The Age Of Arrogance

“Mother…?”

 

“Make me pressure His Majesty? Do you think your father would value your safety more than his dignity?”

 

The Emperor can never hold onto Carlyle.

 

That would be going back on his word, and it would be a disgrace in front of the nobles.

 

Do you think that man, who is filled with vanity and inferiority, would keep his first son, whom he has cast out, tied to the palace just to accommodate the tantrums of his second son?

 

It’s ridiculous.

 

Beatrice gritted her teeth.

 

“Do you want to live a life where you are once again ignored and ridiculed by that Carlyle bastard?”

 

“T-that’s not it…!”

 

“Of course it is not. In fact, even if you say you will submit, I cannot allow it.”

 

Matthias never thought that his mother’s golden eyes, which always seemed warm, could feel so cold.

 

However, Beatrice called him again in a gentle and affectionate voice that was unbearable.

 

“Matthias.”

 

“Yes, M-mother.”

 

“Didn’t I promise you that I would make sure you never had to go to the battlefield? Why do you keep fixating on that issue?”

 

“Ah, t-that’s… I keep hearing about war and monster extermination whenever I take military lessons…”

 

“Oh, I see.”

 

Beatrice smiled brightly.

 

“I will make arrangements for you to stop taking those lessons from tomorrow.”

 

“R-really? Is that okay?”

 

“You don’t need to learn military science since you won’t be going to war. I made you learn it because of His Majesty’s wishes, but by now, His Majesty probably doesn’t care anymore.”

 

Matthias smiled again at the fact that he wouldn’t have to learn military science anymore.

 

While learning military science from the Captain of the Knights, he always felt his own incompetence and compared himself to Carlyle.

 

Now that he didn’t have to do that anymore, he felt a sense of relief.

 

“Now you look like my son. Yes, you look good when you smile like that.”

 

Beatrice stroked Matthias’ left cheek, which was red from being hit, and smiled softly.

 

“However, you still need to train in behavior befitting a Crown Prince. I will send someone this afternoon, so practice with all your heart and soul, even if it’s only for a short time. Do you understand?”

 

“Yes, Mother.”

 

Matthias greeted her with a much better expression and returned to his quarters.

 

However, Beatrice, who had been smiling and seeing him off, called her aide with a cold face again.

 

“What was the name of the drug you gave me before? The one you said would make me feel like I could do anything.”

 

Beatrice asked, recalling Matthias laughing and walking around for a while after taking the drug.

 

“Yes, Your Majesty. It is a stimulant called ‘Deatoxin’, and it is said to be mainly taken by knights before going on an expedition.”

 

“What are the side effects?”

 

“There is no major problem if you take a small amount for a short period of time, but if you take a large amount for a long time, it will definitely cause mental problems. You may not be able to sleep or rest and try to do something, and you may become physically exhausted.”

 

Beatrice fingered the ribs of the fan she was holding and asked.

 

“You’re not saying he’ll die, are you?”

 

“All drugs can kill if overdosed. The key is to adjust the dosage so that you don’t die.”

 

“That’s good enough. Start giving Matthias that drug this afternoon.”

 

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

 

And so it was decided that Matthias would be given Deatoxin.

 

The mother, who had decided to give her son a strange drug known only as a stimulant, thought only that she should have used this method sooner, and felt no guilt at all.

 

***

 

‘So, I need to quickly reclaim the position of Crown Prince. If father abdicates the throne right after that, it would be the best scenario.’

 

Carlyle arrived at the Imperial Palace after a long time, picturing the future of the empire that would undergo a complete transformation under his leadership.

 

This time, upon arriving in front of Soleil Palace, he dismounted from his horse and allowed the priests to incense him without complaint.

 

In front of the iron gate, he disarmed himself and walked quietly down the long corridor. He then waited before the Emperor’s hall.

 

The Grand Chamberlain seemed to be observing him, wondering if he would cause trouble again. However, Carlyle waited silently with a relaxed expression until the Grand Chamberlain announced him.

 

“His Highness Prince Carlyle Evaristo enters!”

 

The golden door opened with the Grand Chamberlain’s shout.

 

Just like when he returned victorious from the Kanatak War, the Emperor and Empress were seated with many officials.

 

“I, Carlyle Evaristo, greet Your Majesty the Emperor and Your Majesty the Empress!”

 

Although his greeting was considerably more polite compared to a year ago, the Emperor and Empress felt more threatened by the calmness in Carlyle’s expression than before.

 

“It is a great pleasure to see my eldest son after a long time.”

 

“I feel the same way, Your Majesty. Additionally, I am grateful to be able to report another victory.”

 

“Oh, you repelled the barbarians in Pervaz?”

 

Carlyle smiled even at the Emperor’s sharp voice.

 

“I have completely wiped out the Igram tribe who invaded our imperial border again after the Lure tribe.”

 

“Hoho, a great victory!”

 

“I fought for the empire following Your Majesty’s words, and in the process, I was able to reflect on Your Majesty’s deep intentions. I am deeply impressed by my father’s will to guide his wayward son onto the right path.”

 

The Emperor stammered for a moment, completely surprised by those words coming from Carlyle’s mouth.

 

There was something quite suspicious, but he didn’t want to miss this opportunity to put Carlyle down.

 

“Ha, hahaha! You are finally coming of age!”

 

“What great progress could I have made in just one year? However, I have come to realize the path I must take as Crown Prince. This is thanks to my father’s wise guidance.”

 

“Hahaha! Yes, I knew you would eventually repent and grow!”

 

He reveled in his sense of victory, but he did not forget to tighten the leash on Carlyle.

 

“However, as you said, it has only been one year. I cannot yet judge whether you are fit to be Crown Prince.”

 

“Of course. I will do my best to show you my abilities over the next two years so that you can rest assured and entrust me with the position of Crown Prince.”

 

The Emperor was very satisfied with Carlyle’s attitude.

 

It felt so sweet to finally have his son, who always seemed to look down on him as a child, kneel before him.

 

The Emperor suffered from an inferiority complex that made him want to take the lives of those who were better than him, but on the other hand, he was also prone to making impulsive gestures of generosity when intoxicated with victory. He fell for Carlyle’s trick this time as well.

 

“You are a good son, Carlyle. Yes, since you have returned victorious, tell me what you desire, and I will grant it.”

 

“It’s been a long time since I’ve been back, and I miss the sweet smell of champagne. Even if it’s just a small one, if you could provide a place to celebrate our victory at Pervaz, I think it would be good for the morale of the knights who worked hard.”

 

“Hahaha! Oh, I was careless! Let’s have a victory banquet!”

 

“Thank you, Your Majesty.”

 

The emperor laughed heartily and ordered that a victory banquet be prepared.

 

As the father and son talked animatedly, Beatrice had to clench her jaw and suppress her displeasure.

 

Since entering the hall, Carlyle had not once looked at her. Not out of fear, but probably because he did not even consider her worth looking at.

 

‘That insolent bastard…!’

 

The emperor was in a good mood and kept talking, so Beatrice had no chance to interject.

 

‘This is strange. That arrogant bastard has changed somehow.’

 

The way Carlyle was flattering the emperor, and the fact that he only asked for a victory banquet when the emperor offered to give him ‘anything’ he wanted, was very suspicious.

 

The Carlyle Evaristo she knew was the kind of guy who would rub his father’s temper even though he knew he would be grounded.

 

Simply because he didn’t want to bow his head to her father.