How to Hide the Emperor's Child - Chapter 9

In fact, Vellian never cared about the former empress until then.

Nobody knew that the southern provinces were owned by the empress dowager.

That’s why he slowly found the former empress, whose whereabouts were unknown for two months.

As Vellian knew, Kaizen had no feelings toward the former empress.

‘His Majesty sent her dresses and jewels……’

It was a shocking fact for Vellian, who has watched Kaizen for years.

For the past six years, Kaizen hasn’t had any special lovers. There were neither women.

There were many women who tried to get the emperor’s attention, but he did not pay attention to anyone. Let alone send anything like a gift to someone.

Of course, during that time, he was so busy with work that he didn’t have time to do that.

Why did His Majesty send a gift to the former empress and invite her to the dinner?

Is it because he felt guilt for the divorce?

Vellian stood in his thoughts and didn’t say anything, but Kaizen, who looked into the papers quietly, said without even looking at him.

“Is it bad news that you can’t speak?”

“No, not that much……”

Vellian coughed and reported, “Lady Astelle sent the servant back because she couldn’t receive the gift. And she said that she couldn’t even come to dinner because she had to take care of the child.”

Kaizen’s hand as it turned over the papers stopped.

When she arrived at Maern Castle, he saw Astelle talk something to Marianne.

At first, Astelle’s appearance was shabby, but when she confronted Marianne, it looked more serious.

The lady of the social world had a dress for everyday use, a dress for a prom, a dress for going out, a dress for travel, and a dress for hunting separately, and the fashion was completely different for each type.

For Kaizen, who has lived by looking only at such noble ladies, Astelle’s clothes were the color of a beggar.

He thought she would need the right clothes to go to the capital, so he told the attendant to send her the proper clothes.

He didn’t know it would come back with this result.

“Bring the servant who took the gift.”

A middle-aged servant with a present came into the room and told him what Astelle had to say.

“Yes, Lady Astelle said she had to watch the child eat because he was young. She told that she can leave him to the maids…… she can’t leave such a difficult task to the maids she met for the first time. She doesn’t have time to explain the child’s habits……”

It was not very wrong.

Vellian, who observed the situation with curious eyes from one side, agreed to the words of the former empress.

The child seemed to be about five or six years old, but leaving such a child in the room was a bit……

It would be okay if there was a nanny or a handmaid who had been caring for the child for a long time.

Even ordinary nobles do not go out leaving the child to a maid for less than an hour.

It was very common sense, but unfortunately, there was someone who could not understand it from common sense.

“That’s why Lady Astelle asked Your Majesty for your forgiveness, she said, ‘I’m sorry for not being able to attend……’”

The servant could see the real anger in the emperor’s red eyes.

In front of the emperor who stared at the documents silently with his fiery eyes, the servant bites his lower lip.

Only after a few seconds pass in vain in the heavy silence, Kaizen barely repress his anger and said, “Then ask her to bring the child too.”

***

Maern Castle was not very big, but the dining hall was gorgeous in its own way.

Elegant carpets were laid on the floor, and silver tableware, candlesticks, and vases decorated with beautiful flowers were placed on the table covered with colorful tablecloths.

Theor, sitting in a seat next to Astelle, was amazed and looked around.

Theor was originally a calm and well-listening child, but he was still young to attend such events.

The nobles’ children also appear in front of the guests when they are over 7 or 8 years old.

There was even a chair that had a high cushion for Theor to reach the dining table. Even so, Astelle still felt uneasy.

‘I can’t understand why this happened……’

***

She was surprised when Kaizen sent clothes and jewels as a gift, but the order to come to the dinner made her more surprised.

“This is the His Majesty’s command.”

No, why the hell?

She just wanted to eat dinner with Theor in the room, but she couldn’t figure out why she was forced to come to dinner with the emperor.

Even brought Theor too……

But this time, she couldn’t say no.

Sir Lyndon, the knight commander, has picked her up, saying there was an order to force her to come if she refused.

“But why did His Majesty send Sir Lyndon to something like this?”

“That’s……”

Lyndon said with a blank face, “I’m not sure either.”

“……”

She wondered if people thought they knew each other because they talked a little bit together on the street.

In this case, it’s good to send a close person to persuade, but there can be no close person here with Astelle.

Are you taking revenge because I refused the gift?

Astelle was forced to go to dinner wearing the neatest dress she had.

It was a plain green cotton dress.

She dressed Theor as neat as possible, but it wasn’t likewise a formal robe to bring to such a place.

Of course, it is unlikely that there will be formal robes for young children.

Theor hugged the fluffy teddy bear and looked up at Astelle.

“Can I take Levin?”

“Yes, you should put it next to you when you eat.”

Theor seemed to be nervous and scared, so he brought the teddy bear.

A doll made of old cloth was placed on an empty chair next to the child.

The emperor didn’t really say anything special.

The four adults who sat down, Kaizen and Astelle, Vellian and Marianne, ate only the food that came out in order.

There was a conversation about a few words of clothes on the table, but Astelle didn’t participate.

“It is very delicious.”

Marianne sitting on the other side admired the taste of the food.

The venison served as the main dish was very soft.

It was soft even though there was no grease at all.

The savory raspberry sauce sprinkled on the grilled meat added flavor.

The light taste of the meat was mixed with a sweet sauce with a rich taste.

With every bite, delicious venison was wrapped around the tip of the tongue with savory juice.

Astelle helped Theor get his food.

Fortunately, Theor sat quietly and ate his own food quietly.

“I remember last year’s hunting competition. It was the best hunting competition ever. I’ve got a tribute of more than a hundred deer. At that time, I was chosen as the queen of autumn.”

In the hunting contest every fall, the queen of autumn is selected from the unmarried lady as the last event.

It could be said that it was the biggest social event in autumn.

Marianne, who was proud of herself, glanced at Astelle.

“You don’t know because you’re not in the capital. You were in the eastern countryside, huh?”

“Yes, it was at the east end.”

“I’m sorry for you who not seeing the hunting competitions. Such a great festival would be hard to see, but I always liked the hunting competitions. It was really fun.”

Astelle attended a number of hunting competitions every year until she reached adulthood.

She remembered she had been out when she was almost seven or eight.

When she was eight years old she was sitting in a guest chair in a fancy dress wearing a corset, and she was so choked and frustrated that she cried and prayed for the show to end soon.

And she was later beaten by the Duke because she whined in a public place.

Astelle doesn’t have very good memories there, but that girl, Marianne seems only to have pleasant memories.

‘People’s tastes are really different.’

Astelle was curious and stared at Marianne for a moment.

At that time, Kaizen, sitting at the top of the seat, said indifferently, “When we were 17 years old, the hunting competitions were more magnificent.”

In an instant, everyone stopped moving.

As she paused without much thought, she looked at the emperor.

Kaizen asked Astelle calmly, facing her, “Don’t you remember?”

“I do not know.”

Of course, she remembered it.

That year’s hunting competition was really magnificent.

Kaizen showed off his excellent hunting skills as a great crown prince.

Astelle sat in the guest’s seat and waited for Kaizen all day long.

Until he returns and crowns Astelle with the flower crown symbolizing the Queen of Autumn.

At that time Astelle was no longer an 8-year-old child.

She was able to hold it all with a graceful smile even though her body aches because of the corset.

She chatted with the nobles who greet her in the form of a happy fiancee.

Kaizen didn’t come back until sunset.

But Kaizen had to decide the owner of the flower crown because he was going back to the imperial palace right away.

He picked up the flower crown and handed it to Astelle, who sat right next to him.

Then he went down the platform saying he was tired and went back to the imperial palace.