The Age Of Arrogance

Amidst everyone silently checking their weapons, Isaac, the commander of the Haven Knights, suddenly asked as if he had just remembered something.

 

“How far south do you plan to go today?”

 

“Line.”

 

“Understood. Hey, rear guard! The camp will be set up in Line!”

 

No one questioned or was surprised by Carlyle’s declaration that he would reclaim the stronghold the imperial army had lost 20 days ago in just one day.

 

Asha suddenly saw Carlyle again.

 

‘What he says becomes law… Wouldn’t he be afraid or troubled?’

 

Having so many people trust and follow him like a compass could feel like tremendous power, but on the other hand, it could also be a tremendous burden.

 

Asha knew this burden well, so she was a little worried.

 

Carlyle, who noticed that Asha was looking at him, raised his eyebrows slightly and joked.

 

“Did you fall in love with me again?”

 

Asha looked at Carlyle, who had a shameless face and even a smile, and asked.

 

“Aren’t you afraid?”

 

“Of what?”

 

“That everyone is following you.”

 

After saying it, Asha felt like it was a bit of a foolish question and tried to fumble her words. However, Carlyle did not ridicule her or make a face like what did you say.

 

On the contrary, he had a more serious face than ever.

 

“I am not afraid.”

 

“…Really?”

 

“No matter what decision I make, people will die. I wouldn’t be afraid of that.”

 

His reddish-brown hair fluttered in the wind and covered his eyes.

 

His amber eyes, shining through his hair, seemed to be filled with countless emotions and memories.

 

“That’s why I have to be an arrogant commander. To honor all those deaths. To take responsibility for all those deaths.”

 

Asha saw a hidden side of Carlyle that seemed to look down on everything.

 

Indebted to countless lives, he was arrogant for those who protected him. To show that they did not die for insignificant humans.

 

“You are reassuring. Even if I die here, my honor will be eternal with Your Highness’ victory.”

 

“Why die?”

 

Carlyle snorted and patted her.

 

“You have to protect my back. You too must be responsible for the lives of everyone with me.”

 

“Yes? Why are you dragging me in?”

 

“Why?”

 

His once-desolate eyes were filled with mischief again.

 

“You are my wife.”

 

His playful words, thrown out like a stone, rippled through Asha’s heart.

 

Asha stared at Carlyle’s smiling lips and smiled bitterly, or perhaps regretfully, and replied jokingly.

 

“Oh, right. I’m. I’m the wife who has to protect her husband, but forgot.”

 

“There’s nothing to forget. My life depends on you, so please take care of me.”

 

By then, the army had formed up and was ready to attack.

 

“Your Highness! We are ready!”

 

At Isaac’s signal, Carlyle nodded and drew his sword.

 

“Then let’s go.”

 

He spoke as if he were going for a walk, and then started to run.

 

Asha followed him, and then Lionel, Isaac, Decker, Hector, the Knights of Haven, and the Pervaz army followed.

 

Those who had been guarding the south and north of the Chad Empire rushed out to deliver death to the invaders.

 

***

 

“Matthias!”

 

“Mother!”

 

In the imperial palace, a reunion between two people who had not seen each other for several days was taking place.

 

Matthias felt relieved to be back in the comfortable palace from the terrifying battlefield, but Beatrice was on edge.

 

‘This is ridiculous. This is ridiculous!’

 

She had not imagined that the knights sent out to replace Matthias would be so hopelessly defeated, and she had not known that the news of Matthias’s hasty escape would spread through the social circles despite her bribing the messengers.

 

Moreover, Carlyle had arrived in the South faster than expected, and there were rumors that his momentum was extraordinary.

 

‘Since Libato is watching over the empire, there is no way that that devilish bastard can win. But… if he does, the situation will become too serious.’

 

From the moment the imperial army led by Matthias began to suffer consecutive defeats, Beatrice admitted that she had taken the war too lightly.

 

Since then, she had tried to mobilize all her power and connections to support the imperial army, but strangely enough, the great noble families had all made various excuses and refused to lend their knights.

 

‘I’ll kill them all with stones. They will all be punished and fall from grace!’

 

Overwhelmed by anxiety, she had been locking herself in the prayer room several times a day to pray.

 

She prayed for the imperial knights to win at least once, or for the Southern United Army to come to the negotiating table.

 

However, it seemed that time was too short for God to answer her prayers.

 

In that case, she had to find a way to save herself.

 

“Matti! I hear that that bastard Carlyle has reached Patas. It’s only a matter of time before he clashes with the Southern Kingdom Alliance.”

 

Just as Beatrice was about to start talking about Carlyle, Matthias sighed and shook his head.

 

“Mother, I need to rest for a bit. My back hurts from riding in the carriage for so long… .”

 

“Pull yourself together, Matti! Do you think this is the time to be lazy and complain?”

 

“Complain? My back really hurts…!”

 

Matthias frowned as if he was feeling wronged and tried to argue.

 

However, Beatrice placed a cold hand on his cheek. Matthias flinched at the memory of the last time he was slapped, but she whispered without a trace of affection.

 

“If that bastard Carlyle wins, he will be reinstated as crown prince immediately.”

 

“What? W-what do you mean?”

 

“That bastard made his reinstatement a condition for going out to war. Your cowardly father accepted it.”

 

This was news that Matthias had no idea about.

 

He had been so busy running away from defeat in the war that he had only received news that Carlyle was coming down to take over as commander-in-chief.

 

‘I thought my father was finally taking my side…!’

 

Matthias’s eyes flickered dangerously.

 

His mind could not come up with a way to protect the Crown Prince’s title.

 

Simply put, Carlyle had to be made to lose, but his defeat meant that the Empire would lose to the Southern Kingdom Alliance and much would be lost. It would be a headache to inherit an empire in such a state.

 

‘But if I help that bastard win… my position as Crown Prince will be gone!’

 

A pouty mouth protruded.

 

He had gone through all sorts of hardships going down to the South, and the result was that he would lose his position as Crown Prince. He felt resentful and wronged.

 

“Isn’t there any way to stop it, Mother?”

 

As he asked with a crying face, his beautiful mother spoke with shining cold eyes.

 

“There is only one way.”

 

“What is it?”

 

“Even if that Carlyle guy wins, you’re still the Crown Prince until his official reinstatement is declared. You know that, right?”

 

“That’s… yes… right…?”

 

Matthias tilted his head, not fully understanding what his mother was saying.

 

Beatrice approached Matthias and whispered in an even smaller voice.

 

“If His Majesty dies before he is reinstated, you will become Emperor.”

 

Matthias’ eyes widened slowly.

 

It wasn’t a combination of words that was difficult to understand, but it seemed like his head was refusing to understand.

 

“M, M, Mother…!”

 

“Matti. Wasn’t it even hard for you to ride in the carriage and return to the palace?”

 

“Y,yes…”

 

“What do you think Carlyle will do to you if he becomes Emperor? Will he let you live? Even if he says he will let you live with great concessions, do you think he will let you live the rest of your life comfortably?”

 

Beatrice was now doing to her son what Matthias had once done to her.

 

Matthias’ hands began to tremble.

 

Beatrice smiled faintly and held her son’s trembling hands tightly.

 

“So, Matti. If you want to live, you have to be strong. You don’t need to feel guilty. Your father is the one who sent you to the battlefield to save himself.”

 

“But… What are you going to do? There are only a few guards around my father…!”

 

 

“That’s what we need to figure out from now on. So you don’t have time to rest.”

 

Beatrice whispered to Matthias and rolled her head.

 

Everything had to be ready before Carlyle returned to Zyro.