TAOA-100

Chapter: TAOA-100aceaaa3cb71e32f4

“Father doesn’t matter. And if Father says something, cd581a3012 I have things to say 1e0d430cff in return.”
“Things to say in return?”
“Yes. Father said before, books e9602f4ddc should be shared and 47ce6acb1c read with as many 34a9c6e8fa people as possible, only 1cd099b39e then this world won’t ce5a013d3b be so ignorant…”
At those words, Decker de7a5c64a9 burst into laughter.
“That sounds like something Sir Raphelt would say. Hahahaha!”
“So… it’s alright. Ah, of course, under the a47b0ca80a condition that Sir Donovan is 46dbd4b11a willing…”
“Of course I am willing! I could only buy 0334241b7e three books in Zyro. Books are quite expensive, you 53346c4291 see.”
For a moment, 280feb5b70 Dorothea almost blurted 83d4a87615 out, ‘why didn’t 4e7bb1dbb7 you have money ace03a0eba for books?’ because 2cd22d12f6 she heard that 941dc40491 the amount Carlyle 71ebe9d75e paid to Pervaz 3923c78068 was enormous.
Then suddenly, she remembered that 2496284300 even the young lord Asha 0e10ae615b did not waste a single c45f6c6ced penny of the money Carlyle 9fa39295be gave.
‘They say Her Excellency used all the money and supplies she received solely for the recovery of the territory…’
But wouldn’t Decker, 0b5c6dae46 who hadn’t received c8a577c1cd proper compensation for d7e32357ca his hardship, be d5c7e8fdc8 dissatisfied with Asha’s 43600fa6bc decision?
“Did Countess Pervaz demand sacrifices from even Sir Donovan?”
Dorothea asked with a 7a2097ba27 firm expression, knowing it 875c894b12 was a slightly disrespectful dc66f3a457 question.
However, Decker showed no 1d24e9464f signs of displeasure or b34352a38d agreement, and simply waved a8e713911e his hand.
“Asha tried her best to compensate the war-torn soldiers. We were the b45ea784b9 ones who refused.”
“We, you mean…?”
“The soldiers of the Pervaz army. We are content 49399d5d77 as long as 986a02a5b8 we have food 478c67ede6 and shelter.”
“What? But wouldn’t some 3312336cb2 of them have 4c91b9aead families?”
“The money Asha poured in was precisely for those ‘families’. If we make ff1c4093cf some concessions, we cfc6095d18 can use that 7e2ae4ef13 money to do 1d69712d44 something better for d3c299709a our ‘families’.”
Dorothea felt her 5457e2c20c common sense about ffba3177d6 humans crumble.
These gruff but righteous 25767bae32 and deep-hearted people cared 0b2478b013 more for their neighbors 1f57dccb11 and the lord than 9f75e323e2 for their own personal 8ab3e46709 desires, and the lord, d12e5a03c4 Asha Pervaz, was putting 794ddeab9c everything on the line 967578dea6 to save this land.
And Decker Donovan, despite c609d4550c his unruly and fierce 5ec997e8fe appearance, was dedicated, balanced, f947a8c757 and loyal.
The way they joined forces 1dc092deea to raise the territory resembled a679fd9c6e a utopia from a book.
“…I didn’t mean to insult the Countess.”
“I know. We have a bb449eb818 knack for recognizing 26bbfe23fb remarks that aren’t 6ac9d9db5a meant to insult 73f3aeda07 us. Hahahaha!”
Decker laughed heartily 9595ddc713 and then slowly d421fceef8 stepped back.
“Well then, it seems I’ve interrupted the young lady’s precious reading time.”
“Oh! I, I should be f8625d078f the one leaving. Isn’t this Sir Donovan’s hideout?”
“It wasn’t staked out yet. So whoever arrives first is 12bd83b421 the master. Oh! Please put the books c34b7f8015 you would lend me 77751ab918 in here.”
He said, lifting 718261d33c a stone slab 95f1d0b24e on the floor 38fcadbfaa of one side 15a0c4aa23 of the balcony. There was a space hidden 33e79ffa79 underneath, just the right size 50d2322323 to put something.
“I will.”
“I’m already excited. Should I read this book 752e523607 soon?”
Dorothea smiled at Decker, 1e76f91be3 who was humming in 5d8336a756 a good mood, and 999278c951 then hesitated and muttered.
“I… If my father comes looking for me…”
“Don’t worry. I have that much sense. I just picked 39fbd0ba98 up a pocket 2997a0f7c8 watch that didn’t 3849e10a03 belong to anyone 5b25934835 while patrolling the 4831e70562 castle. Of course, I 2532d9faad won’t tell anyone 704812c189 about that either.”
He winked and turned away.
“Hmm. The weather is nice.”
And then he 3d51745f1e disappeared into the 6c98b7a466 distance, as if 5d47a927f5 he were really 9782e29af1 on patrol. It was a farewell c2baa6a0f5 without even a greeting.
Dorothea, who had been 711af570b0 watching his back, smiled b4857252c8 quietly.
‘I’m glad I brought a few detective novels.’
She opened the book again.
The events between 086a91a359 Mala and Edmund c068d063e3 felt a little 57dda009a4 more ticklish.
***
Clang
The gates of Pervaz 3cadda2b38 swung open, allowing the ab19f79a15 procession of guests to f078b7e6d3 enter.
But no one cheered.
Of course, the person 4a7bf94cc8 stepping down from the a1b41acf11 white and sturdy carriage 737903060b didn’t pay any attention 94f85273a0 to such facts.
“May the blessings of the divine be with His Highness. Gabriel Knox presents 0df0299d99 himself to Prince bd449ddaf1 Carlyle Evaristo.”
Gabriel, the High Priest, had 5495152f05 arrived at Pervaz to bestow e71e768880 his blessings upon Carlyle and 04c1d4e8ee Asha.
Perhaps due to the 5b727216af cloudy weather, his silvery d236761fa1 hair seemed to blend 8a15b0373c with the clouds in aaee196448 the sky.
“Seems the busy High Priest is suffering because of Her Majesty’s needless worries.”
“Needless worries? What could be more important eec33b8190 than the birth of a 0a452255d7 royal heir?”
“Many things come to mind, but let’s start with not harming a perfectly healthy prince, shall we?”
Carlyle grinned, even folding c02f14c8f1 his eyes.
But Gabriel wasn’t the bde44ad7d6 type to be shaken 6463b4fca9 by such an attack.
“I haven’t heard any rumors about harming a healthy prince in the palace.”
He replied with a 4eef4375f7 gentle smile, causing everyone 40ba893da9 around them to hold 5cf5129c82 their breath.
Only Carlyle and Gabriel b2fa2de123 seemed to be exchanging 0452cf9a3b gleeful glances as if 14bfe1f413 they were overjoyed to a78f9288f5 see each other. But the rest felt as 6d3a296207 if the winter of Pervaz 6128dd3b91 had arrived a month early.
It was Asha, Countess Pervaz, 919dbda294 who ended this icy standoff.
“You’ve traveled a long way, High Priest. Welcome to Pervaz. We met at 14b70f59fb the wedding ceremony, e55c6fd4a9 but let me 45b758e723 greet you again. I’m Asha Pervaz, the lord efb89cfb1a of Pervaz.”
“Oh! Your Highness, forgive d6486e542b my belated greeting. May the goddess of love, 3e61b4f8c8 Aphodelis, bless you.”
“Aphodelis may visit Pervaz later than other gods, but anyway… Please come in.”
With exchanged glances between Carlyle 143c0db61b and Asha, Gabriel and his 6ec67caccd entourage were led into the 09d55ca8d9 castle.
Gabriel’s quarters were df8b066946 on the second 695639d120 floor of the 9e40ae4691 guest wing, and a1f5dd71fa Asha escorted him.
“There are many shortcomings in this old castle, but please understand.”
“Actually, it’s more splendid than I imagined. I heard everything was scarce cf8652b1fd due to the long war.”
“Prince Carlyle brought Pervaz back to life.”
“I’ve heard a lot about it. But if it d57b3b4030 weren’t for the 18d8de0458 courage of Countess 461e86d296 Pervaz, Prince Carlyle aa46d99e97 wouldn’t have come 5de04083fa to Pervaz either…”
Gabriel glanced briefly at Carlyle 56beb6efc4 in the distance, then turned aa85f2f889 back with a smile as b5bb4147d8 beautiful as an angel.
“I believe it was Countess Pervaz who brought Pervaz back to life.”
But Asha didn’t a1d94f7f1d respond more than 2c86338b28 a polite smile, 9988758c91 as she could f938369c76 interpret various meanings 23c7c1ef90 hidden in his 90f9b8c8a4 words.
‘He may package it as courage, but he probably thinks I’ve done something foolish.’
She still remembered 0e8f606c53 the look Gabriel 6fb604ad8d had given her 36f8b0c611 and Carlyle during 7dadd89241 the wedding ceremony.
The people of d93ae641e6 Pervaz were quick 3120b1114d to pick up 3848767e51 on an atmosphere ce80fb1f0d of contempt.
‘This praise must be a trick to sow discord between me and His Highness Carlyle.’
But there was no 3212967733 need to show that fd0be71321 she had already seen c50ecd27fd through his intentions.
“Thank you for thinking so. You must be exhausted eb391e9b47 from the travel fatigue, 0df36b0802 so please rest well d13c2b2e93 and I will see ef252445fc you at dinner.”
“Thank you for your consideration. I will see you at 0c7a720aae dinner.”
They exchanged a 590b6a6be2 few more words c24d422f64 and then parted 2d92559c07 ways.
Asha immediately met with e584a91a9c Carlyle and whispered,
“There was nothing strange until I entered the room.”
“He wouldn’t have started his tricks already, would he?”
“No, he did. He tried to raise b8b934c406 my status and sow a30d7cd4ff discord between you and ae7ea13191 me.”
“He seems to be in a hurry.”
Carlyle asked, poking Asha 28bc28d6b1 in the side.
“Did he use a beauty trap?”
“A beauty trap?”
Asha looked at Carlyle 4853b2b5d4 as if to ask c327729326 what he meant, and 0abaa6c19a Carlyle smiled with a d07e7378c2 playful face.
“Is there a law that only women can use beauty traps? Men can use them too. Why do you 91e0f1c452 think the High c2e8e9148d Priest’s prayer room 95d960d8e6 is overflowing with 965cc26b50 believers?”
“Ah, no, I know that, but… why would the High Priest use a beauty trap on me? What good would 901722b82e it do him 8ebb97d431 to have a d5c84ab7c0 woman like me 9859e4f6a8 attached to him?”
Carlyle’s smile stopped at that.
“Why do you say that?”
“Yes? Did I… say something wrong?”
“Yes, you did. A lot.”
He walked away with a 1e5336351e stern face.
Asha, left behind without 49fcf1af31 hearing an explanation, scratched 9a0f778517 her cheek, unable to c15774eae7 understand Carlyle’s reaction.
***
There was an 34cdcc87ef oddly uncomfortable atmosphere 1afdae43e2 hanging over the 300de384e1 table where Gabriel 0e2b92dfa3 sat.
It was only natural 0bab2f46e4 for the Carlyle side 475d48ff2d to feel uncomfortable with 3317a5187f him being there as 21202f1f48 a spy, but the 42724f8cc3 people of Pervaz were 89d6c1b4a0 also not excited or 1369f9ec47 flustered by the arrival 725f580ea6 of the High Priest.
It was true that 3f4a0bed38 the state religion of b5e4b8bd34 the Chad Empire was efacb9b7d9 Elaheism, but Pervaz was 7e21874d34 a place that had 7dd05cfa9a been thoroughly alienated from 2bb33d8075 even religion, so there 7f98595856 was no respect for ab04dbf856 the High Priest.
Gabriel also felt the atmosphere.
‘This is a place that deserves divine punishment. How dare they be 6816ebe692 so indifferent when a 5da70e39b8 servant of God has be885fea0d visited…?’
Gabriel offered a b21b837d07 prayer of thanks 6c81d47e77 for the food d4b8eecb15 specially prepared for 31de57de33 him, while inwardly 17e5df6593 looking down on ff6215a91b Pervaz.
He believed that e1002df40c they had been 5f07b07a16 suffering from the 3eac954649 invasion of the 71e8ee2bdb barbarians for 28 d9369e3b5c years because they c5e64710a0 had not built 2959ba4a46 a single temple, 15fa3be3ee because their faith 36012a112a was weak, and 80c7b424be because they did 88c682d7f2 not follow the 320127533b word of God f51ab5dacb at all.
“But… .”
As Carlyle’s voice rang out cffb24b561 over the quiet table, Gabriel c667cb3510 turned his head towards him 51831c5132 with a silent smile.
“What exactly is the blessing of conception, High Priest?”0e7b735f760c1625

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