Hiding the Emperor's Child

Chapter 4

Kaizen's reaction was far from pleasant. His handsome features tightened as her refusal seemed to anger him. Astelle could sense his frustration at her rejection of the manor and estate.

But she had no time to consider his mood. Kaizen brought up the past, questioning her, "Are you still holding a grudge against me?"

Astelle was momentarily transported back to a different time, to the image of a dark-haired boy who had once gifted her a necklace. She recognized that same face in the imposing and powerful emperor before her.

As she recalled their shared history, Astelle couldn't help but reminisce about the polite and sweet fiancé Kaizen had once been. Despite rumors of his interactions with other women, he had always remained faithful and devoted in her presence.

With a hint of nostalgia in her voice, she replied, "You agreed to our divorce without a word."

She could hardly fathom that he had broken their promised childhood engagement.

'It was all a charade.'

All those years, he had played the role of an ordinary prince. But after ascending to the throne, he had purged all the great nobles, including her father, Duke Reston. In the grand scheme of things, Astelle held no value for Kaizen. She had spent her entire life as his fiancée, but in the end, she was just a fleeting presence in his life.

She was an inconsequential existence that he could easily discard when it suited him. When he became emperor, Astelle quickly realized that he wanted a divorce.

She understood that no matter what she said, she could not sway Kaizen's decision. As a final act of consideration for the man she had once loved, she had chosen to quietly accept the divorce, hoping to disappear from his life without causing any inconvenience.

Astelle calmly reiterated her request, "Just promise me that once the matter is resolved, Your Majesty will reinstate my grandfather's pension and allow us to leave..."

There was no precedent for an emperor's child to be raised outside the imperial palace. As soon as her child was recognized as a prince, she would be compelled to send him to the palace. Kaizen would either choose a new empress from another noble family or have children with his concubines. At that point, he would no longer protect Theor, leaving him to fend for himself.

A young prince, the child of a divorced empress with no mother to support him, would not last a month in the imperial palace. Astelle discreetly clenched her hand, vowing to never reveal her child's true identity.

"If you don't promise that, I won't return to the capital."

Kaizen didn't readily agree. At first, anger flashed in his eyes as he glared at Astelle.

"Very well. I promise."

Kaizen finally gave his answer after a few moments. "But you must promise me something in return. You won't run away, no matter what happens, until this matter is resolved."

Astelle knew that she was in a situation where escape was nearly impossible until this issue was settled. She spoke calmly, suppressing the anxiety welling up within her chest.

"Agreed."

• 🍁 •

As they embarked on their journey, the surroundings were shrouded in a gentle mist, but as they traveled, the day brightened, casting a radiant glow on the dew-covered leaves of the trees. Astelle watched the sunlight filter through the forest as the wagon rumbled along the road.

Theor had drifted off to sleep on Astelle's lap, nestled in the warmth of a blanket she had lovingly wrapped around him.

Upon receiving Kaizen's orders to depart for the capital, she had hastily left the small inn where they had been staying. Her luggage, consisting of only a few articles of clothing and a small medicine box, was brought along.

Imperial knights were visible through the carriage window, their armor bearing the unmistakable insignia of the emperor. Whenever Astelle saw those knights and the imperial crest, anxiety gripped her heart. But there was no turning back now. There was only one way to resolve this situation swiftly.

Astelle discreetly retrieved a small vial hidden within her garments. It contained a blue liquid that shimmered with a captivating light.

Kaizen had inherited crimson eyes as a member of the royal bloodline, while Astelle possessed pale green eyes. Conversely, her cousin, Sigmund, had been born with blue eyes.

After her divorce, Astelle had found solace in a small house deep in the eastern woods. There, she had befriended a herbalist named Gretel, who was astonished by Astelle's presence in such an isolated location, especially when she learned of her noble lineage.

Gretel came from a long line of herbalists and possessed knowledge of obscure potions that Astelle had never encountered in the capital. After giving birth to Theor, Astelle had approached Gretel with a unique request—a potion that could change the color of her child's eyes.

"Are there any potions that can alter eye color?" Astelle inquired.

Gretel appeared uncertain, her words faltering as she answered, "Well, there are some old recipes from my mother's time. My mother stopped experimenting with them, so it will take some time for me to research and develop them."

Undeterred, Astelle had implored Gretel to proceed with the research. She sold her dresses and jewelry, providing funds for the experiments and even volunteering herself as a test subject. Astelle repeatedly applied Gretel's potions to her own eyes, enduring discomfort and uncertainty in her quest.

"It's of utmost importance. If Theor's father sees his eyes, he'll take him away," Astelle explained to Gretel calmly.

Upon hearing this, Gretel's determination solidified. "Then we can't let him have our precious Theor!"

With unwavering resolve, Gretel dedicated herself to the research, unable to fathom the thought of allowing such an adorable child to be taken away by a stranger. It was through these relentless efforts that the potion had been created.