.

She would look suspicious if she kept insisting on going alone.

Having made such calculations in her mind, Astelle had no other choice but to thank Kaizen.

“……yes, Your Majesty. Thank you.”

Contrary to what she planned, she went with the emperor’s party. But the important thing was that she went to the Dentsu Castle where her grandfather is.

Anyway, if she goes to her grandfather’s place, she’ll be able to send Theor back.

She should be more careful during the 3 or 4 days going together with the emperor and his party.

***

As he rode in the carriage, Kaizen looked out the window.

The rain, which had been falling before departure, faded before dawn.

The sky from which the rain clouds disappeared was dyed with a light silver-gray color.

Looks like it won’t rain anymore.

All of the party was in a hurry to move toward Dentsu Castle.

Originally, he was going to leave after staying a little longer, but the situation has changed.

It was because of the marquis, Astelle’s maternal grandfather.

When Astelle heard the news that her grandfather had suddenly fallen ill, Astelle wanted to leave quickly, so she left earlier than expected.

Kaizen stared out the window and frowned.

The more he thought about Astelle who was crying, the more he was annoyed with the marquis.

‘She lived next to that old man as a nanny and a maid, and now she lives like a caregiver.’

The anger got worse when he imagined Astelle taking care of that old man.

He was so angry that he could not understand why he was so angry.

Unable to be angry with Astelle, Kaizen aimed his arrow of anger at the cause.

“If that old man lived that long……”

Kaizen inadvertently muttered to himself, then biting his lip.

Vellian, sitting face to face with him, could understand who he was talking about.

‘You must be cursing the marquis.’

Now, this situation is because of the marquis too.

Vellian could easily understand the words that Kaizen didn’t speak.

—If the old man lived that long, he should have already started preparing for his death.

“……But he will getting his pensions from now on, so he shouldn’t die.”

When the marquis die, the pension will cut off again.

Then Astelle and the child who will become the new marquis will be in difficult situation again.

“You can inherit the pension. Let the child inherit the pension.”

Kaizen muttered annoyingly, fixing his gaze outside the window.

“……”

It was very unusual to inherit a pension to a successor.

Even more so if the successor is five years old.

Surely there will be nobles who complain about excessive favoritism.

But Vellian didn’t refute it and just closed his mouth.

The emperor’s mood seemed so bad today.

Vellian knew why too.

Just before departure, Astelle coldly rejected Kaizen’s offer to ride this carriage.

“It’s an honor, but I have to take care of the child so I can’t get on Your Majesty’s carriage.”

“You can ride with the child too—”

Astelle politely bent her back and cut off Kaizen’s words.

“The child is too young and he haven’t learn the manners properly yet, so I can’t keep him with Your Majesty for such a long time. I apologize, Your Majesty. Please understand.”

“……”

As Kaizen stared with an annoying glance, Astelle grabbed the child’s hand and went to another carriage.

Kaizen has been in a bad mood since he was so cruelly rejected.