The Age Of Arrogance

“Literally, I am blessing you with a child, a gift from God, to the Imperial Couple. Once you receive the blessing of conception, the chances of having a child will increase significantly.”

 

Carlyle smirked at those words.

 

“Does my mother wish for us to have a child?”

 

“Of course. Otherwise, why would she have sent me here?”

 

“Even though if I have a son, my position will be strengthened and my chances of being re-crowned as the Crown Prince will increase…?”

 

Carlyle wondered if the Empress had sent Gabriel after calculating all that.

 

It was called a ‘conception’ blessing, but who knows if Gabriel will give a blessing or a curse of infertility.

 

Of course, Gabriel’s answer was no different than what Carlyle had expected.

 

“Her Majesty the Empress is not interested in such things. She sympathizes with Your Highness’s situation and is only waiting for an heir to the throne for the future of the Imperial Family…….”

 

“Is that why she brought up my father’s mistress? To sow my seeds anywhere? For the future of the Imperial Family?”

 

Carlyle cut off Gabriel’s words.

 

For the first time, Gabriel closed his mouth, but there was a faint disgust on his brow. And Carlyle was not the one to not notice it.

 

“Why, was that a jarring expression for the High Priest to hear? Or has Her Majesty the Empress still not properly explained what happened then?”

 

“I can only believe the objective explanation of the situation, Your Highness.”

 

“Well. I doubt that came out of the High Priest’s head either, but, well, it doesn’t matter now.”

 

There was no trace of ambiguity or unpleasantness on Carlyle’s smiling face. Enough to make Gabriel doubt his own eyes.

 

However, Carlyle was sincere.

 

Honestly, he was still pissed that he was stripped of his Crown Prince position because of that shitty incident, but thanks to that, his life, which had fallen into mannerism, seemed to have regained its vitality.

 

He left Zyro, which was full of betrayal and conspiracy, and came to Pervaz, which was full of honest loyalty and blunt affection. He also came to know exactly who the people around him were who had only been talking nonsense.

 

If he hadn’t married Asha in disguise and come to Pervaz, he probably wouldn’t have noticed some of the conspiracies until the very end.

 

“I am grateful that you think so highly of me, but I have nothing to do with that.”

 

Gabriel denied any connection to the incident with a calm expression.

 

Carlyle asked playfully.

 

“Can you swear on the name of God?”

 

“Of course.”

 

Gabriel crossed two fingers under the table as he lied. He believed that God would forgive this ‘white’ lie.

 

And then, Carlyle dismissed his doubts surprisingly easily.

 

“I see. I apologize for misunderstanding. Is the meal to your liking?”

 

That was the end of it.

 

Gabriel felt somehow displeased by Carlyle, who even seemed to be enjoying himself, and asked him a question with a malicious intent.

 

“It is sumptuous to my taste. But… how is your life in Pervaz?”

 

“It is good.”

 

It was not the answer he had expected.

 

“Just saying ‘good’… doesn’t give me a good picture. I wonder how the most celebrated figure in Zyro’s social circles is adjusting to life in this secluded territory…”

 

“It seems the High Priest doesn’t know this, but since I turned fifteen, I have spent much more time on the battlefield than in Zyro.”

 

Carlyle picked up the glass of wine next to him and shook it lightly.

 

The crimson liquid formed a thin film on the wall of the glass and then ran down. Like blood dripping down.

 

“All those places I was in were Pervaz. Full of war and slaughter, screams and despair… Ironically, it’s because I came after the war that Pervaz feels more peaceful to me than any place I’ve been.”

 

His gaze pierced Gabriel sharply.

 

“For your reference, no temple has ever burned down in any place I’ve been.”

 

Carlyle lightly raised his glass and swallowed the wine.

 

And he muttered to himself.

 

“I could burn it down if you want.”

 

Carlyle seemed to be about to jump out of his seat and burn down the Great Temple.

 

Gabriel hardened his face and stared at Carlyle, but Carlyle put on a smooth face again as if nothing had happened and asked.

 

“But how will you give that blessing of conception? According to rumors, the priest enters the couple’s bedroom himself and gives it…”

 

His eyes narrowed.

 

“Do you give the blessing while the couple is busy doing it? Is it okay for the priest to see that…?”

 

Gabriel, at the clearly teasing tone, thought he was being oversensitive and smiled, shaking his head slightly.

 

“You have heard strange rumors. Surely that can’t be true?”

 

“Then how do you do it?”

 

“It is true that I enter the bedroom. However, I do not give the blessing right next to them, but I give the blessing from a distance over the curtain and then leave quietly.”

 

“Can you even move properly if you’re watching your eyes?”

 

Carlyle continued to tease him, but Gabriel spoke with a meaningful look.

 

“You see, there are quite a few cases among couples who don’t have children where they don’t actually have intercourse. I wonder if I should check that too…”

 

Gabriel maintained a gentle smile as he glanced at Carlyle and Asha.

 

“What can I do? That’s the task you’ve been assigned.”

 

Even if Carlyle had shared a bed with Asha, he didn’t consider them to have a marital relationship.

 

He thought that while Carlyle might have allowed Asha into his bedroom as a “delicacy,” then he wouldn’t seek her out anymore, especially with more beautiful women like Cecilia and Dorothea around.

 

Furthermore, he had no intention of having a child with her; it would only complicate matters.

 

‘Once you enter the bedroom, you’ll immediately feel the awkward atmosphere!

 

However, Carlyle, who was expected to be embarrassed, remained calm.

 

“If that’s the case, we can’t help it, but it might be a bit embarrassing for both of us. Well, the high priest won’t be spreading rumors about my bedroom affairs, right?”

 

“…Of course not.”

 

“When do we start?”

 

“I’ll check Your Highness’ schedule and set a date for the coupling event.”

 

“Does the High Priest handle such matters too? Impressive.”

 

Carlyle nodded and accepted another glass of wine from the servant.

 

“But what happens if I refuse to receive the blessing?”

 

It was a casual question, but Gabriel suspected Carlyle was walking into a trap.

 

“Why would you refuse?”

 

“Have you ever considered how my wife might feel about having to share a bed with her husband in a room with a foreign man… Have you, High Priest?”

 

It was an unexpected remark.

 

Even if it was just an excuse, Evaristo, as he was, wouldn’t ask, “Have you considered how I might feel?” but rather, “Have you considered how my wife might feel?” It was even more surprising because of the seriousness in his tone.

 

“Of course… I understand it’s not easy for women. But Your Grace has a significant obligation to produce a royal heir. I believe you can endure this much.”

 

“Obligation, what obligation.”

 

Gabriel’s words prompted Carlyle to drop another pretense.

 

“Are all priests men? From ancient times, priests have enjoyed imposing duties on women. Is that what the gods want?”

 

“Are you asking me about the will of the gods?”

 

“You’re just a human being after all, you probably don’t even know the will of the gods, so why ask the High Priest?”

 

A chilly attack was embedded in the laughter.

 

And the face of Gabriel, who had been smiling all along, turned cold.

 

How dare he, that insolent…!’

 

He clenched his hand under the table with force.

 

He could put up with everything else, but it was hard to bear him belittling himself, who believed he had a divine mission, as “just another human being.”

 

Thanks to the black magic circle that greedily absorbed life force, he could completely destroy this place with a wave of his hand if he wanted to.

 

Knowing that he could do it seemed to make him even more impatient.

 

However, Gabriel barely managed to hold on to his sanity.

 

‘My mission is to establish the Kingdom of God. I must not fall for this devil’s provocation now.’

 

It would be easy to wipe out this place right away, but then he would lose the legitimacy to establish the Holy Empire.

 

The perfect scenario was to defeat this demon and establish a new nation close to heaven with his faithful followers.

 

He gritted his teeth and smiled again, the corners of his mouth upturned.

 

“Your Highness’ consideration for Her Highness is truly heartwarming. I believe that with your blessing, you will surely succeed in conceiving with just a few blessings.”

 

And so, the uncomfortable meal came to an end.

 

***

 

Click.

 

The door clicked shut.

 

“Ah, you’re here,”

 

Carlyle greeted Asha warmly as she entered their couple’s bedroom.

 

“Are you feeling any better? I think dinner’s been served.”

 

“Not exactly,”

 

Asha replied, taking off the coat draped over her shoulders.

 

Winter arrives in Pervaz by the end of October, so even in the capital people wear coats or thick sweaters to stay warm.

 

“When did the High Priest say we should start to… mate?”

 

Asha couldn’t help but feel a blush creep up her cheeks at the word “mate.” She averted her gaze ever so slightly.

 

“Twice a week starting next week. He said he might come to our room three or four times.”

 

“That High Priest must be quite embarrassed too. After all, we don’t really want to have a child anyway, right? But the High Priest has to come to our room twice a week and listen to us doing it…”

 

Asha covered her face with her hands

 

In this situation, the person who was most embarrassed was definitely Asha.

* * * *

 

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