Tiendavis - For Perfect Salvation (Completed Main Story) - Chapter 9
“But even so, you didn’t have to say it like that.”
At Ivy’s reproachful gaze, Rio was left utterly speechless.
Rio Tuha was flabbergasted by this commoner suddenly talking back—and, at the same time, found her strangely unfamiliar.
Normally, Ivy Ariate was clever to the point of being infuriating—truly the fox among foxes, always slipping away no matter how much she was tormented.
But today, something was different.
“Of course, you wouldn’t understand. You don’t know why I acted that way, Lady Tuha—you don’t know anything.”
Ivy Ariate, pleading with a face full of sorrow, looked somehow precarious and desperate.
Rio had always wished that arrogant commoner would finally grasp her place. She’d even hoped that ever-smiling face would finally look properly subdued, as befitting her station.
Yet seeing her like this now brought not satisfaction, but only confusion.
Still, unwilling to lose, Rio shouted again.
“M-Make yourself clear if you’re going to speak! I can’t understand a word you’re saying!”
“What more can I possibly say clearly to someone who looks down on me as lowly and treats me like I’m begging for attention?”
But even that outburst was swiftly cut short by Ivy’s calm rebuke.
Though blinded by jealousy and lashing out wildly now, Rio was, at heart, a well-bred young lady.
She’d never once been scolded by her elders—yet here she was, being reprimanded by Ivy Ariate.
This unimaginable reversal left her mind tangled in confusion.
She wanted to argue back, but no suitable words came to mind.
Seizing the opening, Ivy drove the final nail in.
“Just because I’m a commoner from Vis doesn’t mean I deserve to hear those words.”
Ivy’s stern reproach pierced straight through Rio’s conscience.
As a result, Rio’s face flushed crimson, and she was left completely speechless.
Watching that lovely blush, Ivy muttered inwardly.
‘Did I get her?’
It seemed so. She’d gotten her.
Rio Tuha bit her lip with a sorrowful expression; her eyes, fixed on Ivy, brimmed only with betrayal, showing no sign of attacking again.
So Ivy let out a quiet sigh.
‘Because of this curse, what humiliation is this…’
Normally, Ivy never engaged Rio, no matter how shrilly she barked.
She knew Rio would only grow more frustrated and fume alone.
Gracefully ignoring her was the dignity befitting Ivy Ariate, a leading candidate for Saintess—but because of the curse, she’d ended up uttering all sorts of petty words.
Though deeply grieved by it, Ivy had no time to lament now.
Because there was still one more person left.
“Pfft!”
Just then, a sweet laugh burst out.
The one laughing was Miel Sedro, who’d been watching from the side.
“Oh, Ivy, you’re making Miel laugh so much.”
Miel covered her mouth with tiny hands, giggling for a while, then smiled brightly and said,
“You should be grateful just to be attached to Tienda—how can you expect to be treated like a person, Ivy? Your manners are far too spoiled.”
Miel’s voice sounded childishly cute, making the venom hidden within it stand out even more.
‘Right, you wouldn’t just let this go.’
Ivy wasn’t surprised by that polished insult.
If Rio Tuha hated Ivy the most among the Purifiers, then Miel Sedro was undoubtedly the one who tormented her the most.
Unlike the easily handled Rio, Miel was cruel and relentless.
“If you keep this up, Ivy will be in trouble, so Miel will give you some etiquette lessons.”
True to form, Miel approached with an excited look and said,
“When you’ve done wrong, you should kneel. Commoners usually understand this better—guess your manners really are spoiled.”
“Lady Sedro, are you asking me to kneel right now?”
“I’m asking you to show remorse. Only then will Miel protect Ivy.”
When Ivy asked for confirmation, Miel nodded brightly with an utterly innocent smile.
Ivy briefly considered kneeing Miel in the face instead of the floor, but quickly shook off the wicked thought.
‘How do I deal with this one?’
Miel Sedro wasn’t as easy as Rio.
Moreover, Miel’s talk of “lessons” was surprisingly justified.
Ivy, an exceptional Purifier, was a precious asset of Manyanya Tower. Thus, no one but the Tower Lord could punish her—except Miel Sedro.
Because Miel was the cousin of Tower Lord Rohika Sedro and had already been publicly named as the next Tower Lord.
Therefore, Miel held unofficial authority to reprimand Ivy.
Still, Ivy had not the slightest intention of kneeling here.
‘Should I just knock them both out? Miel Sedro and Rio Tuha.’
Ivy, deep in thought, considered a slightly aggressive approach.
Sometimes simplicity was best. The location was suitable—just a slight suffocation for these troublesome girls…
“Someone’s coming.”
Just then, Miel muttered regretfully.
She stepped back as she spoke, and Ivy, puzzled at first, soon realized the sound of footsteps echoing down the corridor.
Indeed, someone was approaching.
Firm footsteps came quickly, and soon the door to the salt warehouse where they stood opened.
In that instant, Rio stifled a scream by covering her mouth, while Miel beamed and cried out,
“Sion!”
The one who appeared without warning was none other than Count Sion Laurel.
Before Ivy could even react to his sudden arrival, Miel asked in an excited voice,
“How did you know Miel was here?”
At that familiar tone, Ivy was momentarily bewildered, then nodded in understanding.
‘Of course—they must know each other; they’re both high nobles.’
Just as Ivy accepted this, she glanced at Miel’s face and was startled anew.
Miel’s cheeks, gazing at the Count, were tinged a lovely rose pink.
‘Could she possibly… like the Count?’
Ivy suspected it without realizing—no, she was certain.
Miel was smiling at the Count with more liveliness than ever—clearly the look of a girl in love.
Yet unlike the overjoyed Miel, the Count remained taciturn as always.
He walked silently toward Miel, who eagerly ran to meet him.
“Not busy today? Then later, Miel and…”
But just as their distance closed completely, it widened again—the Count had simply walked past Miel as she approached.
Surprised, Miel turned to look at the Count who’d bypassed her.
The Count soon stopped walking—right in front of Ivy Ariate.
He looked down at Ivy, who stared back with wide, rabbit-like eyes at the Count who’d abruptly come before her.
The Count’s expression was as dry as ever—like someone bored and weary of everything.
With that look, he scanned Ivy from head to toe, then removed his coat.
Before Ivy could refuse, he draped it over her shoulders.
Dressed in thin ceremonial robes and half-soaked, Ivy had been feeling cold—so the unfamiliar warmth made her involuntarily catch her breath.
The coat the Count gave her still held his heat.
Contrary to his cold appearance, the Count’s body was warm, and Ivy felt his warmth enveloping her with startling vividness.
It almost felt less like wearing Sion Laurel’s coat and more like being embraced by Sion Laurel himself.
Flustered, Ivy moved to pull the coat off.
But just then, the Count yanked her shoulder as if snatching her close.
As a result, Ivy didn’t remove the coat—instead of an illusion, she was now half-embraced by the Count for real.
Startled, Ivy pushed against the Count’s chest—when Miel’s muffled voice came from over his shoulder.
“What are you doing?”
“This is a prior engagement.”
The Count’s reply and attitude toward Miel Sedro were resolute.
Speaking decisively, the Count began walking with Ivy’s shoulder still in his hold, so Ivy was pushed along by his back.
‘Huh?’
Led by the Count’s swift pace, Ivy instantly passed Miel and Rio.
Miel then shouted in a sharp voice,
“Sion!”
But the Count gave no reply.
Instead, Ivy, buried in the coat, turned to look back.
Rio wore a foolishly shocked expression, while Miel glared fiercely at Ivy.
So Ivy pretended to have no choice and decided to follow the Count.
.
.
.
‘…Is he trying to kill me?’
Walking down the corridor with the Count, Ivy finally reached a conclusion after much thought.
Because the Count had personally come to take her away, Miel Sedro’s eyes now burned with icy fury. This would surely cause endless trouble later.
Moreover, with loudmouthed Rio Tuha as a witness, news of this would inevitably spread to everyone in Tienda.
A Saintess candidate constantly embroiled in scandal—certainly not something Ivy welcomed right now.
‘But how did he know about the salt warehouse? Could he have come looking for me?’
Ivy stole a sideways glance at the Count, who still held her shoulder.
Several things were hard to understand.
Ivy often used that salt warehouse, but only her butler Deis knew about it.
How had the Count known to come there?
Furthermore, the Count hadn’t asked the Purifiers—including Ivy—any questions in the warehouse.
No “What are you doing?” or “What’s going on?” or even a basic “Is there a problem?”
He’d simply strode in as if already knowing everything and snatched Ivy away.
All of this seemed suspicious and puzzling, yet Ivy couldn’t ask the Count.
If she spoke carelessly and the curse activated, it would be disastrous.
So for now, Ivy was carefully minimizing her words while plotting how to escape the Count.
After walking a while, the corridor leading to the tower’s main hall came into view.
But the Count suddenly changed direction there and headed toward a corner rarely visited by anyone.
“Um, my lord Count… where are we going…?”
Unable to hold back as the exit grew distant again, Ivy finally spoke.
Before she could finish, the Count opened a door and pushed her inside.
The place the Count pulled Ivy into was a stairwell with steep bricks spiraling upward.
In short, this was an even more secluded spot than the salt warehouse, and Ivy inwardly gasped in alarm.
‘A Saintess candidate… in a secret rendezvous…?’
Just being alone with a strange man in such a place was a heavy burden for Ivy.
So, determined to leave immediately, she quickly smiled at the Count.
“…Hello, my lord Count. I was so flustered I forgot to greet you. May the blessings of a radiant morning be with you. Thank you for lending me your coat—I’m fine now, so I’ll return it. I’ll see you again later, my lord Count.”
Then she handed back the coat, bowed quickly, and swiftly turned to grab the stairwell door handle.
Kwang!
But the moment the door opened a finger’s width, it slammed shut again with a loud bang.
A large hand had reached out from behind Ivy and firmly pressed the door closed.
She didn’t need to turn around to guess the situation—so Ivy quietly swallowed hard.
And right behind her, the Count’s quiet voice spoke.
“If this is a prior engagement, can you really just leave?”
Yes, it’s bitter.
Ivy Ariate’s life
has been especially bitter lately.
Turns Out He’s Been Secretly in Love with Me
One-line summary: He acts like he doesn’t like her but is actually playing hard to get.
Synopsis:
Xu Muzhou like her. He has liked her for a very long time, and through repeated schemes, he finally closed the distance with her.
But this is still far from enough.
He wants to be the one who stands out among her many suitors, to fight for her attention, and to make her take the initiative to pursue him.
_____
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is this chapter from another story?…… it doesn’t make sense at all…