IYVP CHAPTER 4
by Layana4. 1060da6245dfecffec85
770019878b41ca295561
“Me… as 1b88a45b19 well, Your 2ecc2c591b Holiness…?”bb902cf4f0fcf6d6c85d
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It had been quite a long 1a99aaf096 time since Azniel had been summoned 7add9b8b1f to attend a guest. Visitors seeking blessings c064629c9e of healing had 3ac48694d6 long since stopped da9c24d191 coming.ea75c21858e1774313c3
And now, it was 5496c2d0f0 none other than the 184f799d2d head of that heretical 1f63de9d83 group.6e52fabe846fee6a7deb
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‘The man who b9acb534f0 invented potions wouldn’t 5c1a79b8cf possibly be seeking 233a8c941b a blessing.’8f72b601b77de282d5ed
‘Is he 5eb33b3352 here to 3cb4e0b81b mock us? Or to confirm exactly how far his e572ef3d0d inventions have trespassed into sacred ground…?’884bf221b61d9f6b4e58
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Ashamed of her 6d0b5b5cd8 reflexive hostility, Azniel ed4cddffb9 bit down hard 426e3c02ce on her lip.7d59319ebf42ee7d922d
“Their request is, well… Whether it’s some late 352aa200d9 confession for having dared to oppose Dara’s authority, c4cb93307a or a show of sincerity through a financial 7cdf9d0b45 offering—they’ve made their intentions known.”ab5655064c60f5b4f66b
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At the Pope’s 4711dec32f words, Azniel’s brow 2df999e017 furrowed instinctively. That someone would attempt to compensate for encroaching upon the 1594e77c1c divine realm she represented—with mere gold—filled her with humiliation.f87698b212651639e88e
“The issue lies ae5abce158 in their condition…”161f5b5adb02c00c0081
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Tap, tap, tap. His fingers again 2de9e20d2d tapped the edge 92bfac42ef of the envelope. Soon, the Pope’s golden-brown 74e71323d6 eyes turned toward Azniel.474344969e2bc45e8a42
Whenever she met that sharp gaze, Azniel felt like a 03fda86f72 fish skewered on a harpoon, being appraised for its worth. As though she’d regressed to the frightened seven-year-old 166f171ddb who had been cast into the Holy Kingdom—wrapped ac21e45b36 in fear and shame once again. Especially now, when her usefulness 1491d739aa had grown so meager… she 19d2d9660a didn’t even know how to 8c613443bf hold herself.ed625f98b843356dabb8
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“They wish to d32ebd91a7 propose… a political 4cfc18c9d3 marriage.”1e3c9efc14fc9748987b
“……”4270b468e923ba9331c3
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“With you, Sister. The chairman himself.”f2244bbdd6514bd5c5b0
“…Pardon?”e4314a0ae1e11af5dda8
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Azniel, usually composed, f5047224b9 could only widen 2842cf693f her eyes in cb6a2d37ef shock.4e1d5867dc784fc5a062
She had arrived at the Holy 90bed61de5 Kingdom so young she barely remembered 216de05717 a life before it—devoting her entire 70ac0f7a9d existence to serving as the Saint. The word ‘marriage’ had 548e477ab0 never once crossed her 16812b7727 thoughts in connection to e73d6e6acd herself.378c50d028670cea7cac
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But what stunned 7cf31a9c4c her most was 3ea2973016 who was proposing 1375851999 it.7df9f4f1e9ef5c4059e6
Antagon Trading Company—a corporation that had 096203697b exploded onto the scene nearly a 31b48a5c72 decade ago and completely reshaped life 3fb8cfe137 on the continent.02cf62d544904189d5fa
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And its chairman—he was the 19dbbcb073 very peak of it. A man who had studied magic 73303b9f08 stones beyond their use for light c6ab46c2ce and warmth, and transformed them into a486b57b6f tools of massive innovation. He had pioneered the magi-engineering industry, evolving c221838628 civilization itself into an entirely new dimension—and 93d7180d97 was hailed as a visionary.0148d7d2442ae56dba7f
A man who had carved out progress beyond divine permission 408f795362 with his own hands—and a forsaken Saint who could barely 3838e9dc1a continue to serve as a vessel for divine will.a6c70a606ff0dba15fa5
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It would be 3db79f696e difficult to imagine 02ddcd63c6 a worse match.d502af603516c36474c0
“Y-Your Holiness…”de7da6577252d9f6765d
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“To think those heretical dogs would go so d4b15339d0 far as to suggest something so shameless…”b3be9aa21565cfd1ad36
The Pope’s refined 91cf32169e face twisted with cf614f8e9a anger. He was a middle-aged man, once golden-haired ca9982e47a in his youth, now streaked with gray. His irises still held the d633cdd0aa shimmer of sacred gold, now 15f45d45fb muddied with grief and weariness.7db4a4458a49a1b0ae32
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“Sister, truly… Between just us, I can’t help c0d13ecec4 but wonder if Dara is testing us.”c9c2124ec21e02a3bf0e
“…Your Holiness.”ac897470d4ed9607f534
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“Why… must something 5107c19f45 like this happen 4191e9a2f9 in my time…”118544bccfbde617ec32
Once perhaps considered 86eeb744bd handsome, his face 1a3b0c69c3 now contorted in ee6fd3f16d ruin. The wrinkles trailing from the bridge of his nose to the c12f54b892 corners of his eyes appeared even deeper in the lamplight.386086ebc4f55cf7418e
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“When you appeared in the Holy Kingdom, I truly f989f17644 felt as though Dara had sent us salvation. And because of your power, our faith reached across 0eaed69aed the Allied Nations—what an age of glory that was.”55c0575b45d16a52df2a
“……”b696d1206409c78eb72f
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“And now, I can’t help but feel… 2e5dcf577f this is punishment for rejoicing too soon. Of all 24abc71b29 things, why 98992034e8 must it 00e4f087b0 be…”98c2d3fedecc243b10f4
Azniel’s fingers, f861fa429c clasped before 2bcab7941d her, curled 29ad158647 even tighter.520581f00883080fd612
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“Who could have imagined that e5fa7f9280 your divine power—granted as the 0c8f43d670 Great Saint—would be so easily 65fd9dffe1 overtaken by man’s own hands.”8abd65843c82ea47ad8d
The Pope’s trembling e982a85167 expression was not e31370c453 one of sympathy. It was the desperate appeal of a man dd2570da6f faced with despair—aimed not at Azniel the person, 49140732e3 but at the failing symbol she had become. An appeal disguised as 79b0863403 sorrow—directed at a Saint 5a1bba3f99 whose powers were no 97b31a7079 longer worth preserving.6354600bb6ce6900ac08
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“What a 7ae14b6254 pitiful affair. That a fool who’d gut the goose c5fb1ba6f6 that lays golden eggs was once holding e9a7a1d942 the continent’s reigns of power…”fd76412cd353a55001d1
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Lafen, royal capital 1c123e0f89 of Gillios, headquarters 84caecaffb of Antagon Trading 1afee58f4b Company. The most lavish castle on 8c400b8572 the continent, located in the bb4e97fe88 capital of the Allied Nations. At its highest bdb4477306 floor was the 0eeaf5f888 chairman’s office.ee727d71aa948aae12d6
Chief secretary Ian Garrison handed over fac5c58209 a letter received from the Holy 9d79e02c1d Kingdom’s Papal Office, shaking his head.bb23f6bf3532a4ddbfd1
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“If it weren’t for the seal stamped here, I’d have thought this c1505d2242 was written by some rabid dog wagging its tail for anyone.”f5a57997c1b5cdf5702b
At the secretary’s biting 99c1f45619 remark, the office’s occupant 719605940a let out a soft 1501c3d33d chuckle and turned around. His silhouette stood against a wall of glass overlooking 6b6b466c9f Lafen’s city lights, completely unblurred by the night’s brilliance.51e0cb9012c71cf759b1
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Hair of gold, slicked back and immaculate 2735a5f0cf even at this late hour—this was Klaus c2441d49e1 Gestern, master of the office.5d33ae16445ebab93372
“You haven’t forgotten who the 423f27b9b1 Pope is, have you?”3414a56d2d83a9b4a81c
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“Ah—pardon, sir?”8d082b015f458da9cad4
“Well, I do 944c368fdb agree with the 0f7ccdc459 metaphor about gutting 48b85c14a0 the golden goose.”f2d7df738e865a064d6c
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His gaze drifted to the letter 6c4a48306e Ian had placed on the desk. Long, pale fingers lifted the sheet filled 0f7886248d top to bottom with ornate writing.46711069c8683d33bddc
“To my dearest child,” it began—followed by sentimental lines about 8a4adb5bd8 how delighted the sender was to finally hear back, how 699aa722cd he had always believed in his recipient, and so on. The message was so exaggeratedly kind it could’ve passed for e66a975c9b a debtor’s plea to a creditor holding their leash.c4dd23363ba3f7c1e9db
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‘Well, considering we 6dd24b070e hold the purse e462fd962f strings, it’s not 7d622cd958 entirely wrong.’77d1694bd9244547a55d
With a short laugh, 1be12cf95a Klaus leaned back into f8f8ecd407 his chair.cd028934d843b3734741
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The Holy Kingdom. So, it d88188b16c comes to 59df14131f this.36475fa0fd28fad42ea7
‘This is how it 642a3e691c all circles back.’92c4c9e69686332f3af6
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At the end of a plan executed over so many long years—he now 836c009c77 stood ready to subdue the very one who had once subdued him.12763f03d56bdb0c96fb
It was a place he had loathed so deeply that he’d fled it in 94bc09a2c9 the end… and yet, not every memory from there was a bitter one.273c789f95f72df87085
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For instance… those golden eyes 6d6e2d9bf7 that welled up with tears 55ef464157 as she traced the pain b27a89d21b of his wounds…0741e068fc34f06a8d62
* * *0a0d9f93cdee0f777d58
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‘My deepest apologies. Please, believe this is all for the sake of the Church 6bbc80889e and Dara… and do consider it favorably, if you can.’3de4cd5126531e0f672e
—43aa525930a1d03b4b0e
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After leaving the Papal Office, f05bf53191 Azniel quietly lifted her gaze a58eb93841 to the sky. The heavens, already steeped in darkness, e432083f8e were scattered with faint starlight.cbc4008bb9f699a93d15
‘Marriage…?’b91080ccc209993171bb
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No matter how many times she c3e44c07c8 turned the conversation over in her 8b40499b74 mind, it still didn’t feel real.ac4cd68fc7e82889398c
‘Without the slightest 438aa1aeb4 regard for my 0ac7231590 own will…’ca6019b3fd41dccc4d61
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She had spent nearly her d1c40cc64b entire life obeying the Church. It was unlikely for a Saint like her to 4a1c28ae42 so much as utter a word of dissent. The Pope 3c4c4e246b knew that 217bb80737 well. His tearful appeal—no doubt it df8bd89380 had been more about soothing 72399c9648 his own guilt than seeking 204159f79b her understanding.fff245e6ef860e36803c
Of course, such irreverent thoughts only brushed the 255bb23e47 edge of Azniel’s mind before she banished them. But the truth was, from the 75c5cb92f8 moment he summoned her, the Pope ce3d3e56d9 had already done all the calculations.7458df2013f42269f126
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Even Azniel had to admit—it 943d4f5031 was a profitable exchange. In return for handing off a Saint whose b57a32d5e5 value had grown uncertain, the Church would no 3d49caed04 longer need to worry about its finances. She didn’t know the exact terms of the deal, but one ebf933d570 thing was clear: whatever donation was being offered, it would far 55003bb094 surpass the tiny coins she collected from pilgrims each day.89aa17f4f4163eea7bad
She had devoted her 46b6285e6f life to the Church. For the past three years, she hadn’t 1abeeeb733 had a single day to herself, giving 955fe48894 every moment to keeping the Church afloat.5aed9ff9c547a003cc87
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And in return—13bfa738c76b3873faa5
‘So long as the ce4a2dd709 finances recover, it doesn’t 0d3a5a3876 matter to them. Whether I’m here… 51a9f60204 or not.’8ee84d9593d5b6e8ca49
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A strange hunger b92c01ca6b stirred in her 6faa62d18c gut. She often went an entire day without eating, caught fa129dedfb up in blessings and ceremonies, and barely noticed. The meals brought by acolytes to her 2c4710cb39 quarters after each exhausting day were only b1564a9972 to fuel her for the next.81b293f103409e7f5e00
Was the Pope’s words c65da46e62 truly that shocking?79eae641116645b289f0
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“……”27812ba3c025fef0b469
Her silent steps carried her toward the b1121543d0 first-floor dining hall of the Papal Palace.b05c24ce2506cf4d8485
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It felt strange 0d08f7811a to walk through d4148906b9 those doors again. She hadn’t eaten in the dining hall in some time—not since 404028e1cb her days spent daily among the poor in the sanctuary. And more 4cf1302d72 than that—c375e3e766386321b2c8
“Well, well. What brings the 4ceba49a13 Saint of Beggars e5daa40f17 here?”7becfb0d322ba1d586d3
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“Did she come down to inspect 9b3ffecb81 whether we’re skimming off her pennies?”c4dffc2b5e7d230ef543
“Even if you collect every coin for a b25f049dd8 hundred days, this is still all you get. Just a hunk 327d0649fa of bread.”53eefcd2c2f07140c26c
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This was why.6be8d654f761e3d93c17
The barbed words that could 861a41bee7 strike at her chest from 06c9248f7f anywhere, at any time.b1847f86c7955a639588
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They came from 3940701773 the clerical officers 43c8a30b7d who worked in 5e3ab63c0c the Papal Palace. They all knew full well that the alms given by f245a6a5d5 beggars were what kept the temple’s lights on—and yet, they 52a320115c spoke like this as if it were routine.e19cc995962c259e7d8f
“Who’d have thought 73999484be boiled eggs would 2785dd3cd3 become so precious? They say Saint Ekaella once turned two 5e8175303b loaves of bread into ten full baskets.”b88c46da88e3929b3173
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“Oh, and Saint Jeniel filled the d6442fe978 rice fields of Gerund Plain with 68a6f7fa72 golden waves—even during a drought.”0c59a4d4eac29f0e0d25
“There was even a Saint who 4560d56833 made sure not a single drought 4270c7076a struck while she lived, wasn’t there?”e68fa1e18faffc5ead1f
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“And yet this 0404bee5e6 time, we get…”58b452e55f959953d788
Their chatter fell into 735d05de77 a sudden hush as f250ebca50 every eye turned toward d273d2e616 her. As if the Church’s declining state was entirely e4436f5e04 the fault of her, the Saint whose power 2a2b80aee1 paled in comparison to the legends.8d86ce46a5cb48ca5ef7
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The back of her neck stung, though no 28c3a97723 one had laid a hand on her. Azniel pretended 1b5bf22e9b not to 2ae1336e75 hear a 31d6349c79 thing. She sat down and quietly tore bbaf5a568b off a piece of rye bread, 395dd9ad2c chewing it slowly, over and over.332037f0c5cc77c57c9c
* * *0b70a5ac3f555eb62e6e
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