Asha’s eyes sharpened at the word “however,” and Carlyle secretly enjoyed it.
His barbarian princess was unexpectedly smart and perceptive, and she was as vigilant as a wild animal. When faced with such an opponent, a sense of competition would boil up from his lower abdomen. It was enough to make him want to keep provoking her.
However, Carlyle Evaristo was born to be emperor, so he knew how to suppress small pleasures for a greater purpose.
“Putting aside my father, my stepmother and half-brother will try to get in my way with their eyes wide open. That’s when I want my ‘wife in name only’ to protect me.”
Asha tilted her head slightly at the expression “protect.”
“You’re not asking me to stop the Imperial Knights, are you?”
“It’s more a matter of justification.”
“Justification?”
Carlyle nodded.
“As You yourself have said, the imperial family and the nobles are a species that values face and justification. Because of this face, they were unable to even open their mouths to my absurd demands.”
Giles picked up the conversation.
“Everyone knows that this marriage is ridiculous. But the justification is solid. Thanks to this, Your Highness will be able to grow your strength in the extraterritorial Pervaz, avoiding the eyes of the imperial family. On the other hand, Her Majesty the Empress will be very displeased.”
His finger pointed at Asha.
“So they will try to manipulate the Countess. Or attack her.”
“Are you saying that I should give up the marriage?”
“Yes. If the marriage goes through, even if you die, His Highness Carlyle will inherit the position of Count of Pervaz, so there will be an assassination attempt before that.”
“So that’s why you brought me here.”
Giles nodded. Of course, he didn’t look worried about Asha.
“After leaving for Pervaz, they will try to divorce you somehow. Depending on how the situation turns out, there could be more dangerous things happening.”
“The latter is more likely.”
“Of course. Her Majesty the Empress is determined to make His Highness Matthias the Crown Prince.”
At that, Carlyle snickered next to him.
“If you had just stayed quiet, I wouldn’t have been so mean. But now… it’s become a fight for our lives.”
Asha realized that Carlyle was not including himself in the object of the phrase “fight for our lives.”
‘What a great confidence… No, it’s only natural since he’s even been blessed by God.’
She was a little surprised because she had never met someone so confident in her life.
She even felt like she was unconsciously agreeing with Carlyle, who believed so naturally that he would become the crown prince and then the emperor.
“What exactly are you planning to do in Pervaz, Your Highness Carlyle? Surely you’re not preparing to rebel…”
“Absolutely! Of course I hesitated a little, but…”
Carlyle spoke with a playful smile, contrasting Asha’s serious face.
“While I was fighting on the battlefield, the Empress has greatly increased her forces. I also felt the need to consolidate my forces by staying in one place.”
He had been the Crown Prince since birth, but Carlyle hadn’t been able to properly build up his forces since he had been fighting in wars since he was fifteen. Perhaps that was also part of the Empress’s plan.
Once again, Giles interrupted.
“His Majesty the Emperor has said that if His Highness Carlyle can win his heart within three years, he will return the Crown Prince position to him. However, the truth is, we need to create public opinion that His Majesty the Emperor cannot help but reinstate His Highness Carlyle.”
“I understand. So, this is the start of an all-out war?”
Carlyle nodded in response to Asha’s question.
“It’s simple. It’s also safe. Do you really think I’ll lose to Matthias?”
“That’s…”
“No, don’t answer that. The fact that I even asked such a question is offensive to me.”
Carlyle made a face as if he was disgusted.
Smiling at Asha, who was staring at him expressionlessly, Carlyle chuckled,
“The answer is obvious, isn’t it?”
Asha pursued her lips, refusing to interfere in comparing him to Matthias.
Not wanting to hear more, she quickly nodded.
“I understand. Take care of yourself until we leave for Pervaz. In Pervaz, I will not interfere with what you do and will try my best to be your shield. I will maintain the marriage and when the time comes, I will break up with you cleanly. Is that okay?”
“Above all, try to stay alive.”
Asha slightly frowned, thinking that he wasn’t saying this out of concern for her safety.
Carlyle smiled and added, “It will look better at the end of the story.”
“You’re quite cunning.”
In the world that prioritizes justifications…
Everyone knows it’s a staged play, but still… Asha must stay alive and divorced to create a more favorable narrative for Carlyle.
‘I think I might go crazy talking to him.’
Feeling tired, Asha decided that when she returned to Pervaz, she would give Carlyle a part of the castle and not even look at him.
***
However, before returning to Pervaz, it seemed she would encounter Carlyle often.
Just like today.
“I hope you’ll understand my tutor‘s brusque behavior yesterday. He’s an old man set in his ways.”
“…You came here early in the morning just to say that?”
Asha greeted Carlyle with sleep still clinging to her eyes.
Meeting royalty, the former Crown Prince at that, in such a state felt like disrespect worthy of punishment. But Carlyle thought as long as she wasn’t in pajamas, it didn’t matter. He didn’t have time to waste.
“Oh, and speaking which, we’ve only discussed the ‘contract’. Let’s have a light drink.”
“…At this hour?”
“I have schedules from ten on.”
His tone implied no concern for her schedule.
‘So that’s how the Crown Prince lives.’
The idea that the world revolved around him was surprising.
Even more surprising, no one except Asha found this situation odd.
“Your Highness, I will bring tea and refreshments.”
“Oh, Madam Luvar! It’s rare to see you serving yourself?”
“It’s only natural for a maid to attend when Your Highness is having tea with a distinguished guest.”
Asha, the guest in the room, had never been given permission to enter, yet was suddenly served tea and snacks by someone named Lady Luvar, who was chatting affectionately with Carlyle and laying out tea and snacks on the table.
The aroma of the tea was simply too good. Her just-woken stomach even grumbled.
‘…Well, there was no time.’
A sudden leniency towards Carlyle’s unilateral actions blossomed.
He offered luxurious scones and cookies. Even at dawn or midnight, meeting him was worth it, damn it.
Though a prince, Asha waited until he took his first sip before picking up a pastry.
“So, you’re not… uncomfortable here, are you?”
Carlyle scanned Asha up and down. Judging by her immediate pastry consumption without tea, it was clear she hadn’t lived in such luxury since birth.
Well, that wasn’t his initial concern anyway.
“Do you have any requests? Food-wise, or anything you need for your stay.”
“Requests?”
Asha chewed a sweet cookie, pondering her answer.
Despite the restriction of not going out, she was surprisingly satisfied with her stay here.
Exploring the annex passed the time well, and the well-equipped training facility allowed her to enjoy practice sessions with Decker.
The food was a sumptuous feast unlike anything Asha had ever seen before, and she was thoroughly enjoying the treats and snacks served between meals.
“Haaah…”
As Asha let out a ponderous sigh while rolling her eyes, Carlyle chuckled as if he had expected it.
“It seems like you’d want to live here forever.”
However, to his surprise, Asha shook her head.
“No, I’d prefer to return to Pervaz as soon as possible.”
Her response piqued Carlyle’s curiosity.
Seeing as she didn’t seem properly fed and yet wanted to return to the ‘hell’ that had been ruined rather than enjoy the ‘heaven’ where she could be pampered, Carlyle could only think of one reason.
“Do you have a lover waiting for you there?”
At that, Asha burst into laughter, momentarily forgetting that she was in front of the prince.
“I’ve heard that Your Highness takes women with you to the battlefield, but I haven’t had the luxury to do so myself.”
“…Where did you hear such rumors about me taking women to the battlefield?”
“It’s common knowledge. Could it be false rumors?”
At Asha’s question, Carlyle hesitated for a moment before chuckling and admitting.
“They’re not entirely false.”
“Right? So, when you said I can do whatever I want in Pervaz, that includes that too?”
Carlyle almost stumbled over her words again but smoothly brushed it off.
Since he still didn’t trust Asha, there was no need to correct the image he deliberately created of himself.
“Anyway, you don’t have a lover, then?”
“No.”
“Then why do you want to return to Pervaz so quickly?”
“Well? That’s…”
HE IS SO INTERESTED IN HER AND HER “LOVER” LOL HE IS ALREADY FALLING HOHO