The Age Of Arrogance

Asha tilted her head as if she had heard a strange question.

 

“The people of Pervaz are waiting for my return.”

 

Carlyle furrowed his brow as if to say, ‘Why would that be a reason to return?’

 

It’s their situation to wait for her return, and it would be natural for Asha, who is enjoying her stay here, to want to stay for one more day at least, right?

 

However, Asha didn’t realize that Carlyle didn’t properly understand her response. To her, it was so obvious that she had to return because her people were waiting for her.

 

“So, when can we depart for Pervaz?”

 

To Asha’s question, which seemed to express her desire to stop the pampering, Carlyle still responded with a face that showed he couldn’t understand.

 

“As soon as possible… I’ll set a date.”

 

“Thank you.”

 

Even after that, Carlyle threw pointless and trivial questions, but Asha continued to give answers that he couldn’t understand.

 

Not long after, the morning tea time came to an end.

 

Carlyle couldn’t find any common ground with Asha, and Asha didn’t feel any regret since there were no more snacks left to pick up.

 

* * *

 

The person who was struck by lightning when Carlyle lost his position as crown prince wasn’t just Giles.

 

“Whether to call this unfortunate or fortunate…”

 

In the drawing room of Duke Dupret, where the whole family gathered, the Duke Dupret’s voice trailed off heavily.

 

“It’s already happened, so we should consider it fortunate. If Cecil had become crown princess even a little earlier, our family would have been in danger.”

 

Elan, the eldest son of Dupret, sighed. Then, his younger brother Dylan sneered beside him.

 

“Fortunate? Well, is it really fortunate? The position of crown prince has been vacant for three years, and in three years, Cecil will be twenty-five. Even if His Highness Carlyle regains his position as crown prince, would he accept a twenty-five-year-old as his crown princess?”

 

At Dylan’s words, the eyebrows of the youngest, Cecilia, sitting upright, twitched, but the other family members, who didn’t care about her, didn’t notice.

 

“Moreover, His Highness Carlyle is even marrying the ruined lord of that place, Pervaz. It’s a complete disaster in that direction.”

 

“Surely, His Highness Carlyle wouldn’t marry that ruined lord for a lifetime? It’s all just excuses.”

 

“That’s true, but at least they’ll maintain it for three years, right? During that time, no matter what they do, they won’t be able to end that relationship.”

 

“That’s true. Even so, it would be difficult for Cecil, who was mentioned as a candidate for crown princess, to marry into another family…”

 

Elan and Dylan conversed as if Cecilia wasn’t even there beside them.

 

There was a limit to enduring.

 

“You’re talking unproductively.”

 

Cecilia snapped sarcastically.

 

“What exactly are you brothers doing for the family? If you’re going to keep talking like losers, go out to the salon and figure out how to turn the situation around.”

 

Upon hearing that, Elan and Dylan became irritated, but to Duke Dupret, it seemed that Cecilia’s words made more sense.

 

Duke Dupret leaned towards Cecilia, his daughter.

 

“Do you have any good ideas, Cecil?”

 

Duke Dupret had high hopes for his daughter, Cecilia. This was because she was no ordinary noble lady.

 

She possessed the ‘golden eyes’, a condition that allowed her to sit on the ‘imperial consort’ seat. Without her parents’ orders, she set a goal to ‘become the Crown Princess’ and was working hard to achieve it.

 

The two sons of the Dupret family tried to suppress their ambitious sister since they were young, but the Duke’s affection gradually turned towards Cecilia.

 

And she believed she was worthy of such trust.

 

“The unprecedented postponement of appointing a crown prince must have everyone flustered, not just us. Everyone must be busy racking their brains.”

 

“You’re just stating the obvious in a verbose manner.”

 

Elan grumbled, but Cecilia ignored him neatly.

 

“What’s important at times like this is speed, father. If we’re all slow to act and fall in line, we’ll never leave an impression on those in power.”

 

“But the concern is real, isn’t it? His Highness Carlyle is outstanding, but the Emperor was furious with him, and Empress also, along with Emperor Matthias, won’t miss this opportunity.”

 

“Right. So from now on, any decision is, to some extent, a gamble. It will be for anyone.”

 

But Cecilia’s eyes showed a conviction that wasn’t like someone about to gamble.

 

“I still believe that our family should support Carlyle as the crown prince.”

 

“Why? Is it because Carlyle suits your taste better than Prince Matthias?”

 

This time, Dylan teased, but Cecilia lightly mocked him.

 

“Are you foolish? Or do you still think this is a matter to joke about?”

 

Under Cecilia’s criticism and Duke Dupret’s piercing gaze, Dylan also kept silent.

 

After firmly suppressing the spirit of the two sons, Cecilia continued her story.

 

“Why did the Emperor give a three-year postponement? If he really intended to depose Carlyle as crown prince, he could have immediately made Prince Matthias the crown prince.”

 

“Do you think the Emperor will reinstate Carlyle as the crown prince?”

 

“Of course. Ultimately, it’s just a power struggle between families. The problem lies with the Empress and Prince Matthias.”

 

Duke Dupret nodded.

 

This incident benefited both the Empress and Matthias so much that it raised suspicions about what they were up to.

 

“But Carlyle is not out of the woods yet. If he were, the throne would have belonged to Prince Matthias long ago.”

 

“Well, isn’t he born under the blessing of the War God?”

 

“And everyone’s minds are firmly fixed on ‘The crown prince of the Chad Empire is Carlyle Evaristo.’ It suits him perfectly.”

 

Cecilia recalled Carlyle, who hadn’t even when he saw a woman who was considered influential to be his own wife.

 

Cecilia, renowned as the social circle’s most beautiful flower, encountered unprecedented coldness. This fueled her resolve to become his shadow.

 

[Such a man cannot fail.]

 

Carlyle, a “chosen one,” transcended evaluations of good or bad character.

 

He would undoubtedly become Emperor, wielding strong imperial authority and leaving a historical mark.

 

‘If I must be someone’s wife, it has to be such a man.’

 

Even after the Emperor stripped Carlyle of his Crown Prince title, Cecilia’s determination remained unshaken.

 

“But another issue exists, Cecile. As Dylan mentioned, His Highness Carlyle will be maintaining a marital relationship with the Lord of Pervaz for three years.”

 

The Duke couldn’t broach the possibility of younger, more beautiful young ladies appearing during those years. His daughter likely understood.

 

However, Cecilia showed no signs of unease.

 

“We must utilize those three years well. A better outcome might even result.”

 

The Duke swallowed, sensing anticipation in her expression. The Dupret family’s fate seemed to rest on Cecilia’s shoulders.

 

***

 

As Carlyle’s departure for Pervaz approached, aristocratic society became even more chaotic. Correspondingly, the mouths of gossips became busier. After all, there’s nothing more entertaining than peering into someone else’s house.

 

Especially when that “other house” is the “Imperial Family.” What an excitement!

 

“Who do you think will become the Crown Prince?”

 

“It’s hard to say right now. Who knows what will happen in three years?”

 

“Well, it will probably be Carlyle. He’s been raised as the Crown Prince since birth; it’s only natural that such a person becomes the Emperor…”

 

“Naive! Do you think the Empress would miss this opportunity? No matter what it takes, she will make Matthias the Crown Prince.”

 

While the opinion that Carlyle would become the Crown Prince was dominant, there were also those who supported the Empress and Matthias. They didn’t necessarily believe in Matthias but rather trusted that the Empress or her faction wouldn’t miss this opportunity.

 

This fervor naturally led to gambling.

 

“Matthias’ side has high odds, 10 to 1, attracting many bettors.”

 

Carlyle muttered seemingly to himself, having almost finished packing.

 

“Meaning everyone knows the unlikelihood, right? So why are you so angry, Your Highness?”

 

Lionel asked, looking bewildered. He was one of the very few who could read displeasure from Carlyle’s expression.

 

“Why am I angry? Isn’t it obvious?”

 

“Just comparing me to that bastard irks me!”

 

“Yes, yes.”

 

“And the odds are only 10:1? I thought it would be much lower than that.”

 

“10:1?”

 

Lionel asked incredulously, prompting Carlyle to glare at him as if he were about to devour him.

 

“It means there’s more than one person betting on Matthias! Even if it were 30:1, It wouldn’t be tolerable!”

 

“Oh… yes…”

 

Lionel, with a puzzled look, picked up Carlyle’s luggage again. Of course, what he packed wasn’t clothes or jewelry but information and documents that were truly important to Carlyle.

TL/N: So if you’ll didn’t understand “10:1″/”10 to 1” odds for Matthias.

It means that every 10 bets on Carlyle Mattias gets one bet. So when Carlyle said “even 30 to 1 is intolerable” meant even if it were 30 bets on Carlyle “becoming the next Emperor” and Matthias would get 1 bet wasn’t bearable to him.

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