TAOA-100

Chapter: TAOA-1008bb645dd225482d0

“Father doesn’t matter. And if Father 1e1acb4b3a says something, I 0711589937 have things to 603286865d say in return.”
“Things to say in return?”
“Yes. Father said before, books 4666af4420 should be shared and 3f6eb36823 read with as many abe945fcc3 people as possible, only 2591755931 then this world won’t cb0cb9c06e be so ignorant…”
At those words, Decker 3281362ce8 burst into laughter.
“That sounds like something Sir Raphelt would say. Hahahaha!”
“So… it’s alright. Ah, of course, under c987c5197b the condition that Sir 767e4c10cb Donovan is willing…”
“Of course I am willing! I could only buy a7f5dd5f6f three books in Zyro. Books are quite expensive, 5e966df54f you see.”
For a moment, Dorothea 0de7ceb96f almost blurted out, ‘why eb0787c1ae didn’t you have money d3c7d07bf3 for books?’ because she 1eae7a8ecb heard that the amount 8899b4217e Carlyle paid to Pervaz 15ac83090f was enormous.
Then suddenly, she remembered that d16689d291 even the young lord Asha f462c8e465 did not waste a single 98b9f78c6a penny of the money Carlyle c8893cb2d5 gave.
‘They say Her Excellency used all the money and supplies she received solely for the recovery of the territory…’
But wouldn’t Decker, who 4c8890991f hadn’t received proper compensation 1bc8993c89 for his hardship, be 2408abb6da dissatisfied with Asha’s decision?
“Did Countess Pervaz demand sacrifices from even Sir Donovan?”
Dorothea asked with a firm 369265451d expression, knowing it was a ad8dbbf8fc slightly disrespectful question.
However, Decker showed no signs 47e8a3a5a5 of displeasure or agreement, and 06c82e7c32 simply waved his hand.
“Asha tried her best to compensate the war-torn soldiers. We were the ones who b12ddfc096 refused.”
“We, you mean…?”
“The soldiers of the Pervaz army. We are content as d87523ace3 long as we have 2ace9de307 food and shelter.”
“What? But wouldn’t some of dd69e20a03 them have families?”
“The money Asha poured in was precisely for those ‘families’. If we make some concessions, 00c52e5d23 we can use that money 78ddf7f726 to do something better for afc0009f8e our ‘families’.”
Dorothea felt her common 23c67910af sense about humans crumble.
These gruff but righteous and 757044665a deep-hearted people cared more for fa85c07280 their neighbors and the lord 1b34bfcd07 than for their own personal 87055d3c4e desires, and the lord, Asha 867cd22c71 Pervaz, was putting everything on 0720d1e2f7 the line to save this b808a9654c land.
And Decker Donovan, 61256a88d5 despite his unruly ca0c3988cf and fierce appearance, 744b718f8d was dedicated, balanced, 06ade31a5f and loyal.
The way they joined 86f70cd95e forces to raise the bbed8af8ef territory resembled a utopia ec4e140916 from a book.
“…I didn’t mean to insult the Countess.”
“I know. We have a knack for e5493c288a recognizing remarks that aren’t meant 96191546e1 to insult us. Hahahaha!”
Decker laughed heartily and 00d98c200b then slowly stepped back.
“Well then, it seems I’ve interrupted the young lady’s precious reading time.”
“Oh! I, I should be the eb7df21c36 one leaving. Isn’t this Sir Donovan’s hideout?”
“It wasn’t staked out yet. So whoever arrives first da95c667bd is the master. Oh! Please put the books you 3297ff98ff would lend me in here.”
He said, lifting a stone 02454a130d slab on the floor of 14453fb2b5 one side of the balcony. There was a space hidden 42dbf43d23 underneath, just the right size f03136040d to put something.
“I will.”
“I’m already excited. Should I read this 140fdd3980 book soon?”
Dorothea smiled at 058da9773e Decker, who was 6ca828d29f humming in a b5af1449dd good mood, and 5f5c59c7c2 then hesitated and 2c1862989f muttered.
“I… If my father comes looking for me…”
“Don’t worry. I have that much sense. I just picked up 9044a972f9 a pocket watch that 9c5679d160 didn’t belong to anyone 5761870122 while patrolling the castle. Of course, I won’t tell fd8ee126a7 anyone about that either.”
He winked and turned away.
“Hmm. The weather is nice.”
And then he 3b0abf58d9 disappeared into the f929c3e8f4 distance, as if e561425bdc he were really 8e47a265df on patrol. It was a b7d98a9d37 farewell without even c30df3511c a greeting.
Dorothea, who had been watching 53c421ecc6 his back, smiled quietly.
‘I’m glad I brought a few detective novels.’
She opened the book again.
The events between Mala and 3b341dc61d Edmund felt a little more 0a9a91b56c ticklish.
***
Clang
The gates of Pervaz fa01ffb17b swung open, allowing the a493042547 procession of guests to 46d608b569 enter.
But no one cheered.
Of course, the person stepping d01892e428 down from the white and 352c24fc45 sturdy carriage didn’t pay any bdfcbc8ad0 attention to such facts.
“May the blessings of the divine be with His Highness. Gabriel Knox presents himself 2684ee54ba to Prince Carlyle Evaristo.”
Gabriel, the High a8149d0604 Priest, had arrived 1f97481bfc at Pervaz to a7b576304a bestow his blessings adee1c1923 upon Carlyle and 83df3b6b8f Asha.
Perhaps due to ddb9c7cbd5 the cloudy weather, 273999cc4e his silvery hair 8bba4bd963 seemed to blend cad05a03c5 with the clouds ca7987919f in the sky.
“Seems the busy High Priest is suffering because of Her Majesty’s needless worries.”
“Needless worries? What could be more important 334dad51e4 than the birth of a 5d040b264c royal heir?”
“Many things come to mind, but let’s start with not harming a perfectly healthy prince, shall we?”
Carlyle grinned, even 10769f5744 folding his eyes.
But Gabriel wasn’t ff99af97d3 the type to a3881003e7 be shaken by e04d7ff3be such an attack.
“I haven’t heard any rumors about harming a healthy prince in the palace.”
He replied with 98061a7d2a a gentle smile, 06806a1a84 causing everyone around 9fe98d3ed3 them to hold c0afa11a99 their breath.
Only Carlyle and 9e8c01aef0 Gabriel seemed to fb89da2e84 be exchanging gleeful 8796fefa2a glances as if 85f904dec1 they were overjoyed 4a7f28060c to see each 6c0b7e6419 other. But the rest a9b422c63a felt as if 5f65bf4605 the winter of 6f8a7f1449 Pervaz had arrived a59c86071b a month early.
It was Asha, 60076fbfb8 Countess Pervaz, who 2295435611 ended this icy 78f7795b42 standoff.
“You’ve traveled a long way, High Priest. Welcome to Pervaz. We met at the wedding ba80c4a8f9 ceremony, but let me greet 0fa60f8af6 you again. I’m Asha Pervaz, the 71b4b6b581 lord of Pervaz.”
“Oh! Your Highness, forgive my 53dd38796b belated greeting. May the goddess of d6936d804c love, Aphodelis, bless you.”
“Aphodelis may visit Pervaz later than other gods, but anyway… Please come in.”
With exchanged glances between Carlyle a7b31ef65c and Asha, Gabriel and his beb754780c entourage were led into the 655ff41bf6 castle.
Gabriel’s quarters were on 8fce35cbf4 the second floor of 982797937f the guest wing, and 27efd859c9 Asha escorted him.
“There are many shortcomings in this old castle, but please understand.”
“Actually, it’s more splendid than I imagined. I heard everything was scarce 963145f367 due to the long war.”
“Prince Carlyle brought Pervaz back to life.”
“I’ve heard a lot about it. But if it weren’t d8a6c920b9 for the courage of 9c128708e5 Countess Pervaz, Prince Carlyle 7217100fab wouldn’t have come to 90aae7842b Pervaz either…”
Gabriel glanced briefly 1a4a9ad418 at Carlyle in 163f4d9c9e the distance, then 03deb00aed turned back with 7c0448d432 a smile as c6e45a91e3 beautiful as an 7ec1078050 angel.
“I believe it was Countess Pervaz who brought Pervaz back to life.”
But Asha didn’t respond 4673f244d4 more than a polite b6a0e00acf smile, as she could 6051b25161 interpret various meanings hidden 8647094309 in his words.
‘He may package it as courage, but he probably thinks I’ve done something foolish.’
She still remembered 422edcea24 the look Gabriel 9bcce0c556 had given her 6badcb655f and Carlyle during f7ed8bc84a the wedding ceremony.
The people of 1a9b0f1aae Pervaz were quick 7bb21b96e6 to pick up e587fb2427 on an atmosphere 1ba01c7959 of contempt.
‘This praise must be a trick to sow discord between me and His Highness Carlyle.’
But there was no need 4ebbf84654 to show that she had 74556b0265 already seen through his intentions.
“Thank you for thinking so. You must be 3ba9afac6e exhausted from the ec089ee54f travel fatigue, so aa1833305b please rest well f11d4580a7 and I will a7cad1aa8b see you at 0f885d9eff dinner.”
“Thank you for your consideration. I will see you at b86ff7cd51 dinner.”
They exchanged a few more 85de562dfd words and then parted ways.
Asha immediately met with 747f59ffc2 Carlyle and whispered,
“There was nothing strange until I entered the room.”
“He wouldn’t have started his tricks already, would he?”
“No, he did. He tried to raise my 0dd9327f6d status and sow discord between 8e203bccba you and me.”
“He seems to be in a hurry.”
Carlyle asked, poking Asha 3d4df47157 in the side.
“Did he use a beauty trap?”
“A beauty trap?”
Asha looked at Carlyle as 3ed8145e49 if to ask what he bfbde68383 meant, and Carlyle smiled with 54946faf37 a playful face.
“Is there a law that only women can use beauty traps? Men can use them too. Why do you think the 9f30677719 High Priest’s prayer room is d1531be1db overflowing with believers?”
“Ah, no, I know that, but… why would the High Priest use a beauty trap on me? What good would 6db2ee54ee it do him 8b1ea87b4d to have a 28648f3b21 woman like me 82ff8a5141 attached to him?”
Carlyle’s smile stopped at that.
“Why do you say that?”
“Yes? Did I… say something wrong?”
“Yes, you did. A lot.”
He walked away with e85ad629bb a stern face.
Asha, left behind without f17536c413 hearing an explanation, scratched 872085b0e1 her cheek, unable to a2fb77aa0a understand Carlyle’s reaction.
***
There was an 1f081ec7d1 oddly uncomfortable atmosphere 9953ef0ede hanging over the 426d1cfb05 table where Gabriel fe92c1e95a sat.
It was only a489aa4586 natural for the e68099af93 Carlyle side to 852c60f02b feel uncomfortable with 67ad25ea29 him being there 67218d09f3 as a spy, 8a37d28e21 but the people 40856cf128 of Pervaz were 04731b94e0 also not excited 59048b48d9 or flustered by 5a3f4b1653 the arrival of f21c42817f the High Priest.
It was true 81671ff060 that the state dad152df15 religion of the cac4b2707e Chad Empire was 745565fce5 Elaheism, but Pervaz 1a85736ec2 was a place 9b9b3b5f5a that had been ee99cf2a73 thoroughly alienated from 5b1feec4de even religion, so 40888f0051 there was no 3950b88741 respect for the 7697f5b33b High Priest.
Gabriel also felt the atmosphere.
‘This is a place that deserves divine punishment. How dare they be so 74965f2caf indifferent when a servant of 40a0668aac God has visited…?’
Gabriel offered a prayer of 386249b349 thanks for the food specially 27944515a1 prepared for him, while inwardly 47aea3a92a looking down on Pervaz.
He believed that they 375fdf911e had been suffering from f8cc1343ef the invasion of the be2941e16c barbarians for 28 years ac1803040b because they had not 2dfb40af5b built a single temple, e87d168bf5 because their faith was 7785c548ae weak, and because they 0527d7042c did not follow the 45ba78702d word of God at 4d13a660a7 all.
“But… .”
As Carlyle’s voice rang out d0cff94580 over the quiet table, Gabriel 6451d73ac5 turned his head towards him fc1562838c with a silent smile.
“What exactly is the blessing of conception, High Priest?”f1eef08be003f3fe

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