Thiendavis – For The Perfect Salvation

Chapter 37: Two People at the Wisteria Festival

Zion loathed the astrologer.

Though it was the astrologer who had lifted Zion's curse and revealed all of his secrets, the only feelings Zion harbored towards him were irritation and unease.

"...Why are you here?"

Upon awakening from the curse and barely calming his confusion, Zion questioned the astrologer.

In reality, it was more of an interrogation than a question, and the astrologer merely smiled softly at Zion's fierce demeanor.

Despite Zion being in shock, his roaring like a lion the moment he regained consciousness truly embodied Zion Laurel.

"I have a favor to ask. It's important for you too."

"A favor?"

"Protect Evie."

Zion's face scrunched at the unfamiliar name.

The astrologer explained who Evie was, making Zion feel even more disgusted by the situation.

"You came all the way here just for that?"

Zion asked incredulously.

How would it feel if a king in distress received unexpected help just because he was asked to take care of a cat?

Should he feel relieved for being saved or insulted for the treatment he received?

Zion firmly chose the latter.

"Just for some girl..."

Zion gritted his teeth in anger, and the astrologer chuckled.

"Watch your language."

In an instant, an invisible pressure slammed Zion down.

"She's not just someone. Don't speak like that."

The astrologer's warning was calm and gentle, but Zion abruptly realized in that brief moment the astrologer's nature hidden behind his fragile smile was as ferocious as a mad dragon, and that he was afraid of it.

Fear?

Zion didn't want to admit that he had felt intimidated for even a moment, so he decided to deliberately ignore the astrologer's warning.

"If she's not just someone, then what is she? Is there a shortage of women?"

The astrologer laughed at Zion's provocation, and then Zion was beaten like a dog.

The astrologer, pretending to be a docile man in an unassuming robe, revealed his true nature and thoroughly beat Zion.

At the time, Zion was a young, injured boy, but there was no consideration for that as he was beaten one-sidedly.

Of course, with his personality, he didn't just stand and take it.

But at nineteen years old, Zion couldn't overcome an astrologer with ten more years of experience.

"It's your first time, isn't it? Being put in your place."

The astrologer looked down at Zion, asking in a gentle voice, and then added with a laugh.

"I've never experienced it myself either."

Zion, sprawled on the ground, felt a chill down his spine.

'What exactly is this calm lunatic?'

Seeing Zion's eyes still burning fiercely, the astrologer kicked him again.

Zion flew off and coughed up dryly.

"You madman..."

Zion gritted his teeth, spitting out blood-flecked saliva.

However, the astrologer didn't get angry, which drove Zion even more insane.

He was indifferent when insulted himself but wouldn't let anyone call the girl just someone, which seemed like a blind devotion akin to a fanatic's faith.

Zion felt nauseated by it.

He didn't want to be involved in it at all.

So when Zion stared at him in disgust, the astrologer coolly spoke.

"If you can't understand, just think of it as a debt. If you need a reason to move."

Naturally, the astrologer knew how to motivate Zion.

And sure enough, Zion's resistance dwindled at the dry term, "debt".

The astrologer, with his strong pride, approached Zion and whispered another thing Zion needed to remember.

"…So this time, be sure to protect her to the end."

The astrologer made his last request.

Although he added important words in between, Zion, full of anger, treated them as nonsense.

Thus, he wiped everything from his mind except for the debt he was forced to assume.

---

It had been six years since he first took a beating.

Nourished by that painful past, the excellently twisted Zion Laurel scowled at the surroundings, contrasting with his temperament.

On a radiant morning, the Wisteria Festival was in full swing in the garden south of Thienda Lake.

Managed by the Tuha family, the garden was famously beautiful in Thienda.

In particular, next to the Tuha family villa in the center of the garden stood the largest Wisteria tree in Thienda.

Every spring, the tree would bloom in purple blossoms that unfolded wide like a palace ceiling, hanging down like layered clouds, creating a magnificent view.

The Wisteria was one of the most remarkable sights in Thienda.

Thus, during spring, nobles eagerly awaited the Tuha family's invitation, and finally, today the much-anticipated Wisteria Festival was being held.

However, the nobles couldn't enjoy the festival with ease.

The reason was due to a certain nobleman who had settled in the center of the vibrant social venue.

Zion sat at the most honorable seat of the Wisteria Festival, beside the Wisteria tree trunk.

He wore light outdoor attire befitting someone there to enjoy the festival.

Still, it was clear that the only thing that showed he was a festival goer was his clothing, his demeanor, expression, and actions were apparently cast away somewhere else.

First of all, he sat with his legs crossed, his face icy.

Behind him stood deputies and guards in uniform, protecting him.

The nobles were confused as to whether this was a flower festival or the fearsome audience room in the Tardes Sanctuary.

The atmosphere of the festival was already half-ruined by this scene, but Zion didn't stop there.

Occupying the highest seat alone, he showed no interest in the flowers.

Instead, his attention was drawn to a presence more captivating than the blossoms.

This was proven by how his gaze was consistently fixed on a girl in a jade dress.

It was none other than Evie Ariate, Thienda's precious candidate for a saintess.

Evie, at the center of controversy, had finally returned to the social world.

Conscious of the attention drawn to her, Evie appeared even more lovely and graceful than usual.

Escorted by her friend, Moren Arco, Evie arrived in a light outdoor dress.

The jade dress she wore was minimally decorated, with soft pleats giving volume only to the skirt.

Standing among the vibrant Wisteria, this plainness harmonized perfectly with the background.

The embroidered details and lace on the ladies fatigued the eyes, whereas Evie’s softly flowing skirt offered a respite to tired eyes.

Moreover, the fresh hue of the jade dress met the pastel purple of the Wisteria, becoming the most eye-catching color in the world.

Even this alone monopolized attention, but Evie exposed her pale neck with her hair tied up and displayed her dainty ankles and small shoes beneath the skirt that reached mid-calf.

As a result, the nobles felt a certain unsettling sense seeing Evie's seemingly innocent yet not entirely demure appearance.

Oh, does that naive songbird know?

The lion seated under the Wisteria's shadow still keenly watches her.

Once again, Evie was demurely beautiful to the satisfaction of the nobles, leaving them too engrossed in the subtle tension between her and the glaring count, forgetting about the Wisteria.

Zion, meanwhile, was honestly feeling disgruntled.

He was irritated about being made a spectacle, regarded as a man infatuated with desire, and being used by Evie Ariate.

Thus, Zion glared even sharper at Evie.

However, Evie, fully aware of it all, never turned back.

Even with everyone around them glancing and taking hints.

It felt thoroughly manipulative, but he had no choice.

A promise is a promise.

---

Three days before Evie and Zion showed up together at the Wisteria Festival.

Having agreed to help each other just once, Evie and Zion were plotting more detailed schemes in that peaceful two-story house.

"An arena?"

"Yes, the Clan of the Night is trapped in that arena. That's why there's a big curse on this village."

When Zion frowned and murmured, Yubia promptly answered.

Evie was surprised by Yubia's informal speech, but Zion didn’t mind at all.

Instead, he shot an annoyed glance at Evie.

"So, that's why you were so confident..."

So she had known this and still toyed with the idea of protection.

Realizing he was fooled again, Zion stared at Evie, who simply smiled sweetly.

This, of course, incensed Zion once more.

In truth, Zion wasn't particularly antagonistic toward the relocation order given by the so-called chief of investigation, who referred to him as 'Glasses'.

He could feel the growing intensity of the new moon curse affecting his village, and last month, some nearly perished.

Thus, Zion had actually supported the relocation, thinking he would clear his debts through funding it and then wash his hands of this village.

However, knowing there was a separate cause for the anomaly changed things.

"It's not cheap to trap the Clan of the Night."

"Salt prices, indeed."

When Evie interjected into Zion’s soliloquy, he nodded silently.

To imprison not one, but three of the Clan of the Night, a large amount of salt was necessary, and in Vis, purified salt is more expensive than gold.

"The money earned from the arena probably makes it worthwhile."

"The lord wouldn't be uninformed about it."

Zion muttered lowly, recalling the report he had found on the chief's desk last night.

Curiosity led him to sit on the chief's desk footrest and glance through it momentarily.

As expected, the report was full of fabricated tales, making Zion ponder for a moment if this was a case of laziness or if the man was hiding ulterior motives.

It seemed he was both; someone lazy and full of ulterior motives yet unable to conceal them well.

Zion clicked his tongue, amused at both Thienda and Vis's respective states of affairs.

"So Diez and Yubia decided to investigate the arena."

Pointing at her butler and the bunny, Evie stated to the count, whose expression was far from pleasant.

That arena influenced the curse affecting Zion's village, and among those trapped, there was someone who had cursed Evie.

For this reason alone, the collaboration was justified, so Zion agreed without dispute.

"And I plan to go to Thienda to find the person who cursed me."

"In your current state, that sounds like a challenge."

Zion remarked nonchalantly.

This time it was Evie who wanted to speak, and she deliberately smiled radiantly at Zion.

"It's okay because the Count will come with me."

Zion's expression hardened again.

Perhaps knowing that the count would hesitate, Evie opened her eyes wide and asked.

"Didn't you promise? To take turns doing what's needed?"

"But there wasn’t an agreement on doing it first."

"You intend to haggle over the order?"

"Adhering to fairness, isn't it?"

Zion was still far from being altruistic despite forming an alliance.

Evie observed the stubborn count, suppressing her frustration to smile once more.

"Count, this morning, I already removed the Bayen flag, just as you requested. So now, shouldn’t you do what I want to be fair?"

Zion looked at Evie with a fleeting expression of realization.

Having forgotten the morning's events until Evie's mention, he recalled them belatedly.

Spoken with this logic, Zion seemed ready to agree, but Evie, feeling incredibly indignant at this count, spoke in a sorrowful voice.

"Are you truly such a cowardly man, seeking only your own escape routes while breaking your promises?"

The attack was effective.

The count’s assured demeanor dramatically faltered, and his sky-high pride cracked, putting him in a position where he had to act to recover his honor.

Such a self-absorbed person...

Evie internally clicked her tongue, realizing how stubborn the count was to handle.

The only relief was that she was gradually learning how to maneuver Zion.