IHDOE Ch 108

Recent events shook the entire Empire.

People looked unfavorably upon Coraline for envying Satina and attempting to ruin her reputation through her father.

[Commoner] "Parents are not something one can choose at birth... Tsk, tsk, how could anyone act like that?!"

[Commoner] "By the way, why did Lady Radius do such a thing?"

[Commoner] "Do you not know?! They say she secretly harbored feelings for the Crown Prince! Rumors were rampant among the nobles that those two were already involved!"

In the midst of all this, stories surfaced that Coraline had acted out of obsession with the Crown Prince.

[Commoner] "My goodness. Fixated on an engaged man and envying his fiancée enough to commit such deeds? Pathetic, completely pathetic."

[Commoner] "How on earth did House Radius raise their daughter... Sigh."

People viewed Coraline with contempt for clinging to an engaged man. Minor criticisms emerged against the Crown Prince as well for dallying with such a woman. Yet those criticisms soon vanished, buried beneath the mountain of other malicious deeds Coraline had committed.

Grand Duchess Duskel badmouthed Coraline viciously, spilling stories about her extreme jealousy. She maligned and intentionally humiliated any noble lady who dared to wear the same color dress as her.

Once Coraline exposed her gambling debts to the authorities, their relationship fractured beyond repair.

Refusing to back down, Coraline retaliated by revealing the full extent of the Grand Duchess's addiction, the exact sum borrowed, and how a mere baron had dragged her around over that promissory note.

Every day, fresh and provocative rumors swept through social circles before anyone could separate truth from fiction.

Only one thing remained certain: Baron Galle faced life in prison, while the reputations of Grand Duchess Duskel and Coraline plunged into the gutter.

Both the Grand Duchess and Coraline would face ongoing investigations regarding their connections to Baron Galle for quite some time.

More importantly, not a single noble lady wished to attend parties hosted by either woman ever again.

In contrast, public opinion of Satina reversed completely.

[Coraline] "This is all because of Satina! She acts so innocent now, but do you know how cunning she really is?!"

Coraline insisted repeatedly that Satina was behind everything, yet nobody listened to a woman whose reputation lay in ruins. Instead, people felt only pity for Satina.

[Commoner] "My, my. They said the relationship between His Highness and Satina was strained, and it was all because of that woman."

[Commoner] "With such a crazy woman clinging to him, how could an innocent lady like Satina endure it?"

[Commoner] "Did she not cover the medical bills yesterday for a commoner harmed by her father?"

In the end, the public viewed the entire affair as three greedy individuals plotting scheme after scheme until their alliance tore itself apart.

---

Meanwhile, another person heard the news.

Bunny Plate, a restaurant near the capital, enjoyed considerable fame in the area. Though hardly lavish enough for nobility, the soups and fried chicken prepared by Bunny were so delicious and reasonably priced that the dining room filled to capacity if a guest arrived even slightly late.

Bunny had observed countless travelers over the years, but the group before her seemed remarkably unusual. Around dusk, a dozen guests arrived wearing white robes and armor bearing temple emblems, unmistakably priests and holy knights.

Why such exalted figures appeared at a modest tavern was puzzling enough, but the presence of the woman they guarded proved far more intriguing.

With brown hair and leaf-green eyes, the woman was not strikingly beautiful, but her cute, round face held an endearing charm that never grew tiresome.

The young woman scanned her surroundings with curious eyes before approaching one of the holy knights, her interest piqued by the name echoing through the tavern.

[S. Candidate] "That woman everyone has been talking about... Is she the Satina I know? The Saintess candidate?"

[H. Knight] "Yes, Candidate."

Bunny overheard their conversation and gasped in shock.

A Saintess candidate!

Though dressed modestly as if fresh from the countryside, she was actually a candidate for Saintess! If that was true, the massive escort from the temple made complete sense.

The young woman shook her head and spoke.

[S. Candidate] "Whoa, unreal. Unbelievable. My fantasy just completely shattered. I assumed a Saintess would be kind, but did you hear that? She reported her own biological father."

[H. Knight] "Being a Saintess candidate doesn't mean everyone becomes the Saintess. We must separate the wheat from the chaff to determine who the true Saintess is."

[S. Candidate] "Fascinating. So it is like a presidential candidate?"

[H. Knight] "A presidential candidate...?"

The holy knight paused at the unfamiliar term, prompting the young woman to wave her hand.

[S. Candidate] "Ah, well... anyway, not everyone becomes a Saintess. I get it."

[H. Knight] "I am honored to be of assistance."

[S. Candidate] "Once we reach the capital, I want to meet that girl first. Her face is pretty, but they say her personality is quite willful. Besides, is she not absurdly wealthy?"

[H. Knight] "Don't worry too much. We will always remain by your side, Candidate."

The holy knight offered comforting words in a steady tone as she let out a deep sigh.

---

Meanwhile, after gathering three recommendation letters, Satina officially submitted her application for the Empire's Golden Star. The title was granted to the most esteemed lady in the Empire.

Though other noblewomen gathered recommendation letters as well, Coraline's ruined reputation left Satina as the undisputed frontrunner.

With time left before the final evaluation for the Empire's Golden Star, she met with Hedzel in high spirits.

[Hedzel] "Are preparations for the final trial going well? Well, not that I need to worry. Once selected as the Golden Star, you are leaving right before the Summer Foundation Festival, right?"

[Satina] "Yes."

[Hedzel] "The schedule is so tight. Is there a reason you must seek asylum before the festival starts? Once you become the Golden Star, you will occupy the highest position, announce the start of the festival, and..."

[Satina] "No, I must leave before then. Otherwise, everything I have done so far will be in vain."

She spoke with firm resolve.

Satina and Hedzel had already discussed the system and the exact ending requirements. To achieve the Normal Ending, she had to cross the border into the free city-state of Planchel as a naturalized citizen before seven in the evening on the day the Festival commenced.

To prepare for that moment, she had already secured a new identity document and a residence across the border.

[Hedzel] "When you leave, the Empire will face its first Foundation Festival without a Golden Star."

[Satina] "Is that important?"

She held no lingering attachments to the Empire anyway. Once she escaped, she would never set foot in these lands again.

[Hedzel] "True. Who cares about a Foundation Festival? At any rate, I prepared the ship and escape route as discussed. So you can depart immediately after annulling the engagement."

He lowered his voice.

[Hedzel] "I am preparing a corpse to replace you as well."

Though unlikely, Satina feared someone might hunt for her after her disappearance.

Had she not experienced firsthand during a Bad Ending how persistent Sharlan became despite his resentment toward her?

Furthermore, Serpens harbored a strange sense of responsibility toward her. Learning of her disappearance might drive him to pursue her.

Because her pursuers held excessive wealth and power, a single stroke of bad luck could expose her destination.

Wanting to live freely under a clean identity without further ties to the Empire or its people, Satina decided to fake her death during her escape.

---

By the time she finished reviewing the plans with Hedzel and returned home to wash up, night had already fallen.

Satina lay on her bed and read the name on her new identity document again and again.

Satina Blumond.

A new surname untainted by the name Bersabet felt strange and wonderful.

[Satina] "Not much time left."

She rose from her bed and walked to the window.

From the birthday when the game first began until now, she had run without rest for nearly six months.

She stood by the window and recalled the view from that freezing winter day when flowers had bloomed outside.

Blooms defied the cold season, as if celebrating her birthday when no one else would. Now, flowers blossomed in full force without any need for miracles. Petals drifted through the dark night air with every gust of wind.

Perched atop a high tree branch sat Katan.

[Satina] "What are you doing up there?"

He turned his dark eyes toward her.

[Katan] "Ah."

He shifted toward her and spoke.

[Katan] "Noticing you liked these flowers, My Lady, I was gathering them."

Indeed, a bundle of blossoms rested in his arms.

[Satina] "For someone gathering so diligently, that doesn't look like many."

[Katan] "I selected only the prettiest from each tree. I wish to offer you only beautiful and precious things, My Lady."

[Satina] "What do you intend to do with flowers all of a sudden?"

[Katan] "To offer as a bribe while asking you to let me accompany you."

He looked at her and asked.

[Katan] "You are leaving before the Festival, are you not?"

[Satina] "I must leave. I shall arrange for you to become a knight..."

[Katan] "Did I not tell you? I hold no interest in becoming a knight. Remaining by your side is all I desire."

[Satina] "So you wish to come along as well?"

[Katan] "Yes."

[Satina] "There will be nothing gained by following me. I shall no longer be a ducal daughter, just a commoner."

[Katan] "It matters not. I am a slave. I wish to remain by your side, My Lady."

He stared at her with dark eyes.

[Katan] "Brewing lemon honey tea when sleep escapes you, bringing medicine when you are unwell."

He added with a touch of hurt in his voice.

[Katan] "Besides, you told me you would blow my head off if I departed first."

A faint laugh escaped her lips.

[Satina] "Alright. Let us go together. Before that..."

She checked Katan's affection level. His affection stood at 45.

Though she considered searching for items to raise his affection, using tricks on him felt wrong.

[Satina] "I wish you liked me more."

[Katan] "I revere you with all my heart even now."

[Satina] "A bit more."

Katan hesitated before speaking carefully.

[Katan] "Then..."

[Satina] "Yes."

[Katan] "Then please let me into your room."

[Satina] "Will that suffice?"

[Katan] "Yes, that will suffice."

[Satina] "Alright."

With her permission, Katan leaped lightly from the tree and landed on the window frame.

When their bodies pressed together, the flowers in his arms were crushed, releasing a rich floral scent.

[Satina] "Ah..."

At the same moment, his lips met hers.

[Katan's Affection increased by 5.]

[Katan's Affection reached 50.]

[Ending route destroyed. Unlocking Ending '099. Last Chance'.]

Along with the system notification she had not heard in a long time, Satina's consciousness drifted away...

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