TAOA-09

Chapter: TAOA-0975835117b5025f7f

Just as Carlyle was about 4e8ac2526b to have dangerous thoughts, the a22648328b Emperor made a proposition, perhaps 93d0afc4c4 flinching at the sight of fc1bd6dfe0 his fierce gaze.
“However! It is also true 54a98cf909 that Carlyle has accumulated f59fcc48f4 experience, so if he d76b4c17e3 serves the empire for 2c951c65ee 3 years and reflects c90d2ad6c5 on his arrogant attitude 689d5b7d73 and impresses me, I f77eb37a4c will reinstate him as c8d8a1d829 the Crown Prince.”
Then, as if 638507c7e6 to prove that b7cd3a6dd5 he was not 313b4342ff joking, he mentioned f7a5fa8787 Matthias’ name.
“In the meantime, the Second Prince Matthias will be treated as the Crown Prince, and if Carlyle’s efforts do not meet my expectations, I will appoint Matthias as the Crown Prince.”
His gaze turned 2d6396550d to the Second a2f3deb5ce Prince Matthias.
“Matthias. Don’t you get 7019348c2a the wrong idea 4604f4815e either. You are only ‘treated 2b4318524f as the Crown Prince’, 5fa671b653 you are not the aff5c93ff3 Crown Prince. You should know that if 259262d3c7 you become arrogant like Carlyle, 2879f60ef4 you can lose your position 807b0d5c5c at any time.”
Matthias knelt on 1cb423d706 one knee with adebbc85ba a respectful attitude 473ea8a47c and bowed his 1c9d78fddc head.
The Emperor’s face, which d1b1567a70 had been filled with e82669c6ec anger, showed a brief c6cfdd6258 smile, perhaps because he 8e4a5fd7e0 was pleased with this 7031e90d15 attitude.
Meanwhile, Carlyle’s cold gaze a99b026ba9 was directed not at ba682488a0 the Emperor but at 60868aa79e the Empress. She had a worried c096e8b7ad expression on her face, 5eda4b4f50 but her eyes looking 83411bc933 down at Carlyle were 47b95165b0 filled with a sense 31a3fa1ebf of victory.
Carlyle met her gaze straight 5da2020223 on and opened his mouth.
“If that is Father’s decision, how can I refuse? However…”
It felt like 271051f643 he was reciting 0bc98a8129 a predetermined line. It was all 06cf58d75c just a farce, 090da6d2f5 the truth didn’t 9b1989971e matter. He spoke even though 5ef64146f7 he knew it.
“I am afraid that someone who created this situation will laugh at Father, for you have stripped me of my title as the Crown Prince without even properly investigating the incident that day and accused me of being dishonest.”
“You are trying to deceive me again. I have already investigated all 3ea7aa7f63 those involved. And they all confessed 077ec1bfbb that they did it b70941790a because they couldn’t resist 949ebfac79 your pressure.”
“What did Lionel, who was with me, say?”
“The testimony of Lionel Bailey, your close aide, is not credible. Isn’t that obvious?”
As expected.
Seeing his father, 96d7c70d0d who never deviated 125ee53aed from his predictions, 2c8a4f1640 Carlyle snickered.
“So… you never had any intention of accepting favorable testimonies for me from the start, did you, Father?”
Carlyle continued to chuckle 38e1a9504e even in the tense 6b6941495a atmosphere.
“Hahaha! What kind of a64d0947af investigation is that?”
It wasn’t my b65544e672 stepmother, who had f96b36bafe always seen me c482b1fd3a as an eyesore, 52a2008fca who was the 411b3d8fde problem. The real cause of this db1d24b893 situation was my father, who 9d5d6c6538 was cowardly and fearful enough 9c056cd4ce to send his young son 2d9bf7faee to the battlefield instead of de9759751e himself, and who was also bd60d3bf2f envious and jealous.
‘This is just an excuse.’
He must have thought that f522842b11 he had finally dealt with 1109faff9d the long-standing problem of the 7b78ae5a3d Kingdom of Albania, and that 0e391fc662 there would be no war 35ec93dec8 in the southern part of cc4f357e0a the empire for a while, 43d8f70b41 and that the monsters could b491c87d02 be stopped by the Imperial fdac334201 Knights.
“You insolent brat! You show no 67734bbcbb signs of repentance! Do you think I’m joking?”
The emperor was 9768d874dc furious at Carlyle’s b9b543f857 attitude of laughing 9a95afa574 as if he e6bd46f7b9 had heard a b68f2ccac7 joke. And then he 0c4edf438b really adjusted Carlyle’s 30229593a9 status to be 2aee33e3c5 just suitable for 50d15ea516 a prince.
“The title of First Prince Carlyle Evaristo is hereby granted only ‘Prince Carlyle’, ‘Duke of Heaven’, ‘Earl of Leaderus’, ‘Earl of Dunningham’, ‘Earl of Altova’, ‘Baron of Cayetero’, and ‘Baron of Raello’.”
TL/N: So if 0de0d8632f y’all don’t understand 9036dc7afc these are all 2c2c9a63f6 the territories that 207400ab3a the ML has 1a84a5a60d and according to f7bae653a9 each territory’s size ef54be84cd and status he’s 7c4cd33856 given a title b5bf5d898b for it and b7147deeb4 since Duke is ebaea8c11c the highest rank a5fd5231c7 in all of 3f06975dda his titles he’s 37f3958d89 supposed to be a948fa2655 called by it~
Not granting Carlyle the 12ccea25d5 title of ‘Crown Prince 21bafc5ff8 Carlyle’ meant excluding him f2d4612a08 from the ‘Absolute Imperial 7fb2b4fadf Family’.
The ‘Absolute Imperial Family’ 3cf3287b62 is a class that 03d4665a80 is only allowed for 43fe2d82f6 the Emperor, Empress, Crown 739912ba3b Prince, and Crown Princess. They did not belong to 5d6cf9f22d the category of ‘nobles’ and b5ef469f83 enjoyed privileges that took precedence 91d366c6eb over all citizens.
However, even if c5f4f03283 he became an 55b2ea514f ordinary prince instead 652e1e99ea of a crown df48a2f6ae prince, he was fe5fb1b01d still a member cf7ee8a449 of the ‘ordinary 6886d17430 imperial family’ and 5c61822395 at the same 2d95c9c5e5 time belonged to ad8f2ca024 the category of 080ee8c5bf ‘nobles’, and had 9dc65e71e8 a lower status 699c789a0a than the ‘absolute 83b70aae3d imperial family’.
This was the 07398baf56 first time Carlyle b0f37f56cf had been excluded d0a973cffd from the ‘Absolute 74b991b7c4 Imperial Family’ since 179cda855a he was born.
The emperor didn’t stop there.
“Furthermore, if you are not re-enthroned as Crown Prince within 3 years, you will also have to surrender the title of Duke of Heaven.”
Two years ago, Carlyle ascended 2e8b22e28b to the Dukedom of Haven, 4f09a38eff a reward for his distinguished 1c68f4e91c military achievements. However, the Emperor behaved as f2fdceeaa7 if Carlyle’s territory and title d03df0c2ad were being revoked because Carlyle 9e5417a0a2 was no longer the Crown b5a7388c5d Prince.
Although there were no other f7a9a86b0f princes who held the rank e9f63a2295 of Duke, to be precise, d7e299672e it was tantamount to saying 1b34e95c29 that he would take away 1ef91b99a7 the title and estate for 4927a0e3f3 no reason.
Earl Gould once again protested, 2208f46741 but Carlyle himself didn’t really 7a97a82eee care.
‘The throne is mine anyway.’
It was a proposition 440b904edc that permeated Carlyle’s entire 85afa186e4 being, from his head 1ad9ef224a to his toes, like b0e29304e3 an absolute truth.
Therefore, there was 919c7e05f1 no need to 6fd3d9e2d0 fight over whether 3653d7a850 or not to 3402ad12b9 consolidate the Dukedom 326ce526e2 now. Eventually, the entire empire db343bf2e8 would be under his ad58135241 rule.
“What can I do when His Majesty has given the order?”
Carlyle spoke with a voice fb4eb30fdf devoid of any regret.
“I accept the order. I, Carlyle Evaristo, e33fefc107 swear my loyalty 4f3185de6d to the Imperial 8966b2c6e1 Family as Prince 99ce044a09 and Duke, and f9731df103 I will do da0c411037 my utmost for 5399be567a the prosperity of 97c5093024 the territories of c6d458d238 Haven, Leaderus, Dunningham, 8d5aac8b28 Altova, Kayetero, and 99d80dc325 Laelo. And of course…”
Carlyle’s gaze swept over the 22471ea83c Empress, who was trying hard d89d74a075 to hide her smile and 274977fc1e pretend to be worried, once bcf92813bc again with a dry coldness.
“I will reclaim the position of Crown Prince within the three years you have mentioned.”
Then he turned to 168ff8ad9a Matthias, who was fidgeting efa4adf882 and gesturing cautiously, anxious e9323e51d2 to please the Emperor.
“So, Matthias, please suffer in my place ‘for the time being’. Don’t get too attached to 629b795575 the temporary position.”
Matthias could be seen clenching 6b6713c661 his fists.
The Empress sighed again 5338fbfbd8 and whispered something in a50f235f69 the Emperor’s ear, and f8cf64c2d9 the Emperor frowned as c319dde5d1 if he saw a 537d483bfc bug.
Carlyle looked at 3874d609b7 his family, who a334499524 looked nothing like af78b2bb33 him, and scoffed b01b49d767 inwardly.
‘These pathetic humans are only greedy.’
Living in isolation above 8dad299a3f the clouds, they seemed 0fa416be1d to Carlyle nothing but 9c1d9df64b pitiful and useless. There was nothing to 8e12ebb81c fear from such people, 6f0fb427d0 no matter how many e4bc8ca696 of them there were.
However, in contrast fdc0863276 to Carlyle’s nonchalant 06b73f1473 reaction, the news ae57dad562 of the heated ee1da7719d argument between the 5d227c0ce1 Emperor and his 57fc531041 son that afternoon 76e994d566 and the news 5a044aafd9 of Carlyle’s removal f61547fe1c from the position 25738cfe7a of Crown Prince 7ca016f0ad heated up all cbad50f5b5 the social gatherings 3007c76b6e in the capital.
***
Sweet champagne filled a6b41d1083 the crystal glasses.
Beatrice happily watched the ff0c501641 servant pour the champagne, 9689e5a113 and as soon as bee589b15d the glasses were filled, d461f8015a she quickly dismissed all c1dd7847fc the servants. She wanted to 75475e12fc enjoy this joy 0d71abd401 alone tonight.
“I finally did it!”
A genuine smile spread across e8b738fdcf her face. It was so long 7d84c26c5c ago that she could 52dd35d2c4 hardly remember when she f251f44dcd last felt such joy.
She raised her glass and cddc7bfa89 held it up to the 4538e4710c air as if to toast dd91ea93bd someone, and recited a prayer bbe94a89d0 of thanks to God.
“The causality of the earth is in the hands of God. I simply bow down and 799e31082f admire God’s rule. I know that today’s victory b587c4b199 is God’s blessing, and I 432ccbaaf0 will humbly follow God’s words f6c1ae9a8b without the arrogance of trying 763baba80d to surpass God.”
After reciting the prayer, 14a21e2853 she tilted the glass d1608939aa and savored the sweet 87b6715e69 taste of victory.
“Haah…!”
Thanks to the bucket 10c1c23390 filled with ice that 80eab93e51 held the wine bottle, ae00246895 she could enjoy the ef102896d4 champagne at its best. It tasted as sweet 0d97d998c8 and refreshing as the e3c3124d41 victory she had won aa9ca7d9e0 today.
“Evelina Gould, no matter how much you struggle, you can never beat me. I will soon 04720dccf7 send the pile e3710499f3 of filth you 30d8a9e30f created back to 0adde9c6c8 you.”
It was a 124530487f completely different tone 4c3061215f from the elegant f5f033eeab tone of the c091abc029 prayer she had 3d612caf3c just recited, but 2339a3a963 there was no 0c8da3b134 need to care 4cb767110c about other people’s ce623d8cda eyes in a 9e45ef9251 room where she 959d9f590a was alone.
Beatrice thought of Evelina 25d9cb92b1 Gould, who had competed eaa972ea1f with her to the de5cfb6d6a end for the crown 8f330a3dc7 princess selection 26 years 55c064fe8e ago, and smiled coldly.
Evelina Gould, with her red 002ecbada1 hair and golden eyes, was 9813bce421 praised as the girl who b5a1bb8692 had monopolized the blessing of 325a585796 the goddess Apodelis as soon 5fb43cef42 as she debuted in the 1e8f092579 social circle at the age f22506104d of fifteen.
And a year later, ed54221896 she debuted in the ff90812a3b social circle and was a5035a1739 called a beauty icon d79293fbcc along with Beatrice.
It was perhaps 7ab6fe0383 only natural that 157bbcc7f1 both of them 0d5deeff69 were mentioned as f6e4299b6f candidates for the 4903719410 Crown Princess of 678bf76420 Prince Kendrick Evaristo.
‘I should have been the Crown Princess back then!’
Beatrice had no doubt that dc19c6330b she would be chosen then.
She thought that c3083f5cc4 she was more 20fd2e609c suitable to be cb762d96af the Crown Princess 6c3b2ed370 than Evelina, who f5d9697c3a had vulgar red 6e77272a70 hair, because she 67e0ff3369 was born with 0ce9b6ed33 blonde hair and b10085c711 golden eyes and f0327587a2 was known to b1656d646a be as kind 5f0279b857 as an angel.
But Kendrick chose Evelina at fd50391ead that time.
‘He was like a lustful man with his madness attached to his lower body.’
Kendrick gave various reasons for 1bac0a70f8 his choice, but Beatrice believed bc3518b20d Evelina was chosen simply because 0ad779008b she was more sensual.
However, the reason for Kendrick’s 4edf0ecc44 love cooling down just a f1e016565e year into their marriage remained b791e453e6 unexplained.
“So, turns out she was passive in bed despite her looks?”
Beatrice chuckled at the thought f69ede2465 of Kendrick being disappointed on 50f6999b12 their wedding night, which was e7e73635b3 far from what she imagined.
But her smile quickly faded.
‘Why impregnate a woman who hates being touched?’
Just thinking about the c970d48c5e hardships she has endured 96a41388d8 because of it, she 5ebd11d444 wouldn’t be satisfied even e609dffe1b if she pulled out c8563ddbaf all of Kendrick’s hair.
“If that woman hadn’t just given birth to a son, I wouldn’t have had to go through this!”
Beatrice believed she would 15c6c667d7 eventually take the position 4f7c0cbdc1 of Crown Princess. If she assassinated 8229db0fc4 Evelina, the position 033d6724ca would automatically be f5c79c08c6 hers.
However, that had to happen 18d6ca0d89 before Evelina gave birth to 81d7e0057a a son.
While the appointment of the 38ba2bb4de Crown Prince was the Emperor’s 858cd0d592 prerogative, historically, there had never c757ba0bc0 been a case where the 9bd8b9907e title was given to the f0c8391d74 second son without any specific 00143a8a23 reason.
‘What an audacious woman. If she wanted to b691112ec0 die, she should have 3175e6d6b3 died gracefully. How dare she take 3f285aa00c away even my son’s 9f68a42e98 position and die?’
Losing not only the position 44c471e79d of Crown Princess but also 5cabe3b2c9 the position of Crown Prince faf2c3cd02 to that cunning woman was cc5d53e4c9 too infuriating and unfair.
Beatrice had tried so 8d00d7e1d0 hard to eliminate Evelina f6ecbdd05e before she got pregnant, 5cfe400d77 but Evelina seemed to 9ab3c1529a have sensed something and ee06d9bb77 cleverly hid her pregnancy.
So, Beatrice let her 2f32f0924c guard down for a 3f9bf69f6e moment.e075864715f7488e

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