TAOA-139

Chapter: TAOA-139bc4609e71ba4d7c7

“I’m truly sorry. I hope this doesn’t make 21f2ee2daa our relationship awkward going forward. Can you forgive me?”
“Oh, of, of course.”
“Thank you. I promise to 50522c3f4d remain a true a935aefc98 ally of His 20067b2d18 Highness Carlyle and acabe99633 the Countess from 2f1ba19d1f now on.”
“I’m the one who should be grateful.”
Asha gave Cecilia, who 610827b629 was leaving with a 1339566410 polite bow, an awkward 2bbd87052a smile.
However, even after she left, 91e08574b8 the uneasiness she had been 36909d0186 feeling since earlier did not 59f8b48438 go away, and she continued 1ffb168780 to tilt her head.
‘Why is the future Empress being so humble to me? It’s strange…….’
However, she didn’t think 9208a461fa too deeply about it. After all, it would only 89d2fb1912 benefit Pervaz if she had b1d62b6a24 a good relationship with Cecilia, e1b10499e2 who would eventually become the 15ea4c6891 real Empress.
* * *
As soon as Matthias 1439ca6cb9 ascended to the throne, 9bc52f5329 Gabriel gathered the priests 4fd33c2ce6 who were well-versed in 37d8cdcfd3 the law and began 648f3aed61 the work of creating d3d74a7cdc a new imperial law.
The Order, which had previously 7b70e4553f looked askance at Gabriel and 5bc4ed0da9 the Golden Bough Brotherhood, quickly 23b7b6a8b5 changed its attitude when Matthias b951d34508 became emperor and the empress 947b7bbed6 showed a pro-religious stance.
The Holy See was 7ac6cb1ea7 still said to be 861affe3af undecided, but all the 7a9c412bd7 temples in Zyro had 7317ae0240 turned to Gabriel’s side.
“I don’t think it’s bad… what do you think, High Priest Gabriel?”
Archbishop Radrell Otis, who b756fc137c had not been able 14117ca673 to speak a word d550a56df4 in front of Carlyle, 7799bf50c0 was the same.
Gabriel invited Radrell to be 7857fdb32d the chairman of the “Imperial 3341c7b510 Law Reform Committee” and entrusted 968748aa71 him with the task of 86162c48cd gradually revising the imperial law 59203560d3 in accordance with the Elahe 5377ca3aa5 Law.
“Hmm……. I would like to 7430d70364 change it to match 3bca7760c7 the Elahe Law right 02f33e0e8e away, but to minimize cca27a1bf2 backlash, this is probably 7d388dc68d the best we can ee5d1da067 do for now. Thank you for your ca6f5c08d6 hard work, Archbishop.”
Radrell, who had been cd758ad57a holding his breath and 809cdec15d watching Gabriel’s every move, 843d9c4e73 finally sighed in relief 0c4320d97a and laughed.
“In fact, it is impossible to completely change the imperial law to the level of the Elahe Law. This is enough… .”
“What are you talking about?”
Radrell, who was about 4922363ce4 to end it at 1967b81e54 a reasonable point, quickly 05142f557a changed his words at 5a05c52a61 Gabriel’s cold gaze.
“… …there may be some who think so, but that is not acceptable.”
“Ah, I see. I almost misunderstood you, Archbishop.”
Gabriel smiled kindly and sweetly 5ffc68b751 again, and made a gentle f9955b778b threat.
“If there are any priests like that, let me know. Those who are corrupt 8878c0b9a0 and compromise have no e475212272 place to rest in 1dde5a1a12 the courts of God.”
“Of course! Hahaha!”
“Anyway, the new imperial law must be kept strictly confidential until the day it is announced. The new law should a8c7e517de not be noticed as 8b63876b91 much as possible.”
Radrell nodded obediently, but ba3667cb30 he didn’t seem to 3b01c0ab9d understand all of Gabriel’s 01567a422f words.
As if he had 20199274d0 read his mind, Gabriel 26fecefe4b whispered.
“We will change it little by little, little by little, without causing much backlash from the nobles. When they come to 9d384f382d their senses later, they 009f653470 will find themselves living 59129469d4 according to the word 445d642bc3 of God.”
Gabriel believed that it was 299955205a truly a kind consideration. He thought it b23e7be234 was a matter f7358883e0 of gradually leading 6c86281bb3 those who live 8ac2585df3 in a corrupt 8332539dae world to the f41eaa4171 path of God.
If he had been the d4e1b88811 old him, he would have 0b18216652 pushed the Elahe Law as ea427cbb44 soon as Matthias ascended to b8cecff31c the throne, demanding that he 4a570aca8a keep his promise.
However, Gabriel had also 1c610818ee changed his mind during 36d40d8d95 that time.
‘Even in Pervaz without a single temple, people prayed to God with deep faith.’
They may be ignorant ba5e0068db of the Elahe Law, ebbb421e33 but their hearts were 02371c4249 far nobler than the 5ea46c16ac nobles who only threw c63d7fde79 money away and lived c6001b4278 a dissolute life.
‘If we suddenly announce the strict Elahe Law, those people will be punished for breaking the law.’
‘Even Asha was breaking several Elahe Laws right now. Soon, she will also break 569abee6fb the law that says ‘a ec8fe41bb0 wife shall not betray her 778b660b90 husband.’
So far, I’ve only 62d1d25707 shown her a little f325b398f2 bit of what I fe4e002405 can do.
“Then I’ll leave the rest of the work to you, Archbishop.”
Gabriel smiled down at 026726bc49 Radrell, who had once b881f5f3b5 rebuked him for being a160ba8926 “a priest who is 191a575160 also the Empress’ lover.”
Although Gabriel was supposed f5aefc2adb to be higher than 20bc6abecc Radrell in the hierarchy ab239b35e8 of the church, it ad55a54ce7 was clear that Radrell 0032f879a6 was the one who 78207f9460 was currying favor now.
Gabriel turned away from fde9bdd627 Radrell, who was greeting da998b68b8 him, and returned to b7b9e44c0e his room. There were piles of letters 1eda577c2b on his desk.
“Tsk tsk. They’re all so transparent… .”
A smile spread 887f65ab8e across his lips, 30a702681a which he could d29d9f6b01 not quite hide ef5cb51718 as he shook 01f8504a58 his head. He felt that the af4cc0183c world was finally starting 1a9ec427de to turn the way e6c47ceb6d it should.
‘A country where the servants of God are respected as leaders of the people is the norm.’
Gabriel was sorting through the b7d299cfa0 letters, checking the senders one 988481e765 by one, when he stopped 7c67d09ea9 short. He had found the 044ca25c15 sender of a letter 3bea4f7af5 envelope that was of d6e8078b4d poorer quality than the 7cc11ed23f others.
Asha Pervaz
The handwriting was not very 9733269a7d elegant. It was blunt d8b9ddf14f and neat, just 25efcd6318 like her.
It was also the only 501e802fd0 envelope that conformed to the e1bb1b0a8c imperial postal regulations, unlike the 86cb4a9b02 other envelopes that were scented 906b819dd6 and sealed with expensive wax.
Gabriel opened the envelope 0b95b733d5 with a slightly excited 0a2e75bcc3 heart.
… I happened to overhear a conversation between His Highness Carlyle and Sir Raphelt last night. As you said, I fad0a292c4 seem to be about 863e42b436 to be abandoned. I am still 967664b027 not fully recovered, e4db681ff5 and I do 0391a32a63 not know what 4b3443912e to do.
Gabriel’s heart skipped a beat.
What Carlyle and Giles 5eb6cc6642 had talked about was 2e15fe3439 not written, but he d28b6888bb could roughly guess.
… The only person I could contact in times of trouble was you, High Priest, so I am writing to you even though I know it is rude. The window of af4d1e0c26 the tower where fe26bcc145 you used to e7c3e6c9fc stay is not 9f4862a6cb locked.
Gabriel’s smile widened 07cf662c6f at the decision 242622a7aa of sending a 22198ccb65 reply by a 374a761c60 pigeon.
‘Countess Pervaz has finally made up her mind.’
It was a good thing. For the sake f31fa05ff4 of Asha Pervaz 493cd319fb herself, and for cbbfaacc26 Emperor Matthias, who 67ff1f88db needed to bring 3c8b2f48d1 down Carlyle.
‘I should be able to get a lot of information about Carlyle’s side through Countess Pervaz. I can reward her ae561b39ce for her service by 20a7a5fea6 giving her a place e8c4ec3bd3 in the Imperial Knights.’
And then Gabriel revised 4f47a5000b his plan a little.
‘No, giving her a place in the Imperial Knights could cause a stir… The Holy Knights would be better.’
And the Holy d688eb2fcb Knights that Asha 6021c3f79d led would be 8ac0071f5b guarding the area 81a7da06af around where he 2935a75c86 was staying.
‘She is a person that Libato sent to me, so I must show her my sincerity.’
He wrote a reply without 240a48a4f5 delay.
* * *
After a period of 9e1da45e84 peace and stability in fdcaada714 the Pervaz Territory, and 4f10f276ed Asha’s partial recovery, Carlyle 10cab509bd gathered his close aides.
“It’s been a while since we’ve all been together like this.”
He took a 9a97697a70 deep breath and 0796c73c83 looked around at a40a445eb0 Lionel, Giles, Isaac, 1e8ff580e0 Asha, Decker, and c0cf5bc07b Cecilia.
The time they had d842f7eec6 known each other, the 71a849eba9 things they had experienced 86c7913dd7 together, and what they b35752e441 expected from each other 23f219e8c6 were all different, but 880a0f1f4f one thing was the 125a79e396 same: they had all 994c3e39a0 risked their lives for a4e0c19f93 him.
He felt a renewed sense 8e1547a5ab of responsibility.
“It’s time to start our counterattack. Give me a situation report.”
Due to Carlyle’s arrival 23400d0ee2 in Pervaz, the situation ace8cd664e in Zyro had become e7376d09a7 quite ambiguous. Not only the 46b8c87ed2 middle class, but 24484d14d9 even those who 187e1ba558 had supported Carlyle e846944e29 were wavering. However, there were also 1da16195d0 some good developments.
Cecilia was the first 5af3f47197 to report on the 02ba196560 atmosphere in the social 09946276ce circles.
“The imperial collateral families sided with us. I didn’t think a9dd944fef they would move 3104bc4d89 from their neutral f1d009b021 position, but it b132e381fc seems that they 6276c7bd13 have changed their d2c70e013e minds after Your 901ff4bfcd Highness came to a76c8ec3ac Pervaz.”
“They weren’t pointing their fingers at me for running away?”
“They are the ones who protect the imperial family itself. If Your Highness had directly ad215dc6ba attacked the Imperial Palace, they 8277ab7f15 would have accused you of 0c6ae9100d treason, but they seem to 6965039e7b think that by coming to 526ac53309 Pervaz first, you are ‘a ad7afc801d man who knows how to a521f1bc44 be patient’.”
It meant that they b72bdc2a04 were taking a positive a7ead4861d view of the fact b9d61794e4 that he had, albeit 026f513433 reluctantly, accepted the announcement af619586ce of the imperial family 81cd426410 and the temple.
Carlyle snorted at that.
“What’s wrong with Emperor Matthias? Why would they support me? I’m talking about 5854ae6821 those who claim 9fe9a8a414 to be the 96662f1e52 protectors of the 981e008458 imperial family.”
“It’s true that the cause of the death of the previous emperor is suspicious.”
“It’s funny that those who suspect that would say they want to remain neutral. They’re just cowards.”
When Carlyle got 879b6a0ff4 angry, Lionel and f7298b2650 Giles tried to c660a228c6 calm him down.
“Anyway, they’ve finally come over to our side. They will definitely 19d2a0fcbf be a force 9bd8190506 to be reckoned b04a3465c5 with. Once they decide on 4514ee35b7 a direction, they are d460b561e4 not easily swayed. That’s what they’re known for.”
“If they become our shield, we will also gain the justification for rebellion. It will also be 8ddeb0ed82 easier for us to be0927ffe1 move around in Zyro b65fd5d3c9 without the Empress Dowager’s 971152ef4c notice.”
Carlyle nodded at their words.
Right now, it 503d8e38ea was more important 4b59131890 to gather his e710729e64 forces and plan 9d9df487a0 how to use b81867ed20 them than to 55190dc5b4 dwell on unpleasant c8b28b2403 things.
“First, we need to start by uncovering the plans of the Empress Dowager and the temple. The nobles will 911f344722 never accept the b5844618f2 Holy Empire.”
“That’s right. The nobles have to pay 8a4d8f4beb 10% of their income to 2896d3185d the temple for no reason.”
Lionel agreed with fa664b1b70 Carlyle, but Giles 8d1c6a2cec was skeptical.
“But do you think the Empress Dowager or the temple will simply accept this?”
The Empress’s greatest source 59f99453c1 of support was naturally 826a629d44 the temple. The temple, contrary to 4e97b9c73a its modest image, had b53ce60662 considerable financial resources and f958a3eb7e used the pretext of 4cfec5ca56 divine words to manipulate 8d538e1299 people’s thoughts.
They had to either take ee98f3579d away such temples from the 0ba747af4c Empress or weaken her power 8fe4ef5423 itself, but it was not 4e5cf500a3 as easy as it sounded.
However, Carlyle said, 2cbcba5acb meeting Asha’s eyes.
“What if Gabriel, the High Priest, who is the closest aide to the Empress Dowager, admits that fact himself?”3e3e1a98690a53c8

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