"But here… something feels off… What could it be?"
Thanks to his travels to various territories for war or monster extermination, Carlyle had seen his fair share of castles. However, despite the decrepit appearance, Pervaz Castle felt odd in some other way.
What could it be? Pondering deeply, Carlyle realized as he looked at the "wall" on his right.
"There are… no portraits!"
That was definitely it.
In any castle or mansion, the corridors of the second and third floors were always adorned with portraits of ancestors. Yet, Pervaz Castle didn't have a single portrait.
"Aren't there portraits of Amir Pervaz or your ancestors? Even family portraits?"
But Asha's expression changed to one of confusion upon receiving that question.
"We were living in constant uncertainty about when the Lures might attack. Where would we have had the time to commission portraits?"
"But painting portraits doesn't take much time for the artist, not like they need live models. Just standing for half a day once a week would do."
"Let me correct you. Which artist would come to Pervaz to paint portraits? It's a place where you might die any moment."
"Ah…"
Carlyle nodded slowly, as if he finally understood.
"They couldn't even afford to buy firewood, let alone pay for portrait commissions."
"Now you seem to understand."
Carlyle felt like everything he knew was being shattered. What was natural to him was impossible in Pervaz and to Asha. While he didn't sympathize with her, it was somewhat shocking.
She wasn't a noble, at least not outwardly. Yet, there wasn't a single aspect of her life that could be called noble.
"Then… how do you remember your deceased family?"
Asha responded as if it were obvious.
"Every memory of my family, the warriors I fought alongside, and each person from Pervaz who relied on and lived with each other is alive in my mind and heart. We don't need paintings to remember them."
Asha could recall memories like precious gems stored in her mind at any time. Therefore, she never felt the lack of portraits.
"And everyone in Pervaz is the same. Do you think there are parents who can't remember their deceased children just because they didn't leave a portrait behind?"
"I asked a foolish question."
Carlyle, who had been laughing ironically, suddenly became curious about how he would be remembered in Asha's memories.
"Perhaps as a calamity for the 50 million Veronas? That wouldn't be too far-fetched, would it?"
In reality, it didn't matter how he would be remembered. Wasn't that one of the good aspects of contractual relationships born out on necessity? The fact that they didn't have to strive for something emotional from each other.
But that's why he wanted to leave something behind even more. Of course, it was also necessary.
"I don't know if it's a tradition in Pervaz not to have portraits, but we'll have to paint one soon."
"Yes? Who do you mean by 'we'?"
"Who else? Me and you, my wife."
"Why?"
It was not appropriate to ask "why" in front of the imperial family, but Asha could not help but ask whenever she had a conversation with Carlyle.
It is the same now.
It's a 3-year marriage anyway.
Why should he pay a lot of money to have a portrait painted?
Looking at Asha's expression that showed her thoughts, Carlyle answered calmly.
"One is for the imperial records. Originally, we should have painted it while living in the palace, but we came to Pervaz without having the time, so we have to paint it here."
"If 'one' is necessary, are you saying that we should paint more than one portrait?"
"You got it right. We need to paint another one to hang in this castle."
"So… why the hell…?"
Then Carlyle retorted as if he was more absurd.
"How can you remember me if you don't even have a portrait?"
"Do you really want to be remembered by me?"
"Of course. I don't want to be the man who is only remembered by the amount of his dowry to his first wife."
And he added as he walked ahead.
"Ah! And even if there is a shortage of firewood, you are not allowed to get rid of that portrait, Countess Pervaz. Leave it for your descendants."
Carlyle walked on without looking back, imagining Asha standing behind him with a grim expression, but Asha's feelings were different.
'He says he wants to be remembered… .'
On the contrary, will she be able to be remembered by Carlyle?
How long and how long will Carlyle remember the marriage of convenience with her, who was even called the 'barbaric princess'?
"How long will the portrait sent to the imperial court be kept?"
"Huh?"
Carlyle stopped walking and turned halfway at the sudden question.
"A portrait of a royal couple can never be destroyed. If we divorce, it will be kept in the Imperial Records Management Office, but it will not be destroyed anyway. Why?"
"It's nothing. Then I guess I'll have to find a painter."
Carlyle smiled when he saw Asha, who was surprisingly no longer resistant to painting a portrait.
***
Tok. Tok. Tok
Beatrice's fingertips, which were reading the letter sent by the spy, were lightly tapping the teacup.
"Mother…?"
It was Beatrice's habit to tap something and become speechless when she was deep in thought.
Matthias, wondering if something serious was written in the letter she received, called her cautiously.
"Is it bad news?"
Beatrice shook her head vaguely.
"One of the barbarians from the abandoned land recently attacked Pervaz."
"Huh? I thought the barbarians who attacked there were eliminated?"
"The Lures are almost extinct. This time, it is said that a small tribe called the Igrams invaded."
"barbarians are all barbarians, what…"
Beatrice almost sighed as she saw her son, who was annoyed by the distinction of barbarians.
'Matti listens to me well, but the problem is that he's too simple.'
However, she didn't want to be someone who only raised people who listened to her well.
"Anyway, they are people we should be grateful to."
"Why? Did they win?"
"Unfortunately, they say they fled the day they attacked."
"Hey, then what's the point of being grateful? I thought they did something!"
Beatrice smiled, amused by Matthias' grumbling attitude.
"Matti. To me, you seem to be quite anxious. Why are you in such a hurry?"
"Isn't it urgent? We don't know when the monster will appear! If the monster appears, I have to be dragged there!"
Matthias was still burning inside every day. The emperor ignored Matthias' repeated appeals and did not revoke his military power. Now Matthias hated Carlyle and even his father, unable to bear it.
"I have to quickly drag that bastard Carlyle out of Pervaz and make him roll around on the battlefield like he used to…"
To do that, Carlyle, who had a history of living in Pervaz, had to come back on his own feet, or there had to be a significant excuse to drag him to the capital. The problem is that I can't find that excuse.
Beatrice laughed, seeing Matthias getting anxious.
"That's what I'm talking about, Matti. And to get Carlyle out of Pervaz, we need to weaken him a bit, don't we?"
"R…ight?"
"Of course. So there has to be another war in Pervaz."
"Is that so…?"
Matthias tilted his head. Wasn't Carlyle's excuse for going to Pervaz that he would help rebuild Pervaz by following the emperor's orders to serve the empire?
But if the barbarians attack and Carlyle stops them, wouldn't it be a result of him faithfully carrying out the emperor's orders?
As Matthias said that, Beatrice laughed as if she had heard something interesting.
"Oh ho ho, Matti! You still don't know Carlyle, do you? Do you think he cares about rebuilding Pervaz or protecting it?"
"Well, probably not. Then why is the fact that the barbarians attacking Pervaz would be weakening that bastard Carlyle?"