Chapter 26. The Emperor Actually Has a Leash
The Awakener of Dawn, amanecer, had been a dragon endowed with exceptional wisdom and insight.
He had forecasted the limitless typhoons spewed by the sea and prevented them from engulfing Thiendavis.
His breath had been powerful enough to extinguish even a typhoon.
His wings had been expansive like the veil of a god.
And his keen eyes had always been surveying the sky and sea to prepare for disasters.
The peace of Thiendavis had been maintained under the protection of that great being.
Therefore, when it went mad, it could only beco the most terrible disaster.
"Your Excellency, are you awake?"
At the lieutenant's voice, the boy opened his eyes.
As usual, his eyes were vacant and devoid of focus.
The na of the boy, covered in wounds, was Zion Laurel.
He was the current Count Laurel, who had fought the Amanecer for the seventh ti.
This ti, he subdued Amanecer after twenty days.
It was two days longer than the previous encounter.
That was because the count had been swept away by Amanecer's breath and lost consciousness for half a day.
During that ti, amanecer had pushed forward to the sanctuary at the end of Tardes, inflicting massive damage on the Watchers.
To bind Amanecer at this critical point, they had risked their lives in battle.
The awakened count barely managed to drive Amanecer back to the boundary, thus averting complete devastation, but not before countless casualties had occurred.
With a heavy heart, the lieutenant reported the damage situation.
Yet, the Supre Commander rely nodded dryly and replied that he understood.
Zion, who had responded in such a manner, recognized the circumstances surrounding him thoroughly.
However, he did not feel any particular emotions about them.
Thoughts like, "Because I'm powerless, my subordinates die." or "I'm afraid of Amanecer." or "I might die soon as well." never crossed his mind.
Everything felt blurry, as if trapped in a fog.
Therefore, everything felt natural instead.
Facing calamity every ti, having his body broken and shattered, and the people by his side dying overnight all felt ordinary, requiring no doubts.
Thus, Zion was alright.
Even if he were to die while fighting like this, and another count replaced him imdiately, so much so that he left no trace of his existence in this world and was forgotten, it would not matter.
Just as other counts of Laurel had done before him.
And on the day of the sixteenth encounter with Amanecer, Zion's dim world ca to an abrupt end.
"I have a favor to ask you."
Due to a man who arrived without any forewarning.
"It's sothing important to you as well."
The man said this as he awakened Zion.
And then he inford the bewildered boy of everything.
Only after opening his eyes with the man's help did Zion realize that he had been asleep all this ti.
And what engulfed the newly awakened Zion was neither relief nor sadness, but the long-pent rage that had been trapped until then.
...
Thus, six years passed without anyone knowing that he had regained his senses.
Zion Laurel, having failed miserably to repay the man who had saved him, was pondering his future amidst a quiet sense of defeat.
After he prevented Evie Ariate's chastisent, he had returned to Vis.
Staying in Thienda would have left him no room to intervene further with Evie.
So, he had returned to his house in Vis, but the village seed noisy, and unexpectedly, soone ca to visit him.
"Hello, teacher. We et again!"
The cheerful greeting ca from none other than the renowned saint candidate, Evie Ariate.
Zion, who had been reading a book in his room, froze at the sight of her radiant face upon opening the door to the knocking.
"...... Why are you here?"
"I ca to see the count."
"I neither invited you nor granted you permission to visit."
"But you've also visited my house without an invitation or permission, haven't you, count?"
Zion growled coldly at the sight of Evie, but by now, his sternness had no effect on her.
Instead, Evie happily prodded Zion with an annoyingly bright deanor.
"Can I co in?"
She even said this as she slipped under Zion's arm holding the door and intruded inside.
Zion looked incredulously at Evie who had entered his room.
No longer putting on the suspicious pretense of being a newlywed couple, Evie was dressed in a bright outing dress that one would expect to see only in Thienda.
In her fresh-colored dress and matching ribboned hair, Evie still looked as pretty and doll-like as ever.
But Zion was no longer deceived by her appearance.
Evie's eyes, pretending to innocent observe Zion's room, still sparkled as if seeking prey.
On the other hand, in Evie's eyes, Zion's room was surprisingly neat.
It seed like it would be a ss given his ill-tempered nature, but except for the pile of books next to the desk, everything was well-organized.
Evie surveyed the room and smiled sweetly.
"First, I'd like to thank you. Because of you, count, I managed to avoid the chastisent."
"Enough with the insincere words."
"You truly are consistent, count. From when we first t until now."
In other words, she's saying he hasn't grown up at all.
Zion felt Evie's daring ascent and frowned.
"You seem to be under a misconception. Just because you moved to your will once doesn't an you are above ."
Evie may know Zion's secret as a teacher, and Zion also knows Evie's secret related to the curse.
Therefore, they were mutually bound to silence rather than one holding the upper position.
Once Zion made this clear, Evie replied in a much more respectful voice.
"What you say is right, count. I never thought I captured your weakness or that I was above you. I am rely...."
Evie appeared to lower her tail politely.
However, this was a playful act to introduce her following words.
"I am simply your landlady, count."
Zion couldn't believe his ears.
"What do you an by that?"
"It ans I bought this house today. I hope to see you more often from now on."
When Zion asked in astonishnt, Evie playfully produced a piece of paper.
It was a certificate of purchase for the two-story house.
Seeing Zion's eyes turn sharp at this unexpected situation, Evie quickly took the initiative.
"Don't misunderstand. I bought it to retain mories as it's a precious house for too."
Despite Evie's explanation, Zion's expression didn't soften.
"I never intended to disturb your peace, count. Rather, I wish to be friendly."
Evie maintained an innocent voice as she reaffird her statent.
Zion suspected the sincerity of her words but realized he didn't need to ponder alone and asked her.
"Are you serious?"
"It's a slight fib. Slight, very slight."
Even though her true intentions were revealed, Evie calmly added more with a mischievous grin.
That made Zion inadvertently let out a sigh, forgetting to keep his spear-lined guard.
Despite being played by Evie just monts ago, his vigilance slipped at her casual mistake in words.
When Zion's eyes grew softer, Evie gently said.
"We seem to be vaguely intertwined in many matters, so it's better to be on friendly terms."
Vaguely intertwined matters.
That included Zion's outward appearance, Evie's curse, rumors within the Thienda nobles, and even regarding the astrologer.
Having set the stage this way, Evie softly asked with a slightly reproachful voice.
"Why didn't you tell earlier that the person who asked for my help lived here, an astrologer?"
Zion had nothing appropriate to say.
Thus, after a mont's hesitation, he just answered honestly.
"You didn't recall, so I couldn't ntion it."
"You should have told earlier."
"I assud he wasn't that important since you couldn't predict it."
"You sure know how to pick words to drive away."
In the midst of exchanging words, the two glared at each other for a brief mont.
Eventually, Evie softened her expression first and asked.
"Where is the gentleman now?"
Zion didn't answer.
"Is he alive?"
When asked again, he finally responded slowly after a long pause.
"Probably."
With such ambiguous words, Evie neither relaxed nor was disappointed but forced a smile.
"Can I ask where you t him and what your relationship is?"
"You may not."
"That's not fair."
Evie gave Zion a narrow-eyed look at his firm refusal.
Of course, she didn't expect him to open up by glaring like this.
Indeed, the uncourteous Count didn't utter a word in the end, and Evie sighed, returning to the main point.
"Anyway, I bought this house. But don't worry, as I said before, I know the importance of daily life. So I'll protect your daily life, count."
Protect him.
It was sothing he had never heard in his life.
Zion looked at her, as if incredulous, but Evie remained undeterred and continued.
"But I also have a request. First, please don't obstruct my path anymore. Since I'm a person, I have my goals and direction. So please don't force your ways on anymore."
Evie drew a clear line with a refreshing face, which made Zion feel conflicted.
She asked him not to stand in her way when he didn't even know what's ahead.
"And second, please help lift the curse. If you fulfill these two requests, I will protect you, count."
Though Evie called it a request, anyone could see it was a command.
And Zion was soone entirely unaccustod to receiving commands.
Thus, Zion's well-disposed face twisted again under his glasses, and his unexpected expression amused Evie.
Reflecting on how to further relish this mood, she recalled doing what the Count once said and mimicked it.
"You'll need ti to think, so I'll hear your answer tomorrow."
...
"I wonder if I provoked the Count too much...."
As Evie descended from the Count's room, Diez lightly comnted to her.
In response, Evie blushed and replied.
"I was happy. I didn't actually hit him, but emotionally, it felt like I had slapped him and kicked him."
Evie seed genuinely joyful as she spoke.
Due to the Counts's ongoing tornt, the chance to tornt him in return was utterly delightful.
"In Thienda, I was too preoccupied with pleasing the nobility, but I feel this suits much better."
"Of course."
Diez shook his head at Evie's excited tone.
Then, indicating the ho's small living room, he said.
"It just arrived a mont ago."
Evie, who had been lost in happiness, gathered herself at Diez's hint.
A few days prior, unexpected incidents arose when Evie crossed paths with the Count in the village.
Thus, her genuine purpose for coming to Vis had been left untouched, but Diez had adjusted the schedule and arranged another eting.
Despite being much later than planned, she was finally going to et them.
The ally Diez spoke of, the Clan of the Night who could lift Evie's curse.
Evie headed straight to the parlor where the Clan of the Night awaited.
"Hello, sponsor."
There sat a white-haired boy, appearing about sixteen or seventeen, sipping tea.
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