Asha and Decker, who were plunged into doubt, soon learned the identity of the reinforcements.
"Your Highness Carlyle…?"
The red cloak that stood out even from a distance and the large warhorses that were few in the Pervaz army.
In this bleak north, there was no one but Carlyle who could lead such splendid knights while waving a cloak of that color.
For a moment, she was about to be dazed, but Asha came to her senses as she beheaded the Igramite who was running towards her.
"Let's leave the Cruze Mountain side to His Highness Carlyle and focus on eliminating these guys for now."
"I told you! His Highness Carlyle seems like a surprisingly good person! Hahaha!"
Decker exhaled in relief and laughed out loud. Asha couldn't quite agree with that, but she felt her spirits rise nonetheless, knowing that she could rest assured about the rear.
"You rat bastards! How dare you try to attack from behind?"
A cold gaze swept over the savages, and the sword of the goddess began to stir the battlefield again.
The Igrams, instead of fulfilling their grand plan of besieging Pervaz Castle within a day, fled to the abandoned land after losing half of their army in a day.
It was a battle that ended so quickly that it was embarrassing for the people of Pervaz, who were accustomed to long and protracted wars.
* * *
On the night of that day, when they brilliantly repelled the Igrams surprise attack, even in the midst of the frantic work of collecting the bodies of the dead and treating the wounded, a faintly joyful atmosphere hung in the air of Pervaz Castle.
Although there was some damage, it was because they had managed to prevent the war from becoming protracted.
And Carlyle's help was crucial in making that happen.
"I'll go see His Highness Carlyle."
"Oh, right. I was just happy to see him earlier… but now I'm a little worried."
Decker was now anxious about Carlyle Evaristo's human record.
If it were Carlyle, he could badmouth them even in this situation. And he would do it with a cheerful face.
"Anyway, I'm grateful for his help… so try to be as patient as possible."
"Of course. We wouldn't have been able to win this big without His Highness Carlyle."
Asha smiled faintly at Decker's worries and headed to the second floor.
Of the 600 soldiers that Asha led out, 17 were killed, 45 were seriously injured, and about 200 were slightly injured. It was a much better result than expected.
Asha couldn't thank Carlyle enough for not letting them suffer much damage. However, she was a little worried that this would become an excuse for him and his 'Zyro' subordinates to ridicule and insult Pervaz.
'It can't be helped.'
He could brazenly act like he was begged to help, but Asha wasn't that thick-skinned.
The second floor was just as busy with the aftermath of the battle, but Asha's request for a meeting was not rejected.
"You're here. Sit down."
Carlyle greeted her naturally, as if he had expected her to come, and offered her a seat. There were already two teacups and a teapot covered with a warmer on the table.
However, Asha did not sit down on the sofa right away. She bowed deeply.
"Thank you for your help."
It was a sincere and stiff bow, as if it came out of an etiquette textbook. Carlyle felt a sense of distance from it, and he tasted a bitter taste in his mouth.
"You're just going to say hello and go back? Why? Is it even awkward for you to have a cup of tea with me?"
"That's not it. I just think the sooner the thank you and apology, the better."
"I prefer the way the main topic comes up after a while. It's more fun."
He lifted the teapot and poured tea into two cups.
"Of course you're busy, but can you spare me some time to have a cup of tea?"
"It's my honor."
"Don't be so stiff between a husband and wife."
Carlyle pushed the teacup towards Asha.
Asha sat down and carefully took the teacup he gave her.
It was a delicate porcelain cup that seemed to break even if you put a little force on it. It was amazing how thin the part that touched the mouth was, and how it was made of clay. It was also amazing that it had been transported here intact.
While Asha was secretly surprised at the teacup and the taste of the tea, which must be very expensive, Carlyle asked, looking at her expression.
"Are you… angry?"
"Yes? Angry? Me?"
Asha wondered if Carlyle had said anything else while she was lost in thought.
But Carlyle asked something she hadn't imagined.
"I asked if you were angry that I jumped in without you asking for help."
"Ah… no, this… ?"
I'm angry?
Is that what you ask someone who came to say thank you for saving you a lot of damage?
'Or do people in the capital make fun of or rebuke each other like this? I don't know what the hell is going on.'
Asha herself tried to figure out what Carlyle meant and added.
"I think I was arrogant. If Your Highness hadn't stopped the rear guard then, we would have suffered a lot of damage. Perhaps… I would have resented myself for not asking Your Highness for help."
"That's…"
"Ah! Of course, if I had survived."
Carlyle laughed at the last words that came like a footnote.
"Do you always go out… prepared to die?"
"Are there warriors who go out to the battlefield without preparing to die?"
"I don't."
"…Usually, they do."
Asha inwardly mocked, 'You wouldn't think that someone blessed by Aguiles wouldn't do it, right?'
However, it didn't seem like Carlyle was teasing or ignoring Asha.
"I was actually quite surprised that you left behind a will."
"You might not have expected someone who doesn't prepare to die to do such a thing, but wasn't the content of the will ordinary?"
"The end of it was more surprising."
Carlyle said, rubbing his chin.
"Openly advocating adultery to your husband."
He thought Asha might be a little taken aback, but she answered with a straight face.
"Isn't it strange to pretend to be a couple even when you leave a will?"
Carlyle didn't like that statement. They weren't pretending to be a couple; they were legally married.
Of course, Asha understood the meaning behind his words, so she attached a different reason.
"If you love Pervaz so much, isn't it natural to hope that your descendants will succeed you as the Count?"
Asha chuckled at the question.
"I don't necessarily hope for my own descendants to continue. I just want anyone with a sense of responsibility to protect and lead this place."
"Why?"
"Why, you ask? I'd like to ask in return. I thought I was stating the obvious, so what part of that story don't you understand?"
Carlyle realized that Asha was sincerely questioning.
"The land was watered with the blood of your father and brothers, and there is honor obtained through their sacrifices. Wouldn't it be unjust for the descendants of others to inherit that?"
"…Honor?"
Asha's expression seemed even more confused.
"The title of Count that my father received… was it 'honor'?"
"…!"
"The choices given to my father were either to die here or to face the Lures with preparedness to die. There were only two options. Whether you die like this or like that, it's still death, so he chose the latter."
Carlyle unintentionally avoided Asha's gaze. He felt guilty for the innocent Amir Pervaz and his sons who died as part of the royal family.
"I'm not sure if there is honor that should be passed down to descendants. But…."
Asha, who had been speaking dully, looked into the void for a moment before continuing.
"I wish this place would no longer be treated as a place of exile. The people of Pervaz are not guilty of anything. They even did the noble deed of defending the borders of the empire."
Carlyle nodded, but he didn't completely agree with Asha's opinion.
'If it wasn't for Amir Pervaz and his children, it is very unlikely that the people of the Pervaz territory would have done that noble deed.'
Perhaps it was fortunate for the people of Pervaz that those who had received the title of Count Pervaz before Amir had rather committed suicide quickly.
That way, they were able to welcome Amir as their lord before the situation got worse.
'Of course, it must have been an unfortunate thing for Amir Pervaz.'
Carlyle thought of Amir, who must have been agonizing over two choices: suicide, and a life of hardship that was tantamount to suicide.
He chose to suffer until death rather than die comfortably.
He probably didn't think he would survive against the Lure tribe, which was twenty times the size of the Pervaz army.
The people of the Pervaz met a lord who did not abandon them, and they endured the long war that lasted for 28 years. They even won.
"I agree with you. To be honest, I didn't expect the Pervaz army to be that strong."
At his words, Asha smiled faintly with a proud face.
Her face was quite cute.
"However, without Your Highness' help today, we would have suffered a great defeat. It was my fault that I only relied on the terrain of Mount Cruze."
"Well, you didn't have the amount of people to prepare for the rear guard in the first place. Even the main attack force of the Igram tribe outnumbered the Pervaz army."
"Would that excuse have worked even if we had been wiped out? Anyway, thank you for your help. I will definitely repay this favor."
Carlyle felt a sense of satisfaction at Asha's repeated thanks. He also felt a sense of relief that he confirmed that Asha was not angry with him.
Of course, he didn't realize it himself.