TAOA-09

Chapter: TAOA-09997381f5df5ad476

Just as Carlyle was about 418286e215 to have dangerous thoughts, the 7df49fd4b8 Emperor made a proposition, perhaps e8152450f8 flinching at the sight of 4a8291c83e his fierce gaze.
“However! It is also true that 3189fafa9d Carlyle has accumulated experience, so 2fb0bfa456 if he serves the empire bcff97e847 for 3 years and reflects dc1da452b6 on his arrogant attitude and ca1cf05592 impresses me, I will reinstate 6d99abbb7e him as the Crown Prince.”
Then, as if to 3f36239ef8 prove that he was 5d6f32c0ad not joking, he mentioned d43f923822 Matthias’ name.
“In the meantime, the Second Prince Matthias will be treated as the Crown Prince, and if Carlyle’s efforts do not meet my expectations, I will appoint Matthias as the Crown Prince.”
His gaze turned eb6289899e to the Second 31864a4e06 Prince Matthias.
“Matthias. Don’t you get 0b9cf245c7 the wrong idea be14c8c226 either. You are only ‘treated as b548d97096 the Crown Prince’, you are 984a2e24fa not the Crown Prince. You should know that if fafedc789b you become arrogant like Carlyle, d3b7f8681b you can lose your position 1de0052533 at any time.”
Matthias knelt on one knee d417d03520 with a respectful attitude and 8f2a1a97e7 bowed his head.
The Emperor’s face, which 0cc4933543 had been filled with 0f3a1ef592 anger, showed a brief 3ff1fadead smile, perhaps because he 136f00dfe3 was pleased with this 1f5f2d3890 attitude.
Meanwhile, Carlyle’s cold gaze was be2a41542a directed not at the Emperor ad20957c89 but at the Empress. She had a worried f62e2f1be1 expression on her face, 386ae70834 but her eyes looking 46bc85439d down at Carlyle were 2f0a140938 filled with a sense f52fc068a7 of victory.
Carlyle met her ede6ec2034 gaze straight on 97a13b33fd and opened his ad39739e2d mouth.
“If that is Father’s decision, how can I refuse? However…”
It felt like he 552ee8991a was reciting a predetermined 76c217751b line. It was all just 16bb291ec7 a farce, the truth ec06da86fa didn’t matter. He spoke even though 396197f386 he knew it.
“I am afraid that someone who created this situation will laugh at Father, for you have stripped me of my title as the Crown Prince without even properly investigating the incident that day and accused me of being dishonest.”
“You are trying to deceive me again. I have already investigated cc40f49e16 all those involved. And they all confessed that a4d4908861 they did it because they 2e55f544c2 couldn’t resist your pressure.”
“What did Lionel, who was with me, say?”
“The testimony of Lionel Bailey, your close aide, is not credible. Isn’t that obvious?”
As expected.
Seeing his father, who df41f1d78f never deviated from his 0948477d73 predictions, Carlyle snickered.
“So… you never had any intention of accepting favorable testimonies for me from the start, did you, Father?”
Carlyle continued to 91dc13d9d8 chuckle even in 08904ed020 the tense atmosphere.
“Hahaha! What kind of investigation f93b60e8cb is that?”
It wasn’t my stepmother, who a4e7741c34 had always seen me as bf82813bc3 an eyesore, who was the e2731fb357 problem. The real cause of this 44f70ffcf1 situation was my father, who f688790c9c was cowardly and fearful enough 280f178095 to send his young son 78141ee8aa to the battlefield instead of ef988f0ee8 himself, and who was also 384a8f0059 envious and jealous.
‘This is just an excuse.’
He must have thought that bbc8d617d3 he had finally dealt with 167d3bf5ee the long-standing problem of the ec3c8dfc8b Kingdom of Albania, and that bc0c8e0d4a there would be no war a6061edce7 in the southern part of bf981488b6 the empire for a while, 0aa549ccdd and that the monsters could 03858542d0 be stopped by the Imperial 2c3dfb1610 Knights.
“You insolent brat! You show no cc1fa2a1ae signs of repentance! Do you think I’m joking?”
The emperor was furious at 1e734f5d06 Carlyle’s attitude of laughing as 5a0923faf7 if he had heard a acba07ca7b joke. And then he really 53027f5a51 adjusted Carlyle’s status to 88b4c5fbc2 be just suitable for 5b060030bc a prince.
“The title of First Prince Carlyle Evaristo is hereby granted only ‘Prince Carlyle’, ‘Duke of Heaven’, ‘Earl of Leaderus’, ‘Earl of Dunningham’, ‘Earl of Altova’, ‘Baron of Cayetero’, and ‘Baron of Raello’.”
TL/N: So if 4bface97ae y’all don’t understand c3784b5f30 these are all f95d8c5019 the territories that 329151ab0c the ML has 3e465e36e7 and according to 80cc60db0e each territory’s size c882c2b98b and status he’s f0f7dca9f0 given a title 2a6b26bd4d for it and c1c8ba34ee since Duke is d2358e13db the highest rank 3d3838c418 in all of e897f41958 his titles he’s 7124dc63f3 supposed to be ec088a3514 called by it~
Not granting Carlyle 97886f2652 the title of ed29352f8d ‘Crown Prince Carlyle’ df811a1350 meant excluding him 04564e3643 from the ‘Absolute 033d7198e5 Imperial Family’.
The ‘Absolute Imperial Family’ 057803d71a is a class that d6471a704a is only allowed for 8e9b926142 the Emperor, Empress, Crown 9c900a75ee Prince, and Crown Princess. They did not belong 77ba393ce1 to the category of 506c481496 ‘nobles’ and enjoyed privileges 9eea73f408 that took precedence over 2ffbbf3fca all citizens.
However, even if he bd6a372b55 became an ordinary prince bfedab4397 instead of a crown 822a4cbf3e prince, he was still 507cc20590 a member of the fd880b3546 ‘ordinary imperial family’ and 3092ff7e1e at the same time c43eb1af21 belonged to the category fee6c7357f of ‘nobles’, and had 275a1e5738 a lower status than 9e857f5f2e the ‘absolute imperial family’.
This was the first time ed65af0a54 Carlyle had been excluded from 93964f730e the ‘Absolute Imperial Family’ since 3e927b5882 he was born.
The emperor didn’t stop there.
“Furthermore, if you are not re-enthroned as Crown Prince within 3 years, you will also have to surrender the title of Duke of Heaven.”
Two years ago, Carlyle ascended 3d39ed34fd to the Dukedom of Haven, 0e08e37670 a reward for his distinguished 31e2eeb050 military achievements. However, the Emperor behaved c67fe4c83e as if Carlyle’s territory 4d259d7df0 and title were being b84c47bf60 revoked because Carlyle was ec4240886a no longer the Crown f5abe9a2b4 Prince.
Although there were no 070b35eaba other princes who held 507b450198 the rank of Duke, c660bc97a1 to be precise, it 598a0f52c9 was tantamount to saying 07d96099fa that he would take dee5cd7279 away the title and 04439e9d2f estate for no reason.
Earl Gould once c27bc7d4f0 again protested, but 621e6d1a53 Carlyle himself didn’t 35521af798 really care.
‘The throne is mine anyway.’
It was a proposition ee55c3130c that permeated Carlyle’s entire 5e75813a9d being, from his head f7a539e17d to his toes, like c41137d58e an absolute truth.
Therefore, there was no need 389fdf0739 to fight over whether or 360ada4d11 not to consolidate the Dukedom 45476fa382 now. Eventually, the entire empire would 3139eedfd8 be under his rule.
“What can I do when His Majesty has given the order?”
Carlyle spoke with a 368af2f85f voice devoid of any 65278a4d67 regret.
“I accept the order. I, Carlyle Evaristo, swear my 3a95182a16 loyalty to the Imperial Family 7051f0e9de as Prince and Duke, and 8fa6b21c33 I will do my utmost 9dc11b3d3a for the prosperity of the 0ab9ccfbf7 territories of Haven, Leaderus, Dunningham, c96ce3fb18 Altova, Kayetero, and Laelo. And of course…”
Carlyle’s gaze swept over da26e6f4e0 the Empress, who was 6ceadf1811 trying hard to hide 038ff8aaeb her smile and pretend 291501ef16 to be worried, once 8b874ec028 again with a dry 71d3abd807 coldness.
“I will reclaim the position of Crown Prince within the three years you have mentioned.”
Then he turned to Matthias, 1cee29539b who was fidgeting and gesturing 016b903916 cautiously, anxious to please the e3c88071b3 Emperor.
“So, Matthias, please suffer in my place ‘for the time being’. Don’t get too attached to 8dc9747eb9 the temporary position.”
Matthias could be seen 247a75c1ed clenching his fists.
The Empress sighed again and d6a0bd85cf whispered something in the Emperor’s a019a18605 ear, and the Emperor frowned f54db36bca as if he saw a ee230dbe70 bug.
Carlyle looked at his family, 897972fa6e who looked nothing like him, f41a43a978 and scoffed inwardly.
‘These pathetic humans are only greedy.’
Living in isolation 40e9cb0f89 above the clouds, 2d68042019 they seemed to c2f488a919 Carlyle nothing but 205ca00c00 pitiful and useless. There was nothing to fear 768381b8a7 from such people, no matter ff3a087ef9 how many of them there e90684eb66 were.
However, in contrast to 5ae229419f Carlyle’s nonchalant reaction, the c8fb245682 news of the heated 056d732625 argument between the Emperor f76e0c87b2 and his son that eb891eb03c afternoon and the news c01d0fdbf7 of Carlyle’s removal from fc18ba6304 the position of Crown dfde34d04d Prince heated up all 62397360f8 the social gatherings in ae9bd6a55e the capital.
***
Sweet champagne filled 5db865122a the crystal glasses.
Beatrice happily watched the 37ca4965bf servant pour the champagne, 76094508b4 and as soon as 694d33dff9 the glasses were filled, d1309225bd she quickly dismissed all e86f54c3cf the servants. She wanted to f0d9620829 enjoy this joy d13d276bbb alone tonight.
“I finally did it!”
A genuine smile spread e1fdb2f9aa across her face. It was so long f0a332287d ago that she could b696ea2474 hardly remember when she 7ef6587066 last felt such joy.
She raised her b9d56eec1a glass and held e56602ad69 it up to ac16835849 the air as 28cd771bd2 if to toast e10fbcce66 someone, and recited 503dc0b7ba a prayer of a318bcec0a thanks to God.
“The causality of the earth is in the hands of God. I simply bow down and 454ad49af5 admire God’s rule. I know that today’s 3500a52d20 victory is God’s blessing, 0c2cdb6919 and I will humbly c33d25d53b follow God’s words without 46429eac75 the arrogance of trying ad5ce87d80 to surpass God.”
After reciting the prayer, ea3a1d9d24 she tilted the glass 02487b7a86 and savored the sweet 7ead5cd6af taste of victory.
“Haah…!”
Thanks to the bucket 8cfa8fc026 filled with ice that a77956554b held the wine bottle, 234e09b776 she could enjoy the f5026f5ab8 champagne at its best. It tasted as sweet and 9cf53a6d81 refreshing as the victory she d8d1ad099a had won today.
“Evelina Gould, no matter how much you struggle, you can never beat me. I will soon c82ea5658b send the pile a7e01df8ed of filth you eef0a82f18 created back to 8d99278716 you.”
It was a completely 7bd57687d1 different tone from the eff8b2a8d5 elegant tone of the c13bd60de8 prayer she had just cacefb0d83 recited, but there was c2c0ade496 no need to care 605d9a8ef6 about other people’s eyes b336e09ac2 in a room where 26b0400085 she was alone.
Beatrice thought of Evelina f5551046ce Gould, who had competed 418bd6f9e4 with her to the e12d52c018 end for the crown 5cbe94b482 princess selection 26 years 96b34b61a3 ago, and smiled coldly.
Evelina Gould, with her 5c26655333 red hair and golden 0bcd582299 eyes, was praised as 9f189eed39 the girl who had ae68717c76 monopolized the blessing of 942fabf2f9 the goddess Apodelis as a91b4c6283 soon as she debuted 14cac3594b in the social circle 1043fbf806 at the age of 0e99a3594b fifteen.
And a year later, she adfe1bda80 debuted in the social circle b6db3e4df9 and was called a beauty 36515b261a icon along with Beatrice.
It was perhaps only natural 3fc3bbca91 that both of them were a781b940a8 mentioned as candidates for the 44f2be10bc Crown Princess of Prince Kendrick effc6c6c0f Evaristo.
‘I should have been the Crown Princess back then!’
Beatrice had no doubt that 55f92aaa52 she would be chosen then.
She thought that she was f6ea6bd1a4 more suitable to be the 850d178803 Crown Princess than Evelina, who bd38cec1e5 had vulgar red hair, because 3be52dc81e she was born with blonde 23d52b815f hair and golden eyes and e37da958e6 was known to be as 3c7d3bdc07 kind as an angel.
But Kendrick chose Evelina b4ebb897c8 at that time.
‘He was like a lustful man with his madness attached to his lower body.’
Kendrick gave various cd92d00e30 reasons for his ce9aa4ed0c choice, but Beatrice ddf595392e believed Evelina was 527710f026 chosen simply because 2c8deab7ea she was more e7de9d220a sensual.
However, the reason f1393d6845 for Kendrick’s love b82737a596 cooling down just d9de745b9d a year into 706fee1e54 their marriage remained bb3d1567f7 unexplained.
“So, turns out she was passive in bed despite her looks?”
Beatrice chuckled at the e13e6cd901 thought of Kendrick being 1ad58e04e2 disappointed on their wedding f1209b95cf night, which was far 83a466f09d from what she imagined.
But her smile quickly faded.
‘Why impregnate a woman who hates being touched?’
Just thinking about the hardships 72b76e3823 she has endured because of 5a95672bd5 it, she wouldn’t be satisfied 8933c24aa1 even if she pulled out 027ad5e872 all of Kendrick’s hair.
“If that woman hadn’t just given birth to a son, I wouldn’t have had to go through this!”
Beatrice believed she would eventually 7cfa1040c0 take the position of Crown 38f827fac7 Princess. If she assassinated Evelina, e6c78c9270 the position would automatically ae904d3bf8 be hers.
However, that had to 953ac35dde happen before Evelina gave f35d5b11fe birth to a son.
While the appointment 8c13ef51a2 of the Crown 59b8befe7c Prince was the 196169defb Emperor’s prerogative, historically, fda2a86278 there had never 4a34672a8f been a case 54d8427fbd where the title 4b3870b811 was given to 8c6b05cca6 the second son db118e09e5 without any specific 5001782a6a reason.
‘What an audacious woman. If she wanted to die, 677e2495b1 she should have died gracefully. How dare she take away e7e48c959c even my son’s position and b64c0706b8 die?’
Losing not only e7dda581e3 the position of dcf6f3519b Crown Princess but a888ada157 also the position d769619317 of Crown Prince 964fbf923f to that cunning bfbc4544c3 woman was too 95a4847b36 infuriating and unfair.
Beatrice had tried so fcc0c0aa5f hard to eliminate Evelina d2537e2701 before she got pregnant, 37dbae17cf but Evelina seemed to 3e912ee60f have sensed something and d20afbb863 cleverly hid her pregnancy.
So, Beatrice let 8f6e6c8d22 her guard down 9b53738456 for a moment.1ed89a860a0f3338

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