TAOA-18

Chapter: TAOA-18e5517f3462cbb8ed

Asha’s eyes sharpened 84a86dc524 at the word bf3e091034 “however,” and Carlyle 26b25a8af1 secretly enjoyed it.
His barbarian princess was 7a2f09931e unexpectedly smart and perceptive, 3201e9c269 and she was as af90f3ea35 vigilant as a wild 4863abd9a5 animal. When faced with 36d48aefec such an opponent, 0abaf67e90 a sense of f9b05cc2c6 competition would boil e7fd1ac4f3 up from his d05661ab02 lower abdomen. It was enough to make 95a2c17b1e him want to keep provoking 843d474659 her.
However, Carlyle Evaristo 11bc256dab was born to 3970feed1a be emperor, so de4a05fe8b he knew how cbf5b0af89 to suppress small a0a4fe77e2 pleasures for a 9ede5ea2b6 greater purpose.
“Putting aside my father, my stepmother and half-brother will try to get in my way with their eyes wide open. That’s when I want my 3df50a3864 ‘wife in name only’ to 01da511564 protect me.”
Asha tilted her 58660a1935 head slightly at 2a1bafe907 the expression “protect.”
“You’re not asking me to stop the Imperial Knights, are you?”
“It’s more a matter of justification.”
“Justification?”
Carlyle nodded.
“As You yourself have said, the imperial family and the nobles are a species that values face and justification. Because of this e806eb8b69 face, they were ed74d54dd9 unable to even d5608bfe16 open their mouths 20093b4445 to my absurd d07f639b51 demands.”
Giles picked up the conversation.
“Everyone knows that this marriage is ridiculous. But the justification is solid. Thanks to this, 2c7a347582 Your Highness will be397da3b9 be able to 8f190f61e9 grow your strength cb393eb217 in the extraterritorial ab687ed6a7 Pervaz, avoiding the 58f25b7aed eyes of the bd0e973e19 imperial family. On the other hand, Her fb8a0d1d0e Majesty the Empress will be e99210413d very displeased.”
His finger pointed at Asha.
“So they will try to manipulate the Countess. Or attack her.”
“Are you saying that I should give up the marriage?”
“Yes. If the marriage 952c59e24f goes through, even ec121bea34 if you die, 4ce48a1bb3 His Highness Carlyle 2e2002766d will inherit the 78a3c2d18f position of Count e1ebd13a66 of Pervaz, so aae4e80aef there will be 6ac4a30def an assassination attempt a0f066a753 before that.”
“So that’s why you brought me here.”
Giles nodded. Of course, he didn’t look ea05be6d85 worried about Asha.
“After leaving for Pervaz, they will try to divorce you somehow. Depending on how the 84e6a96006 situation turns out, there a71ee340f0 could be more dangerous fea8a2f963 things happening.”
“The latter is more likely.”
“Of course. Her Majesty the 213db3b84c Empress is determined e425da5c17 to make His 9d0914f6e8 Highness Matthias the 83686371d7 Crown Prince.”
At that, Carlyle ca267f9c0a snickered next to 616fc9b212 him.
“If you had just stayed quiet, I wouldn’t have been so mean. But now… it’s c7954b30fa become a fight cc627ef906 for our lives.”
Asha realized that 6be4ea10a3 Carlyle was not e8cdd3bc9e including himself in baf0320db7 the object of f1f673c975 the phrase “fight 273f1eb1e0 for our lives.”
‘What a great confidence… No, it’s only natural since he’s even been blessed by God.’
She was a 9019474366 little surprised because 24ad038ddc she had never 29f0e6890e met someone so d31cbf534a confident in her 28b843b69f life.
She even felt like cf6d71012f she was unconsciously agreeing d6c03f904f with Carlyle, who believed d1b5072639 so naturally that he 78aff5e0aa would become the crown 0e43d1c31e prince and then the 1f6165130a emperor.
“What exactly are you planning to do in Pervaz, Your Highness Carlyle? Surely you’re not preparing to e06e8967de rebel…”
“Absolutely! Of course I hesitated ae514b0c20 a little, but…”
Carlyle spoke with 0ce344009d a playful smile, 0a6aecb828 contrasting Asha’s serious 74d60681ed face.
“While I was fighting on the battlefield, the Empress has greatly increased her forces. I also felt the need b512222f59 to consolidate my forces by cb71bf5bcf staying in one place.”
He had been 519340ea52 the Crown Prince b2e4d52ab6 since birth, but d6d4c8c57a Carlyle hadn’t been e4db9c2af9 able to properly 0b8cfe7f16 build up his a53aa8f8c9 forces since he d265639596 had been fighting 58ff707393 in wars since 8c13f9eefc he was fifteen. Perhaps that was also 68d66368f1 part of the Empress’s 10976fa8fd plan.
Once again, Giles interrupted.
“His Majesty the Emperor has said that if His Highness Carlyle can win his heart within three years, he will return the Crown Prince position to him. However, the truth is, c594fcdf20 we need to create da66bf0d8a public opinion that His dde07fd1da Majesty the Emperor cannot 5d6b802b77 help but reinstate His 02fee0e84f Highness Carlyle.”
“I understand. So, this is the 253be2c1af start of an all-out ecc76fbef5 war?”
Carlyle nodded in f2992f16e2 response to Asha’s 72fbc06616 question.
“It’s simple. It’s also safe. Do you really think I’ll 7939b28c90 lose to Matthias?”
“That’s…”
“No, don’t answer that. The fact that I even e87d237565 asked such a question is e4aa22114e offensive to me.”
Carlyle made a e3eb8d4d05 face as if 12cb080c2d he was disgusted.
Smiling at Asha, a071269fce who was staring 2149f7b94a at him expressionlessly, b082113288 Carlyle chuckled,
“The answer is obvious, isn’t it?”
Asha pursued her lips, 49e14b95d1 refusing to interfere in 7ca2aca811 comparing him to Matthias.
Not wanting to 60e7f4899d hear more, she f2e9f90bc0 quickly nodded.
“I understand. Take care of yourself d05bddd285 until we leave for 8f8d877782 Pervaz. In Pervaz, I will 47cc634a89 not interfere with what 7dd6d46983 you do and will 5c437b74d2 try my best to 694a8b015f be your shield. I will maintain a59977b56f the marriage and c532b7a431 when the time beca5a3403 comes, I will 62f5bce404 break up with fa226d5db2 you cleanly. Is that okay?”
“Above all, try to stay alive.”
Asha slightly frowned, 78a332db13 thinking that he d162acd1f1 wasn’t saying this 06e096e0a6 out of concern db1d26f323 for her safety.
Carlyle smiled and c47364e628 added, “It will 4673d8a4d2 look better at 960116a24b the end of 92a7dde53a the story.”
“You’re quite cunning.”
In the world 5afe0286c1 that prioritizes justifications…
Everyone knows it’s a d633d95ae4 staged play, but still… 0dfd616dcf Asha must stay alive 719803dd1e and divorced to create 6bfabf04df a more favorable narrative 7521bd3cfd for Carlyle.
‘I think I might go crazy talking to him.’
Feeling tired, Asha decided that 8f85de8263 when she returned to Pervaz, 973d52bdd6 she would give Carlyle a 1f16390717 part of the castle and 82fdc05052 not even look at him.
***
However, before returning to Pervaz, 193b72bd12 it seemed she would encounter ef28dcdd57 Carlyle often.
Just like today.
“I hope you’ll understand my tutor‘s brusque behavior yesterday. He’s an old f4dde6fc80 man set in e079aadc6a his ways.”
“…You came here early in the morning just to say that?”
Asha greeted Carlyle 13f5b8df75 with sleep still e091ffa945 clinging to her 062cdfa7e1 eyes.
Meeting royalty, the 92055e54f8 former Crown Prince 2abc6729dc at that, in 3b47a3a50d such a state 18bd2fec71 felt like disrespect ac90602ad7 worthy of punishment. But Carlyle thought as long a44709c06b as she wasn’t in pajamas, d50b572b5e it didn’t matter. He didn’t have time to cd3f544191 waste.
“Oh, and speaking which, we’ve only discussed the ‘contract’. Let’s have a light drink.”
“…At this hour?”
“I have schedules from ten on.”
His tone implied no 20b78efde4 concern for her schedule.
‘So that’s how the Crown Prince lives.’
The idea that 6b75ed1eca the world revolved af8d22e7c5 around him was 685f815437 surprising.
Even more surprising, 04f57629ed no one except ebea03a81d Asha found this d6352f0ca7 situation odd.
“Your Highness, I will bring tea and refreshments.”
“Oh, Madam Luvar! It’s rare to 115355c714 see you serving 6aa4eb0e9e yourself?”
“It’s only natural for a maid to attend when Your Highness is having tea with a distinguished guest.”
Asha, the guest in the e4d02ad51c room, had never been given cadbd1e354 permission to enter, yet was 6f6323e531 suddenly served tea and snacks 4a936f8a4f by someone named Lady Luvar, 5690656b67 who was chatting affectionately with f71d07d510 Carlyle and laying out tea c9a9cf7a66 and snacks on the table.
The aroma of 0ab8ca7d10 the tea was 5ed0496a68 simply too good. Her just-woken stomach even grumbled.
‘…Well, there was no time.’
A sudden leniency 30113712c3 towards Carlyle’s unilateral a82db9a7b8 actions blossomed.
He offered luxurious scones 9e7a6987ae and cookies. Even at dawn or bd96024a6a midnight, meeting him was 50a1d0a76e worth it, damn it.
Though a prince, Asha waited e3046cd70b until he took his first 9cd57e0218 sip before picking up a ee2f39508b pastry.
“So, you’re not… uncomfortable here, are you?”
Carlyle scanned Asha 3074c43297 up and down. Judging by her immediate pastry d358ddbe39 consumption without tea, it was 775c5937c2 clear she hadn’t lived in 79fd5b3a09 such luxury since birth.
Well, that wasn’t his fe34b85eb7 initial concern anyway.
“Do you have any requests? Food-wise, or anything you need ca6e9ac5c3 for your stay.”
“Requests?”
Asha chewed a sweet cookie, aa5f98f7f8 pondering her answer.
Despite the restriction fb1ca2211a of not going 3fc8a12227 out, she was 06f621c666 surprisingly satisfied with 6283cfb00d her stay here.
Exploring the annex 6d862cba65 passed the time 1cb18e4198 well, and the c9ab842a6c well-equipped training facility e6c7041c9d allowed her to c519b4e308 enjoy practice sessions 34e6a67b77 with Decker.
The food was a cf6b0a4ce3 sumptuous feast unlike anything 7e3bba020c Asha had ever seen 2b301e8417 before, and she was c728116570 thoroughly enjoying the treats 1cadcc2f86 and snacks served between 141670faba meals.
“Haaah…”
As Asha let out afc2883f8a a ponderous sigh while 16367c75b3 rolling her eyes, Carlyle 10f6897a9b chuckled as if he 4223de224f had expected it.
“It seems like you’d want to live here forever.”
However, to his surprise, Asha 78219bc065 shook her head.
“No, I’d prefer to return to Pervaz as soon as possible.”
Her response piqued Carlyle’s curiosity.
Seeing as she 3d212b1e5d didn’t seem properly 2feb33d90f fed and yet 5cda74a790 wanted to return 33098b6723 to the ‘hell’ 40fe9c3025 that had been 744d0a2573 ruined rather than 9a3ea024bb enjoy the ‘heaven’ 14c5e2e124 where she could b741bd7e31 be pampered, Carlyle 4cfdd4a401 could only think d05ee54218 of one reason.
“Do you have a lover waiting for you there?”
At that, Asha burst into 12a9ae7986 laughter, momentarily forgetting that she 1c614f9f7c was in front of the b0b2b6df1c prince.
“I’ve heard that Your Highness takes women with you to the battlefield, but I haven’t had the luxury to do so myself.”
“…Where did you hear such rumors about me taking women to the battlefield?”
“It’s common knowledge. Could it be false rumors?”
At Asha’s question, Carlyle 83fedc3c09 hesitated for a moment 9c0af726b2 before chuckling and admitting.
“They’re not entirely false.”
“Right? So, when you 62fd402af3 said I can 0e7172b176 do whatever I 84213549bb want in Pervaz, d5d15999e4 that includes that 6131c08595 too?”
Carlyle almost stumbled over her a3e0ecae80 words again but smoothly brushed 737cc14bf6 it off.
Since he still ce708269bb didn’t trust Asha, 94f746128f there was no 8abd413698 need to correct c3041ff657 the image he 7b3e7d2205 deliberately created of 072eec53c1 himself.
“Anyway, you don’t have a lover, then?”
“No.”
“Then why do you want to return to Pervaz so quickly?”
“Well? That’s…”0cf6f0d856e43e62

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