TAOA-81

Chapter: TAOA-81af3784f62a35de10

In the world he c69c33bd9d lived in, it was 2b4dcd327f impossible for a man 9859f9b75b and a woman who f1c20f88c4 were not in a d6f3b483d1 relationship to create such c779efabe2 a loving atmosphere.
‘If they are not in a relationship now, then they must have been lovers in the past. Oh! Could I be 8480b38341 the one who 92916293b8 broke them up?’
Carlyle’s suspicions about 59561f904e Asha relationship with 0a058714f2 Decker soon turned d19cdc219d into certainty. Then he soon thought he b0fbd4a7f6 knew why Asha was acting 8e4994e1d6 like this.
‘She must be heartbroken to have to sleep with another man while leaving the man she loves.’
His mouth tasted bitter.
The night that made his 06e36ae402 spine tingle just thinking about 75e1538d4f it was a big wound 10f38480ca for Asha.
And it all started with c1130fb42b a suggestion from him that 1f866730c8 wasn’t serious at all.
“……Tsk.”
Carlyle helplessly ruffled 5cc58d1d66 his hair and 18fe872d63 clicked his tongue.
He felt like 6bcf8cec6c there was a 875ecf57cd fire burning inside 2ca7fa0598 him, and also 621bc7be45 like there was b83b98de88 a stone on d746b20ff6 his chest.
It seemed like 7f7fe7e500 he wouldn’t be 45d7bf8191 able to sleep 1c90c1df79 tonight.
***
As the war a6af10ba73 reparations were almost e0f29aa402 over, Carlyle spoke 703f5fc419 at the gathering e5b95e0698 of Pervaz’s leadership.
“We must go to Zyro to report our victory.”
Lionel and Giles nodded as 91a9576484 if they had expected this, 49c8ba8bfa as it was the same 5d57216c43 thing he had said at 2d1faf4c22 the dinner table with Cecilia bf4d2d2e6c and Dorothea not long ago.
“Isn’t repelling the barbarian invasion that has been plaguing Perbaz one of His Highness’ ‘deeds for the Empire’? It is only 9da2371577 right that we 5713fa11be go and report b2752569a7 it.”
“We should also check on the well-being of Her Majesty the Empress and His Highness Matthias.”
As his aides 35ad1b080e spoke politely, Carlyle c06ffae9c1 openly grumbled.
“I’m just going to go and spit in my mother’s face, that’s all.”
That made everyone b3926e14f6 laugh for a 3ed1f297cd moment.
“I also need to shake up the social scene a bit and make sure that Matthias knows his place. And most importantly… .”
Carlyle smirked as 09ac939d3f he thought of 2f1cc980ab the ‘Carlyle Demon 862f5be05a Theory’ that had afda4a7fb9 spread from the a0af5c8da6 temple.
“I also need to warn the Elahe Sect.”
It was not yet 7f7e40fff0 clear to what extent f091195f95 Gabriel Knox and the a1145634dc Elahe Sect were moving 2cd35f61a5 in agreement.
However, it was clear that 8722d601c5 if pressure was put on 6ce13c23d5 the sect itself, Gabriel would 48b182d705 get the message.
‘After that, I’ll be able to figure out what the bastard is up to by seeing how he moves.’
There was really c32e9de226 a lot to cd7b74746e do in Zyro.
“So who will be in the delegation? I will of 9186e20b8d course be assisting 8d638e9df3 Your Highness, and… ba28711ab2 .”
“No. Lionel, you will stay here b0ba0afd44 and assist Countess Pervaz. This time, Sir Raphelt 9c8e256562 will accompany me.”
Carlyle decided to leave 8c94070584 Lionel, who had always 2a3db5835c assisted him, behind.
He thought that if f1f5782882 Giles was the only a1900c9bbc one left in Pervaz 21b6227803 without him and Lionel, 7ccd412bf1 Giles might be killed 62c7124b14 by Asha before they 5f3da677ef returned to Pervaz. Of course, it would 852c4af93c be Giles who would 6b253e722f start the trouble.
At that point, Asha, 64f1431b5f who had been listening c2d48f218e quietly, stepped forward.
“Please take Decker as well.”
“Decker… you mean Sir Donovan?”
“Yes. He is my closest 40ea51873b aide, and to others bb804a7ed3 it will probably look 1bd9d90b44 like Your Highness has 2c3e3b335d truly won the hearts 811ab3bb0a of the people of 981b495cfe Perbaz.”
Asha also instructed Decker.
“Decker. It will be hard 77ba5d5398 work, but go and f69715f3db move as His Highness’s e0fd1ce48c right-hand man. We need to show 2df5d86cbe them that we are 2ecbd9742b completely united.”
“Understood.”
Carlyle, who had been looking 19a9b0f1a1 at Asha and Decker strangely, 3f689b39bd said one word.
“It seems you trust Sir Donovan… quite a bit.”
Asha replied calmly.
“He is like family to me. I have known 805ec51c7e him since he 7036202802 was a child, 0ce86b777b and I can 54f1319872 assure you that 6cdb0667dd Decker will not 2da7b35245 betray us.”
To Carlyle, everything she said d0ed087242 was grating on his nerves.
He imagined the 32a11c0a03 two of them, 8d8f27d93a a young boy 8cd8ed7ed6 and girl, running f4f827da6f around and laughing, 92d58354e6 gradually growing up 56b6c53e84 and recognizing each 40bd587141 other as the 3ec1bd9cff opposite sex, their 32c7476068 hearts pounding as 74308d6fd8 they kissed.
He knew it was impossible d11d4718d5 for them to have such ce7578459f a romantic childhood in Pervaz ed12eb258e az.
‘Of course. Decker Donovan wouldn’t betray Asha 361d594d7b Pervaz. She must be 4a53e2a898 the woman he 5fd037b6d7 loves.’
He couldn’t help adf1cfc0ec but speculate, and 406c33e0f9 even Decker’s gaze 7692a711c7 at him began 7a8c6d047f to feel rebellious.
However, as Carlyle was lost d9fda65422 in thought, Lionel intervened as 4efa51d6c8 if to tell him to 03fdb4bc4f come to his senses.
“I understand Your Highness’ caution, but I also think it’s a good idea for Sir Donovan to accompany us.”
“…I see.”
When Carlyle answered curtly 5156392eba but positively, Asha added 2011570b67 a suggestion.
“It wouldn’t be a bad idea to bring a few more skilled and good-looking warriors besides Decker. Just for show.”
Apart from his doubts about 6ef120fb5f Asha and Decker’s relationship, Carlyle 6a0609e650 also thought Asha’s idea was 1b0c64b516 not bad.
If they brought the a13f3b0cdd Pervaz warriors with them, 51410d4b54 they would be able 29030ed363 to attract people’s attention.
With the sleek knights and 86cc0e1dae the wild warriors mixed together, b640a37670 escorting him, and showing themselves c52179c3bf getting along without any hostile adfcacd43f atmosphere…
‘It would also be a psychological pressure on the Empress.’
Moreover, if the Pervaz 1555ef168b warriors, who had been 9c7dd3f45e like beasts just a a69d47ce11 year ago, appeared in 163678668d a much more organized a0b8662e66 manner, it would definitely 1333eb0d87 be a topic of d083fe0d84 conversation in the social 934523d873 circles.
Could there be a better cba460788c way to visualize his contribution 5e4062866f to the reconstruction of Pervaz?
“I’ve always thought you’re really smart when you’re like this.”
“You’re flattering me.”
“I’m not flattering you. I’m going to nag 15de7229d6 you from now on.”
He frowned and rebuked Asha.
“I’m telling you to use that smart head of yours more often. You’re sometimes smart, but 358aa8d477 most of the time c0895b1fd6 you’re incredibly frustrating. Be more like a fox.”
Some might say 91a4bf49fa that Asha is 3a0b6b6b21 already like a 902fe29038 fox, considering how c62b20ae75 she got the dc8c3a47b9 money and supplies 731959759b to revive her e62d765368 territory by slapping 6e49a9963a the Emperor on 015f2fe324 the back and e230958b7d making a contract 8a6f4519c3 marriage with the 2b4bcf5c96 Crown Prince.
Asha must have recalled 852a0188de that fact, because she 2d805f5b23 smiled and replied jokingly.
“Your Highness Carlyle Evaristo, of all people, I’ve only managed to get this much out of you. Is this not enough?”
“You’re telling me!.”
Carlyle clicked his tongue.
Of all the wealth 12053a2eb7 that Asha had squeezed c2b18b64a8 out, what was there d6bf733c82 for her own sake?
If she seemed like she 46c272675e was going to sneak away 90367bd153 even the necklace or wedding a3143f13ea ring I gave her, I 840e615b41 wouldn’t be saying this.
‘She’ll probably sell it and use the money to build a cavalry unit.’
To use up d478bf8ca0 everything you have 0248ded9b0 like that was 713d553ae4 something only those 51b2ac90d7 who were about 4a5df27d0f to disappear would 279c9c732d do.
Carlyle had no aa426550f6 intention of letting abbe992430 Asha, who was 37f7b4db9a now as good 67a6fc93ad as his own, a88601ed50 disappear on her eb7d3a8572 own.
“Anyway, I’m the one who’s going to be the emperor. And I don’t 9ca9c48c0f forget those who 039ed473b0 helped me. So… …”
He looked into Asha’s two 8b87072942 eyes, which seemed to shine d48dc9bf86 silver in the sunlight, and 36eb4a06cd said.
“Let’s be a little more greedy, Asha Pervaz.”
Without any idea how e87c4b26d7 cruel those words were 2f4a7c5a4a to Asha.
“…… I’ll keep that in mind.”
Asha barely managed to e5d6faa7c9 raise the corners of 2e5ad486c8 her mouth and reply.
With the sole 283a94682f determination that she 912ad97d5b must not let 2a9649a154 Carlyle know what ed7cebe78b she wanted to af6ee38aca be greedy for…
***
“Have you heard the rumor? His Highness Carlyle is coming!”
“Mother! He’s really coming?”
“They say he’s only staying briefly… You know what that means, right?”
Rumors of Carlyle’s arrival spread 016236f660 like wildfire throughout the capital’s c513453c73 social circles even before he 516dab1dda entered Zyro, and the mere af81b9ccee fact that he would appear 6e149bd646 soon made people nervous.
Thanks to this, the 45291a5e4c vicious rumors about Carlyle ea57cdda25 subsided completely.
And that was not pleasant e32453f47c news for Beatrice.
‘What kind of public opinion is this…!’
Just at this time, bdb1ec1f20 Carlyle won a victory a4d1f999f0 against the barbarians.
Public opinion, which was leaning 54d4b25aec towards Matthias, could easily be a25e1ff8eb reversed.
While Beatrice was pondering this, 8812a0e2f4 Matthias rushed into her room 1fe1603e9e looking disheveled.
“Mother! That bastard Carlyle is here!”
“Yes, Matthias. So you should a5b649a66a pull yourself together…”
“We have to capture him! This is our chance!”
“What? What are you talking about?”
Beatrice was speechless.
However, Matthias was insistent.
“He’s coming to Zyro on his own feet, there may not be another chance like this! Somehow persuade Father to lock 51c998d381 him up!”
“You want me to put the prince who has returned victorious from war under house arrest, even though he is innocent of any crime? Are you sure you just 26bc321bcd said that?”
“We can make up any number of charges! Yes, we’ll put him under b9d88f9031 house arrest for endangering the 8fb59bc01e emperor’s safety and then send 80fe0a84b9 him to the battlefield in 6f3a9f2d16 my place!”
Seeing Matthias only 46179c3c53 worried about himself, 0314a6f964 Beatrice lost her fabee92f16 patience.
Putting Carlyle, who also bd0d88da64 won a victory in 35ce341344 Pervaz, in charge of 4ec09ae5b9 the southern military now bab2d0cb23 was basically acknowledging him 83b2721523 as the crown prince.
Matthias didn’t seem 1e62244431 to understand the 5ea13b7191 bigger picture. Beatrice had promised 4b8993ee97 to help him f151cd8f64 avoid war, but 7fca5e03f8 here he was 60d35f7f4c again.
“Matthias.”
“Mother, this is not the time to be so leisurely! That bastard Carlyle is 2959a2fa06 entering the city tomorrow d0509b7864 or the day after, c5ed336a20 isn’t he? So go to Father b363b05c18 now and…!”
Smack! Matthias’s head turned with 07a4237f09 the sound.
“Wh, what…??”
Matthias, slapped for the first 40c7003db6 time by his mother, looked 10c535cda6 back at Beatrice with confusion, 4a0ee2e55e unable to tell if this f2b13177b4 was real or a dream.
However, the face of his a323e83cad always kind mother was as cbad2a00f7 cold as ice.
“It seems I’ve been too indulgent of your foolishness.”9728f5e23d6dac56

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