章 20: Chapter 020
Lionel didn't seem to be interested in the gambling talk anymore, but Carlyle grumbled as if he couldn't let it go.
"I'll find out all the bastards who bet on Matthias and make them regret it."
"I'll have the magpies look into it. This is an 8-year-old document, should I take it?"
"Yeah, put it in. Where did you bet?"
"Why are you worried about my money? My life is already on the line."
Carlyle laughed merrily at that.
"Of course, if I fall, you're finished too."
"There are more than a few people like me. Sir Raphelt and Sir Solon are also… Oh, and Countess Pervaz has been added."
"Hmm. That's right."
In addition to the amusement, there was a playfulness in Carlyle's mouth.
"She's an interesting woman, isn't she?"
"Well, I find her a bit scary every time I see her."
"Scary? Why?"
"I don't know if it's an irreverent expression for someone who is going to be the Crown Princess, but she has the most similar face to His Highness of all the people I've seen so far."
At Lionel's answer, Carlyle asked with a curious expression.
"You mean it's an irreverent expression to say she's similar to me? No, before that, where am I similar to that beggar leader?"
Lionel thought of Asha, who had been wearing a cool and indifferent expression as he watched Carlyle, who spoke in a tone that truly sounded absurd.
"It's the face of someone who has killed many people."
"What? What the hell is that?"
"If you come after waving your sword for a long time on the battlefield, Your Highness will also have the same expression."
An expression that seemed to leave nothing behind.
It seemed cold, indifferent, and even crying… Anyway, it was an expression that was not easy to approach.
Carlyle only acted like that at that time and quickly hid his expression, but Asha always had that expression.
"That's why I was a little scared. It didn't feel strange that she would draw her sword and charge at His Highness to kill him at any moment."
Only then did Carlyle nod and touch the corner of his mouth, which still had a smile on it.
"That's right. Exactly as you said, it doesn't seem strange that she would attack at any time."
No matter how insulting he spoke, Asha remained expressionless. She did not acknowledge his words, but she did not try to deny them either.
It seemed like she was just quietly piling them up.
'And when it overflows at some point, that's when her eyes will turn upside down.'
He knew a few of those types of people. They were good to have as subordinates, but they were annoying to have as enemies because they always had to be careful.
"It's nothing."
Carlyle smiled at Lionel and threw the document he had been looking at until now to Lionel, telling him to take this too.
"I wonder which side Asha Pervaz will be on?"
"Yes?"
***
The announcement of the wedding vows schedule was made in a typical Carlyle fashion: "Suddenly, one day."
"We will be holding a simple wedding vow ceremony at the palace next week. Is that okay?"
It was a question that didn't even consider the possibility that Asha would refuse. And of course, Asha didn't refuse.
The people of Pervaz must be waiting anxiously for food, so a wedding ceremony was out of the question. The sooner it was over, the more grateful they would be.
"A senior maid from the palace will come soon to help you choose a dress. Since things are moving so quickly, there won't be time to make a new dress, so you'll have to choose from existing ones and have it altered."
"I don't care what I wear."
"Of course you don't. Anything you wear will be better than that."
Carlyle, glancing at Asha's clothes
Decker and the others were not happy with the way that Asha was being treated. They tried to hide it, but Carlisle could tell that they had never experienced aristocratic social gatherings.
"It seems that your men are quite dissatisfied?"
When Carlyle asked without erasing his smirk, Asha quickly stepped forward.
"They have never been to such a place before. I am the same. There may be many things that you find annoying, but please be patient."
"Or you'll cut my head off too?"
"…Why would I do that to the goose that lays the golden eggs?"
"Pft! Hahaha!"
Carlyle burst out laughing in front of Asha again. There was no one else who could make him laugh like this.
However, Asha couldn't understand why he was laughing, and Carlyle had to laugh for a while longer, his shoulders shaking, at Asha's expression, which showed exactly what she was thinking.
"Ha, where did this thing come from? You don't seem to be pretentious, but you're too smart to be stupid."
Even though Asha treated him as a "golden goose," he didn't feel bad at all. Rather, her thoughts were so transparent that he could believe her.
So now he understood.
The reason why Asha didn't flinch even when he tried to shake her with insults.
'I'm the goose that lays the golden eggs, so she doesn't mind if I make a little noise?'
Where did she get the courage to not back down even a little to an opponent who could easily destroy her with a single word?
Was it just a high-level act?
'Well, it doesn't matter. It's only a 3-year relationship anyway.'
All he wanted was for her not to betray him for a few bucks. He couldn't let a traitor live, and even though it was only a relationship on paper, he didn't want to kill his wife.
"Anyway, the bride's side needs to be present at the wedding ceremony, so your party should stay until then and leave for Pervaz as soon as the wedding ceremony is over."
Decker hesitated at the thought of leaving Asha alone and asked.
"So... what about our lord...."
"Are you worried that I won't be able to take care of my own wife?"
"But...."
"If she needs a maid, she can just get one, and if she needs an escort, she can get a knight. Shouldn't you go first and let them know what's going on?"
At this, Asha added.
"His Highness is right, Decker. If I suddenly go back to Pervaz with His Highness the Prince, how surprised will those guys be?"
Perhaps the imperial family would think that Carlyle had sent Pervaz to attack.
The fact that the management of Pervaz Castle was in a complete mess was also a problem.
Even if Carlyle took into account the circumstances of Pervaz, the atmosphere would not be very good if there was no proper place for the prince to stay.
"Go ahead and let them know, and also prepare a place for His Highness to stay."
Decker could not argue any further. However, Carlyle rebuked him because his worried expression was clear.
"Don't you know that having you around will only increase the burden for Countess Pervaz? You should think about lightening the Countess' burden."
At his words, the expressions of Decker and his party became gloomy. However, Asha, who he thought would not care much, interjected with a slight frown.
"They are just worried about me, not the guys who will be treated like luggage. If it wasn't for my friends, the title of the lord of Pervaz would have already returned to the imperial family."
Carlyle narrowed his eyes and looked at Asha's expression.
"You are a lord who cares for his subordinates terribly."
"Is there any reason why I shouldn't?"
Asha saw the corners of Carlyle's lips curl up slightly. He was definitely smiling, but she could tell that he was upset.
However, she could not see why he was upset, as there was nothing wrong with her actions or words.
'Anyway, this seems to be a world of people with strange twists in their hearts.'
Asha sighed shallowly. She missed the people of Pervaz who took what she said at face value and didn't speak sarcastically.
In the end, Decker, Luka, Bastian, and Danilo decided to return to Pervaz immediately after attending the wedding vows ceremony in a week.
Although Carlyle looked unhappy, he must not have been too upset, as he said that he would send his own elite knights to protect Decker's party.
And before they left, he told Asha and her maids.
"I don't care how you live when you return to Pervaz, but at least do something about that appearance for the duration of the wedding vows."
Carlyle said, pointing from the top of Asha's head to the bottom of her feet with his finger. He still showed no respect for his future wife.
However, Asha was not offended at all.
'His Highness Carlyle has put up with my appearance for a long time.'
Although she had washed a few times since entering Carlyle's annex, it probably wouldn't have been enough for Carlyle's castle.
'After all, by the standards of the people here, washing seems to be a process that involves applying a lot of fragrant things and making the skin shiny.'
Anyway, the maids, who had repeatedly been refused permission to bathe Asha, finally had their eyes light up as if they had been given permission. That night, they dragged Asha to the bathhouse and kept her there for two hours.
And the next day, at 10:00 AM, Carlyle stormed into the mansion.
"Madam Laurel will be here soon. Are you ready?"
He entered the drawing room of the main house and asked if Asha had given up her 'wild warrior' appearance.
"It seems that the maids who took care of her had a hard time last night, but I don't think she's like a young lady from the social circles...."
"I didn't expect that much."
"I apologize. The kids went to pick her up, so she will be here soon."
The head maid bowed her head and said, and Carlyle crossed his legs and sat down, smoking a cigar and checking his watch.
However, Asha did not make people wait because she was not as prepared as the other noble ladies did.
"May the utmost honor be upon Your Highness. I greet Your Highness Carlyle."
"Ah, you're here...."
Carlyle turned his head at Asha's voice and was speechless for a moment.
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