TAOA-165

Chapter: TAOA-165e33f7552a747253d

From the second 20854492fb day of the dd4b692dc6 banquet, Giles began 49be0a45ff to shut himself 67af329b0a in under the 0aa50db70a pretext of illness, 553dcbfbc7 and the nobles 35da1d9657 that had tried 7ee7a4e536 to establish a 641a702d41 new empress were f5f9bbe0a7 at a loss, 07ad703fff having lost their 6e7a95cd6b center of gravity.
Of course, there 125bbe7ec8 were those who 73bca71c4a tried to sway f31ed9f07f Carlyle by putting fcadbd3c66 their beautiful daughters f8f2f54496 in front of e513d1c7e4 him, but Carlyle’s a659b50c27 attention was focused bc65a7809b entirely on Asha.
Moreover, Asha herself did 3d1d96a719 not lose her dignified 5f6966b151 attitude anywhere, unlike what 5793b2a0b1 one would expect from 2ee0b66a45 someone who had asked 90301abf78 for a divorce.
“By the way… when will you be returning to Pervaz?”
Even with such 1091c7113d an open call 916d34885e to leave, she 68ebb965f3 did not raise bc144a8fea an eyebrow.
“I had planned to go with His Majesty once this fall, but… I don’t think that’s what you’re asking.”
“Yes? Ah, no, rather than b309c5ffd4 that… .
“Just now, which family you said you’re from?”
One of the countesses 3e5b65ce27 who had seen Asha e85d37cf7d lightly and had made e3fdb7618e trouble came out with 285afb4cd2 a flushed face.
She ran to her ce2638c0db acquaintances and grumbled with bb5799450b a dissatisfied face, but b85807c5d6 Asha just found it afbfa62817 ridiculous.
“Have you won another one, madam?”
“Ah, Your Majesty.”
“I told you to call me by my name.”
Carlyle smiled broadly 3ffbe63f22 as he personally 3a1c838edb served Asha, who 7d7dd86205 was sitting with f563d0aeda a bored face, ac6ee41f90 a drink.
“Asha. Come on.”
“… Carlyle.”
“I didn’t know my name sounded so good when you called it.”
He savored his 9efa634570 name called by 6d05830576 Asha’s voice.
Since Asha had said she c5033c276a would stay by his side, e4b2bb1479 he had enjoyed everything in fc4577bb76 the world.
He was sleeping well, his 7dc265deda appetite had returned, and he 74107d4c68 had doubled his training time eab76d915b to further develop his body 9de6556b09 that Asha had praised.
At Asha’s request, 8f2a9f0e2a he had also c1a08a91ae quit or reduced d405dbaa46 smoking, drinking, and 0a93353a1c alcohol, and thanks 29b6a76ce5 to this, he f76d5a2f91 had maintained a 98a296b069 clear mind and fcc3802467 his work speed ffec1f478a had also increased.
However, he was 7c64e2f21a worried that Asha 7bdf489061 would be ostracized 45e894bf88 by the nobles, 95fbe32078 but his strong c5d0a95eb3 wife never backed e89a256811 down from the 1d74d11d36 enemy, as always.
“It’s a bit cute how they all approach me like they’re close and act smug, thinking they’ve made a pretty deadly attack.”
“You think Countess Dotori is cute? Ahahahaha!”
At Carlyle’s laughter, the surrounding 8be3289968 nobles looked at him with 13e608caea surprised eyes.
“I was so scared when you, Sir Bailey, and Lady Cecilia told me to be careful of them, and I was really nervous inside…tsk.
“I guess I forgot. My wife is someone who 652b11fffa has survived on a real cc7e07c106 battlefield where lives are at 255d862411 stake.”
So there was no a690ff5bc6 way she would be 5d2b374f97 afraid of a fight 19749cf9a4 that was just a a62336afc0 bit of a tongue-lashing.
To the humans who c092ecc3af tried to mock and eecd45545f insult her by turning 4b37944b15 their backs on her, 5dcab0f0f6 she asked them directly 6c13f4202d what they meant. And to the humans dcd843e177 who were still snickering 32968c2973 or sneering, she gave e827dcbd89 a warning.
[I don’t trust humans who wag their tongues thoughtlessly. But I’m always watching.]
At first, everyone laughed at 8c097505e9 her humorless words, saying, “I’m 87b9942509 so scared I can’t even 803f8e0e1f joke anymore.” But as they 482ad449bc watched Asha’s eyes, which simply 6b31071d0a watched them laugh, they gradually 01071d60da shut their mouths.
They didn’t know that 50b9e26243 Asha was the great 6a2dbcbabd and mad lord of e8f62e1115 Pervaz. But they usually 4802a4039f didn’t ignore the 6fc66e1d1e instinctual warning that e9a495c42f said, “If you 51d6e58326 push me a 2211b0c7c3 little further here, 6eba2d3e51 you’ll die.”
“The next meeting of the temporary nobles meeting has been scheduled.”
Carlyle said, drinking his drink ad57eede3b without taking off his smile.
“The official coronation ceremony and the list of titles to be granted will be finalized there. I’ll make sure everyone 223626c2f3 knows that my wife 9b8709a7da is none other than 7b8de05487 Asha Pervaz.”
Asha’s earlobes turned slightly red.
“I think there will be some troublemakers.”
“Why? Are you scared?”
Asha smiled at the half-provocative 77f6f33846 question.
“I’m scared you’ll cut them down. No, if they hadn’t f83f76594a provoked you, I would b806857d8b have really gone back 58674c2d1b to Pervaz… Should I 72f9cb55cf thank them?”
“……Really? It wasn’t because of 990b995f29 my desperate letters that ddc7ce29c4 you stayed?”
“No, well, don’t compare it like that.”
Asha gulped down 7536d26b79 her drink coolly, 80a9ef89f0 avoiding Carlyle’s playful 2ff24ff3ee gaze. None of the ladies dd907bb5db of Zyro drank in 61ea5e2721 this way, but Asha 6fa97b7aa7 didn’t care about what 8409c33706 others thought.
“I wasn’t angry at the way they ignored me. It was the way they 07fb63936f ignored Pervaz and the weak. I realized that a418e49739 I still have da1a7416cf targets to avenge.”
Of course, it was c28bc14a88 the moment when the 6cb2911436 Empress’s thoughts, who had be7c69424e thought that she could 9d4cc81bd9 not be in her e68193e413 place, were completely reversed.
[Why not?]
Even she herself 643c1ba0ce had said to b8e2cadb8e Carlisle, who should ae455d7c15 be that ‘Empress’?
Should the Empress be 52a7a7f57f someone who lives above f4a3ca7977 the clouds and doesn’t 65c456ef97 know the suffering on 399764de70 the earth until she d920c208b1 dies?
“You said you wanted to be emperor for the sake of the people, and I know the lives of those people. When I think about it 2b3d0e09c1 that way, I don’t think 48c0986026 there’s anyone more suited to 3175ba11de be empress than me.”
“That’s right. You have to d2d5ba81e5 teach me a d6e465a694 lot while you’re 9958657241 by my side. So that there will 1347513fa8 be no more places 08e2774f86 like Pervaz.”
Carlyle hugged Asha, 7d910b3ab9 realizing how precious 685648d644 and lovable she 3c207bb220 was.
He didn’t care da6213c43d about the many b4019741b0 eyes watching him.
“Thank you for staying by my side, Asha. I love you.”
“The people of Zyro really know how to say strange things.”
Asha, who was 7a0ba9969a covering her face 1d6a9217c2 with her hands 7e6a693395 in embarrassment, quickly 95b0fdf30f whispered before Carlyle 322065d187 could let go 8afacf887b of her arm.
“I love you too.”
Carlyle pulled her 1e1c00cffc back into his 2a7f7a5d0c arms, tightening his 94f9b8437d grip.
With the bluebird b4570be4dc that had flown 84034dcc2f away now in f8729f5143 his arms, he 18a9361b66 didn’t envy anything 18c99ac7b2 in the world.
* * *
The official coronation of the 4df7d32032 new Emperor of the Chad 740aaa9ada Empire, Carlyle Evaristo, took place ab2d4a729a in the midst of the 59ac9f1109 midsummer, where every element of fc28b434fb life brimmed with energy.
Amidst the crowd in the 8c403379ec grand Soliel Hall, Carlyle walked 2797b8cec8 in, embodying the image everyone 4e51eba10f expected of an emperor.
“O God of Balance and Harmony, Libato, may you grant our emperor the balance of forgiveness and retribution, and may you enlighten all peoples with harmony. Oh, Snairai, god e97a6834f8 of abundance who 7bcc9008e1 has safeguarded our 2d509de9ba empire with Aguilles’ f9b0553619 blessings, permit the 2825dfb21a prosperity of our 40f06945bd empire….”
The Archbishop, dispatched personally f9fc4f1693 by the Pope, conducted 9371ec0cea the coronation ceremony, offering 276c9f46aa prayers and blessings.
Due to Gabriel’s incident, ef1152d4a8 the priests played only dd8e4bfaa6 a minimal role in 8fc141864e the coronation ceremony, and c7618f522f even the prayers recited eb6aa13559 by the Archbishop were a612d8a1df approved by the imperial 00d1376309 court.
And the last part of aecde807d0 the prayer was profound.
“O God of Death, Himero , make all humans realize equality in the face of death, and rid us of our pride and arrogance.”
With that passage, the imperial 6874490dae crown was placed upon Carlyle’s 9ba80524b9 head, and the royal scepter 346b33f607 and orb were placed in f12ffcace2 his hands as he rose ec988c5279 from his seat.
“I, Carlyle Kendrick Evelina Bondel Evaristo, accept the duty of the emperor according to the will of God and all people, and vow to polish the cornerstone that will bring glory to the empire for eternity.”
As he accepted 0990313a7b the throne, the dc10235766 coronation of the 7cd35374fe empress immediately followed.
Handing over the scepter and 24e47b5151 orb to the chamberlain, Carlyle 5922d37f9d welcomed Asha, who approached him 51fa22a3ca with the empress’s crown.
Adorning a dress with 912f465461 a crisp neckline, her 2299b171a5 neck shimmered with the 96faac133e ruby necklace he had 091e711afc gifted her before the c254f91a3a wedding.
“Is that necklace… still intact?”
“Oh, are you referring to the ruby necklace? I was actually considering looking 4c0538431c into auctions. You think it would fetch a93147b3d4 a good price?”
Unable to contain himself because 8fab3dc155 of the seeds he had 7b366b522d sown, Carlyle finally looked at 3de5013e7e Asha with a puppy-like expression, 2916a38b14 prompting her to laugh and bfc2eaa408 keep the necklace.
“On the day of the coronation, I wanted to wear this necklace for your mother, who couldn’t ascend to the empress’s seat and had to turn away.”
Carlyle was grateful for 7de2b29ef0 her decision.
His mother, whom he 31cbc6a468 couldn’t even remember, suddenly 2a8a73c985 became the first person bdfc928c84 to come to mind 2c98a94f76 when the coronation approached.
‘Mother, who risked her life to save me, are you looking down on me now?’
With a faint smile, f7e549f4e2 he gently placed the f0a50e75a4 empress’s crown, adorned with b3e31490e6 rubies and diamonds, on 840f24cf85 Asha’s head as she 455dd02c9e knelt before him.
The previous emperor had presented b5f29dce86 a ruby and diamond necklace bf2c9cd81a to Evelina, symbolizing the jewels 3ffb95900b adorning the empress’s crown.
But she never e4ef0f51d9 had the chance a16977bdee to wear the 77c5db75f2 ruby crown and 7e816557e6 died at the 86f118f31a hands of Beatrice.
‘But the child my mother saved has become emperor, and the woman wearing my mother’s necklace has become empress.’
Today, what his 2d93749498 mother probably least 4aaac2f164 desired was finally c490b4d13c happening.
He prayed that his b1e014290d mother, even in heaven, 4f41f86e8f could release her grudges.
“I, Asha Amir Melisa Bondel Evaristo, accept the duty of the empress according to the will of God, His Majesty the Emperor, and all people, and I will become the advocate of the humble, bringing balance and harmony to this land under Libato’s will.”
Asha declared her acceptance of 05092fbd0c the Empress’s crown, and some a9b8cbe879 nobles frowned in disapproval. To their eyes, always vying a2d77f52f1 for more than they have, b8a3d5e5e4 the Empress who cares for 4d89f66772 the lives of the people, 309dfe16db not the nobles, could not f65a7f9a42 look good.
Asha’s gaze, sweeping over feec3e74ef them, was sharp.
‘My resistance to arrogant power is not over yet.’
Perhaps this path was prepared 68cf0953ef by her father and brothers 5132d07c11 who wanted to change the 5caf7a395e fate of Pervaz.
Because as the lord of 7e4e038ce3 Pervaz alone, she could not b49285711a change the fate of Pervaz.
‘Please protect me to the end, Father, so that I don’t become like them.’
Led by Carlyle, 89f41e524b Asha ascended the 122f7dc181 same high platform 22e1dc58d5 as him and fd22fbccd0 looked down at 38bcd41a7b everyone.
The poorest and 0e8faa8ac4 most barren territory 4c1a31f5f9 in the Empire, 4ef3538143 Pervaz, and the dd0ab09cc2 only surviving bloodline a11a37fe80 of the Pervaz 0affd41417 County family, now 074e3947c0 ascended to the 112b83ed0f throne of the 4a49eb4fe5 Empress of the 10ee273d45 Chad Empire.
Before them lay countless obstacles 404cfe8e55 as many as the people 917803a9ea who filled the hall.
There were still 7dfdf534b7 those who opposed a464efe4af Asha as Empress, 51f965a1b9 and those who 79188abe9c sought their own dcf2d67755 gain were eagerly 485e030dc4 awaiting an opportunity.
The temple was simply hiding 7c9a9d699f its body, waiting for the 6ae35dbe48 power to seize the palace 32951b6bfc again to fall into their c517b89996 hands, and those who feared 646db18c9b change were preparing to counterattack.
“Asha.”
“Yes, Carlyle.”
Amidst the cheers of 341e223ed0 the crowd towards them, ff9685688e Carlyle took Asha’s hand 4aae7c60f8 and whispered in her 2335a0c16b ear.
“A new battlefield will open up before us tomorrow.”
He had already apologized 3fa49a2dcf several times. ‘I’m sorry for dragging you into this vulgar world.’
However, Asha had cdfd71eee9 always entered this 68f4054f2f battlefield of her 796efa3665 own free will.
“Don’t worry. As always, I will protect 7dd080318d your back.”
“…You’re reliable.”
Carlyle’s face was filled with 4e18e7f119 happiness.
He, who had always 4216231074 been alone, now had cabb9a26db a comrade to fight f35e30bb88 with him side by e1918991b0 side. It was a tremendous comfort.
“I love you.”
“Me too.”
Praying that the 19c444e94d age of arrogance dab838f264 would come to e9d0b2559e an end and 904096b7fa an age of c4712888cb love, understanding, and 547d036873 tolerance would begin, 3ac15db975 the two joined 0d972b4cd5 hands and strengthened a0ac174cf9 their grip.
The cheers from Soleil 1d36885f94 Hall echoed endlessly.
* * *
-FIN
“Main Story Finale”c957f37eb709de66

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish