IHDOE Ch 12

Returning covered in blood was not an option, so after washing up at a nearby river, Satina returned to the mansion as the morning sun rose.

Down the stairs came Sharlan, fastening his cuff links. His eyebrows raised in displeasure upon seeing her.

[Sharlan] "It didn't even rain, so what is with that state? And……"

His gaze shifted to No. A1687 and the rat beastkin piggybacked on him.

[Sharlan] "What are those two? Judging by their looks, they resemble escaped slaves. Are you taking them in, Sister?"

He mocked, looking at No. A1687's appearance.

[Satina] "They didn't escape. I bought them."

[Sharlan] "You bought them? Where did you get the money, Sister?"

She replied with an indifferent voice.

[Satina] "I won it at a gambling house."

[Sharlan] "What did you say?"

He approached immediately, scanning her appearance.

[Sharlan] "Are you out of your mind? What if rumor spreads that members of House Bersabet frequent such places!"

[Satina] "I possess enough sense, so don't worry. Besides, you engage in light gambling occasionally as well."

[Sharlan] "What I do is light gambling! A gambling house of all places. Do you even know how dangerous such places are before speaking? What if something happened to you……!"

[Satina] "I don't understand why you react with such anger. Whatever happens to me is none of your concern anyway, is it?"

[Sharlan] "If you wish to escape this mansion, leave. No one will catch you. However, ensure you don't tarnish the family name, Sister."

Satina recalled words he uttered in the past. She wondered if he would bother holding a funeral even if she froze to death on the street at this rate.

Since she caused no harm to the family, she couldn't understand why he reacted with such anger. She stated facts calmly, yet Sharlan glared at her with an expression signaling utter dissatisfaction.

Soon, however, his face brightened into its usual radiant look.

[Sharlan] "Very well. Do as you wish."

He whispered in a gentle voice.

[Sharlan] "If you wish to take them in, Sister, do so. If you suffer an accident while bringing in slaves of unknown origin, or if you get hurt, or if your possessions are stolen, none of it is my concern."

[Satina] "……"

[Sharlan] "Since you desire to care for those slaves so much, Sister, how could I as a brother stop you from doing what you want? Isn't that right? So do as you wish. Whatever happens to you is none of my business."

Well, whomever I take in will prove better than the maid you assigned to me.

She inwardly recalled the maid who attempted to feed her poison on her birthday.

[Sharlan] "Lowly beastkin and slaves of unknown origin. They suit a sister who lacks a single proper capability."

He spoke with cold eyes, contrasting the sweet smile on his lips.

[Sharlan] "I hope you garbage get along well together."

He brushed past her.

Either way, Satina had expected more of a struggle, making entry into the mansion surprisingly smooth.

Under the butler's guidance, No. A1687 and the unconscious rat beastkin headed to another room, while Satina returned directly to her bedchamber.

Despite everything, seeing her familiar bed brought a surge of forgotten fatigue. Without thinking to change her clothes, she collapsed onto the plush bed.

I am exhausted.

She thought, resting her cheek on a pillow.

I must sleep plenty to recover physical strength, check on the male lead's condition upon waking, and ask the unconscious boy his name as well……

Pondering tasks ahead, she fell fast asleep.

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[Cheney] "A-Ah, My Lady. Something terrible happened. Please wake up. Quickly."

At Cheney's tearful voice, Satina opened her eyes slowly.

[Cheney] "My Lady, the person you brought caused a major problem right now……"

[Satina] "What?"

Drowsiness vanished instantly. The battle scene witnessed at dawn remained vividly burned into her memory.

[Satina] "What terrible thing happened?"

[Cheney] "W-Well……"

Listening to her report, Satina threw on clothes hurriedly and rushed toward the dining hall.

The moment she took in the dining hall's state, she pressed a hand to her forehead.

The inside of the dining hall was an absolute mess.

Shattered plates lay scattered across the floor, while several servants gripped long wooden sticks, surrounding No. A1687 in threat. Beneath him, another servant lay restrained with a twisted arm.

[Satina] "What on earth is this scene……"

At her mutter, another servant trembling near the entrance spoke.

[Servant] "I-I don't know. We came to eat together, but that slave tasted the food and spat it right out. Seeing that, several servants close to the head chef picked a fight, and then……"

And then this happened, I see.

A few servants bothered by the new slave had attempted to establish dominance, only to suffer a thorough beating.

[Servant] "Y-You! You arrogant slave bastard! Do you think you will walk away unharmed after doing this!"

[Servant] "Release Thomas at once!"

Servants threatened No. A1687 with long sticks in hand.

Ah, provoking him like that yields no good.

That guy was someone who tore people apart with bare hands.

Tension stretched taut in the dining hall's air. Since bloodshed would become irreversible, Satina resolved to intervene in the situation immediately.

[Satina] "That is enough."

At her voice, both confronting sides turned their eyes toward her.

[Servants] "My Lady!"

[No. A1687] "……"

She stepped between the servants and No. A1687.

Realizing that causing an uproar before their master yielded no benefit, the tension between the two sides eased significantly.

[Satina] "Release that person as well."

She gestured toward No. A1687. After brief hesitation, he released the servant he held restrained.

Shaking, Thomas scrambled frantically back among his friends.

[Satina] "Seeing how he runs, no one appears injured. Let us end this matter here."

[Servant] "However, My Lady! Do you know how arrogant that slave is! He turned against us……!"

Tilting her head, Satina looked down at the servant speaking to her.

[Satina] "Must I concern myself with such details?"

Her arrogant words rendered the servant speechless.

[Satina] "Punishing this slave is my responsibility as his owner, so there is no need for you to concern yourself."

She knew her current actions clearly favored No. A1687.

So what?

The servants followed Sharlan more than her anyway, so favoring No. A1687 over servants she had never met posed no issue.

Leaving the servants behind, she brought No. A1687 to her room. As she sat in a chair, he knelt naturally before her.

[Satina] "Why did you do that in the dining hall? Was there poison in the food?"

[No. A1687] "No."

[Satina] "Then why?"

[No. A1687] "The food is……"

Though she had not shared many conversations with him, he didn't seem like a person who held back words, making his hesitation surprising.

I hope it is something within my power to resolve.

Instead of pressing him, she waited patiently.

[No. A1687] "The food is…… strange."

[Satina] "Huh?"

[No. A1687] "There is no poison, but it is soft and warm…… strange. Is food not supposed to be cold and hard?"

Only then did she recall that the man before her had lived as a slave his entire life from birth.

House Bersabet was one of the empire's top noble houses; working here as a servant offered a far better life than an ordinary commoner's. They served soft bread and soup containing meat pieces—luxuries poor commoners never dared dream of.

Thus, to a man who had lived as a slave his entire life, such food felt utterly unfamiliar.

[Satina] "It is not strange. Such things will become natural from now on."

At least while under her care, she intended to ensure such treatment. Though unable to offer luxury, she wished to make warm meals and plush beds familiar to him.

Because that is how I can win his favor.

The man listened to her words with downcast eyes and a docile expression. Between his short hair, a black pattern coiled around his neck.

It was a slave mark.

Satina knew well that this man didn't follow her without reason.

At first glance, he appeared like a loyal hound following its master blindly, but in truth, No. A1687 in the game was exceptionally clever with a clear purpose.

His goal was singular: Freedom.

While not true for all slaves, slaves like him, possessing formidable combat power and high runaway risks, wore collars like that. If the owner uttered a keyword, regardless of distance, the keyword activated, causing instant death on the spot.

Since a mere slave stood no chance of removing that magic and fleeing, his sole path to freedom lay in his owner releasing him directly.

That was why No. A1687 acted so loyal toward her. Appealing to the pity of a naive noble lady carried a far higher probability of release than dealing with a hardened slave trader.

And the moment he gains freedom, he will kill me and flee far away.

Stroking his hair, Satina recalled his episode from the game.

In the game, No. A1687 served as the heroine's slave, offering devotion and loyalty. However, during the episode, he betrayed the heroine for his own freedom.

In the game, the heroine fell into a coma after facing a magical beast. Instead of saving her, he abandoned her and fled.

It was a calculated action born from the idea that the death of his owner—who held the keyword—would grant him true freedom.

Of course, he was captured by another male lead coming to rescue the heroine, falling into deep despair upon realizing death remained his only outcome for betraying the heroine.

Yet the angelic heroine forgave the betrayer, deeply moving No. A1687 into offering genuine loyalty from then on…… or so the story went.

This man acted so submissive and sweet solely to hear the release keyword.

At that moment, a chime sounded as a quest window popped up.

[Liv] "Quest: Give a name to No. A1687. Reward: No. A1687's Affection +5"

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