Chapter 140: 140

A few days later, the harvest festival began.

Astelle was still busy checking and preparing things related to the event all day long. She was exhausted from the first day of the harvest festival.

“Your Majesty, are all right?”

Hannah looked worriedly at Astelle sitting with a tired face.

“I’m fine. I have to go to the stadium today.”

On the first day of the harvest festival, there will be an event taking place in the outdoor stadium.

It was the day for the Emperor and Empress to attend together, but in most cases, the Empress announced the start of the event herself.

Astelle and Theor rode out of the palace in a carriage.

She left the palace early to stop by Gretel’s herbal laboratory in the center of the capital.

“Welcome, Your Majesty the Empress, Your Highness the Crown Prince.”

Gretel came out and greeted them both.

“Aunt Gretel!”

Theor ran and hugged Gretel as soon as he saw her.

Gretel’s herbal lab is still under construction. On the lower floor is a laboratory and on the upper floor is a room for Gretel herself. There is also a shop selling medicinal herbs and potions near the entrance.

“Looks like the preparations are going well.”

Astelle looked around the lab and saw a new herbal book that Gretel was writing.

There is an explanation of each region’s herbs and a much more elaborate drawing of herbs than before.

Astelle focused on the unique blue flowers among them.

“This is the first time I’ve seen this herb.”

“It’s an herb that detoxifies poison,” Gretel replied.

“Does such herb really exist?”

There is no known herb that completely detoxifies poison. The antidote must be prepared separately for each poison.

Depending on the poison, the recipe for the antidote also varied greatly. There are many poisons for which the method of detoxification is unknown.

“I saw it once in a mountain range at the far south, but I didn’t take it.”

“I want to see it, too.”

Theor, who was eagerly watching the boiling pot, ran to the door.

“Uncle Fritz!”

Fritz in duke formal attire came in.

“Brother? What are you doing here?”

Although he had not completely inherited the title, he was already called a duke. He also officially attended meetings since a few days ago.

Fritz glanced at Gretel and smiled to Astelle.

“I heard that you have stopped here.”

Perhaps because it was outside the palace and Gretel was there, he was polite.

“That’s great. I would like to go with you.”

Astelle gave him a welcome smile and lowered her voice.

“What about Father?”

“He said he wouldn’t be coming today because he wasn’t feeling well.”

As Astelle showed a slightly uneasy look, Fritz quickly added, “He said he would definitely attend tomorrow’s dinner.”

The Duke still didn’t show any suspicious behavior. He only stayed at the mansion and didn’t meet many people.

“Gretel, why don’t you just go with us?”

At those words, Gretel blushed in embarrassment.

“Oh, I- I think I need to clean up this place more. I will only go on the day of the competition.”

“Okay then.”

Maybe it’s too burdensome for her to go with the Empress even though they’ve been friends for the past six years.

It can’t be helped now.

The three said goodbye to Gretel and headed to the outdoor stadium.

 

***

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Astelle was sitting in the grandstand in the capital’s grand stadium.

The grandstands of the emperor and the empress are at the highest point in the center of the seats in the stadium.

Four pillars supported the ceiling, and there is also a thin cloth to block the sun. On the back of the seat, the emblem symbolizing the imperial family is ornately engraved. And next to it is a small emblem symbolizing the duke family.

The emperor’s seat is empty. Kaizen said he would not be attending today.

As Astelle sat down, everyone’s eyes were on her.

Although she has held several events within the Imperial Palace, this is the first time Astelle has appeared before commoners.

The people sitting in the stands looked curiously at the empress who had finally appeared.

Fritz asked worriedly. “Are you okay? You seem nervous.”

“It’s been a long time since I’ve received such attention.”

The relationship between the emperor and his wife, from divorce to reunion, was known to the commoners to some extent.

‘Because it was a fascinating story in many ways.’

The fact that the empress, who had been divorced and expelled, returned with the prince, was unprecedented in history.

“Not many people speak ill of you,” said Fritz in a firm voice.

He seems to have already recognized the rumors circulating among people.

So you mean they said something bad about the emperor?

“Yeah, I don’t think there are many negative views.”

Astelle raised one hand to start the event.

Applause poured out from the crowd.

Theor, not listening to their conversation, stood holding the railing and looking downstairs.

“Uncle Fritz, what is that?” Theor asked, looking at the grain model prepared for the parade.

“It seems to be a decoration to commemorate the harvest. Shall we go and see it together?”

“Yes!”

Fritz went down with Theor.

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Astelle remained seated while watching the two descending.

The event started with a parade. Various decorations commemorating the god of harvest began to fill the stadium one by one.

While she was watching the parade, Vellian suddenly approached her.

“Your Majesty the Empress.”

“What’s going on?”

He bowed politely to Astelle and said, “Your Majesty, the Emperor said he was sorry for not being able to attend.”

Did the emperor send this person to convey his apology? Since the emperor was unable to attend, it was not unusual for him to send his aide.

“Tell him I’m fine, so don’t worry about it.”

“Yes, then I will–”

“Vellian.”

Astelle cut him off.

“Did you ask Miss Naen about the last poisoning incident?”

Vellian’s expression did not change, but there was anxiety in his eyes.

“What do you mean, Your Majesty?”

“You don’t have to pretend you don’t know. I heard everything from Miss Naen.”

At that moment, panic spread across Vellian’s face.

Looks like he didn’t expect that Naen would tell Astelle everything.

He glanced away from Astelle’s eyes and began to make excuses.

“That’s because I heard something weird from Miss Florin……”

It was pathetic and absurd to see the emperor’s aide hiding behind Florin.

“I’m sure you didn’t do that because of Miss Florin. Aren’t you trying to investigate what I did?”

Vellian couldn’t deny it. There’s nothing to deny. Because it was true. But he mumbled dissatisfied.

“Still, there’s a bit of a mystery–”

“Vellian.”

Astelle cut him off again in an unprecedentedly stern tone.

Vellian flinched.

“The Croychens have tried several times to frame me and Theor before I even got to the capital. The Marchioness even tried to kill me, and Florin threatened me and brought poison to the Empress Palace.”

Astelle looked straight at Vellian and asked, “But do you think what I did was too much?”

“……of course I don’t think so,” Vellian answered after hesitating for a moment.

Astelle turned her gaze back to the field.

A wagon full of colorful fruits decorated with ribbons was coming in.

“I hope you don’t go around asking useless things from the Empress Palace’s courtiers in the future.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Vellian looked displeased, but still politely bowed his head.

 

***

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It wasn’t until sunset when Kaizen finished his overdue work and went out of the office.

“Is the Empress still in the stadium?”

“Yes, Your Majesty. The Empress will be back soon.”

Kaizen hurried out of the Imperial Palace.

After the day he went on a picnic in the garden, he couldn’t have a good conversation with Astelle.

After he apologized to Astelle in front of the pond that day, there was an awkward atmosphere between the two.

‘I was planning to go with you today.’

There was a lot of work he had to do, but he himself had purposely avoided going with Astelle. Because he knew his presence would make Astelle uncomfortable.

‘I can’t avoid you forever.’

There used to be a hope that one day Astelle would accept him, because back then he didn’t know how her feelings.

He thought they could start over. But now it was hard to imagine Astelle would accept him.

All he could do now was apologize to Astelle and do what she wanted.

If Astelle wants to leave in five years….., he has no choice but to let her go. He himself does not deserve to hold her.

“Your Majesty, are you going to the stadium?” asked the butler.

After a brief thought, Kaizen turned around.

“I’m going to the Empress Palace.”

 

***

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On the first day of the harvest festival, the Empress Palace is also busier than at other times.

The Empress and Crown Prince are in the stadium, but the remaining maids and servants are busy preparing for the following schedule.

Tomorrow there will be a grand dinner in the Empress Palace, and the day after tomorrow will be a tea party and a masquerade.

Hannah walked down the hallway, double-checking the schedule.

This is Astelle’s first major event after becoming the Empress, so nothing could be missed.

As the sun went down, the palace became busier than before. Because it was time for the Empress and Crown Prince to return.

As she returned from checking the empress’ room, Hannah walked down the hallway and found a servant entering the crown prince’s room.

“What are you doing?”

The servant, who was walking inside with a small tray, stopped at Hannah’s voice.

He said, “I was preparing a snack for the Crown Prince.”

He is a young servant serving the Crown Prince.

Hannah glanced at what he was holding. It’s a glass of drink and snacks in a small bowl. At a glance, there’s nothing out of the ordinary about it.

She’s too busy to have time to look into the details.

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“Okay, go ahead.”

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