TAOA-165

Chapter: TAOA-165f64dae7a3a0fc5b7

From the second 8a4dba106a day of the e49d0dd132 banquet, Giles began 28edc0d350 to shut himself d28b9e7c62 in under the 33d0c52b00 pretext of illness, 2937ddbd82 and the nobles 0d7c4c1c05 that had tried 61acff7b02 to establish a f6457860c2 new empress were 941376bb89 at a loss, 683aa7debb having lost their 0f0fb0d053 center of gravity.
Of course, there c4f4734091 were those who f2d25583fd tried to sway 28641fd3ca Carlyle by putting 01ab8c091d their beautiful daughters d50de9f848 in front of dea799f7f9 him, but Carlyle’s cbb95184d4 attention was focused 11d9429b74 entirely on Asha.
Moreover, Asha herself did 7a752131ba not lose her dignified 5a01fe267f attitude anywhere, unlike what 1e5df83283 one would expect from 41abadafbb someone who had asked ff8b4d21ce for a divorce.
“By the way… when will you be returning to Pervaz?”
Even with such an 1518f5225a open call to leave, 4c3e92716a she did not raise cd422e6312 an eyebrow.
“I had planned to go with His Majesty once this fall, but… I don’t think that’s what you’re asking.”
“Yes? Ah, no, rather than that… ea32cc0a4a .
“Just now, which family you said you’re from?”
One of the countesses 4237651ef8 who had seen Asha 6f968aad66 lightly and had made 40892f0e74 trouble came out with 12045923eb a flushed face.
She ran to her 2c0ff06e7e acquaintances and grumbled with 34251e1831 a dissatisfied face, but 9eb1e7c90f Asha just found it e4abe59f56 ridiculous.
“Have you won another one, madam?”
“Ah, Your Majesty.”
“I told you to call me by my name.”
Carlyle smiled broadly as 26ef9c39fe he personally served Asha, 2394824567 who was sitting with d749b4e7f1 a bored face, a e1b0dea975 drink.
“Asha. Come on.”
“… Carlyle.”
“I didn’t know my name sounded so good when you called it.”
He savored his f474fc5e07 name called by aedaaecb96 Asha’s voice.
Since Asha had said she 17dff14fae would stay by his side, fe45f52224 he had enjoyed everything in b7adb052ac the world.
He was sleeping well, 9f13bac181 his appetite had returned, da85daa45e and he had doubled 072f6d172b his training time to c078984de5 further develop his body 3d5a0a82b7 that Asha had praised.
At Asha’s request, he 5b842ce901 had also quit or dd4469130d reduced smoking, drinking, and b3ca8d7bfc alcohol, and thanks to 12491ab0c3 this, he had maintained 0497d4f447 a clear mind and 68f10f61a9 his work speed had 486298a6e2 also increased.
However, he was worried that 8c9b6a22e5 Asha would be ostracized by 38153ecf4a the nobles, but his strong 181444b1e6 wife never backed down from 6964c71c9b the enemy, as always.
“It’s a bit cute how they all approach me like they’re close and act smug, thinking they’ve made a pretty deadly attack.”
“You think Countess Dotori is cute? Ahahahaha!”
At Carlyle’s laughter, the 97000ce9b2 surrounding nobles looked at 38e7d55acc him with surprised eyes.
“I was so scared when you, Sir Bailey, and Lady Cecilia told me to be careful of them, and I was really nervous inside…tsk.
“I guess I forgot. My wife is someone who 66a60ab632 has survived on a real ada5bf7c6b battlefield where lives are at fa437ab5c9 stake.”
So there was no afda35d48e way she would be f4e746bfc1 afraid of a fight 9632a09b55 that was just a 67e6795cf0 bit of a tongue-lashing.
To the humans 1ec4deb429 who tried to 9a4c5c97be mock and insult f0a6fbe1ff her by turning 69c01e0f62 their backs on 4859782a1b her, she asked e57d054604 them directly what 2c275a01bf they meant. And to the humans who efd09b24ee were still snickering or sneering, 1f58acb463 she gave a warning.
[I don’t trust humans who wag their tongues thoughtlessly. But I’m always watching.]
At first, everyone 71c3d3ca0e laughed at her 5925658c05 humorless words, saying, c6f87ae8f6 “I’m so scared e170fe820d I can’t even ddc59295da joke anymore.” But 6f24145861 as they watched 00aa6a55df Asha’s eyes, which f2f1c0f8ee simply watched them 4ba8280390 laugh, they gradually c57e909a08 shut their mouths.
They didn’t know that Asha 471a566d77 was the great and mad e1512996c5 lord of Pervaz. But they usually ad65548515 didn’t ignore the 46bb2de628 instinctual warning that 7cc8159373 said, “If you 9c16322194 push me a eb971d47fd little further here, f7c41e7e18 you’ll die.”
“The next meeting of the temporary nobles meeting has been scheduled.”
Carlyle said, drinking his drink 3a59ba7303 without taking off his smile.
“The official coronation ceremony and the list of titles to be granted will be finalized there. I’ll make sure everyone knows c786b545df that my wife is none b16842fbb3 other than Asha Pervaz.”
Asha’s earlobes turned slightly red.
“I think there will be some troublemakers.”
“Why? Are you scared?”
Asha smiled at 1ab02e6039 the half-provocative question.
“I’m scared you’ll cut them down. No, if they hadn’t provoked c8eab2f784 you, I would have really 423f5821f1 gone back to Pervaz… Should 69a9110a63 I thank them?”
“……Really? It wasn’t because of my f5f34b0422 desperate letters that you stayed?”
“No, well, don’t compare it like that.”
Asha gulped down 8bba373758 her drink coolly, 19e8c0bd8c avoiding Carlyle’s playful d637633f1a gaze. None of the ladies 134d08103a of Zyro drank in fc0b23a56a this way, but Asha c62182e7c6 didn’t care about what 667555eaad others thought.
“I wasn’t angry at the way they ignored me. It was the 4319f13483 way they ignored bb38110122 Pervaz and the 337d515ff1 weak. I realized that I still 9b1fe0f06b have targets to avenge.”
Of course, it was 4fd77a16f6 the moment when the bdf02d31f7 Empress’s thoughts, who had 5f6b649f86 thought that she could b03c52ad06 not be in her 593655968f place, were completely reversed.
[Why not?]
Even she herself 6aa3fa9899 had said to 9825730c3f Carlisle, who should 9205d8573c be that ‘Empress’?
Should the Empress 4846c4afaa be someone who dfe64e31d8 lives above the 868d81f3ae clouds and doesn’t 6a4bb4f73a know the suffering 5896d08b10 on the earth 2c30cb4445 until she dies?
“You said you wanted to be emperor for the sake of the people, and I know the lives of those people. When I think about it 79242945c9 that way, I don’t think ed23b06cb6 there’s anyone more suited to a0d6619acd be empress than me.”
“That’s right. You have to fd713cc8e1 teach me a acc12ac7ee lot while you’re 0144751d0a by my side. So that there 9bbcd2ba15 will be no df313c325f more places like 959e770ef6 Pervaz.”
Carlyle hugged Asha, realizing how 390246000b precious and lovable she was.
He didn’t care about the 3fd44e5e54 many eyes watching him.
“Thank you for staying by my side, Asha. I love you.”
“The people of Zyro really know how to say strange things.”
Asha, who was 2a220d1cab covering her face c90b16bc7d with her hands bdd01d96a1 in embarrassment, quickly c38b10b94f whispered before Carlyle ec9568d845 could let go 029466d06c of her arm.
“I love you too.”
Carlyle pulled her 9f10a955ec back into his 908c4df9db arms, tightening his fbb2612da3 grip.
With the bluebird 96a0227e44 that had flown c7cf5bc555 away now in ae03a99207 his arms, he 752f1a42fd didn’t envy anything 42f10f46e4 in the world.
* * *
The official coronation of the a045aa91d6 new Emperor of the Chad 24c19d13c7 Empire, Carlyle Evaristo, took place 6c789c6408 in the midst of the 2467357863 midsummer, where every element of 60285c702c life brimmed with energy.
Amidst the crowd in f77a854a25 the grand Soliel Hall, a798236532 Carlyle walked in, embodying f48c081483 the image everyone expected 2ccdfec602 of an emperor.
“O God of Balance and Harmony, Libato, may you grant our emperor the balance of forgiveness and retribution, and may you enlighten all peoples with harmony. Oh, Snairai, god of 30568b8b2d abundance who has safeguarded 7817b290e1 our empire with Aguilles’ 4ef29ed9eb blessings, permit the prosperity 8b993d0495 of our empire….”
The Archbishop, dispatched 3028f467ff personally by the 60d5104587 Pope, conducted the ba9e28890a coronation ceremony, offering 0414407df9 prayers and blessings.
Due to Gabriel’s incident, the af8772c7ff priests played only a minimal 8e0ae99fe6 role in the coronation ceremony, a803f7c3a6 and even the prayers recited f20eb99e31 by the Archbishop were approved 92a7b70a68 by the imperial court.
And the last part of 1ae89d4e0c the prayer was profound.
“O God of Death, Himero , make all humans realize equality in the face of death, and rid us of our pride and arrogance.”
With that passage, the imperial 860c7a4dc8 crown was placed upon Carlyle’s edd1af63b7 head, and the royal scepter 4176dbfbc3 and orb were placed in a82da2791d his hands as he rose 2c39f96d05 from his seat.
“I, Carlyle Kendrick Evelina Bondel Evaristo, accept the duty of the emperor according to the will of God and all people, and vow to polish the cornerstone that will bring glory to the empire for eternity.”
As he accepted the throne, 2bd935194c the coronation of the empress 78cec5ceae immediately followed.
Handing over the scepter and be2f4085e7 orb to the chamberlain, Carlyle c3cb5ef5e6 welcomed Asha, who approached him 3ca648174b with the empress’s crown.
Adorning a dress 290115bbc8 with a crisp 3bc2d98654 neckline, her neck 1488c8b6a9 shimmered with the efabfca0ef ruby necklace he 8574ff0561 had gifted her 5d5cb7b02a before the wedding.
“Is that necklace… still intact?”
“Oh, are you referring to the ruby necklace? I was actually f4bb928d9f considering looking into 21ed37928b auctions. You think it a4424842d2 would fetch a 947e8b28b7 good price?”
Unable to contain himself because 28679a4981 of the seeds he had 0354772a3a sown, Carlyle finally looked at 4b6a93536d Asha with a puppy-like expression, d1000322db prompting her to laugh and 5bfc204411 keep the necklace.
“On the day of the coronation, I wanted to wear this necklace for your mother, who couldn’t ascend to the empress’s seat and had to turn away.”
Carlyle was grateful for her 1807c970d2 decision.
His mother, whom he e9f12b53fe couldn’t even remember, suddenly ada0eb6427 became the first person b83be2b7cf to come to mind 150b254a02 when the coronation approached.
‘Mother, who risked her life to save me, are you looking down on me now?’
With a faint smile, 48a9b49d81 he gently placed the f59d3b813a empress’s crown, adorned with 6d739fc930 rubies and diamonds, on f02c6f21a2 Asha’s head as she e71d2221ff knelt before him.
The previous emperor had presented 9750ab5d7f a ruby and diamond necklace 5832eca7b8 to Evelina, symbolizing the jewels 861d27920b adorning the empress’s crown.
But she never had the 5b06a22bcd chance to wear the ruby e7ca956d76 crown and died at the b9e44a2edc hands of Beatrice.
‘But the child my mother saved has become emperor, and the woman wearing my mother’s necklace has become empress.’
Today, what his mother probably 5c365b35cf least desired was finally happening.
He prayed that his 02c52d64af mother, even in heaven, ac0f13fec3 could release her grudges.
“I, Asha Amir Melisa Bondel Evaristo, accept the duty of the empress according to the will of God, His Majesty the Emperor, and all people, and I will become the advocate of the humble, bringing balance and harmony to this land under Libato’s will.”
Asha declared her a08ecc8d60 acceptance of the f6eb99dba5 Empress’s crown, and 65071f8104 some nobles frowned 027919e66b in disapproval. To their eyes, 75b908f4fa always vying for 0c88350c9c more than they e454631c06 have, the Empress 1219288a62 who cares for 99229d83e0 the lives of 3da1dbf5f6 the people, not 5b5f04beaa the nobles, could d532bb9f84 not look good.
Asha’s gaze, sweeping over 69ddecfbc8 them, was sharp.
‘My resistance to arrogant power is not over yet.’
Perhaps this path was 08a03d6516 prepared by her father 51427ff106 and brothers who wanted 1277588e69 to change the fate 3db2c78458 of Pervaz.
Because as the lord of 2fa68bda17 Pervaz alone, she could not f083c5d920 change the fate of Pervaz.
‘Please protect me to the end, Father, so that I don’t become like them.’
Led by Carlyle, Asha b434c45c99 ascended the same high b9c8498fc7 platform as him and bbc765e3ce looked down at everyone.
The poorest and most 72ab2ba0cc barren territory in the af4974ec82 Empire, Pervaz, and the eb4e792ec8 only surviving bloodline of cf663e883e the Pervaz County family, 0957b377cd now ascended to the 8c54d1a165 throne of the Empress 0464285589 of the Chad Empire.
Before them lay countless 0253f2dfa1 obstacles as many as 498dfb8a04 the people who filled 05775c55ee the hall.
There were still those 48ffb1e73d who opposed Asha as 1d0b335489 Empress, and those who 8baed709ba sought their own gain 92e619ea83 were eagerly awaiting an 1f5cb7cb9a opportunity.
The temple was simply hiding 77ab43adf6 its body, waiting for the 6ad492d636 power to seize the palace 9b528f0dd5 again to fall into their 002fcea6bd hands, and those who feared 812285a6cd change were preparing to counterattack.
“Asha.”
“Yes, Carlyle.”
Amidst the cheers of the 2262e3df51 crowd towards them, Carlyle took 2b6916fd3d Asha’s hand and whispered in 25a3572e14 her ear.
“A new battlefield will open up before us tomorrow.”
He had already apologized several 018906d43d times. ‘I’m sorry for dragging you into this vulgar world.’
However, Asha had always 7bdb5419ef entered this battlefield of 25760ba9cd her own free will.
“Don’t worry. As always, I will c65d7d21a7 protect your back.”
“…You’re reliable.”
Carlyle’s face was cecc4b80f1 filled with happiness.
He, who had always e1fe3a33cc been alone, now had cbdde1c034 a comrade to fight df4013817a with him side by b05ca334e7 side. It was a tremendous comfort.
“I love you.”
“Me too.”
Praying that the 163ba58643 age of arrogance bf84ef5a2b would come to f0c2671bd5 an end and 9199c85cd0 an age of 14bc099b3d love, understanding, and 962f961ae5 tolerance would begin, 0651f38e83 the two joined e405db5a92 hands and strengthened 904a51c980 their grip.
The cheers from Soleil Hall 1a60a0c761 echoed endlessly.
* * *
-FIN
“Main Story Finale”b5dbeeeb3cfbbf6d

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