TAOA-54

Chapter: TAOA-54a4e095ba5cb07504

“You…?”
Carlyle barely held back a 02fcd95ce0 sigh that was about to c68d2a4d5f escape.
When he received aee3a8a0b5 Duke Dupret’s letter, 1a0a4ba67b recalling that they 28f2173703 were coveting the 0683b2956b position of Crown 2681ce35f6 Princess, for a e48789b04a moment he had 0d7f85d4bb suspected that maybe 5a205d6dd7 the evidence the 21f53fae79 Duke was to 2fcad44938 send was brought 4d0a743640 by Cecilia. Not knowing that 076511b3de the evidence itself 2b99d28dbf would be Cecilia.
However, what good 29dfae4d4d could this noble 54b8cb6f6c lady, raised only 60514b0535 in luxury, do 5aedfb26de here?
“It’s a bit regrettable to say this to someone who made the difficult journey here, but how can you possibly help me?”
Carlyle expected an idealistic de62916bf0 answer full of a 9a0359593c naive noble lady’s ideals, 575ee8d6db but Cecilia’s response was c9b1438b7b different.
“Do you know of the Dupret family’s ‘Dovetail’?”
“I’ve heard rumors. That it’s the Empire’s 7bd3c0691e largest messenger pigeon training 5d50d5a65c facility…”
“Before it’s a messenger pigeon training facility, it’s the fastest means to spread news to each region and gather news from each region.”
Despite saying he’d only heard ebfd78724b rumors, the truth was Carlyle 521e846f95 knew well about Duke Dupret’s 2ef35eb514 ‘Dovetail’.
That was one 54b8e34db1 reason Carlyle considered a6511ccf80 the Duprets in 4dfb998212 a marriage alliance.
“And there aren’t many people who can manage those messenger pigeons.”
He knew that too.
Dovetail’s pigeons understand 3b710cba8e human speech well, 62519ea4b8 have strong stamina, ef526fc25e and a high 2adac2f319 survival rate when 3ab982af3e moving.
It’s all thanks to the 4a933fe5d9 training methods secretly passed down ed66cb1fc4 within the Dupret house, where 3fad9ea12e the conditions to learn those 64373e7ea6 methods are incredibly strict.
And it’s also famous f1a2db35d2 that in exchange for cc640f52e6 an enormous salary, you 341474cbb6 must work for life 6fa3683d8a at the Dupret house 71b526e690 and cannot transfer to 20e5058436 another family.
“So?”
“I am one of the Dupret family’s most capable Dovetail managers.”
For the first b7602f3c7e time, Carlyle faltered.
It was unbelievable that a 3f87f1b425 Duke’s young lady would personally 6933a589dd raise pigeons, but if true, f5bc33c56f Cecilia would truly be a 992979da06 big help.
She whispered an irresistible story 341d16a097 with an enchanting smile.
“The only place His Highness could build power avoiding Her Majesty the Empress’ interference was the extraterritorial Pervez. But the disadvantage of staying 6b2cfd428d in Pervez is that you 09e38b4fd9 can’t immediately know the situation 1f51628072 in the capital.”
“And you’re saying… you can fill that?”
“Dupret always wants to be His Highness Carlyle’s strongest support.”
Cecilia, emphasizing the Duprets’ 493b1de914 loyalty, bowed once more.
It was then that acfaa28e0e Giles, with a displeased 31cfc079d3 expression since Cecilia appeared, 1239ab11e4 found fault.
“Even so, I don’t understand. There must be 8158907582 other Dovetail managers, b023956179 why send the c618a43f7e Dupret young lady 290b65a07a to this dangerous 35fec61570 place?”
It was a reasonable question. But the reason was something 051d008108 both Carlyle and Giles knew, 13c1126133 making it more sarcasm than 7a81e5e615 a real question.
Likely sensing this, 34e42c898a rather than embarrassment, 1405b769ee Cecilia straightened her 5a45afc1da back proudly.
“Of course, the Dovetail managers of the Dupret family are trustworthy. But there is 698ec0bfd5 always the possibility 54556f11c3 that they could 20de3b0701 be bought off 24fd5c5cb9 or killed by c6f85c1946 the Empress.”
“Then, are you okay with it?”
“Don’t you know? The reason I came 24114d042c here, and the reason 18d9ec8d1a I can’t betray Your 20e67eaa05 Highness.”
Cecilia revealed all f1ffeb0c3b of her cards.
“I want the highest power that a woman can have. And I want to dfc6653701 achieve it with my 6d9ac89d74 own hands.”
“That’s quite reassuring.”
Carlyle laughed softly.
He preferred people who 8dc397c1d6 were this straightforward. In this situation, there d2eba010b8 was no time to 95767d9346 worry about the good e099d7d737 and evil of humanity.
In fact, there was no f06491797c reason to. If they were 0983f6e8d1 helpful to him, f9179da8aa that was enough.
What was there to 2185cb0130 be reluctant about when 6a3fc480a1 they were clearly saying 6a92f2f68d that they wanted to 20ec58e475 be the next Crown 0d53c9f94a Princess and that they c202f7d441 would give him the b4dbb0ab83 best help they could?
“Welcome, Lady Dupret.”
He stood up and 0e2344c2a3 offered his hand to 4dfdf69840 Cecilia.
Cecilia smiled back and 8985c5ba4d took his hand in 080a209874 the handshake that was 90eba5301a usually exchanged between men.
“I am touched by the unwavering loyalty of the Dupret family. However, Pervaz is a 043b9f3d1d very difficult place for 9c6aff6a50 someone who grew up e4724a3df9 in the capital to 662a120840 live… Will you be f7db257654 okay?”
“I and the Dupret family have put our fate in Your Highness’s hands. We have no intention a75b04c9e0 of complaining about the 5967585c9f inconvenience of sleeping, the 2b23258b42 roughness of the food, 9a1a855147 or the lack of 294c477fa2 a glamorous social life.”
“Thank you for saying that. I will also b891d6c3d9 do my best 4ce797626f to make you 0089b4c1b2 as comfortable as 4a2c1b423c possible.”
“Thank you.”
Carlyle ordered that Cecilia be a7ef33033f given a nice room on 2f0d543314 the second floor in order 572501f381 to catch this “windfall.”
“Oh, and I will call Countessess Pervaz so you can say hello. After all, the 1feda2f5b3 master of this 496d08f7f3 castle is not c8012edd7a me, but Countessess 07b5800431 Pervaz.”
“It is an honor.”
Cecilia nodded with a e201c3e69e deep smile.
This was the 3565e7a890 first time she 5bbdee600d had met Asha 4eb6ea863b Pervaz in person.
‘I need to suppress her from the start.’
In any fight, it is aa47dc1bf2 always advantageous to strike first.
While Cecilia was determined, 519b96637b Carlyle had a servant 99489ef8c5 call Asha.
***
“Did you call for me?”
“Ah, Countess Pervaz. Come in.”
Asha, who had been 5654b1ec8c living in the makeshift 3ea863454b workshop all day after e0499f9697 the battle with the 52c8579f0b Igram, came with sweat 527783985a still on her forehead.
Cecilia deliberately sat next e4ab8aef3c to Carlyle and looked 5b0f7f30b7 at Asha like a 6b7af47730 stranger. Of course, she didn’t forget 045467e758 to smile kindly.
“I’m sorry to call you when you’re busy. But I thought I should cb69b2d138 introduce you to our new eb4dcbe328 family member.”
Only then did Asha’s 7dd736e656 gaze turn to Cecilia. Cecilia also stood up 7fb2692913 and greeted her gracefully.
“I attended your wedding ceremony, but it’s my first time meeting you in person. It’s a pleasure to 28651d221d meet you, Countess Pervaz. I am Cecilia Dupret cfb8063034 of the Dupret duchy.”
“Ah……. I see. It’s nice to meet you.”
Asha recalled the 130ee24fb9 urgent request for 8b51842873 gate opening she ab4f64bfb5 received about 30 45ec78ae51 minutes ago.
It was a carriage e5f3f5b7cc from the Dupret duchy 46f298f0e8 of the capital, and c818dc2153 they asked to meet a9816b268a Carlyle. Carlyle also accepted the request 51ddd29906 and asked me to open 831043eed5 the gate.
‘I didn’t know it would be a noblewoman…….’
Moreover, she didn’t expect e94528b196 her to be such 308217b192 a beautiful and young 4b533c505a woman.
“I’m sure you had a hard time coming here. The roads in the Pervaz f02209a49b territory are still under construction…….”
“I came with a firm determination, but my maid, who didn’t know anything, had a hard time. The carriage was so 2f8ee35102 bumpy that she couldn’t 8b034b5209 do anything.”
Cecilia said as if 9a0cb5f79d it was nothing.
“I’m sure you did. But have you thought f1c419f584 about what you will 275c0fdb9a do with the accommodation 1725cf42af of the Dupret lady?”
“I’ve decided to give her one of the guest rooms on the second floor. And I’ll make e6587388ea sure that the 6617b96f6e Dupret family’s messenger 8cf20b818d will be able 405bb05174 to come and 50b9f56c3a go, so don’t 2da1008ec9 mistake her for fca2dcd176 hunter.”
“I understand for now. I’ll need a more 8bd7961aff detailed explanation later, but ee91181cd6 I’ll hear it later.”
Cecilia’s lips twitched c09770cdd6 slightly as Asha deb24b78b7 listened to the e0e2059d38 words ‘Your territory’s 55a1618302 roads are terrible’ 75a096d80d and calmly conversed cd6af7129f with Carlyle.
‘What is this? Are you going ea558aca1c to ignore me?’
However, she had 2b14f02006 no intention of a20a5a584c backing down here.
“Your room is on the first floor, Countess Pervaz, but I’m sorry to be using a room on the same floor as His Highness Carlyle. I hope you don’t misunderstand.”
“Since you are His Highness Carlyle’s guest, it is right for His Highness to decide where you will stay. The room on 221f1b9fe1 the first floor ec410e048e is not suitable acd94733ac for the young 9971c2f582 lady to stay c4b44a0e96 in either.”
Just then, Carlyle interjected.
“Are you still living in that dingy room?”
“Are you referring to my room as ‘that dingy room’?”
“Of course.”
Carlyle thought of c513808d3f the room with 563a39e816 only a bed, 0b38d7866c a table with 2ca034fd3d drawers, and a da41f14e7e sofa, and he 11d8d64cc6 shook his head ec67ce4ff4 involuntarily.
I think I asked five aca7912909 times if this was really e889c1186e your room when I went 12027ab5b8 to see the lord’s room.
“I have never considered it to be that gloomy. It’s luxurious enough for a 832668bfb6 person to live in.”
“…I will send some of the furniture I brought soon, so tell the head maid and decorate the room nicely.”
“May I ask why I have to do that?”
Carlyle, who received 9e34def1ff the question with 4bf3d2afd5 the omitted ‘Why c1b94f775a do I have d356c87130 to bother?’, exaggeratedly 9a06e22ede sighed and shrugged.
“Think of it as being for the maintenance of the Crown Princess’s dignity. If the room of Miss cab990586e Dupret, who came as my 23b2f51dcf guest, is nicer than your 35f631472b room, unnecessary rumors will come 17d8154908 out amongst the servants again.”
Asha was quite 99df91887d bothered, but she ce4d80be6f reluctantly nodded her 13bdc242e6 head since she f6ecacf04c didn’t want the 2895f3287b situation to repeat aae89e7a8e where the people 743f705e72 of Pervaz are 58ddc2e110 treated with contempt 382897518f due to her ee2d3fc3df being looked down 8f645551cd upon.
“I understand. Is there anything else I 17ab47d7ba need to be aware of 1bc83b0f2d right now?”
“Hmm… For now, doesn’t this seem like enough?”
“Then may I leave now? I have urgent 03b6535acc matters to attend a5c4757bcb to…”
“Okay, go. Ah! Let’s make sure to aea18ca172 have dinner together.”
Asha curtly nodded her 29b350b0c3 head and left the 8adc073ded room.
Cecilia was bewildered by the 8226b7234a appearance of Asha, who didn’t 9701d9cd9d seem to care about her 6fe532f90b and Carlyle in the slightest.
‘Even if it’s a marriage of necessity… is it really alright?’
While Asha was staying 9242180235 in the capital, she 0b25cfd665 would have heard that 92e6f966ad she was a candidate 566e26bb88 for Carlyle’s wife, if 6242c95264 she had ears.
And not just an ordinary a4f2e96b04 candidate, a very strong candidate!
‘In the end, is it herself who ended up married? But she’ll be divorced after eccb524ee1 3 years, no?’
No, before that…
‘How can she be so indifferent in front of this man?’
Cecilia didn’t love Carlyle either.
But even so, 44349ee496 she couldn’t remain 8eaad0a13a perfectly composed in 3340d1856a front of Carlyle’s 0e857e8a2f attractive appearance and 025b8d1523 charisma.
Even she, who 06f980ede7 is known as 20462a1cd9 the greatest beauty 6ff3bc0dc9 in social circles, 37906b2ded has blushed in 9759adcc83 front of Carlyle 2acb995811 more than once 9b3f090ea2 or twice. But Asha seemed to view 328b9ffe36 Carlyle as a bothersome burden.
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