Unexpected Encounter

Astelle walked helplessly, clutching Theor tightly in her arms. With every step she took, her feet touched dry soil and scattered stones, causing pain to shoot through the soles of her feet.This discomfort was due to the fact that she had been abruptly pulled from her room and forced to leave, still wearing thin slippers, without any chance to change her footwear. The cold air cut through her skin, helping her regain her senses.She used the hem of an old coat to wrap Theor more securely over her shoulder. The scent of delicate roses from the bushes along the stone wall filled the chilly dawn air. This northeastern region of the continent often experienced frosty mornings well into April.Even though May had arrived, cold winds from the mountains still swept across the land in the early morning and evening.A few steps ahead, there stood an ancient castle that served as someone's permanent residence. It was silhouetted against the backdrop of the bluish dawn sky, and Astelle was guided towards it by the knights.In this castle, she found herself in a reception room. There, she saw a man standing in front of a fireplace with a crackling fire. At the sight of him, Astelle's heart seemed to stop.Summoning her courage, she entered the room. It had been six years since they had parted ways when she was only 20, but Kaizen had hardly changed in appearance. He still possessed his black hair, reminiscent of the night sky, and those dark red eyes that had always been a subject of admiration among aristocrats.His overall appearance was more breathtaking than the torches that adorned the grandest of temples. His appearance remained the same, but the current Kaizen had an atmosphere that looked more confident and stronger than when he was 20 years old.Like a man who has lived as an emperor for the past 6 years, even though he is still young, in his late 20s, his whole body was imbued with natural dignity and honorability.Bitter thoughts filled the depths of her heart as she observed him. 'You've grown into such an amazing man when I didn't see you,' she mused silently.There had been a time when she held affection for him, her heart fluttering with warmth. But now, all those once-warm feelings had withered away. Love had vanished without a trace, leaving behind only a dry and desolate emptiness, like a withered branch.Astelle fought to suppress her bitter emotions as she knelt before him, holding the child."Your Majesty the Emperor, Lord of the Empire," she began, addressing him formally. Indeed, he had become an emperor, truly deserving of the title 'Lord of the Empire.'The political strife between the emperor and the nobility had concluded with the emperor's resounding victory. Almost all the great nobles who had opposed him over the past six years had vanished, and Kaizen had emerged as the most powerful emperor, reigning over the empire with an unassailable grip on power.He had become a true leader, with authority so formidable that no one dared to question his right to eliminate those he found displeasing."It's been six years," he remarked, his voice not markedly different from before.Astelle rose to her feet and faced him. His familiar red eyes met hers. His gaze drifted down to take in Astelle's plain gray cotton dress, devoid of patterns or adornments, and the coarse pelerine draped over her shoulders.Finally, his scrutiny fell upon her old indoor shoes, woven from leftover fabric, and a fleeting crease formed on his otherwise handsome brow.Kaizen's expression registered both surprise and displeasure. It seemed he was taken aback by Astelle's modest appearance."I suppose things haven't been easy," she retorted. What did he expect after summoning her here before dawn? Astelle had always presented her best self in front of this man.Even though their encounters were brief, spanning only a few minutes, she would dedicate hours to applying makeup, styling her hair, and perfecting her appearance. And that was followed by the discomfort of cinching her body into a corset and selecting the most exquisite dresses and jewelry.It had been exhausting, challenging, and at times even painful.But for a while, she had been willing to endure everything to appear beautiful to this man. It had been a foolish endeavor, but those days were now behind her. Astelle no longer cared about how this man perceived her."I didn't have time to change clothes. It's too early," she explained. There was nothing better to wear than what she had on.Astelle had been raising Theor in her maternal grandfather's old mansion, located at the eastern edge. Being a modest household with no servants, Astelle had tended to planting, cultivating, and preparing food from the garden herself. She was no longer a noble lady; she had become a commoner. All her beautiful, colorful dresses had been disposed of a long time ago."Why did you keep running away?" Kaizen questioned, his expression showing his inability to comprehend her actions. He had been searching for Astelle for the past two months, and if she hadn't been so cautious, he would have captured her long ago. She had managed to elude him for two months, but in the end, she was caught.Well, she couldn't have remained in hiding indefinitely. Where could she have gone? The entire continent was part of the empire, and everything belonged to this man.Astelle couldn't answer his question, so he laughed. "Did you believe I would catch and kill you?"Until two months ago, Astelle hadn't run away. At her maternal grandfather's house, her body might have been tired, but her heart had been at ease. Then, she had been startled by the news that the emperor's knights were searching for her, prompting her to flee.She hadn't understood what was happening and had run away as a precautionary measure, just in case. She hadn't wanted to meet this man until she was certain whether it had anything to do with the child. Even after two months of evading capture, she still didn't grasp the full extent of what was happening."Why did you try to find me?" Astelle asked Kaizen, her heart hidden beneath a facade of calmness, despite her anxious tremors."After making me search for you for two months, and now you want answers quickly?" Kaizen retorted, clearly irritated.Theor, astounded by the intense gaze of the unfamiliar man he was seeing for the first time, clutched Astelle's skirt tightly with his small hand.Kaizen's attention shifted to the child. "Who's that kid?"Astelle felt a nervous lump form in her throat. She had imagined and prepared for this moment countless times, but mental preparation didn't do much to quell her anxiety in reality. Her heart pounded relentlessly.With a resolute expression, Astelle turned to face Kaizen. She could discern a question burning in his familiar red eyes. She remembered the last time she had lied to him and left.Astelle still didn't regret that decision. Now, she was equally confident that she wouldn't regret this lie either."This is my nephew," she declared.