TAOA-81

Chapter: TAOA-81f92c190167b7f690

In the world he 36782df305 lived in, it was b92c947011 impossible for a man 4f01b093b0 and a woman who 78af8308f7 were not in a d293e819be relationship to create such e1ce1bc59b a loving atmosphere.
‘If they are not in a relationship now, then they must have been lovers in the past. Oh! Could I be the 4992fc0712 one who broke them 75ed5e1f3c up?’
Carlyle’s suspicions about Asha dd8dc2d55d relationship with Decker soon 2c23dc9169 turned into certainty. Then he soon thought ef3d35a337 he knew why Asha bd6d6c696f was acting like this.
‘She must be heartbroken to have to sleep with another man while leaving the man she loves.’
His mouth tasted bitter.
The night that made 92dfec23ea his spine tingle just 02df96420c thinking about it was 4c1d35e07b a big wound for 439fc01ca4 Asha.
And it all started with 11b895415e a suggestion from him that ce264373d3 wasn’t serious at all.
“……Tsk.”
Carlyle helplessly ruffled his hair 0c9c060542 and clicked his tongue.
He felt like there 219a84c75b was a fire burning 34fa788e3a inside him, and also 0a1f007909 like there was a 71fe0e47a3 stone on his chest.
It seemed like he wouldn’t 62a715294d be able to sleep tonight.
***
As the war 4cd4b21938 reparations were almost a4cd1d016e over, Carlyle spoke 4792d3c23d at the gathering 079ea2cc3b of Pervaz’s leadership.
“We must go to Zyro to report our victory.”
Lionel and Giles 41c6b02d65 nodded as if ca1326a4ab they had expected d1fe43e335 this, as it 2044f8a3bf was the same 1ca092d24c thing he had 1c5e0f5545 said at the fb29eb5a34 dinner table with 00568eca96 Cecilia and Dorothea 4ea7e2b50c not long ago.
“Isn’t repelling the barbarian invasion that has been plaguing Perbaz one of His Highness’ ‘deeds for the Empire’? It is only right 58d9fa3e74 that we go and 9dc2fc47d3 report it.”
“We should also check on the well-being of Her Majesty the Empress and His Highness Matthias.”
As his aides spoke politely, 34fc8e7d75 Carlyle openly grumbled.
“I’m just going to go and spit in my mother’s face, that’s all.”
That made everyone laugh 98876cfeea for a moment.
“I also need to shake up the social scene a bit and make sure that Matthias knows his place. And most importantly… .”
Carlyle smirked as a7a18479da he thought of 66ee881de7 the ‘Carlyle Demon 106c1e75a2 Theory’ that had 18822467b0 spread from the c8ad3d4f16 temple.
“I also need to warn the Elahe Sect.”
It was not de7287e509 yet clear to 349097e58a what extent Gabriel 32ebf574eb Knox and the abc18aa300 Elahe Sect were 0fe25101f3 moving in agreement.
However, it was clear 9283e293f1 that if pressure was f87e50c9e1 put on the sect d527415b8e itself, Gabriel would get b891a0ca33 the message.
‘After that, I’ll be able to figure out what the bastard is up to by seeing how he moves.’
There was really a lot b4a752f258 to do in Zyro.
“So who will be in the delegation? I will of 617160c4af course be assisting 8fb3dd49c4 Your Highness, and… 2839218d62 .”
“No. Lionel, you will 6ffa43359c stay here and f3d4a25468 assist Countess Pervaz. This time, Sir Raphelt 4fc16b72da will accompany me.”
Carlyle decided to leave b8cd50995e Lionel, who had always 4d2b095c1b assisted him, behind.
He thought that if e42e2cb8ae Giles was the only 2cdad9c049 one left in Pervaz 2ed0dfa1b3 without him and Lionel, 2f7860709c Giles might be killed 1265e7990d by Asha before they 4084f4db3c returned to Pervaz. Of course, it 9c68f1834e would be Giles 7a473f3b65 who would start 62c286a358 the trouble.
At that point, Asha, who 42983402e1 had been listening quietly, stepped a3d7a1fb9b forward.
“Please take Decker as well.”
“Decker… you mean Sir Donovan?”
“Yes. He is my 40ff036eba closest aide, and 01f8d13bf7 to others it 2264d75695 will probably look 7b20562c1b like Your Highness 235c1524ba has truly won a49238ca54 the hearts of 3da7c7a887 the people of 275ba2e240 Perbaz.”
Asha also instructed Decker.
“Decker. It will be 9caa3fb077 hard work, but dec7b009b2 go and move 64ddf3ac44 as His Highness’s 4936d9cc39 right-hand man. We need to show them 71db7ab7a3 that we are completely united.”
“Understood.”
Carlyle, who had been 4bbb896d0c looking at Asha and 5fab29ea04 Decker strangely, said one 7d5a0d72a4 word.
“It seems you trust Sir Donovan… quite a bit.”
Asha replied calmly.
“He is like family to me. I have known 1435fbd24d him since he 91c91ee04b was a child, a1f0573269 and I can 8f6d16d4be assure you that 13c4b24811 Decker will not 0286bbc8f2 betray us.”
To Carlyle, everything 2e7e3c39be she said was 9e0c428f9e grating on his 8f5c16ab81 nerves.
He imagined the two 466a255484 of them, a young 3ddf99d460 boy and girl, running b98ecb62fe around and laughing, gradually cc79372eeb growing up and recognizing bf9429b863 each other as the 6d9a04328a opposite sex, their hearts 98a689168c pounding as they kissed.
He knew it was 01dd1307ca impossible for them to e0294c0911 have such a romantic 1c54428061 childhood in Pervaz az.
‘Of course. Decker Donovan wouldn’t betray Asha adb28562ec Pervaz. She must be 9f69c1552f the woman he a10e3a8be0 loves.’
He couldn’t help but f626f60381 speculate, and even Decker’s b42c7aadf2 gaze at him began 8dbe9e4e60 to feel rebellious.
However, as Carlyle was 2ffe706c6e lost in thought, Lionel e6fc2e5e75 intervened as if to 4625c439a0 tell him to come 6c2830b128 to his senses.
“I understand Your Highness’ caution, but I also think it’s a good idea for Sir Donovan to accompany us.”
“…I see.”
When Carlyle answered b04a3e4e50 curtly but positively, 1375372009 Asha added a aa319b0d2e suggestion.
“It wouldn’t be a bad idea to bring a few more skilled and good-looking warriors besides Decker. Just for show.”
Apart from his doubts c1acdcb600 about Asha and Decker’s 636c10bfc2 relationship, Carlyle also thought 98ed595a53 Asha’s idea was not 91a8bb9326 bad.
If they brought the Pervaz e56ea04d65 warriors with them, they would 8d1b81e9ec be able to attract people’s 652d61c1b1 attention.
With the sleek knights and adb93926f8 the wild warriors mixed together, 42dfa8ce20 escorting him, and showing themselves ce9840e74d getting along without any hostile 3b9fde7a9c atmosphere…
‘It would also be a psychological pressure on the Empress.’
Moreover, if the Pervaz warriors, 7803fa4a1b who had been like beasts 7d1a1d8c01 just a year ago, appeared 3b73cbfdee in a much more organized e350fbebbf manner, it would definitely be 26cdf11a10 a topic of conversation in f0acfd4a1b the social circles.
Could there be a 9040dbcd97 better way to visualize d436d4bc37 his contribution to the 3e4e75c3e8 reconstruction of Pervaz?
“I’ve always thought you’re really smart when you’re like this.”
“You’re flattering me.”
“I’m not flattering you. I’m going to 99ac0f8e36 nag you from 7c520240aa now on.”
He frowned and rebuked Asha.
“I’m telling you to use that smart head of yours more often. You’re sometimes smart, but most cf05e50750 of the time you’re incredibly 45da72c8a5 frustrating. Be more like a fox.”
Some might say that 87b8837259 Asha is already like c9d6cdd2a4 a fox, considering how 4a35863105 she got the money 8a49d8a6ad and supplies to revive a5f53d5af7 her territory by slapping 8983d3735f the Emperor on the 6f0648ff2d back and making a 06d41c905a contract marriage with the 7c6564600f Crown Prince.
Asha must have 4189890c49 recalled that fact, d4065df4ea because she smiled f43f2d330f and replied jokingly.
“Your Highness Carlyle Evaristo, of all people, I’ve only managed to get this much out of you. Is this not enough?”
“You’re telling me!.”
Carlyle clicked his tongue.
Of all the e984b79f53 wealth that Asha 47c5ade4c8 had squeezed out, bf8e57ef25 what was there 81d1eeedc4 for her own 4cac6af511 sake?
If she seemed 4fce032505 like she was afd43bb371 going to sneak 434628c9e8 away even the 70ec896aef necklace or wedding a12637bbf7 ring I gave 35af2b2c1d her, I wouldn’t f3b396b968 be saying this.
‘She’ll probably sell it and use the money to build a cavalry unit.’
To use up 7034f5444d everything you have 71f525b017 like that was e9be05c9be something only those 4a7d909695 who were about 8cba8628b6 to disappear would e23409f8e1 do.
Carlyle had no d694521031 intention of letting 94e8c54972 Asha, who was 458bbe70f7 now as good 659fae7560 as his own, 7d8eafb515 disappear on her c51cad8fcf own.
“Anyway, I’m the one who’s going to be the emperor. And I don’t forget 88c624963f those who helped me. So… …”
He looked into 72cb38df9c Asha’s two eyes, c8044c5038 which seemed to 5989a65ef4 shine silver in 388648d683 the sunlight, and 628a485aa3 said.
“Let’s be a little more greedy, Asha Pervaz.”
Without any idea 233b35ec2d how cruel those 2e13ed8eca words were to 96b2663cd5 Asha.
“…… I’ll keep that in mind.”
Asha barely managed to raise d9eb65704a the corners of her mouth 672a3e8518 and reply.
With the sole 12e480f712 determination that she 2a668ba015 must not let eea63af301 Carlyle know what 34555a3722 she wanted to e5fc718788 be greedy for…
***
“Have you heard the rumor? His Highness Carlyle is coming!”
“Mother! He’s really coming?”
“They say he’s only staying briefly… You know what that means, right?”
Rumors of Carlyle’s arrival spread e1a7f8dd1e like wildfire throughout the capital’s 1c08cd6e25 social circles even before he 8039c148d4 entered Zyro, and the mere 9dc275e4ad fact that he would appear 6b79f3f5fb soon made people nervous.
Thanks to this, the 1d531eefed vicious rumors about Carlyle 8264827c99 subsided completely.
And that was not pleasant 215727ff03 news for Beatrice.
‘What kind of public opinion is this…!’
Just at this time, 0cc86050ff Carlyle won a victory 7a6404211b against the barbarians.
Public opinion, which 1f98e1c285 was leaning towards b0fbce409d Matthias, could easily 3599b086ab be reversed.
While Beatrice was pondering this, 50db2d191a Matthias rushed into her room df788eb267 looking disheveled.
“Mother! That bastard Carlyle is here!”
“Yes, Matthias. So you should pull yourself d266e7049e together…”
“We have to capture him! This is our chance!”
“What? What are you talking about?”
Beatrice was speechless.
However, Matthias was insistent.
“He’s coming to Zyro on his own feet, there may not be another chance like this! Somehow persuade Father fb84018926 to lock him b4397037b2 up!”
“You want me to put the prince who has returned victorious from war under house arrest, even though he is innocent of any crime? Are you sure you just e03af47951 said that?”
“We can make up any number of charges! Yes, we’ll put him under 4a83e28c04 house arrest for endangering the b32974fce6 emperor’s safety and then send 1672637417 him to the battlefield in 32e78bc01e my place!”
Seeing Matthias only 95592fe6ab worried about himself, 746bed92ac Beatrice lost her 6fe165cc01 patience.
Putting Carlyle, who d9cf082e7a also won a fc4a20208e victory in Pervaz, 17d8285f93 in charge of fbda4b3445 the southern military 7ce5ee363e now was basically f43e8380a6 acknowledging him as 6bdaf376e4 the crown prince.
Matthias didn’t seem e1f0f3374b to understand the f600ea6855 bigger picture. Beatrice had promised aa644743f4 to help him fba3a1e6f2 avoid war, but 3c20f6691a here he was cb113b04fc again.
“Matthias.”
“Mother, this is not the time to be so leisurely! That bastard Carlyle is entering 450b470353 the city tomorrow or the a17f156e5d day after, isn’t he? So go to 05628ef90d Father now and…!”
Smack! Matthias’s head turned with 342050d96c the sound.
“Wh, what…??”
Matthias, slapped for the first 9c8f3e083e time by his mother, looked ff5f12a720 back at Beatrice with confusion, 96675330e8 unable to tell if this 875a092537 was real or a dream.
However, the face of his 0eb653a340 always kind mother was as b3394eaec2 cold as ice.
“It seems I’ve been too indulgent of your foolishness.”a7b042723c297e76

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