Chapter 50

Astelle was a little surprised.

The Lanberg Knights are inferior to the Guard Knights in their ranks, but in wartime, they were more important than the Guard Knights.

‘He looks young, but is already a knight commander. Does he have good skills?’

A few young girls from the other side were blushing as they glanced over this side.

“What did the knight commander come here for?”

“Before going to the North, I have come to meet and report to His Majesty.”

“You’re heading north? What’s going on?”

At Astelle’s worried question, Seibel answered quickly.

“It’s nothing to worry about. It’s been a while since we suppressed the rebellion, so we are only going out on patrol.”

“I see.”

There’s no sign of a war going on anywhere else, so it seems like the Knights are being sent away.

‘But why did this person talk to me?’

Looking at him with a puzzled look, Seibel spoke to Astelle in a cautious tone.

“My father asked me to send regards to the Marquis of Carlenberg.”

“If it were your father……”

“Oh, I’m sorry, my father is Count Gerald von Ecklen, the minister of the military.”

It was a name she had never heard of before. Astelle had no idea who it was.

The situation in the capital has changed a lot.

In the past, unless you were from a prestigious noble, you could not rise to a high position no matter how much you made. Instead, all of the seats were monopolized by the great aristocrats from generation to generation.

Astelle’s paternal grandfather was the Prime Minister, and her father also served as the Minister of State in the past and ascended to the position of Prime Minister.

Her maternal grandfather, the Marquis of Carlenberg, was also once minister of military affairs.

Her older brother, Fritz, was also scheduled to follow her father and grandfather’s steps.

However, Kaizen had driven out the great nobles and replaced them with new people.

Now, among the great nobles, the Reston was the only family that maintained the title.

“Oh, Lady Astelle, you are here.”

“Sir Lyndon.”

Finally, someone she knew approached. He was Lord Lyndon, commander of the Guard Knights.

“So you’ve met Seibel.”

Seibel also bowed his head lightly at him.

The two seemed to get along well.

Lyndon said to Seibel,

“But is it okay for you to stay here? We’re going to start the ball soon. Your partner, the Lady, has been looking for you.”

“Oh, that’s right. Excuse me, Lady Astelle.”

“It’s okay. Go quickly.”

As soon as Seibel disappeared, the dance began with the sound of music. Since it was a ball, someone had to do the first dance. Of course, that glory should go to the Emperor and his partner.

Florin, the candidate for Empress, has already returned with her mother, but there was still no emperor here.

‘Did Kaizen really not come?’

“Sir Lyndon. Where is His Majesty?”

“He is over there.”

Lyndon’s gaze turned to the second floor above the stairs.

Kaizen was on the second floor, overlooking the banquet hall.

He was wearing a robe worn only by the emperor. In that figure, the dignity of the emperor of the empire could be felt.

‘That suit always looked good.’

As soon as Astelle raised her head, their eyes met.

‘Were you looking this way?’

For some reason, there was no one around him.

‘Why are you doing this?’

Anyway, Astelle was relieved when she confirmed that Kaizen was present.

She naturally turned her body to avoid his gaze. She felt a stinging gaze on the back of her head, but she ignored it.

***

Kaizen was upstairs in the banquet hall.

It’s because the nobles here followed him carefully to keep an eye on him, trying to speak to him. So Kaizen went upstairs to the banquet hall to avoid the nuisance.

He was looking down at the people gathered downstairs. The other people in the banquet hall didn’t even catch his eye.

His gaze was always on Astelle.

Even though she was among a lot of people, the first thing that caught his eyes was Astelle.

Astelle was standing on one wall of the banquet hall.

Kaizen couldn’t take his eyes off Astelle, who was adorned in a bright purple silk dress.

She has a delicate yet elegant face, loosely curled white-blonde hair, and a dress that depicts elegant lines.

Astelle was more beautiful and graceful than any noble lady he had ever seen.

Kaizen admitted that he was attracted to Astelle.

From the moment he saw Astelle wearing that green dress at the rainy hunting lodge—no, from the time he met her again after six years, Astelle attracted his heart.

Kaizen knew how absurd this was.

‘You’re crazy!’

Being drawn to your ex-wife, whom you divorced six years ago.

The two have been engaged since the age of ten. Feelings that hadn’t arisen even after 10 years of being engaged to each other came into existence six more years after the divorce.

At that time, someone approached Astelle, who was standing on one side.

It was Seibel, the commander of the Lanberg Knights.

Seibel said something to Astelle.

A faint smile crept across Astelle’s lips.

Kaizen went downstairs immediately.

In an instant, the music stopped.

Kaizen crossed the center of the hall and approached Astelle.

Everyone looked at him, holding their breath.

Surprised, Astelle turned around.

Kaizen politely held out his hand.

“Lady Astelle, will you honor me to be your first dance partner?”