Carlyle Evaristo was never a man to bow his head.
Hearing from Gabriel that Carlyle would rebel, Asha wasn't really surprised. She knew very well that Carlyle would rather die fighting than submit to Beatrice or Matthias.
But now, that man is apologizing to her. Something seemed to be very wrong.
"Your Highness. I don't really understand what you're talking about…"
"I guess I was too vague. The basics of apologizing is to start by acknowledging your mistakes."
No, that's not what Asha was talking about.
However, Carlyle, who had already made up his mind that he "must apologize even if he had to beg", would first reproach himself no matter what he heard.
"I'm sorry for ignoring and insulting you from the beginning. I said things like the Pervaz people are trash… It's late, but I sincerely apologize."
"That is something you should apologize for."
Asha, who tried to stop Carlyle, acknowledged with a serious face.
"I now know that the Pervaz people are not the kind of people who deserve to hear such words. They are brave, faithful, and kind people."
Asha nodded her head vigorously at those words.
It was a rare occasion that she agreed with something that came out of Carlyle's mouth.
"I also apologize for failing to manage and control my subordinates. Especially Sir Giles Raphelt."
Asha clenched her teeth as she recalled the last time she faced Giles.
"He has a brilliant mind, but he is also too arrogant. I knew it, but he was also very loyal to me and saved my life many times because of it, so I backed down."
"I see."
"But to make excuses, I didn't know he was planning to start a war in the south. I swear."
"What? So, are you saying that Sir Raphelt acted alone?"
Asha reacted sharply, as expected.
Carlyle sighed deeply and replied.
"To say it was unilateral, there were those who helped directly and those who turned a blind eye and helped. And even though I knew all of this, I can't abandon him and his collaborators… I guess I'm part of the same group."
If he abandoned them, no one would be left around Carlyle. After all, most of them secretly believed that Giles' plan would work.
"Now that I think about it, it was all just excuses. I'm sorry."
Asha was starting to get confused by hearing Carlyle apologize so much. She began to wonder if this person was really Carlyle.
However, his apology was not over.
"And after starting a war that killed even my own people, I lost my chance to be restored to the throne after being hit by the Empress. I'm sorry for that too."
"I heard that His Majesty the Emperor has passed away. What happened?"
"My father died suddenly on the morning of the day my reinstatement was to be decided. The Imperial family said it was a 'sudden death of unknown cause', but we're not fools, are we?"
Asha's eyes turned cold at Carlyle's words that hinted at assassination.
"When was that… ?"
Carlyle vividly remembered the date that his reinstatement should have been announced.
"September 5th."
"It was the day after I collapsed. They… really let the barbarians loose in Pervaz just to confuse you…!"
She was so angry that even the sound of her teeth grinding could be heard.
"Countess…?"
"I know who let the barbarians and monsters loose in Pervaz."
"That was probably the Empress Dowager… ."
"It's High Priest Gabriel."
Asha's voice was firm.
"The High Priest? How can you be sure?"
Carlyle was surprised that the person who had been unconscious until yesterday was able to pinpoint the culprit of the Pervaz incident as soon as she woke up.
However, Asha could not be unsure.
"Because he spilled the beans in front of me yesterday."
"What?"
Asha had been gradually regaining consciousness since yesterday morning. It was thanks to some kind of power that had been constantly infused into her and her own strong will.
"Even though I was in a daze, I could hear all the sounds around me when Your hughn6 entered the room with the High Priest."
"You mean the High Priest didn't know you were like this and was talking to himself?"
"Yes. He was much crazier than I thought."
Asha thought of him whispering "by my side" in her ear and brushed away the goosebumps on her neck.
"I don't know how he was able to do it, but the plan to turn the Chad Empire into a Holy Empire seems to have come from High Priest Gabriel."
"That guy is definitely not the kind of person who can be played like a puppet."
"The puppets are more likely to be Her Majesty the Empress Dowager or His Highness Matthias."
Asha sensed an arrogance in Gabriel's voice that surpassed that of the royalty as he whispered secrets, thinking she was asleep. It was the tone of voice of a man who was convinced that he was the only human chosen by God.
"He seems to have some kind of affection for me, so I think I can use this to counterattack."
Asha told Carlyle everything Gabriel had told her. She thought of Gabriel as a fanatic who had fallen into a sense of chosenness, but Carlyle's face turned pale.
'Has that bastard the High Priest forgotten the scripture passage that says not to covet another man's wife?'
If it weren't for the fact that he was apologizing to Asha, all sorts of vulgar curses he had learned on the battlefield would be pouring out of his mouth right now.
He could be sure because he was a man. Gabriel was seeing Asha as a woman. However, the thought crossed his mind that even Gabriel himself might not be aware of that fact.
'That human probably hasn't experienced normal human relationships either.'
As he himself realized it late, it could be the case for him too. The fact that he didn't reveal his lust to Asha who was asleep but kept talking about God was proof of that.
However, apart from the fact that it was annoying, the fact that Gabriel, who clearly saw others as bugs, was attracted to Asha was surprising.
'Seeing how he fell in love with the countess after meeting her only a few times, he must have a good eye for people.'
Carlyle, who was about to bitterly acknowledge Gabriel, soon shook his head after seeing Asha who was burning with revenge.
It was commendable that he realized that Asha was a hidden gem. However, the fact that he didn't know that she loved Pervaz more than her own life and valued righteousness as the highest value meant that Gabriel judged Asha only by his own standards.
'What an idiot, trying to touch Pervaz while saying he wants to get Asha.'
Carlyle clicked his tongue and listened to Asha's plan.
She seemed determined to finish off Gabriel and Beatrice by herself, her eyes shining with a cold light.
TL/N: PHEW! NO MISUNDERSTANDING ARC♥️!!
* * *
"Asha!"
"Ah, Decker."
It had been three days since Asha had gotten out of bed, and today was finally the day she could see other people. Until then, Carlyle had strictly ordered her to stay in bed.
Decker, who was the first to visit, teared up at the sight of Asha sitting in a chair, covered in a blanket, looking like ap sickly young noblewoman.
"It's my fault! I should have stayed by your side more closely…"
Asha, who had already heard apologies several times from Carlyle the day before, was starting to get tired of hearing the words "it's my fault."
"Don't be ridiculous, Decker. If you had, we might have both died."
"I should have cut that bastard down…"
"Stop! Let's not blame ourselves for what happened in the past. We did our best at the time."
Asha stopped Decker from blaming himself and flagellating himself. It was not Decker who should be feeling guilty.
"We shouldn't be blaming ourselves, Decker. We should be thinking about revenge. They keep taking us for granted because we're being polite…"
Asha's eyes shone dangerously.
"We have to show everyone that Pervaz is full of mad dogs. We have to make sure they never think of making Pervaz a scapegoat again."
Now that she knew who did what and why, there was no need to hesitate any longer.
If Carlyle had tried to stop her again, using all sorts of excuses, she would have even had the heart to betray him.
After all, avenging the countless people of Pervaz who had lost their lives to the savages was far more important than keeping her unrequited love for Carlyle alive.
"We will join His Highness Carlyle's rebellion. We will overthrow the imperial family and the temple, everything."
Decker's expression also became serious at Asha's declaration.
"Do you know what the punishment is for being involved in treason? Are you prepared?"
Asha gave him a look of disbelief at his question.
"We've been through so much for no reason, so now I'm going to go ahead and commit some crimes. What, are you scared?"
"No, that's not what I meant…"
"If we just sit here, they'll keep looking down on us and messing with us. Damn it, what more do I have to lose here!"
Asha, who was still not fully recovered, was furious, as if she was going to spit out fire.
Decker calmly soothed her.
"Hey, I was just asking. Calm down."
"Are you calm now? Hector died in front of my eyes! Luka, Kyle, Ted, Gale, they're all dead!"
Asha's eyes, which had always been calm and collected, were now burning with anger and resentment that seemed to be consuming her.
Gasping for breath, her excitement causing her breathing to quicken, Asha clenched her fists.
"It's only a month away."
Decker pounded his chest with his fist and bowed his head.
Asha, who was trying to calm her excitement at the sight, began to ask the questions she had been wondering about.
"How bad is the damage?"
"It's terrible. Many people died and… many places in the castle were destroyed."
"What about the women and children?"
"Fortunately, they were not badly injured. All those who were hiding in the shelter are safe, and a few of the maids who came out to help fight were killed."
"…What about the warriors?"
Her voice trembled slightly as she asked about the lives of those who would be most affected.