The Age Of Arrogance

His head, which had fallen under the sword, was just an ordinary gray head, nothing more or less.

 

It was an ordinary execution that no one would be curious about anymore. Carlyle and Asha thought it was the most humiliating punishment for Gabriel.

 

Carlyle whispered to Asha, who was standing next to him.

 

“Is this really okay?”

 

He would have made a private execution site for Asha if she wanted.

 

However, Asha shook her head.

 

“I think my sword will get dirty if I cut those things.”

 

She was sincere.

 

Of course, when she came to Zyro with Carlyle to join the rebellion, she wanted to tear off Beatrice and Gabriel’s limbs herself.

 

However, the reality they actually faced was much uglier and more insignificant than they had thought.

 

‘I don’t want to stoop to the same level as those humans.’

 

Just as it is natural to avoid dirt, Asha did not want to get her hands dirty on purpose.

 

However, she did think that she should see this place, the end of everything, through to the end.

 

After all, it is only when you put a good period that a new paragraph can begin.

 

‘It’s all over now. His Majesty Carlyle has become the Emperor, the criminals have been punished, and I have done my part.’

 

It wasn’t that she felt completely relieved, but it wasn’t bad either.

 

She had been staying in the palace and receiving treatment at Carlyle’s request, but now she was no longer in pain.

 

It seemed that she would have to leave for Pervaz soon.

 

A few days after the execution, Asha signed the ‘divorce papers’ she had obtained from the authorities and asked Carlyle for a private audience.

 

TL/N: THE WHAT NOW?!!!

 

She knew that he had been busy taking care of the situation in Zyro and the south, which had been in chaos for a while after his ascension to the throne, but Asha also had to return to Pervaz soon, so she could not delay any longer.

 

Fortunately, Carlyle accepted her request.

 

“It’s been a long time since I’ve seen you. It’s hard for a husband and wife to see each other like this.”

 

Asha’s heart ached again at the sight of Carlyle smiling apologetically.

 

She took a sip of the tea offered by the servant and calmed herself down.

 

“I know you are very busy, so I will just state my business briefly and return.”

 

“No, no. I use you as an excuse to rest for a while too. Sit down.”

 

He really did look tired as he collapsed into his chair.

 

He was a man who possessed divine power and had also received the blessing of Aguiles, but it was only natural that he was tired since he had been working non-stop since pacifying the south.

 

An ordinary person would have collapsed several times during that time.

 

As if not joking about wanting to take a break under the excuse of Asha, he slowly sipped his tea without even asking why he had come, only looking at Asha.

 

It was Asha who became anxious.

 

“There… ”

 

“Yeah.”

 

Although she tried to speak, somehow it was difficult to find the words.

 

The gaze of Carlyle looking at her felt strangely warm and gentle, more than it should be.

 

‘I need to fix this delusion quickly…’

 

For that, she needed to quickly settle the contract with Carlyle and return to Pervaz. From then on, they would never have to see each other again, so her delusion would naturally improve.

 

Asha regained her composure.

 

“This… Your Majesty seemed busy, so I prepared this.”

 

“What is this?”

 

“Divorce papers. I’ve signed them, so after Your Majesty signs and seals them, you just need to get confirmation from the temple.”

 

Although Elahe’s favor had fallen, their position as the Empire religion was still strong. No matter how corrupt they were, it was not something that countless believers could convert from overnight.

 

But they were not as arrogant as before. With the incident involving Beatrice and Gabriel, Carlyle was watching the priest’s every move, and if Carlyle demanded it, they would formalize the divorce within an hour.

 

However, Carlyle’s expression as he received the documents from Asha and looked down at them was not good. No, his expression seemed to have disappeared altogether.

 

“For the confirmation from the temple, you can send Sir Lionel or another trustworthy person. Your Majesty just needs to sign and seal it.”

 

Asha felt embarrassed and anxious, so she kept repeating the same words.

 

Whether he listened to her or not, Carlyle slowly moved his finger and dropped the divorce papers onto the table.

 

“First… Let’s think about this slowly.”

 

“Yes? But you need to handle this quickly…!”

 

“Leaving that aside, how is your body these days?”

 

Asha knew Carlyle was clearly changing the subject, but she couldn’t refute. After all, he was now the Emperor of the Great Chad Empire.

 

“…It’s fine.”

 

“Injuries from dark magic take longer to heal than you think. Make sure to see the healing priests every day without fail.”

 

“The healing priests said I’m fine now.”

 

“Just in case, try getting treatment from another healing priest.”

 

As Carlyle’s words to treat a body that was already healed began to sink in, Asha’s frustration gradually grew. She was busy thinking about her schedule to return to Pervaz, but Carlyle didn’t seem to even properly look at the divorce papers.

 

“Your Majesty.”

 

And Carlyle quickly noticed her subdued mood.

 

Carlyle knew that after calling him with such a low and firm voice, he would head straight for a clash.

 

“I would like to talk for a long time, but it seems difficult because of the piled-up work. Let’s talk again next time.”

 

The man who said he would take a break with Asha’s excuse got up from his seat in just 10 minutes.

 

TL/N: HAHAH!! MAN IS RUNNING AWAY XD

 

He even left the divorce papers that Asha had brought on the table and went back into his office.

 

* * *

 

“Damn it.”

 

Carlyle ruffled his hair roughly.

 

He knew this day would come eventually, and he had a rough idea of what Asha would say and what he would say to her.

 

But when the situation actually came to pass, his mind went blank.

 

“Haaaah……”

 

Carlyle let out a deep sigh for what felt like the umpteenth time.

 

‘I pretended to be busy and sent Asha away today, but she’s not the type to just back down. No, in her position, she would think it’s natural to get a divorce.’

 

Both parties had fulfilled the terms of the contract without fail.

 

So it was only natural and right for her to demand the termination of the contract.

 

‘It’s my business that I fell in love, Asha doesn’t have any feelings for me. She’s already been disappointed once, so she won’t expect anything more.’

 

He felt suffocated and poured himself a drink.

 

It wouldn’t solve his problems, but he couldn’t sleep without it.

 

He knew that drinking to sleep was a bad habit, but he had to force himself to sleep if he was going to deal with the mountain of work that was waiting for him tomorrow.

 

Carlyle lay down on the bed and thought about his past with Asha with a dazed mind.

 

‘Come to think of it, our first meeting was quite impressive……’

 

The woman he met in the back alley, who he thought was a righteous country prosecutor, turned out to be the lord of Pervaz.

 

She even used his father’s trick to designate him as her marriage partner.

 

[Then… Duke Carlyle Haven.]

 

In a dry voice that didn’t even contain a hint of excitement.

 

‘I think I found her quite attractive back then.’

 

He had said things like she was messy and looked like a beggar, but to be honest, his heart had skipped a beat.

 

TL/N: SMILING, KICKING MY FEET🤭

 

And for good reason. It’s not easy to be so upright in the face of vulgar power, and it’s even harder not to be attracted to it when you see it right in front of you.

 

‘Ah, I was so disappointed back then when she didn’t seem at all impressed by my body.’

 

A smirk escaped his lips.

 

He secretly thought he could seduce her. Most women would approach him first with a good impression, so he thought even this much would make her blush and turn her head away.

 

But Asha was indifferent. No, did she say she was envious?

 

[I would like to have a body like that, but it’s almost impossible, isn’t it?]

 

Carlyle’s body shook and he burst out laughing.

 

He couldn’t help but laugh when he imagined Asha, with her plump figure, wielding a sharp sword.

 

“Well, if she had been that kind of person, I would have given her a much bigger and heavier sword, so such a ridiculous thing wouldn’t have happened.”

 

“Anyway, she was a funny woman…”

 

From that moment on, she seemed to have no attraction to me at all.

 

It was beyond my expectations that she would encourage my to have an affair with another woman while she was risking her life on the battlefield.

 

‘That must mean I’m not worth much.’

 

Who can I blame?

 

It’s all just what I sowed, so I reap.

 

But there were times when I couldn’t help but expect ‘maybe…?’

 

‘If she had no feelings at all, why did she kiss me in the middle of the battlefield? Can you really have such a hot night without any feelings at all?’

 

The things that come to mind make my body heat up, and now I try not to remember them consciously…

 

To be honest, I wanted to break into Asha’s room right now and ask her. If she didn’t feel even a little bit, even a tiny bit attracted to me at that time. If she had never thought about those things.

 

‘Oh, childish.’

 

Carlyle covered his face with his large hands.

 

[Divorce papers.]

 

Her utterly businesslike voice came to mind.

 

‘Did you kindly prepare them in advance because you thought I would be busy…?’

 

His stomach churned again, and then he deflated at the thought that he had no right to be angry. Then he felt sad that he missed her after seeing her for only 10 minutes.

 

‘Asha… I miss you, but I’m afraid to ask you to meet me. You’re just going to tell me to end it with you.’

 

Unable to end the childish thoughts he hadn’t even had when he was fifteen, Carlyle finally fell asleep at dawn.