In Your Vulgar Paradise - Chapter 9
“A man so noble in appearance that he could rival the angelic statues of Artelo? Once you see him, his beauty is unforgettable.”
“That’s what the poet Giorgio said. His golden hair shines as dazzlingly as the sun in the sky, and his pitch-black eyes seem to absorb all the eternal truths. Hmm…”
“He’s so handsome that even Princess of Gilios fell in love at first sight and proposed a royal marriage.”
“But he’s more famous for rejecting the proposal.”
The girls, eager to engage with the saint, started chatting excitedly about the upcoming visit of the famous person.
“So, Saint, please confirm if he’s really that handsome when you see him tomorrow, okay?”
“We might be forbidden to go out tomorrow.”
“Alright. I’ll thoroughly examine if the person that Sister Marie and Sister Isha are making all this fuss about is truly remarkable.”
Wow, the girls burst into admiration without any reservation at the saint’s mixed response.
‘This person is so famous…’
Such a person, offering a sum sufficient for the Pope to abandon her, just for a marriage with him?
‘Perhaps, has His Holiness misunderstood his intentions?’
Or maybe there’s more to the agreement that she doesn’t know…
Azniel was well aware of her situation. Among the priests, there were those who married commoners and converted to secular life. But those who had severed ties with the secular world once were not economically attractive as spouses. Therefore, they often entered into marriages as mere formalities with prestigious families or formed families through love marriages with poor commoners.
‘The man known as the director of Antagon, I heard he received a noble title from Gilios for his contributions to pioneering magical engineering…’
In Azniel’s view, an unmarried man with such an impressive background, who had received the favor of a royal family, would be far more eligible for a spouse than herself. So, perhaps he was under some serious misconception…
‘Anyway, blond hair and pitch-black eyes.’
Listening to the girls excitedly gossiping about the famous visitor, Azniel recalled her childhood connection.
‘You will surely become free.’
Azniel’s hand instinctively grasped the pendant hanging around her neck. Having touched it hundreds, maybe thousands, of times, imagining the intricate design on the flat bronze surface wasn’t difficult.
The hurried footsteps, the boy’s trembling hand as he handed her the necklace, and the raindrops falling with the pendant, all flashed in her mind.
When life in the temple felt burdensome, the silent gaze of the skinny boy who treated her not as a saint but as a girl of the same age would come to mind.
‘I wonder how he’s doing.’
The outside world must be challenging for him who grew up in the monastery.
＊＊＊
An elegant magic carriage departed from the vibrant city of Raphen as the morning sun rose.
The destination was the Holy Empire, located on the border with neighboring countries. Unlike in the city where magic carriages were commonplace, the road to the Holy Empire was rarely paved. Feeling the jolts and bumps like riding a horse carriage after a long time, the brown-haired man sighed.
“No matter how you think about it, this is an unfair deal.”
“It’s unfair either way, so let’s call it fair.”
“But, Director didn’t have to step forward and make the proposal yourself…”
“Ian.”
The secretary, who had been grumbling discontentedly, caught his superior’s gaze as he turned his side.
“But…!”
“…”
The man who turned around had firmly closed lips. Ian’s complaints came to a halt, overwhelmed by his surreal and radiant appearance under the morning sun.
“Yes, yes, I’ll stop here…”
Smirking briefly, the man turned his gaze outside the window. Unfamiliar scenery passed by his black eyes. It was natural. After all, it had been more than a decade since he last traversed this road.
‘Let’s see….how ten years have changed things.’
Even in the early morning, the refreshing face showed no signs of fatigue, and the shadow cast through the car window painted an elegant silhouette.
“Well, yes, it was their side that split the goose that lays golden eggs, so it’s unfair to their side.”
“…”
“And Director agrees with that expression too.”
From the beginning, Klaus had chuckled while glancing at the grumbling secretary, who had been dissatisfied with the plan. However, he didn’t necessarily agree with the metaphor of splitting the goose.
Meanwhile, the speed of the magic carriage began to gradually decrease. In the distance, the castle walls came into view, indicating that they had arrived at the Holy Empire.
However, the nearby scenery was peculiar. Hundreds of people were seated in front of tightly closed gates.
Baam–
When the driver pressed the klaxon, the startled crowd hastily moved out of the way.
“They’re gathering from all over the continent for the healing blessing, and it seems they’ve been driven away today.”
“Can’t show anything dirty when a distinguished guest is visiting the Holy Empire, right?”
Klaus chuckled at the secretary’s perpetual discontent since he first planned this.
The man’s brows narrowed, recalling the way the temple dealt with the lowly and inferior.
