Chapter 79: Chapter 079
No, to put it nicely, she was 'indifferent', rather being so stiff or unyielding.
"…This is about all we have between us, after all."
"Then, I'll eat it with gratitude."
Asha ate quietly without any small talk, as if she had come here only for the meal.
She nodded her head approvingly when she folded the thin ham to eat it, but it was too much to expect her to start a conversation. She was just enjoying her meal.
Unlike Asha, who finished the food on her plate without leaving a trace, Carlyle just waved the fork in his hand without any manners and watched Asha quietly.
"Your Highness? Is there something wrong?"
"Why? Does it look like that?"
"Yes. You don't seem to be eating much…"
"Really? You don't have any idea?"
"Yes, well. Did something unpleasant happen at the banquet yesterday?"
Carlyle snorted.
"There were women at the banquet who asked me to spend the night with them."
"Oh…! Did you miss that opportunity because I was in Your Highness's room yesterday?"
"What?"
He was starting to find this ridiculous now.
It seemed like she was pretending not to know about what happened last night because she was too embarrassed, but Asha brought it up openly.
And in a way that was so absurd.
"Didn't you think I meant you?"
"Oh, I see. So… you mean you were upset last night…"
"No, it's okay. Please just shut up."
"I understand. I apologize."
TL/N: LOL!! I'M HOWLING!!!
Carlyle felt like his head was going to hurt now.
He had made several hypotheses with the thought that 'this can't be happening', but in conclusion, Asha Ferbaz seemed to be treating the hot night they had as a thing of the past.
'Is that… okay?'
It was beyond ridiculous.
How could anyone do that after becoming human?
She had held me in her arms and called my name in such a passionate voice. She had hugged me without me asking and rubbed her hot body against me. We had shared such a blissful pleasure together!
'Unpleasant.'
A clear sense of unpleasantness burned the center of Carlyle's chest black.
He inadvertently brought up the topic of "other women."
"Yesterday, I felt a bit disappointed that Cecilia and Dorothea couldn't attend the victory banquet. So, how about having dinner together tonight?"
"Oh, I see. That's fine with me."
"Fine? You're not bothered at all?"
"Of course not. So, should we come to this dining room again for dinner tonight?"
Carlyle became even more annoyed by Asha's seemingly lack of jealousy.
"Whether you come or not."
"Yes? Are you telling me to come or not?"
"Do whatever you want."
In the end, Carlyle stood up abruptly without realizing exactly why he was feeling upset and left the table.
He didn't want to think about how uncomfortable Asha might feel left behind.
A certain emotion that had been present until a moment ago was ruthlessly trampled upon.
The dinner that evening was even more awkward.
"Congratulations on your victory, Your Highness, although it's late."
"It's truly fortunate that you returned safely."
Dorothea and Cecilia congratulated Carlyle on his victory with an appropriate but slightly reserved attitude.
Whether Carlyle was pleased that he had deliberately arranged the dinner with them in mind or whether he saw this as another opportunity, both women were beautifully adorned like blossoming flowers.
And beside them, Asha…
'She seems more like a commander of the Pervaz army than my wife.'
He wished she had dressed a little more consciously of the other women, not necessarily in the dress he gave her for portrait painting, but something different.
However, Asha was still dressed in her usual shirt and pants attire.
'If I were to give her a coat and hand her a sword, she could probably lead a horde of barbarians with just ten words.'
Carlyle sighed unknowingly.
Even though it was his first meal after almost starving all day, the meat that entered his mouth didn't taste like anything.
Now, he couldn't bear to look at Asha, but his gaze kept drifting towards her, and it felt like torture.
Dorothea and Cecilia, unaware of the situation, were reluctantly engaging Asha in conversation.
"I heard Countess Pervaz's performance was remarkable."
"I simply did my best to defend my territory."
"It must have been difficult to wield a sword as a woman. Were you not afraid?"
"Choosing to wield a sword was an easier decision than sitting still and being raped to death by barbarians."
Carlyle read the unpleasantness mixed into Asha's voice. It was natural to feel bad since he was restraining the best warrior of Pervaz, Asha.
He wished the topic of conversation would change around then, but Cecilia, perhaps determined to pick a fight, provoked Asha.
"Still, Your Highness Carlyle was in command this time, so it must have been easier for the Countess."
"...Yes."
"Thanks to you, the barbarians were completely wiped out. If Your Highness Carlyle had been there during the Lure tribe's attack, it wouldn't have taken that long, would it?"
A moment of silence flowed from Carlyle and Asha.
'Does this woman have a death wish?'
Carlyle looked at Cecilia doubtfully, then suddenly realized that Cecilia and Dorothea had never seen Asha fight the barbarians.
So they think Asha must have hidden behind others and that her skills are nothing special. Since they judged based on themselves.
What's worse, saying such things to a survivor of Pervaz who suffered 28 years of war with the barbarians because of the Imperial Family…
'If it were me, I would have already killed her…'
However, Asha wasn't someone who could go against the Dupret Duchy.
So she could only hold back her anger.
"...That's right. It would have been… good if Your Highness Carlyle had been the first to go to war in Pervaz 10 years ago."
Asha, who seemed to be enjoying the meal until now, put down her cutlery.
Carlyle noticed the cold atmosphere spreading from Asha, but no one else seemed to care about her feelings.
"Your Highness Carlyle's first war was the Calasgo War, wasn't it?"
"That's right. Even though His Highness was only fifteen years old at the time, he completely controlled the army with his adult-like physique and charisma."
Gilles answered instead of Carlyle.
The topic of conversation naturally shifted to Carlyle's first war and his heroic deeds, and Carlyle reluctantly continued the conversation despite feeling uncomfortable.
However, his attention was more focused on the dessert plate left in front of Asha rather than the unpleasant war stories being brought up.
'Countess Pervaz didn't even touch the cream pie for dessert.'
Carlyle sighed as he looked at Asha with dry eyes in front of the cream pie.
It was because of the memory of Asha really enjoying the cream pie that he had it served for dessert…
"Let's talk about this war. This is a celebration of Your Highness' victory, so we can't leave that story out."
Cecilia urged Carlyle again, like a fly buzzing around him.
TL/N: btch, if you didn't shut up?!!
Carlyle tasted bitterness.
He glanced at Asha briefly and then spoke.
"Well, as you all know, the barbarians from the abandoned land attacked Pervaz, or rather, me, at the behest of the Empress or with her support."
He took a sip of wine, reminiscing about the moment of exhilaration when he and Asha rushed towards the Igram tribe.
"To Countess Pervaz, I'm sorry to say this, but to be honest… I didn't mind fighting."
"What do you mean?"
"Not all wars are the same. Some are just annoying and unsatisfying, some are easy, and some seem fine on the outside but somehow feel bad."
"How was this war?"
Dorothea and Cecilia asked Carlyle in turn.
He muttered, turning the glass slowly.
"This war… I never thought for a moment that I would lose."
"Wow!"
Everyone exclaimed in admiration at Carlyle's confident answer. But only Asha looked at him with an unknown expression.
Carlyle did not avoid her gaze.
"I had someone to cover my back for the first time. So I could just look ahead and run."
"Who covered your back? Sir Solon? Or Sir Bailey?"
"But didn't you say 'for the first time' just now?"
Then Lionel, who was next to him, answered their curiosity.
"This time, Countess Pervaz protected His Highness Carlyle. She was truly amazing."
Dorothea and Cecilia's eyes widened.
"Countess Pervaz protected His Highness Carlyle?"
"Then the Countess is better than Sir Solon or Sir Bailey… Oh, that was a rude remark to Sir Bailey."
"No, it's okay. Countess Pervaz is so strong that I wouldn't even think of being offended."
At Lionel's testimony, everyone except Carlyle and Asha looked at each other as if they were speechless. It was possible to read the air of disbelief or unwillingness to admit it.
Carlyle put an end to the doubt as he said.
"I would like to take this opportunity to express my formal gratitude, Countess Pervaz. I've never had such good chemistry with anyone in my life. It was a battle that I will remember for a long time, despite the hardships."
"… I'm the one who should be grateful."
Asha smiled briefly.
The topic then turned to discussing future plans. It was about the Empress, the Emperor, Matthias, And the temple and social circles.
Asha couldn't participate in it and just sipped her wine.
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