"Hmm…"
Carlyle looked down at the servant who had interrupted Asha and asked,
"Who is my wife?"
"Yes?"
"I asked who my wife is."
"She is Countess Pervaz, Your Highness."
Carlyle smirked at her answer.
"That's something I can say. You should call her with 'Your Highness'."
The sullen expressions of the servants who had come from the capital instantly became confused. At the moment when their heads were about to become complicated trying to figure out what he meant, Carlyle kindly explained.
"Seeing how you dare to interrupt the Prince's wife and answer back, it doesn't seem like the accusations of the servants of Pervaz Castle are false, does it?"
The servants who had come forward were suddenly afraid of Carlyle's eyes.
Until just now, he seemed to be just annoyed by this situation, but now, Carlyle's golden eyes were filled with the languid cruelty of a predator about to crush insects.
Realizing that it was not Asha and her servants who were bothering him, but themselves, they sent a look of asking for help to Giles.
Giles also had a confused expression.
"E-even if our servants said such things, it must have been out of a desire for Pervaz to get better. Your Highness also agreed that it was not a wrong thing to say, didn't you?"
However, Carlyle did not even listen to Giles' words.
"Those who dare to ridicule the royalty must be punished. Lionel!"
Carlyle, who had been looking down at the servants who had come forward, gave an order without even turning his head.
"Punish them for insulting the royalty."
The servants froze, holding their breath, as commoners could be sentenced to death for insulting the royalty.
Lionel, who had not expected things to escalate to this point, was also flustered, but he pleaded with Carlyle despite knowing that he would be angry.
"If we execute seventeen people, we will be short of hands, Your Highness. I beg you to be merciful."
"Oh, I didn't think of that."
The servants' hopes were raised by Carlyle's slightly softened voice, but then he gave another order.
"Then cut off their tongues."
Even Lionel couldn't plead any further with that order.
Lionel knew that if he clung to Carlyle even after he had taken a step back, they would all be executed.
"Yes, Your Highness."
Lionel gestured to the soldiers on his left, and they, who had already heard Carlyle's orders clearly, rushed forward and grabbed the servants without any hesitation.
"Aaaaaah!"
"Please forgive me, Your Highness! Your Highness!"
"Save my life! Save my life!"
The hall instantly became a scene of chaos and slaughter. Other servants, seeing those held by knights and forced to kneel, trembled with pale faces.
Even then, Carlyle's expression remained unchanged.
"We need to hurry if we want to make it for dinner."
For him, it seemed having seventeen people lose their tongues was less important than dinner being late.
Seeing this absurdity, Asha stepped forward.
"Please stop it, Your Highness."
"Asha…?"
"Who asked for their tongues to be cut?"
At Asha's protest, Carlyle stopped for the first time, seeming momentarily flustered, then offered a wry smile.
"Ah, so cutting their tongues is not enough? My apologies. My moment of weakness."
He then revised his order.
"Kill them."
Screams echoed again in the hall.
Asha felt like hitting Carlyle, who was acting like someone using a cannon to catch a sparrow.
"I told you to stop, Your Highness."
"Why? You dislike this too?"
"Your Highness…"
"Or perhaps you want Sir Ralphlet punished as well?"
"Your Highness…"
"Can't you just let me have this one? Sir Ralphlet was my tutor, after all."
"Your Highness!"
Finally, Asha raised her voice.
"I only ask for mutual respect between Your Highness's people and mine!"
"But you are my wife and royalty. Those who disrespect the royal family must be punished accordingly. Weren't you angry about that too?"
Faced with Carlyle's feigning ignorance, Asha understood how he wanted to resolve the situation, but it only made her more frustrated.
However, she couldn't simply refuse his wishes.
"…People from entirely different environments have suddenly started working together, so it's natural for there to be friction. From the perspective of the servants from the capital, it might seem like it's my fault for being insufficient."
"That doesn't mean you can insult me. You are not just anyone, you are the wife of Carlyle Evaristo."
Asha wanted to bite Carlyle's hand as she saw him arrogantly pointing at her like that.
However, she at least wanted to act more sensible than Carlyle.
"Since we didn't have a public wedding, they might wonder if I'm a princess or not. I feel the same way sometimes."
Carlyle smiled again, knowing the hidden meaning.
It was so annoying that she felt like punching his face right then.
"Besides, as sur Bailey said, Pervaz is short-handed. Even if you only cut their tongues, they won't be able to move while it heals."
"What does my wife wish?"
Now finally the main point.
Thinking they've been going in circles, Asha looked down at Carlyle's servants, who were soaked in sweat.
"Life in this harsh Pervaz might be unpleasant, but since you've set foot here, we need to help each other and survive. There might be friction, but that should only be part of the process of understanding each other."
Carlyle found it heartwarming to see Asha persuading the servants with her surprisingly gentle voice.
How much kinder she was than him, who was suggesting a brutal execution.
"For that, we must respect each other, each other's life experiences. To you, the people of Pervaz might seem rough and stubborn…"
Asha glanced back at those behind her before turning her head again.
"We protected the borders from barbarians with less than a tenth of what you have. We made huge sacrifices to remain Chadian citizens."
Her voice became quieter and firmer.
"Don't disrespect them. I don't expect gratitude, but just respect. That's what I ask of you."
The kneeling servants nodded frantically with eyes that looked at her as if she were their savior.
Carlyle realized her speech was directed at him.
'How charming, really.'
Carlyle couldn't hold back the spreading smile and chuckled. Then he decided to end this tedious play.
"You committed the crime of disrespecting the royal family, but thanks to the 'Crown Princess's' mercy, your necks and tongues are spared."
"Thank you, Your Highness! Thank you!"
The attitude of Carlyle's servants completely changed. They bowed their heads to Asha as if they were about to touch the floor.
"But there won't be a second chance. Take good care of the necks and tongues you've saved today. You too, those in the back."
With that, Carlyle ended the situation.
Then he approached Asha, who was looking at him with a slightly annoyed gaze, and whispered playfully.
"How about celebrating the reconciliation with dinner?"
"We never fought, so what reconciliation?"
"I thought you were angry because you wanted to bite my neck."
"….Take Sir Ralphlet and calm him down. I'll excuse myself now."
Asha bowed her head in greeting and left the hall with the Pervaz castle servants.
Watching her back, Carlyle muttered with a bitter taste in his mouth.
"What on earth do you say to invite a woman to dinner?"
***
Originally, the imperial family, which had taken a neutral stance on religion, adopted Elaheism as the state religion about 300 years ago.
Of course, Elaheism had existed long before that, but it was from that time on that its followers far outnumbered those of other religions, and about 70% of the people believed in Elaheism.
Even though it was recognized as the state religion, not much changed. Perhaps the only thing special was that the high priest of Elaheism would visit the emperor's prayer room every Monday morning to offer prayers.
Otherwise, the imperial family and the temple were strictly separated.
"May the blessings of the gods be with His Majesty the Emperor. Gabriel Knox of the First Temple of Elahe greets His Majesty the Emperor."
"Long time no see, High Priest. I think I saw you once at the New Year's prayer service this year… am I right?"
"Yes, Your Majesty. It is an honor to be remembered."
Although the priest who officiated the Monday prayer service had been changed at Beatrice's recommendation, the emperor did not think much of it.
Anyway, he didn't attach much importance to prayer, and he didn't know much about it either, so he felt more comfortable leaving it to the empress, who came from a family known for her piety.
"Today, we will offer prayers to Lord Libato, the god of balance and harmony. Let us pray. In the beginning, the darkness was covered in chaos, and you brought balance to create the world… …"
The beginning of the prayer was not much different from the previous priest.
"… We pray for our country. We know that you have saved this country from many tribulations in the past. With Lord Libato on the shoulders of the wise Emperor Kendrick Evaristo, we will safely overcome many tribulations… …"
However, his thoughts gradually changed as the prayer went on.
"… Our emperor, chosen by God, is the most balanced and harmonious of all the emperors, as Lord Libato said… …"
The emperor definitely felt that he liked the new officiant better.
"… Before we pray for the prosperity of the imperial family and the imperial house, we pray for the health and longevity of Emperor Kendrick Evaristo."
Unlike the previous priest, who was stiff and businesslike, Gabriel praised the emperor from time to time during the prayer and prayed for the emperor's personal blessing.