The Age Of Arrogance

“To His Majesty the Emperor, glory to the gods. Greetings from the House of Astrid.”

 

“We are confident that our empire will enter an era of glory under the reign of His Majesty the new emperor. Hahaha!”

 

“I still remember vividly how His Majesty, even at a young age, captivated the audience when we hosted him at our mansion.”

 

Everyone greeted the imperial couple, but did not include Asha in the conversation that followed.

 

However, Asha was not embarrassed or discouraged. She simply listened to what the nobles were saying, nodding her head occasionally or smiling briefly, and whispering to Carlyle whenever there was a break in the conversation.

 

Each time they whispered in each other’s ears, a sincere smile spread across their faces. It was so sincere that it was embarrassing to watch, and those who were quick to notice started to smile at Asha as well.

 

Just then, it was the turn of the House of Dupret to pay their respects.

 

“May eternal glory be upon the imperial family. Greetings from the House of Dupret.”

 

“Ah, come in, Duke.”

 

As Carlyle welcomed Duke Dupret, Asha, who had been silent until then, spoke for the first time.

 

“You are as beautiful as ever, Lady Dupret.”

 

“Oh! You embarrass me, Your Majesty. Her Majesty the Empress is the one who looks really amazing today.”

 

It was Carlyle who responded to that.

 

“Embarrassed…? You’ve never said that to me before. What do you mean, Lady Dupret?”

 

As Carlyle half-jokingly teased her, Cecilia responded with an even more shameless smile.

 

“To be honest, I find Her Majesty the Empress more fascinating than His Majesty the Emperor. You should be careful, Your Majesty.”

 

“Stop teasing me both of you.”

 

A cheerful laughter erupted among them. It was the first time since the banquet began that Asha, and even Carlyle, had laughed out loud in front of the nobles.

 

All the while, the two sons of the House of Dupret stood back and smiled nervously.

 

The rumor that the successor of the House of Dupret had changed had already spread, and the other nobles exchanged glances as Cecilia acted as if she was also close to Asha.

 

‘If this goes on, Cecilia Dupret will take the position of the Empress’ closest aide.’

 

The Empress has no backing. No family, no connections.

 

That meant that the first person to become her aide would be able to manipulate the Empress at will.

 

Even so, the fact that the powerful House of Dupret was becoming the Empress’ aide was not good news for the other families.

 

And Giles was also staring at Cecilia, gnashing his teeth.

 

‘So she quickly changed her course since she didn’t become the Empress. What a fickle woman. But she’s just a woman. She’s shallow.’

 

TL/N: JOIN ME TO KILL THIS MISOGYNISTIC CRAP.

 

Giles thought that Cecilia, who had become the successor of the House of Dupret as a woman, was trying to seduce the naive Asha.

 

However, the lively attitude of Carlyle, who was completely ignoring Giles, and Asha’s attitude of completely ignoring the nobles were quite different from what Giles had expected.

 

And Giles was a man who was extremely displeased when things didn’t go his way.

 

‘How dare Your Majesty do this to me! You’ve never lost anything by following my advice before!’

 

As he glared at Carlyle with angry eyes, two people who were completely unexpected stepped forward in front of the imperial couple.

 

“Sir Donovan!”

 

Before the other person could even greet him, Carlyle jumped up from his seat and hugged him tightly.

 

“T-there, t-there, g-glory to the imperial family, no, eternal glory to the imperial family! I, Sir Decker Donovan, present my greetings.”

 

The embarrassed Decker barely finished his greeting, and Dorothea, who was standing next to him, smiled and greeted Asha.

 

“May the blessings of God shine upon your future. I, Dorothea Raphelt, present my greetings.”

 

“Lady Dorothea, you’ve had a long journey!”

 

Asha also smiled and took Dorothea’s hand.

 

All the nobles were surprised by the warm welcome of the imperial couple and whispered to each other, wondering who they were.

 

Of course, Giles knew very well who they were.

 

“D-D-Dorothea!”

 

When he called out Dorothea’s name without thinking, everyone’s attention turned to Giles.

 

However, his obedient and shy daughter was only slightly surprised and looked at her father without any embarrassment.

 

Carlyle smiled brightly at Giles for the first time in a long time.

 

“Ah, Sir Raphelt! Come this way. It must be a long time since you’ve seen your daughter.”

 

Although Carlyle called out to him happily, Giles was so embarrassed that he stammered as he asked.

 

“W-why is Dorothea here, Your Majesty!”

 

“I called her because I had to give Sir Donovan a title and territory, but I told Dorothea to come along too. Asha said she wanted to see her.”

 

“Yes?”

 

Carlyle answered calmly, not paying much attention to Giles’ confusion.

 

However, through his introduction, people learned that Decker and Dorothea were quite close to the imperial couple.

 

Everything, absolutely everything, was going completely differently from Giles’ plan.

 

* * *

 

“This, this can’t be happening. This can’t be…!”

 

Stepping away from his seat, Giles could no longer contain his anger.

 

He was renowned as a genius who would be recorded in history, and things rarely went beyond his expectations.

 

However, that rule had been broken from some point on.

 

‘That’s right… Countess Pervaz, it was from the moment that woman appeared…!’

 

It was also from that time that Carlyle, who had always respected his opinion, had changed, and unexpected things began to happen.

 

From the moment that woman appeared, who didn’t fear him in the slightest.

 

‘I will never forgive her! How dare she…!’

 

As he was trembling with anger, a gentle voice called him from behind.

 

“…Father.”

 

Giles whipped his head around and glared.

 

Then he approached Dorothea, who was clearly nervous, and raised his hand as if to slap her cheek.

 

However, the moment he tried to swing his hand at Dorothea, Decker grabbed his hand.

 

“What are you doing, Sir Raphelt!”

 

Giles’s fierce gaze shifted to Decker.

 

“Y, You? You seduced my daughter?”

 

“Sir Raphelt. Please trust your daughter…”

 

“Shut up! You ungrateful and shameless bastard! Where does a beggar like you dare to covet the daughter of Baron Raphelt! You impudent and ugly little seed! Is it your bitch master or you…!”

 

“Stop it, Father!”

 

It was Dorothea who interrupted Giles’s insults.

 

“Do you know what you’re saying, Father? Insulting the Empress in the palace!”

 

“What Empress? That woman is just a temporary…”

 

“How long will you deny reality? Things are not going the way you want them to! Do you want to become the foolish person you were criticizing?”

 

“You…! You, how dare you…!”

 

Giles felt like he was going crazy with the repeated betrayals.

 

However, Dorothea did not waver.

 

“You don’t know anything, Father. You don’t know the Emperor’s heart, my heart, or your own heart!”

 

“If you don’t want to be thrown out of the family, shut up!”

 

“Throw me out! I can live perfectly well even if I’m not the daughter of Baron Raphelt.”

 

For a moment, Giles was speechless.

 

“Do, Dorothy…”

 

“I have made up my mind to help Pervaz. That is where I belong and where I am needed.”

 

“What on earth can you do there?!”

 

“The school has been built, but there are not enough teachers. I will teach the children there.”

 

Giles’ mouth fell open.

 

He knew that the reconstruction plan for Pervaz included the construction of a school. However, it was always someone else’s business. He never thought that his own daughter would go there and work as a teacher for the daughters of the fallen nobles…

 

Dorothea swallowed her tears as she looked at Giles, who seemed to be out of his mind.

 

“Father, you have changed since some time ago. Everyone knows it, but you are turning a blind eye. Please, let go of the arrogance and greed that are blinding you.”

 

Although she spoke with all her heart, Giles just trembled and did not answer.

 

Dorothea closed her eyes tightly and exhaled.

 

“When I lived as your daughter, I didn’t even know what I wanted. But since I started living for myself, everything has become clearer and clearer.”

 

She raised her sad eyes and looked at her foolish father.

 

“I love reading. I love children and I love teaching. I love the simple and honest Pervaz more than the bustling Zyro, and I love Baron Donovan more than His Majesty the Emperor.”

 

“What?”

 

“When you asked me to seduce Baron Donovan, you didn’t know this would happen, did you? You don’t know how the human heart works.”

 

Giles’ face turned pale.

 

He stammered, unable to say anything in response to Dorothea’s words, as if he had been caught in his own trap in front of Decker.

 

Dorothea steeled herself again and took Decker’s hand.

 

“I will not apologize to you, Father. I am not the one who should apologize. I will live happily from now on. Goodbye.”

 

Then she walked away from Giles with Decker.

 

Decker looked back at him once, but Dorothea never looked back. She did not slow down her pace. She simply walked on, unhesitatingly, on the path she was meant to take.

 

Even after Dorothea’s figure had completely disappeared, Giles stood there, staring in that direction, until the window was dyed with the setting sun. Only then did he slowly mutter with parched lips.

 

“I… am fading away…”

 

TL/N: Noone wants you bro, so fade plz:)

 

The old genius realized belatedly that he was falling.