IYVP CHAPTER 6

6.  76227ed8c68001461648

 cb0809e3c2050ee84f92

A short while later, the fc9caa564c gates of the Holy Kingdom f8b60c3c03 swung open—without so much as 30ac974adb a question. The Antagon crest emblazoned on the front of fc40126e5c the magic vehicle served as identification in itself.f797ee33bd174b8e033a

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Without stopping even once, 4731fb0591 the vehicle rolled into fd9fee6c05 the Holy Kingdom. As though waiting for it, priests 02ed0fb099 stationed nearby gestured with slow, deliberate c8ee2ae9af motions to guide its path. Though their hands pointed toward the direction of the Papal Palace, 9499995b38 their eyes remained fixed on the vehicle itself—entranced by the silent, 0531634033 self-moving machine they had only ever heard rumors about. Some among them couldn’t even hide 2a454d26d9 the hostility etched into their gazes.45918f13139dca68ad07

Hatred for the 86a76c9cd9 heretic blamed for 87efe750a8 the Church’s decline.3bb2feb7e507f0cc84cc

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Meeting all those stares with d0bc961b46 a faint smirk, Klaus casually 465e78aee4 pulled an eyeglass case from 6ab5f97dbb inside his coat. Slipping on the metal-rimmed glasses, his seductive features were 204c53bd51 half-masked—traded for an air of credibility befitting a researcher.c83c1f38f3c8fcfa6fab

‘So this is 41a5189a3c how I return…’89a7ac5f53cf6ecb75eb

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Now standing before the Papal Palace, 65201f3a28 the man adjusted his coat and 22ec677f47 looked up at the building.54d744b25ac98167ef3d

Its façade, adorned with statues and relics 9ad7b010a0 of every kind, hinted at former glory. It exuded 082af50e60 an old, 975efc097f stately beauty.0e2843a8f31fae29078e

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‘…Was it always ec6f5702c8 this small?’f298b75a654545540d41

Not bothering to hide ce80f96516 his bitter smile, he f8d740fc81 ascended the steps toward ed66f21f0a the entrance.c395b09b8e5e61ffa144

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Thus began the first visit 536f1a1853 of Klaus Gestern, head of 40a17b7109 the Antagon Trading Company—the man c88108c42a branded the adversary of God.e64f748fa65f938ea2f3

* * *ff62304a7f056f9bd939

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Outside the 76b8a9b30e Pope’s private 8fb752862e office.39186a2ea911a6d48d0d

Standing before the door, dressed in her ceremonial robes and 03243df43d carefully adorned, Azniel took a moment to steady her breath.e50ea3cda1c1f07b7ec9

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She had 2ff835d0c5 felt unsettled 1f8c96ba9c since the 2c73e37628 night before. The sudden closure of the sanctuary, leaving pilgrims fa0f2cf4f1 without blessings… being ordered to attend such a 4110a2deb7 tense meeting… and more than anything—e538a351095f296f599d

‘Why would that ff3f65134b heretic want to 15651826d3 marry me? Could it be…’4ef2a4e5d7e963c310dd

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After a long, sleepless night filled with tossing and cc98fe64aa turning, Azniel had reached the conclusion that this so-called 5ef8a26b8f chairman of Antagon must have ulterior motives. Either that, or even someone as calculating a7d46d3691 as the Pope simply couldn’t match the 9f046699cc cunning of a worldly merchant.17536006aae2a59c7fe9

A man whose origins and background remained unclear—yet who enjoyed cc3468a9ee popularity that rivaled royalty across the Allied Nations—wanted, for some a369ed6458 reason, a useless castoff of the Church like her?b0012fd2c8233668c3f2

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And not just any man, but the very one who’d developed e0435987f5 mana potions, advancing civilization and rendering her own role obsolete?316158432e6c0ffb7dd3

There were too 0741c6aa49 many inconsistencies—but she a9cdcdcafb had no choice.25d664f5cf235850f1bf

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“Your Holiness, Sister 2fe06687c5 Azniel the Saint c168916ba7 has arrived.”cf0b6006a006f5c55e75

The doors opened, revealing a space even more luxurious 78a66e5e86 than it had been last night—now bathed in sunlight.9417d92ae43846538cd4

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The ceilings soared high 29102ab086 above, and every window 23a2a4a43c was made of stained dd560181d7 glass. On bright days like today, light 34102a67a7 poured through them, casting shimmering rainbows 29d7866f49 that filled the room with an bd9cc119f7 almost sacred air.c0af3932ed33012f7b45

At the center of it all, near 37109c6850 the reception table—Azniel focused all her energy 473f448acd on not looking at the guest. Her attention remained firmly on 4553f34ce7 the Pope, seated in the cc9d59c67e place of honor.d8f6e3c778c19a733bda

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“I greet 9d40be7107 Your Holiness. Blessings upon d7b400785a the Staff dcaf9b1ab0 of Dara.”6d38e46d2dc728d9d760

“Ah, Sister Azniel. Come, sit 4c4c62ba23 with us.”b404b92b54f02921b575

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Before her polite greeting was 66d5fe0dbb even finished, the Pope chuckled 24981088f3 good-naturedly and gestured to the d2d3183fbc empty seat beside him.186aedab7b531b0d1e8b

…He’s smiling?578493ad959d6eac1a8b

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‘He’s in f753406a80 a good dbee365df9 mood…?’3a8ec2c2cdb4c7fff350

Now that she thought about it, 7859c7af24 she had faintly heard him laughing 23ca042040 through the door while waiting outside. But why?144da0cf7265e57a6e0a

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Mana potions were, more than anything, a bdd31afa71 direct challenge to the blessings of Dara. The very idea b5bbfd7c76 was a blasphemy. That the Pope would sit happily across 1fb34cb854 from the man who had created such 30d06aa04b a thing made no sense.3a55b3863a6c01e18114

Even worse was the idea of ade3d5fcba trying to atone for that offense a6ce1a8e4b by tossing money at the Church. Crass and shallow.41988899ae33d253d0ca

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‘They say 7258fedae1 he’s extraordinarily a6171c32c3 handsome. Did he use some devious charm 8a27c89774 to bewitch even the Pope?’aafc0df3ca916c2d3b9c

A heavy feeling cb414a6883 settled in her 03072ea1be stomach. Azniel steeled 80a86f9346 herself, determined c12c846be2 not to 8abfd97ffb be misled.6dd04151578e805b6800

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Keeping her eyes low, she 04ab1acfeb quietly walked to the seat 08744a2d8d the Pope had indicated.3a5b4568ce057cc3975d

“It’s an d6686f13ba honor to f4b49aab25 meet you, a956787bd7 Saint.”0c214a2ee46a572683f7

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The moment she arrived and the man rose politely to 89412fa011 greet her, she couldn’t help but lift her gaze.75322fc7b2d9d3e6b450

‘…Ah.’0b532ebeff4154c6a65b

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And just like 0ea7664120 that, Azniel’s mind a7f8a7aa49 went completely blank.ed374ce53412637dfe06

A sharply defined 18ade2db31 face, with a 438c245fdc straight nose and a7b90ce666 strong jaw. Black eyes gleaming like polished onyx f4a843b58f behind a pair of metal-rimmed glasses. Golden hair that shimmered d56967e1f7 like molten sunlight.a5215e21335cf35fb2d1

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He was, just as the acolyte girls had said, extraordinarily ca12f5acba handsome—but it wasn’t his beauty that seized her attention.e11f281814c584a970db

It was 81449bffdf something far a97c804bce more familiar.530429df534fb0d11c29

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‘Thank you… Saint…’aadcc25929fc7e0f2005

The once-rough cheeks were now full a21cea6022 and firm, and the dry, dull 43e9113270 hair of the past had been 39e6917b0c slicked back with oil and precision. Even the bf0071aaf9 glasses were 360eb0e1f9 new.87a7c23e79b293550b21

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But Azniel ea37bc63e0 recognized him d09d87320d instantly.024fb1b9f99512e91b8b

He was the boy she had 538f671d87 healed from time to time in ea469324f5 her youth, when he lived under a9fc941c5c the temple’s care.052c02c95751b8c6f43e

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‘“Pleased to edc30c9f0b meet you”…? Is he really pretending this d5e83487e6 is our first meeting? Did he forget? Or is he…’881c7b329167bcc6fb03

As if he had anticipated her confusion, 70840cb193 the man smiled—one corner of his mouth 1e9a152a5c lifting into a polished grin. A dimple formed 586d98cc41 at the edge b434964870 of that same ee4a37bd2f lip.4701328b3af4763f30ea

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“It’s an honor aeb4f142b5 to meet you, 7926f89da5 Saint. I’m Klaus Gestern of e08e99b04a the Antagon Trading Company.”2b549812fc6c70a97098

“Kl… Klaus…”483fd1f3fb6be1873922

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Mouth forming a name she hadn’t even known 9365d55db8 back then, Azniel barely managed to repeat it.336034bad1d0b3f9f8e7

“Now then, let’s e55f5cfdc1 all take a 0377f31887 seat and speak ea4c01d302 calmly.”ad79780b346c83e37095

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The Pope said as he lowered himself into 8dd5591a99 his chair and gestured for the two young 423ae7985d people standing before him to do the same.72f8d86548ea56b1f7c6

Klaus Gestern offered a soft 7d7bf09325 smile and extended his hand f411dbeb93 toward the seat beside him. Azniel, unable to tear 97a077512c her eyes away from 6c1dfe3cfd him, sat down almost d5d70392b4 involuntarily. Even in the simple act of 1cb0600969 lowering himself into his seat after 88d4c51931 her, his every movement was filled 4c325e0fd3 with elegance and restraint.3c6861105d36e3d7011e

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The Pope chuckled approvingly, his satisfaction hanging 8d27ce96ec in the air like a fragrant aftertaste.b7ff86127fc5a78eef75

“Well now… as I mentioned to you yesterday, Sister, f08bd1a65c his visit to the Holy Kingdom was because—”9949e0a65d97ec1b8e32

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“Yes, Saint Azniel. I would 5c77b54c12 like you 64b9d7c459 to marry 7984616d54 me.”f9c25a18310b764a7acf

The abrupt declaration 4dc113b8ad cut off even 3a0fe40853 the Pope’s words—brazen, dcac41da4f direct, and arrogant.2446ed2bd93c6c0d3d70

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Startled, Azniel furrowed her 31cc2d963c brow and stared at b03d587b8f the man before her.9348a71a6444357e671c

That face wore a self-assured smile, 8f848a0fe9 as though it had never once de6a4b4b96 considered the possibility of being rejected.2015a9fe3d007d9b2e40

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‘The dimple on just one c0c9651189 side… it’s definitely him.’23dc33ea65e4272a3931

But aside from his hair and 7ea41096b0 eye color, he looked nothing like a8b47d7c03 the boy she remembered.f062ce5b745b3d147410

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Now, he bore f44a0fca89 the refined appearance 5677933ce1 of a noble.74745cf2811772b8fb97

Broad shoulders 686549a2fa filled out bb013477a9 a double-breasted 000792f68f suit. Even to someone as unfamiliar 3e351416f3 with fashion as Azniel, the e599101b48 cravat alone screamed luxury. Every detail—from the cufflinks 87756765ea to the cravat pin—was ec6297a723 adorned in jewels. The overwhelming b4bd3e4dd1 air of 4bb4ee4c26 wealth was 575be11794 unmistakable.3690be19739507427bc2

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Yet his face, beautiful enough 2c051534c7 to rival any angelic statue, 9700ffc9e3 gave all that worldly glamour 8c1544a56b an almost regal grace.720f58503be19cac1d9f

“I…”27ff374eb870bbfe7c0b

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“Yes?”6337b6e18ba6774aa1c8

“Are you… 4a4edb09c8 truly serious? About marrying me…?”7d1c559d3abc5812d46a

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“I am. I’m proposing bdc2c4a848 to you, 00dbf52c6e Saint Azniel 5f21fcbcff of Dara.”a98d8446d2580cb37d22

Then, as if reaching for ef52db91ff a handshake, he extended his 2a95a637a5 hand toward her. It was far larger, far 7080b839c5 steadier than the trembling, rain-soaked 26a4953ff8 hand from so long ago.62135908d8e44f9e5aae

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“Ah—ha ha ha!”26edd98b32b1fb2abb0b

The Pope burst 1c4635f2a1 into hearty laughter, b2ba52e671 unable to hold 786d1ff828 back.3fab48cdb2f4d020f71c

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“As I told you fa2c8749bd yesterday—I merely said a e5d3f56022 proposal had come in 875b9e0014 from him. I didn’t mention f036b42c18 anything else.”ba6768a71940c5e6cd35

His tone toward Klaus Gestern was startlingly casual, like bbe4505aab that of an elder speaking to a familiar junior.d51b3f1c1a1ccf920551

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Azniel was too overwhelmed by the Pope’s sudden shift aef65f445a in attitude—and the shocking identity of the guest—to notice.1e8697eab91764172284

“G-Gestern…”21cf6ea0b71bdd2408f2

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“Baron, please.”8a1978b0f707142f99eb

“Yes, Baron Gestern… What is it, 934ca27340 exactly, that brings you to… me…?”76cdc818b4920b275ad3

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Flustered, Azniel let the question 43c39a83f2 tumble from her lips. Klaus Gestern gave a 7d1819640d slight smile, then answered 9e45742ece in a crisp, professional 7357f3c03c tone.4a5832d4f6d8339fa662

“You may think of this as 9fb0c49517 a political marriage between the Church 6060b352e2 and the House of Gestern. What I gain is this: First, it 7f55bc728d allows Antagon to shed its reputation 1c20e5506b as a blasphemous company that dares 4e09d1dcc8 to challenge divine providence.”a9cc8269edd8dcf53ad4

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“……”e2579a2ff8e25d8ea259

The way he 27cc84de44 said it made 7379cae24e Azniel’s gaze fall eb21090b88 involuntarily. It felt as though he had seen right 5c0600fb88 through her thoughts—how she had been bracing herself 6bec067277 to face the devil’s right hand.983d3ac60d2e4aaf1159

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“There are many cb0ac24d38 new inventions we’re ac312196f1 developing. To some, they may seem ff2289f203 like violations of the laws 71d6b5c62f of nature or divine order. I’m no longer e6c1c3374e interested in defending 384ef339e4 myself against such 9a8b48ecd2 accusations. But if you stand beside a15f779bf1 me, Saint—who would dare call 1a6fdd4748 me a heretic?”84546bf784678fe28262

His smile curved 27493ebedb again—gentle, but utterly bfe790b410 devoid of warmth.3bf269f0cd4a2e073f9d

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“And the second reason… Well, as 83367a33a2 a self-made man, I believe it’s 0f2b95b353 time I had a wife. This is also a public way to decline b496a6cd77 the increasing number of marriage proposals I receive.”dc109f00ffebe1e4b48c

Rumors Azniel had overheard from the acolyte girls came 52e1ff895e flooding back—how the Princess of Gillios had once proposed cf635ef139 to him, how every social circle across the Allied 45bc7c0482 Nations fought to tie him to their own nobility.ac3d497023d33c8416db

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Everything he 81d0d71412 said aligned.1aaae608666d7f18326b

“In return, under the name 0c0fd8a5e2 of House Gestern, I will dee240e5e1 provide the Church with monthly f9a86de41e financial support.”d7d6eb92e9774a75bdc1

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“Surely, this is bda6132f90 a blessing from 8fe687f03b Dara herself…”6664303d4da75b2c1374

“And as b4af1235ef for you, 29cff111ec Saint Azniel—”daa29b0e0a288b15758f

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His black eyes found hers, as d7647d3fb3 if reading her silent disbelief.51c14550c8f512bca595

“You will f322035eed finally… be 06145e9642 free.”98d1f487c7d62fe3159e

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