IHDOE Ch 13

[Satina] "Come to think of it, I should give you a name. You can't keep using that number."

[No. A1687] "It does not matter to me. Please call me whatever is convenient."

No. A1687. Usually shortened to 687 or 7, it was a designation created to manage him like livestock.

In the game, the heroine gave this man the name 'Ruin.' It meant 'loyal knight' in an ancient language. Along with that name, she gifted him a prized sword, cheering his future forward.

A loyal knight sounds fine, but……

Satina thought coldly. Did his eventual betrayal bring her grief?

No, knowing he would betray her anyway meant using him held no moral burden even if he sought to use her in return.

I am merely using you for my Normal Ending as well.

Satina and No. A1687 would remain together only until the Summer Foundation Festival this year.

Once that day passed, she would leave for the free city of Planchel, and whatever life the man led afterward held no connection to her.

Yet a life bound so tightly somewhere, forced to watch another's mood, brought a lingering sorrow to both of them. So, to let him fly freely to an endlessly distant place—.

[Satina] "Let us go with Katan."

In an instant, a strange light flickered in his black eyes for the first time.

[Satina] "It means 'wing' in the ancient language. Do you like it?"

Intense longing settled inside his jet-black eyes. However, he closed his eyes immediately, concealing the emotion revealed in his gaze.

Instead, he whispered to Satina with a burning voice.

[Katan] "I like it. Whatever my master gives me, there is no chance I dislike it. But this name……"

His voice, consistently indifferent until now, trembled faintly.

[Katan] "It is very enchanting."

[Liv] "Quest complete."

[Liv] "No. A1687's Affection increased by 5."

[Liv] "Male Lead Target 'No. A1687' changed to 'Katan'."

---

After finishing a late meal, Satina instructed her maid to summon the rat beastkin brought along with Katan.

[Satina] "Your name?"

[Wazl] "W-Wazl!"

At her question, the child with grey hair, brown eyes, and scattered freckles across his cheeks answered while trembling. Asking a simple name caused such shivering that worry arose whether he might faint again.

Satina slowly observed Wazl's appearance. Possessing the rat beastkin traits of large, round ears and a thin, long tail, the child was small and fragile even compared to human peers.

They said he was captured by the slave trader not long ago.

Wazl bowed his head deeply to Satina, begging.

[Wazl] "I-I am sorry! I was wrong! M-My brother is probably looking for me! Please send me back!"

[Satina] "Brother?"

[Wazl] "My brother told me to stay in that spot, but I got lost…… Sniff."

He spoke as tears dripped down.

Rather than a child bought legally from parents, the slave trader had kidnapped a lost boy.

Of course, under Imperial law that is illegal, but Wazl is a beastkin.

According to temple doctrine, God loved the humans created first above all else. Thus, the Empire thoroughly discriminated against non-human races, namely beastkin.

Reporting the kidnapping of a beastkin like Wazl would only prompt pretending to search.

[Satina] "Is your brother a rat beastkin like you?"

[Wazl] "Y-Yes!"

Good, he is the child I thought.

She answered with a gentle smile.

[Satina] "Do you remember where your home is? Shall I take you there?"

[Wazl] "Sniff, well…… I don't know. It was a dark, black place……"

Rat beastkin mainly used a small size to travel through hidden side paths unnoticed by people, making memorizing paths difficult for young Wazl.

[Wazl] "I-I am a complete fool. My brother told me to stay still in that spot, but I disobeyed him…… Waaah!"

He burst into loud crying. Satina wiped his cheeks with a handkerchief, comforting him until his crying stopped.

Once crying ceased and Wazl sniffled, he looked at Satina with a far more relaxed face.

[Satina] "Sending you back is not difficult, but if you leave, do you have somewhere to go?"

[Wazl] "N-No…… But……"

[Satina] "Then if you don't mind, will you stay at the mansion and help with my work? Ah, I will pay wages, of course."

[Wazl] "Wages? You mean you will give me money?"

His eyes sparkled.

[Satina] "Yes, it is not a massive amount, but I will pay fair compensation matching the work you do."

[Wazl] "T-Thank you! Thank you!"

He bowed his head repeatedly in gratitude.

When he stepped out of the room, Cheney approached with sparkling eyes.

[Satina] "Why? Do you have something to say?"

Cheney shook her head back and forth wildly.

[Cheney] "No, it is nothing at all."

[Satina] "Is that so? If anything feels difficult while working, tell me anytime."

[Cheney] "Yes!"

Somehow she has more motivation than usual.

While Satina tilted her head in curiosity, Cheney asked.

[Cheney] "By the way, what tasks shall I assign to that child?"

[Satina] "Anything. He seems meticulous with his hands, so assigning cleaning works well."

[Cheney] "C-Cleaning?"

[Satina] "Why?"

[Cheney] "But that boy is a rat beastkin. They say all rat beastkin love filth, so is assigning cleaning to that child fine?"

[Satina] "He is a person too, so why would he love filth? Let him try first, and if he lacks talent, assign another task then."

[Cheney] "Understood."

[Satina] "And this."

She handed a beautifully wrapped macaron to Cheney.

[Satina] "Last time, I noticed you liked macarons from this shop. Working brings hunger, so eat it as a snack."

---

Cheney hugged the macaron Satina handed her tightly against her chest.

How can our lady be so kind and gentle? I made the right choice not quitting after all.

When she first heard news of becoming Satina's maid under the Young Duke's order, Cheney collapsed on the spot from shock.

Lady Satina! No way!

While all masters of House Bersabet had reputations for being difficult to serve, Satina was the hardest master of all.

Until recently, servants in the mansion looked down upon Satina, but after the events of her birthday, their evaluation of her flipped completely.

After the uproar that day, the maid serving Satina was expelled from the mansion and lost her life. Though the butler claimed it was a false rumor, his attitude made servants fear even more. What on earth happened for a maid to lose her life?

Amidst dread, Cheney received the order from the butler to care for Satina. She felt terrified enough to write a resignation letter and flee the mansion that very day.

However, quitting was impossible due to the many family members depending on her. If she quit her job, her mother and younger siblings would starve to death.

While shivering in sheer terror, Satina offered a smile first and spoke.

[Satina] "You said your name is Cheney, right? Let's get along well from now on."

And the Satina she came to know while staying together differed completely from the rumors.

During the first few days with Satina, nervousness caused Cheney to commit mistakes like spilling tea water onto dresses or bringing meals while forgetting forks. However, Satina generously forgave her mistakes and shared favorite snacks and candies with her.

Whenever Satina offered warm words with a smile, she felt upset, wondering why bad rumors surrounded such a wonderful person.

A rumor heard right on cue helped clear Cheney's misunderstanding as well.

[Maid] "You know Marie, who was previously Lady Satina's maid before getting expelled? It turns out she put poison in Lady Satina's meal."

[Cheney] "What? P-Poison? Really?"

[Maid] "Yes. My goodness, I knew she had a mean side, but I never imagined it was to that degree."

Listening to other maids talking, Cheney thought to herself.

Poor Lady Satina!

To think the previous maid was expelled for such a reason. Ignorant of the truth, she had doubted such a good lady.

Our lady is such a wonderful person.

Though surprised when Satina bought a young beastkin slave, hearing her promise to return the child to his family and even pay wages earned absolute admiration.

As expected of our lady! She brought him here to care for him before he got sold off to a strange place!

Furthermore, Satina paid no mind to the child being a filthy, smelly rat beastkin.

Our lady is definitely a true saintess, not just a saintess candidate.

Clenching both fists, Cheney looked at Wazl and resolved inwardly.

Alright, following Her Ladyship's wish, I will care for this child well and become a splendid maid!

---

Satina rested her chin on her hand, watching Wazl clean the room. Though gaunt with hollow eyes when first brought in, proper meals and sleep over the past few days brought a healthy glow to his skin.

Overflowing with enthusiasm, he knew how to clean spots Cheney missed thoroughly. Thanks to that, Satina's room maintained a state cleaner than anywhere else in the ducal mansion.

After wiping window crevices for a long time, Wazl looked at his blackened rag with a proud face and ran over to Satina.

[Wazl] "I-I wiped everything!"

[Satina] "Good job. It became clean. Wazl is meticulous with his hands."

Offering honest praise to his Praise me face made him blush red with joy.

[Satina] "Cheney, you worked hard too. You taught him well."

[Cheney] "It is a task assigned by My Lady. Working hard is only natural."

Not forgetting to praise Cheney standing nearby made her shrug in excitement.

If every day were this peaceful, it would be wonderful……

Yet sinking into this peace promised nothing but death waiting for her.

She thought while drinking tea. Alright, then shall I head out to greet a guest soon?

---

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