TAOA-54

Chapter: TAOA-54b70fb5e26a38d4d6

“You…?”
Carlyle barely held e9781ce36f back a sigh 7331a17c98 that was about 2f6648f18e to escape.
When he received Duke Dupret’s a3e9ebaf39 letter, recalling that they were a57ce62bfc coveting the position of Crown c29e649a5d Princess, for a moment he aa6631f0a1 had suspected that maybe the 6e3c64e78b evidence the Duke was to 560a664cb6 send was brought by Cecilia. Not knowing that the 4adcac4357 evidence itself would be 1560103e6e Cecilia.
However, what good 80161d94c8 could this noble 89d6216b42 lady, raised only ae1b60a1dd in luxury, do ab25cdc239 here?
“It’s a bit regrettable to say this to someone who made the difficult journey here, but how can you possibly help me?”
Carlyle expected an a77d0bd086 idealistic answer full c232b97403 of a naive 83cb9993ca noble lady’s ideals, 44b9c39843 but Cecilia’s response 35e9daacd5 was different.
“Do you know of the Dupret family’s ‘Dovetail’?”
“I’ve heard rumors. That it’s the e2eba9ab71 Empire’s largest messenger 616e2c963c pigeon training facility…”
“Before it’s a messenger pigeon training facility, it’s the fastest means to spread news to each region and gather news from each region.”
Despite saying he’d only fb950ed0dd heard rumors, the truth ffd00cc416 was Carlyle knew well 5aa3c6459c about Duke Dupret’s ‘Dovetail’.
That was one reason a897a4486c Carlyle considered the Duprets b4266aa558 in a marriage alliance.
“And there aren’t many people who can manage those messenger pigeons.”
He knew that too.
Dovetail’s pigeons understand human 3b01c112ac speech well, have strong 44f1b669b5 stamina, and a high 519b448f8a survival rate when moving.
It’s all thanks to d7cb71f53f the training methods secretly ab7f3fc766 passed down within the 626c8828d7 Dupret house, where the 66e50f1490 conditions to learn those 911e75881f methods are incredibly strict.
And it’s also 411fe151ff famous that in ce1bff7a74 exchange for an 64176b2f5c enormous salary, you f2217baa47 must work for 785872f8b8 life at the 51c6250b0a Dupret house and e736fbda57 cannot transfer to 0c7cb41e88 another family.
“So?”
“I am one of the Dupret family’s most capable Dovetail managers.”
For the first time, Carlyle 4561e6e7e7 faltered.
It was unbelievable that 8290458c41 a Duke’s young lady c59bed3b38 would personally raise pigeons, a1fdc3d65c but if true, Cecilia 5c37c2df3a would truly be a cd81089edc big help.
She whispered an irresistible affb4939fd story with an enchanting f725aac304 smile.
“The only place His Highness could build power avoiding Her Majesty the Empress’ interference was the extraterritorial Pervez. But the disadvantage 291470b63b of staying in f87ccc330a Pervez is that ff952a941d you can’t immediately 0874de71b1 know the situation a588f9254f in the capital.”
“And you’re saying… you can fill that?”
“Dupret always wants to be His Highness Carlyle’s strongest support.”
Cecilia, emphasizing the beee906412 Duprets’ loyalty, bowed 6c02e6cdcc once more.
It was then e76c853a44 that Giles, with 5db8f9c683 a displeased expression be7ae35f12 since Cecilia appeared, ba24f81999 found fault.
“Even so, I don’t understand. There must be b730cd13d5 other Dovetail managers, 392a299c8e why send the ccdcd29256 Dupret young lady 3a02713c75 to this dangerous beac53b86d place?”
It was a reasonable question. But the reason e3cdbd0cbf was something both b37fb989ae Carlyle and Giles 12de948fb9 knew, making it 1eebbdc7a1 more sarcasm than 2ed12dcf40 a real question.
Likely sensing this, rather 626d958a2d than embarrassment, Cecilia straightened 357f31b085 her back proudly.
“Of course, the Dovetail managers of the Dupret family are trustworthy. But there is b83ff8d75d always the possibility 311f73dd63 that they could 3c396feeab be bought off 2da9a5b42a or killed by 93d89a92d7 the Empress.”
“Then, are you okay with it?”
“Don’t you know? The reason I came here, 4ea27e682b and the reason I can’t 2299549e6e betray Your Highness.”
Cecilia revealed all of her ab4849a9ed cards.
“I want the highest power that a woman can have. And I want to 68c796b00e achieve it with my 31e402aef9 own hands.”
“That’s quite reassuring.”
Carlyle laughed softly.
He preferred people who b0d7ce9185 were this straightforward. In this situation, there was d97c3a265c no time to worry about e80ef450f8 the good and evil of fc96d81818 humanity.
In fact, there was no eb3863ceca reason to. If they were 0b94b622e5 helpful to him, 8441dcf35a that was enough.
What was there to 04f27594b2 be reluctant about when 3d0b566c1c they were clearly saying 9e5914905a that they wanted to 9a4e918856 be the next Crown 44ad354cf0 Princess and that they 1af4925fe2 would give him the 8f56f4ec48 best help they could?
“Welcome, Lady Dupret.”
He stood up and offered b92e1a273a his hand to Cecilia.
Cecilia smiled back eeec8b623c and took his 715abb788a hand in the 34184df644 handshake that was a6e3bd8a54 usually exchanged between f68cc0f7bb men.
“I am touched by the unwavering loyalty of the Dupret family. However, Pervaz is 3ee6af1b84 a very difficult e1dd280254 place for someone 7e5af1289e who grew up 2a5af32467 in the capital 9f71f223cf to live… Will bfb30a939c you be okay?”
“I and the Dupret family have put our fate in Your Highness’s hands. We have no intention 24a6e54385 of complaining about the 40300d73fc inconvenience of sleeping, the 83bcef5628 roughness of the food, e207ed6da4 or the lack of e9312b63be a glamorous social life.”
“Thank you for saying that. I will also do e80ebad36b my best to make 9e30f01d8d you as comfortable as c607f65eca possible.”
“Thank you.”
Carlyle ordered that ef93fd1e1e Cecilia be given 4932c62cd9 a nice room 1cc83b95cf on the second 5b1c768fcd floor in order 49af958ee4 to catch this e5014b5027 “windfall.”
“Oh, and I will call Countessess Pervaz so you can say hello. After all, the 40376ca9a9 master of this da5e96e4f0 castle is not 9552681624 me, but Countessess 9710142612 Pervaz.”
“It is an honor.”
Cecilia nodded with 64eb89b654 a deep smile.
This was the aba47cb94f first time she 58d4b5d344 had met Asha 93359190ea Pervaz in person.
‘I need to suppress her from the start.’
In any fight, it is 61f6cf5c6d always advantageous to strike first.
While Cecilia was determined, Carlyle 3c5d7232d2 had a servant call Asha.
***
“Did you call for me?”
“Ah, Countess Pervaz. Come in.”
Asha, who had been living 2abceffd39 in the makeshift workshop all 2e8dd6bb3b day after the battle with 66dbd65481 the Igram, came with sweat ebd5af1090 still on her forehead.
Cecilia deliberately sat next to 7c37b67e4b Carlyle and looked at Asha 9437a9856d like a stranger. Of course, she 3b9124cc90 didn’t forget to 2584056422 smile kindly.
“I’m sorry to call you when you’re busy. But I thought I 7ca251e782 should introduce you to b26f82657b our new family member.”
Only then did e88ede6c4b Asha’s gaze turn 2c2ee0ed44 to Cecilia. Cecilia also stood 3a60ced52b up and greeted c1fe52941e her gracefully.
“I attended your wedding ceremony, but it’s my first time meeting you in person. It’s a pleasure 1ec82b16bb to meet you, 182bc374f1 Countess Pervaz. I am Cecilia ee8fb77a41 Dupret of the cf0954698f Dupret duchy.”
“Ah……. I see. It’s nice to meet you.”
Asha recalled the urgent request 8a6f6e37ce for gate opening she received 39e2ea19bd about 30 minutes ago.
It was a 27da1682a6 carriage from the ee88726256 Dupret duchy of af62b841d8 the capital, and 5cad597d2c they asked to 37d7ab6163 meet Carlyle. Carlyle also accepted the 823a957b57 request and asked me 70787f707e to open the gate.
‘I didn’t know it would be a noblewoman…….’
Moreover, she didn’t expect 6c0b551248 her to be such 6cde105103 a beautiful and young 836cbec9b1 woman.
“I’m sure you had a hard time coming here. The roads in the fb7bff5a47 Pervaz territory are still 895a550f38 under construction…….”
“I came with a firm determination, but my maid, who didn’t know anything, had a hard time. The carriage was 7abc98aeb2 so bumpy that 3ab7c0b87b she couldn’t do 04d37b655d anything.”
Cecilia said as 66ae51f2b8 if it was a22daaaf1f nothing.
“I’m sure you did. But have you thought 80337d8fdd about what you will 5131e6d130 do with the accommodation ab49c17803 of the Dupret lady?”
“I’ve decided to give her one of the guest rooms on the second floor. And I’ll make sure d5fc80c179 that the Dupret family’s 34b694b3a3 messenger will be able e19b0b5efd to come and go, 2f1ca5f513 so don’t mistake her e33503c597 for hunter.”
“I understand for now. I’ll need a more detailed 392a4583c7 explanation later, but I’ll hear 8efe7254db it later.”
Cecilia’s lips twitched slightly as eb76efe4af Asha listened to the words 9b44ca1e80 ‘Your territory’s roads are terrible’ c0a190b16e and calmly conversed with Carlyle.
‘What is this? Are you going to ignore a8dfc462d2 me?’
However, she had no intention 43ba12f691 of backing down here.
“Your room is on the first floor, Countess Pervaz, but I’m sorry to be using a room on the same floor as His Highness Carlyle. I hope you don’t misunderstand.”
“Since you are His Highness Carlyle’s guest, it is right for His Highness to decide where you will stay. The room on the b645847356 first floor is not 700d7305e7 suitable for the young b2b14e1270 lady to stay in e5e19a4af1 either.”
Just then, Carlyle interjected.
“Are you still living in that dingy room?”
“Are you referring to my room as ‘that dingy room’?”
“Of course.”
Carlyle thought of the 14eb402f42 room with only a 1919d90767 bed, a table with d807ee216e drawers, and a sofa, 7716be27e4 and he shook his 7d82e91290 head involuntarily.
I think I 2b6082f9a7 asked five times a4bf482dd2 if this was 2a493ccf90 really your room 08cac5adc8 when I went 2b13616e85 to see the 7c71512cdb lord’s room.
“I have never considered it to be that gloomy. It’s luxurious enough for e4805e0fa9 a person to live ed8e24ddfe in.”
“…I will send some of the furniture I brought soon, so tell the head maid and decorate the room nicely.”
“May I ask why I have to do that?”
Carlyle, who received ee67eeb37b the question with 08e3255b91 the omitted ‘Why e648730c9d do I have b501b6d1a2 to bother?’, exaggeratedly 7ef9a433c6 sighed and shrugged.
“Think of it as being for the maintenance of the Crown Princess’s dignity. If the room of Miss 7d6e5af6fa Dupret, who came as my a8225a0a1c guest, is nicer than your 9fb5d7fa00 room, unnecessary rumors will come fc30b1db98 out amongst the servants again.”
Asha was quite bothered, but f069098481 she reluctantly nodded her head 7fea51947d since she didn’t want the 8284b6708f situation to repeat where the b4c4590a72 people of Pervaz are treated c3e9683024 with contempt due to her 28352036e9 being looked down upon.
“I understand. Is there anything a2300289aa else I need a4a3091da5 to be aware d0a3dbec65 of right now?”
“Hmm… For now, doesn’t this seem like enough?”
“Then may I leave now? I have urgent 78d30fb885 matters to attend a4fefebba8 to…”
“Okay, go. Ah! Let’s make sure to have ae68e4e26f dinner together.”
Asha curtly nodded her head faaa175329 and left the room.
Cecilia was bewildered by 753ba9fc23 the appearance of Asha, d8a168eac2 who didn’t seem to a3aea564f8 care about her and af6a7211ed Carlyle in the slightest.
‘Even if it’s a marriage of necessity… is it really alright?’
While Asha was staying 76ca07faff in the capital, she c4562b6554 would have heard that f9d447547c she was a candidate 5ff9a8d8a4 for Carlyle’s wife, if 0c1b0e4935 she had ears.
And not just b57458f21d an ordinary candidate, 9ac2be236b a very strong 32f4c47c0a candidate!
‘In the end, is it herself who ended up married? But she’ll be divorced 5debcf0742 after 3 years, no?’
No, before that…
‘How can she be so indifferent in front of this man?’
Cecilia didn’t love Carlyle either.
But even so, 0e77d6272b she couldn’t remain b2a502969c perfectly composed in a25936ea0b front of Carlyle’s e1a668c83d attractive appearance and 444b8884de charisma.
Even she, who is known 3f065aa113 as the greatest beauty in 88b581427a social circles, has blushed in 9e029d5488 front of Carlyle more than 7df99b8e3a once or twice. But Asha seemed to view 3920678f8f Carlyle as a bothersome burden.
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