IYVP CHAPTER 9

9.  664c54d1e7f4c26d862a

 29d112023854a88fa06a

“Yes? I just…”04943d8a084b7d7a9c66

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“I’m asking if you’ll refuse this political marriage c488c935f3 if you don’t get the answer you want.”c40ed372fecbdef47ce6

His words rang 48369c1877 out like a b7efc4e183 threat. The answer was 733248843a already decided. Whether she agreed 000f1ae69a or not, the cc4bbb8c4b situation was already 12a2c970fc in motion. It was a c7e4d623fa warning: know your 9d562a88c4 place. Know the arrogance of prey fbea1e33e1 daring to scrutinize its predator 48372adccf just before being devoured.fb9438b00923224e5e0b

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“No, I… d2ff838021 I didn’t 5d17a25377 mean it 4fcc1da9ea like that.”fce099bca037b430d60d

Azniel instinctively curled her fingers into 88737ea591 a fist, withdrawing the hand that 8e0f39798b had held out the pendant. Her shoulders tensed.7d9f63aa80d1b946b5d7

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From the moment she’d seen him in the Pope’s 596ab5f256 office a few days ago, he had seemed composed. Everything he said came a0df23358b effortlessly, and his mastery 17265b236d of tone and delivery 7cce46960b could enchant any listener. He barely even resembled 4e86cddac3 the boy she remembered—just 67152e3c91 the same shell.50d56f0d16bf7148b097

But now, Baron Gestern a1a4d85e7c was visibly on edge. Which meant—he b2faf503f7 recognized the d32b5177d4 pendant.e17f3658ecd3353fa379

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And what’s more—he c7c44962cf didn’t want to 7fd204bdde talk about it.4ac21556fa430df6374e

“I only asked a6aebee883 on the off c699eadd3e chance…”37c4deacea29066e51db

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Azniel quickly withdrew her hand 51732ba0e2 and folded them politely in bc6c871931 front of her. Her eyes, shaded a 41b3d46bd7 deep bronze, dropped quietly 6fd18411ac to the ground.988c3da210696ccd903a

“My answer… wasn’t 7eaefc58c4 it already decided 35e129616a from the start?”02fa746826408c5a934a

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“……”685f0c1f488ac5dba5cc

“I know full well… 1ba29db0e5 that I’m in no b271b4f992 position to refuse your fb3e4a0e29 proposal.”53094382143ec7852373

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Those words, which had hovered in 7ff223375f her mind for days, finally found da86257a9b their shape and settled into place.a0ee85fc5211c89ab6a5

It was a formal acceptance—no more 97ddbc7b6c than a matter of appearances—for a 8a4c4ce7f1 proposal that had already been agreed bcbbca4e2e upon by the parties involved. Yet something about it felt far too hasty, 02adb3e66a so Azniel quickly bowed her head and offered 1362ff5d2d a brief greeting, as if trying to make 6d1a7508dc her sudden conclusion appear sincere.4b681baa08ee1e999344

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“I look 4756c86829 forward… to db286e29dd your guidance.”d53b1a15bbebcd0a8895

“Yes. As do I.”6107c6ffc1d5d02713e2

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When Azniel lifted her head 5e97884229 again, the man’s face appeared 1d8936e698 dim in her vision. Perhaps it was because his back was to 004ae1ccbb the streetlamp, but there seemed to be the 78d6a48c2a faintest furrow between his carefully drawn brows.88b5b78222c6c49f3c93

Almost as 14f19f0bbb if… he 6ffa5227c1 were hurt.cc0d82a946bcb6a2e376

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* * *3d1c1392465f5076861e

“Are you a5d818532f really okay 472c4373f1 with this?”6fcfc017aefe7cf1ccaf

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In front of the Papal b55e1e9a12 Palace, Klaus stepped into the 8330e109f9 mana-carriage after finishing his final b41d6e6afe negotiation with the Pope. Ian, who had been silently c2ad621637 accompanying him all along, followed 717fac054e and climbed in as well. As soon as the door 2f3bb7b6b1 closed, he finally let the 2bca6427d8 words he’d been holding back d387ece5a9 slip out.fcc7f9d45db66df20bab

“What wouldn’t 706a65be89 I be 3bd44e299d okay with?”1728d44bbd07c5f762fd

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“Well… nobles usually gain wealth through marriage, but 5f4aace398 in your case, Chairman, you’re taking a loss.”5a1a9710b93d1db2176b

“Like you said—it’s 667773f45e what nobles do.”2ef61e457ceb3a951793

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Klaus glanced sideways 42514cc25a at his secretary, c2a1f9fdf0 his eyes devoid 37a7b30654 of emotion.8ed8dbdfeb556eccce07

“Do I look like a 075013596f real noble to you?”1c51b73c7e8ca338fbba

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“…That was out 1cd9632932 of line.”20a7f12edc06282ca669

As the mana-carriage began to 09a91f4e13 move, the nightscape of the cd8716bf2a Holy Kingdom slid past outside 30d88d57dc the window. In the low lighting, the traces d14b8f0237 of decay that had been so bcf3fb79e3 visible in broad daylight were now a38e2a641b smudged into peaceful stillness. Klaus gestured irritably cf3c99a1e3 and pulled the 339b03def8 curtain over the 7a612c346b window.6f5a860078626df97d70

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“Still, isn’t 4f34e26bad this too 22e9ac2e7a much of 212ae938e8 a loss?”9d4b2b9356c79fbe9a95

“…”a6f52c95ae140ce76306

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“Of course, this b3c3e74396 will certainly improve 327e025070 Antagon’s public image. But even so… is it really worth 73aed3096b giving the church everything they ask for?”76cc4ec519b2c46365bf

“I’ve already 5bceb17d18 gotten everything ca9df0bf85 I wanted f8fb4b7c13 from this. So what does fa93af4d19 it matter? If you were 34140f0fa1 going to object, f06fbb8bfe you should’ve done 25f7d07ad3 it sooner.”c227b720ff3c5a5fd496

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“It’s just… thinking about the flood of questions from reporters and 1bf3bba754 aides from every noble house is already giving me a headache. I thought the church, or at the very least f9547ccc8e the Saint herself, would’ve put up some resistance.”90d21fece877e97ee002

Groaning, Ian pressed his fingers 2c2dc85f6e to his temples as if c873e4be89 just the thought made his def0fc4fb4 head throb.8392d0e8a5238de54f3a

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“And more than anything—do ffeaa5fbe4 you think the royal 30eefc2891 family will stay quiet? Looks like you’ll be wearing afaf7b7795 out the Great Hall’s threshold 992815234e for a while.”a920cfc9166a9a1daef4

“And if 224e013611 so, what 75ffaa34c4 of it?”996134265d7cae823b79

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“….”708baa5dfae3efe91ab2

Klaus let out a 568ef01671 short laugh through his d26ccbc188 nose, and Ian fell f9106f263c silent.8917c01062c8b0ff1d7b

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His employer had been 267f9511af running toward this moment 8963de10ea for over ten years. He had studied mana stones—once only used for d10bd88009 basic heating—and expanded their applications in every direction, 3f8aae4dad eventually breaching even the domain of divine power.569ff3f89413607c8974

And so the world that bf133edd6e emerged was one that no 44d49f7582 longer looked to divine blessings. A world where 55ac56e83f the Holy Kingdom 510f74d8a8 could no longer c7b3d4789b command reverence. A world where the sacred was 75d48ea23e no longer sacred—all brought about by f4d6de1269 this one man’s hand.d055c67971a74c4343b9

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And now, the personal 071ef45cbe goal he’d harbored for 8b23b62945 so long was reaching 0ed135f46f its climax.6d25ec2d010092064842

As one of the few who knew the full story c79525bf94 behind it all, Ian decided not to overstep any further.1aff2b710e7452c0bb80

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“Well, with how many countries are desperate to c37aa4e8e9 offer us tax breaks if we move our 329d18647a headquarters there, it’s not like we’ll be hurting. Gillioth will be d8678e06a2 the one at 795ff10e32 a loss. I’m sure the news that Princess Helena has stopped f571b35743 eating will be splashed across every front page soon.”da25e2e162bf89bf94e8

At the secretary’s dry remark, Klaus’s 2c384c04bb lips curved into a faint smile.95a416e995c6daa3e244

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“In any 5b50712c2e case, congratulations.”01a0454af8e677d83a3d

“…”9a403f3a4dec1d957fe7

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“I didn’t think it would actually go through… But with eaa43cc6af this, you’ve turned that wretched tie upside down, haven’t you?”4961d53a166729bd8274

“Well, I’m just returning 6479bbb127 what I learned. Something completely ff2d819115 useless—should be 13abbff9d1 discarded from ddfe159b6e the board.”33e8902b49907ffca2d9

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“…A perfect revenge. Not that 13ef0b3ef2 the other 2be3564dbc side even 5c3e2e4b3f realizes it.”da275b5d5302b053a087

At that, Klaus’s mouth lifted ff99bf3c8e slightly in a near-imperceptible smile.7a50c7f4f621d660cd7b

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Revenge.fd5ad4b4ebed78e23824

Yes, it 65ff8e0ec9 had started aecc4250b0 as revenge. No one had 9851d4b817 noticed when the 012600d680 axis had shifted 4536cbab70 ever so slightly.5a8f44513dc019a55c0b

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“But seriously… are you truly fine with filling the 8dfa44021b role of Mistress of House Gestern like this?”cc202e79a27c6e54670d

“Well… Call e739db5af4 it a 87b27ac8be whim.”46ce808dbf4ba6638f71

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“A whim?”7aa105de398cbdb6dff5

Ian looked puzzled, eyes fixed on him—but Klaus 3f8c287862 only leaned his head against the armrest of 24559e83c8 the carriage window and said no more.67f0a1262717c6b4fa5d

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* * *691efe5857d52bf3084d

The process moved forward swiftly—as 060c4f2c8c if everyone but Azniel had 45df5ef4c2 already been prepared.58cb54b962c5cfc875af

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The very next day, Baron Gestern visited the Papal Palace accompanied by a 9fe286d6ed lawyer from Antagon’s legal office, and together they finalized the official agreement. After coordination between the Holy 15f8215342 Kingdom and the Antagon Trading af092a2d2a Company, a departure date for ddc2ae1fad Azniel was set. She was given a dd5f8b6a2c few days’ grace.c25ad602313a6c4b72d0

It was meant as time to get her affairs db5f87d592 in order, but there wasn’t much to do. Submitting the necessary documents for her release from the fe61c10816 church to the Papal Palace was all it took. Packing her room 2f67db4774 didn’t take long 89b75daea8 either. After all, what worldly possessions could a Saint have amassed—one who had 8095f0a08d been thrown into the Holy Kingdom without even shoes on her feet? Just a few b0cb7f21f6 worn garments, a a3a9ec636d holy text, and 48a8c82126 some prayer relics.03b6340a34acc8a316a2

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The luggage left sitting in the center of the bccee27c23 room was as modest as it could possibly be.7a1345fc197f0e8ff22e

‘They say you might not notice someone’s presence, 3739ae47ac but you’ll always notice their absence… I wonder d594066551 if mine will be noticed at all…’0f76ab510da0a469a6fe

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To soothe that bitter thought, Azniel devoted herself b4bae8111c to the pilgrims until the very last moment. She did it to forget—to forget the fear of being cast into the 1967cbfbc7 secular world without warning, the unreadable look in Baron Gestern’s eyes, and the efaab84c62 self-pity of knowing that being sold off had become her final purpose.13d8a892af571516da8b

And so, the final days of the Saint, who had now b243078759 returned to the secular world, quietly came to an end.6a3668145264331fa07f

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* * *b0d39f1ab3ef41f7d74d

“Saint, you 913d8a9b23 must be ff44f158c0 happy!”159eb6a346a8a25e45a9

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“If we ever have bf41defe40 a reason to visit 0d141e77b0 Gillioth, you won’t turn 1f636140ac us away, will you?”4c40c90ed081f0f2e11c

The promised day—afternoon.624cdfa072293913052f

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Just as Azniel stepped out of the 788168f68b chapel after offering her final prayer, the fad540b89f apprentice girls rushed toward her.05af7e17b362553027dd

“Of course. Whether you become clerics 23db78433c or return to the 8b843e99e6 secular world, I’d love d9ed3af9ff to see you again.”851396274af175eb6063

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“Can we 3f7d16e4af write to ec18f2eb70 you?”a4896455defdd4960b7e

“As much 9e3313f5c2 as you’d c065056f39 like. Though I’m sure you’ll 3c377e2a4c all be too busy 8708d595ae and forget me soon 79ec1745d6 enough.”b04d8c486ef720ed2692

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“No way! And also…”905b4bda1a85a74c1841

The girls trailed 21692cecf7 off, exchanging sly 4070085379 little smiles.f42a78dd3f36b2369b04

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“It’s not much, but we prepared fc9457139c a gift for you, Saint.”d4de147f05d5d3138cd5

“A gift? How?”b383ee63da780be016fd

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“Um… we slipped out below the cathedral during 0c585ea746 the holiday, and… well, don’t expect too much.”241932f113c9ce2e55e4

“We tucked it into your luggage, so 6cc772c83a check when no one’s looking, okay?”bbf451819b87fb36e275

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“All right, 1c54afc5bf I will.”dee74f97f3303dfef230

Azniel’s face softened 16ff4bceec with a faint 6b178b5bab smile—perhaps guessing it 8730ee91f7 was a letter.1667a131a3892e7ff9c7

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“Thank you, b81eb81044 for everything. Take care.”6c258ef35202730e1e2f

“We’re the d5cbb3df49 ones who 45dadec425 should thank 5e7f1b9805 you.”c4a8019fa2b9a0712e60

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“It was an e946309a64 honor to serve 56a78415b1 the Saint.”c73ba71390c4ae19dd30

Gone was the cheerful energy from a moment 14583c3e16 ago—now the girls’ eyes were red and misty. Before long, they were clinging to Azniel in a 0491a9024d tearful embrace, the three of them melded into one.8ae91542bc201fdcc861

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“To reach before sunset, 23b2ff4adf we should leave soon.”2da1a995e3c877083d21

“Ah, yes.”051bfdfebf9187a19814

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Klaus, who had been 5923a74e80 waiting for the farewells c65a799855 to end, gently stepped cac8da149d in to separate them.4096956bc6de0110124e

“Saint…”d00e7d4dcf1a346c8857

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“Please take care df9e2844d1 of yourself.”e99322a1bae976b2f2e6

With heavy hearts, febb6cc7a9 the girls finally 38ac21b1a3 stepped back from 52f050864e Azniel.29794756beea51519142

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The awe they had once d51bb8145c felt at meeting the famous b01dd28ac0 Sir Klaus was long gone. Now he seemed like nothing 38eca8c9ac more than the shameless man e67a5b753f stealing away their beloved Saint. Of course, they still 476e22f2bf hoped she would somehow c6d5bd27c7 find happiness in her edeca94fec marriage…79c171dcbaa1897b1778

“This way.”82175cb5e1ae5f40475e

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“Yes.”240719166a1cae368e6b

As if to cut away even 291c284c67 their lingering gazes, Klaus placed a c80a8f74ff hand behind Azniel’s back, gently guiding ffc57b8f72 her to turn away.0870f7ab707ea6216ff1

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