TAOA-40

Chapter: TAOA-40227707f1da19048b

“Of course, Your Highness has always had excellent observation skills. I can’t see it 6229f5d0fc no matter how hard 4f4aed1505 I look.”
Lionel pursed his bd98d424a8 lips and nodded 9f1eba5dc6 nonchalantly. Then he stopped his gaze 878a0285f2 on the long scar on de6e639273 Carlyle’s side.
“That scar doesn’t seem to be going away.”
“Huh? Oh, this?”
Carlyle, who was 339d1756a0 wiping off the d02e98f1a6 sweat, glanced at 42da4d625a what Lionel was f5a34b5fe6 looking at and 904b1cc8a2 shrugged his shoulders c768129699 as if it 5c10e3a7cd was nothing.
“It’s a scar from a sword, so it’s not going to go away.”
Three years ago, b3bc2d59d7 a fierce war 97ef08ae49 broke out between b3daff1f6f the Parl Kingdom 7e39d2e93c across the border f7b8884581 and the Imperial 62bed3bbe3 Southern Border Region, 8b94058c83 Louispognac.
In fact, it was 4d57b244d9 not a war that 17fa1b9b2b should have been so 31d2af7e78 difficult, but absurdly, the eb5f2f93e0 Empress and Matthias hindered 9dc0063b2f the rear material support, 27cd961ada so they had quite 824a12e158 a hard time.
It wasn’t all 3664769bf8 bad, though, as 1620e1191b it became an 95700a67a2 excuse to behead f96bb5ad76 all the Empress’s f922898730 people who were 592fcb830b in charge of 03ca816b78 material transportation after 958821dcbc the victory. However, Lionel’s expression always a67fd532c8 turned bad whenever he d54da831fc saw this scar.
“You tend to be a bit obsessed with this scar. It’s not even a 9b1d9714a5 scar 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 were 6b8d0da92c able to cut off a 0e4f91ab2d few of the Empress’s purse 877a0bb9ea strings. Your expression at a4c19ad276 that time was ee5642f1a7 quite something to cfc0060e36 behold.”
Carlyle smirked as he put 35d0106970 on a new shirt that efbbdd0ea5 he had prepared in advance 91c676478c and buttoned it up.
Claiming that he e261ec63f5 had only moved 98ec52f936 as ordered by 74b17e2f57 the Empress and 1f80514f9a Matthias, Carlyle beheaded 7c1fca9880 several humans who 6cdc2a3b6c were ranting and af235bf1f7 raving, saying that d833a5fb94 he would “add 693119df5d the crime of fff31d49a7 lese majesty.”
The Empress, who had been 6b338fdd89 creating supporters of Matthias with 386583ebba the money she received from 5c9fde6a15 them, had no choice but 7f746efbaf to watch as her own bac0a33786 purse strings were cut off 7e2423a583 without saying a word.
“I knew Your Highness was a positive person, but I’m still amazed. Do you remember that you a369001fa9 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, 7f5725c3b5 muttering shameless jokes.
“By the way, is Sir Solon doing well?”
Isaac Solon was the 8444085c91 Grand Commander of the 403d39cb8c Haven Knights, which belonged 34964ea5e0 to Carlyle.
He was a b7137f3a66 man with the 4ac42ab812 ability to become 522cac9557 the Grand Commander 19f5add44b of the Imperial db0e6b036e Knights, but he df83a1d1e3 chose Carlyle as 3498dffff7 his lord and d5f5ccde48 turned down the 992e5bae42 higher position.
“He was the one training the soldiers in Louispognac as well. Would he be foolish? He started reorganizing the 62a301335d troops the third day b8c534a408 after arriving here, and ab7f3bc410 he started training five faf5750f5f days ago.”
“The sound of screaming must be coming from there.”
“Of course. But there’s nothing c1adce7f48 we can do c2e03f70f6 about it. Even though the cf0fe95fcd journey here was 7fec0f2b80 difficult, if we 47f14a4ee8 let the soldiers e095f839fc rest too long, 56954fce78 their discipline will 032b5b903b deteriorate.”
“Especially here, it’s the border area of the ‘Abandoned Lands.’ We need to be on high alert.”
Carlyle said, looking towards the 556efa9414 direction where a cool breeze 3eb86f436f blew even under the scorching 28c593ce7a sun.
There were many 48d5e2a4fd who ventured out fa43717734 on expeditions, but 667874e5f0 few returned, and 4e321ecd40 even those who 88d8cccd85 did often returned 0315fc12a6 with wavering minds, 28a87c9bf9 making the vast b1e538d380 land a vague 5d95c818ae source of fear.
It was a habitat for 9eb3946883 creatures of a different level 1117132e78 than the savages who raided 3ba1d6a48c the empire and those that 2037220264 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 and 4447563884 headed to the second floor.
As they ascended the 93f50cf1ec stairs past the dim 8604aca348 and musty entrance, the 6222543cb0 atmosphere changed completely.
The stairs and corridors were 82c2987cbc adorned with rich, thick carpets, 068e5588c5 and tapestries hung on the 4242df7905 walls that were almost like 7c565f980d works of art. Torches were spaced evenly ca32322fd5 along the walls, emitting 69ef3163be a pleasant scent.
Carlyle’s servants, who only stayed 1928dc91d1 on the second floor, all c8419897ea wore uniformed and bowed respectfully 6650848b02 as they stepped aside.
“Has all the luggage from the capital been sorted out?”
“Most of it is done. Items that are 60b8b35e02 not immediately needed 624222162a have been stored 3a750271fd in the warehouse.”
Lionel wanted to ask 7f5e352d80 why they brought consoles, 89a757a73d dressing tables, couches, and a4c4c0b970 the like that belonged 5d520c8114 in a women’s chamber, d1caadaa08 but he held his b83f845323 tongue.
‘If only he could make the Emperor collapse with a fit of rage, he would have taken even more.’
It was the 1a96af27b2 lower servants who 3d47b33c3e suffered because of 0f859ae087 it, but Carlyle 884a9dd997 didn’t care about ad6c256d7b such things.
“But there’s something a bit worrying.”
“What is it?”
Lionel recalled the complaints and c2c4bb078f grievances of the servants who 01a9151d1a had been grumbling since they b1aa098e37 left for Pervaz.
Although they were generously compensated 66e00b9036 for following to the frontier, 10aa390576 the servants seemed to vent 0e293d245f their frustrations on the servants 6dcfdebdc2 of Pervaz Castle due to 8d8800a9e4 the conditions there being much 08d39738be 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 d7a6b7ecf4 understand just by considering d500028db2 Asha’s affection for Pervaz 925b63e4be 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 taking 7adb86c5f3 care of the nobles 0cb42ebe34 in the capital. Out of sight, out 7b03539280 of mind, you know.”
Lionel nodded uncomfortably.
‘I’ll have to warn the Countess later.’
But due to Carlyle’s c474c0e15e overwhelming workload, the task 78e14f61e7 of overseeing the servants f5fd1aac44 was continuously postponed.
***
“Oh, what is it?”
“Pardon? Are you talking to me?”
Nina, who was passing c004835442 by the stairs leading d9bcaf15cc to the second floor 5a08533c8c of the castle, turned c35ef7a5f4 her head at the 2343d9d187 sound that came from 62f6e8bf9b the direction she had 0274f5429f just passed.
There stood a 2c2feeaf20 maid with a 6f6bb742bd scowl on her fc74ccd1aa face, glaring at a4a0ce9112 Nina.
“Who else is here besides you?”
“What… did I do wrong?”
“What did you do wrong? You crossed the 2845103837 path I was d43862b19f walking on!”
“What…?”
The woman who ffb89120df was angry at b549187b14 Nina was one 30ef74c824 of the maids e5a78779d6 that Carlyle had 657e80ff56 brought from the ea01d8e662 capital. She didn’t know her 2c7b03db85 name or even seen 65e1456b1f her face before, but d8ab3333f0 she could tell by c817a99819 the clothes she was d502cede2c wearing and the way 09aef701cc she spoke.
However, she had no e2940d8cfe idea what she was 9bdcb1fa4e talking about.
“What on earth are you talking about? I was just 72d89efd8d walking my way.”
“Doesn’t Pervaz even have something called castle etiquette? Don’t you know your superiors?”
“Superiors? I have no f48130a33a idea what you’re 3f33d6a6ac talking about!”
“Ha! I thought you were 0cfa8bcfd3 some kind of country 842e458952 bumpkin…”
The maid looked Nina 1833116b70 up and down and cfe71b71ff said haughtily.
“Do you think all maids are the same? The hierarchy depends on who 183a098002 you serve. You’re the maid 3accd9dc2d of the Pervaz 1f9d43afd9 lord, and I’m 1e52142f2f the maid of 521853f4c2 His Highness the f009d829ad Prince.”
She pointed at herself 37c82254f7 with her finger and 85c1f376e4 tilted her head coquettishly.
“So who’s superior?”
“…”
“Who’s superior!”
At her question, b2aaf9086e which demanded an d11cd9d646 answer, Nina clenched 293eabe28f her jaw and 6bb7f9aaec barely managed to 67d1a7c07d answer.
“You… seem to be superior.”
“So you’re saying it’s rude to cross the path of the superior? Do I have 64c21b66d3 to explain everything a44c691ef3 to you?”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t know…”
“Tsk. Be careful in the future. Got it?”
The maid, whose words d57da0b8fb had become shorter, brushed 12b0832219 past Nina, who had 5a5b25ab37 her head bowed, and 0a2b1a0313 added one more word.
“The lord herself is like that, so the lower-ranking people are hopeless, tsk.”
At those words, d9e082d940 Nina felt like acad1dc6be fire was burning dbda704fb7 in her eyes.
“Excuse me.”
“What?”
The maid turned 625df34ff9 back with a 178b98704e brazen face, as 3d9910cf22 if she had ade0ad5075 expected Nina to cd9c869b60 call her.
Nina didn’t bow her 6203cec2f3 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 your 1b385f0901 ears? Or maybe your head is 0c1fc93560 wrong.”
She tapped her head 6ab03a5919 with her finger and b5f7b4ba38 went up to the 3b8ba08fa7 second floor with a a6bcfeaaa8 mocking smile.
Nina couldn’t follow her.
The servants of Pervaz Castle ad922b1412 were not allowed to enter e3193078a2 the second floor where the 8d7c7026b3 prince was staying without permission 87890391e0 or order.
‘How dare you insult our lord…’
Nina clenched her fists.
She could have tolerated 972c959bd2 it if she had 78181ac9f6 been insulted and ridiculed 62895ac9e3 herself. After all, she must f160653248 have seemed very lacking 2dda307658 in the eyes of 9fbbcc19c8 those from the capital.
She could understand that d1270d2dbe from their point of f187478207 view, it would be 7fc30ed0c7 unpleasant to be treated 0980d2c51a as an equal with 1227378a34 someone like her.
‘But I can’t stand it when you insult our lord!’
Nina was one of the a0343a247c Pervaz people who had survived bc84729e20 the horrific war.
It was a 7fb3063e29 life where death, 5a38bdd2ae poverty, disease, suffering, 1f3811b166 fear, and despair 885eb9121a seemed to be 693d45b791 lurking right next 3b13fc3483 to her.
Since she was born e68c347c05 that way, she had 3edebb4e95 never imagined that a 74ffcf1e5d life without it would 91aaf21a10 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, 65785357c0 hurry up and 5d29c05a39 shout hurray! Lord, hurray!]
Nina would never 8fe4c17219 forget the voice 5f21c19bc0 of her colleague 350f5bd2ec who had informed a9fd931d7e her of the f7b0242f8e end of the a96865bfa0 war until the 9112c67e42 day she died.
At that time, cc240eca42 she shed tears 16b0d1482a mixed with all 22179f1ed9 sorts of emotions, 65ef8d9262 laughed uncontrollably, and 1b95656c4e shouted hurray like 1899a02f75 crazy.
So much so dc6c4907b7 that everyone must dab0cfbc2e have been yelling, 38c5771884 as there was bd4c5f8fe7 not a single da00e170e7 person whose voice 3a1b9531ad came out properly 38ddb50d98 the next day.
Asha, their lord, was 17d548c625 a hero who had 2e4df1b2cd ended the horrific 28-year 60cc1e6050 war and brought a b9018631ad ray of light to 81a1ea894e this desolate land.
No, to the 427405caa6 people of Pervaz, 65023b8fbd she was a acfebb1a24 god.
****
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