# Chapter 72
Chapter 72
The carriage stopped at the Lindbergh residence.
“We're here.
When Rezef got off the carriage, he looked at the house and sneered at it.
“Is this where the emperor’s mistress lives?”
It looked worse than he thought.
It was a building where peasants could live, not an aristocrat.
“Is this the result of both sides keeping her under control since Dad got sick?”
The location suited her position well.
The house servant found Rezef waiting and his eyes widened.
The servant recognized his face.
“I greet Your Imperial Highness!
“I came to see Lady Catherine.
Let her know I'm here.
The servant was confused because he hadn't heard anything about the prince visiting them today.
Rezef looked at the lackey with cold eyes as he wandered around.
He was thinking about hitting the servant's neck when he suddenly heard an elegant voice.
“I salute Your Imperial Highness.
When Rezef turned around, he saw an older noblewoman in modest clothes greeting him.
She was Catherine Lindbergh, a beauty with black hair and obsidian eyes.
“A pleasure, Lady Catherine.
He should have called her “miss” since she was single, but Rezef was being polite.
“It's a humble house, but please come in.
Catherine didn't let her guard down just because Rezef was only 18 years old.
At his invitation, Rezef entered as if it were natural.
He sat down haughtily and waved to his adjutant.
“I sent a letter the other day, but as there was no response, I came here in person.
A few days ago, a letter had arrived from Rezef.
Catherine looked down, remembering the contents of the letter.
It stated that she would be presented in Count Hamel's family register as an adopted daughter.
“I don't understand why you said that, Your Highness.
“How long can you stay in the powerless Lindbergh family?
Rezef continued: — The emperor cannot protect you and your son forever.
However, it looks like you can.
Some papers were placed on the table.
“You just have to sign here.
The cathedral was instructed to authenticate it immediately.
It wasn't a bad suggestion.
No, it was a fantastic offer for Catherine.
The Hamels were rich and influential and could protect Ethel.
His son always came home disheveled.
He smiled and told her that he would take care of the people who bothered him.
Whenever Catherine saw her son like this, she felt remorse.
If she were a more helpful mother, Ethel would never be so hurt.
Regardless of what anyone said, Ethel was the emperor's son, and when the emperor had more influence, she and her son were treated like royalty.
That was no longer the case.
They had to live in constant anxiety, knowing they could be eliminated if they angered anyone.
“You would be well treated and live comfortably.
The late empress's family will soon be your family, so there shouldn't be any problems.
He meant that there would be problems if she didn't submit to the Hamel family.
Catherine closed her eyes tightly.
From the beginning, she had no choice.
Rezef smiled softly as she obediently signed the document.
“You made the right choice, Lady Catherine Hamel.
The servants brought by Rezef placed a series of boxes filled with jewelry.
“This shows my sincerity, so please accept it.
Rezef then got up and picked up the papers.
He did not wish to remain in such a poor place.
When he left the house, he met a gray-haired boy.
The boy's face looked like his sister's.
No, to be precise, his face mirrored Emperor Esteban.
Ethel saw Rezef and blinked.
Rezef's clothing and appearance, as well as those of his companions, told Ethel who the man was.
“I salute Your Imperial Highness.
Ethel did not understand why Prince Rezef left her home.
"Earlier, my sister… recognized me as her younger brother.
Are we about to officially interact with the imperial family?"
Ethel's heart beat a little faster with some anticipation.
Maybe they would start living a stable life now.
In that case, the prince in front of him would become his older brother.
He looked closely at Rezef.
“He doesn’t look much like me.”
Ethel noticed that Cayena and him looked similar at a glance.
However, Rezef was strange.
They shared half blood, but Ethel could find no resemblance to himself.
Ethel had heard about Cayena's kidnapping not long ago.
He asked anxiously: — Goingis mom ok?
“… sister?
“Oh yes.
His Highness Cayena.
In a moment, Rezef remembered what he had heard.
Cayena protected her half-brother at the gym.
Rezef approached, looking at an Ethel, who was half his height.
Ethel felt overwhelmed by him and tried to retreat, but Rezef was faster.
He reached out and squeezed Ethel's face tightly.
“Eugh!
— The prince seemed kind from a distance, but up close Ethel could see the truth.
This man was crazy.
“My sister is very beautiful, isn't she?
“…
“She is benevolent, kind and strong, right?
Both parts of Ethel's face were mercilessly crushed in his hands.
“In other words, you, someone who is not even a prince, are not a person who can call her your sister.
Ethel looked at Rezef, her eyes full of challenge.
Rezef mocked him.
“Know your place.
“Like this house where you live.”
Rezef pushed Ethel aside as if throwing him away and headed for the carriage.
The next thing he had to do was meet with the emperor.
“His Majesty, His Highness, Prince Rezef has requested an audience.
Rezef knelt on the floor before the door even closed behind him.
“Please forgive me for displeasing Your Majesty.
The emperor looked at Rezef with an icy gaze.
“Did you really regret it?
Because he knew Rezef well, he didn't believe that Rezef was sincerely sorry.
“My incompetence harmed Your Highness’ health.
I am deeply sorry.
He raised his eyes, which pitifully turned to the floor.
“I've been thinking about how to make up for my disobedience.
So I thought of having Lady Catherine adopted into Count Hamel's family.
Rezef's assistant handed a box to the emperor's chamberlain.
Luden checked the contents of the box and handed it to the emperor.
Inside was a document stating that Catherine would become Count Hamel's adopted daughter.
The emperor looked at him in bewilderment.
“… it would not have been easy to persuade Count Hamel.
Count Hamel was the father of the late empress.
Furthermore, she was his only daughter.
But Rezef arranged for Esteban's lover, Catherine, to be the count's adopted daughter.
Neither Count Hamel nor Rezef's faction would benefit from this move.
“Was that Cayena’s work…?”
He didn't know all the circumstances, but he thought it must be.
“It’s amazing that Rezef followed your instructions.”
This means that Cayena had a very strong influence on Rezef.
“If Cayena had wised up a little sooner, the throne would have belonged to that child.”
The emperor swallowed.
He decided to twist everything anyway.
It was too late for regrets.
He didn't want the empress's children to be happy and wanted to punish the empress's lover.
There was no turning back now.
Rezef politely bowed his head and said, “If it is useful to Your Majesty, the lord of the empire, a servant like Count Hamel would do it.
The emperor nodded slowly.
“Some gifts arrived for the imperial family.
Send them to the prince's palace.
“Thanks.
Then the emperor had a coughing fit.
The doctor advised him to rest and take a break.
“Then I'll go back now.
Rezef bowed and left the emperor's chambers.
He had confirmed that the emperor still liked Catherine.
"I've done it since Cayena recommended it, but he's backing off.
Is his lover so precious?"
The reward was similar to negotiating a ceasefire.
“Those who desire beauty will fall.”
He was grateful to the person who made the stupid proverb that brave men get beautiful women.
Thanks to this, Rezef could easily take what he wanted – whether it was land, gold or someone's life.
“I will have to take the throne soon…”
This way, he would be able to get rid of the cheeky things looking at what was his.
“What happened to Henverton Gillian?
“The Kedrey Duchy reported that they expelled Henverton.
They are also investigating Viscount Gillian and confiscating the title.
“It's a shame I couldn't absorb the war horse business...
Rezef clicked his tongue and stopped at the princess's palace.
“Is there anyone who will speak to us among the escorts who went to the temple?
“There is no need to worry.
They are all on your side.
As the adjutant assured him, a knight who had followed Cayena reported the situation to Rezef as soon as he returned.or to the palace.
“His Highness fell asleep right after praying because he was tired.
There is a window inside her room, but not of a height or size that she can escape on her own.
He thought that praying in the temple was just an excuse to meet someone.
However, when he heard the story, he began to think that perhaps she really had gone to pray.
Something felt wrong, but he couldn't restrain her when she acted pious.
“Make sure you check carefully who she is in contact with, and see if she leaves the attachment.
“I obey your command.