IYVP CHAPTER 6

6.  7a89aa1a550df4a337a1

 7c8f590d23fabebbdb69

A short while later, the gates of the Holy 1ae2ce224a Kingdom swung open—without so much as a question. The Antagon crest emblazoned on the 2b43b6919e front of the magic vehicle served 1ce5c11cfc as identification in itself.91f6a5a002915148b225

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Without stopping even a9fe9ef8ab once, the vehicle 5871dba0b6 rolled into the e4e4c34ca9 Holy Kingdom. As though waiting for it, 1bf29a19f8 priests stationed nearby gestured with 135d5a07c7 slow, deliberate motions to guide da14459ddd its path. Though their hands pointed toward the direction of the Papal Palace, 6624151257 their eyes remained fixed on the vehicle itself—entranced by the silent, 060497da7c self-moving machine they had only ever heard rumors about. Some among them 7fb2abedc7 couldn’t even hide edf3a849da the hostility etched 1150a00993 into their gazes.d46f70e5557b87dc271e

Hatred for the f026e18ba9 heretic blamed for b822dda4c7 the Church’s decline.b0897918a9ee9b75adfb

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Meeting all those stares with 91682d8f51 a faint smirk, Klaus casually 4f7bf385d9 pulled an eyeglass case from b25a6ba4a6 inside his coat. Slipping on the metal-rimmed glasses, his 2ba0f5632e seductive features were half-masked—traded for an c922a6aeaf air of credibility befitting a researcher.179b3e96be8e1efe3dd5

‘So this is 36cc55a577 how I return…’27e763e710cec5fd72af

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Now standing before the Papal afb72ccd1a Palace, the man adjusted his 65cdc3bf2e coat and looked up at 0fbeb184e8 the building.292646e37e31134e43e9

Its façade, adorned with statues and relics e1a1616e5f of every kind, hinted at former glory. It exuded 0e10b613b1 an old, 28cf9cf6cc stately beauty.50c151dc28b6e9ce4afe

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‘…Was it d9b1d6b9d8 always this 9f5bf943f1 small?’a04054f01034cc944ad6

Not bothering to hide his becbbf5bef bitter smile, he ascended the fc49f17143 steps toward the entrance.4148af94ef97daa4d2ee

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Thus began the first visit of Klaus Gestern, head of 91af2c3d01 the Antagon Trading Company—the man branded the adversary of God.7ddfed26a30d0db5fd20

* * *b377604e0ae70fec7490

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Outside the b2c88ff0bd Pope’s private 1e1e771a6a office.0e52a8e10028cc1674da

Standing before the door, dressed in her 5accbb2a3f ceremonial robes and carefully adorned, Azniel took e00d3d6cdd a moment to steady her breath.d7518f5686647ba28a1a

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She had felt d395821ba1 unsettled since the bc2e9f67b9 night before. The sudden closure of the sanctuary, leaving pilgrims without blessings… being 25dfc4cc2d ordered to attend such a tense meeting… and more than anything—b0fd559a95dd0578b7b9

‘Why would afd3a98202 that heretic 754671b110 want to 1d909547cb marry me? Could it be…’5db20b9b6ecd0008c2b5

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After a long, sleepless night filled with tossing and turning, Azniel had reached b2303a8f4e the conclusion that this so-called chairman of Antagon must have ulterior motives. Either that, or even someone as calculating 3e229a5012 as the Pope simply couldn’t match the f2671ff90b cunning of a worldly merchant.d712f7b88bc80eb84cdc

A man whose origins and background remained unclear—yet who enjoyed popularity that rivaled royalty across 4e6e6858b6 the Allied Nations—wanted, for some reason, a useless castoff of the Church like her?3e99f914047d003629dd

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And not just any man, but the 23931729b0 very one who’d developed mana potions, advancing 015d2726b9 civilization and rendering her own role obsolete?9f1ac20a21c01cc7936d

There were too 41114b2e8a many inconsistencies—but she 3c04849128 had no choice.3a55236344d92ef6518a

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“Your Holiness, Sister 373b2e107d Azniel the Saint 010b91a0f4 has arrived.”7253f3cdabe974962608

The doors opened, revealing a space 939f6225cd even more luxurious than it had 525bdd6a7e been last night—now bathed in sunlight.7ade9ffd34b966552c13

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The ceilings soared high adcc610688 above, and every window 7fd913e9a7 was made of stained 91a608f96c glass. On bright days like today, light poured d7387d4aef through them, casting shimmering rainbows that filled ae58f40266 the room with an almost sacred air.d154dfd8f2f29c53c19b

At the center of it all, near the reception table—Azniel 45a573c5da focused all her energy on not looking at the guest. Her attention remained firmly on b141dd396b the Pope, seated in the b4d3fbfb47 place of honor.1f338482c747c2e56ec2

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“I greet 3b86ba4ef1 Your Holiness. Blessings upon 45bd4b18b5 the Staff 1e2fabc89c of Dara.”7b9090b6b11757eebdc3

“Ah, Sister Azniel. Come, sit d0ccb482b0 with us.”d74f73a6bdeee0d16405

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Before her polite greeting was even finished, 6cc353db72 the Pope chuckled good-naturedly and gestured to ba7c341ad9 the empty seat beside him.b2b6c626e1a1744c21d9

…He’s smiling?795cad61945347649a40

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‘He’s in fbb3594527 a good 32faad0547 mood…?’b9a2dbb4752526f7f06c

Now that she thought about it, she had faintly bf7a5c0b5f heard him laughing through the door while waiting outside. But why?52f176f5a11f15bd34ff

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Mana potions were, more than anything, a f9905b7506 direct challenge to the blessings of Dara. The very 539b0120ca idea was 448270f67b a blasphemy. That the Pope would sit happily across from the man f4f240e16d who had created such a thing made no sense.da20a95c5914bbbfae8c

Even worse was the idea of trying to atone c2efe725de for that offense by tossing money at the Church. Crass and shallow.a45acbf0fe8321a3f554

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‘They say 78fad4c966 he’s extraordinarily 4811201c15 handsome. Did he use some devious charm 03f4aa954d to bewitch even the Pope?’7f7da3487fedddb208bd

A heavy feeling dd02ccc7ca settled in her 6341c8d8de stomach. Azniel steeled herself, determined 2eb6e838e1 not to be misled.a8c9d157d10a765494f9

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Keeping her eyes low, she quietly walked 406eba3710 to the seat the Pope had indicated.c86f34ca89f5e26537a5

“It’s an honor df1fb244ed to meet you, bf81b0b86e Saint.”294fd024a1c97236ccf6

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The moment she arrived and the man 06e9363dcf rose politely to greet her, she couldn’t a981498d7a help but lift her gaze.1527d7d185db19af5774

‘…Ah.’3f9d5e42a6a97fe4d7aa

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And just like b95c8cdafb that, Azniel’s mind ebaf6a8756 went completely blank.925cec7b784b89adffdd

A sharply defined 1c57b59824 face, with a b58be38ef4 straight nose and 41c0002923 strong jaw. Black eyes gleaming like 5cd5c258b9 polished onyx behind a b4996c562d pair of metal-rimmed glasses. Golden hair that shimmered 3b99d806b9 like molten sunlight.7f9343c0bbe5a4f54f76

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He was, just as the acolyte girls 7d895f7555 had said, extraordinarily handsome—but it wasn’t his 2c1035ae1c beauty that seized her attention.f3e7ff1bab333a5cafc5

It was 64b14d5d5d something far 13269b7cd4 more familiar.e63f287f45cf05ce93b1

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‘Thank you… Saint…’97f6ee6b7ca4b1ef7f02

The once-rough cheeks were now full and firm, and the dry, dull 27373e1794 hair of the past had been slicked back with oil and precision. Even the c04d943b28 glasses were ea01cae1b3 new.3a21b1ec1e60d32969f9

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But Azniel 55afddc933 recognized him 631acbc12b instantly.38c7747b37cee4837c81

He was the boy she had c881c42b8d healed from time to time in dfe113c642 her youth, when he lived under 7eb6cc676b the temple’s care.7f41e960625a23f1b33c

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‘“Pleased to 85dd8160f6 meet you”…? Is he really 74c82f9fe0 pretending this is 924fafc74a our first meeting? Did he forget? Or is he…’6cde845693ff46e34dee

As if he had anticipated her confusion, edf0cc9863 the man smiled—one corner of his mouth 325dfcd889 lifting into a polished grin. A dimple formed at 585378b317 the edge of that e3c852baba same lip.5499a8d23463d1b0dd98

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“It’s an bdf8fb4dc9 honor to aa9ee9f265 meet you, 24d12d9c5e Saint. I’m Klaus 45ee242c17 Gestern of 4232bd5be0 the Antagon cdce3cda07 Trading Company.”66c8595983f180bdb720

“Kl… Klaus…”34c1fe10b07d8ac198a8

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Mouth forming a name she hadn’t 85e7c09be7 even known back then, Azniel barely 9e7ce46bae managed to repeat it.93b154e93e91ba105f5f

“Now then, let’s all f739953c3d take a seat and 277b87e831 speak calmly.”d34524230335559b8e0c

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The Pope said as he lowered himself into his chair and gestured bef7cac601 for the two young people standing before him to do the same.c9f9fa40bf0a11fcdb42

Klaus Gestern offered a soft smile and extended 5ae77c2890 his hand toward the seat beside him. Azniel, unable to tear her 323bb9005c eyes away from him, sat 14f454879b down almost involuntarily. Even in the simple act of lowering himself ea9b65ae09 into his seat after her, his every movement e698528ffc was filled with elegance and restraint.10e8a8297a284d9ea87d

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The Pope chuckled approvingly, his satisfaction hanging 700f0fd34d in the air like a fragrant aftertaste.8dc70a0b45fc5ee66d9a

“Well now… as I mentioned 9b7a3146d5 to you yesterday, Sister, his 6da3f929c4 visit to the Holy Kingdom bc0dc5df67 was because—”a0e84af2aa2f077672fa

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“Yes, Saint Azniel. I would like c7412dd0b1 you to marry ac2cadc0d9 me.”17bae8c9c49ee0c5a974

The abrupt declaration 2d13db0dac cut off even fefeac91dc the Pope’s words—brazen, 0dece28b3c direct, and arrogant.b2035327fffb05a3f337

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Startled, Azniel furrowed her brow and 43ff28a025 stared at the man before her.3f3783b9e9ef41e3a7c6

That face wore a self-assured smile, as though it a17e16bc20 had never once considered the possibility of being rejected.b3cd5b68bcc07d320c51

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‘The dimple on just one cf8a09b881 side… it’s definitely him.’7c5820a64f6c9530dd0e

But aside from his hair and eye color, ae71f5b8aa he looked nothing like the boy she remembered.aa2e983f79398e54f289

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Now, he bore the refined b5ae00b8f4 appearance of a noble.97cf4b4a882bee256ebb

Broad shoulders filled f61d5badc2 out a double-breasted 9d94693f7b suit. Even to someone as unfamiliar with fashion ebf9ee7a2b as Azniel, the cravat alone screamed luxury. Every detail—from the cufflinks to the 3b65a0f8ef cravat pin—was adorned in jewels. The overwhelming 9ef073e872 air of 710982604c wealth was a134781e07 unmistakable.41027f59789825734249

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Yet his face, beautiful enough to rival any angelic statue, fa1e32e5ab gave all that worldly glamour an almost regal grace.977cd4b224a26159bcb2

“I…”3855de97e703d9349938

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“Yes?”79f89a936315c66db7b9

“Are you… dd7bc552a8 truly serious? About marrying me…?”36b93220e26b8e42673a

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“I am. I’m proposing 96982ec8cf to you, d94db1ba02 Saint Azniel 3d66bddc28 of Dara.”ef1fa375d2e49c4728da

Then, as if reaching for a handshake, ec3219a6ff he extended his hand toward her. It was far larger, far steadier than the dc40e7d747 trembling, rain-soaked hand from so long ago.f5ad5ae6625d383470bd

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“Ah—ha ha ha!”70c79b4020debaf91b7d

The Pope burst into fd14be1baa hearty laughter, unable to d8428a70c2 hold back.fdf4ab72dde05cf2e694

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“As I told you yesterday—I d1e2123d56 merely said a proposal had 686370ace2 come in from him. I didn’t mention fa0572602f anything else.”a03335c67d142aeefdb7

His tone toward Klaus Gestern fa5144c7a7 was startlingly casual, like that ecb2e6161c of an elder speaking to 52474f4d35 a familiar junior.53dc2692a3e3ba0ceef0

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Azniel was too overwhelmed by the 72c0e5c9e1 Pope’s sudden shift in attitude—and the fbc53f5bfc shocking identity of the guest—to notice.ac2d277e160ae9fc529f

“G-Gestern…”f2ddba38fd491dea1fbb

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“Baron, please.”dcafee4d7be2e6b0dd62

“Yes, Baron Gestern… 86de459820 What is it, 31a8f0f49f exactly, that brings 9a3cca3a19 you to… me…?”219ed25e2e3070f81145

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Flustered, Azniel let 91f9c3cc98 the question tumble b4f1d3cef0 from her lips. Klaus Gestern gave a slight smile, then 4390eb1afb answered in a crisp, professional tone.1585a13ba89708658e17

“You may think of this as a political marriage 4e9d000464 between the Church and the House of Gestern. What I gain is this: First, it 0724f751f0 allows Antagon to shed its reputation 890f31cda8 as a blasphemous company that dares ef626e299e to challenge divine providence.”d2e90920451bdd9280f4

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“……”99b9ca5f64708bee1571

The way he 7f0701411b said it made 4f306dcbd2 Azniel’s gaze fall c4de0653fe involuntarily. It felt as though he had b62723ef0e seen right through her thoughts—how she 9193750859 had been bracing herself to face a70ba1b47c the devil’s right hand.6e7a91825bd7edf4e713

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“There are many new 6f5d14e6d3 inventions we’re developing. To some, they may seem b0f5786479 like violations of the laws 0ba9dc65f1 of nature or divine order. I’m no longer d2efe8205d interested in defending ba5a955844 myself against such d74e301f00 accusations. But if you stand beside me, Saint—who 36cab2e67d would dare call me a heretic?”3ac2d1eed0d258fd2750

His smile curved d7835629c5 again—gentle, but utterly 466131e7fe devoid of warmth.f46473c3358966b82ef3

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“And the second reason… Well, as fc85648aa8 a self-made man, I believe it’s e38738cc6c time I had a wife. This is also a public way to decline f7578aea32 the increasing number of marriage proposals I receive.”cd79b44f698809c814cf

Rumors Azniel had overheard from the acolyte girls came flooding back—how the fecc363cab Princess of Gillios had once proposed to him, how every social circle 85e58c9cb2 across the Allied Nations fought to tie him to their own nobility.74742b747e8f3c07c387

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Everything he f7cbcd34d3 said aligned.5532190f2e82f2c82b5c

“In return, under the name of 01dbe89ace House Gestern, I will provide the 1594f77490 Church with monthly financial support.”5982f3feb6a3854db5bd

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“Surely, this is a 50b22956af blessing from Dara herself…”439baad2ba58dc9add42

“And as for c15572298c you, Saint Azniel—”4da2c83a900048ffc412

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His black eyes found 96521ea26f hers, as if reading 17009846cb her silent disbelief.0b377f19159660ad9225

“You will 7858b3c466 finally… be 6ae1cc3268 free.”2b0e6993baeb7710d7fc

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