After Carlyle's official coronation, a time of reckoning soon came.
The families that had actively helped Beatrice and Matthias had their titles and territories confiscated, and the Elahe Sect also returned most of the land they had been using indefinitely as a state religion.
And the families who had trusted and followed Carlyle to the end were rewarded for their service.
Among them, the most notable were Cecilia of the Dupret Duchy and Decker Donovan, a baron who had never even been heard of.
"I approve the succession rights of Cecilia Dupret to the lordship of the house in the name of the Emperor."
When Carlyle declared this and stamped the document, the people were surprised and murmured.
It was the first time that a woman had inherited the title in a house where the male brother was alive.
"What happens if the young lady marries?"
"Of course, not only the man, but also all their children will become members of the Dupret family."
"I can't imagine it. You mean the man who marries Cecilia will become the Duke of Dupret?"
"No, no. The Duke of Dupret is still Cecilia, and her husband will become the Consort of the Duchess of Dupret."
"Oh, come on, who would marry like that and hurt their male pride? Just wait and see. The husband will eventually take over the title of Duke."
Those who didn't know Cecilia's true nature looked down on her and ridiculed Duke Dupret for doing something that was tantamount to handing over the family to another house.
However, Asha believed in Cecilia.
"They all don't know Cecilia Dupret very well."
Of the three siblings, Cecilia was the only one who could directly manage Dovetail, the information group of the Dupret Duchy.
Cecilia was also the one who was the smartest of the three and made the right choices in times of crisis.
To think that such a woman would be swayed by her husband… is either naive or stupid…
"They'll see from now on that I'm not an easy person to deal with."
"Everyone should quickly realize that Lady Cecilia has the makings of a warrior."
"It's better to know late than never. Is there an easier prey than a careless enemy?"
Cecilia laughed out loud.
Some people mocked her, saying that her "prime time was over" at the age of twenty-five, but she laughed out loud in front of them. She had nothing to regret, as she was still the most beautiful woman in society, the heir to the Dupret duchy, and even the closest confidante of the Empress.
Many unmarried men who were after her were shining their eyes like a pack of hyenas, but it was clear that the experienced Cecilia would not easily fall for any temptation.
"Your Majesty, remember our promise to be your strongest ally? I will not disappoint you."
Cecilia, instead of being discouraged by the doubts, ridicule, and sarcasm of those around her, shone with the will to finally start something.
The next person who surprised everyone was Decker.
The title of Baron Donovan, which had only existed without a territory, was actually ambiguous to call it a noble.
Carlyle and Asha had no qualms about giving Decker the title of Count of Pervaz.
"Decker Donovan, I will grant you the title of Count and the territory of Pervaz."
In the past, being granted Pervaz would have been the worst punishment, but now it was different.
With the full support of the Imperial family, Pervaz was developing at a rapid pace.
However, Decker waved his hand.
"I am but a vassal of the House of Pervaz. How can I inherit the title of my lord?"
"Then who do you think we should give the title of Count Pervaz to? What can someone who doesn't know a thing about the past of Pervaz do in that position?"
"But...."
"You, who have endured the past of Pervaz, are the only one qualified to be the next Count of Pervaz. Asha thinks the same."
Carlyle now thought of Decker as Asha's older brother, and Asha was moved to tears to see her real brother succeed to the title.
"There is no one else I can trust Pervaz to. I think my father and brothers would also… welcome…"
Asha couldn't finish her sentence and turned her head to swallow her tears.
Decker was greatly embarrassed to see tears in the eyes of Asha, who never cried for anything.
"Asha, ah, no, Your Majesty!"
"I'm going to ask you to take care of Pervaz, my youngest brother."
"Th, then if you say so… sob…"
Decker's tears also burst out at the words "youngest brother." He eventually accepted the title of Count Pervaz.
"I will carry on the legacy of the late Count Amir Pervaz and protect and develop Pervaz. I will do my best not to disappoint Her Majesty the Empress."
"What do you mean by your best? Just do it moderately. We've been living too desperately so far."
Asha, who had wiped away her tears, said curtly.
"Get married first, you old bachelor."
"That's something I'll do slowly…"
"Have you proposed? Have you at least confessed?"
Decker's face turned red in an instant at the sudden question.
"Wh, what are you talking about…?"
"Do you really not understand why I asked you to come with Lady Dorothea? Even at a glance, it seems like you two like each other."
Carlyle, who had been listening silently, frowned.
"You're so quick to notice other people's love affairs, so why…"
"It's natural for you to be blind when it comes to your own affairs. Anyway, have you promised a future with Lady Dorothea?"
Ignoring Carlyle's complaints, Asha pressed Decker for an answer. Decker and Carlyle both realized that she was quite excited now.
Decker hesitated and scratched the back of his head before answering.
"Well… I, I confessed. Dorothea accepted me too. But…"
"That's all that matters. What do you mean, 'but'?"
"I'm afraid Sir Raphelt will oppose it."
Decker sighed.
Dorothea had declared that she would even give up the Raphelt name, but Decker's heart ached for the sadness he imagined Dorothea would feel at a wedding where none of her family would be present.
"Even if I try to persuade him, Sir Raphelt won't even meet me… And the other members of the Raphelt family are all just watching the Baron's reaction."
"Ah… Sir Raphelt is so strong-willed and opinionated that the people in his family can't even spread their wings."
"Fortunately, the other family members seem to be happy for Dorothea, but I don't know if they will be able to attend the wedding."
Carlyle felt a sense of responsibility, thinking that he had made Giles such an arrogant person.
"I'll have to take care of that."
"If Sir Raphelt doesn't change his mind, there's nothing we can do. The important thing is for Dorothea to do what she wants to do."
Decker's smile was tinged with affection that he couldn't quite hide.
Asha, who noticed it like a ghost, asked with a mischievous smile.
"Why don't you tell me how you two fell in love?"
"Your Majesty. Now that you are the Empress, shouldn't you speak more like a noble?"
"Really? Then… Count Pervaz. Tell me how you fell in love, without a single lie before the dignity of the Imperial Family!"
Decker sighed deeply, covering his eyes with his hands like a brother in front of his tomboy sister, and Asha laughed happily for the first time in a long time.
Decker seemed embarrassed, but he started to tell the story anyway, his mouth twitching.
"Well… I've always had an eye for Dorothea."
"Since when?"
"Well, I guess it was when I saw her hiding from Sir Raphelt and reading a book…"
Decker smiled sheepishly, remembering Dorothea dropping her pocket watch in surprise when she met his eyes.
Unlike Cecilia, who never seemed close, Dorothea had eyes that seemed deep from the start.
Every time she made a suffocating expression under her father's pressure, he felt so sorry for her.
"After that, Dorothea lent me books for various reasons, and each time there was a short note in the book."
"It seems like Dorothea was interested in you from the beginning."
Before he knew it, even Carlyle was getting involved in his love story.
"Well, she, she said so. Haha! I don't know why such a pretty and kind girl was interested in a guy like me…"
"What's wrong with you? Your appearance is a bit… but the rest is much better than those flimsy men in Zyro."
"Hey, what did I…"
Asha flared up as Decker scratched the back of his head, as if to defend her own brother.
"Above all, a man must be strong enough to protect his woman and child. He must be the weakest in front of his woman. But many nobles are the opposite. You are much better than those guys."
Carlyle, who had been listening to the conversation with a strange feeling of being stabbed, tilted his head and added.
"You keep saying that Count Pervaz is ugly, but he is quite a popular figure among the ladies of Zyro, Asha. They all wanted to drag him into their bedroom because he is so wild."
"Ugh."
Asha made a gagging gesture without realizing it, and Carlyle burst out laughing. Decker clenched his fists, wanting to lift Asha by the scruff of the neck like he used to when they were kids.
"Anyway, so what? Did you confess in a note?"
"Oh, no. That's actually… I guess I got to confess thanks to Sir Raphelt."
"Huh? Thanks to Sir Raphelt?"
Asha was so intrigued by Decker's story that she hurriedly called her maid and instructed her to postpone the next meeting by 30 minutes.