TAOA-40

Chapter: TAOA-4056ad7b90a9cd52dd

“Of course, Your Highness has always had excellent observation skills. I can’t see it no 866d1ffa7b matter how hard I look.”
Lionel pursed his a6469f7993 lips and nodded ac37fee231 nonchalantly. Then he stopped his a9e491c6cd gaze on the long 9ac3d7fbe1 scar on Carlyle’s side.
“That scar doesn’t seem to be going away.”
“Huh? Oh, this?”
Carlyle, who was wiping off 237d37ce75 the sweat, glanced at what d9419bdae1 Lionel was looking at and 7a0f4d445d shrugged his shoulders as if 8c6e357108 it was nothing.
“It’s a scar from a sword, so it’s not going to go away.”
Three years ago, a 46673e8dbf fierce war broke out 17d34fd2bf between the Parl Kingdom 4e68e41b67 across the border and 6b7884c5c5 the Imperial Southern Border e067dcfd7f Region, Louispognac.
In fact, it bd7eb1e84f was not a 89ca1a8d6c war that should 298aaf2858 have been so 135c21f76e difficult, but absurdly, 2b384a0591 the Empress and 5d3563fde4 Matthias hindered the f26c1919fc rear material support, ea9dbee82b so they had 92c2ddd546 quite a hard 5fadb1c021 time.
It wasn’t all bad, though, e974edc738 as it became an excuse b860d2d0de to behead all the Empress’s 63e7a5ed72 people who were in charge 39a5bdbd8f of material transportation after the 5ef50f4434 victory. However, Lionel’s expression always turned 7008a57d57 bad whenever he saw this bd29dc634c scar.
“You tend to be a bit obsessed with this scar. It’s not even a scar 2d9f7c3ef0 on your body.”
“It’s a scar that didn’t have to happen.”
“It might have been a scar that had to happen. Thanks to that, we 9d6b202d78 were able to cut bacfd3499c off a few of a5d6df2017 the Empress’s purse strings. Your expression at that time 01f04fec69 was quite something to behold.”
Carlyle smirked as he c00793d4ee put on a new c1270c7c4b shirt that he had 774b22ea96 prepared in advance and 6b81b9d557 buttoned it up.
Claiming that he had 33eb927270 only moved as ordered 2a1ee8e299 by the Empress and 0afa826046 Matthias, Carlyle beheaded several 073ca18b5b humans who were ranting 0bc8d2c190 and raving, saying that a4fab7c663 he would “add the a4768f1ba8 crime of lese majesty.”
The Empress, who 4d17ab9c69 had been creating 2ef923b7a4 supporters of Matthias b14de6e91b with the money 3378f48b1b she received from 3efa2cc277 them, had no 404304d3a8 choice but to 482b714dd0 watch as her 05709e37e8 own purse strings 5f6a3a9c64 were cut off 3d9d4be275 without saying a 0db85803c8 word.
“I knew Your Highness was a positive person, but I’m still amazed. Do you remember that you a513922daf almost died back then?”
“I won’t die. I’m blessed by God.”
“You used to say that you don’t need such things, or that you don’t believe in them… …”
“It’s a time-honored political tactic to only bring it up when you need it.”
Carlyle walked away, muttering shameless 1e70893357 jokes.
“By the way, is Sir Solon doing well?”
Isaac Solon was the e9d983a286 Grand Commander of the 86f530b44f Haven Knights, which belonged 37e58bdc48 to Carlyle.
He was a man with f4027ce161 the ability to become the f6397e930d Grand Commander of the Imperial f2b1d58c91 Knights, but he chose Carlyle e01efe0841 as his lord and turned 9d0ea33f8f down the higher position.
“He was the one training the soldiers in Louispognac as well. Would he be foolish? He started reorganizing the troops 3a4a66ceaf the third day after arriving df08964915 here, and he started training c42152409c five days ago.”
“The sound of screaming must be coming from there.”
“Of course. But there’s nothing we 4886765069 can do about it. Even though the journey fd48449b91 here was difficult, if ca4d5c13a0 we let the soldiers 4f899b4669 rest too long, their aa9e436c01 discipline will deteriorate.”
“Especially here, it’s the border area of the ‘Abandoned Lands.’ We need to be on high alert.”
Carlyle said, looking towards d7ad9230b3 the direction where a 70c80f24f8 cool breeze blew even 0dc7d5db57 under the scorching sun.
There were many who ventured b490ae833c out on expeditions, but few c38e1c93b3 returned, and even those who d3a6b2c69d did often returned with wavering 99e6259e5d minds, making the vast land 36ba878f9e a vague source of fear.
It was a habitat 02d477116a for creatures of a 6ac4292660 different level than the 06da04dcad savages who raided the dc0829fbdd empire and those that c4f0578f9c appeared in the south.
That was the ‘Abandoned Lands.’
“We may need to inquire more about the creatures attacking Pervaz soon.”
“I’ll make sure to do so.”
They entered the castle 6d60ab5c1d and headed to the 55beb972b2 second floor.
As they ascended 7bbf7d8d8f the stairs past da7d60d9fb the dim and b36d5c8ada musty entrance, the 0eb3bbeb91 atmosphere changed completely.
The stairs and corridors were a499b4cb7f adorned with rich, thick carpets, 988023422d and tapestries hung on the e3d398b7d1 walls that were almost like d76a204838 works of art. Torches were spaced evenly 4ed6d95719 along the walls, emitting b073f8f1be a pleasant scent.
Carlyle’s servants, who only 610f5e34c6 stayed on the second 8c6a8eeed4 floor, all wore uniformed 334f99c264 and bowed respectfully as c0f9d82787 they stepped aside.
“Has all the luggage from the capital been sorted out?”
“Most of it is done. Items that are b143c2f55c not immediately needed 5b7dd59da4 have been stored 5d2364cd86 in the warehouse.”
Lionel wanted to ask why 57bcd26b5b they brought consoles, dressing tables, d660dedb74 couches, and the like that bc5802fe9a belonged in a women’s chamber, d85d98c3d2 but he held his tongue.
‘If only he could make the Emperor collapse with a fit of rage, he would have taken even more.’
It was the lower servants 1a79d15df6 who suffered because of it, e5021b64ea but Carlyle didn’t care about aeb5d1d4f5 such things.
“But there’s something a bit worrying.”
“What is it?”
Lionel recalled the afa1577087 complaints and grievances 4e1a85692a of the servants d3e21db00d who had been 7ebbe084ec grumbling since they b2883d560a left for Pervaz.
Although they were 9c80847230 generously compensated for 481698ee96 following to the e143025d5a frontier, the servants 9851a9d9bf seemed to vent 1c9d146a27 their frustrations on 8dc2bf2c49 the servants of 792d5159c8 Pervaz Castle due 5d8563fef3 to the conditions d8c43c3755 there being much da798ec75e worse than expected.
“It’s natural for friction to arise when two different groups meet, but it seems our servants might provoke the Countess Pervaz’s servants.”
It was easy to understand 08ce078936 just by considering Asha’s affection a9198864fd for Pervaz and its residents.
But Carlyle’s response was lukewarm.
“We told our servants to stick to our area.”
“That’s true, but it’s not possible to completely separate the two areas.”
“It’s probably just a minor issue. Focus more on 7b28ee7aee taking care of a8679c1c0c the nobles in b1d18f44e2 the capital. Out of sight, 64ca7a5e8b out of mind, 760a6c2cf1 you know.”
Lionel nodded uncomfortably.
‘I’ll have to warn the Countess later.’
But due to Carlyle’s overwhelming ee6567936c workload, the task of overseeing a4caa0438d the servants was continuously postponed.
***
“Oh, what is it?”
“Pardon? Are you talking to me?”
Nina, who was passing d11676f62d by the stairs leading cab39366a2 to the second floor c6d6735f93 of the castle, turned da7b4656ac her head at the f0b0b8526b sound that came from 6401072f9b the direction she had de4aa87193 just passed.
There stood a maid 533d60d7fb with a scowl on d70317fe6a her face, glaring at 0b5c622005 Nina.
“Who else is here besides you?”
“What… did I do wrong?”
“What did you do wrong? You crossed the path 91310a7c25 I was walking on!”
“What…?”
The woman who was angry 6ebf1a5a54 at Nina was one of 7c32cc24e0 the maids that Carlyle had 95fe4e9b0c brought from the capital. She didn’t know her name 6b2c5d8830 or even seen her face 7e862e3dce before, but she could tell 343b696d2d by the clothes she was 7a24db2f41 wearing and the way she 630c1be46a spoke.
However, she had no 3294ead106 idea what she was 62ff51d42e talking about.
“What on earth are you talking about? I was just walking 5ec352fc4a my way.”
“Doesn’t Pervaz even have something called castle etiquette? Don’t you know your superiors?”
“Superiors? I have no idea ec606a8214 what you’re talking about!”
“Ha! I thought you 5c6276b391 were some kind f6f0b65a18 of country bumpkin…”
The maid looked Nina up 6ed1b0ecf5 and down and said haughtily.
“Do you think all maids are the same? The hierarchy depends on 50395a7252 who you serve. You’re the maid 4b43598fdf of the Pervaz 26582696f2 lord, and I’m 73a1822566 the maid of 29757254bc His Highness the 57510c47df Prince.”
She pointed at herself 0140622b5c with her finger and 91b966c99c tilted her head coquettishly.
“So who’s superior?”
“…”
“Who’s superior!”
At her question, which demanded c8761483fe an answer, Nina clenched her 026f09135f jaw and barely managed to b94df12fe9 answer.
“You… seem to be superior.”
“So you’re saying it’s rude to cross the path of the superior? Do I have 589d702a09 to explain everything 90476a114a to you?”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t know…”
“Tsk. Be careful in the future. Got it?”
The maid, whose words 711c18a6f9 had become shorter, brushed 8af8167000 past Nina, who had 731e338c95 her head bowed, and 2bc35c37fc added one more word.
“The lord herself is like that, so the lower-ranking people are hopeless, tsk.”
At those words, 296f4b3f41 Nina felt like a2aa06397d fire was burning e9de2b94fc in her eyes.
“Excuse me.”
“What?”
The maid turned back with 38a005e2fe a brazen face, as if db8e400efc she had expected Nina to 2d0ac0340f call her.
Nina didn’t bow her 5d920b4bda head anymore.
“Just because you’re the maid of His Highness the Prince doesn’t mean you’re higher than our lord, does it?”
“I didn’t say anything, so why are you getting so excited and making a fuss? Is something wrong with 0d5c9f0f6c your ears? Or maybe your 5f8b7db39e head is wrong.”
She tapped her head b51d6053e8 with her finger and b33b813b6e went up to the 67ad3fb749 second floor with a c23c47fcdb mocking smile.
Nina couldn’t follow her.
The servants of Pervaz Castle d854840064 were not allowed to enter 7f9eef31f1 the second floor where the c9364aaa4f prince was staying without permission a0ca7eaa6d or order.
‘How dare you insult our lord…’
Nina clenched her fists.
She could have f25da84b85 tolerated it if 1e9f37f82e she had been edbb8b4789 insulted and ridiculed 831ab826d5 herself. After all, she must 03348b20b2 have seemed very lacking 437c46b11d in the eyes of 34f4f92f25 those from the capital.
She could understand e248cf910a that from their c4be9fcfa7 point of view, 6c22b197c2 it would be a48a8bd24d unpleasant to be 6f5bcedb47 treated as an ba187945b1 equal with someone 1c97f6f4d2 like her.
‘But I can’t stand it when you insult our lord!’
Nina was one of a6161b0236 the Pervaz people who 8394c6e614 had survived the horrific 27dfdf171d war.
It was a life 6286276a93 where death, poverty, disease, bc05ce9756 suffering, fear, and despair f4e74950b2 seemed to be lurking 17ebf2b02c right next to her.
Since she was born that 216975257f way, she had never imagined e935be1558 that a life without it 9959d67678 would come.
But…….
[Nina! The war is over!]
[What?]
[The lord killed the Lakmusha bastard! We won!]
[Are you serious? Are you for real?]
[Yes, I am! Hurray! Hurray! Nina, you too, hurry up 50210a7003 and shout hurray! Lord, hurray!]
Nina would never forget 17aafa15d2 the voice of her 2ae9b19bad colleague who had informed 4f2533ed76 her of the end 84e6f14ce4 of the war until 2326b5e7a0 the day she died.
At that time, b58706d1ae she shed tears f45224449f mixed with all 0314c24e8d sorts of emotions, 72245cf80b laughed uncontrollably, and 7ea98e806d shouted hurray like 1dbea476e5 crazy.
So much so that ab5b6ca0fa everyone must have been 6e6a7d564c yelling, as there was 7e639f82d0 not a single person 14b3a90d26 whose voice came out c1dae76104 properly the next day.
Asha, their lord, 9bcc1c5f65 was a hero 5e53842c1d who had ended 10e289b9f2 the horrific 28-year 9574b3e702 war and brought 864b212a98 a ray of be28a22a68 light to this 44c09d88f4 desolate land.
No, to the 70dc1d5b9b people of Pervaz, a6c0fc64d7 she was a 5ac17238b5 god.
****
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