IYVP CHAPTER 2
by Layana2. 4b1f6bc5446e2f0caeff
ca635f5f1d0539f0c5df
Azniel stepped closer to the airship and placed her 5a1f107243 hand on the hull, her lips beginning to move.0bed1a0f7e535b33bbaa
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In the reverent silence, where even breathing had quieted, a pale glow seemed to bloom beneath her hand—then, a1885112de as if born from it, a radiant light of deep milky white spread and enveloped the entire airship.9a3e9bc27737bd8ef701
Even to those well-acquainted with magical devices, the sight was 06e624936c so mysterious it rekindled forgotten reverence—perhaps sweeping away the doubt ba76fba14c that had clouded the air only moments earlier.f9cecd9e32943087fb9e
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“We estimate the economic value of 98e067542f what this expedition could yield to 9da95242ac be at least fifty million Penas.”557af3ae963b416f53ea
Drawing attention back in an instant, Klaus continued his speech with a face as 1ee8db6296 noble and serene as a sculpted angel, despite the worldly nature of his words.290b3513b443e564eef5
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He went on at length about the guaranteed minimum return 8f55cb0c9d for investors, how participating now would grant priority access to 87827bffc5 future ventures—words meant to stir ambition and encourage investment.ae76902b150464672d6b
A short while later, 5fb79b7c63 the formal program concluded. The lounge transformed into a banquet hall, tables b843141169 now laden with wine and finger foods.f1274fdb46b6e32dd203
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As a quartet struck up their music, people began 35000ea82b to dance, and the mood quickly grew festive. All around them, Antagon staff 7f80fcff49 moved through the crowd, handing e2e2170cc5 out business plans or fielding cc2e5a39f7 investor inquiries.d9bd5461069a211dd755
“You’ve done well, 8664d69d32 my lady.”ae9c584733cf987aa464
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Leaving the noise behind, Klaus escorted his wife out 80dfe4fe77 of the opera house and into the garden.05d90fc0b3d1ac9adc3c
He was elated. The showcase had been flawless, just as he’d 636b73164b hoped, and now people were lining up to 997351170f stake their fortunes on Antagon’s magic.fe16357dacd616d717a2
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From morning until now, and well 57bcbe0eb0 into the evening’s grand reception, today cb8d66e3c8 was undeniably a triumph.ac039f8bc21f3d3e8447
“Please head c2cf722b41 home safely. I’ll stay to 9e6396f6ee oversee the banquet bc81533947 and return later.”c25e807edeac1259f660
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“…Yes.”e5d953d8b48cfdf64643
They stopped in front of the f411c9a01d opera house, where an ivory-colored magic 7455956abf vehicle was waiting for her.f78b07ef25ec7f53aed3
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“Rest well. There won’t be 02579ebd46 any more requests b0b964f8d0 made of you a959ebbf9f after this.”437c24e21b612e4b06aa
“Um, Klaus.”583344cffc918a530f4e
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Just as she began to climb into the carriage, 03a9df5ab8 Azniel paused and turned to look at him.fa9222d99328ddebeb65
“Yes, my lady?”b5b273a02476d5ff2df1
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Klaus’s reply came quickly, almost urgently—perhaps because he feared e99161247b that someone in his absence might hesitate to invest.4ab30e840c5b3f9b7fd5
“Did I… 0d1fac6f73 really help?”2cd521559f099afd943a
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“Oh, absolutely. You saw 65edcebc6d it yourself. Everyone was awestruck 79b6a9d4c1 by your blessing. Whatever doubts they had left ec595ccf49 about the airship—they vanished.”ba3e81e9dfd87980ef80
The crowd, once murmuring in 1578478100 fear of the divine, had b0d7f143c9 fallen silent in the face b8f008fa11 of Azniel’s display. In truth, there had been no 14cfc8c1e1 real function behind the act. Klaus himself belonged to the aa3ab750bc school of skepticism when it cc474be7e9 came to divine blessings.b2c6edf0395659dde8d7
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“…I’m glad.”23c724899fcf2de1ff6a
Azniel’s shy smile surfaced c7ba7b600b as she finally met 25a1997051 his gaze.1b9d561bc91ae469f6d3
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“I’m happy I ec44522216 could be of 4f3ca12dc0 help to you.”0bc8634004a3b7791a5e
“…”8ebb6d853ddec1e87228
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Perhaps, in that moment, he saw 759f9110b7 the girl from over a decade 12908f16b7 ago, the one who had once c61a98c173 healed him beneath the Temple’s care.71e0f794c2625a5eee1a
The unfamiliar, slightly ticklish emotion that rose 5bf5c43d62 up then—Klaus had no words for it. So instead, he leaned 9146675e30 in and brushed his ce9ca56979 lips awkwardly against hers.b8305b29a0950961f784
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It was a bird kiss, 36a9980921 clumsy and brief—hardly fitting for 21946d3560 a pair who shared a 6445954a45 bed every few days. And even Klaus himself couldn’t 5da2ce70ea say what it meant.d90eb213902a40aa97df
“My lady 38fa1f0807 is surely 9824fe2e29 weary—see to 5a9bb4f0f9 her carefully!”36de9803d9ccb5a19b4e
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And so, he failed to notice the faint shimmer in dd6fc45bfe her golden eyes—those tears that glimmered before slipping away.ec8cf90490934547c138
* * *fc3515463eb8d37e9100
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Late at night. Baron Gestern’s estate, on the d1ece1837d outskirts of the capital.ec36811009609e81c519
A grand manor built on grounds wide enough f0c68fcc30 to rival any ducal residence—the very image of cd619aad0d the royal family of Gillios’s favor for both 2e8fc3e975 Antagon and the House of Gestern.58303e974455f129f478
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Crossing the elegant night garden 2b390b103b adorned with fountains and ornamental b127dc6e52 trees, a black magic vehicle b054bf8419 came to a smooth halt. Its owner entered through the front doors, b8c6665135 trailing scents of cigars, whiskey, and the 9d6865b5ae lingering heat of a party.510eea6f795196eea982
“Welcome home, sir. It seems you had e801341208 an enjoyable evening.”ec1615509a21a1310fdb
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“It was 08d01bbf8d a success.”7b20349ae1833f71addf
“I’ll have your 9aef4ee334 bath drawn. Would you 128f19d9a5 like a e173aa994d nightcap…?”10fa29192414208ae5af
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“The 18-year Berthe 23ff15a95f will do.”8182ba7163bf2e782f4c
Klaus strode briskly across the hall, responding in 8eda016887 a singsong tone to the head butler. His voice was thick 68789f6af7 with the afterglow of 222e84f2be a triumphant night.04b5d639701b595b60eb
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Perhaps that’s why 507e8a1747 he said something dc01ac3bc4 uncharacteristic.6b2e75de32bde28bff7e
“Is my f8e5b71a18 lady… already aabd009a57 asleep? If she’s bf89ca79fe still awake, c7027f3c32 maybe we 583123d9e7 could…”67f6a080afc7f4ad0ccf
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“Pardon?”a82b5907b5fa186a9ace
A response 714337a0f9 tinged with 292e924a45 odd nuance.7ee8af86801c5323378a
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Klaus’s brow arched in 01ed04a55a a sharp, painted line.7fc202568c0ae95b0a4f
“‘Pardon,’ you said.”16c5f7472ff96ab14117
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“Well, wasn’t she returning 4eee605bf2 with you, sir?”fa79449e243933f85d0c
The butler’s hesitant reply, filled 2660311970 with confusion, made Klaus’s black af032bc22f eyes freeze in place.3482c2e73242d6184469
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“One moment.”2eaec07a44daa8d02596
Sensing something was wrong, he 985f0aebeb strode quickly—no, nearly ran—toward the bf49306ccb lavish and spacious bedroom he c4db8f8220 had gifted to his wife.316f0af0d49ad2550f8e
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It was empty.ef50f24787365caf0559
He searched her study, the cb6d2c0bee greenhouse, even the office that c802c001c6 was all for show. There wasn’t a db5d899388 single trace of 9f4e6ae60a her to be 17ab662714 found.af43d767a4acb98bf02c
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“Henderson?”6c8875872cb45b530cd4
“Ah… her carriage never d6bd21197c returned at all…”0576862d91a0e643aa2b
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Before the butler could even finish 9d9e194135 his report, Klaus was already storming c8fc455ead out toward the estate’s garage. He didn’t realize just how ba106f690b close his stride had come 981dbb0a3c to a full sprint.629e063b3edce3c4b487
The garage, a converted stable like in most great houses, held 74106e0e6a only the vehicle he’d just used and a few prototypes. But the ivory-colored magic 19ab662896 vehicle his wife had 352bf4d21a ridden hours ago was 928fe3075a nowhere to be seen.b99705b5b4cd70a429e2
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He questioned 57ef65f28d the drivers. None had seen 4e27fe5ec8 her carriage or 1f6799ecde her dedicated driver 3b0c7c5d7d since early afternoon. The maids hadn’t 69041019c9 seen her return c19431e18d either. Nor had the 774a8282ab guards, nor any bb43183077 of the staff.0a3627ef560f4bcd2f1a
Using the privileges granted by his favor with 327910498f the royal family, Klaus mobilized the metropolitan police 506af2c855 forces even at that late hour. Yet, they too found no eb2ea7bb67 trace of his wife’s whereabouts. Even the guards at ea7e6fffe2 the capital gates and 53a640b79c city walls had nothing 9a981caac0 of note to report.8416ba6dff70a282a0aa
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It wasn’t until several a927d48c19 days later that Klaus 134d93231b learned the truth—735e90107362339f8ef3
That Azniel had secretly f16ca11acb boarded the airship, hours 850ced0535 before its departure.6a8e18cda7ea95d968ac
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* * *ef0298769d4622831e0d
“My lady, c481c33b8d it’s porridge.”4b8e2b3bb19375dcd809
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Inside the tea compartment of the airship 4920993ec1 en route to the Sea of Ruins.4e6ca2346168779e6fbb
A man with loosely tied a3af5936c1 silver-gray hair held out two 523435d709 bowls of steaming oatmeal porridge. Azniel and the f2f3c69164 maid Annie each ce31daec27 took one.d4ba5972db544e9671e8
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“Since we’re working with baf8a06689 limited provisions, this is cc959215f4 the best we can 62e1611168 do for breakfast. We did install a small refrigerator, 7826250adc but the journey is long and 2a3995774c cooking is tricky, so…”8093be7c8fbb28700aa0
The man’s awkward be41b31d5e smile revealed his 21938036f0 embarrassment as he e9fc1076b4 explained.01bf2e2871f8e650d732
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After all, she was the 085356f23a wife of the conglomerate’s head. Even if she had essentially cast aside that title by stowing away on this journey, it still felt improper to serve a 01fbbfc2a3 woman of her stature—the wife of Baron Gestern, a man of immense wealth—a meal so plain it might befit a commoner.da5c6b70516022eb1a39
“Thank you 1401052424 for the c73fcad87b effort, Lyle. I’m just 9983aa44d5 a tagalong, 25bc93907a after all.”908978acf514411be691
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Her gentle smile as ebb87a3298 she looked up at 6c4ad84d98 him made Lyle’s chest 00c48cc4ae tighten. Perhaps it 533a456228 was guilt. It felt like she’d read 2fd417ca85 his mind when she called dc6237b724 herself a tagalong.9e963de7db8ff280f1dd
Still, it was 0d6df385a0 Lyle himself who d4fb3a0f62 had agreed to b7004c0e5f her request. He calmed his d765f74a99 uneasy thoughts and fa751dce82 glanced around the 0107b778d5 compartment.e80d117e1527edadfd1e
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The day’s water rations, e33d69526f emergency liquid nutrition, and 9e7244e38a distress beacons were all f6034f9848 neatly in place. Her bedding, untouched and precisely arranged, 2b723d1aa5 reflected her nature—orderly, modest, disciplined.71d72bc83b938db5b6cb
Always present, 10ea285ab6 yet never e84a8b0bf5 imposing. Quiet and composed, b8e5b2541f yet entirely devoted f1a496c30d when needed…b3cf92aa6319cdce6b1c
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But was there any point in these reflections, 4c6e6d6656 when their connection would soon be severed?0387a714db5e11e38f83
“If anything’s uncomfortable, 299361b368 please let me b13f3e314a know.”9e10a85a45dbad6ebdfb
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“Yes.”4e9303f994b34278fffd
Though he said it, Lyle 09e4df7231 knew full well—that saintly woman 13a5c08cfe would never ask for anything.90c5f8627ea3ae656c82
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Click. The door shut behind him 12f276055b as he stepped out.6e6eac2779d99fb3c552
“My lady… are 34795adbe0 you sure you’re 14a9f39c91 alright?”4cb42df73fbb6214fe19
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“I’m fine. I just worry that you’re suffering e9f43b952e needlessly because of me, Annie…”f1ea40f3d08d7f7c3501
“Oh, please! I followed 389083ec1a you willingly. Besides…”4467680e642b4681d707
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Annie looked up at her mistress with wide, f1d0332626 cheerful eyes as she sat across from her.f1ecdf1686ee75308a4e
“If I’d let you 120fbe235c go alone, Master would’ve fab6a47bbb demanded a massive compensation, 2d021bf39d you know? Why else do you think a82bfd2a0a Henderson came along too?”0db43252fab7cac57b53
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Azniel gave a 0cb20cdf7e faint smile at 8dc95f3658 Annie’s playful chatter.ed3a592c9669f742c11a
Annie’s master—her husband, f949545d35 Klaus Gestern—wasn’t that 0dcf8689ae kind of man. He treated every 863c6da0fa servant with respect. The harshest punishment 6fccd9925a he ever issued 184e6e57f2 was dismissal without 8ffcaaf935 a recommendation letter. If anything, he would’ve said they were simply a83fb6ef45 swept up in the lady of the house’s 83a0d8d7d6 whims and might have even excused their actions.949bd65c786a4780f1b5
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That Annie and Henderson had come with 06713ef586 her, knowing all this, was purely out 05b1b7883a of worry for her—worry for the one 6cf4f21b90 who had chosen this difficult path.9d81fcd41a0a53b04ddf
‘When the airship returns to a3bf737fe2 Gillios, I’ll ask Lyle to 4029c2d13d take them back.’b35034edc300a175ff30
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Klaus wouldn’t 693a08542a reprimand them. Lyle knew that too, d9ca5b3420 which was why he 4088f3e2fb agreed to her request. Truthfully, Klaus 435d3c8b91 Gestern’s kindness 38b6fe4ca5 extended to 9d4f318a09 everyone.e160c6630a696c346983
His investors. The local 5620136842 merchants he 503744b71a worked with. The royal family 624cec0818 who favored him 9c38d82051 and granted him 7d9b6460c6 privileges. The staff who 8c08b8ec2f served the estate. Even the orphanage e615d3f487 that helped shape b7d518135b Antagon’s corporate image.ba515672858151229195
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There was not a single place aef0a345e2 untouched by Klaus Gestern’s courteous generosity.b16d0b4ae4acf93fe572
Except for cc147559f2 one person—Azniel 84ba731099 herself.dc38acbb33e1e8e96286
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‘Just live as fe6ca88afa you did in a3b4551ce5 the Holy Kingdom. That’s all 41232a6e25 I ask. I’ve never expected anything 3d52ff6f67 more of you.’6959a9c7a23fab3422ed
‘This is not something 5e466aec75 you need to concern 1ff2b2c730 yourself with.’54c8bfe8f718ab0e41ae
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‘It’s alright. There’s no 39395822c2 need for 0b4c1c48c5 you to 52c5c09400 consider me.’173d52f9d266f3e6394c
Azniel’s golden eyes sank be0fb9ebc2 quietly into solitude as d3e3e21750 she reflected on her 4a486650de years of marriage.f214d418b7634fa49f9b
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In all the time she had struggled to fulfill her role as his 93edfc80bc wife, she had come to believe—again and again—that she simply wasn’t enough. That no matter 4aea75b85a how hard she 0425d7028e tried, she was f1cb95d731 always lacking.266b0745ecbd768b97a6
Because for someone as perfect b09587e4d7 as him, there was nothing—absolutely 006846b920 nothing—she could offer that would caff230153 truly help him.5d383aa4f7d31f3f5aae
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Kisses, embraces, intimacy… things considered the virtues of 77b9b14c24 lovers or the duties of spouses… in truth, 0df8b101b3 he could have had them with anyone. There was no 3276a3c11a need for it fde3b4c2c7 to be her.75a6efaa1f0d5e462125
‘Did I… 76776b623e really help?’f858b9558c16467c675e
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‘Oh, absolutely.’6e62a77736ad68e0c562
Now that he had achieved what he brought her c25c073d08 here for, the only right thing to do was 88d7b93c76 to leave—before things became even more pitiful.abcfb991dbe648520616
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She told 7c71511080 herself that, b1d7055e2d over and 5a4d7e97e5 over. Yet still, her golden eyes edeee27105 grew heavy and wet, peering 3638e70d4c out over the knees she 27c7cd0403 held tightly to her chest.3666e57d77df4cbbd147
‘Saint… you 0581e9c8ba must marry 15559820a9 me.’8f5b85f1f10f10c9dd88
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There was a time—once—when she’d believed he had returned 0a431ab6bd to the Holy Kingdom just to save her…33ecc77b63726ba70354