[Ulrich] "It is the family manor. As you know, the estate holds immense historical value—" [Zion] "I have plenty of those." [Ulrich] "Then, perhaps the casino building itself as collateral—" [Zion] "Collateral. Not buildings. How about a person instead?" Under Imperial law, human beings could serve as collateral. Slavery still persisted within the Empire's borders. The destitute often traded their freedom for coin, promising their very bodies as "debt slaves" if they failed t

Two weeks had passed since the social season opened its curtains. With the major indoor events concluded, only one grand spectacle remained for the summer: the "Tour of Athena Island." Athena Island lay at the southernmost tip of the Empire's vast territory. It housed a breathtaking summer palace where the Emperor was mandated to spend at least one week every year, accompanied by high-ranking nobles. This tradition served a political purpose. If the rulers remained secluded i

Courtney flailed, a desperate scream clawing at her throat, but the thick cloth gag stifled every sound. In the manor, the hierarchy had shifted overnight. Paula had already been dragged away to begin her penance at the laundry, while Mrs. Becker gleefully claimed the Countess' office. Amidst the upheaval, Doly trembled. If I hadn't confessed the Madam's transgressions earlier, I would be next. She knew she was nothing more than a common fly to the cold-hearted Count. She had

A clean handkerchief served as a poor substitute for a dirty napkin, yet Odette considered it a luxury Courtney did not deserve. Despite this small mercy, the housekeeper's eyes remained flooded with a sense of rank injustice. Odette mocked her internally, turning her gaze toward the woman who still clung to Paula. [Sasha] "Not Paula. I have never begged you for anything, but I am begging you now." [Ulrich] "Sasha." [Sasha] "Not when you drained my dowry for your failing busi

But...... one single problem will gnaw at his mind. [Ulrich] "I do not understand. She went straight to the villa from the ball. How did she get her hands on the key in my pocket?" There it was. The inevitable question. He knew he had never shared a space with Paula, making it impossible for her to reach the dungeon key hidden in his coat. She spoke, her voice trembling with feigned hesitation. [Odette] "Father, I hesitate to speak, but I do not believe she acted alone. It se

The scene mirrored the coachman's testimony with haunting accuracy. [Ulrich] "Is that woman—no, is the child alive?" He corrected himself mid-sentence, catching the suspicious glint in his servant's eye. Too many witnesses stood present to allow his usual disdain to slip. [Ferdinand] "Odette! Odette!" Ferdinand sprinted to her side and struck her back with a heavy hand. [Odette] "Cough! Hack!" Water surged from her lungs, and Ferdinand let out a jagged breath of relief. He ho

[Ulrich] "I shall ask you again, Sasha. Do you undeniably believe that letter existed?" Since before their marriage, he had treated her as an inferior. He had made his dissatisfaction blatant at their wedding, followed by a relentless string of affairs. He was the first to lead the mockery when the social circles ridiculed her. And yet, I still considered that man the father of my son. Sasha believed that her son and the small world within this mansion were all she had gained

[Karl] "Actually, no one has ever scolded me. I have never been forgiven, either." [Odette] "......" It was bizarre. This boy, who usually wore a mask of stone, now displayed the most human expression she had ever seen. His genuine smile—something absent from her previous life, this life, and even the original game—unfolded before her. she [Odette] "......I hope your next wish has nothing to do with the Fenrir. I hope it is a wish for yourself." [Karl] "Master?" [Odette] "You

She opened her eyes to find herself in a cavernous bedroom. Bear furs draped the stone walls, their glass eyes staring into the void. Where am I? She turned, her gaze landing on a massive window. Beyond the glass, endless snowy fields stretched into the horizon, swallowed by a relentless blizzard. [Odette] "Is this...... inside the Royal Palace of the Fenrir Kingdom?" She traced the rough-hewn stone of the walls. Despite her thin dress, the biting chill of the north failed to

[Odette] "What are you doing? You should leave." [Karl] "Am I still beautiful to you, Master? Am I still your most precious possession?" Though he was only seventeen—younger than the other male leads—Karl possessed a gravity that demanded attention. [Odette] "......Yes. Of course." [Karl] "Then I understand even less. You finally held your desire in your hand. Why did you try to take your own life?" He spoke with a dry, hollow voice as he knelt before her. He brushed a stray

[Karl has entered a 20-meter radius.] [Verifying Loathing levels...…] [Specific Loathing details unavailable (Conditions unmet)] [An increase in Loathing detected. (+5)] Her lungs burned. [Odette] "Cough, hack!" [Karl] "Master, command me to save you immediately." [Odette] "Cough, Karl......" [Karl] "Hurry, Master." [Odette] "Save me. Now. Cough, cough!" She gasped out the command. [Karl] "By your will." As if he had been waiting for those exact words, he pulled her from the

Odette perched on the flat rock at the very edge of the pond's shallow end. A single step backward led to a sudden, treacherous drop into the depths. She slumped her shoulders, feigning a total loss of motor control from the sleeping incense. [Paula] "Miss, do you remember? This is your reserved seat." She unbuckled the leather belt from her waist. [Paula] "You've been acting quite bold lately. It seems I've been neglectful with your education, and you've grown arrogant as a

Throughout the carriage ride, Paula basked in the memory of a perfect evening. Count Köndel—his refined demeanor, his warm smile, and that gentle, velvet voice. His suit, his watch, his shoes... everything screamed wealth. Only masters of their craft produced such items, pieces even a Count would struggle to acquire. The rumors of his fertile lands and vast inheritance appeared accurate. However, her ecstatic expression shattered the moment the carriage reached the ivory gat

The time to sever ties with Sasha had undeniably arrived. Unlike Ulrich, who had been groomed as a young Count, Sasha was a vulgar embarrassment. Her exclusion and the subsequent mockery she endured in high society were pathetic. He had never once regarded such a woman as his wife. Though he had married her out of financial necessity, her father—that so-called father-in-law—was intolerable. The man had tried to leash Ulrich just because he had borrowed a bit of money. Before

After parting ways with Viktor, she ducked into the ladies' room before returning to the banquet hall. She needed to ensure no seams had split and no part of her attire remained out of place. Fortunately, her gown remained perfectly intact. I nearly suffered a heart attack, thinking my secret as a fake Purifier had been exposed. In the world of <The Only Savior>, purification functioned like water, while the Purifier's will acted as the tap. In this universe, purification onl