The Age Of Arrogance

“Earlier, the servant’s words seemed to suggest that he had transferred my belongings to the Your Highness’ tent.”

 

“I’m not fluent in Pervaz words, so there’s no need for a repeat explanation.”

 

Asha couldn’t help but chuckle at Carlyle’s audacious demeanor.

 

However, Carlyle wasn’t jesting or misunderstanding the situation.

 

“Do we really need to utilize a personal tent?”

 

“Am I coming off as overly particular?

 

“Then would it be acceptable for you to lay your blanket in my tent? Instead of needlessly burdening the servants with making another tent.”

 

“Why not simply utilize a tent akin to those used by the other attendants?”

 

Given her previous stays in accommodations similar to the servants’ quarters at inns, Asha presumed she’d do the same this time.

 

“Ah, come to think of it, I didn’t inform you about the camping arrangements in advance. Unfortunately, the head maid will have to share a tent with the other maids.”

 

“…Well, it might have been uncomfortable for her.”

 

“Don’t feel too guilty. Since there’s no intimidating head maid, the male servants keep loitering near the maids’ tents.”

 

Carlyle raised an eyebrow as if to say, “You know what I mean.”

 

“Well, if sharing a tent with me is too unpleasant or uncomfortable, we can set up an additional tent.”

 

“Oh, no. I was just worried that Your Highness might be uncomfortable.”

 

“What could possibly make me uncomfortable?”

 

In the end, Asha decided to share the same tent as Carlyle. She realized a little late that Carlyle’s preferred spot wasn’t the floor but the bed.

 

The bed was spacious enough for both of them to sleep comfortably. Asha felt a bit embarrassed and pulled out only one towel from her belongings before exiting the tent.

 

“Despite rumors that I search for women even on the battlefield, sharing a tent with someone like me shouldn’t be a big deal, right?”

 

Carlyle, the notorious womanizer, was known for not letting any woman pass by without a second glance. But when they had slept under the open sky, it hadn’t felt quite the same as sharing a tent.

 

And since Asha had discovered the differences between men and women after reaching a certain age, she had never shared a room with a man.

 

“Well, I’m not exactly a refined lady, so what’s wrong with sharing a tent with a man?”

 

Besides, weren’t we already a married couple?

 

Asha chuckled at her own thoughts and headed toward the stream in the forest.

 

People were washing their hands, feet, and faces, but as soon as Asha appeared, they discreetly vacated their spots.

 

Even this situation made Asha uncomfortable.

 

“But thanks to this, I get to enjoy this scenery all by myself.”

 

Above her head, countless stars sparkled as if they were about to rain down, and the flowing stream shimmered with moonlight and starlight.

 

“Haah…”.

 

Asha looked up at the night sky and sighed deeply.

 

Putting aside the question of whether the deal with Carlyle was justified, she still felt uneasy about taking him to Pervaz.

 

After all, he was a man like the eye of a typhoon.

 

“Father… Dominic, Noah, Vincent…”

 

Asha clenched her fists as she repeated the names of her family members who had now become stars in the sky.

 

If only one of them could appear and tell her that she was doing well, that her choice was the right one, she would feel much better.

 

Right now, the burden on her shoulders felt so heavy that she felt like she could suffocate.

 

“Everyone, please protect Pervaz…”

 

Asha closed her eyes and whispered her prayer.

 

But then, she suddenly thought that her father would be furious if he saw her like this.

 

[You are the Duchess of Pervaz! You are the one who must protect Pervaz!]

 

Asha’s eyes widened as she heard her father’s voice in her head.

 

She, the one who had made the deal with the Crown Prince and brought him to Pervaz, could not afford to be so weak.

 

Asha fell to the ground and plunged her head into the cold stream water. The icy water felt like it was slapping her cheeks.

 

“Hah!”

 

After holding her head underwater for a long time, Asha lifted it up and slapped both her cheeks.

 

“Pull yourself together, Asha Pervaz!”

 

Only then did she feel refreshed.

 

And she realized once again that everything was her own choice.

 

If she didn’t want to bear this heavy burden, she could have left Pervaz with her mother. She could have chosen not to pick up a sword and instead wear a dress and learn noble etiquette.

 

It was Asha Pervaz, herself, who had rejected the easy path and thrown herself into the arena of slaughter.

 

‘So I have to take responsibility for it.’

 

Asha regained her firm expression and wiped her wet face with a towel.

 

After that, everything felt a little lighter.

 

As soon as Asha left the stream, Carlyle, who had been following her, emerged from behind a tree. He watched her back until she disappeared completely before slowly approaching the stream.

 

“Hmm…”

 

He looked down at the spot where Asha had plunged her face, which was not at all like a noblewoman, but there was no trace of Asha in the endlessly flowing stream water.

 

“What an interesting woman.”

 

Her back, standing alone and looking up at the night sky, seemed lonely on the one hand, and strong on the other.

 

The distance was far, so he couldn’t hear what she was muttering to herself, but he was sure she wasn’t the type to wallow in self-pity.

 

Even if she had indulged in a bit of sentimentality, a slap that hard would have brought her back to her senses.

 

“Ouch, Could.”

 

Unthinkingly, Carlyle put his hand in the stream and was startled by the much colder temperature than expected. In such cold water, he would have come to his senses before even getting slapped.

 

Laughing awkwardly to himself, Carlyle looked down at the clear, cool water of the stream and then impulsively plunged his head in like Asha.

 

It was freezing cold, like he would be frozen solid, but thanks to that, his whole mind felt refreshingly clear.

 

“Haa…”

 

Raising his head, Carlyle couldn’t help but chuckle at his own undignified, noble-unbecoming position sprawled on the ground.

 

“Maybe sometimes this kind of thing is good?”

 

Carlyle wiped his soaked hair with a towel and got up. Then, he walked back to the tent, pretending to take his time.

 

Asha was already in the corner of the tent, laying down a mat and preparing to sleep.

 

“Are you really going to sleep on the floor?”

 

Carlyle asked, throwing the towel he had over his shoulder into the washbasin.

 

“Yes? If not the floor, then where…”

 

Asha, who was asking back, saw Carlyle’s sly smile and quickly shook her head.

 

“I will sleep here.”

 

“If you like intentionally enjoying discomfort, I won’t stop you.”

 

Carlyle, teasing Asha while snickering, took off his shirt, which was wet from submerging his head.

 

“I guess the water is colder because we’re closer to the north.”

 

The chiseled contours of his muscles, sculpted like statues, created soft shadows under the flickering candlelight.

 

“It gets much colder in autumn. It starts freezing around mid-November.”

 

Asha, seeing Carlyle’s bare upper body that would make even a man linger, answered nonchalantly without any sign of panic.

 

Carlyle started to put his arm through the shirt his servant had laid out on the bed, but then changed his mind.

 

“Countess Pervaz. I apologize, but even as your wife, or even as your temporary attendant, I would like you to help me dress.”

 

He, like someone who doesn’t know how to dress himself, grabbed the collar of the shirt with his fingertips and looked at Asha with a wide grin.

 

Asha, who was staring blankly at him, hesitantly nodded.

 

“I apologize. I hadn’t considered such a thing.”

 

Then she quickly got up and took Carlyle’s clothes.

 

She had never learned what “dressing assistance” meant in her life, but seeing Carlyle, who had just handed her the shirt and immediately raised his arms slightly, she quickly understood what to do.

 

“Please forgive my clumsiness.”

 

“Sure.”

 

Asha, admiring Carlyle’s inability to feign humility even in empty words, tucked one of his arms into the sleeve of his shirt.

 

To reach for the other hand to slip into the sleeve, she had to brush past his broad back, yet Asha’s gaze didn’t linger there at all.

 

“Excuse me. Let me put your hand in here….”

 

In the brisk exchange of courtesies, Carlyle also realized that his body held no allure for Asha whatsoever.

 

While bathing with the knights, they had all boasted subtly, saying things like ‘the ladies must be swooning over you,’ but apparently not.

 

“Was I only appealing to men?”

 

How could he know since he’d never undressed in front of a woman?

 

Even as he pondered, Asha stepped forward, pulling the collar of his shirt and smoothing out the fabric, buttoning it up as she went.

 

The well-defined chest muscles and the prominent abdominal muscles disappeared beneath the white shirt.

 

“Are you uncomfortable anywhere?”

 

“Well, my heart feels a bit uncomfortable, but… it’s fine.”

 

“Your… heart?”

 

“It’s nothing. Go rest.”

 

Carlyle undid the buttons she had meticulously fastened up to his chest, then lay down on the bed. It was a clear indication to Asha that there was no need for further interaction.

 

“It might have been more uncomfortable than being at the mercy of the lords, but was it necessary to make such a fuss about it? Is that how the nobility always behaves?”

 

Finding it challenging to cater to the whims of those above the clouds, Asha returned to her designated spot to lie down.

 

“I’ll turn off the light.”

 

“Oh…! Let me…”

 

“It’s fine. I’m closer anyway.”

 

Carlyle, who had been petty about putting on clothes, was now modest again. It was difficult to discern where to draw the line with him.

 

Suppressing a sigh trying to escape, Asha lay down in her place, clo

sed her weary eyes, and tried to fall asleep quickly.

 

But then, through the quiet darkness, Carlyle’s voice pierced through.

 

****

 

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