The Age Of Arrogance

“The most devastating blow to the Kingdom of Albania was the ‘duty-free’ part.

 

The Chad Empire was so large that it had an abundance of all resources, and naturally, it was cheaper than the resources produced within the Kingdom of Albania.

 

If you can import it without even paying taxes, who would buy expensive domestic products? It was obvious that other merchants from other countries doing business in Albania would prioritize the goods of the Empire over those of Albania.

 

“For the Empire, it was a way to strangle the Albanian royal family.”

 

“And at the same time, they are increasing their own exports… They say the Crown Prince of the Empire is a vicious schemer.”

 

Until now, the tariffs imposed on the import of the Empire resources and goods had been the main source of income for the royal family, but now that they were cut off, the royal family had to make do with less from the nobles.

 

The nobles, who had already contributed a lot of military and taxes to the war, were cold to the royal family, and Serenis, who could not see the situation of her family, was even selling her own belongings to help.

 

“The Emperor of the Chad Empire might be appeased to some extent, but that devilish Crown Prince is a pain in the neck.”

 

Serenes sighed again.

 

But then someone who had been observing the atmosphere around her cautiously interjected.

 

“Don’t you know yet? That damned Carlyle has been stripped of his title as Crown Prince.”

 

Then someone else chimed in.

 

“He tried to usurp his father’s mistress. He’s a man of complete depravity.”

 

“Judging by the fact that he still can’t return to Zyro, it doesn’t seem like he’ll be able to ascend to the throne again.”

 

At those words, Serenis’ eyes lit up.

 

“Do you mean… that no matter what happens in the south, he won’t be able to come down?”

 

“I guess so? The Empress can make her son the Crown Prince, so why would she call on a stepson?”

 

“Haha! That’s right, that’s right. We finally have our chance, and we’re not going to let it go.”

 

The conversation soon turned to the topic of the Empress and Matthias.

 

However, Serenis was so lost in her own thoughts that she didn’t even notice that someone was looking at her expression.

 

***

 

‘Is this better?’

 

Gabriel frowned as he tied and untied his hair in front of the mirror.

 

He had agreed to meet with Asha to discuss opening a prayer meeting in the castle, and he was taking great care with his appearance from head to toe, not wanting to miss this opportunity.

 

‘I don’t think she’s swayed by my appearance that much, but at least if I look pretty, I can make a good impression.’

 

Gabriel knew well how powerful a weapon his appearance was, and he had no qualms about wielding it whenever he met with the faithful. It always worked, of course.

 

However, there were times when he felt self-deprecating when he groomed himself to impress others, but strangely enough, he didn’t feel bad at all right now, combing his hair to meet Asha.

 

‘It’s ironic that I feel better dressing up for someone who doesn’t care about my appearance.’

 

He chuckled and turned to the door, checking that it was almost time to meet Asha.

 

That’s when it happened.

 

“Ugh……!”

 

He collapsed to the floor, suddenly feeling a sharp pain in his side.

 

It was an excruciating pain, as if his flesh was being burned away.

 

He clenched his teeth and clenched his fists, trying to endure it, but a groan escaped his lips.

 

‘Why now of all times……!’

 

He was familiar with this situation itself. It was the price he paid for using the forbidden power of black magic.

 

The small, dot-like black spot on his shoulder had spread all over his body as the time he spent with black magic increased and the black magic he used became stronger.

 

And from that spot, excruciating pain would occasionally occur.

 

The book that introduced him to black magic said that it would also corrupt his soul, but he didn’t know what that meant yet. Because other than the pain in his body, he didn’t feel anything particularly painful.

 

The pain usually occurred at night, but sometimes it would occur in the late afternoon. Today was one of those days.

 

“Ugh……, hurry……, I have to go…….”

 

Even as he laid on the floor, writhing in pain, time was ticking away.

 

The time he had promised Asha had already passed, and if he was any later, he might be accused of deliberately delaying because he ignored Asha.

 

Gabriel took a deep breath and struggled to get up from the floor. The pain was lasting longer than usual today.

 

Just then, there was a knock at the door.

 

“High Priest. It’s Asha Pervaz. Are you inside?”

 

It seemed that Asha, who couldn’t wait, had come to see him herself. A quick glance at the clock showed that only five minutes had passed since the appointment time.

 

‘She’s quite impatient too. If I just wait, she’ll go away foolishly……!’

 

The pain was so bad that he was even annoyed with Asha.

 

He gritted his teeth, thinking he should pretend he wasn’t in the room, but the pain only got worse.

 

“Ugh!”

 

Asha knocked on the door again, perhaps hearing the groan that I couldn’t help but let out.

 

“Your Grace! What’s wrong?”

 

However, he couldn’t answer.

 

Asha, who knows a thing or two about the magic of the abandoned land, might also know about these symptoms of someone using dark magic.

 

Even if she didn’t, if she reported this to Carlyle, he would somehow turn it into an opportunity to attack me.

 

‘I have to endure it. I have to endure it…!’

 

However, Asha spoke in a determined voice, as if she had judged what was happening inside the room.

 

“I apologize. I’m coming in.”

 

She rattled the locked door and ran off somewhere, before returning a short while later with a key and opening the door.

 

Fortunately, the pain had subsided considerably by then, and he was able to get up from the floor, gasping for breath.

 

“Are you okay?”

 

“Ah……. Yes, I’m fine…….”

 

“……I guess I asked the wrong question. You don’t look fine at all.”

 

Asha stared at him with an expressionless face and then glanced over him.

 

Even in the midst of all this, he was relieved that Asha had come alone and not brought anyone else. He should be able to fool a naive country bumpkin somehow.

 

“I thought something had happened since you, who are never late, were late. Are you not feeling well?”

 

“Really, I’m fine.”

 

“Please wipe off your cold sweat and speak. You’re still holding your side…….”

 

Only then did he realize that he was pressing his side with his hand.

 

It felt like a hot branding iron was being pressed against him, and he found himself pressing it with his hand, even though he knew it was useless.

 

Asha, who had been watching him quietly, stood up abruptly and went back to the door to lock it.

 

“Let me see the wound.”

 

“This is just…… I’m just not feeling well.”

 

“Even so, I want to see it.”

 

“A priest cannot show his body to others without permission. Especially to a woman…….”

 

“Then shall I call His Highness Carlyle’s personal physician?”

 

In the end, Asha made a threat, and he had no choice but to lift my priestly robe, swallowing dry saliva.

 

‘What do I say? What on earth do I say about my body being so emaciated!’

 

He pressed his parched lips and exposed his side.

 

I thought Asha would be shocked as soon as she saw it, but she surprisingly examined it calmly and then raised her head and said.

 

“It looks like a side effect of the disease or a congenital mark.”

 

Gabriel was relieved when Asha interpreted his words on her own.

 

“That is…….”

 

“You don’t have to explain. There are quite a few people in Pervaz who have spots due to various diseases or congenital disabilities.”

 

Asha took off Gabriel’s robe.

 

“However, this is the first time I’ve seen someone feel pain in the area where the spot appeared.”

 

“…….”

 

“I apologize. I was rude.”

 

Asha apologized while Gabriel pondered his answer.

 

Thanks to her misunderstanding, he had less to worry about explaining himself, but that didn’t mean he could relax.

 

‘If she goes to His Highness Carlyle and tells him this, I could be attacked in some way…….’

 

In the aristocratic society that pursued perfection, disabilities and diseases were hated things.

 

It was like trying to pluck a star from the sky for someone with a disability to enter the mainstream of society, and even after becoming a part of the mainstream through hard work, they would always feel like they were being stared at.

 

One of the reasons Gabriel was able to become a High Priest at such a young age was because of his appearance, so if it was known that he was hiding an ugly body under his robe…….

 

‘It’s over.’

 

All the believers who had worshipped him would fall away, and his plan to build a Holy Empire would be greatly disrupted.

 

Of course, it was just as dangerous for Carlyle to suspect something else.

 

Gabriel decided to take the plunge and confided in Asha.

 

“Countess. This is a black spot that I’ve had since I was born. It sometimes causes severe pain, but I swear to God it’s not a contagious disease. So…… if you could keep it a secret…….”

 

Asha nodded lightly.

 

“Of course. I’m not so poorly educated that I would go around gossiping about someone’s body secret.”

 

“Thank you.”

 

Of course, even as he answered, Gabriel didn’t trust Asha.

 

But then Asha made a strange condition.

 

“I will keep my mouth shut, but in return, Your Eminence, please start taking medicinal baths.”

 

“Yes……? Medicinal baths……?”

 

 

“I can’t guarantee it will work for Your Eminence, but I heard that someone in the territory who had this disease saw results with medicinal baths.”

 

Gabriel tilted his head slightly, his expression puzzled.