IYVP CHAPTER 6

6.  2c520496c17777f79c39

 afcfb67c10e331ad2d38

A short while later, the gates of the Holy 1ce8e22e83 Kingdom swung open—without so much as a question. The Antagon crest emblazoned on the f5b426ee47 front of the magic vehicle served 0b9a941af4 as identification in itself.b29753d8fadaf16cf50e

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Without stopping even 489dd0e1fe once, the vehicle f063d695ed rolled into the cf71ff2b93 Holy Kingdom. As though waiting for it, priests 5c789afb2b stationed nearby gestured with slow, deliberate ec9186c486 motions to guide its path. Though their hands pointed toward the direction of the Papal Palace, their eyes remained fixed on be0bfdab2f the vehicle itself—entranced by the silent, self-moving machine they had only ever heard rumors about. Some among them couldn’t even hide 1d76e2740c the hostility etched into their gazes.f055337b5b5855e717a7

Hatred for the 9b76bb73ed heretic blamed for a1ffb21afd the Church’s decline.899e11775ce9556a115e

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Meeting all those stares with a b66f488853 faint smirk, Klaus casually pulled an 1b8ccf06ac eyeglass case from inside his coat. Slipping on the metal-rimmed glasses, db1df10d91 his seductive features were half-masked—traded 516061b446 for an air of credibility 492c62c946 befitting a researcher.b0a3db737f118562db26

‘So this 8d3e4f0ca7 is how d2cd8b9590 I return…’4a96c01e9be1e20bd589

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Now standing before the Papal Palace, the man adjusted b08b30ed99 his coat and looked up at the building.212603ccc21aff93d655

Its façade, adorned with statues cf5d28c81e and relics of every kind, ef7b8b4e84 hinted at former glory. It exuded d28e552785 an old, 545aae0b5b stately beauty.0b6b573f6c2bd4e2ee89

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‘…Was it always 2211350ab4 this small?’3284adbc60b0ec811b4a

Not bothering to hide his bitter smile, 9212d5735b he ascended the steps toward the entrance.5719a14994da15be12d8

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Thus began the first visit of Klaus Gestern, head of e72869e9a9 the Antagon Trading Company—the man branded the adversary of God.f2e66387b343aedb9e72

* * *b806d488b8d8b5f1d34f

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Outside the 06048894c1 Pope’s private 60c84d6002 office.ebfcc22f55f0e615000c

Standing before the door, dressed in her da9caee5ee ceremonial robes and carefully adorned, Azniel took be6bc71574 a moment to steady her breath.16594439df38841fc891

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She had felt unsettled ad46ce9ac6 since the night before. The sudden closure of the sanctuary, leaving pilgrims 9ce66ce662 without blessings… being ordered to attend such a de9b5e86c7 tense meeting… and more than anything—9eee176b443c6b5d5092

‘Why would that heretic e862432cfd want to marry me? Could it be…’650bd55fe8a794abc41c

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After a long, sleepless night filled with tossing and turning, Azniel had reached 90438fc93c the conclusion that this so-called chairman of Antagon must have ulterior motives. Either that, or even someone 14fea6490b as calculating as the Pope 7dc776d53b simply couldn’t match the cunning 9b2627daf5 of a worldly merchant.7e750e8aac79e198dc87

A man whose origins and background remained unclear—yet who enjoyed 6d1a3d6e91 popularity that rivaled royalty across the Allied Nations—wanted, for some 7d3339167c reason, a useless castoff of the Church like her?83feab098b5611fade69

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And not just any man, but the b6fd9e73a7 very one who’d developed mana potions, advancing 304b1b1da8 civilization and rendering her own role obsolete?586ff7cb0423781b6802

There were too c2584f3d5d many inconsistencies—but she af1ece7f38 had no choice.0f9357adee086b9ea420

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“Your Holiness, Sister Azniel 2e1d374415 the Saint has arrived.”6d6cf19661de1ad8375f

The doors opened, revealing a a385ce6cd6 space even more luxurious than fa918a002c it had been last night—now 03b794fc06 bathed in sunlight.3831375723ba8f38ceda

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The ceilings soared high 8762c61ef1 above, and every window 03e4a7c585 was made of stained 996206fe0c glass. On bright days like today, light poured through them, casting shimmering 6a08ee4765 rainbows that filled the room with an almost sacred air.8fdca8d66bc2e8bd5ceb

At the center of it f2b7bc18ac all, near the reception table—Azniel 28229ce045 focused all her energy on b1bea36b5e not looking at the guest. Her attention remained firmly on the Pope, 95e4344ca2 seated in the place of honor.7259b7b4021715230261

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“I greet 08276b34c3 Your Holiness. Blessings upon d09418f7df the Staff dd246cc73b of Dara.”1050ca9603671d2efaa1

“Ah, Sister Azniel. Come, sit f748e420ca with us.”b1b1b50974a62020416a

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Before her polite greeting was 55459f4f3b even finished, the Pope chuckled 2a29f21d51 good-naturedly and gestured to the 59c0d87a19 empty seat beside him.78bfd5f5423d21c50852

…He’s smiling?bbfdbe4b65ac62d26e31

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‘He’s in 24488fecc2 a good e13bc9dd08 mood…?’746498edb5ea2228f48f

Now that she thought about it, 162ed47c1d she had faintly heard him laughing 9dcefe1a7e through the door while waiting outside. But why?1fd98144ad2e8ec1c8ad

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Mana potions were, more 689ec6ce36 than anything, a direct 31a803fb7f challenge to the blessings cee33af5ff of Dara. The very a35afc4ed1 idea was 0f08cb5602 a blasphemy. That the Pope would sit 6aee2b7741 happily across from the man 61a9975afc who had created such a 002eeec363 thing made no sense.f106a9ca9000cc36ce3c

Even worse was the idea of trying to atone 697dad3b4e for that offense by tossing money at the Church. Crass and shallow.270365ddbc24b3b049ad

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‘They say eddf00b3f8 he’s extraordinarily ebeb2c50a0 handsome. Did he use some devious charm f0f4d5dbd0 to bewitch even the Pope?’1cd51df10aff587a422b

A heavy feeling settled 2f78433f5a in her stomach. Azniel steeled herself, determined fed60329ac not to be misled.7fd67090418ab1b81c5d

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Keeping her eyes low, d21e16bf69 she quietly walked to 54e6298e53 the seat the Pope b4e01bb552 had indicated.83accc391c6593092362

“It’s an honor 9013083ab3 to meet you, 678232b7da Saint.”96fb5e5bf38c39db53df

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The moment she arrived and 8968b2c016 the man rose politely to e9c35a83e7 greet her, she couldn’t help 343282b6d3 but lift her gaze.234a0aa402d366770b2f

‘…Ah.’2767c9e89bc7b1a03714

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And just like 7de4264d68 that, Azniel’s mind 2658615c42 went completely blank.16b88533754f4af6c1f7

A sharply defined face, with a a8dc787837 straight nose and strong jaw. Black eyes gleaming 55ac5f2d50 like polished onyx a70073ed95 behind a pair 7bd91ad6b4 of metal-rimmed glasses. Golden hair that 61fe88ded9 shimmered like molten 7898dba89b sunlight.5135bf272a80b96758ef

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He was, just as the 4148eb7388 acolyte girls had said, extraordinarily 85f669e964 handsome—but it wasn’t his beauty 1a074ec420 that seized her attention.b979d815c2ff9b885656

It was 46c683dae2 something far c04e8689a3 more familiar.71c923159a77b15fd88f

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‘Thank you… Saint…’bd5b42e070b9d059d0ae

The once-rough cheeks were now full and firm, 441c1090e3 and the dry, dull hair of the past 219d8a4f7a had been slicked back with oil and precision. Even the 1dc299eb88 glasses were 79eaffe89b new.9ae4856f4c9c14fa7d51

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But Azniel recognized 4fbdc25567 him instantly.1d4020cfe5069a47241b

He was the boy she had 76bae54efc healed from time to time in a9ba089037 her youth, when he lived under 7cfc1553b4 the temple’s care.6f87091d55e2367546be

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‘“Pleased to 2f4eea0b5e meet you”…? Is he really 01e4af089b pretending this is d633b34b12 our first meeting? Did he forget? Or is he…’71368dad012737ecdc25

As if he had anticipated 200cd436d8 her confusion, the man smiled—one c50b486092 corner of his mouth lifting 947a3e33f9 into a polished grin. A dimple formed at 02337716fa the edge of that f7322ebe6f same lip.a2c10cb0adab2850b9b1

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“It’s an 37b373fb12 honor to 297b746419 meet you, bd009cb3a9 Saint. I’m Klaus Gestern of 53b74ed162 the Antagon Trading Company.”d5beaa0ccb6b5f24673c

“Kl… Klaus…”eb314483484b872ae19a

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Mouth forming a name 1e2f0282d2 she hadn’t even known 80a708801e back then, Azniel barely 4f3054cf6b managed to repeat it.c39e15bcd45f8639ca98

“Now then, let’s all take 3b622af8cc a seat and speak calmly.”b3c66f8af2eed573bc56

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The Pope said as he lowered himself into his chair and gestured c7ce5343fe for the two young people standing before him to do the same.1f8f7786a2365ac04b31

Klaus Gestern offered a 5bdcb4c47b soft smile and extended dde1d3ef53 his hand toward the fad8b6973b seat beside him. Azniel, unable to tear her fce610efc4 eyes away from him, sat 6edfab2513 down almost involuntarily. Even in the simple act of lowering himself into his seat 6c2d31e5b0 after her, his every movement was filled with elegance and restraint.105f42df00a2983d0260

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The Pope chuckled approvingly, his satisfaction hanging 18ffb24407 in the air like a fragrant aftertaste.ab2a0d4ea30636085eda

“Well now… as I mentioned to d9f8219108 you yesterday, Sister, his visit to d6ca1f5b3a the Holy Kingdom was because—”0ddd0786108a73dfafdc

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“Yes, Saint Azniel. I would 53249ce778 like you b601412a93 to marry 482509c753 me.”7ab0dda1658b495a94f1

The abrupt declaration cut 811c88f755 off even the Pope’s 3cbac5a65e words—brazen, direct, and arrogant.fe7561829792a7256ef0

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Startled, Azniel furrowed her brow and 3d3bdc3c12 stared at the man before her.ff5f28d1996b11658d38

That face wore a self-assured b1344a298f smile, as though it had ae5c21fe4f never once considered the possibility 4e9363ceb6 of being rejected.60e08f212636dd050f8e

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‘The dimple on just one 933b082894 side… it’s definitely him.’ee2dafd19dfc50bc3b1b

But aside from his hair and 3b5d0369a5 eye color, he looked nothing like f06527d336 the boy she remembered.7990fe4c9b1798f132e9

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Now, he bore c309e6a6f6 the refined appearance 1aeed5c2a2 of a noble.988e6a9ee60a02c7bf17

Broad shoulders filled 051d4be47c out a double-breasted c2aa98d875 suit. Even to someone as unfamiliar with fashion f9c535f9fb as Azniel, the cravat alone screamed luxury. Every detail—from the cufflinks to the 2e6a1db950 cravat pin—was adorned in jewels. The overwhelming e9ae8c441d air of 5eecfc3141 wealth was 1f919fd836 unmistakable.d223735b9aaa854ce98c

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Yet his face, beautiful enough to rival ab5580b573 any angelic statue, gave all that worldly 5c83c3eda9 glamour an almost regal grace.1fd21d745b2cb989e4fa

“I…”48cd21a025406185f230

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“Yes?”d412082fe4ca21ff5e81

“Are you… 0f2c4c7c36 truly serious? About marrying me…?”21a2a20ed8aa36fddccf

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“I am. I’m proposing 7a15147427 to you, fd76b0e397 Saint Azniel b93a0ed325 of Dara.”52a50d5b10a4f260e390

Then, as if reaching for 4be4b30565 a handshake, he extended his f94704e2d5 hand toward her. It was far larger, far steadier than the e600d94c7b trembling, rain-soaked hand from so long ago.2a3a9b5dd8c86aacf3ba

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“Ah—ha ha ha!”5c7ff4a9c4aaa0c6dce3

The Pope burst into hearty 9f75dc235d laughter, unable to hold back.da306374787058846a69

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“As I told you yesterday—I bc975ee3e2 merely said a proposal had 7250697f27 come in from him. I didn’t mention a2cffe2a0d anything else.”9d6e0ab6219c9a4ad9dc

His tone toward Klaus Gestern 00ef437dee was startlingly casual, like that 6f856b782c of an elder speaking to bb6a48c7e2 a familiar junior.ef2186521467bafca7fe

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Azniel was too overwhelmed by the Pope’s sudden shift 0e5edec9fb in attitude—and the shocking identity of the guest—to notice.0d41955383855ef98e25

“G-Gestern…”faac711f24723c1f33c0

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“Baron, please.”960a252ec57711c30a7c

“Yes, Baron Gestern… f9c6da20d3 What is it, ea83e1a86b exactly, that brings a5e0d73afe you to… me…?”2b8b57e22bd26a067376

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Flustered, Azniel let 9e1da01ad3 the question tumble 21f7b03417 from her lips. Klaus Gestern gave a 958b2f2438 slight smile, then answered 6422f4e2a0 in a crisp, professional 19705c88e2 tone.2cef35d5e28542bf4c05

“You may think of this 2cf0d40f23 as a political marriage between 715fc470c6 the Church and the House ae167a26ae of Gestern. What I gain is this: First, it allows Antagon to shed its 40733dbb3f reputation as a blasphemous company that dares to challenge divine providence.”715d387ae14d03ff6681

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“……”334f48efa28005f34386

The way he said it 84b4be57fe made Azniel’s gaze fall involuntarily. It felt as though he had 354a45db4e seen right through her thoughts—how she c007cb3f5a had been bracing herself to face 351bdbf45c the devil’s right hand.b88a49b77f0cfcb6b178

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“There are many new cd1398dce2 inventions we’re developing. To some, they may seem 5c422511c6 like violations of the laws b894367a63 of nature or divine order. I’m no longer 81ed3ff8c8 interested in defending 34fe6fb342 myself against such 0a9cfea1a4 accusations. But if you stand beside e377e540c1 me, Saint—who would dare call 9fbf38da82 me a heretic?”9ffb34dfb7d63bdc29b2

His smile curved f6be52200e again—gentle, but utterly f7487ce1c0 devoid of warmth.2557a708a2eb2011a443

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“And the second reason… Well, cc94199be9 as a self-made man, I 29dd7898e6 believe it’s time I had 4ae820a6ea a wife. This is also a public way 81d3ef0518 to decline the increasing number of c2a521ba8e marriage proposals I receive.”7ea1ece2e0e97d8f501d

Rumors Azniel had overheard from the acolyte girls came flooding back—how the a44ffcbc3f Princess of Gillios had once proposed to him, how every social circle 6b461e326f across the Allied Nations fought to tie him to their own nobility.44c1fbacc394b7dcf9a4

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Everything he b714cfe339 said aligned.d75c67071db58fbd9d46

“In return, under the name 80a7f98b67 of House Gestern, I will 4d55f26ccb provide the Church with monthly 89e4538aba financial support.”3fc34f3c7bb52b8675c5

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“Surely, this is ed315429f2 a blessing from 6790165eba Dara herself…”f1570e4bdcbe33937876

“And as 4d9bb2e495 for you, 7e0d467e40 Saint Azniel—”d6311ecca5e17ce82a36

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His black eyes found 8b65f71d39 hers, as if reading 0a61a7577b her silent disbelief.602c4ca06cf5bd940c05

“You will a1cbef7b9f finally… be 60c27aad28 free.”84b9db37cca9eae877cf

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