TAOA-165

Chapter: TAOA-165a4e5376f9dc8edfa

From the second day of e0acdde43a the banquet, Giles began to a34a8ebd6f shut himself in under the 487ddde536 pretext of illness, and the 6f0c597a2d nobles that had tried to 45516f9406 establish a new empress were c5e200ea80 at a loss, having lost 0f0e7a86c7 their center of gravity.
Of course, there were those 2469f54123 who tried to sway Carlyle 2f01607c33 by putting their beautiful daughters cc98a4390f in front of him, but a394922fa3 Carlyle’s attention was focused entirely 0cecc19838 on Asha.
Moreover, Asha herself did not 7abb71a900 lose her dignified attitude anywhere, a9915e4e0d unlike what one would expect dd4b5e2027 from someone who had asked de8c38beb1 for a divorce.
“By the way… when will you be returning to Pervaz?”
Even with such an 45571c0740 open call to leave, 8a63688ed3 she did not raise f00b6b0f63 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 689afd0eba than that… .
“Just now, which family you said you’re from?”
One of the countesses who 75ef5b04bd had seen Asha lightly and d5e41e887f had made trouble came out b03aea38dc with a flushed face.
She ran to her e3886a1bac acquaintances and grumbled with e631ae93fc a dissatisfied face, but 9bfb299426 Asha just found it 6d4237e541 ridiculous.
“Have you won another one, madam?”
“Ah, Your Majesty.”
“I told you to call me by my name.”
Carlyle smiled broadly as b378062604 he personally served Asha, f64dc53351 who was sitting with a0d625ebfb a bored face, a 2c600b003b drink.
“Asha. Come on.”
“… Carlyle.”
“I didn’t know my name sounded so good when you called it.”
He savored his name called c9ff86a78a by Asha’s voice.
Since Asha had said she e6ae8e4c52 would stay by his side, 11ceee699e he had enjoyed everything in 3353e9a0e3 the world.
He was sleeping well, his d011448028 appetite had returned, and he 02a09afc2b had doubled his training time fc2b76c9cf to further develop his body ca728d2e11 that Asha had praised.
At Asha’s request, 6f1fe4c85a he had also c3aea638cf quit or reduced 6d73d70599 smoking, drinking, and 1936884059 alcohol, and thanks 5f262aa565 to this, he a85423a6ac had maintained a 7cfbf93865 clear mind and 119c3c30a1 his work speed 7e656a281c had also increased.
However, he was e0597013c0 worried that Asha a4853ee096 would be ostracized 022db03872 by the nobles, 4fbbfb87df but his strong 6de32585b4 wife never backed 5917c62e50 down from the a57c75d26d 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 surrounding 5f0cf125ba nobles looked at him with 1971024def 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 fc8f35ee3c has survived on a real 4b145b653b battlefield where lives are at 051eb80a8a stake.”
So there was no way c8376da7bd she would be afraid of 5642e2c678 a fight that was just 952e482757 a bit of a tongue-lashing.
To the humans who 989515cf3b tried to mock and 6c467e1d1f insult her by turning 724fe4c44f their backs on her, 6deaffbe1e she asked them directly c81dd84abf what they meant. And to the humans a241a8a83d who were still snickering 8a3d5cda3c or sneering, she gave fa8d42e4ab a warning.
[I don’t trust humans who wag their tongues thoughtlessly. But I’m always watching.]
At first, everyone laughed at 7c17277ce6 her humorless words, saying, “I’m dbd158e954 so scared I can’t even 9c7a5bcbfc joke anymore.” But as they 8fef797b8b watched Asha’s eyes, which simply 6e89ea7024 watched them laugh, they gradually e5d1b42d6a shut their mouths.
They didn’t know 6aa73b90d4 that Asha was 2f68fc7ce8 the great and ed7e2d2c7b mad lord of 7824dc00ef Pervaz. But they usually didn’t ignore 9e51a6a7aa the instinctual warning that said, 2c084118f0 “If you push me a 58452ba595 little further here, you’ll die.”
“The next meeting of the temporary nobles meeting has been scheduled.”
Carlyle said, drinking aa2c0fede3 his drink without c8f66817a8 taking off his a9ca5da67b smile.
“The official coronation ceremony and the list of titles to be granted will be finalized there. I’ll make sure everyone 4d84a01ad9 knows that my wife 672bba6105 is none other than 8fe89c912f Asha Pervaz.”
Asha’s earlobes turned slightly red.
“I think there will be some troublemakers.”
“Why? Are you scared?”
Asha smiled at the half-provocative a2f3e72a94 question.
“I’m scared you’ll cut them down. No, if they hadn’t provoked eea09a09c5 you, I would have really e894fe80cd gone back to Pervaz… Should 42f46b5749 I thank them?”
“……Really? It wasn’t because of my 6b9a1e4166 desperate letters that you stayed?”
“No, well, don’t compare it like that.”
Asha gulped down b5fab6cb84 her drink coolly, 6cb7ed931f avoiding Carlyle’s playful 9cbaf9af3f gaze. None of the 5726a82619 ladies of Zyro 0c76c09581 drank in this c0d196bc51 way, but Asha 56c9be06c8 didn’t care about 2f24d88c86 what others thought.
“I wasn’t angry at the way they ignored me. It was the way 36658a9357 they ignored Pervaz and 193ec9e6b3 the weak. I realized that I still be0aaa5b63 have targets to avenge.”
Of course, it was the 94c7b3c414 moment when the Empress’s thoughts, 9c79f2c9ca who had thought that she 53da2a5316 could not be in her 557ea4c512 place, were completely reversed.
[Why not?]
Even she herself had c86e227abf said to Carlisle, who 2a6a5b55d7 should be that ‘Empress’?
Should the Empress accde3669d be someone who f63479877f lives above the 69d1af287d clouds and doesn’t 734895d185 know the suffering 35e81e31e2 on the earth 3f20642dd5 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 52d0fd62fb that way, I don’t think 3b20cd2f7b there’s anyone more suited to a5308e2b2b be empress than me.”
“That’s right. You have to teach 9ac905d7fd me a lot while 483ecc5e8d you’re by my side. So that there will cd7a87690e be no more places baae1beb71 like Pervaz.”
Carlyle hugged Asha, realizing how e9ee348488 precious and lovable she was.
He didn’t care about 091293428f the many eyes watching 0b705b2f71 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 covering 1abeb98cef her face with her 3dd2d1eb9d hands in embarrassment, quickly 92a2229945 whispered before Carlyle could cb929a3890 let go of her ea0da7c840 arm.
“I love you too.”
Carlyle pulled her back f24032118b into his arms, tightening 2d78acde8f his grip.
With the bluebird 105f1cec2f that had flown f015bc2f43 away now in b9684c6551 his arms, he 9a00a15b4a didn’t envy anything ddd537fca8 in the world.
* * *
The official coronation of the 3a804f4158 new Emperor of the Chad 30a7ecd4b9 Empire, Carlyle Evaristo, took place 2da775e598 in the midst of the f6cbf8b024 midsummer, where every element of c8f0ec92dc life brimmed with energy.
Amidst the crowd in fe60db93fa the grand Soliel Hall, dec84c2dba Carlyle walked in, embodying 55fc8a48b8 the image everyone expected 7d17ab9496 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 abundance 5c7e5bd979 who has safeguarded our empire 06556cd886 with Aguilles’ blessings, permit the c6f7762035 prosperity of our empire….”
The Archbishop, dispatched personally 10f08cf05c by the Pope, conducted c47c250342 the coronation ceremony, offering a0d82ee809 prayers and blessings.
Due to Gabriel’s incident, the 2dda5958c6 priests played only a minimal f2257a36f4 role in the coronation ceremony, 517bb68f36 and even the prayers recited 1db662c6e9 by the Archbishop were approved 20585e4266 by the imperial court.
And the last part of da85b76fbb 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 48fa427a3c imperial crown was placed db60dde1e4 upon Carlyle’s head, and 780d9247e7 the royal scepter and 446f662673 orb were placed in f93dbdcf1d his hands as he 9f47e5acd4 rose 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 cf35860f83 throne, the coronation of d152ee9e8b the empress immediately followed.
Handing over the 6c08542105 scepter and orb fb17038ee8 to the chamberlain, 0800aabfcb Carlyle welcomed Asha, d8225b517f who approached him b34cdc927c with the empress’s 5156ed50c3 crown.
Adorning a dress 9eb2785fcf with a crisp da8ab943bd neckline, her neck 0bdca3c900 shimmered with the 3f21ad25f1 ruby necklace he 9c3f88540f had gifted her a45f7d6e9b before the wedding.
“Is that necklace… still intact?”
“Oh, are you referring to the ruby necklace? I was actually considering looking 38a1ac681a into auctions. You think it would fetch fe79aefddd a good price?”
Unable to contain 50cb14a250 himself because of 192b818aa7 the seeds he d9f18a58bc had sown, Carlyle 5a81b6d570 finally looked at c469bcf042 Asha with a 26272c054e puppy-like expression, prompting 52fb50364c her to laugh b1164d52c7 and keep the 55aba2df8e 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 207af5560e her decision.
His mother, whom he e9d1789cd3 couldn’t even remember, suddenly bcca23fb26 became the first person 67c626df15 to come to mind 3f132e8a63 when the coronation approached.
‘Mother, who risked her life to save me, are you looking down on me now?’
With a faint smile, 8eeb9a6a64 he gently placed the 87450819da empress’s crown, adorned with 695d461049 rubies and diamonds, on e58d50c3dd Asha’s head as she a67e1ee02f knelt before him.
The previous emperor had af86b86752 presented a ruby and 41075e6914 diamond necklace to Evelina, 300844d2e3 symbolizing the jewels adorning 11f7b02232 the empress’s crown.
But she never 91395ae536 had the chance acb987b83c to wear the 8d9e7e2cc0 ruby crown and cdf76aa79b died at the ae495e4f76 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 833af45b50 least desired was finally happening.
He prayed that his mother, 33414ee66a even in heaven, could release 5d2aa0187d 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 d9ea8276e1 acceptance of the 2625e66674 Empress’s crown, and abde8809f5 some nobles frowned ae50e2c6be in disapproval. To their eyes, always vying 5a0f66c38a for more than they have, 882a7dc534 the Empress who cares for 7457ccd020 the lives of the people, 3eaab1b8ea not the nobles, could not 0d599e3309 look good.
Asha’s gaze, sweeping 9906d54b0d over them, was 0b35cf2bd1 sharp.
‘My resistance to arrogant power is not over yet.’
Perhaps this path was prepared d9d1fbc571 by her father and brothers f1764b6d62 who wanted to change the 84619c8c27 fate of Pervaz.
Because as the lord 735d3370f1 of Pervaz alone, she baccbea91f could not change the c93c7554cb fate of Pervaz.
‘Please protect me to the end, Father, so that I don’t become like them.’
Led by Carlyle, Asha 12357b073d ascended the same high c9d5a418b7 platform as him and d0b9b7d98c looked down at everyone.
The poorest and most barren 7c950d7564 territory in the Empire, Pervaz, 201e400d5a and the only surviving bloodline 6162b48621 of the Pervaz County family, 06784f948e now ascended to the throne ee4396778e of the Empress of the 685456d1f5 Chad Empire.
Before them lay countless obstacles 4dfc1414bf as many as the people 27e3fc0bdc who filled the hall.
There were still 77c3512822 those who opposed 0bee94ab65 Asha as Empress, 4ee2665ee5 and those who fe23c98a43 sought their own 82cb83327d gain were eagerly 54727795f9 awaiting an opportunity.
The temple was 4ef8add6da simply hiding its 2af96b9e55 body, waiting for a775f2daf9 the power to d984570b4a seize the palace 29e334753f again to fall 5215005350 into their hands, 7a83a65647 and those who c27c88ac4a feared change were bea3866f5a preparing to counterattack.
“Asha.”
“Yes, Carlyle.”
Amidst the cheers of 0a50f7b16c the crowd towards them, 94b931d64e Carlyle took Asha’s hand 722ecf1a4b and whispered in her 9ea4979b9f ear.
“A new battlefield will open up before us tomorrow.”
He had already apologized 1b7f83649c several times. ‘I’m sorry for dragging you into this vulgar world.’
However, Asha had dfd41a3cd2 always entered this ea3e071632 battlefield of her 2ba251b9f9 own free will.
“Don’t worry. As always, I will 2b418598f7 protect your back.”
“…You’re reliable.”
Carlyle’s face was filled 2eedbce61d with happiness.
He, who had b924b26583 always been alone, dfb9006966 now had a 3396da0aaa comrade to fight d91e53c800 with him side ae95551497 by side. It was a tremendous comfort.
“I love you.”
“Me too.”
Praying that the age of 344714895e arrogance would come to an dcc989e8c0 end and an age of 069461db62 love, understanding, and tolerance would 5a1b459a32 begin, the two joined hands f61018650d and strengthened their grip.
The cheers from 2c5b230ae7 Soleil Hall echoed d1207a6a4f endlessly.
* * *
-FIN
“Main Story Finale”63b20d98afefee1a

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish