The Age Of Arrogance

“It’s been a while, Your Majesty. How have you been?”

 

Gabriel asked with a smile in his eyes. Beatrice smiled happily but raised her eyebrows.

 

“I’ve been helping Matthias, who is struggling. His Majesty, He’s too much. How can he give a child with no experience the military power unconditionally…?”

 

“You said that His Highness Carlyle’s military power has been transferred to His Highness Matthias?”

 

“He’s a sly fox. He said that he would go to Pervaz, which is an extraterritorial zone, and left the military power to Matti.”

 

Beatrice also hated the emperor who did not take it back and let it go to Matthias.

 

‘To pass on his duties to his son as a father!’

 

Of course, when he gave the military power to Carlyle, he was glad that it was the right thing to do.

 

When Kendrick sent Carlyle to the battlefield with the military power, he felt love for him.

 

However, for the past 8 years, Carlyle has not only survived, but has won every battle and gained immense popularity.

 

This excuse that seemed perfect for killing Carlyle instead of turning him into an irreplaceable emperor.

 

“I understand that His Highness Matthias has hardly received any knight training…”

 

“That’s right. Matti was a little weak when he was young, and he felt a great sense of guilt about learning the art of killing other lives.”

 

“Ah, His Highness Matthias was born under the star of Apodelis, the god of beauty and love?”

 

“Yes. That’s why he doesn’t fit in with the ugly battlefield of blood and flesh. Carlyle is the right person for that place.”

 

Gabriel nodded as if in agreement.

 

Born under the star of Aguiles, the god of war and victory, Carlyle was blessed with a warlike appearance.

 

“The only thing Carlyle can do for this empire is to stop the heretics who are invading the borders of the Holy Empire.”

 

“That may be the only way for His Highness Carlyle to be saved by God.”

 

“So we need to get that kid out of Pervaz. It’s ridiculous for him to throw away his duties with a shallow trick and hide in Pervaz.”

 

Beatrice felt very sorry for Matthias, who came to her every day and whined that he could never go to the battlefield or the place where the demons appeared.

 

Matthias, who inherited her beauty, was a child who belonged to the splendid social world and the palace, not a child to be sent to the mud.

 

Thanks to that, apart from supporting the Igram tribe to weaken Carlyle’s power, she had to come up with a way to get him back to Zyro.

 

‘But how do we get Carlyle out…?’

 

That was the problem.

 

The problem was that there was no excuse to get Carlyle out.

 

If Kendrick had obediently given her the money that was promised by the previous emperor as compensation for winning the war, they would not have had to worry about this.

 

No, it would have been better if Pervaz was not an extraterritorial zone.

 

Unable to find an answer on her own, she had no choice but to seek out Gabriel again.

 

“So I have come to seek the wisdom of the High Priest. Is there no way to drag Carlyle out of that barbarian land?”

 

“Hmm… That is a difficult question.”

 

Gabriel tilted his head to the side and sank into thought.

 

His hair, which appeared to be silver or gray, reflected the sunlight pouring down on him in a white light. It looked as if the will of God was reaching Gabriel.

 

As Beatrice watched him with dazed eyes, Gabriel raised his lowered eyelashes and revealed beautiful blue eyes.

 

“What about annulment of marriage?”

 

“Annulment of marriage? Is that possible?”

 

“We can make it possible.”

 

He smiled brightly.

 

Even as he said that he would break up the couple whose marriage he had blessed with his own lips, his smile was as beautiful as an angel’s.

 

“There are a few cases where a marriage can be declared null and void in the temple. If any of them apply, I will withdraw my blessing and recognition of His Highness Carlyle’s marriage ‘for the future of the Empire and the Imperial Family’.”

 

“If that happens…!”

 

“Her Majesty the Empress will have to personally revoke the Imperial recognition, but that shouldn’t be difficult, right?”

 

Beatrice held her breath and clasped her hands together.

 

“Oh, Libato. Thank you for sending me High Priest Gabriel!”

 

The temple had the final say in matters of marriage and funeral. Especially when it came to marriage and death.

 

However, if the temple declared Carlyle’s marriage invalid, the imperial family would naturally be able to declare the marriage invalid as well, and Carlyle would have to return to the imperial palace after recovering as much of the wealth he had sown in Pervaz as possible.

 

“What are the conditions for declaring a marriage invalid?”

 

“When one party deceives the other into marriage. When it is a forced marriage by coercion from one party. When the couple is seriously negligent in their efforts to procreate. When it is a fraudulent marriage for money or other ill-gotten gains. When both parents of the couple oppose the marriage. That’s about it, but…”

 

Gabriel chuckled.

 

“Even if I just think about it, I think there are enough grounds to declare the marriage invalid.”

 

“My goodness, meeting the High Priest is like the clouds parting and the bright light shining through!”

 

It seemed that the problem that had been giving her a headache was about to be solved at once.

 

“Then I’ll contact the spy I have in Pervaz right away and tell him to gather information.”

 

“That would be a good idea. The more information and evidence, the better.”

 

Thanks to Gabriel, Beatrice was able to return to the palace with a much lighter step.

 

***

 

On the third evening after Dorothea’s arrival, a welcoming dinner for Cecilia and Dorothea was arranged in the dining room on the second floor of Pervaz Castle.

 

The large table was set for not only Carlyle, Asha, Cecilia, and Dorothea but also Carlyle’s aides, Lionel and Giles, as well as Asha’s aide, Decker.

 

Decker, who was visiting the dining room on the second floor for the first time, whispered to Asha, “I never imagined we had a place like this in our castle.”

 

“I know. It used to be a place that could be used as an indoor execution chamber, but they’ve transformed it into something so grand,” replied Asha.

 

To the people of Pervaz Castle, including Asha, it seemed like an unnecessarily large room, but the way it was decorated by Carlyle’s people made it seem as if the room was originally intended for banquets.

 

The red-carpeted floor, walls adorned with banners embroidered with symbols representing Carlyle, a large and sturdy oak dining table, chandeliers lining the ceiling, and silver candlesticks on the table…

 

The dining room in Pervaz Castle was filled with things Decker had never seen before.

 

“Now that all the guests have arrived, let’s start the dinner,” commanded Carlyle, and the already prepared dishes were brought to the table emitting tantalizing aromas.

 

“What’s that?” Decker asked Asha quietly, pointing to the large platter of roasted meat.

 

“I don’t know. It looks different from what we had last time…” replied Asha.

 

The appearance of the meat on the platter seemed to have no commonality except for the fact that it made one’s mouth water.

 

Cecilia, who overheard their conversation from across the table, smiled mischievously and replied on behalf of the chef instead of the kitchen staff.

 

“It’s turkey. If it’s not cooked properly, it’ll be tasteless and tough, but with the chef brought personally by His Highness Carlyle from Zyro, you can expect it to be good. Isn’t that right?” she asked, looking at Carlyle for confirmation.

 

“Right,” Carlyle replied casually as he began to carve the turkey with a large meat fork and knife.

 

Dorothea admired Carlyle’s skill as he effortlessly carved the meat without making several cuts.

 

“Is there no bone in turkeys? I’ve never seen anyone split the legs or wings in one go like Your Highness does.”

 

The praise for skillfully carving the served meat was a common compliment to the host.

 

Carlyle replied indifferently with a short smile, while Asha, who was by his side, interjected

 

“If you know the skeletal structure of the animal, it’s not difficult. You’ve probably carved plenty of people, so carving poultry like turkeys is…”

 

Lost in admiration for the well-cooked meat, she didn’t notice the puzzled expressions of the others who had turned sour. The only one who burst into laughter was Carlyle.

 

“Haha, exactly. I’ve probably carved plenty of people, so turkeys are amusing. Pft…”

 

Decker sighed and turned his head away, while Cecilia and Dorothea awkwardly smiled, Giles openly expressed disdain, but the awkward atmosphere gradually dissipated as the dinner began, although it wasn’t exactly harmonious.

 

After exchanging pleasantries and compliments about the food, Cecilia was the first to launch an attack.

 

“But… why are you here, Lady Dorothea? Are you here to see Sir Raphelt as a family representative?”

 

“Ah… My father is busy, so I came here to help him with some work.”

 

“Oh, you mean Sir Raphelt’s work? There must be a lot of confidential information. Does that mean you’ll get to see it all, Lady Dorothea?”

 

Cecilia asked with a worried expression, glancing at Carlyle.

 

Dorothea immediately clarified.

 

“Of course not. I’m just helping with the little things. That way, my father will have more time to spare.”

 

“I’m more worried about Her Grace Cecilia having access to classified information. Can we really trust the Dovetails of the Dupret family…?”

 

Even Giles joined in and counterattacked Cecilia, but Carlyle did not take sides or mediate between the two.

 

Outwardly, he simply appeared to be eating and listening to the conversation of others.