Thiendavis – For The Perfect Salvation

Chapter 21: Less Than a Beast

"I want to be someone who can slap a grand noble in the face."

"What on earth are you saying first thing in the morning...?"

When Evie, lying in bed, announced her new aspiration, Diez, who stood in front of the mirror, scolded her with a blurry gaze.

It was a morning that was clear and bright like the sky.

During the night, Evie had been feeling sentimental, and she greeted the early morning with a wide stretch.

After that, she talked to Diez, who was already dressed and fastening his sleeve buttons.

"If I must compromise, then I’d settle for being someone who could kick them in the shins."

"A slap or a kick to the shins is too difficult. You need to get a grip, so go wash your face first."

At Diez’s logical admonition, Evie obediently headed to the washroom.

She deliberately splashed her face with cold water to wash away the remnants of the previous night.

After cleansing herself, she entrusted her wet hair to Diez and spoke.

"Yesterday, the Count revealed his identity first. He didn't seem to have any intention of hiding it."

Whether he thought it pointless to conceal or unnecessary to do so, she didn’t know.

"But doesn’t he seem different from the rumors, the more you see him? That person."

Evie recalled the Count's reputation as she spoke.

According to the social circles, Zion Laurel possessed flawless beauty, dazzling golden hair, and eyes empty.

However, the eyes of the count, Evie had seen were anything but vacant.

They were always filled with persistence, arrogance, and malice.

"Indeed, far from the 'empty' description."

Diez agreed as he dried Evie’s hair with a towel.

"But he should by right be empty. The Laurel Counts have always been like that."

“Even nobility receives such inheritances? Incredible...”

"I don't mean it was inherited."

Diez clarified, as Evie marveled with empty words.

"There are two theories here. One is that they train themselves to empty their minds to receive the blessing of Tardes. Because having personal desires would definitely cause problems for a person with the power to bring down dragons."

"That problem has already arisen."

Pointed out Evie, indicating herself, Evie Ariate, as the one who had been specifically brought down by someone with such power.

Reflecting on the eccentricity of her past, Evie pouted.

"The other theory is it’s a disease caused by the battle with Amanecer."

"Disease?"

"Yes, the extreme shock is believed to damage the mind, and this theory is more widely accepted."

Amanecer, a giant mad dragon as immense as Thienda.

Evie tried to imagine what it would be like to fight such a thing but couldn’t quite grasp it. Instead, she recalled being surrounded by the Children of Tardes a few days prior.

It was terrifying... Evie trembled slightly at the memory of the red dragons who, though friendly, had been mischievous.

Even one of the children lunging could have been life-threatening, let alone Amanecer.

"There's even a story of a watcher who went mad just seeing Amanecer soar. Given that merely watching is that intense, it’s surely hard to keep one's sanity during a fierce battle."

Yet, no matter how Evie looked at it, the Count didn’t appear empty but rather twisted.

Evie sulkily recalled the Count's history.

Zion Laurel had descended to the border as a Count seven years ago when he was just seventeen.

Considering he's now twenty-four, being sent to such a place at that age somewhat explained why his personality had become so warped.

Nodding to herself, Evie noted that as Diez fully dried her hair, he picked up a comb to finish his task.

"Regardless, Zion Laurel is indeed different from the other Counts. His revealed personality and the speed at which he repelled Amanecer demonstrate that."

"Speed?"

"Originally, battles with Amanecer would last several days. The Count also fought for long stretches initially, but over time, the duration decreased, and now he subdues Amanecer in just a few hours. They claim it's stable monitoring in the border, but truly, it’s an extraordinary occurrence."

Either commendable or dangerous.

Different regardless of how one looks at it.

'Could this difference be related to the 'debt' the Count mentioned?'

Thoughtfully, Evie continued.

"The Count told me yesterday. The person he's indebted to is the astrologer I know."

Diez hesitated momentarily in his combing before resuming, seemingly unshocked, as he likely had a similar suspicion upon seeing the Count at their household.

“Can he be trusted then?”

“I don’t know.”

Evie frowned slightly at Diez’s question and spoke as if reading from a script.

"Marquis Montera likes Evie, but doesn't like Evie tangled with the Count Laurel."

It's a natural result of calculations.

Everything changes in value according to the situation.

Just like how sweet candy changes in value once swarmed by ants.

“Then how about the Count who claims he'll look after Evie because of a debt to an astrologer? Will he do the same for an Evie tangled with the Towel Lord?”

Yesterday the Count mentioned the astrologer, asking Evie to recalculate, but Evie believed it was the Count who should be recalculating.

A mighty power-holder could certainly save an ordinary girl in any way, but what if he knew she was in the clutches of the Towel Lord?

Would he still willingly step in to save her then?

“It’s hard to figure.”

“What about discussing this with the Count?”

“It’s dangerous.”

At Diez's firm response, Evie clicked her tongue as if she knew he’d say that.

The Towel Lord Lohika Sedro was a grand noble on par with the Laurels.

Given that they uphold the world through the dragon’s blessing, they surpass other grand nobles, and thus never invade each other's territories.

So, whether the Count would break that taboo just to repay a debt remained doubtful.

Revealing secrets about the underground of Manyanya Tower to a stranger could easily lead to losing her head, saintess or not.

“It would be nice to have a vast scale to weigh each of these problems.”

Evie remarked thoughtfully.

"Just find two plates since there’s already a tower, then."

Diez added humorlessly to Evie’s idle complaint, causing her to give a dry laugh.

"Looks like I should stay a little longer."

Although she needed to move this morning to meet the ally to break the curse, Evie decided to change her plans.

She determined that dealing with the obstacle named Zion Laurel was more urgent.

Thus, Evie resolved to meet once more with the person she had wanted to slap the previous night.

It was another ignoble decision, but Evie accepted it lightly.

After all, Evie Ariate’s less-than-dignified life turned it into a clear luxury.

So Evie decided to struggle again.

---

Diez dismissed the waiting carriage back to the city and sent a letter to the ally.

Thanks to Diez's errand, breakfast was slightly delayed.

Despite that, the Count hadn’t come down by the time breakfast ended, and Mrs. Marso complained about the teacher skipping breakfast after reading late into the night.

Because the Count didn’t come down, Evie left her earmuffs aside, and with Diez nearby, easily dodged Mrs. Marso’s little inquiries.

With that, time flowed peacefully until tea after breakfast – the last peace that could be enjoyed before the new moon.

"But why are you planning to go out on the new moon night? It sounds dangerous."

Mrs. Marso suddenly expressed concern, making Evie feel oddly.

In childhood, Evie also feared and guarded against the new moon night.

However, after spending five years at Thienda, she completely forgot about it.

With Noche's Curse not affecting Thienda, the new moon wasn’t dangerous there.

So, the stark difference between Vis and Thienda promptly became evident.

A jingle and a young girl burst through the house.

"Oh?"

The girl, roughly ten years old, walked in as if it were her own home, then froze upon seeing the unfamiliar faces gathered with Mrs. Marso, especially fixing her gaze on Evie and bluntly asked,

"Who are you, Nuna?"

"Nuna is Evie Ariate, a saintess."

"It's a joke."

“Yes, a joke.”

Evie laughed, quickly backed up by Diez.

Yet, the child didn’t laugh and instead gave them a puzzled look.

“What brings you here so early? There's no class today."

Mrs. Marso queried as the girl relaxed her guard and replied.

"I have something to give the teacher."

“The teacher is still asleep. Should I pass it on?”

“No, I want to give it myself.”

"Alright, if you want to do that. Go ahead."

While the lady chuckled, the girl bounced up the stairs and shortly returned, complaining,

"The teacher locked his door while sleeping!"

"That's because you kids always burst in."

“Then I’ll wait in the small room.”

“Didn't your mom say to stay home today?”

“It’s okay until lunchtime!”

With that, the girl headed back upstairs.

Mrs. Marso observed with a smile,

"That child is especially attached to the teacher. Kind of like how you were once.”

Evie felt a nostalgic sting in her chest, so she awkwardly laughed and turned her eyes toward the stairs.

“May I go up as well?”

“Yes, of course. The kids are in and out anyway.”

Having been told the Count occupied the entire second floor, Evie hesitated before heading straight there upon receiving permission.

She lingered down the corridor until spotting the girl in a partially open room – her old room, coincidentally.

“Oh.”

The girl, sensing someone, turned and without hesitating asked.

“Are you really a saintess, Nuna?”

"Not yet… We were joking earlier, you know?"

Evie assured her with a forced smile, approaching the girl lying on the carpet writing something in a notebook.

"What are you doing now?"

"Homework."

"Assigned by the teacher?"

"Yes."

“Is the teacher nice to you?”

“Why do you ask that?”

"Uh, just wanted to have a conversation with you. Honestly, I'm not too curious."

Evie clamped her mouth shut at her own unexpected frankness.

The girl's expression turned strange, but before Evie could apologize, the girl suddenly nodded in satisfaction.

"It’s genuine. Nuna, you're really honest."

Caught off guard, Evie blinked.

The declaration of honesty felt refreshing compared to an expected insult.

As she stood dumbfounded, the girl prattled on while bouncing on her feet.

"Every Nuna interested in the teacher asks that. Do you like our teacher too?"

“No, I really dislike him.”

Oops, she spoke too candidly again.

However, the girl took it casually.

“I feel the honesty again. Yes, our teacher is mean, so many dislike him. Since you spoke honestly, I'll share something. The teacher and I are destined to marry."

“Uh… I see…”

“But he doesn’t know yet.”

Thank goodness.

I'd nearly lost faith in humanity.

Evie sighed internally with relief, contemplating her unlikely freedom for the first time since being cursed.

Could it be why she felt oddly liberated?

Evie was momentarily moved.

However, her relief was short-lived.

“What are you saying to a child...?”

Behind her came a voice, low and thick with sleep, and that voice promptly shut down her fleeting sense of freedom.

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