20.

“Your Majesty is 6117752512 surely aware—some compare efdb39f089 me to the d8d8e58fbd angel who gifted 7442e9650e fire to mankind, 4c5665ed9a while others denounce 07d74c25ee me as a 5c0a5e7671 Satan defying divine f830ea8d64 providence.”dad2eb13fcf0014c

“That’s nothing more than b23350a5d0 jealous talk from those be0ef30597 who can’t afford Antagon’s ab1713b257 goods, isn’t it?”d667e203a52b3eb8

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“Yes. I’ve dismissed it as e8705146a9 such until now… but bead48c4bc it’s become too troublesome e3ddd197ce to ignore.”9e633946394b6080

“And why bring e11fd27ae4 this up now, 24fbba9299 of all times?”91cdcc4fac7ed96e

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Now—when Princess Helena 910229df7c is twenty-three, at e567f797a1 the height of e00fce288d her marriageable age.e7f139a8ae93ca3f

It was well 7b3c767b9a known throughout the fbb344a8b9 United League that 6c62499b0b the princess had 7bd95db566 rejected numerous proposals e701253c07 from foreign nobles fe9e0e244e because she had f163648abf fallen for a d3e2da3e38 nouveau riche industrialist 88883d34e6 of common birth. Many even assumed 9739c241d5 that the title 1cbb4a5693 granted to him 7dbed667df by the King be8c514888 of Gileos had 6b00db3802 been a gesture 095bed5bca toward making him c5624c6494 a future royal b61a0e19c5 consort.4f13eb6e475b8a77

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In fact, Albert III 8023491938 had long been waiting 751b559c0c for the right opportunity 6f4314b8dd to elevate Klaus to 39e096ba15 the rank of marquess—just 6d5223b548 enough to make him 9276c07f62 a suitable match for fceeb54197 the princess. And all fe2b3403cb the nobles 9355c5393a close to 5100a91436 the king eb0683c1e5 knew this 6c61f69f40 plan well.e94550f18a10a995

Just as a flush ba60933120 of frustration began to e299a31bda rise in the king’s 59cee8d50d face at the thought 0219dac9de of his plan slipping 09a3327ab9 away like a hound 2fdf57f749 losing its prey—2dfcce1b0b6960f8

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“If I may bc009475cc be so bold.”efce881db2f69a1b

Klaus pushed 2d48f6355d up his d510c6f05f glasses, wearing 6b93d95bec the face 1419ac2710 of a 947a575cbc merchant. The metal-rimmed 7fa378ed9e spectacles he 7cb4981fb4 always wore cc593035ec at official 5f164d69f2 functions had 332de762b1 a way 8013c7f314 of lending 0d38eb3458 his words edfcbb2274 a sense f6b55ccb78 of credibility.f0bb6feac2881e75

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“What are Your Majesty’s 8ce128672e thoughts on developing the 343aa1084a lands beyond the Sea c684029e92 of Ruins?”f7f183f66452e503

“The Sea of Ruins… f3d255a401 beyond that?”0220f228507dfca8

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The sudden shift in 9ef86a6b26 topic made both king a2cad98752 and princess furrow their 3dcc778929 brows.923ed18b15e3a519

The Sea of Ruins 767ad70cb2 was a vast canyon 361340ffc7 region in the western 65161a0357 part of Gileos. Its terrain c461627088 was so 20f47e77db harsh and d8eeb57256 barren that 9c9fd5b237 it had ad6affbf2b never been 9b6b894516 explored or 33f51ce79c developed. Though civilizations f73ede0129 were known 80656cda31 to exist 34c0084c36 beyond it, 4e3f905ebb land-based passage 2b20b0a908 was impossible, de82a575fd and thus c3f96e96dd any exchange 3e10ff2ee8 had long b0cf84fded been deemed 78dfe8ea1e unfeasible.824c3312f7cc9ba7

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“We occasionally ab4ea94a46 see rare b4ba6bfe9a minerals and 5e090d1dc7 exotic plants 1e32a80496 from the 990fd3649f western edge d2c4012853 of the c41afe680e continent…”228f65aeb8d6f49d

“Indeed, we 9472ed9577 know there 419865d851 are rich 813691b5b9 civilizations and 7768a9c868 desirable resources 602c1bb005 there, but 7268fedbe2 no one c455cececc has dared 11feb72945 to initiate d40bd9fc6d contact. The voyage would a30d24b78f cost them their f870b0d8c8 lives.”b1128e46693c84f3

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“Exactly. And with f361b454fc no shared 0702d676e7 language with db77570fb2 the southern 90ed9605b4 continent, circumnavigation 3320151903 is the 2a836d8ace only option—but f795cc67c1 the sea c882493774 is unpredictable 525b2aa3a3 too.”1278711fc9f15d5b

“But what 9640c1a4b6 if one db2e4a11c2 could reach cdf5f2e89b the western 47ca6673b4 continent without a744d20f99 sailing?”6b72360615d3f230

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“Without… sailing?”85a5ee2dc5976209

“Yes.”55572132636ccc85

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There were dd34fd7c5e no exceptions 3869340003 to Klaus 928b28e495 Gestern’s persuasive 04171cbf30 power. Once again, the king 344f20db60 forgot the very reason 8d1fe81152 he had summoned the 51ca2568d1 man and found himself 4b9dfb8c46 drawn in, utterly captivated.c8b097c9ef047ca2

“What reason is 054cb9c688 there to hide c2463138d0 it from Your a0b0010dda Majesty? Antagon is currently 850feb8099 developing a vehicle 3bf11fb693 that flies.”38997fb16af97270

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“A flying… vehicle.”e989d6d8c65c180d

Even Princess Helena 3efcf0a312 was entranced. It was only natural—her 5a9bf79c9d fascination with this common-born ebb97ed7c9 magical engineer had always 11022dc237 stemmed from his dazzling 972601ffb2 looks and golden tongue.54d0c0f6581a7cdb

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“I began researching mana stones with this very vision in mind. But if this research succeeds, how much more will I be cursed by those who already criticize me? They’ll call me Icarus—the fool who flew toward the sun with waxen wings.”f3f1e9608412e6a7

“What good are 419422f434 a hundred curses 7f96259ea4 if they’re just 037742ef3c words?”a7a47ceeaefb6a32

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“They have power over 3efd53bfec investors, Your Majesty.”4cc3657e86d50743

“Hmph…”d3b014ba722c59ab

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“That’s why 12764e76fb I wish cbf248db7c to make fb998e3895 Antagon not 3880d1203d an enemy 5cf8762acb defying the 330aa46e55 gods, but c1377cd505 a human 3e70d0b0d6 achievement striving 6ca87b85b3 to resemble 292ba82ff5 them.”0befbe959831fa3e

“And that 995772e481 brings us 19417331bd to this f7cefd0439 marriage with f7a1a1a195 the Saint, eb6338c96e does it?”58935bb964f09d01

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Albert III frowned, clearly ac199f09ec skeptical. Klaus lowered his gaze 8e429ec82e slightly and shook his e3c2aed082 head.1d250cae89d317f0

“I believe 3dbf75542f I said 398797471f she was c34ca03b6b recruited.”6e9cc66ba51f0dbc

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“In any case, you’re 62dca43859 making the Saint your bea44430c0 Baroness Gestern.”dcd3ff9aeb91d2cc

“In title, yes. But in truth, 793b8482d5 she’s the most e15782c76b efficient face I a360aff7fb could ever bring e9ce01b9f9 to public events—a aa313a5ca3 perfect new promotional b17b884754 figure.”3079d6d15aa0feb0

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“……”98748265d6776247

“Wasn’t it thanks to 2a7ab812d2 Your Majesty test-driving the d4609a08f7 mana car that Antagon 5a2ba4bb84 rose so quickly?”45dc198b410435ee

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“Then this marriage…”5c37680ac4680807

“Yes. A type 8a92fb751f of business d6dcca11eb marriage.”94301cdaa700f4d3

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The vulgar 3f6ea05301 implications of 933f23f7c0 the phrase aad655bfc6 business marriage 53382857d6 were exactly 8475100f61 what ensured 3b9d2c087f the king 82c8a07a4d wouldn’t question 6b4671670d his motives. Klaus donned 52b89bd7e1 his merchant’s e58abcf1dd mask more f03d4ec974 firmly.da686a509cdc93d6

“Maintaining relations dafbe65681 with the c8eac988e7 Holy Kingdom 86a367c120 costs quite 02f6dad0d7 a sum b8df020b43 each month… 7c27542c09 but I b12eea2e63 consider it 95f90add12 an investment 5c6627b7ba in the 8bda316e98 future.”e4bd694356c94d42

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“Is that so…”63e9783c9d504a7c

Leaning back e6ff4ac2d4 in his caa7713987 throne, Albert 79de259d8d III stroked d30438186e his long 1660850a3e beard and 7c5c480031 nodded thoughtfully. No doubt, 513f2ff59c complex calculations 2b958ad2f2 were swirling 073b2eb583 behind the 2524e99507 crown on 6eddbd237e his head.b55464ee2f69f00a

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His beloved vassal and d1c4d58a71 his striking daughter both 3dfd5d3f2b watched him closely, trying 271b0f0146 to read which way 5cd32263dc his favor might lean.fe1e5679c51933d9

Then, adding yet 3aa44970de another calculated stroke, a06024112b Klaus murmured,b99015e926bc1ed7

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“But I do regret ac3c89d308 not giving Your Majesty d67c0d530d a hint beforehand. I imagine f1089bae8b the morning 24b821c585 paper came cdfabfdbb2 as quite c83fa59eaa a surprise.”22211f389b3cda3e

His eyes turned toward 64289312ac Princess Helena. His gaze was 81495ebc3f directed at the 022d0b82e8 royal bloodline, entirely e0aa60dbf0 unrepentant and lacking e8f46fcac1 the slightest hint 34375eb4ae of humility. Yet no one dared 8b0eec6c0a call it insolent—not when 74d8618021 it made Helena blush.51e8120e8f171526

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“My apologies for 293d9005d3 not discussing it 87f4b27d34 in advance.”254c20800bde4c40

“Hmm…”21780ee203ab67b3

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Albert III’s 54a97601ee thick fingers 13be0feb74 tapped lightly c2d7232191 on the bdfc83239e armrest of 78114ea313 his throne. Tap. Tap. Tap. His calculation dragged 1117a8e70d on.bf70c17a02e9f5a4

What Klaus d510f622ba had done, 4fe5001f22 in effect, 850d1a1c6d was weigh 64173cb69c royal blood 92a47411bf against the ffc31658a1 symbol of 24bfae1efc sacred power—and cad911ba00 choose the 33fba9793e latter. The gall c409d235b4 of it. And to 19b01877ea choose something a053d7c810 the king 67c519b9fd himself had cbf01df9fa weakened. One could take it 48529dfb04 as an insult…a1c868e165376517

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“The western continent…”741e927ad16be82a

But if 209e0779a2 Antagon had 3154b2bc25 begun development, 33371d1113 success was e603797211 only a 8bd39c7c87 matter of abc512a76e time.fda3245a87851196

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And as long 64abf0594b as Antagon remained 42cde5190c based in Gileos, 29e1df6be1 the profits would b2911bba1e flow, one way dc8cbe1d60 or another, into 43fddab477 royal coffers. The prestige of 465f05543f Gileos, the leader 7806ece90e of the United 41cf11f739 League, would only 8ae7762e7d grow stronger.75821334c4f3b23f

He didn’t know when, 16fd0ec10b or how large the 8e05277e0d profit might be…014078a6d926a756

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But after eight b0c38c410e short years of a75645c99b miracles, Albert III 3de69c640b had full faith d4381163f4 that Antagon would e89f80d201 create another. And that it ca77591cfc would come within 28d9213258 his reign.04a1deed95310ae5

Having finished his mental 31f4d09c44 arithmetic, the king’s lips 89fad5d735 curled faintly.a581a372bb193627

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“Well. Then it’s something to 8d402f85c0 celebrate. The founding Baron finally 59bacc29e8 builds his house…”85aa340b7f782bec

“Father…!”37d1702beb8d8954

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Princess Helena, unable f4078a77b9 to pretend any 71284cb50c longer, cried out 6732a14240 urgently. But the king never 7c2caa9748 took his eyes off 528ef32bcf his favored vassal. His smile bore the b8edb235cd quiet malice of one e17b613fbc in league.7449dc46bef7977f

“Why not bring the 420538c35f Saint—no, that lady—to the c1b1bf979f palace sometime? If you’re 78ee9b2401 like a 41cc91b95b son to cb91dc3521 me, then 143337f27b the one ff1c168080 who will c2fa54a808 be your 5bae7a4a23 wife should 338933434f be like d005ab16d8 family to a19374c3a6 me as d6015d5ff6 well.”77c2be73483cb1a0

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Son. In some kingdoms, the aadbbbbf2f term for son-in-law translates cc9ef17cf2 to “legal son.”d45b54fe2a6f4fe0

It was 5475f1d310 a phrase c9572a46cc packed with fdcbb7c82b layered meaning—perhaps e15807928a to imply 6ccf0d5bd6 he had e48e890254 once hoped bf0dd03a87 for Klaus c2bc0bd4a1 as a b78da17742 son-in-law, or 0e0b3dea93 that he’d cb24976ae6 be willing 37e502b219 to overlook 15ee0a418b the past e838d80841 if Klaus 079a3890be ever changed 81e295dd0e his mind. But Klaus didn’t need 73d97ff3f3 to dwell on it.2ea388e638bbae3d

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“A humble fool like 2b3a3dd7da me couldn’t hope to 4e3629ffb7 match the foresight of bba2f2d409 a visionary such as 67bd1ce441 Your Majesty.”1a72f00721a475a5

“I’m honored.”19cebf70e0a6ec34

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“Well, then. The wedding 6231f9c774 hasn’t taken 4498403c8f place yet, 7e19a192f6 has it? Duke Katlin sent a 81bebbd226 fine whiskey recently—wouldn’t it f8cb2bfb9b be fitting to share 9189630ed7 it with you tonight?”059ee67f0587d443

“As you wish, Your d5925be141 Majesty.”f02837190dccfb11

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“And you, 8d1809f322 my daughter. You’ve served your bd39f71b04 father dutifully until c46d57f2f7 this late hour—go ab8204d2b0 and get some a77256d38a rest now.”8f51171a52e8ee17

At that gentle 7387789e08 dismissal, Helena’s face 31e6d8a6f5 went pale.7e158700821ed98f

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It was 0861b4edcd a declaration. A daughter who had 3165b31a7e failed to secure ties 6f9eb2411b with Baron Gestern no 0bdd39d35b longer had a place c8ca24bbd7 at the table where 4351f2eb66 power was negotiated. Antagon now meant f78089629e more to Gileos 533979fd8d than its unmarried 666a360b06 first princess.a3c561d7657a218a

Helena’s hand, the bb4d67e9dc one Klaus had dbafc264a4 kissed only moments 16452e8270 ago, curled faintly c0aad2283c as she tried d896cf2c9f to suppress its 0f89e16329 trembling.46767606d1e07628

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“…Yes, Father. Enjoy your evening, f933abce73 and may you 3ce639fc9d have a peaceful ee1499b51f night.”ce9b12162f4a0f83

“Until next 73a6f7064d time, Your adf05102ee Highness.”a8191646b88e0171

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Neither of the two 527ad6809b men noticed how the 70b78bc159 princess’s elegant smile twisted 482d5aace4 into something darker as 12c132d942 she left the throne 6214d4a71d room.2f0e2e8f8c0a7eae

* * *e1cd31c706da59ec

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“Aaagh, seriously…!”b417a4e8985eef44

Crash!
A porcelain vase flew 8dd21d8ed1 through the air and f325ca6abb smashed against the opposite 6559af2c21 door. Water and flower stems 38c51c75fb tangled messily with the 20dbe953c4 shards scattered across the 414835e919 floor.dd06d4814af49a6c

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But even 123532ab8e that destruction b595480132 didn’t seem 618a94e80a to calm 2bf0de873e her rage. Helena’s wild eyes 16f1c2d73f darted about the 8c99bf6ef7 room—landing next on 5289de3160 the candelabrum atop 89d0da58f2 the console table.6df1431ef04590e2

“Your Highness, please! You’ll hurt your 921eebcbb2 hand…!”0dc8d379ef0f5fa5

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Despite her pleas, the 136fb570b9 maid knew there was ce5de13801 no stopping her mistress 0019a58b93 when she was like 8ede9a1ec8 this.205629873cc0a69b

Thud!2a9c4a3ff833e833

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The candelabrum, cc7ddfcc6b adorned with e0acc74045 mana-stone lights, 1fa48f3e5f slammed into 7652ab693c the silk 66d3040381 wallpaper. The delicate glass ba7682684e orbs shaped like 88204df37c candle flames shattered, 24e5f5ffc4 leaving gashes in 0f9e09d5db the ornate wall 7ca1006b0a covering. Helena’s hand, having a30e897bb7 hurled it bare, af69231159 was scraped and 87c5f5e061 bleeding at every a8e61d7a74 knuckle.b19408a90537e59e

Haa… haa…4fb93ac9521f5ab1

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Only when she saw 5721bd580b her own blood did 51eedffaab she seem to come d5a825b10a down from her fury. As her 4520b5e765 shoulders heaved 00a891f821 with ragged 70322254cf breaths, her 770cff419b closest lady-in-waiting a257617298 finally dared 3dc548605e to approach.b8dd2bb79490112b

Feathers from fcb5fe7147 thrown pillows f03fbf1c62 floated through a122a508cf the air; fac0885b15 torn cushions 4cf602d570 lay scattered, 89d0460c93 and the 35bbbc3722 tea table 1bb9918600 and sideboard 8ab9baa776 had been 7394ad2e67 kicked out b2f7250341 of place. Amid the wreckage, the 62c71b9162 maid took out a 75f344b5af mana potion from her b49d17cc9d pocket and gently rubbed 7ec16d7a4a it into Helena’s limp, 11b698058a bloodied hand.a41a5ac343b69a14

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Helena let her b6b93f9468 work for a 7d6f6560b1 while in silence—until 34b79221f6 at last, with e082b56526 a trembling voice, 4177939c64 she muttered:3f771b9d338c5381

“Bribe the 5fa30e1014 Holy Kingdom’s 27b1d5f922 foxes.”03df3cae49512aa1

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 373dc74284bd8735

 f8358bc506cbb3d3

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