Hiding the Emperor's Child

Chapter 21

The view of a tranquil forest passed swiftly by the carriage window as the party continued their journey along the forest road. Although they were running a bit behind schedule, they expected to reach their destination in just three more days.

Astelle let out a weary sigh as she leaned back against her chair. After days of tension and anxiety, she was exhausted, and her head felt heavy. However, she couldn't help but feel a sense of relief. So much had transpired in such a short time, but the ordeal would soon be over in a matter of days.

Despite her weariness, a wave of relief washed over her. The small dog lying on the floor raised its head at the sound of her movement, its clear, bead-like eyes fixed on her. Astelle couldn't help but smile at the adorable sight.

She knew that using her grandfather to gain the Emperor's permission had veered slightly from her original plan. However, it was still preferable to spending more time with Kaizen and his entourage in the rainy and confined Maern Castle. Most importantly, once they reached Denz Castle, she would be able to send Theor back home.

Yet, as she prepared for their departure, a minor obstacle emerged. Just before they set out, Astelle gently tried to console Theor, who was on the verge of tears. "We have a long journey ahead, and it might be tough on the dog. Besides, this dog's home is here."

Tears welled up in Theor's blue eyes as he replied, "His Majesty said it was a gift..."

Theor was not a stubborn child by nature. He typically remained quiet and obedient, always ready to listen when Astelle explained why he shouldn't be stubborn about something. However, this time, he refused to give in so easily.

Theor began to cry and clung to the dog's neck with all his might, displaying a strong determination not to let go.

The dog, sitting a distance away, wagged its tail in response. The sight of the small child holding onto the dog was undeniably adorable, resembling two living dolls.

The attendants who were busy preparing for their departure couldn't help but steal glances in their direction. Some of them noticed what was happening and couldn't help but smile wryly at the scene unfolding before them.

While Astelle pondered how to handle this situation, Kaizen emerged from the castle and immediately assessed the situation. Seeing Theor clinging to the dog with tearful eyes, he quickly grasped the situation and approached them without hesitation.

"Why? I gave this dog as a gift," Kaizen asked, seemingly unaware of the issue at hand.

Astelle explained to Kaizen the challenges of caring for a dog, especially with a young child in tow. "Because the child is young, I'm concerned he might inadvertently harm the dog, putting both of them in danger..."

However, Kaizen didn't let her finish and firmly interrupted her. "It'll be fine. This dog is well-trained. Take it and let it grow. It's perfectly fine for a five-year-old to have a dog or two."

Astelle realized that she couldn't persuade Kaizen. He was the one who had gifted a hunting dog to a five-year-old child. No matter how she tried to explain the impracticality of a small child and a large dog traveling alone, her arguments fell on deaf ears.

Frustrated, she continued to voice her objections, prompting Kaizen to respond with bitter sarcasm.

"Are you going to refuse the gift I gave to the child too?" he challenged. Astelle fell into silence, caught in a dilemma.

Astelle had been persistently refusing the gift that Kaizen had given, but she momentarily missed her chance to argue further as Kaizen turned his attention to Theor, gently stroking the boy's neatly arranged hair.

"It's okay. You can take it and raise it," Kaizen assured Theor.

"Your Majesty, thank you!" Theor exclaimed with joy and then looked back at Astelle. She nodded in agreement.

"Okay. But you must be kind and take good care of the dog. Never mistreat or harass it," Astelle admonished.

"I promise, I will take good care of it!" Theor vowed, hugging the dog with delight. The dog, now friendly and happy, wagged its fluffy tail.

Astelle resigned herself to the fact that the gift was now accepted. She thought to herself, 'Well, now that there's going to be a pension, I can manage to keep one dog.'

She would keep a close eye on Theor and ensure he treated the dog well.

However, Astelle couldn't help but think about a more pressing concern. She took out a small glass bottle containing about half of a blue potion. When she noticed the meager amount left, she sighed. When she had first joined Kaizen, the bottle had been full.

'I spent too much time at the castle we stopped at before,' she mused. Astelle had initially intended to gather herbs in the forest, but from the very first day, she had been too occupied to venture into the woods. Then, the rain had confined her indoors.

'And Kaizen suddenly took Theor to the hunting lodge...'

Astelle counted on her fingers to estimate how many more times she needed to administer the medicine before reaching their destination.

'Somehow... it seems insufficient,' she realized. With three days left in their journey, she would need to administer the medicine at least six or seven more times, but her current supply was close to running out.

Astelle knew that making the medicine would be easy if she had the necessary ingredients. The problem, however, was the scarcity of those ingredients.

All the scarce materials were essential components of the medicine, and there were no readily available substitutes.

The herbs needed for the medicine could be easily found in any forest, but Astelle was currently traveling with the emperor's party, which made it impossible for her to gather herbs along the way.

Even if she could find the herbs, making the medicine in the carriage would be impractical.

As Astelle pondered her predicament, she glanced out of the window at the flat forest road that stretched ahead. The road was flanked by dense green trees on either side, and she couldn't help but wonder when they would reach their next destination.

Astelle knew that her best opportunity to collect the necessary herbs would come when they stayed at a castle in the woods for the evening. She planned to take Theor with her to explore the nearby village and gather the herbs she needed.

With Theor asleep on her lap, Astelle watched the passing scenery through the window. Three days remained until they reached Denz Castle, where her maternal grandfather resided.

By sunset, the party arrived at a village where a gray stone castle stood tall against the backdrop of the setting sun and the dark forest. The castle appeared old and weathered, bearing the marks of time.

The elderly castle manager greeted the emperor with a nervous demeanor, and the waiting servants assisted the party with their luggage.

Astelle got out of the carriage and took Theor's hand as they made their way into the castle. Vellian, noticing the surroundings, approached the elderly castle manager and asked, "Is there a pharmacist or anyone knowledgeable about medicinal herbs in this area?"