The Age Of Arrogance

From the second day of the banquet, Giles began to shut himself in under the pretext of illness, and the nobles that had tried to establish a new empress were at a loss, having lost their center of gravity.

 

Of course, there were those who tried to sway Carlyle by putting their beautiful daughters in front of him, but Carlyle’s attention was focused entirely on Asha.

 

Moreover, Asha herself did not lose her dignified attitude anywhere, unlike what one would expect from someone who had asked for a divorce.

 

“By the way… when will you be returning to Pervaz?”

 

Even with such an open call to leave, she did not raise an eyebrow.

 

“I had planned to go with His Majesty once this fall, but… I don’t think that’s what you’re asking.”

 

“Yes? Ah, no, rather than that… .

 

“Just now, which family you said you’re from?”

 

One of the countesses who had seen Asha lightly and had made trouble came out with a flushed face.

 

She ran to her acquaintances and grumbled with a dissatisfied face, but Asha just found it ridiculous.

 

“Have you won another one, madam?”

 

“Ah, Your Majesty.”

 

“I told you to call me by my name.”

 

Carlyle smiled broadly as he personally served Asha, who was sitting with a bored face, a drink.

 

“Asha. Come on.”

 

“… Carlyle.”

 

“I didn’t know my name sounded so good when you called it.”

 

He savored his name called by Asha’s voice.

 

Since Asha had said she would stay by his side, he had enjoyed everything in the world.

 

He was sleeping well, his appetite had returned, and he had doubled his training time to further develop his body that Asha had praised.

 

At Asha’s request, he had also quit or reduced smoking, drinking, and alcohol, and thanks to this, he had maintained a clear mind and his work speed had also increased.

 

However, he was worried that Asha would be ostracized by the nobles, but his strong wife never backed down from the enemy, as always.

 

“It’s a bit cute how they all approach me like they’re close and act smug, thinking they’ve made a pretty deadly attack.”

 

“You think Countess Dotori is cute? Ahahahaha!”

 

At Carlyle’s laughter, the surrounding nobles looked at him with surprised eyes.

 

“I was so scared when you, Sir Bailey, and Lady Cecilia told me to be careful of them, and I was really nervous inside…tsk.

 

“I guess I forgot. My wife is someone who has survived on a real battlefield where lives are at stake.”

 

So there was no way she would be afraid of a fight that was just a bit of a tongue-lashing.

 

To the humans who tried to mock and insult her by turning their backs on her, she asked them directly what they meant. And to the humans who were still snickering or sneering, she gave a warning.

 

[I don’t trust humans who wag their tongues thoughtlessly. But I’m always watching.]

 

At first, everyone laughed at her humorless words, saying, “I’m so scared I can’t even joke anymore.” But as they watched Asha’s eyes, which simply watched them laugh, they gradually shut their mouths.

 

They didn’t know that Asha was the great and mad lord of Pervaz. But they usually didn’t ignore the instinctual warning that said, “If you push me a little further here, you’ll die.”

 

“The next meeting of the temporary nobles meeting has been scheduled.”

 

Carlyle said, drinking his drink without taking off his smile.

 

“The official coronation ceremony and the list of titles to be granted will be finalized there. I’ll make sure everyone knows that my wife is none other than Asha Pervaz.”

 

Asha’s earlobes turned slightly red.

 

“I think there will be some troublemakers.”

 

“Why? Are you scared?”

 

Asha smiled at the half-provocative question.

 

“I’m scared you’ll cut them down. No, if they hadn’t provoked you, I would have really gone back to Pervaz… Should I thank them?”

 

“……Really? It wasn’t because of my desperate letters that you stayed?”

 

“No, well, don’t compare it like that.”

 

Asha gulped down her drink coolly, avoiding Carlyle’s playful gaze. None of the ladies of Zyro drank in this way, but Asha didn’t care about what others thought.

 

“I wasn’t angry at the way they ignored me. It was the way they ignored Pervaz and the weak. I realized that I still have targets to avenge.”

 

Of course, it was the moment when the Empress’s thoughts, who had thought that she could not be in her place, were completely reversed.

 

[Why not?]

 

Even she herself had said to Carlisle, who should be that ‘Empress’?

 

Should the Empress be someone who lives above the clouds and doesn’t know the suffering on the earth until she dies?

 

“You said you wanted to be emperor for the sake of the people, and I know the lives of those people. When I think about it that way, I don’t think there’s anyone more suited to be empress than me.”

 

“That’s right. You have to teach me a lot while you’re by my side. So that there will be no more places like Pervaz.”

 

Carlyle hugged Asha, realizing how precious and lovable she was.

 

He didn’t care about the many eyes watching him.

 

“Thank you for staying by my side, Asha. I love you.”

 

“The people of Zyro really know how to say strange things.”

 

Asha, who was covering her face with her hands in embarrassment, quickly whispered before Carlyle could let go of her arm.

 

“I love you too.”

 

Carlyle pulled her back into his arms, tightening his grip.

 

With the bluebird that had flown away now in his arms, he didn’t envy anything in the world.

 

* * *

 

The official coronation of the new Emperor of the Chad Empire, Carlyle Evaristo, took place in the midst of the midsummer, where every element of life brimmed with energy.

 

Amidst the crowd in the grand Soliel Hall, Carlyle walked in, embodying the image everyone expected of an emperor.

 

“O God of Balance and Harmony, Libato, may you grant our emperor the balance of forgiveness and retribution, and may you enlighten all peoples with harmony. Oh, Snairai, god of abundance who has safeguarded our empire with Aguilles’ blessings, permit the prosperity of our empire….”

 

The Archbishop, dispatched personally by the Pope, conducted the coronation ceremony, offering prayers and blessings.

 

Due to Gabriel’s incident, the priests played only a minimal role in the coronation ceremony, and even the prayers recited by the Archbishop were approved by the imperial court.

 

And the last part of the prayer was profound.

 

“O God of Death, Himero , make all humans realize equality in the face of death, and rid us of our pride and arrogance.”

 

With that passage, the imperial crown was placed upon Carlyle’s head, and the royal scepter and orb were placed in his hands as he rose from his seat.

 

“I, Carlyle Kendrick Evelina Bondel Evaristo, accept the duty of the emperor according to the will of God and all people, and vow to polish the cornerstone that will bring glory to the empire for eternity.”

 

As he accepted the throne, the coronation of the empress immediately followed.

 

Handing over the scepter and orb to the chamberlain, Carlyle welcomed Asha, who approached him with the empress’s crown.

 

Adorning a dress with a crisp neckline, her neck shimmered with the ruby necklace he had gifted her before the wedding.

 

“Is that necklace… still intact?”

 

“Oh, are you referring to the ruby necklace? I was actually considering looking into auctions. You think it would fetch a good price?”

 

Unable to contain himself because of the seeds he had sown, Carlyle finally looked at Asha with a puppy-like expression, prompting her to laugh and keep the necklace.

 

“On the day of the coronation, I wanted to wear this necklace for your mother, who couldn’t ascend to the empress’s seat and had to turn away.”

 

Carlyle was grateful for her decision.

 

His mother, whom he couldn’t even remember, suddenly became the first person to come to mind when the coronation approached.

 

‘Mother, who risked her life to save me, are you looking down on me now?’

 

With a faint smile, he gently placed the empress’s crown, adorned with rubies and diamonds, on Asha’s head as she knelt before him.

 

The previous emperor had presented a ruby and diamond necklace to Evelina, symbolizing the jewels adorning the empress’s crown.

 

But she never had the chance to wear the ruby crown and died at the hands of Beatrice.

 

‘But the child my mother saved has become emperor, and the woman wearing my mother’s necklace has become empress.’

 

Today, what his mother probably least desired was finally happening.

 

He prayed that his mother, even in heaven, could release her grudges.

 

“I, Asha Amir Melisa Bondel Evaristo, accept the duty of the empress according to the will of God, His Majesty the Emperor, and all people, and I will become the advocate of the humble, bringing balance and harmony to this land under Libato’s will.”

 

Asha declared her acceptance of the Empress’s crown, and some nobles frowned in disapproval. To their eyes, always vying for more than they have, the Empress who cares for the lives of the people, not the nobles, could not look good.

 

Asha’s gaze, sweeping over them, was sharp.

 

‘My resistance to arrogant power is not over yet.’

 

Perhaps this path was prepared by her father and brothers who wanted to change the fate of Pervaz.

 

Because as the lord of Pervaz alone, she could not change the fate of Pervaz.

 

‘Please protect me to the end, Father, so that I don’t become like them.’

 

Led by Carlyle, Asha ascended the same high platform as him and looked down at everyone.

 

The poorest and most barren territory in the Empire, Pervaz, and the only surviving bloodline of the Pervaz County family, now ascended to the throne of the Empress of the Chad Empire.

 

Before them lay countless obstacles as many as the people who filled the hall.

 

There were still those who opposed Asha as Empress, and those who sought their own gain were eagerly awaiting an opportunity.

 

The temple was simply hiding its body, waiting for the power to seize the palace again to fall into their hands, and those who feared change were preparing to counterattack.

 

“Asha.”

 

“Yes, Carlyle.”

 

Amidst the cheers of the crowd towards them, Carlyle took Asha’s hand and whispered in her ear.

 

“A new battlefield will open up before us tomorrow.”

 

He had already apologized several times. ‘I’m sorry for dragging you into this vulgar world.’

 

However, Asha had always entered this battlefield of her own free will.

 

“Don’t worry. As always, I will protect your back.”

 

“…You’re reliable.”

 

Carlyle’s face was filled with happiness.

 

He, who had always been alone, now had a comrade to fight with him side by side. It was a tremendous comfort.

 

“I love you.”

 

“Me too.”

 

Praying that the age of arrogance would come to an end and an age of love, understanding, and tolerance would begin, the two joined hands and strengthened their grip.

 

The cheers from Soleil Hall echoed endlessly.

 

* * *

 

-FIN

“Main Story Finale”

* * * *

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