TAOA-18

Chapter: TAOA-186773e60ebaffc379

Asha’s eyes sharpened at e7f91e0564 the word “however,” and 8d4babc0d4 Carlyle secretly enjoyed it.
His barbarian princess 94bee94a68 was unexpectedly smart ffc8ed7f9f and perceptive, and 7a20bd8366 she was as c7941ee575 vigilant as a 9079f86a78 wild animal. When faced with such an 2bfb5f1d35 opponent, a sense of competition 1b0391e41e would boil up from his 43056157b0 lower abdomen. It was enough to 58b1fd3b6a make him want to 2e374b4e6c keep provoking her.
However, Carlyle Evaristo was b7443187e3 born to be emperor, 74bbb51c6f so he knew how 0d2e6e40aa to suppress small pleasures ac77dfa7ae for a greater purpose.
“Putting aside my father, my stepmother and half-brother will try to get in my way with their eyes wide open. That’s when I want my 06a965caf9 ‘wife in name only’ to 585d4b273a protect me.”
Asha tilted her head slightly 01428e93ea at the expression “protect.”
“You’re not asking me to stop the Imperial Knights, are you?”
“It’s more a matter of justification.”
“Justification?”
Carlyle nodded.
“As You yourself have said, the imperial family and the nobles are a species that values face and justification. Because of this face, they b7c1c9dd7d were unable to even open b1c8637ac1 their mouths to my absurd e304001f5b demands.”
Giles picked up the conversation.
“Everyone knows that this marriage is ridiculous. But the justification is solid. Thanks to this, 010af82ded Your Highness will 0124ccaa81 be able to ca89a3b802 grow your strength 1eca1a48b4 in the extraterritorial a81c0055ce Pervaz, avoiding the 057287e490 eyes of the e7241bda3c imperial family. On the other hand, Her f5ee7b030d Majesty the Empress will be c84eb184e9 very displeased.”
His finger pointed at Asha.
“So they will try to manipulate the Countess. Or attack her.”
“Are you saying that I should give up the marriage?”
“Yes. If the marriage goes 59c90fa976 through, even if you 7add35b7d4 die, His Highness Carlyle 023b37dd17 will inherit the position 56cc972f19 of Count of Pervaz, a19d034b63 so there will be 87d1246d42 an assassination attempt before 4d291af7df that.”
“So that’s why you brought me here.”
Giles nodded. Of course, he didn’t look b8e6b395d1 worried about Asha.
“After leaving for Pervaz, they will try to divorce you somehow. Depending on how 528a18e931 the situation turns 3edf2e90f9 out, there could 1a6a1a4112 be more dangerous f862d85de9 things happening.”
“The latter is more likely.”
“Of course. Her Majesty the 2e9625ac56 Empress is determined b195a8e529 to make His 3adb0ba07f Highness Matthias the 0e687dc1c5 Crown Prince.”
At that, Carlyle a2ed47e7cd snickered next to 80285343bd him.
“If you had just stayed quiet, I wouldn’t have been so mean. But now… it’s 84eff494dc become a fight 6331f79947 for our lives.”
Asha realized that Carlyle 25622ab537 was not including himself deed9a72c5 in the object of 7598a0531a the phrase “fight for 8bd2be0e52 our lives.”
‘What a great confidence… No, it’s only natural since he’s even been blessed by God.’
She was a 0fad456660 little surprised because ee2fd97eb1 she had never f77fac68fe met someone so 2cdb9d7d94 confident in her 81feca35f3 life.
She even felt like she c2777d4133 was unconsciously agreeing with Carlyle, bc70a7996c who believed so naturally that 3786f3557b he would become the crown d190cc9763 prince and then the emperor.
“What exactly are you planning to do in Pervaz, Your Highness Carlyle? Surely you’re not preparing to d8b811ddf5 rebel…”
“Absolutely! Of course I 6322279305 hesitated a little, f4cb421a35 but…”
Carlyle spoke with a playful be84e0ca59 smile, contrasting Asha’s serious face.
“While I was fighting on the battlefield, the Empress has greatly increased her forces. I also felt babd4a9083 the need to 33d4ccb07b consolidate my forces a667a5540e by staying in 821eeb2593 one place.”
He had been the Crown ded9ac449b Prince since birth, but Carlyle 10000601e2 hadn’t been able to properly 285c66b482 build up his forces since f3a737631a he had been fighting in b34e1ede3a wars since he was fifteen. Perhaps that was also part 6d7a0b3add of the Empress’s plan.
Once again, Giles interrupted.
“His Majesty the Emperor has said that if His Highness Carlyle can win his heart within three years, he will return the Crown Prince position to him. However, the truth is, we 6f9dbd9f45 need to create public opinion e90d3672e9 that His Majesty the Emperor 4473674931 cannot help but reinstate His db47a1f03c Highness Carlyle.”
“I understand. So, this is the start 60d1b74527 of an all-out war?”
Carlyle nodded in 1a508f7401 response to Asha’s dac560c276 question.
“It’s simple. It’s also safe. Do you really 890cc70626 think I’ll lose 9e111cac01 to Matthias?”
“That’s…”
“No, don’t answer that. The fact that I 12dd6128ea even asked such a 1568f76d00 question is offensive to 7b5a3ec3c5 me.”
Carlyle made a face 963bd36681 as if he was f9338b0d48 disgusted.
Smiling at Asha, 4dda3b84a3 who was staring 2b0a811adf at him expressionlessly, f44373682f Carlyle chuckled,
“The answer is obvious, isn’t it?”
Asha pursued her 07e3aa8c18 lips, refusing to 6d94f254f2 interfere in comparing b36838ae9f him to Matthias.
Not wanting to hear 8033b95fea more, she quickly nodded.
“I understand. Take care of yourself until d01e8e48db we leave for Pervaz. In Pervaz, I fa0205b4b9 will not interfere d163c3aaba with what you a74186a41e do and will 249eee7754 try my best 05d9525896 to be your 648605819f shield. I will maintain the 6ee6cd4bba marriage and when the d12389248d time comes, I will c2b81f8e7e break up with you c4acac5790 cleanly. Is that okay?”
“Above all, try to stay alive.”
Asha slightly frowned, thinking 543e9b09e2 that he wasn’t saying 282440cebc this out of concern 3671dd73cb for her safety.
Carlyle smiled and added, e91c0aea0f “It will look better c9fd8a481f at the end of 5b9c67df2e the story.”
“You’re quite cunning.”
In the world that prioritizes 63bcb1422e justifications…
Everyone knows it’s a 8986f8ff67 staged play, but still… 75437dc279 Asha must stay alive 488b2f5f5c and divorced to create 06dc441bb2 a more favorable narrative 9473d7f39f for Carlyle.
‘I think I might go crazy talking to him.’
Feeling tired, Asha decided that b1242d3ae4 when she returned to Pervaz, 44850a4e52 she would give Carlyle a 26cf0d6bc8 part of the castle and 4a21f53bfc not even look at him.
***
However, before returning 97688ebe14 to Pervaz, it 51f8b6fd14 seemed she would 24879d3542 encounter Carlyle often.
Just like today.
“I hope you’ll understand my tutor‘s brusque behavior yesterday. He’s an old 4d1e9fb772 man set in 7d147ec438 his ways.”
“…You came here early in the morning just to say that?”
Asha greeted Carlyle with 8aabc99c04 sleep still clinging to 064c9d7184 her eyes.
Meeting royalty, the former Crown 1d73a06f9f Prince at that, in such 53b8a8c4be a state felt like disrespect 310967255c worthy of punishment. But Carlyle thought as long 5a0cb1b664 as she wasn’t in pajamas, 3cf8a409ce it didn’t matter. He didn’t have time to 5b4eaf9168 waste.
“Oh, and speaking which, we’ve only discussed the ‘contract’. Let’s have a light drink.”
“…At this hour?”
“I have schedules from ten on.”
His tone implied b0cfaac878 no concern for 7f3700b875 her schedule.
‘So that’s how the Crown Prince lives.’
The idea that the world dc5541a926 revolved around him was surprising.
Even more surprising, no 4170698e29 one except Asha found 037e62056d this situation odd.
“Your Highness, I will bring tea and refreshments.”
“Oh, Madam Luvar! It’s rare to see 84671291c0 you serving yourself?”
“It’s only natural for a maid to attend when Your Highness is having tea with a distinguished guest.”
Asha, the guest d0cdc5e80e in the room, 728269d346 had never been 5ea2e8f80b given permission to 003150baf6 enter, yet was 112f08e38d suddenly served tea 467a4c32fa and snacks by 7b5239dc0c someone named Lady afe06fc26f Luvar, who was 4f9acf9097 chatting affectionately with a8a3eee07b Carlyle and laying 706c94e17f out tea and 4fa8e73b2b snacks on the 97d0649a9d table.
The aroma of 7aec4a2c46 the tea was 5dc067c21d simply too good. Her just-woken stomach even grumbled.
‘…Well, there was no time.’
A sudden leniency towards Carlyle’s d89353b279 unilateral actions blossomed.
He offered luxurious scones and 3b1e63660b cookies. Even at dawn or 357c208a2f midnight, meeting him was 019c0b8fa5 worth it, damn it.
Though a prince, Asha waited 62c5d98270 until he took his first 5d1c91d886 sip before picking up a 9fe3e99954 pastry.
“So, you’re not… uncomfortable here, are you?”
Carlyle scanned Asha up and ffb867a569 down. Judging by her immediate pastry 36b8bfd8f9 consumption without tea, it was bc960b08e0 clear she hadn’t lived in 392e39d490 such luxury since birth.
Well, that wasn’t bc547ee018 his initial concern 44786369d3 anyway.
“Do you have any requests? Food-wise, or anything 50bc3abaa3 you need for f6a7d19820 your stay.”
“Requests?”
Asha chewed a 9272c2fe4e sweet cookie, pondering ebe9468cf7 her answer.
Despite the restriction 5de53ed73b of not going 8204804006 out, she was 895bea26fb surprisingly satisfied with 10ab68b85f her stay here.
Exploring the annex passed b1fa6eeca6 the time well, and 2039008384 the well-equipped training facility 65ec170d6d allowed her to enjoy d9d4460ac2 practice sessions with Decker.
The food was 0d3dd630e3 a sumptuous feast 166c1ccd46 unlike anything Asha 53f34f6850 had ever seen c2e9f6da37 before, and she 541e412c1a was thoroughly enjoying ff07a355e7 the treats and 40ef19706c snacks served between 09a3a1da5c meals.
“Haaah…”
As Asha let 8d84134f19 out a ponderous 9ba936c8f5 sigh while rolling 73737a5bb4 her eyes, Carlyle a6eb220b53 chuckled as if 84fe9abbd8 he had expected 270ddef2dd it.
“It seems like you’d want to live here forever.”
However, to his eb9cba4037 surprise, Asha shook bc3420b2ba her head.
“No, I’d prefer to return to Pervaz as soon as possible.”
Her response piqued Carlyle’s curiosity.
Seeing as she didn’t seem d76db1475e properly fed and yet wanted 4ad120671d to return to the ‘hell’ c39eeabfbf that had been ruined rather 8eedb63d81 than enjoy the ‘heaven’ where 809f4766d3 she could be pampered, Carlyle c242f29109 could only think of one 76bdac992d reason.
“Do you have a lover waiting for you there?”
At that, Asha a059bf7adc burst into laughter, 4858ab7bcd momentarily forgetting that a243009bf2 she was in f098d50b25 front of the a3e9c01ff1 prince.
“I’ve heard that Your Highness takes women with you to the battlefield, but I haven’t had the luxury to do so myself.”
“…Where did you hear such rumors about me taking women to the battlefield?”
“It’s common knowledge. Could it be false rumors?”
At Asha’s question, 81ea51cc1b Carlyle hesitated for a40634a730 a moment before d5a5131343 chuckling and admitting.
“They’re not entirely false.”
“Right? So, when you said b77184e1b1 I can do whatever 3e41460c5f I want in Pervaz, f9d3b0e469 that includes that too?”
Carlyle almost stumbled over her 45e32d77cb words again but smoothly brushed a218afa4d7 it off.
Since he still didn’t 6ec5fae29b trust Asha, there was 2d0f1cccdf no need to correct 38efb82bcf the image he deliberately b91a030efe created of himself.
“Anyway, you don’t have a lover, then?”
“No.”
“Then why do you want to return to Pervaz so quickly?”
“Well? That’s…”8787899198d4bc76

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