Sharlan left his office and walked slowly down the corridor. Darkness shrouded the hallway, leaving it dead silent in the late hour. At the far end of the corridor, the figure of Satina's slave, Katan, came into view. Sharlan recognized him immediately. It was suspicious for anyone to wander around while the household slept. That direction leads to her room. Sensing something wrong, he pursued him. He caught up just as the arrogant slave opened Satina's door, grabbing his wri

For the past few days, Sharlan had not been in his right mind. He could neither eat nor sleep properly. Whatever he did, thoughts of Satina confined in the punishment room consumed him. Though she had agreed when he told her not to concern herself with him, why couldn't he turn his back on her when she was the one suffering punishment? Four days later, her punishment ended. Sharlan went straight to her room. Satina, looking visibly gaunt after the past few days, was eating th

Startled, she struck his hand away, prompting him to soothe her hastily. [Man] "D-Don't be startled. It's me." The unkempt man was a frequent customer at the bakery. [Man] "I-I heard. That the bakery went under." [Satina] "Yes..." Trailing off, she averted her gaze. Encountering a man who usually cast sinister glares at her in a deserted alley felt uncomfortable. Moreover, his demeanor suggested he had been lying in wait for her. He couldn't have stalked me, right? A terrifyi

His eyes gleamed with despicable pleasure. Satina understood full well why he presented these options. Though he claimed to offer three choices, only one was viable. Marrying Grand Duke Bellus was tantamount to crawling into a death trap. He was infamous for his violent hands and promiscuous behavior. Women occasionally approached him targeting the ducal fortune, only to leave the estate as cold corpses shortly after. Conversely, surrendering all the businesses and assets she

[Satina] "What did he do wrong to be sent to such a place?!" [D. Bersabet] "What? You dare defy me?" He turned his wrath from Sharlan to Satina. [Satina] "It is not defiance! I am merely speaking sense. I heard what happened from him!" She stepped in front of Sharlan, desperately shielding his larger frame. [Satina] "It was your mistake, Father! Why must he suffer punishment for it?!" [D. Bersabet] "How dare you...!" [Satina] "Am I wrong? If you had prepared properly and avoi

[Hedzel] "Your father has one hell of a temper." He burst into laughter as he recounted the scene at the auction house. [Hedzel] "Do you know how he looked at me every time I raised the bid? He looked like he wanted to feed me rat poison!" [Satina] "His temper is quite something. Still, it sounds like you enjoyed yourself." He nodded eagerly. [Hedzel] "Of course! Do you think opportunities to mock nobles come along so easily? I had to enjoy it to the fullest while I could! Yo

[Satina] "I know. I know very well we aren't related by blood. But what can I do? I'm just worried about you." [Sharlan] "Worried? How hilarious. Who are you to worry about me, Sister?" Even though his father had battered him like this, Satina was hardly in a position to worry about him. Satina was a bizarre woman. She worried about him, meddled unnecessarily to resolve his troubles, and expected nothing in return. Though he offered to buy her as many jewels or dresses as she

Satina looked at Hedzel, meeting him after a long absence. [Satina] "I told you to name the merchant guild yourself, but that shows a complete lack of taste. 'Lettina'?" He snapped in frustration. [Hedzel] "Shut up! Then you should've named it yourself! I've never had a talent for naming things!" Lara, standing nearby, chimed in. [Lara] "She's right, Lady Satina. For the boss, that was a real effort. Originally, he wanted to call it 'Rat Pack Power'." Satina paused while lift

Many people gathered to see Satina off on the day she departed the western fortress. [Resident] "To think you are leaving for the capital, Lady Satina. It's such a shame. What will we do without you?" [Resident] "Please stay healthy on your journey, Lady Satina. These are snacks I made myself. Please enjoy them on the way." [Resident] "This is motion sickness medicine crafted from our family's secret recipe. Since you must travel long hours by carriage, please take it if you

She climbed the stone mountain alongside Katan. [Satina] "I'll go alone from here. Make sure no one approaches." [Katan] "Understood." Instead of leaving right away, she closely inspected his face. [Katan] "Is something wrong, My Lady?" [Satina] "No, you just look suspiciously cheerful, which makes me wary." [Katan] "Ah." [Katan's affection has increased by 1.] He brushed a hand over his face as if caught off guard. [Katan] "Taking only me means you trust me that much, My Lad

His expression turned grave. [Serpens] "Creating contamination artificially... It is not theoretically impossible." [Serpens] "However, who would do such a thing, and for what purpose? As you know, Miss Satina, the moment contamination arises, that land becomes dead soil. People perish, and magical beasts turn ferocious. Nothing can survive. Why would anyone willingly perpetrate such an act?" [Satina] "I don't know either. That's precisely why I'm asking for your help, Lord S

Scenes flashed past in rapid succession. He lashed her pale back with a whip while she provoked him. At times, unable to endure the agony, she begged for mercy. [Satina] "I told you! It was all her own doing! How many times must I say it for you to believe me?! I did nothing wrong! I didn't do a thing to her!" She insisted she was not the one who harassed the Saintess, declaring her innocence, yet he refused to believe her. This woman was strange from the moment they met. She