"That's why I tracked you down, but the moment I sent someone, you vanished, forcing me to search the North and East for two months," Kaizen stated with an undertone of frustration.
Astelle realized that he seemed irritated by her attempts to avoid being found.
Collecting her thoughts, Astelle recognized that the situation wasn't as dire as she initially believed. In reality, all she needed to do was travel to the capital, sign a consent form in the presence of judges and priests, and put an end to this ordeal. She needed to remain pragmatic and clear-headed.
"I apologize for my actions. I believed it was an order from my father, which frightened me," she explained.
Kaizen responded with biting sarcasm, "Afraid of your father's orders? Your father, the Empire's last remaining Duke, claimed he didn't even know whether his daughter was alive or dead."
The implications of her father's diminished status were not lost on Astelle. Many great noble dukes had lost their titles in the past six years, leaving Duke Reston as the sole surviving duke in the empire. Once a powerful and trusted figure, her father's influence had waned.
Astelle had hoped that her father could maintain a semblance of safety amidst these turbulent times. Stories of noble families losing their titles, facing imprisonment, or even execution for treason haunted her thoughts. If Duke Reston had discovered Theor's existence, it could have brought further trouble and danger to both of them.
Kaizen let out a brief sigh in response to Astelle's explanation, leaving the complexities of their situation unspoken.
Astelle sensed the unspoken sentiment. Their once-close relationship was now irreparably shattered.
After a moment of silence, Astelle made a straightforward declaration, "I will comply with Your Majesty's instructions."
She understood that she had no real choice in the matter. The emperor himself had sought her out, and she recognized the futility of further resistance. Her priority was to bring this conversation to a swift conclusion and distance herself from this man.
"I also have conditions," Astelle declared, determined to assert herself.
Kaizen had anticipated this moment and asked, "What are your conditions?"
Astelle didn't hesitate to express her demands. "Please reinstate my maternal grandfather's pension."
Her maternal grandfather, Marquis Carlenberg, had suffered greatly under the reign of Kaizen's grandfather and had lost his estate due to his involvement in a rebellion. After Kaizen ascended to the throne, her grandfather's pension had been revoked.
As a result, her maternal grandfather had been living in relative poverty in a small estate on the eastern outskirts of the empire. Astelle had been supporting him with the money she earned from embroidery and herb cultivation.
Kaizen readily agreed to her request. "I'll take care of that immediately."
Astelle then presented her second condition, "And please allow us to leave once the matter of the empress dowager's will is resolved."
Kaizen, however, wasn't as accommodating with this request. He proposed offering her a residence in the capital and providing her with a small estate to live comfortably.
Astelle firmly declined, insisting, "No, we don't need any of that. Just let us go."
She feared that accepting his offer would mean continued contact with him, especially staying in the capital, which was something she desperately wanted to avoid.
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.