He was sincere.
It was Asha who was taken aback by his reaction.
"You'd be happy… …"
"I wouldn't retaliate just because you were going to refuse."
"It's not that I'm afraid of retaliation, but I accepted it because I've already confirmed that Your Highness is magnanimous."
"Ahahaha! I didn't know I would be able to reap what I sow in this way."
Carlyle's laughter was cheerful. So much so that she couldn't help but smile along.
"Then let's fight magnificently this time too."
Carlyle extended his hand to Asha.
Asha held his hand firmly and raised her head.
"I will play the role of a reliable wife properly."
"I'm glad I got married well once."
Thus, the alliance between the Haven Knights and the Pervaz army was decided, and Pervaz became busy with preparations for the expedition.
Since not only the army but also the servants who had followed Carlyle had to prepare to leave, it seemed like the whole castle was bustling.
Asha, who was looking down at the scene from the window of the third floor of the castle, exhaled a long sigh.
'So this is how you leave.'
The situation in the south that he heard from Carlyle was quite serious, but he didn't seem to be nervous at all.
So he will probably win.
And once his victory is confirmed, he will return to Zyro, not Pervaz, reclaim his position as crown prince, and unpack his luggage there.
'Didn't Lady Dupret and Lady Raphelt also say that they would pack their bags and go to Zyro first?'
They seemed to have finished their work here in Pervaz as well.
The next arena will probably be the social circles of Zyro, and more women than those two young ladies may come forward to compete for Carlyle, who has even divorced her.
'But it will be difficult to beat Cecilia Dupret.'
Asha smiled and pulled herself away from the window. She walked slowly and stopped in front of the portrait of her and Carlyle.
A painting of them sitting like arrogant nobles, wearing gorgeous clothes and jewelry, and a painting of them wielding swords like hellhounds.
'The past two years seem to have passed like those paintings.'
The days when she played the role of Carlyle's unofficial wife while listening to the incongruous sound of "Your Highness" and the days when she fought the savages with him flashed before her eyes.
It was a long and yet short two years.
Two years is a very short period in life, but Asha expected that she would live on, buried in those memories.
'So I should decorate the ending as splendidly as possible. So that I don't become too shabby… …'
She gripped the hilt of the sword at her waist tightly.
Her fingers traced over the words carved into the pommel: "Aguilles' blessing to Asha."
TL/N: If y'all don't know where the sword came from like me, it on her waist as it's mentioned in the previous chaps (i don't remember which chap tbh)
* * *
"Since Carlyle Evaristo is not here, the Chadian Imperial Army doesn't seem like much."
"Should I thank that prince for offending his father? Hahaha!"
The Southern Kingdoms' Allied Forces raised their glasses to the continued victories.
They had been striving relentlessly to seize Chadian Imperial border territories for a long time. Although they didn't win every time, they always considered themselves victorious because they gained something from the Empire even in defeat.
However, since Carlyle appeared twelve years ago, they had never won a single victory.
Negotiations demanding their retreat in exchange for a price had also never succeeded.
[You'll quietly retreat and send a hundred carts of iron ore? Who said you're retreating? You'll be running away, begging for your life.]
The Quino Kingdom general who fought in the Kalasco War couldn't forget Carlyle's words, even now when he was just fifteen.
Initially, they thought the kid was just talking arrogantly, but merely two months later, they fled with all their might just to save their lives.
It was the most humiliating defeat of his life.
"Now it seems like the grudge from back then is finally being resolved."
"Not only the general but everyone gathered here feels the same. Haven't we been screwed over by that guy multiple times?"
Everyone agreed and clinked their glasses once again.
Then someone cautiously spoke up, "But wouldn't it be better to negotiate a treaty at this point and go back? If we go north, the imperial nobles might mobilize their forces…"
His concern was valid.
Until now, their easy advancement was partly because the imperial army lacked proper commanders, but also because the southern part of the Empire mainly consisted of small noble territories.
If they moved northward, they would inevitably interfere with the large estates of the major nobles, and then those knights with their own retainers wouldn't just stand idly by.
However, the victorious leadership of the Allied Forces had no intention of retreating yet.
"We'll be fine until Paralova. Let's just advance there."
"Yes, Paralova is also a target for the south, so the major nobles will hesitate until then."
"Well, which noble would hand over their army to protect someone else's territory? Hahaha!"
They were confident.
In fact, despite crossing the Empire's borders and being prepared to retreat at any time, Carlyle never appeared even after they captured the imperial army's bases several times.
'It seemed like the saying, "Carlyle, who strongly resents the emperor, is even restrained by the empress and cannot come out of Pervaz," was indeed true.'
"Then let's move the resources of Patas to the south and advance to Paralova through Englebird and Runeche."
"During that time, negotiations may come from the imperial court. How should we present our conditions?"
TL/N: idk what are these weird names tbh?!
"Queen Serenis suggested not only abolishing the 20-year tariff exemption for Elvenia but also paying more than double the war reparations to each country in the Allied Nations."
Queen Serenis, who had planned this war, was determined to plunder the empire as much as she had been gnashing her teeth.
She was indiscriminately confiscating not only the warehouses of the castle, but also the common storage houses and individual warehouses of the territorial people.
With that, the war reparations from the Kingdom of Albania and the expenses incurred in raising the army this time were almost covered.
"This war is our victory, victory!"
"The empire will not be the same after this war. Maybe the powerful nobles will declare independence and tear it apart piece by piece."
"Then there's nothing more to ask for. Hahaha!"
They were convinced of the victory that was right before their eyes.
However, the next day, an unexpected messenger arrived at the battlefield.
"This is a mess."
Carlyle, who had come down to Patas, clicked his tongue as he looked around the wretched field.
As soon as he finished negotiating with the imperial messenger, he came down to the south as quickly as possible, but the imperial army could not hold out for long and ended up giving up Patas as well.
The refugees he met on his way down welcomed Carlyle's expedition, but also expressed their resentment for why he had come only now. Their daily lives that they had worked for a lifetime had already been destroyed, and even if Carlyle won, it would take a long time to restore that precious peace.
"Are you going to attack right away?"
Asha asked indifferently.
"What do you think we should do?"
"Are you asking about… the Pervaz method?"
At that answer, Carlyle realized that he had asked a foolish question and smiled wryly.
"Pervaz never expects a next time."
"Because there was no 'second time' for us."
"But they keep winning and coming up, so everything is stable. Shouldn't we also set up our camp properly first?"
"On the contrary, if they are attacked by surprise, they will run away without even being able to pull out the pillars of the barracks that they have firmly planted. We have a lot to gain."
Carlyle nodded and looked back.
It was true that everyone was tired from coming down from Pervaz quickly, but they had all rested for a day in Luntsche two days ago.
Even if they rested for another day, their fatigue would not have recovered, and the enemies who noticed them might attack first.
Giles, who had been listening to their conversation from the side, also trembled and agreed with Asha's opinion.
"Countess Pervaz is not wrong. Although we came down in secret, it is only a matter of time before they find out about Your Highness' expedition, so I think it is a time for a quick battle."
"What about the fatigue and morale of our army?"
"Thanks to the day's rest in Luntsche, the fatigue accumulated during the march to the south has been somewhat relieved. Morale is very good."
Even in Carlyle's eyes, the soldiers looked good.
Although he had the ability to boost morale even in desperate situations, now it seemed unnecessary as they could soon strike the enemy directly.
"Then let's accept my wife's fiery opinion. It'll be like a bolt from the blue for them."
"Turning innocent people into refugees overnight, they should have been prepared for punishment."
As Asha tightened her grip on her leather gloves and muttered, Giles's brow twitched, but no one noticed.
"Alright! Let's prepare the formation! Let's go hear the screams of those bastards!"
As Carlyle shouted, the knights of the Haven Order and the warriors of the Pervaz army shouted in unison to prepare their formations.
"Lead with the cavalry! Pervaz forces stick close behind and strike hard! They haven't experienced weapons like axes or maces. While they're in chaos, the Haven Order will clean up the rest!"
"Move at the speed we did when fighting the Igram tribe! Don't give them a chance to regain their senses!"
The attack plan was set.
They were prepared from previous battles with the Igram tribe.
Since everyone knew this was a war to reclaim Carlyle's Crown Prince title, their attitudes towards the battle were different.