Thiendavis – For The Perfect Salvation

Chapeter 25: This Time, Protect Until the End

Following the welcome reception for Count Laurel held at Laurel Castle, Evie Ariate, a prominent candidate for the saintess, had been the talk of the town.

In front of everyone, she had insulted Count Laurel, a grand noble and watcher of the borders.

Enraged, the Count officially opposed Evie Ariate's selection as the saintess.

To apologize, Evie headed to the borders of Vis.

It was a situation that seemed like a prelude to downfall, and the nobles' gazes toward Evie were at their worst.

However, the events caused yet another stir in Thienda, with assessments of Evie Ariate flipping overnight.

Evie, who had been examining a note in her study, chuckled contentedly like a well-fed cat.

"I feel like making a toast."

"No alcohol. Settle for cake."

Her strict butler refused to allow the rarely spirited Evie to drink.

In the end, a cherry cake was placed before her instead of champagne, but even so, Evie was satisfied.

"It's exceptionally sweet."

she murmured happily, savoring the cherry.

On the last crescent moon, Evie sang against regulations in the village of Vis, saving hundreds by purifying a spreading poison.

Opinions among the nobility were divided over this.

"The noble young Arco calls it a historic act to save hundreds by cleansing the poison spread in the village."

Some opined, noting his perplexing fashion.

"I was moved; to risk punishment and still act, Miss Ariate must be truly good-hearted." many agreed.

Youthful nobles romanticizing the event praised Evie's actions as selfless and noble, befitting a saintess.

Others, feigning neutrality, remarked.

"It was a good act to save the village, but breaking rules is another issue. The Guardian's blessing shouldn't be used personally."

"Are rules more important than lives? She saved the unfortunate people of Vis. It wasn't personal since it involved two villages."

Counterarguments arose fiercely.

Most nobles still opined that Evie's rescue was right.

"A few nobles claimed it was an act of defiance against the Duchess Bayen's army, predicting adverse effects on ruling Vis."

But only a few voiced such loud criticisms.

The suspension of the Tower's disciplinary actions was a major factor in the nobles holding back their strong criticisms, similar to their reticence when she insulted the Count.

Thus, Evie's reputation soared auspiciously.

However, what truly delighted Evie was something else entirely.

"The nobles seem shocked that the Count overturned the Tower's discipline."

Evie spoke while enjoying the fluffiness of the cake's texture.

In reality, the most talked-about person in Thienda was not Evie but the Count.

"There are many who are incredulous, wondering if a piece of Amanecer was so cheap to be exchanged for the purifier's punishment."

"I don't understand why the Count defended Evie Ariate, wasn't he furious about being insulted?"

"Which rhythm are we supposed to follow now?"

Smaller but consistent voices complained in whispers.

The nobles, constantly eyeing Laurel, continued to chatter about the Count's eccentric behaviors.

Though stubborn, Laurel was not one easily shaken, but the real problem was another rumor that had begun here.

"There are those who find this incident particularly intriguing," remarked Diez as he poured tea into his cherished teacup.

Indeed, some nobles found the affair not just interesting but utterly thrilling.

"Were they trying to destroy when it's convenient and then save at the crisis? Is this some twisted obsession?"

Wondered a certain lady, sneakily adding fuel to the fire.

"When I think about it, during the reception, the Count only had eyes for Ariate, as if he fell for her at first sight."

Opined a young lady briskly fanning the flames.

"It seems like they've been entangled in a complicated relationship for a while. Otherwise, why would Evie recoil so at the reception when rejecting the Count?"

Guessed a noble son starting a conjecture.

"So his declaration against making Ariate a saintess was just a spurned man's revenge!"

Asserted a dangerous conclusion from a gentleman.

"Ha!"

Upon rereading the note, Evie burst into laughter.

In the nobles’ imaginations, Count Laurel was becoming more and more distorted into a peculiar character.

Thus, his declaration, which had once completely blocked Evie's path, was also getting its true intentions questioned along with him.

Even this was quite satisfying for Evie, but she also unexpectedly gained an ally.

"Could Count Laurel really throw Amanecer into the mix just to do something with the woman he likes? Would he really harass a maiden in such a low manner? I refuse to believe Count Laurel is a rogue who can't distinguish personal from professional affairs."

Declared Duchess Bayen, pacifying public rumors.

"Duchess Bayen, you are appointed as the best reputation destroyer."

Already aiming, the Duchess loudly proclaimed this all over.

Thanks to her, the rumor that the Count was doing everything to get at Evie became nearly factual.

"Ha, ha ha... hahaha..."

"Please don't laugh so eerily."

Unable to restrain her joy, Evie giggled with her cake in her mouth, receiving a scolding from Diez who couldn't bear to watch.

Of course, Diez thought it was extraordinary too.

There seemed to be no path forward after the Count's declaration, yet Evie had seized the opportunity and turned the tables.

It was indeed a remarkable feat of quick thinking.

"It's fortunate the Count acted predictably, but what would you have done if he hadn't intervened?"

"I would've embraced downfall and ruin."

Evie responded lightly to Diez's question.

Seeing Diez's horrified look at her genuine response, Evie waved it off and added.

"I was confident. He seemed desperate."

Desperation and a king didn't seem to fit, yet Evie was sure.

In Thienda, the Count conveyed his errands with ease and arrogance.

However, when they met at Vis, and Evie spoke about the importance of daily life, he laughed, asking if she was threatening him.

And the next morning, he fiercely warned upon hearing just the word 'saintess'.

To Evie, he seemed like a beast hiding his wounds.

"Besides, he genuinely seemed like a teacher in his manner towards children."

His wicked temperament was unchanged, but Evie was sure and delighted.

Ah, Zion Laurel, oh, proud Count.

If you have a weakness, hide it well, act as if it's not there.

But perhaps never having had one, he instead personally warned

“This is my weakness, meddle and there will be trouble."

Evie could only be grateful.

Having been given such a blatant clue, she had no choice but to exploit it.

Thus, she deliberately aimed to get punished by using Manyanya's salt, then intended to reveal aspects of the curse to the Count and move the nobles' focus.

The spreading poison that led to the song was not initially part of the plan but ultimately fit perfectly into her strategy.

The result was this.

"Indeed, we should make a toast!"

Unable to contain her joy, Evie declared again.

And a few hours later, an even happier piece of news reached her.

Feeling the Count Laurel's honor sinking, the Grand Duke Laurel took action.

He announced the withdrawal of the Count's previous declaration, assuring that the duties on the borders of Amanecer would continue flawlessly as they had.

No additional mention about Evie from the Grand Duke was made.

But the nobles interpreted it clearly.

Ah, that wrongful love of his has been resolved on a family level, they thought.

***

As Evie was making her toasts with cake, Zion was tormented by the unfamiliar emotions of humiliation and defeat.

"Zion, regarding this matter... No, never mind."

His half-brother almost said something but turned away with a considerate face.

"Your Excellency, forgive my impudence, but should I briefly report the procedure of sending flowers and letters to a lady... I apologize, never mind."

The deputy commander, sincerely concerned, tried to advise, but stepped back quickly when Zion glared.

Hence, Zion was nearly going mad.

Evie Ariate had manipulated him with just a word.

Zion knew it was Evie's intention, yet he had no choice but to act accordingly.

Then everything unfolded intricately, like a meticulously planned prank.

Evie used Zion to evade punishment.

As a result, his declaration concerning Evie lost its power.

Moreover, Zion Laurel became labeled a bizarre person exhibiting fickleness and eccentricities because of a romantic obsession with a woman.

Until now, he hadn't cared much about how the people of Thienda perceived him.

Yet, for the first time, he wanted to offer an explanation to them.

All because of Evie Ariate.

Sitting alone at his desk, Zion finally let his head fall onto the desk.

Such a gesture was unbecoming of His Excellency the Commander-General, but he had no choice.

He felt deceived by the entire world.

"...Was she always like this?"

Zion groaned, having finally understood Evie's true nature.

He had always thought her eyes were simply pitiful.

But in retrospect, those eyes were filled not with pity but resolve.

A resolve to find and pave a path no matter how the heavens fell or the ground caved in.

Yet, seeing her gentle face, he assumed everything contained within must be just as soft.

Moreover, he had mistaken Evie under a curse simply as a fool.

These two errors were Zion's downfall.

But even realizing it now, it was too late.

Zion's declaration, rescinded by the Grand Duke, had been his strongest means to prevent Evie's nomination as a saintess.

With that gone, there seemed no better way left for him.

"Damn..."

Zion muttered against the desk.

When coming to Thiendavis, he thought clearing this debt wouldn’t be difficult.

Considering the power gap between him, a grand noble, and Evie Ariate, a commoner, he believed taking the saintess position from her would be as easy as taking candy from a child.

Of course, equally as petty.

But rather than getting the candy taken away, Evie jabbed the stick into his eye and gathered people to witness his disgrace, burying him.

Such was the absurdity of the situation that Zion couldn't help but let out a dry laugh.

Yet, the laughter soon ceased.

This wasn’t a matter to laugh about.

Thus, protecting Evie in the most certain way had vanished.

As things stood, the formidable Evie Ariate was destined to become a saintess as she wished.

With his mind returning to its usual clarity, Zion composed himself.

He then recalled what that man, Evie's astrologer, had said.

"Evie is strong. She's strong, clever, bold, perceptive, shrewd, articulate, and incredibly hardworking...Moreover, she’s a truly wonderful person who never gives up."

Until recently, Zion had wondered where exactly she was wonderful, dismissing it as distorted memories.

However, facing things this way, he had no choice but to acknowledge it.

He finally began to understand why that man loved and revered Evie Ariate so fervently.

If he had known a bit sooner, perhaps things wouldn't have reached this state.

The astrologer’s last entreaty resurfaced, admonishing Zion.

"So make sure you protect her until the end this time."

Zion indeed intended to do so.

**New Characters and Elements:**