Chapter 9

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

Well, it was not so urgent.

Nobody knew that the southern provinces were owned by the imperial family anyway.

That’s why he slowly found the former empress, whose whereabouts were unknown for two months, so as not to be rumored.

Had it been urgent, he would have ordered all over the country.

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

‘His Majesty sent her dresses and jewelry…’

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

For the past six years, Kaizen hasn’t had any special lovers.

There was neither women.

There were many women who tried to get the emperor’s attention, but he did not pay attention to anyone.

He never sent anything like a gift.

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 present to the former empress and invited her to the dinner?

Is it because of the guilt for the divorce?

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

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

“No, not that much…”

Vellian coughed quietly and reported.

“Lady Astelle sent the servant back because she couldn’t received a 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 astounding, 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 to send the clothes thay could get right away.

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

“Bring the servant who took the present.”

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 it to the maids, but… 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’s 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 alone was a bit like that.

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

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

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

As far as it was said, 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 bite his lower lip in a moody mood.

Only after a few seconds pass in vain in the heavy silence, Kaizen barely repressed his anger and spit out.

“Then ask her to bring the child.”

* * *

Maern Castle was not very big, but the dinner 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, fluttered and looked around.

Theor was originally a quiet and listening child, but he was never old enough to attend such events.

Large noble children also appear in front of the guests when they are over 7 or 8 years old.

She even provided a high chair for him, but Astelle was still uncomfortable.

‘I can’t understand why this happened…’

* * *

She was surprised when Kaizen sent clothes and jewelry as a gift, but the order to come back was even more spectacles.

“This is the His Majesty’s command to be present.”

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.

Is that also bringing the child to now?

But this time, she couldn’t say no.

Sir Lyndon, the head of the knight, has picked her up with an embarrassed expression, saying there was an order to force him to come if she refused.

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

“That’s…”

Lyndon shed his words with a blank face.

“I’m not sure either.”

“……”

She wondered if people thought they were friendly 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 revenge me for refusing the gift?

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

So 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 instead.”

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

A doll made of old cloth was quietly 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 light.

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 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 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 is the biggest social event in autumn.

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

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

“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’s really fun.”

Astelle held a host of hunting competitions every year until she reached adulthood.

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

When she was eight she was sitting in the guest seat in a fancy dress wearing a corset, and she was so choked and frustrated that she crying and praying for the end of the event.

And she was later beaten, saying that she went back to the Duke and whined in the public place.

Astelle doesn’t have very good memories there, but that girl only has 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 where she had eaten without much thought, she looked at the emperor.

Kaizen asked Astelle calmly, facing the gaze.

“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 prince.

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

Until he returns and crowns Astelle with the 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 breathing and sitting still.

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 corolla because he was going back to the imperial palace right away.

He picked up the corolla 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.