[Priest] "High Priest seems heartbroken lately." [Priest] "Ever since he returned to the temple looking lost a few days ago, he has done nothing but pray..." Priests whispered among themselves, watching him from afar. Serpens had always been a diligent, exemplary priest whose noble conduct served as a model for everyone in the temple. Yet ever since his return with a shadowed face a few days prior, he hadn't moved an inch from the altar. Abandoning his duties and skipping mea

She tilted her head back, looking up at her younger stepsister blocking her path. [Satina] "What am I supposed to apologize for?" [Rebecca] "Everything! You humiliated me in front of Father and Brother! Don't think I didn't notice you mocking me on purpose!" [Satina] "Ah. Why would I?" [Rebecca] "Wh-What?" [Satina] "To apologize, I need to know what I did wrong. Was suggesting Father find you a husband really that insulting?" [Rebecca] "Y-You...!" Speechless, Rebecca gasped f

Satina stared at the woman addressing her—the woman she closely resembled, her sole flesh-and-blood relation. She remembered clearly how her mother had stood by as a mere bystander when Rebecca tried to throw her into a snake pit. She had always craved her mother's affection, yet the woman had never once looked back at her. She shrugged. [Satina] "Well, since Rebecca picked the fight first, shouldn't she be the one apologizing to me?" [Duchess] "Rebecca is your younger sister

He continued. [Sharlan] "He picked a fight with one of our knights. I knew you handed him a sword, but I had no idea he was so brazen." The incident spilling from his lips was a far greater catastrophe than Satina had anticipated. A mere slave, Katan, picking a fight with a knight of the ducal house? Given his skill, he certainly wouldn't lose to a knight, but proud knights would never tolerate such insolence. [Sharlan] "He was shockingly bold. When the knight tried to ignore

[Aide] "Young Lord, the investigation regarding the priest who was with Lady Satina is complete. He is an high priest named Serpens Santorel, who returned to the capital not long ago." [Sharlan] "Serpens? That youngest high priest? He is a far bigger figure than expected. How on earth did my sister get acquainted with such a man?" He accepted the report handed over by his aide. [Aide] "They reportedly met during volunteer work." [Sharlan] "Ha, volunteer work? Miss Satina did?

Serpens stepped between them and tried to pry Sharlan's grip loose, but he refused to back down. Tightening his hold on her wrist, he sneered. [Sharlan] "This is family business, Priest. Mind your own." [Serpens] "Family business?" Satina's past mention of her family circumstances surfaced in Serpens' mind. He glared at Sharlan with eyes burning with far deeper hostility than before. Sharlan hardly found that gaze pleasant. He sneered at Satina. [Sharlan] "Who is this man, Si

It was only natural. In broad daylight, a teacher she worked with had tried to poison her to death—how could she possibly be fine? Even if Sophia were executed, what could ever heal the trauma left inside her? Serpens patted her back and spoke in a tender voice. [Serpens] "It is all right, Miss Stella. You are safe now." Her voice trembled faintly. [Stella] "Lord Serpens..." He wrapped his arms around her. Her fragile frame trembled in his embrace like a fledgling bird. I mus

[Caretaker] "I never imagined Miss Sophia could be so malicious. Attempted murder by poison!" [Caretaker] "Exactly. I knew she was jealous of you, Miss Stella, but good heavens! And when I think about what she did to Blin, I'm at a loss for words. How could a teacher do such a thing?" [Caretaker] "By the way, Miss Stella, are you feeling all right?" Satina offered a cheerful smile to the orphanage caretakers who had come to visit. [Stella] "I'm fine. The doctor is exceptional

At the doctor's prompting, Satina snapped her eyes open and sat up without hesitation. After all, she had recruited this doctor through the Information Guild. [Satina] "Your acting was impressive." [Doctor] "Heh, this is child's play." As soon as the quest began, Satina requested the Information Guild to monitor Blin and those around her. Sophia was included in that surveillance. She already knew through other caretakers that Sophia harbored a deep-seated grudge against her.

How did she find out? Her heart sank with shock, but she feigned composure on the surface. [Sophia] "I have no idea what you're talking about." [Stella] "Denying it won't help. He already confessed everything." That miserable drunkard! She had explicitly warned him that their conversation was a secret, yet he blabbed immediately. This is why one should never deal with the faithless. Even with her actions exposed, she replied brazenly. [Sophia] "Yes, I told him. What of it?" [

[Serpens] "I beg of you. Please, break off the engagement with a man like him." Marriage to a man who cheated on his fiancée would never bring happiness. Stella was a magnificent woman. Wise and breathtaking, she was a gem capable of being loved by anyone. A man like that had no idea how precious a treasure he held and would only treat her poorly. She deserved to marry a better man and live happily. When recalling the moment she nearly died, Stella neither wept nor grieved. S

This man lacks even a shred of human restraint or morality. Serpens grimaced as the man opened the door after he knocked. Scrawny with a potbelly, the man reeked of stale alcohol and cheap tobacco, as if he hadn't washed in ages. The foul stench made Serpens almost cover his nose on instinct, despite knowing it was impolite. Glaring with yellowed eyes at the two of them, the man shouted. [Father] "I told you, my daughter isn't going back to that orphanage! If I say she's not