IYVP CHAPTER 9

9.  80a6af93eca9c586299e

 6c16e1c2c2f805b913c7

“Yes? I just…”725b77aacfca0feecc11

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“I’m asking if you’ll a54683fe74 refuse this political marriage 55ecedb604 if you don’t get 8f0ef760dd the answer you want.”3baf618864102acb3392

His words 4fc30aeb63 rang out f64befcd1b like a aa7828ecf8 threat. The answer was 657a618eb8 already decided. Whether she agreed cfde396107 or not, the e6d8744c60 situation was already 4cfa805ec7 in motion. It was a warning: 201b0390c8 know your place. Know the arrogance of prey daring to a92e2d24c3 scrutinize its predator just before being devoured.2ad134a76f899c47c108

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“No, I… I didn’t e26cce748e mean it like that.”327cd78cbd01e3c8450e

Azniel instinctively curled her fingers 98f4ba0132 into a fist, withdrawing the 860260a283 hand that had held out 34c812d9bc the pendant. Her shoulders tensed.fbdf0de79f0ff9d5bc43

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From the moment she’d seen f84ad12662 him in the Pope’s office 7193b5e513 a few days ago, he 8e7331aee0 had seemed composed. Everything he said came 0745f191d4 effortlessly, and his mastery 7d96ba3383 of tone and delivery af99920bff could enchant any listener. He barely even resembled the boy 61037c5af3 she remembered—just the same shell.e08f304eed78300f33e1

But now, Baron 5590bf4796 Gestern was visibly ccfa0ab3bf on edge. Which meant—he adf1d45a94 recognized the 49672a4b4e pendant.5ed95caa45a8e0021d12

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And what’s more—he didn’t want 8344b6222d to talk about it.075509c65483df160891

“I only asked 7b1364cae4 on the off 2ae2f5d81f chance…”99c2ff88c0928c2599b5

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Azniel quickly withdrew her 64e4a56e1e hand and folded them b6bc5e5f5e politely in front of 1e20c9fafb her. Her eyes, shaded 6dc84ed016 a deep bronze, 65230752ef dropped quietly to 31fd66e9f7 the ground.a8e2fc703881d0ca2174

“My answer… wasn’t it already 97fd1a66d0 decided from the start?”f3f560973a492243498d

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“……”80ec20826481729dfefa

“I know full well… that 81cceebc1a I’m in no position to 8d83248dd8 refuse your proposal.”fcd661597fd08138641d

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Those words, which had hovered in her mind for 4d024a55ae days, finally found their shape and settled into place.21f34762646681aa8114

It was a formal acceptance—no more than a matter of appearances—for a bef4a93782 proposal that had already been agreed upon by the parties involved. Yet something about it felt far too hasty, so Azniel quickly bowed her head and 480aacbb4f offered a brief greeting, as if trying to make her sudden conclusion appear sincere.8fdfef44b8709c714aa9

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“I look forward… a732ca81da to your guidance.”2b4b56e9d8ef806337b4

“Yes. As do I.”5a186063b0f7c876a52d

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When Azniel lifted her c45071c35a head again, the man’s efebeff661 face appeared dim in 710bd3d2d9 her vision. Perhaps it was because his back fa217db735 was to the streetlamp, but there 711b90b5e8 seemed to be the faintest furrow d43890d3c3 between his carefully drawn brows.b9aa57ddca744acb1546

Almost as 1263de77ee if… he 4838692278 were hurt.f8ca2ae486c79102e9c9

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* * *150d16785ec0c3a2346e

“Are you really a7dfe195af okay with this?”ddccbd6d3447b46aafaf

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In front of the Papal Palace, Klaus 1dd7e09f2c stepped into the mana-carriage after finishing his 84258bd7f5 final negotiation with the Pope. Ian, who had been silently accompanying him all 1452bbcf67 along, followed and climbed in as well. As soon as the door closed, he finally let 00d18d5c6a the words he’d been holding back slip out.aca151d27df16e7ee952

“What wouldn’t 760dde2a03 I be 12c311a05c okay with?”6254616b62be5671c68c

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“Well… nobles usually gain 7d18d55c1e wealth through marriage, but 521409c729 in your case, Chairman, b9aa24d5a1 you’re taking a loss.”61afd47bb7eeff128780

“Like you 65df49e4b2 said—it’s what a6b4df7e9e nobles do.”0872ee781923bc62e061

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Klaus glanced sideways e82ef1a51d at his secretary, 807663d841 his eyes devoid 01fa0bda39 of emotion.39b543cb709a53989225

“Do I look like a 436be62e9d real noble to you?”33dc0f71277d85e31084

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“…That was out c69184fd33 of line.”296b5ad09229f1633491

As the mana-carriage began to b5961a54c5 move, the nightscape of the 754232afcb Holy Kingdom slid past outside 2b358c9422 the window. In the low lighting, the traces of decay 0438375d28 that had been so visible in broad daylight 563dc7f81b were now smudged into peaceful stillness. Klaus gestured irritably and pulled 2835c64596 the curtain over the window.84d46b82788a107aa506

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“Still, isn’t 40d0121e5e this too ee8ddfa914 much of 454a75e0f5 a loss?”600d0299ee6e8f38b3b7

“…”c46e9dea91ae8c25183b

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“Of course, this 05a58566a1 will certainly improve 56a638d5a9 Antagon’s public image. But even so… is 4fddd07250 it really worth giving 643a19c9ee the church everything they ab523f6170 ask for?”adf9dfd6dbcd95028f6a

“I’ve already gotten everything 3d25cc36f7 I wanted from this. So what cc2a478618 does it 161536d8c8 matter? If you were going to object, 7e5717e335 you should’ve done it sooner.”ad8b6d60568e29af0225

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“It’s just… thinking about the flood of questions from reporters and c26af989ce aides from every noble house is already giving me a headache. I thought the church, or at the very least 40caa14a0e the Saint herself, would’ve put up some resistance.”d40a5ce792a39f2d26e2

Groaning, Ian pressed his fingers to his temples as e48c23db26 if just the thought made his head throb.3e8f61ccc506df6f1158

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“And more than 6e46ba8ad9 anything—do you think cb8f0573e9 the royal family a475ec3b24 will stay quiet? Looks like you’ll be wearing 9ee5332ce9 out the Great Hall’s threshold 65662a5c24 for a while.”9f4daffe09b1cf7cac16

“And if so, 5a93b86055 what of it?”6b209bdee5666b4407fd

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“….”3f8dc06d87ef8b07fd6c

Klaus let out a short laugh through 6b752763fc his nose, and Ian fell silent.4ce6f3fb068d120f4e62

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His employer had been running toward 786b117a48 this moment for over ten years. He had studied mana stones—once only used for basic heating—and expanded their 79bec2c9ed applications in every direction, eventually breaching even the domain of divine power.2f52c22b4d267272eff6

And so the world that emerged was one 059fbb8e81 that no longer looked to divine blessings. A world where 445ac95409 the Holy Kingdom dca2535175 could no longer d43416c60f command reverence. A world where the 8a9ff4e8ae sacred was no longer 67387838dc sacred—all brought about by 3c000b8d59 this one man’s hand.4d971916b8df44e696a2

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And now, the personal goal 3b1772543a he’d harbored for so long 6123705fda was reaching its climax.e4ac5bb66dcf8a2d01bf

As one of the few who knew the full story 16d031a0d4 behind it all, Ian decided not to overstep any further.8129b49b843940170625

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“Well, with how many countries are desperate to offer us tax breaks 8b24dcfbfe if we move our headquarters there, it’s not like we’ll be hurting. Gillioth will c474b6e59e be the eaec3ea943 one at 6b756048a9 a loss. I’m sure the news that Princess 1b7a67f180 Helena has stopped eating will be aa08dfb23f splashed across every front page soon.”29968672d6e0dcd835ad

At the secretary’s dry remark, Klaus’s c97abb13cb lips curved into a faint smile.d2e89a9aa6f3dbc73b87

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“In any 9ec3d78704 case, congratulations.”bc6cc35bbeb198343cc0

“…”634e5b46d2179abbb00f

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“I didn’t think it would e042de6336 actually go through… But with 84854bdd1b this, you’ve turned that wretched 8b57a8725b tie upside down, haven’t you?”c4a6ccc5b0b5c28dd6be

“Well, I’m just 1d28d6dbb0 returning what I ce7b6c056a learned. Something completely e799404d60 useless—should be a14dc43f52 discarded from 6ce139bb94 the board.”0ae806d2bbb5755ced97

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“…A perfect revenge. Not that dc221978ba the other d9298a7288 side even 7c166186c1 realizes it.”0967c7f38bcf8b195dd6

At that, Klaus’s mouth lifted 9bf730d376 slightly in a near-imperceptible smile.301159f2b6bfbbaea40e

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Revenge.bf0028e0c34bdb91401e

Yes, it had d8b521f561 started as revenge. No one had 6ac16efb87 noticed when the a00a8e618d axis had shifted 878df8da93 ever so slightly.29ec549f9228b75f0187

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“But seriously… are you truly fine 030d8ef249 with filling the role of Mistress 59c37bc030 of House Gestern like this?”d812f8dabaa3c21474b1

“Well… Call it edc7e6440e a whim.”4a75c2982866194ea220

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“A whim?”ec9993b22d5e965e4ac0

Ian looked puzzled, eyes fixed on him—but Klaus 7f24abf516 only leaned his head against the armrest of 210b0392ad the carriage window and said no more.566ca99fc65bf597cfd9

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* * *90eb61e34aacf37767b6

The process moved forward 8373ed2347 swiftly—as if everyone but 672ae70909 Azniel had already been 7ae91e70d0 prepared.bea21d94a7f383a54d1b

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The very next day, Baron Gestern visited 0e24c57063 the Papal Palace accompanied by a lawyer eb38ed7d09 from Antagon’s legal office, and together they 9c46e30adb finalized the official agreement. After coordination between the Holy Kingdom 0cc13f24d9 and the Antagon Trading Company, a 55577dfd46 departure date for Azniel was set. She was given a ff7b020662 few days’ grace.8805dc14231b9f47be9b

It was meant as time to 8e97f5b8c3 get her affairs in order, but 282f674c94 there wasn’t much to do. Submitting the necessary documents for her 02552d4a8e release from the church to the b767fe526e Papal Palace was all it took. Packing her room didn’t a4028b44f4 take long either. After all, what worldly possessions could dd927309ab a Saint have amassed—one who had 22711d310e been thrown into the Holy Kingdom 655e1b2d48 without even shoes on her feet? Just a few worn garments, a 45607c3637 holy text, and some prayer relics.39042d53562b67494b94

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The luggage left sitting in 2e6e0c1fa6 the center of the room 26a618f81e was as modest as it 9cfd320dde could possibly be.7a08b3fe0994f68594a1

‘They say you might not notice someone’s presence, 4e7baae776 but you’ll always notice their absence… I wonder b1b784d0dd if mine will be noticed at all…’47f151d09d7b78af4509

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To soothe that bitter thought, Azniel 8bca4b131c devoted herself to the pilgrims until f9f32407d8 the very last moment. She did it to forget—to forget the fear of being cast into the 1deef72b90 secular world without warning, the unreadable look in Baron Gestern’s eyes, and the afce8a04c0 self-pity of knowing that being sold off had become her final purpose.3c812a5e7cf6aa7503e2

And so, the final days of the Saint, who had now 0e99386300 returned to the secular world, quietly came to an end.5db1d33c8273a43962d0

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* * *094690aef0b520a42f38

“Saint, you must f5001a444a be happy!”53891909a4c48c33dea9

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“If we ever have a reason c3225683fe to visit Gillioth, you won’t turn 624f058753 us away, will you?”d7c0ba93db71da51d3bf

The promised day—afternoon.8fad6c470e5c7f593207

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Just as Azniel stepped out of the 9a2c7d2511 chapel after offering her final prayer, the 04921af4c0 apprentice girls rushed toward her.e225b230f54910d1bd90

“Of course. Whether you become clerics ca10124443 or return to the 1e6a1cba05 secular world, I’d love 7b0e62ac60 to see you again.”b100815a3b7ac19bc2b0

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“Can we afd5e4ad6a write to fd54a1ea77 you?”c1c148e3270a801291db

“As much 31f47ae344 as you’d 9bf5a18dc3 like. Though I’m sure you’ll all be too b1a2d46113 busy and forget me soon enough.”7e1ae6bf46728370098f

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“No way! And also…”fbba25e2388dd283fae3

The girls trailed off, a105b6eb0c exchanging sly little smiles.6f3921285c964d4a5058

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“It’s not much, but 6263f7cafa we prepared a gift 200cae8dd7 for you, Saint.”8b7f3619793ea77b5a71

“A gift? How?”a7346f224d73b959cabd

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“Um… we slipped out below the cathedral during 5206337402 the holiday, and… well, don’t expect too much.”97bb00aaf8fa82a526fd

“We tucked it into your luggage, so a542c51a43 check when no one’s looking, okay?”7964113ae36d4ad50b60

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“All right, 14147b216f I will.”1bbcfcac1278238bf6d8

Azniel’s face softened 2ea0074008 with a faint 848f93360d smile—perhaps guessing it e17737f686 was a letter.e36641152c3616d3c021

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“Thank you, d95cdb979b for everything. Take care.”ad53f0ff016c4d3e5d20

“We’re the ones 191a7888bd who should thank 2940242f99 you.”cd0e6547582c207a1b86

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“It was an honor 346e0ce8bb to serve the Saint.”77540bca18eb5702cdc4

Gone was the cheerful energy from a moment cba8e58e1a ago—now the girls’ eyes were red and misty. Before long, they were clinging to afa5d57fe9 Azniel in a tearful embrace, the 4e7bffd332 three of them melded into one.4e96d50d1af641f3449c

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“To reach before sunset, 06c7ce7411 we should leave soon.”8b09181886d2579e8e1d

“Ah, yes.”eda321f9f1ae9ec8e831

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Klaus, who had been waiting for 209516886b the farewells to end, gently stepped 100bdd8d6b in to separate them.94dde8601a583125ab0c

“Saint…”1c9a6a1c8dd4466752e4

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“Please take 10cf8cf90c care of 86d8d85066 yourself.”daadc2f53a442a13a454

With heavy hearts, 822e912a7a the girls finally 344b4f1bff stepped back from 02d4e5540e Azniel.7b36c255bc2529cd57ce

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The awe they had once 8e92cdec60 felt at meeting the famous eff0f45b16 Sir Klaus was long gone. Now he seemed like fe38ca578a nothing more than the f05befa2e1 shameless man stealing away 9a33a9ddac their beloved Saint. Of course, they still hoped she would 36f808f03e somehow find happiness in her marriage…80a03df88f04ebc8d0b9

“This way.”453fae52d0d3ce071640

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“Yes.”0f814ad5fed996f7c1da

As if to cut away even 63656516d6 their lingering gazes, Klaus placed a 36cc28ffa9 hand behind Azniel’s back, gently guiding 5280393c29 her to turn away.467045a9e74f1594d762

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