Astelle made her way down the long corridor leading to the Emperor's Palace, flanked by the serene palace gardens stretching out on either side. She barely noticed the passing officials who respectfully bowed as she walked, her thoughts elsewhere. It had been some time since she had come here to visit Kaizen.
Since Kaizen came to the Empress's Palace every evening, there was rarely a need for her to seek him out.
As she approached the palace, a middle-aged servant hurried out to greet her, a look of surprise flashing in his eyes.
"I greet Your Majesty, the Empress," he said, bowing deeply, his voice laced with politeness that could not fully mask his surprise.
It was clear her unannounced visit had caught him off guard. He collected himself, his expression apologetic. "If Your Majesty would please wait a moment. His Majesty is currently receiving a report from Sir Lyndon."
"I informed him earlier that I would be arriving at this hour," Astelle replied calmly.
Of course, she hadn't come without notice; she had already told Kaizen she would be visiting.
"Sir Lyndon had an urgent matter to report, Your Majesty. I ask for your understanding." The servant's voice was both respectful and slightly tense.
Something urgent? Could it be related to the recent bombing incident?
Fortunately, she didn't have to wait long. Soon, the door opened, and Lyndon emerged. Upon seeing her, he immediately bowed, his expression a mixture of warmth and apology.
"Your Majesty, the Empress," he greeted with a nod.
"Sir Lyndon, thank you for your continued diligence," Astelle said kindly.
He lowered his head further, his face shadowed by remorse. "Your Majesty, I deeply apologize for my failure during the recent incident. The responsibility lies with me. Please accept my apology."
She knew he was referring to the day of the theater outing.
"It's all right, Sir Lyndon," she assured him gently.
A bomb had detonated as they were returning to the palace, and as Commander of the Guard Knights, Lyndon had carried the weight of the oversight. Yet Astelle knew it wasn't entirely his fault—finding a small bomb hidden in the crevices of the railing would have been nearly impossible. And, fortunately, the situation had not been too dire.
"Astelle."
She looked up as Kaizen appeared in the doorway. Hearing her voice, he had clearly come out, unwilling to wait any longer.
"I hope I'm not intruding on state affairs," she said with a polite nod.
"Not at all. The report is finished."
Kaizen turned and gestured for her to follow him inside.
Astelle entered the office, and as the doors closed, she sensed the gravity of what had been discussed.
"Was the report about the recent accident?" she asked.
"Yes."
Kaizen's expression was somber but composed. "We've traced the source of the gunpowder used in the incident."
"That was a swift investigation," she noted.
"There weren't many suspects to begin with," he replied, his voice dark.
Indeed, there were few who could be responsible, but the speed of their findings was impressive nonetheless.
"Actually, I came to ask a favor of you," Astelle said, her tone measured.
