"Decker, how much further do we have to go to Zyro?"
"At our current pace, it will probably take about a week. But the horses will get tired gradually… So let's say ten days to be safe."
"That's a long time. But at least there's plenty of grass for the horses to eat in the south."
Asha muttered enviously, looking at the grassy field, unlike Pervaz.
Although Pervaz was cold, if there had been no war, it might have been possible to see such greenery in spring and summer. Unfortunately, Asha had never seen Pervaz like this since she was born.
'But now that the war is over… At least we should be able to farm for 2-3 years, right?'
After 2-3 years, other barbarians might invade again, but at least before that, there would be a short peace while keeping an eye on each other.
There were hardly any iron farm tools left, but the land was soaked with human blood and sweat, so there would be no need to plow the land hard or add fertilizer. Maybe there will be a great harvest in the next year or two.
'A field full of food….'
Just imagining it made her mouth water and a happy smile spread across her face.
She was not happy just thinking about harvesting the grain. She liked the picture of the serfs working in the field with a will to live and a big smile on their faces.
'The people of Pervaz deserve to live a happy life. More than anyone else in the Empire.'
Even though death was always around the corner, they did not run away. Of course, there was nowhere to run, but they stuck together and protected Pervaz.
Men and women, if they had all four limbs and no wounds, took up arms and fought, and the elderly would raise the children together.
Although they were anxious, they trusted their Lord and followed her orders. Even now, in the situation where they had won the battlefield but gained nothing, they did not resent their Lord.
'So I must… I must definitely get something and go back.'
Asha clenched and unclenched her hands, tightly wrapped in cloth, and made a silent vow.
She had to somehow make Pervaz, which her father and brothers had tried so hard to protect, livable.
"Asha. Don't be lost in thought and eat something."
It was Decker who woke Asha up from her reverie.
He handed Asha a piece of low-quality rye bread mixed with a little gravel and chaff.
Even in a slightly wealthy estate, this would be thrown away as dog food, but for Asha and her party, it was bread that they could not remember seeing in a long time.
'Bread that wasn't black and could be eaten.'
"Shouldn't we… save the bread?"
"Let's eat it when it's the tastiest. It's bulky and can be a burden."
Thanks to the excuse Decker made up, "it's a burden because it's bulky," Asha was able to accept the bread.
The bread, which she bit off, gave off a nutty rye aroma that whetted her appetite. She could feel her teeth, which had been abused by the hard jerky, welcoming the soft texture of the bread.
Asha munched on her rye bread and vowed again.
"I'm going to get as much as I can from the emperor, and I'm going to make sure you eat white bread with lots of butter."
"Wow! Just hearing the word 'butter' makes my mouth water. Hahaha!"
"Right? White bread with butter… I can't even imagine what it would be like to see it for real."
No one would know that these people, who looked like they were going to kill someone from a distance, were giggling at the thought of white bread.
* * *
The victory banquet for Carlyle and his knights was boisterous from the start, and then it became excessively lavish and luxurious.
There was plenty of food and drink, and music always played in the main banquet hall of the palace.
The palace was opened to the nobles, as well as the recently rising wealthy plebeian class, and the city was filled with a festive atmosphere.
However, the main character of the victory banquet was not free at all.
"How long do I have to be here?"
"You have to stay until His Majesty the Emperor arrives, Your Highness!"
"So when is His Majesty coming?"
"He will arrive by 8 o'clock at the latest."
"That's still two hours away."
Carlyle glanced at the clock, lying on the couch, and sighed with annoyance.
Lionel imagined the worst-case scenario: Carlyle would leave, the emperor would arrive at the banquet without the main character, and he would be angry and turn everything upside down. He broke out in a cold sweat.
'Father! Why did you think of sending me in as a playmate for this human child?!'
Lionel clenched his teeth as he thought of his father, who had been pleased to send his son into the palace as the Crown Prince's playmate.
His comfortable parents had no idea that that day was the beginning of a nightmare. They were only happy to have something to brag about in social circles.
'You should be honored, Lionel! His Highness Carlyle is a great man born with the blessing of God.'
Lionel sighed whenever he recalled what his father had said to him.
It was true that he was blessed by God, but why did everyone ignore the fact that his blessing was only specialized in killing people?
'Look at him now.'
'Didn't Carlyle look like a human who was thinking of how to anger his father and make the blood of the lower beings run cold?'
Only the innocent people below Lionel received the Emperor's wrath.
'What to do? I just need to hold him for two more hours…!'
As Lionel was anxiously contemplating, someone knocked on the door of the room where Carlyle was resting.
"Who is it?"
"It's Max of the Erez Family."
Did the gods take pity on Lionel? The man outside the door was Max Erez, a notorious spendthrift and pleasure-seeker.
Although he was personally reluctant to associate with him, anyone would be welcome if they could keep the bored prince entertained.
"Come in, Sir Erez."
Lionel opened the door, hoping that he would bring stories that would pique Carlyle's curiosity.
As soon as Max entered, he bowed to Carlyle and observed his expression.
"Everyone is wondering why the guest of honor is not present, ha ha!"
Carlyle met his friendly approach with indifference.
"Do I have to go out there and entertain them?"
"Oh, no! That's not what I meant…."
He waved his hands and lowered his tone as much as possible.
"Seeing as Your Highness seems bored, my acquaintances and I have prepared a little gathering of pleasure… It would be a great honor if you could stop by for even a moment."
"A gathering of pleasure?"
Carlyle glanced at him. Max, seeing an opportunity, smiled brightly again.
"I've invited everyone who's been making a name for themselves in society lately. Your Highness has been away from the capital for over a year, so it would be quite useful to familiarize yourself with them once in a while."
His statement that he would treat the people he brought as tools to be used when needed might have grated on the listener's nerves, but in fact, Max was simply using the right words to motivate Carlyle.
After all, Carlyle Evaristo doesn't treat people as people.
To him, nobles, and the socialites, are nothing more than objects to be used and discarded eventually, or even less than that, garbage.
"Bored, aren't you? Why don't you take a look at what kind of good things I've gathered?"
"It would be my honor, Your Highness."
Carlyle, who found it excruciating to sit around with nothing to do, decided to follow Max.
'The Empress barely moved at all, and there are so many events I have to attend… Are they trying to make me explode from frustration?'
If the rest of the banquet was like this, it was a fairly convincing hypothesis.
A banquet without a single important person, hours of waiting, meaningless greetings, annoying people…
On top of that, his half-brother Matthias was flashing his face all over the place, smiling like his mother. That irritated him even more.
'I hope this man has really prepared something interesting.'
Accompanied by Lionel, Carlyle followed Max's guidance to a room set up inside the banquet hall venue. However, as they approached, Max, with a strange smile, took Lionel's arm.
"Oh, this room was prepared specifically for Your Highness, so Sir Bailey should come with me."
"Huh? What do you mean?"
Carlyle chuckled as Lionel looked puzzled.
""It looks like you've even prepared a woman, huh?"
Max chuckled as if embarrassed.
"Since returning from the battlefield, it seems you haven't yet relieved your physical and mental fatigue…"
It was Lionel who was taken aback by his words.
"N-No, it's not like that!"
"It's okay, Leo. Isn't it Carlyle Evaristo's virtue not to stop women who come and not to hold back women who leave?"
Perhaps not sensing the coldness in Carlyle's voice, Max laughed heartily as if he had expected it.
"Hahaha! They say that heroes are lustful. For a handsome and brave man like Your Majesty, being lustful is not even a flaw. However, if you meet the person I've brought, you'll be pleasantly surprised."
He whispered with anticipation and mischief twinkling in his eyes.
"She's said to be the most beautiful woman in the empire. I'm confident she'll be a suitable match for Your Highness."
"Oh, really? Well then, let's trust Sir Erez's judgment."
As Carlyle was about to grab the door handle, Max hastily added.