Thiendavis – For The Perfect Salvation

Chapter 36. Parallel Alliance  

"Then, is the count's curse one where you can't speak of things unknown to the other party?"

When Evie carefully presented her guess, Zion felt conflicted.  

"Why do you think so?"

Zion asked for her reasoning, and Evie briefly explained her deduction before adding:  

"And you mentioned it yesterday too. The reason you didn't tell me about the man was that I hadn't thought of him."

Yesterday, right at this spot, Evie had lightly confronted Zion:  

"Why didn't you tell me earlier that the person who asked you to look after me was the astrologer who lived here?"

"Because you hadn’t thought of him, I couldn't tell you."

Zion had answered like this, and Evie had only thought of how disagreeable his character was.  

However, upon learning about the curse, she realized the true meaning behind his words.  

"If you had told me about the man from the beginning, the matters wouldn't have taken such a roundabout way."

Though giving up the position of saintess was another matter entirely.  

"But the count didn't say anything in Thiendavis, only here, after knowing that I had deduced your connection with the man. That must also be due to the curse, right?"

Evie's question made Zion swallow quietly.  

Zion's nemesis, Amanecer, had once predicted storms by observing the sea.  

He evaluated the number and nature of typhoons as if he were seeing the future, but his ability wasn't foresight, it was mere insight.  

A near-miraculous insight that meticulously read the movements of the land, the weight of the sea, and the flow of the atmosphere to guarantee future gales.  

When considering how Evie Ariate pierced the truth without missing a tiny piece, was comparing her insight to Amanecer's too far-fetched?  

"Precisely."

Zion replied calmly, suppressing any external reaction.  

"Just as you said, I cannot speak of what the other party doesn't know. I mentioned the astrologer because you were already certain about it, and now, I can acknowledge it because you've figured it out."

Evie's eyes grew even wider at Zion's straightforwardness.  

In truth, Zion didn’t quite understand Evie's reactions.

Despite being as sharp as a serpent, why did she always feign such naive surprise?  

But upon closer observation, her reactions seemed genuine rather than a mere act.  

Evie was quite unaware of many things, at least by her own standards.  

Thus, she desired to know more and learned as much as she hoped to.  

Zion, observing Evie for a moment, questioned her further out of curiosity:  

"What are you thinking right now?"

"Thinking if your willingness to share this much means you're inclined to cooperate with me, if the curse is causing your dissatisfaction and yet you abstain from using force as a personal standard, if exploiting this curse means distinguishing what the other party knows, and if becoming a teacher was an attempt to understand the curse. Also, that it would be nice if Diez made sandwiches for lunch today…"

In response to Zion's question, Evie laid out her thoughts candidly, then protested with a voice full of discontent.

"Count, asking me such questions knowing my situation isn't exactly gentlemanly. What if I'm caught thinking something silly and die of shame?"

Although Evie’s protest was valid and stern, Zion couldn’t entertain her grievance as he was lost in admiration.  

Zion Laurel, who was naturally superior in everything but his personality, had high standards and aspirations.  

For him, it was rare to be impressed by others, even when encountering outstanding individuals; at most, he offered mild acknowledgment.  

But this time, he had no choice but to be impressed.  

Before even fully grasping the curse’s nature, Evie was already far ahead, planning lunch along the way.  

Remembering the young Evie Ariate that he had learned about through the astrologer, Zion recalled.

Back at twelve, Evie had reached out toward Thienda, aspiring to become someone formidable.  

Now, Zion understood it wasn’t an ignorant and reckless vanity.  

At that time, Evie had already acknowledged the countless hierarchical disparities in the world and derived her conclusions.  

Therefore, it was natural that attempting to intimidate her with statements like being utilized as a saintess was futile.  

Even with much less capable individuals above her, there was no way this competent person could remain subdued.  

Evie Ariate was simply too talented to be left at the bottom merely because of her origins.  

"Why are you looking at me like that?"

"It just reaffirms how critical the curse is."

Zion mumbled.  

"You knew it already, why do you act surprised?"

Evie grumbled as Zion stared at her.

Zion thought that being able to be so endearingly clever was also quite a skill.  

Whether clever in a cute way or in a remarkable way didn't particularly matter.

What was important to Zion then was the new possibilities that Evie Ariate had shown him.  

For five years, Zion had to quietly bottle up the knowledge inside him because of the curse.  

Though he had indeed tried passing on his knowledge and made efforts to break the curse several times, his father's life-threatening snare was so insidious and cunning that while it could be torn down, it couldn't be unraveled.  

Moreover, now facing Amanecer soberly presented a new ordeal for him.  

Therefore, Zion was driven to choose between two uncompromising paths:  

Either indifferently observing the world fall apart or being foolishly utilized continuously.  

Thankfully or unfortunately, Zion had chosen the latter.  

Despite denying and despising the Laurels, what Zion Laurel had accumulated while growing up still robustly supported one of his foundations.  

Things like honor, pride, dignity, responsibility, and obligation to principles.  

Even after being betrayed by his father, Zion's pride was too high to throw himself into the dirt.  

Ultimately, he decided to remain in place like a watchdog, knowing that this was what his father wanted the most, enduring the grinding of his teeth as he did.  

Cutting ties with Thiendavis was the best form of revenge he could muster under the circumstances.  

He kept his obligations and was already overflowing with patience, so he demanded no interference.  

This ferocious demeanor was a faint trace of the anger he barely managed to suppress.  

Spending five years this way, a glimpse of a possibility to loosen the muzzle finally emerged.  

Despite having given up on many things, he didn't want to let this opportunity slip by.  

Zion made up his mind and spoke up:  

"I wish to renegotiate the proposal from yesterday."

"Renegotiate?"

"I can't agree to the first condition. However, I will cooperate on the second one."

Evie's first condition was not to obstruct her future path.  

And the second condition was to cooperate in breaking her curse.  

"You mean you intend to continue hindering me from becoming a saintess?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

"Find out for yourself."

Zion believed Evie would understand him this way.  

Yet Evie lightly refuted his expectation.  

"Then no, I won't do it."

"...You won't?"

"No, I won't. How can I cooperate with someone who will constantly interfere alongside me?"

Evie spoke as though offering a small whim, and Zion, with a serious expression, questioned.  

"Don't you see there's another reason behind this?"

"I do."

Evie responded indifferently.  

"Those are your reasons, Count. There's no obligation for me to blindly follow you just because there's supposedly a valid reason. You're not my father."

Evie's reply was annoyingly resolute, and Zion found himself speechless at her unexpected rejection.  

When it came to negotiations, Zion was undoubtedly inexperienced.  

Having grown accustomed to deciding, permitting, and commanding, Zion wasn't familiar with the push and pull scenario of extracting benefits little by little.  

Seeing him momentarily stalled, Evie shamelessly added.

"Plus, I'm doing two things for the count as well. So you should accept both my conditions too."

"What are you doing for me?"

"Understanding the count's sentiments and safeguarding the count."

Knowing and defending.  

As Zion's face turned serious at her deliberate language choice, Evie sighed with disappointment: .

"I want to get along well with you, but if negotiations are difficult, there's no choice but to let this be...”

Evie said, standing lightly from her chair. Zion found himself instinctively grasping her arm.  

Even while being held, instead of being angry or startled by this rudeness, Evie suppressed her laughter to the best of her ability.  

'Ah, Zion Laurel. It turned out you had a naive side too.'

Indeed, it was the same as last time.

Despite having an advantage, he confronted with growls like a fool.  

The count had no need to be so honest.

Even if he intended to obstruct now, he could ostensibly agree to her terms and get what he wanted before backstabbing.  

Yet this count, commander and teacher kept adamantly adhering to honesty.  

It must be the instinct of a beast that has never been humble.  

Suddenly feeling Evie’s sense of derision, Zion somewhat indignantly asked:  

"...Do you believe you're in an advantageous position?"

"Yes, I do."

Evie's candid answer made Zion grit his teeth.  

And leaving the poor count so worked up, Evie gently removed Zion's hand and sat back down.  

Then she said, quite demurely:  

"Since the count doesn't know how to compromise, I’ll make a special exception and yield one more time."

Even the idea of concession was unfamiliar to Zion, but needing something from Evie, he restrained himself and listened:  

"Let's do these; offer assistance alternatively for things the other party needs, and agree on the matter of the saintess a week before the selection ceremony."

Evie suggested to the now-pliant count and quickly added before he could oppose the one-week-before-the-selection condition.

"If you want me to give up becoming a saintess, persuade me before then. I will do my utmost to understand your reasons by that time."

Despite feeling like he was conceding, Zion sincerely weighed Evie's offer.  

Though inexperienced at negotiating, Zion had excellent judgment when evaluating matters.

Hence, he ultimately had to recognize Evie's proposal as optimal at present.  

Both possessing stubbornness and secrets, neither of them would back down.

And if they kept running parallel forever, it would not be beneficial.

Zion needed Evie, and Evie needed Zion.  

Releasing a long sigh, Zion hesitated before shaking Evie’s proffered hand.  

As the count finally gave way, Evie beamed brightly.  

“Then I look forward to working with you, Count.”

"...Likewise."

Even the count managed a semblance of a smile.  

Thus, with no intention of hiding their plans to use each other, the two laughed warmly together.

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