The Marquis glanced at Astelle, surprise flickering in his eyes. Astelle stepped in to reassure her grandfather.
"Grandpa, His Majesty has come to check on your condition."
Sitting on the bed, the Marquis initially seemed baffled but then offered a gentle smile to express his gratitude. "It is a great honor for me to have Your Majesty come in person."
Kaizen asked about his health. "How is your body?"
"Thanks for your concern, I have improved a lot." The Marquis responded with politeness and dignity.
Kaizen remembered his prior encounters with the Marquis, perceiving him as stubborn and haughty. He hadn't known Astelle's maternal grandfather well until recently. Recalling their earlier meeting, he pondered, 'You didn't seem very ill, yet you vexed everyone by being rude for no reason at all.'
Astelle's tears welled up at the news of her grandfather's illness. As Kaizen reminisced about that time, he struggled to find comforting words.
Addressing Astelle, who stood silently, Kaizen changed the subject. "Where is Theor?"
"He's playing with the dog in his room."
Kaizen, attempting to maintain a cordial atmosphere, turned to the Marquis. "Theor is truly a kind and polite child. I've never seen such a gentle kid before."
The Marquis remained silent for a while, then fixed a sharp gaze on Kaizen. In the last six years, he had held no regard for the emperor. This young ruler had been nothing short of an adversary to him. The mention of Theor sparked an intense reaction in the Marquis.
'There was a moment when everyone lost their composure.' For the Marquis of Carlenberg, this was that moment. After a brief internal conflict, the Marquis spoke, his tone controlled yet pointed.
"Yes, Your Majesty. Theor indeed resembles my grandson, so he is incredibly gentle and well-mannered. Had he not been reminiscent of my grandson, he might have lacked proper etiquette and been impolite." He emphasized the phrase 'like my grandson' once more.
"I consider myself fortunate. He looks so much like my grandson," remarked the Marquis, his words carrying a weighty undertone that caught Astelle off guard, prompting a raised eyebrow. Yet, the Marquis subtly avoided his granddaughter's gaze.
Thankfully, Kaizen remained oblivious to Astelle's reaction. "I see," he replied calmly, unaware of the veiled insult hidden within the Marquis' words. The Marquis's words carried a hidden message-a candid curse directed at Kaizen: 'I'm relieved he doesn't resemble someone impolite like you but takes after Astelle.'
Unaware of the intended slight, Kaizen remained composed. However, he inwardly cursed the old Marquis, feeling a surge of disdain.
This man had expelled his grandson's mother, a maid, then passed the baby on to Astelle, forcing her into the role of caretaker for five years without even having the means to hire help.
'What a detestable old man,' Kaizen thought to himself. His disdain for the Marquis grew further as he pondered the man's arrogance in boasting about Theor not resembling his birth mother, a mere maid, but rather embodying the esteemed Carlenberg lineage.
At this point, labeling him 'trash' seemed insufficient. 'Indeed, you are the father-in-law of the Duke of Reston.' Kaizen pondered if Astelle would truly shoulder the responsibility of caring for this arrogant old man, given all the trouble he had caused.
Administering the medicine to the Marquis wasn't particularly challenging. It reminded Kaizen of the routine back at home, almost as if Astelle were his maid. The old man's behavior irked Kaizen to the core.
'I can't stand this any longer,' he vowed to ensure Astelle's prosperous life.
In his resolve, Kaizen pledged to find Astelle a grand mansion, one that befitted her, ensuring she lived in opulence and comfort.
Later, as Kaizen exited the Marquis' room, Astelle accompanied him and expressed her gratitude. "Thank you for visiting, Your Majesty. My grandfather will appreciate your concern."
Kaizen harbored no animosity towards Astelle's maternal grandfather. When they'd previously crossed paths, the Marquis adamantly refused to disclose Astelle's whereabouts. Kaizen had initially respected the old man's protective stance, believing it was out of care for his granddaughter. But now, he realized it stemmed from the Marquis' unyielding pride.
Reflecting on it, Kaizen muttered to himself, 'Maybe it's unreasonable to raise a child with the Marquis aging.'
Suppressing his frustration with the Marquis, Kaizen quietly proposed an idea to Astelle. "Wouldn't it be better for you and Theor to live in the capital? He needs to grow up in the capital for his education and social connections."
Astelle, however, refused with a cold, emotionless tone. "As I mentioned earlier, I have no intention of living in the capital. Theor, as the heir to the Carlenberg family, must grow up with his grandfather."
If Astelle had been alone, she might have struggled with raising Theor. The Marquis had provided her shelter during her pregnancy and supported her in caring for the baby.
There was a poignant memory of the Marquis helping her when Theor cried incessantly at just three months old. Astelle was exhausted, and it was her grandfather who managed to calm the baby down, holding him all through the night, propped up with cushions to ensure his safety.
But Kaizen was unaware of these details, and his suggestion was met with yet another calm refusal from Astelle.
Kaizen, suppressing his growing irritation, changed his stance. 'If you're so fond of that old man, there's nothing I can do. You might as well rely on him to take you to the capital.'
Astelle persistently declined all of Kaizen's offers regarding the mansion and estate. However, the Marquis presented a different situation. Despite his pride and repeated refusals, being a young heir, he wouldn't want to live a financially strained life, relying solely on his pension.
If the Marquis chose to live in the capital with Theor, Astelle would be compelled to stay there as well.
"The Marquis isn't feeling well. It might be wise to visit the capital and consult a good doctor at this time. It would be beneficial for the child to experience the city too."
Astelle hesitated about her grandfather's health. "I'm not sure if my grandfather can endure the trip to the capital in his current condition..."
"I'll remain here for a while, ensuring he has ample time to recuperate. Your grandfather can live comfortably here unlike in his previous castle. If needed, I can even arrange for more doctors from the capital."
Kaizen swiftly diverted the conversation before Astelle could refuse again.
"Oh, there's going to be a ball here soon."
"A ball?"
"Yes," Kaizen continued, leaving only a brief pause between each sentence. "If it's alright with you, I would appreciate your attendance."
Kaizen anticipated Astelle's inevitable rejection. Astelle rarely obeyed his directives anymore. Despite knowing this, he felt an odd sense of determination, thinking, 'Let's ask even if the answer will likely be no.'
"Yes, I understand."
"Please say you'll do it, just this once..."
Kaizen, taken aback by Astelle's response, glanced at her with a mix of surprise and suspicion.
"What?" he asked, puzzled.
Astelle, equally surprised by his reaction, "I'll attend the ball as Your Majesty ordered."
"You'll go to the ball?" Kaizen repeated, his expression fraught with doubt.
"Yes, Your Majesty," Astelle affirmed.
Kaizen's persistent disbelief caused Astelle to feel flustered. She was concerned that it might appear as if she were insisting on attending despite his discouragement.
"Why are you doing this, Your Majesty? You just asked me to attend, didn't you?"
"Ah... yes, I did," Kaizen replied, averting his gaze and sounding somewhat bewildered.
Observing his confusion, Astelle found herself reflecting on their long history together. She had never seen him display such a bewildered expression before.
'Was he really so surprised that I agreed to attend the ball?' she wondered.