Chapter: 17

If her father finds out about Theor’s existence……if he raises Theor and causes a rebellion, not only Astelle but also Theor will die.

But Kaizen sighed briefly at Astelle’s words.

“I’m not going to punish you. No matter what your father has done, you……” Kaizen blurred his words.

There seemed to be nothing to say in particular.

‘What would you say? We’re no longer a couple.’

After a while, Astelle broke the silence.

“I will follow Your Majesty’s command.”

It was something she couldn’t refuse anyway.

The emperor came to find her himself.

“Instead, I have conditions too.”

Kaizen had predicted that such words would come out of her mouth.

“What is that?”

“Please return the pension of my maternal grandfather.”

Her maternal grandfather, Marquis Carlenberg, lost his estate after being enslaved during the former emperor, Kaizen’s grandfather, and was deprived of his pension after Kaizen became emperor.

It was because he was a relative of the great lord of the North who caused the revolt.

Thanks to that, her maternal grandfather was living in poverty in retreat in an old mansion on the far eastern edge.

Astelle used the money she earned by embroidering or growing herbs to support her maternal grandfather.

“Okay. I’ll take care of it right away.”

“And please send me and my nephew back when the empress dowager’s will is resolved.”

“I can’t do that, but I’ll give you a place to live in the capital, and I’ll give you an estate, so you can live in the capital with the income……”

“No, I don’t need that, just let me go.”

If she is given a manor, she may have to keep meeting with this man.

In particular, staying in the capital was something she wanted to avoid even in her dreams.

So she just said that she didn’t need it, but Kaizen’s handsome face was hardened by Astelle’s refusal.

He seems to be pissed off because his offer to give her a manor was rejected.