The Age Of Arrogance

Matthias, who had been rebellious even towards Beatrice, changed his attitude with a single touch from Gabriel. No, it was even more strange that the High Priest had placed his hand on the Emperor’s head without permission.

 

But even stranger than that was the black smoke that had briefly appeared from Gabriel’s hand.

 

‘Did I see it wrong? It looked like there was some black smoke coming from the High Priest’s hand just now…?’

 

The senior chamberlain, who was watching the entire situation from the front row, tilted his head in doubt, wondering if he was seeing things.

 

Matthias’ hair was platinum blonde, and Gabriel’s hands were quite fair for a man. And his clothes were also white.

 

That’s why the black smoke stood out even more.

 

Looking around, it seemed that I wasn’t the only one who had witnessed it. Judging by the way some people were glancing at Gabriel with puzzled expressions.

 

However, no one dared to say anything.

 

“…Therefore, from this moment on, I will implement the revised law.”

 

Matthias, who had been reading the announcement in a monotonous voice, closed his mouth after saying that he would implement the revised law without a grace period.

 

His role was as good as over.

 

Immediately, Beatrice and Gabriel ordered the Knights to sortie.

 

“The Imperial Knights and the Imperial Guard, the Knights of His Majesty the Emperor, shall punish the rebels and protect His Majesty the Emperor!”

 

“According to the revised law, the Holy Knights will also take the lead in protecting the Imperial family.”

 

The Knights, who had already finished all preparations and were waiting, began to move to their assigned positions as soon as the order was given.

 

* * *

 

“I’m sorry that we had to fight in such cold weather.”

 

Carlyle muttered as he looked up at the cloudy sky. The snow that had been falling last night had fortunately stopped, but the cold remained.

 

Outside the north gate of Zyro, the nobles who supported him and the knights they commanded were lined up in formation.

 

It had been secretly prepared since before the day he met Gabriel at the bell tower, so the imperial family must have found out only at dawn today.

 

Carlyle looked around the Allied Knights waiting in the early morning cold and joked.

 

“But I promise I’ll finish it quickly.”

 

He seemed relaxed, unlike someone about to march on the imperial palace. The nobles were relieved inwardly at his appearance, and the knights and soldiers in line looked at him with admiration.

 

However, even Carlyle could not hide his nervousness.

 

“How are you feeling?”

 

His voice, asking about Asha’s condition, was filled with unconcealed concern.

 

“I’m fine.”

 

“Aren’t you cold?”

 

“……I’m from Pervaz.”

 

In Pervaz, where winter is long and harsh, this kind of weather is considered autumn. It was only natural. The snow was not deep enough to sink in, the icicles did not reach from the eaves to the ground, and it was not cold enough to get frostbite if you exposed your fingers.

 

Carlyle realized he had asked a stupid question and laughed. But whenever he looked at Asha, he felt uneasy and worried.

 

Asha, perhaps reading Carlyle’s expression, made a slightly displeased expression.

 

“I thought my skills had already been proven.”

 

“That was when you were in good shape.”

 

“I’ve recovered a lot.”

 

“You’ve recovered. But you haven’t gained any weight.”

 

“I feel better because my body is lighter.”

 

“Strength comes from size. So please don’t fight like you used to. Unless you want to see my heart drop.

 

Asha, who had been arguing with Carlyle, thought the last thing he said was a little strange.

 

‘Isn’t the expression “heart” used for someone you love? Do they use it for anyone in Zyro?’

 

There is such a joke in Pervaz.

 

[What is the organ inside a person that is outside the body?]

 

[Answer: The heart! Because the person I love carries it around.]

 

To that extent, the heart has often appeared in writings and anecdotes related to love. Asha, who grew up in such a culture, was constantly irritated by Carlyle’s words that her heart seemed to be in her hands.

 

‘Anyway, he picks people up and puts them down without even realizing it……’

 

Asha sighed, shaking her head. She hated herself for being swayed by the meaningless words of a casual city dweller.

 

“Are you listening?”

 

Asha answered Carlyle, who had been nagging her to be careful, with a perfunctory “Yes, yes” and adjusted her sword belt.

 

To Carlyle, it seemed that showing her once would be faster than telling her about her condition a hundred times.

 

Carlyle was about to nag her more when Lionel called out, noticing that she was not listening to his advice.

 

“Your Highness! All preparations are complete!”

 

In an instant, the surroundings became quiet.

 

It was time to put worries behind and fight.

 

Carlyle glanced at Asha once more and turned to the assembled knights.

 

“Raise your weapons!”

 

At Carlyle’s cry, Lionel, Isaac, and the captains of each unit drew their swords, and their knights and soldiers also drew their weapons.

 

Carlyle looked around them and shouted.

 

“Are we the rebels?!”

 

“No!”

 

“Is it treason to avenge the murdered Emperor and protect this country from the hands of fanatics?!”

 

“No!”

 

“Who can protect the Empire from the invasion of foreign powers, barbarians, and demons?!”

 

“Carlyle Evaristo! Carlyle Evaristo!”

 

A heat began to rise among the soldiers who had been preparing for this moment since before dawn in the winter.

 

Carlyle smiled broadly and added fuel to the fire.

 

“No, not me, but you. Take back your Chad Empire!”

 

“Waaaah!”

 

Finally, Carlyle drew his sword and raised it high into the sky.

 

“The traitor who murdered the Emperor and shamelessly crowned himself sits in the palace! Save this country from the hands of fanatics and traitors!”

 

“Waaaah!”

 

The soldiers’ cheers seemed to shake the ground. Carlyle gave the order to the excited soldiers.

 

“Advance!”

 

As his command fell, the army that had been filling the area around the north gate of Zyro Castle immediately opened the north gate and marched into Zyro.

 

The Imperial Knights and the Capital Guard, who had narrowly failed to block the north gate, were rushing towards them. It seemed that the 5th Knights, the smallest of the five Imperial Knights, had come out to assess the situation.

 

“I thought you would be quiet until we arrived at the palace, but they sent you earlier than I thought. You must have been busy since morning.”

 

As Carlyle snickered, the imperial official at the forefront of the Imperial Knights took out an imperial decree and read it out, saying that it was an order from the Emperor.

 

“Hear me, Carlyle Evaristo! According to the revised new law, gathering troops in the capital and threatening the imperial family is defined as treason. Any further illegal…!”

 

“Will you repent now, withdraw your troops, and kneel and beg for mercy? Then I will be merciful and kill you in one blow?”

 

Carlyle cut off the envoy’s words and laughed.

 

“Is it not treason to conceal the cause of the emperor’s death, seal off the palace, call only those who agree to the coronation ceremony, change the law at will, and hand over the imperial palace to the priests?”

 

“Tsk, the envoy’s announcement is the same as the emperor’s order, and this act of yours is now interrupting the emperor’s words…”

 

“If I’m thinking of cutting off Matthias’s head, wouldn’t I be able to cut off that little bit of talk?”

 

The envoy’s face turned pale at the mention of cutting Matthias’s neck. It seemed that he thought someone who would cut the emperor’s neck would not spare his own.

 

As he slowly took a step back, Carlyle raised his voice this time.

 

“I will give you one chance! Those who will follow me, come over now.”

 

His words caused a small commotion among the Imperial Knights. Carlyle continued speaking without changing his indifferent expression.

 

“If you do not come over now, you will be considered my enemy from now on. If you want to experience the blessing of Aguiles as my enemy, I will not stop you.”

 

At that, the knight commander who had brought the knights glared and urged his knights.

 

“Do not be fooled by the words of the traitor! With the Holy Knights here, the blessing of Aguiles is useless!”

 

As Carlyle had roughly expected from reading the revised law that Giles had brought, it seemed that the Holy Knights were indeed involved in this fight.

 

Carlyle just laughed out of amusement.

 

“Who says the Holy Knights can stop the blessing of Aguiles? Did High Priest Gabriel say that?”

 

In the wide open space in front of the North Gate, where a cold wind was blowing, Carlyle’s snickering laughter echoed strangely in their ears.

 

“Alright, let’s see if those guys can even put a single scratch on my body.”

 

At Carlyle’s mocking attitude, someone from the Imperial Knights stepped forward.

 

“I… I will follow Your Highness Carlyle!”

 

It was the former First Knight Commander of the Imperial Knights, Lierto Rodem, who had been demoted to a senior knight due to the consecutive defeats in the Southern War.

 

He had taught Matthias military science and had suffered through the war, taking on difficult decisions in his place, but his reward was being blamed for the defeat.

 

Having grown resentful of Matthias, he felt no guilt in following Carlyle.

 

“Sir Rodem? It’s been a while.”

 

“It has been a long time, Your Highness.”

 

“Thank you for making a wise choice. I almost killed someone I fought alongside.”

 

As the former knight commander joined Carlyle’s side, the other knights began to look at each other.

 

And Carlyle was a natural at turning the atmosphere in his favor.

 

“We can’t keep the Empress Dowager waiting, so I’ll open the front. If you don’t come over by then, you’re my enemy. One…