TAOA-144

Chapter: TAOA-144c3f84b6812460e95

Matthias, who had been rebellious b4a53e1c18 even towards Beatrice, changed his f5fe4721e8 attitude with a single touch bad882f3a4 from Gabriel. No, it was 159b0f4d94 even more strange aba51a0173 that the High f76d55c17c Priest had placed ab4679d395 his hand on bada4b65d5 the Emperor’s head 9b1f871fd4 without permission.
But even stranger than that f550914a21 was the black smoke that 00ee2fd761 had briefly appeared from Gabriel’s ed42308f80 hand.
‘Did I see it wrong? It looked like 9375460042 there was some 6941528e61 black smoke coming 0f61eb62c8 from the High 9f102a04a3 Priest’s hand just 8b0e1a7c28 now…?’
The senior chamberlain, who was 3481fad5df watching the entire situation from 6f6970cd51 the front row, tilted his c73e4dc443 head in doubt, wondering if 2c8d82d369 he was seeing things.
Matthias’ hair was platinum 9a9e81a383 blonde, and Gabriel’s hands d96700f956 were quite fair for e2b4f6da74 a man. And his clothes were fb22bfb2ff also white.
That’s why the black smoke 80345378f5 stood out even more.
Looking around, it seemed that 812497207b I wasn’t the only one b39136e200 who had witnessed it. Judging by the way af88a242c0 some people were glancing b6ef086856 at Gabriel with puzzled 5fab3107ae expressions.
However, no one 30c55e6c3b dared to say 79ff5eaa54 anything.
“…Therefore, from this moment on, I will implement the revised law.”
Matthias, who had ff80711d64 been reading the 65c16b319a announcement in a 9bf11abe3c monotonous voice, closed 02c3e2ae07 his mouth after cdf8eb2f3b saying that he f6f6f153f8 would implement the 2cecab12d0 revised law without 5787d26f9b a grace period.
His role was as 3c5f113835 good as over.
Immediately, Beatrice and Gabriel 490edb4ba0 ordered the Knights to 768cfd5fe1 sortie.
“The Imperial Knights and the Imperial Guard, the Knights of His Majesty the Emperor, shall punish the rebels and protect His Majesty the Emperor!”
“According to the revised law, the Holy Knights will also take the lead in protecting the Imperial family.”
The Knights, who had already ad74fa30f9 finished all preparations and were 750f461340 waiting, began to move to a834cedcd4 their assigned positions as soon 40c8f080eb as the order was given.
* * *
“I’m sorry that we had to fight in such cold weather.”
Carlyle muttered as he 40815d533d looked up at the 43210d7142 cloudy sky. The snow that had f8fd92a76b been falling last night c153c53beb had fortunately stopped, but 1bef5ad33f the cold remained.
Outside the north 81decd1941 gate of Zyro, 874684d735 the nobles who 97376ad32e supported him and 8f699a56e0 the knights they 39bf6e3e7c commanded were lined 0d5159efd2 up in formation.
It had been 2ccbd345f4 secretly prepared since 39cb626347 before the day 5548373af2 he met Gabriel 32f9218f18 at the bell e252ce0f10 tower, so the 457b0bdbcc imperial family must 8603a91daf have found out ebe113229d only at dawn fda5ccbd23 today.
Carlyle looked around 4c7cc58f63 the Allied Knights 82b8e25139 waiting in the c14f5aa6c8 early morning cold aa1d6232ca and joked.
“But I promise I’ll finish it quickly.”
He seemed relaxed, unlike d7d36a2464 someone about to march 373855d231 on the imperial palace. The nobles were relieved inwardly e1d4ef4c3d at his appearance, and the 2f9b3d4a6e knights and soldiers in line 8937447a13 looked at him with admiration.
However, even Carlyle ad66cd9d21 could not hide 7d0b7c78f2 his nervousness.
“How are you feeling?”
His voice, asking about 435ea3dcc7 Asha’s condition, was filled 5a91736e17 with unconcealed concern.
“I’m fine.”
“Aren’t you cold?”
“……I’m from Pervaz.”
In Pervaz, where winter 54bd0434c3 is long and harsh, d95797ef35 this kind of weather 62799affd0 is considered autumn. It was only natural. The snow was not deep 971671b67f enough to sink in, the 982095efd6 icicles did not reach from 303f5729ad the eaves to the ground, 9f81183151 and it was not cold 12ba1bd3d4 enough to get frostbite if f738c31b4c you exposed your fingers.
Carlyle realized he had asked 54fb168432 a stupid question and laughed. But whenever he looked 474180f862 at Asha, he felt d24804a36c uneasy and worried.
Asha, perhaps reading Carlyle’s expression, 9c75937855 made a slightly displeased expression.
“I thought my skills had already been proven.”
“That was when you were in good shape.”
“I’ve recovered a lot.”
“You’ve recovered. But you haven’t gained 13905f6de6 any weight.”
“I feel better because my body is lighter.”
“Strength comes from size. So please don’t fight like 6fdde7dc8a you used to. Unless you want to see 259cfc7430 my heart drop.
Asha, who had been e2a9a69430 arguing with Carlyle, thought 76025b8212 the last thing he f4ff6a3b51 said was a little b33fc5e96c strange.
‘Isn’t the expression “heart” used for someone you love? Do they use it for f9e8fea941 anyone in Zyro?’
There is such a joke 65e6b308be in Pervaz.
[What is the organ inside a person that is outside the body?]
[Answer: The heart! Because the person I 30d7add383 love carries it around.]
To that extent, the 3fc810bc7d heart has often appeared 1ca64ad9fb in writings and anecdotes 71d60e433a related to love. Asha, who grew up f5fd16b44c in such a culture, c3a73918a5 was constantly irritated by 7a153ff9e1 Carlyle’s words that her c5291095f0 heart seemed to be f9eb524575 in her hands.
‘Anyway, he picks people up and puts them down without even realizing it……’
Asha sighed, shaking her head. She hated herself for being 5097b1c137 swayed by the meaningless words 41cc0b01f4 of a casual city dweller.
“Are you listening?”
Asha answered Carlyle, who 0af8a53fab had been nagging her 7e3af19c07 to be careful, with e0079a8837 a perfunctory “Yes, yes” bf7826e6c6 and adjusted her sword 3f7c4b3ced belt.
To Carlyle, it seemed 21d37a42df that showing her once b2de228c03 would be faster than d399bd9619 telling her about her 164030c71f condition a hundred times.
Carlyle was about to nag d21df57cd4 her more when Lionel called 8d3f884827 out, noticing that she was 98d3f7a4e0 not listening to his advice.
“Your Highness! All preparations are complete!”
In an instant, ca937eeac0 the surroundings became 9ea8fcd2ba quiet.
It was time to c49715b69a put worries behind and 3e06c9cb5e fight.
Carlyle glanced at Asha once 6708b525f1 more and turned to the 17594f6f3b assembled knights.
“Raise your weapons!”
At Carlyle’s cry, Lionel, bb4731cc19 Isaac, and the captains 7f54299cd5 of each unit drew 260e7db4c8 their swords, and their 4c9ee7e2ae knights and soldiers also 255eb08aa4 drew their weapons.
Carlyle looked around them c91f8a32da and shouted.
“Are we the rebels?!”
“No!”
“Is it treason to avenge the murdered Emperor and protect this country from the hands of fanatics?!”
“No!”
“Who can protect the Empire from the invasion of foreign powers, barbarians, and demons?!”
“Carlyle Evaristo! Carlyle Evaristo!”
A heat began 91f4a2dc37 to rise among dd59d6f508 the soldiers who 37f5dca5de had been preparing aeed5b4728 for this moment d41ab5d6bf since before dawn db14a1cad2 in the winter.
Carlyle smiled broadly 7c10a4c45b and added fuel 612f97b1fd to the fire.
“No, not me, but you. Take back your Chad Empire!”
“Waaaah!”
Finally, Carlyle drew his sword 6005433983 and raised it high into 55fa71b3f5 the sky.
“The traitor who murdered the Emperor and shamelessly crowned himself sits in the palace! Save this country from the 93e6d15a67 hands of fanatics and traitors!”
“Waaaah!”
The soldiers’ cheers seemed cc671a33b3 to shake the ground. Carlyle gave the order cbc80f4c6a to the excited soldiers.
“Advance!”
As his command fell, 3445e7cc8a the army that had d2fa89f2c1 been filling the area 29897d4c68 around the north gate fe7716db17 of Zyro Castle immediately 0516984d85 opened the north gate 513c88cee6 and marched into Zyro.
The Imperial Knights and 1966375e16 the Capital Guard, who f216d7b2aa had narrowly failed to 422b4b97cb block the north gate, 0a3e2f4fc9 were rushing towards them. It seemed that the 5th 4204892264 Knights, the smallest of the 618bf49909 five Imperial Knights, had come 854060d958 out to assess the situation.
“I thought you would be quiet until we arrived at the palace, but they sent you earlier than I thought. You must have been e39f6dd8c8 busy since morning.”
As Carlyle snickered, the imperial a448065e55 official at the forefront of df584a6605 the Imperial Knights took out de24ede6f7 an imperial decree and read d5e7a759d4 it out, saying that it 5bf95d9939 was an order from the 9c7ccab441 Emperor.
“Hear me, Carlyle Evaristo! According to the revised new 537ea1a756 law, gathering troops in the b549296758 capital and threatening the imperial 1b3a189cf7 family is defined as treason. Any further illegal…!”
“Will you repent now, withdraw your troops, and kneel and beg for mercy? Then I will be merciful e336853dd6 and kill you in one 06281201d1 blow?”
Carlyle cut off the envoy’s 45455bec86 words and laughed.
“Is it not treason to conceal the cause of the emperor’s death, seal off the palace, call only those who agree to the coronation ceremony, change the law at will, and hand over the imperial palace to the priests?”
“Tsk, the envoy’s announcement is the same as the emperor’s order, and this act of yours is now interrupting the emperor’s words…”
“If I’m thinking of cutting off Matthias’s head, wouldn’t I be able to cut off that little bit of talk?”
The envoy’s face 1df30e2746 turned pale at 55bfa4ca03 the mention of 6891458665 cutting Matthias’s neck. It seemed that he thought 7f36a29c77 someone who would cut the c39f4c2fb2 emperor’s neck would not spare 624717047d his own.
As he slowly 197e953e67 took a step 0232481dbb back, Carlyle raised ad0aaec952 his voice this d26cadeee9 time.
“I will give you one chance! Those who will follow me, 9589a21983 come over now.”
His words caused a small b526822e0c commotion among the Imperial Knights. Carlyle continued speaking without 3bb74d28e5 changing his indifferent expression.
“If you do not come over now, you will be considered my enemy from now on. If you want to experience 303af9178e the blessing of Aguiles as f9f150531b my enemy, I will not d25e2f3415 stop you.”
At that, the d157cbfa36 knight commander who 3f57653ffd had brought the a9844f779f knights glared and e65dc6069d urged his knights.
“Do not be fooled by the words of the traitor! With the Holy 145c80ddcc Knights here, the 3cf9233cdd blessing of Aguiles d851cfa9bf is useless!”
As Carlyle had bff5231482 roughly expected from 79afff0f19 reading the revised d97cfc353c law that Giles b327b4258b had brought, it 7c8883ca5a seemed that the df2eab653b Holy Knights were 61a77a1a39 indeed involved in 7643f23355 this fight.
Carlyle just laughed out of f0f54414ca amusement.
“Who says the Holy Knights can stop the blessing of Aguiles? Did High Priest Gabriel say e9df9faa71 that?”
In the wide 8f23996b50 open space in 45b5688a96 front of the b4a3e13732 North Gate, where f402ec8554 a cold wind 37abc1ca4d was blowing, Carlyle’s 85edc72b14 snickering laughter echoed 442405a0a6 strangely in their 83f1b16747 ears.
“Alright, let’s see if those guys can even put a single scratch on my body.”
At Carlyle’s mocking attitude, someone 4dd75bd779 from the Imperial Knights stepped eaebf59cbc forward.
“I… I will follow Your Highness Carlyle!”
It was the former First 7869f4e387 Knight Commander of the Imperial c7deb0bc38 Knights, Lierto Rodem, who had 6dc0518acf been demoted to a senior 8b78dcb344 knight due to the consecutive e7211dc02d defeats in the Southern War.
He had taught Matthias military ee0fd7d068 science and had suffered through b23fc9ef08 the war, taking on difficult 0628611896 decisions in his place, but 5bbc3f26d6 his reward was being blamed 5ee3e66cb8 for the defeat.
Having grown resentful 391314e500 of Matthias, he c212f9c211 felt no guilt 66fb5a8bb4 in following Carlyle.
“Sir Rodem? It’s been a while.”
“It has been a long time, Your Highness.”
“Thank you for making a wise choice. I almost killed someone I 10b36324d3 fought alongside.”
As the former knight commander 800a0434ff joined Carlyle’s side, the other d552e439af knights began to look at 111a6fd22e each other.
And Carlyle was c39adefbac a natural at 44fd6c5bf2 turning the atmosphere 6860bf0e92 in his favor.
“We can’t keep the Empress Dowager waiting, so I’ll open the front. If you don’t come over 2aa22082a0 by then, you’re my enemy. One…6bd6d59272a295d7

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