After concluding her conversation with her maternal grandfather, Astelle made her way back to the bedroom. As she walked down the hallway, a sudden downpour startled her.
"Why is it raining so heavily all of a sudden?" she wondered aloud, peering out through the rain-drenched windows. Servants hurriedly dashed out into the garden, barely visible in the deluge. They rushed to cover the flower beds with tarpaulins to shield the delicate blooms from the relentless rain. Some struggled with broken umbrellas, futile against the gusty wind.
'It must be difficult,' Astelle thought sympathetically. 'Next year, I'll advise them not to plant flowers that can't withstand heavy rain.'
With these reflections, she finally reached the bedroom door. To her surprise, she found it empty, the lights casting a warm glow on the deserted room.
"Your Majesty? Theor?" Astelle look for them.
The maid spotted Astelle and approached her, holding a towel and pajamas, likely in the midst of tidying the bedroom.
"Your Majesty the Empress?"
"Where is His Majesty and the Prince?" Astelle asked.
"His Majesty went out to the garden with the Prince," the maid replied. Astelle was surprise. 'To the garden, in this rain?'
"Astelle," a familiar voice called out, startling her. She turned to find Kaizen entering the bedroom, Theor in his arms, both of them drenched from head to toe. With each step, water dripped from their soaked bodies.
Theor muttered, wiping his face, "It's cold."
Kaizen carefully set Theor down on the floor. Astelle took the towel from the maid and gently dried Theor's hair. "You need to take a warm bath," Astelle advised him.
The quick-witted maid nodded and swiftly made her way to the bathroom. Within moments, hot water was ready. Following Kaizen's instructions, the maids prepared Theor's bath with steaming hot water. Astelle guided Theor to the bathroom herself, handing him over to the maids' care before returning to the bedroom. Meanwhile, Kaizen busied himself wiping away the rainwater with a towel.
"I took him out to play for a while, but then it started raining suddenly," Kaizen explained, removing his dripping coat to reveal his damp white shirt. The thin fabric clung to his upper body, emphasizing his strong physique.
Astelle inadvertently averted her gaze, feeling a subtle flush of embarrassment. She pretended to be absorbed in looking out the window, but then she heard a low voice.
"Are you okay?" Kaizen asked softly.
Startled, Astelle turned around. "Yes?"
"Your face looks troubled," Kaizen observed, his intense red eyes meeting hers. His gaze held a hint of fierceness.
Kaizen's eyes were bright red, his dark hair reminiscent of the night sky, and his sharp nose adding to his commanding presence. Cold raindrops traced down his strong jaw onto his muscular chest.
Astelle found herself once again noticing his handsome appearance. She quickly suppressed such thoughts and responded calmly.
"I am fine. My grandfather told me about my mother," Astelle replied.
"Did something happen to your mother?" Kaizen asked, his concern evident.
"It's not that..." Astelle hesitated, unable to fully articulate her feelings about the newfound knowledge of her mother's past.
Kaizen set down the towel, perplexed by the situation. He spoke softly, "If you have any concerns, please share them with me. I want to support you—not just with material things like jewels or a palace."
