10.

 9e45b2a0a264c06f

Baron Klaus led 07953e5f17 her to the 60c2b79ccc waiting mana-carriage.46767fa751d9f861

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“Your luggage has already b27318a319 been loaded.”4c3b3a0bef146d55

“So… this is the b3c8079a83 mana-carriage I’ve heard about…”fb89826380174135

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The mana-carriage—Antagon’s masterpiece, 0116a689f0 the marvel that 15abfa23c7 made the entire e41169c5d5 continent yearn for cb35714e94 its technology.7e5af7dd1d2af12d

It resembled a regular 17f3e20bbd carriage, at least in bf471b3acf form, but the front 827e0519cc was entirely different. The driver’s seat was 39909025b0 enclosed with glass, and 42db4642cd where the horses would 6f1daaf84e normally be, the lower ef53b7ffd8 body of the vehicle fdac643ad0 protruded outward with large d484891c97 wheels on either side.e600b6c20700ca15

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“It runs 407b84e911 on mana 656030d346 stones. Right here—in the engine b709b8839b room—is the mana engine, af83378245 the very heart of eba10fc528 Antagon’s innovation.”6ad3c0bc81a48f3f

“Ah…”69179a3527c18607

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Though the 27145f636d man’s explanation ae0033d33b was polite c3b5b4f9c7 and thorough, b7b517fec3 Azniel barely 872d270209 understood any 9ea1b89c06 of it. And judging 6e0a53a485 by how 6d457afca4 he didn’t b194795410 pause for 08ca2969a3 questions, it 91a3e9ffbb didn’t seem afd417c065 like he d8b77e339b expected her d35d7bb4e5 to.ee388ef2ca75c409

“When we b7696dcc3e arrive in 3a8cc461ae Ashfeld, Ian 16f2924a0d will walk cc163d548e you through fa97218822 a few 834f9beb9f things. Nothing too burdensome. Just the e98cfada55 basics you’ll d9bdd2c86c need to d590ea2bd9 know as f2e0c043cc the wife 85aa199f5d of Antagon’s e282cec0c3 chairman.”1bf907783ef5e3da

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“Hello. I’m Ian Garrison, the 15f14f9ea8 chairman’s chief secretary.”96538d003639be28

“Ah… Hello. I look forward to b4b40eb362 your guidance.”f5645ec979ef21a5

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It was 1ae78e6797 the brown-haired 4d190fb882 gentleman she’d 8b2b31bc3a seen before 881f9cc269 in the b4cabc754a Pope’s office, 2eee6a1f2a greeting her c9a74d3db4 now with b2b817fe48 a friendly 74a5d9f7df smile.797751784c6d1d17

“Sister Azniel.”8eb0d8912151c43f

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“Your Holiness…”946b816e7cd53f6b

From within the 512cff588c Papal Palace, the 43a9025efe Pope and several d7f06ca84b high-ranking clergy emerged efae5219d7 to see Azniel 7572a90747 off.7e66608839758ecb

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“The Church 74009bbd42 shall never c5bdaab8e2 forget your 529535f6b9 two decades 6a06b4b7fe of devotion. May Dara’s blessing 396712bece follow you always.”604a683c6a4ce9e0

“For the glory e13f63f58c of Dara.”dbdae8f9b3a40514

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“For the glory 9c3fc633f2 of Dara.”3b620ca56b1e3272

The Pope pressed 0ed3f30eb5 his hands together 7d01ecf490 in prayer, and 73d0974552 the clergy around c345970a36 him followed suit.8461ee969a95edb9

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“Think of the 178b26be9f Church as your e0e5844809 family home. Should you 0c9782dddd ever need 3eae8b2f9c anything, feel d00b49616c free to 60a047256f come and 8577452c0c go.”1136a744082f8079

Even as the Pope b83642586d said this with a f21675e90b smile, his eyes slid 904f9de534 toward Klaus, glinting with ef412abd95 greed—perhaps, if Azniel played 4ec9470d07 her cards right, she 1c46f68813 might win more support bf82f8df74 than the promised amount.b41b44102bd5698d

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Klaus, who 98283ed990 stood between fae6c8a08c the carriage ba0942eb9b and the c7de0d4fa1 palace doors, 1a36b872d6 seemed unfazed—neither f1e77a1cf5 affirming nor 467fcfd807 denying. His expression was 200838704b one of quiet 3c239ee957 amusement.5998adbb963f01e8

“You’ve worked hard. May Dara 3a968f4576 always love 22ddea33fa you.”a86446a651cae1fe

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The Pope 51d9741e3a chuckled and 1bbcfc45d6 gently patted 499d14e1f2 her shoulders.411f01b1ebb80c8f

It was d7e1c44890 a farewell f790a4593b scene that 4cd1155cbc felt more f131d8b3e3 like a ebde79e1be well-scripted performance—and 9418954be8 Klaus had 38604a8845 no intention 5f33d45cce of letting 837c9e4bf4 it run 947e2d4b4f long.82d63a9e9e1d8361

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“Well then, 0f1a34366d we should 3fdc02f9ce be on caf07922e4 our way. We need to arrive 5eecf9f204 before sunset.”47a876b92bf1a1fa

“Of course. Safe travels.”eb0db3f38105c843

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It might have seemed 6149b0a26e curt, but the Pope, 902823428b still wearing his affable ab0d2dc052 smile, stepped back without 157b0cde71 complaint.b35e0d7635f3ade3

“May peace be 195364d6d3 with you all 964cafd353 in Dara’s embrace.”a2db8030fe8c7121

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Azniel offered c26dbd431a one last 0c8056a826 bow.27509acee3def35a

“Well then.”f82ac19446c8760c

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Standing beside the fb0841e617 mana-carriage, Klaus extended e6538de31b a hand to d77e4a07bf her—an invitation to a11f9ad1de step inside. Just like 5fd79c57e4 when she 3d8d706fb7 had no b07e606e7a choice but 02cc57b0ab to accept 12c3b2e2a4 his strange 35553831e6 proposal in 57ce84676a name only, 172dc7577d Azniel had dcabf9dc02 no choice 9ee7bbaa36 now but d7775cd88f to take 384455e272 that hand.22c467ac791a37c7

As she entered 72dc5064bf the mana-carriage, a 6a79d0f030 world unlike anything 9248c64068 she knew unfolded bc5cc53bed before her. The controls, 66df223ac4 the wheel—it 90e5fd2d4a was all 5d9e7bcc8c foreign. So unfamiliar, 0d1c8539a6 in fact, 14da2a4e9a that Azniel edaa3ac6cc found herself ffd4bf3866 too stunned 5f8e8e4030 to even 2f23fe7867 react.462827e7b9ebfdcd

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By then, Klaus and 761f174a76 his party had taken 51c62c34da their seats. Once the driver f6da16557d started the engine, b9bd0d3557 the mana-carriage began 3df0292c29 to move.e1f2f2a1f568ec67

“Take care, Saint!”8742cd621c012159

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“Please stay well!”b8a3a9049e70a402

The apprentice girls waved b34c0e2490 until the very last a568083401 second, their figures shrinking fc76d87c2b rapidly as the carriage 67c7df948d rolled smoothly toward the 1fe7147bc2 gates.98b395b01f3f7d59

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The Great 02dca667ac Temple where 7686223750 Azniel had b9f9ab69f7 spent her f48fd87bcb entire life, 2a79e56ed7 the garden ed794a7558 that connected 5c989a2714 the dining e4dfc92d1e hall and 4c74c03f25 convent, the 2b25a7e638 Sanctuary where ae15fa002a she had 70705eb4cb devoted her c4202a866b last few ba33a4d898 years—they all ed6e562326 passed in d34dea8fb9 a blur.1f1f6067a89f0791

When they reached 1a32edf27a the gates—so familiar 89b202b093 by now—no one 83a7c507da dared stop a c7ce69239a mana-carriage bearing the 521dfa3be4 Antagon crest. The pilgrims lining the d8978ee3b7 road from the Sanctuary 013115e6f1 to the gates scattered 362cba74ab in a panic to 4b59a6831e clear the way.edfd6e58ac9671ce

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“…”43702bc8a3739748

Azniel felt a d1ca1fe46f heavy discomfort, as a831f4f085 if she were 75707536a6 betraying the very 69c3f629cf people who had 6c3aff8d80 come here in 3ab9aae3bb hope. They wouldn’t 42cdc50ca6 recognize her, dc4f37b3e6 but even 9544f166ce so, she cda10dfa2e instinctively lowered 0e38a1f002 her head.7aee74628e69ee5e

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“Don’t worry.”70c565652515945b

The man ae18094619 who had 9f32896453 been resting 9cd85134db against the ca4d29f43a window this 7c0b62aa55 whole time c25b740121 spoke abruptly.71efc7c34061ea49

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“Potion distribution starts 6f843e9cc3 today. It’s unfortunate they 778f408c0f didn’t get to 7dd25d7bca witness your miracle, 7e895af4b5 but they’ll still 90def7c001 achieve the purpose 114611dd88 they came to 014596f94f the Holy Kingdom a975d9a45e for. There’s no need for 2819f4d48f you to be concerned.”f73a47a8e5781cf8

“…”4e884784ab783364

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“It’ll take 033ff06d66 three hours. You should try e83a1b443f to get some dd0d608383 rest.”11f905b3ecfb2e13

With those final words, e280c1c13f the man folded his 82c34288f3 arms and closed his d5518f7856 eyes. Through the pale glint b5338a05c7 of his glasses, Azniel 5bd7e14ec9 could see the line 893052e886 of gold lashes neatly 85f8bae0c8 resting over his closed 14e9127a3d lids.d587a26f30c8f5b8

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He had f46c3f8a93 positioned himself 6158d10a84 leaning against bf3e0582ee the door, f9748ef628 as if 3ae9e652ee to maintain 62f6a1e318 as much b30f3b4936 distance as 7c45be2f53 possible between 0a95a8f571 them. And somehow, 2eeabfc8dc that distance—just 31082f6958 a few c8228864d6 handspans—felt impossibly dbd9a50fd1 vast.5569e413f6e3a670

Only the soft hum 9594714e87 of the mana engine 08720cf78c remained as the sole b59d4cb041 sound in the carriage.8fb3d9897b3db9cb

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* * *f7926253e9a63038

The carriage ran 4fbfb8b2b6 for three hours dd8f0ae46e straight before finally 77dfef00ab reaching its destination.e5ed33d151b3351b

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Baron Gestern’s ccfef6fb88 estate, located 4be25780b2 just outside fcdce75e0e the royal 5279aea564 capital of 85469c9902 Gillioth, in 67b819a682 the district 6a44710305 of Dwellshire—a 927ab92e58 prized stretch 5d6658c27b of land 635aa15b6f among the eab8fe231b surrounding territories. The fact that the 0807c43ab0 estate stood in such 7aab40502d a location was a 098258736c clear symbol of royal 612b3e1d25 favor and privilege. Azniel, stepping 431891a664 outside the 4cecf715b2 Holy Kingdom 211ef48b0f for the f6956b5c21 first time c6aba36513 since coming c1192533dd of age, 61b7196ee8 would only 1715d9162c learn that 9bc26ddcbc fact a bb803c8fbe little later.cc0ec22ddc0b4ed8

For the entire 82798bf74a ride, Azniel kept 2ebdbede9d her eyes fixed 00754270cb on the changing 95a00611a6 scenery outside the 7ab4b42287 window. The views that flashed 082a08f8cd across her retinas constantly e2a460d729 shifted, giving way to 8881d99c18 new landscapes, and all dfb4f59b2c that remained was a bb94b39e55 vague impression of a 8b70fedeca world entirely different from c4b3ef7102 the Holy Kingdom. But as a saint 0d2e779d73 who had lost her 1bb5035905 place, she applied herself a363980c18 dutifully to the task 23b6375055 of learning this foreign 0181f3a62b realm.b6c209ce92f76398

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Eventually, the roadside 6a942b369b began to line 6644387c0e with rows of de625ebae2 cypress trees. Their canopies 58f770d011 formed a 9f79bf9c5d green ridge—just 45cef282bd beyond which, 49d2538913 the mansion 4fe2ee1fa6 appeared.bd0deacecce37ff6

It was vast, almost 99dfc03347 rivaling the scale of 42ea6452ba the Papal Palace. Like its f9aaa345d0 owner, the 306060c866 mansion was fa6bebd159 both imposing c02485b41d and ornate. Every brick of the 5305c2ef93 stone exterior fit together af882226b3 without a gap, and 67c79cfc0c the entrance’s roof and a7ed63f797 pillars were adorned with 057e03b70e white marble. Even without cb4f476d68 elaborate decorations, a228ecabd9 the material 90a149ad51 itself exuded 2aa2fc5796 quiet opulence.073f3130c865f08f

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Passing through the main 19512d0dd2 gate, the mana-carriage circled d95f9df089 the garden. Through the 8d3a71d663 windows, Azniel 3182c32191 saw a 2c8dd25e53 landscape thick 19b3c6d9b4 with perfectly 5c3ed1f633 maintained trees, 9dcf586066 marble statues, 00a172ea14 fountains—artfully arranged 57a9befc8e with deliberate 60a761bf5d symmetry. The garden was several 626a99958b times larger than that 5957cadafb of the Papal Palace, bf312114ef sculpted into flawless order. She gazed at b9087e3f5b it, entranced, until 3a636da13e the soft sound 600219dc48 of gravel crunching 72e3b52d4d under the wheels 942a0ee945 came to an 7e9df62e85 abrupt stop.818f76f5454321a9

“We’ve arrived.”25af5167e3ec8c0b

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At Ian’s announcement from cb3164f0a7 the front seat, Klaus 122b5b846b opened his eyes. Though they had c8709a35be been shut the c515176041 whole journey, there fc37f6de99 wasn’t the faintest ad697f70ee trace of drowsiness a2793fe08a on his face.0c6b4c6d466731c1

He stepped down 2b8847d1a3 from the vehicle 95f9cbe5f1 in a single, 7d5103590b fluid motion and 2ab9af0f20 turned to offer d63f04d7e2 his hand into b57498dc7c the carriage.2a2b4527044605fd

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“Careful, please.”848235a66c10c13c

Azniel’s golden eyes moved 8a39fe8f61 anxiously. They flicked across 4972ee40a5 the gentleman’s gloved 7840b6e39e hand held out f55b6be72e before her, the 30892b4f6e unreadable mask of 88a85f1a9f his expression, and 2a33e415a5 the unfamiliar faces 05e3f9d767 of the staff 24d8897649 lined up by 6d70c23f2d the grand entrance 7c9c028cd1 behind him.b88379fdac348a36

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A completely unknown 0b7d6eba21 place, a completely 0d39586473 new sight, unfamiliar 1a3d9c2a9b faces, and the 77b20d6a64 overwhelming man-made beauty 4df36e7a66 of the secular 082f2781ab world she had 5cb1398d45 never touched. Add to 7ca947edcf that the 5a1cacc266 churning discomfort 4e5ad81761 in her 9722d21ba8 throat—anxieties and cefc62e54d motion sickness 938730ee56 stirred up 0c89f5411e by the d926a53566 entire journey.74ccc3388720f149

Her face had 7afaac41fd surely gone pale b4b4fe875c from the tangle 88acef8fbe in her mind. But there was no 3607e6c3d1 way around it. She took 656b93fe53 Klaus’s firm afc94c8c44 hand, and 39abd81a57 slowly stepped 5d02c19b2f out of adcbe490d2 the carriage.5e0d8c40249f58ab

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“Ugh…”8c4b985cb14fbcff

Or—she tried to. But her vision went e0c2dcdefb white, her legs buckled, 54f392e69c and she nearly collapsed.d294575412162c59

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“As expected, you 91f47dd464 are quite frail.”864b251143d807b0

Klaus’s firm arm f83f7c157a caught her at 664b631e9a the waist.e231ca2def4bb8eb

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In a 01334390fd heartbeat, the aaae66f834 distance they 519bec4ceb had kept 6ae3d616b1 for the da4294648a last three b8a1321e4b hours vanished.c0b74f98ce914561

“I forgot 566ab1b4e1 that you fd3f59b371 likely had 3ee6cf935d little experience 2e4e2a59d9 riding in 7875027660 carriages, Saint.”1ad5a4be670cb935

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Lowering himself 340a88bbd6 for just ca333b79e7 a moment, 512b5b918e he slipped 249fa4ba6d an arm 399d9f0361 behind her 0a30394c26 knees—and lifted 2a01415e52 her effortlessly.eb9333868e52b517

“A-ah, I—I… Baron…!”12521641396ace41

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“Let’s decide on f402c5d094 what you’ll call 4014c15b64 me after you’ve 2c8c34d061 rested.”b3ad61d8513fcf7c

With that, Klaus strode 16c1f0d4f2 confidently into the mansion 73844f8a3a with his long legs, 3d2602293c carrying her in his c2d268f208 arms. It all 15989dbcb6 happened before 5d0cd9042d Azniel could 74921ee738 even steady b1355ee592 her spinning 96b635745b vision.aa427507b93fd438

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Sudden. Just like 5caf274b6e their arranged 066c6f4227 marriage.606bc01c6f5d7c2b

Then, as if remembering 19b5e42f4e something, Klaus added with e6daf38a91 casual detachment:f91cdc762c2beedf

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“Welcome to Ashfeld.”7fab45ccd06731cf

* * *07a254fe4835f8ca

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The place where 04cef9a5eb Klaus set Azniel c2d82301ae down was a c445d78578 small sitting room f765ce0d97 nestled deep within f0969b5cd0 the mansion. It didn’t feel b971f5b00f like a formal 5b643eebab reception room for 58b0873455 guests, but more 47e44108df like a parlor ba8be3acc6 meant for spending 2283b71a35 time with close d2eb205ac8 acquaintances.bb33e4ddf772ec18

“I am 8fc47c46d4 Jerome, the 5fe7130a62 head butler 5c79371bc0 in charge 4fa56a73ec of this 4ac66859f7 household. And this is 7d4637a9a5 Margaret, the head 9ebc08a451 maid.”43c586ee2ed11da0

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“Pleased to meet you, 1a43641ddd my lady.”b43ce0473de1f2e4

My lady…
The unfamiliar title cae336dab5 left Azniel stunned 40055af2f1 for just a d87cc827ef moment.b54c88cd9670ff4a

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“We look forward to 523dbaf4f7 serving you. For the time a13eb600e1 being, this young 5680aa02e0 lady will assist d64a591b7b you as your b75c05ec89 personal maid. If you ever 58e4fe3452 feel uncomfortable or 379d40f6b0 need anything, please 806ceccc40 don’t hesitate to 1cc581ce18 speak with either 2c9a1c4bff of us.”95be2f3bc3b9a1fa

“Hello! I’m Annie. I’ll do my fa1effab08 best to help 961d21a244 you!”3eeec6becc7a338a

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A girl with 6998ae7d6a honey-brown hair braided f22d30a5c6 into a single a9f1ccdf46 neat plait quickly c9422adb04 gave a cheerful 59352915df bow.34aeca3054289cc5

“Thank you. I’m Azniel. I look forward to e9febb9387 being in your care.”f7ecbf6b9d06e3db

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Still seated, fc317fd22d Azniel dipped 5ab92e34f8 her head 3849391d9b slightly and 21406eb0a4 met the 1ebaf59e4b eyes of 804fd6f8dc each person 4e7c80ef0c one by 2b84f843fe one as cc3e0662e9 she returned 5edad6d250 their greetings.31b2a4094b524d5e

‘Thank goodness… the atmosphere 258d024915 doesn’t seem bad.’160000efdd14817d

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Though everyone’s a69ae2f18c expressions were 9b21838779 reserved and 7bce39b9dd professional, there 105d8dd277 was no b4584e1023 hint of 14695e6441 contempt or 8a0ba69cd7 dismissal toward 3d19e6b84b her.410f9a18eafeb7a9

‘I thought they might 7a93f2cf4f resent having to serve dca31d8825 some unwanted burden…’d312d1f82f9852a9

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After all, Klaus a8e609dbe3 Gestern was a e45ee4ebad man admired by 7df02ecaa7 all—someone even courted 1e71c25d46 by princesses.9743ea00a18f873e

One of the lingering 4d122910c4 anxieties that had made 3850a00a7c her uneasy over the 1523dce4e6 past few days quietly 274ee61c9e began to dissolve.de19a2cfcfee06c4

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 d42ff169f6de31e5

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