IYVP CHAPTER 2
by Layana2. 8f6142978da9896117c3
eb8a4a6704ce055c5247
Azniel stepped closer to the airship and placed her 9a3ffad9a6 hand on the hull, her lips beginning to move.8454ade25607cae08669
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In the reverent silence, where even breathing had quieted, a pale glow seemed to bloom beneath her hand—then, 4f87558ec2 as if born from it, a radiant light of deep milky white spread and enveloped the entire airship.bcc7d39bf29b28e449ae
Even to those well-acquainted with magical devices, 0da73a64fb the sight was so mysterious it rekindled 1a707a8eac forgotten reverence—perhaps sweeping away the doubt that 4682821fd7 had clouded the air only moments earlier.60d362b4bd2a2b062cf7
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“We estimate the economic value of 1743049568 what this expedition could yield to 7ff9459dc7 be at least fifty million Penas.”0182a80ed8b34daa84e9
Drawing attention back in an instant, Klaus continued his speech with a face as 34f979d731 noble and serene as a sculpted angel, despite the worldly nature of his words.e0fccbe193171ee880d1
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He went on at length about the guaranteed c8812a4837 minimum return for investors, how participating now would df1fc0fbd6 grant priority access to future ventures—words meant to 53333a3079 stir ambition and encourage investment.06f9dbab3c531fe77a80
A short d1a5e7655d while later, 238d8ba4c7 the formal 62d491e435 program concluded. The lounge transformed into 55b49bcc02 a banquet hall, tables 854bd6f656 now laden with wine 2c6b12cdc8 and finger foods.65abd847d5a3b0e1ae1d
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As a quartet struck up their music, people began bd91fb2282 to dance, and the mood quickly grew festive. All around them, Antagon staff moved through the crowd, 7f62495fe6 handing out business plans or fielding investor inquiries.6d3e5f84e508092392dd
“You’ve done well, 3845af4573 my lady.”213d52012b4b2ce1d1e7
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Leaving the noise behind, Klaus 3c1bf8d610 escorted his wife out of 41b549cb64 the opera house and into a0221bf227 the garden.af0d96974ec0bacfd122
He was elated. The showcase had been flawless, just as he’d ad9fff015d hoped, and now people were lining up to 267f14e0c7 stake their fortunes on Antagon’s magic.a278647009fce258fec5
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From morning until now, and well 93b6132250 into the evening’s grand reception, today be1d667261 was undeniably a triumph.5ca4af6f24b8c16acde3
“Please head 24009c07c1 home safely. I’ll stay to dbdf05c1a2 oversee the banquet 40c5cfdb46 and return later.”1e6dc7f3172f7c6788e6
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“…Yes.”6c3d7a643d9a9c17a2ba
They stopped in front of 2c58bd3831 the opera house, where an 41127644f9 ivory-colored magic vehicle was waiting c4da1b0334 for her.6271afa4811b887a5e69
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“Rest well. There won’t be any more requests 43ffbb06ea made of you after this.”b6bfdc1fd92f059681bf
“Um, Klaus.”ca6b29e095dd07d2a6c4
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Just as she began to climb f51c49678a into the carriage, Azniel paused and 7142dcd2c2 turned to look at him.8abfc1070610a6e854d6
“Yes, my lady?”3f1016f99525eb2d27a7
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Klaus’s reply came quickly, almost 043d0ecaa5 urgently—perhaps because he feared that b5de66786b someone in his absence might 5ea9a0645d hesitate to invest.d8e76bd89c60b12ba387
“Did I… 8d4f101016 really help?”548ebb3f9fc2c9d5f758
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“Oh, absolutely. You saw 3017ac5604 it yourself. Everyone was a8ff9afc3a awestruck by de5de6232f your blessing. Whatever doubts they 4ad8d8104e had left about b34ecbc8ab the airship—they vanished.”594bdb2bcaffe358e8b6
The crowd, once murmuring in 679ad131f2 fear of the divine, had a35ea501ab fallen silent in the face 0a05869df8 of Azniel’s display. In truth, there had been no 60b94f95e6 real function behind the act. Klaus himself belonged to the 26cbb5e59c school of skepticism when it cc0023cadb came to divine blessings.e69b84ab85e478c0f710
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“…I’m glad.”8694a3a5737ca349383f
Azniel’s shy smile surfaced as 337a0b1315 she finally met his gaze.cc59cce6e2a73d4dad62
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“I’m happy I 7bc5f7afd0 could be of 5c0140854a help to you.”0c03f395364e3b3704fe
“…”08856e21a1705ba31a28
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Perhaps, in that moment, he saw the girl from over a decade 9138548093 ago, the one who had once healed him beneath the Temple’s care.e2699fe7a16462ebc989
The unfamiliar, slightly ticklish emotion that rose 10c7cae864 up then—Klaus had no words for it. So instead, he leaned in and 4a11cbef77 brushed his lips awkwardly against hers.3a629a5b3d91cb156c7c
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It was a bird kiss, ab94822c45 clumsy and brief—hardly fitting for 59130c9e01 a pair who shared a 018b167a64 bed every few days. And even Klaus himself couldn’t 592e8182ac say what it meant.855ed0653e43d135cd60
“My lady is surely 230c4eb56e weary—see to her carefully!”51fdb28ddfb8afff02d2
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And so, he failed to notice the faint shimmer in 82fa641955 her golden eyes—those tears that glimmered before slipping away.db5ca74adc55e643ec4b
* * *bcbdd53f7f466dd8fa3d
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Late at night. Baron Gestern’s estate, on the f979e09ed6 outskirts of the capital.2c58c72495a41d149d92
A grand manor built on grounds wide enough dc94a6ccff to rival any ducal residence—the very image of 7d217cc9eb the royal family of Gillios’s favor for both 554dbe98f7 Antagon and the House of Gestern.812a72bec3862611d1c5
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Crossing the elegant night garden adorned with fountains and ornamental f89af678a2 trees, a black magic vehicle came to a smooth halt. Its owner entered through the front doors, 0334e605f3 trailing scents of cigars, whiskey, and the a3cf5d12e1 lingering heat of a party.0853199640a64a4acf21
“Welcome home, sir. It seems you had cee96f64b7 an enjoyable evening.”b019ec24ad459f31bcb1
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“It was 9f9a7d8dd0 a success.”292f261711defa3d152a
“I’ll have 42c220a6fd your bath 213aa4e33c drawn. Would you dd8c0de127 like a ed87db479c nightcap…?”0d0643ee83506a2988e2
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“The 18-year 9228a94355 Berthe will f17d3d67eb do.”35cc7cb9db0cf5ba245f
Klaus strode briskly across the hall, responding in df3279241e a singsong tone to the head butler. His voice was thick 769fc65520 with the afterglow of ff615fcbf3 a triumphant night.ae891d21e832f480d3e7
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Perhaps that’s why he 3b6d5f4a10 said something uncharacteristic.cdb4f4917292699b3ba5
“Is my lady… e89a81c8e0 already asleep? If she’s e98b586e57 still awake, c5c96d117f maybe we dc1bdfff1d could…”ee7cdca2f7c579cdee2a
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“Pardon?”d38deb5c792057ff29ee
A response tinged 70c6a58466 with odd nuance.d9db29ce39890558c8c5
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Klaus’s brow arched d8e4aafcd5 in a sharp, 2c191fa1c3 painted line.c9cc5640dc7952584f73
“‘Pardon,’ you said.”c31f851a04221e2a17d9
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“Well, wasn’t 1c340b84cb she returning 740c216dad with you, 1643e5427b sir?”c7995d8ac8bea35a0303
The butler’s hesitant reply, filled with confusion, 9e9b44f0a3 made Klaus’s black eyes freeze in place.30370912b49f18b5e301
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“One moment.”83a3a625ad4e05c48800
Sensing something was wrong, he strode quickly—no, nearly ran—toward the 56da210bb9 lavish and spacious bedroom he had gifted to his wife.90cb6fa675868e77bf1c
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It was empty.c59327c9efd585693509
He searched her study, 9a641d8c46 the greenhouse, even the 27d748e38d office that was all effe8c8302 for show. There wasn’t a 02d9f58762 single trace of 3a9c348cf4 her to be 1ce3fcd5a0 found.986b5436153157c12b6a
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“Henderson?”4e23141fb48c3066be1a
“Ah… her carriage 18f7745fa1 never returned at 9672fc24a6 all…”d16494cdc9a119cb93d1
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Before the butler could even finish his report, Klaus c73a32cc61 was already storming out toward the estate’s garage. He didn’t realize just how 80a09ea910 close his stride had come efce517b3a to a full sprint.79271bfa8d659c695fdb
The garage, a converted stable like in most great houses, held 2e9cd41a64 only the vehicle he’d just used and a few prototypes. But the ivory-colored magic vehicle his 228cc7e1e9 wife had ridden hours ago was 94d829317a nowhere to be seen.f9ba3a290396c526a595
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He questioned 97efebae55 the drivers. None had seen her a779681828 carriage or her dedicated 15469c5d3d driver since early afternoon. The maids hadn’t 9720321034 seen her return f20fce0964 either. Nor had the 796ee59ff4 guards, nor any cfeb45cd8e of the staff.ed1029273062fc798a36
Using the privileges granted by his favor with the royal family, d86463bbbb Klaus mobilized the metropolitan police forces even at that late hour. Yet, they too found f6ee3f96d9 no trace of his 24eaf77322 wife’s whereabouts. Even the guards at cac8d3a379 the capital gates and 42f8f53038 city walls had nothing 78400b9a44 of note to report.ff47b1d8bc5bbf918e09
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It wasn’t until 73ec207720 several days later c041eaab35 that Klaus learned 85fa25da57 the truth—164d7e69b7d4e1011c9e
That Azniel had secretly 1d563bc058 boarded the airship, hours 40bdbc584c before its departure.479e7e0f3a201d1dce68
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* * *5b177fe8447f34a4ff0e
“My lady, a323fc3a69 it’s porridge.”e888c5de71251ea5d270
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Inside the tea compartment of the airship b0727ab0ac en route to the Sea of Ruins.9fb6a0a6ea45be349977
A man with loosely 31afb3d002 tied silver-gray hair held c9c9b7e475 out two bowls of 3114f6e7b7 steaming oatmeal porridge. Azniel and the maid 19601a0c37 Annie each took one.0f8077574c948f5fd179
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“Since we’re working with 03316d8542 limited provisions, this is 9bef8b228b the best we can 9b8f37393e do for breakfast. We did install a f503d6d9b6 small refrigerator, but the 9736b443c8 journey is long and 5d6d35c28a cooking is tricky, so…”3a732d27ffdbdc2f5b20
The man’s awkward smile revealed 4b5155f288 his embarrassment as he explained.9b644f5a2dea27b35ea3
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After all, she e95719fd55 was the wife a82f98c63d of the conglomerate’s 24fbf2d6cc head. Even if she had essentially cast aside that title by stowing away on this journey, it still felt improper to serve a bdbba9ac3a woman of her stature—the wife of Baron Gestern, a man of immense wealth—a meal so plain it might befit a commoner.5dc1181aee076a76c68d
“Thank you for 1c2fb31c99 the effort, Lyle. I’m just a 35c140c894 tagalong, after all.”f55f6886cf5c8324064f
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Her gentle smile as she f72997d653 looked up at him made d0fcf18dfe Lyle’s chest tighten. Perhaps it be211aa31f was guilt. It felt like she’d 1f9c9eec6f read his mind when f89f3350ad she called herself a fb715e8b7d tagalong.e3b9a9422c41e88c984a
Still, it was Lyle himself who 1de4245b12 had agreed to her request. He calmed his uneasy thoughts 0471e7769c and glanced around the compartment.89991a44805ca7378615
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The day’s water rations, 2b85ed17db emergency liquid nutrition, and 5935f737f9 distress beacons were all 52a2641935 neatly in place. Her bedding, untouched 41f3f3a0c0 and precisely arranged, 56d0ed84a0 reflected her nature—orderly, c7d97acd8c modest, disciplined.dc725104ad8bd42724a3
Always present, yet 867321f772 never imposing. Quiet and composed, 531ea1fa65 yet entirely devoted ed5b1b7288 when needed…e786960688c06be3c4d8
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But was there any point fa276376ea in these reflections, when their 1e40177f4a connection would soon be severed?6f4c097a89cbb51864f6
“If anything’s uncomfortable, f026714002 please let me c326004b74 know.”8b219a1ffb37d086687b
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“Yes.”86790823d9579ad47eba
Though he said it, Lyle cef8eeedbb knew full well—that saintly woman 3f6163ee0f would never ask for anything.afe11fc224c2d0fd6b2d
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Click. The door shut cceb775d69 behind him as 7ca0dc6486 he stepped out.2c652e92b0b96357bd93
“My lady… are c98f44b086 you sure you’re ecdcfbe4ed alright?”48b9f90298eb7f66db26
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“I’m fine. I just worry that you’re suffering da59f6dc1e needlessly because of me, Annie…”49b0541d30ad73453201
“Oh, please! I followed 214754073d you willingly. Besides…”0429623344e46ba08aba
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Annie looked up at her mistress with wide, 474ea87a26 cheerful eyes as she sat across from her.92ed01eb7d034d26937f
“If I’d let you go d0d6f580f9 alone, Master would’ve demanded a ead690e6b4 massive compensation, you know? Why else do 5d7655a87c you think Henderson 76bc0754a8 came along too?”8479742992782e1b78c7
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Azniel gave a 9e12d5db94 faint smile at 8d3091b036 Annie’s playful chatter.b30c436a1945b4e78a70
Annie’s master—her husband, Klaus Gestern—wasn’t ea68307899 that kind of man. He treated every 86771d9f29 servant with respect. The harshest punishment he bec547eb69 ever issued was dismissal 272ea08181 without a recommendation letter. If anything, he would’ve said they were simply swept up in the df06d93df7 lady of the house’s whims and might have even excused their actions.ca63445132bd5f20eb70
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That Annie and Henderson had come with her, knowing 2e2a3164e0 all this, was purely out of worry for her—worry 8dc491b779 for the one who had chosen this difficult path.5304cf96ba7c369d15c7
‘When the airship returns 4b0db3db72 to Gillios, I’ll ask cd6f16e6ef Lyle to take them 750c595a1e back.’5f668ee894f7fb9ab032
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Klaus wouldn’t c2b5173762 reprimand them. Lyle knew that d5ed1a20dc too, which was eb80a848d1 why he agreed e2fe866331 to her request. Truthfully, Klaus Gestern’s 97c2d88641 kindness extended to 2a3602efcc everyone.d388d54ce10d10116933
His investors. The local 699600afc3 merchants he ac97675338 worked with. The royal family who 4143b86bce favored him and granted 10c3df5049 him privileges. The staff 98838d35ea who served 202ffe9512 the estate. Even the orphanage 84c5e9ed36 that helped shape 4d10601502 Antagon’s corporate image.a237aba4cb3d183c96c1
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There was not a c3ecacef60 single place untouched by 810bc291fa Klaus Gestern’s courteous generosity.33a1bd59174575c50aed
Except for 6c40d4553d one person—Azniel 13c9b6eaf1 herself.930fad11e27de3a8ddbd
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‘Just live as you did f2cce903ef in the Holy Kingdom. That’s all 79804324d3 I ask. I’ve never expected 9b38b5779d anything more of 2b412e7be4 you.’64e8829f3250641900a2
‘This is not c7246a39d3 something you need b6f0666ef0 to concern yourself fc89439b02 with.’c177d79cd28d0ec769a1
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‘It’s alright. There’s no need 89e2c426bd for you to 4976e3ae73 consider me.’8e738d17e8b9c1306f30
Azniel’s golden eyes sank quietly into solitude as c6e08b3334 she reflected on her years of marriage.aed08e0fdebc7f9bb98e
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In all the time she had struggled to fulfill her role as his ca29e7ce59 wife, she had come to believe—again and again—that she simply wasn’t enough. That no matter how hard she e025b65f08 tried, she was always lacking.a39ae4f6c7fa8e7812a8
Because for someone as perfect d5e9f36586 as him, there was nothing—absolutely 9a11724708 nothing—she could offer that would 112f31e403 truly help him.2eb1a6a418fae7363d38
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Kisses, embraces, intimacy… things considered the virtues of lovers or the duties 1c87dad32d of spouses… in truth, he could have had them with anyone. There was no 688801c077 need for it b295fe3cb7 to be her.042b31cfc005970022c4
‘Did I… bd18b84ddc really help?’330289bbd53fda2715f2
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‘Oh, absolutely.’1b448e813a4ed3990644
Now that he had achieved what he brought her b3bad2960f here for, the only right thing to do was 745ce0de2b to leave—before things became even more pitiful.7d2f40074879bb4a5bbc
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She told herself b1f61e9b01 that, over and aa31758d25 over. Yet still, her golden eyes grew heavy ce0c2063d6 and wet, peering out over the knees 9861a232e4 she held tightly to her chest.ad1dd7ce45954f9affb9
‘Saint… you 2a5381c14b must marry 202eab907b me.’0134197a98a6141534d9
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There was a time—once—when she’d believed e826afc1cb he had returned to the Holy 1015008820 Kingdom just to save her…2e463002ff94f04996b1