Chapter: 318
The elderly high priest welcomed her with a happy face.
He was close to the deceased empress dowager and had known Astelle well from an early age.
“You came early.”
“Yes, I wanted to come in advance and make a dedication to the altar of the Empress Dowager.”
Astelle showed him the bouquet she had cherished and said so.
It was a bouquet made of new white acacia flowers that she had prepared in advance last night.
“How much trouble have you been through? The Empress Dowager was very worried about you.”
The high priest brought tears to his eyes.
Astelle walked with him down the garden path to the sanctuary.
While walking on the white tiled road, the high priest delivered the words of the Empress Dowager.
“Her Majesty the Empress Dowager entrusted me with the will and left a message; ‘The southern estate was originally mine, but I have never managed it with my own hands in my life, so I want to hand it down to Astelle.’ That’s it.”
“… she said so.”
Hearing her will in person, her heart ached with regret.
The Empress Dowager was a pitiful person.
She was born as an heiress to a southern estate, but when she was young she was forced to marry into the imperial family and she never once had her own estate.
“Lady Astelle is a smart woman, and she said that you would use the conditions written in the will wisely.”
“……”
The will of the Empress Dowager made her come here and many things happened.
But Astelle was still grateful to her.
How much did she care for her and how much did she even think about her?
When she thought about it, she couldn’t help but be grateful.
Astelle passed through the small shrine and entered the votive room where the remains of successive emperors and empresses were located.
She also found the ashes of the deceased Empress Dowager in this place.
The high priest, who guided her, withdrew from the entrance in consideration of Astelle.
“I will first return to the temple now. Lady Astelle, when His Majesty arrives, you can sign the will in the temple.”