IHDOE Ch 27

[Sharlan] "Sister, can you introduce me to the person who made this ointment?"

[Satina] "Of course. I called him because I wanted to introduce him to you anyway. He should arrive soon……"

Right on cue, someone knocked on the office door.

[Satina] "Ah, he must be here."

The door opened, and the sight of the person appearing made Sharlan's eyes widen.

Though his wrinkled face aged compared to memory, his identity stood clear.

Clenton Highrenden.

A famous herbal expert whose name virtually every imperial citizen had heard at least once.

How is that man here……?

Did he not retire several years ago, expressing a desire to spend his remaining life quietly and refusing meetings with others?

However, one fact stood absolute. If word spread that this magnificent medicine was crafted by this famous herbal expert, the extract sold by Radius would fade completely from people's memories. Bersabet would earn even more money than before.

[Clenton] "Now then, shall we discuss contract terms, Young Duke?"

At his words, Sharlan's eyes sparkled. If he missed this contract, he could offer no defense, even if labeled a monumental fool.

[Sharlan] "I will grant twenty percent of sales revenue for every bottle sold."

[Clenton] "That is far too little. You must grant at least fifty percent."

[Sharlan] "What if our side supplies the Gritanan extract instead?"

[Clenton] "That certainly helps…… yet twenty percent remains far too low."

Well done, well done.

Satina applauded inwardly, watching the conversation between the two.

All money earned by Clenton from selling the ointment would belong to his newly established merchant guild. Publicly, Clenton would act as the master of that merchant guild, but the true owner was Satina herself.

Of course, she had already concluded discussions regarding that matter with him beforehand.

[Satina] "Are you entirely fine with this? Letting me spend all that money as I wish?"

[Clenton] "What use does a withered body have for so much money? I need only enough to fund my research."

[Satina] "Hmm—"

[Clenton] "In that case, let us treat it as paying an advance to My Lady."

[Satina] "An advance?"

[Clenton] "Yes. That disciple who fed me poison is undoubtedly alive, living arrogantly somewhere. If you encounter him again, may I entrust him to My Lady then?"

His eyes, as he spoke, were stained with relentless hatred and betrayal.

[Satina] "Don't worry. Such matters are my specialty after all."

After hours of negotiation, a contract was signed at last.

[Clenton] "Then I shall take my leave first. Preparing sales for the ointment requires handling many tasks."

[Satina] "Indeed."

Clenton left the room first, leaving only Satina and Sharlan inside. Now came the time to collect the rest of her reward.

[Sharlan] "I didn't know you concealed such resourcefulness."

A strange tone of admiration slipped from his lips.

[Satina] "I didn't expect to hear such words from you."

[Sharlan] "Because facts are facts."

[Satina] "Was I helpful to you?"

[Sharlan] "Yes, immensely."

When first entrusting Satina with the task, he never imagined she would accomplish anything.

Yet now, he had to admit it. Far from resolving all the troubling issues harassing him, she provided even greater profits.

[Satina] "Then I am glad. I held no desire to receive punishment from you."

At her words, Sharlan recalled the conversation the two shared a few days ago.

[Sharlan] "You may assist with the work if you wish. However, Sister. What will you do if you prove useless in this matter? Though receiving no reward, could you not receive punishment instead? Do you still claim you will help me?"

Satina had accepted his unfair contract. And she assisted him beyond expectation.

[Sharlan] "Before starting this task, you explicitly stated you desired nothing."

[Satina] "Yes, I did. Being of help to you suffices for me."

[Sharlan] "Yes, you certainly did."

The expression on his face as he spoke appeared strange.

Gaining profit through Satina meant he ought to feel pleased. Yet strangely, his mind felt far from refreshed.

Satina read Sharlan's inner thoughts accurately.

I watched you hundreds of times while playing the game. It feels strange and uncomfortable. I know.

His life always consisted of financial transactions. His father starved or beat him whenever his results displeased the Duke, yet granted gold coins to praise his merits whenever he performed assigned tasks well.

[Satina] "I desire nothing. If your issue resolves cleanly so Father doesn't scold you, that suffices for me."

Smiling, Satina touched his cheek.

Sharlan felt conflicted. Though hating his abusive father, Sharlan was simultaneously a man who learned Duke Bersabet's methods most thoroughly.

If someone with severe trust issues is handed food out of nowhere, would they actually trust it enough to eat it?

No, absolutely not.

To him, Satina's goodwill would feel like a psychological burden he must repay someday.

He will want to repay this debt at all costs.

[Sharlan] "……Of course, though I stated so, I can't ignore this. State what you desire. I shall grant anything."

[Satina] "It is fine."

[Sharlan] "Don't do that; speak honestly."

[Satina] "It is fine. I acted to help my younger brother."

[Sharlan] "Still, you must have many needs. Do you desire jewels? A diamond necklace appeared at auction recently, so shall I purchase it for you? Ah, cash might prove better for various uses. Shall I fill a chest with gold coins for you? Or yes, what about a dress?"

The dress he had shredded to pieces flashed through his mind.

[Sharlan] "If the previous dress displeased you, I shall let you choose directly this time. How about renting out the most popular dress shop in the capital?"

[Satina] "I didn't act to receive such rewards."

At her serene words, Sharlan became the anxious one instead.

Lie. I know best what this woman needs.

Though a child of the same ducal house, nothing was granted to Satina, unlike him or his younger stepsister. Servants ignored her constantly, and her poverty forced her to wear outdated dresses handed down like charity by his stepsister.

Because he made her that way. Because he isolated Satina like that.

Speak. Ask me to buy jewels, ask me to buy dresses, tell me you need gold coins.

Glaring at Satina with bloodshot eyes, he pressed her.

Enjoying his gaze inwardly, Satina opened her lips slowly.

[Satina] "Then will you dance with me at the upcoming ball?"

[Sharlan] "……At the ball?"

[Satina] "Yes."

Sharlan couldn't comprehend her thoughts. He understood well how she was treated in high society. Yet a single dance would hardly improve her position.

She would remain known as a trashy ducal daughter in high society, suffering terrible treatment as always.

[Sharlan] "I can't comprehend you, Sister. Requesting a dress or gold coins would aid your situation far better than something like that."

[Satina] "That is true…… yet I don't wish to receive money from you. I helped you because we are family."

She offered a bashful smile.

[Satina] "However, um—dancing with my brother at a ball would make a wonderful memory, wouldn't it? We have never done so before."

Foolish woman.

Sharlan mocked her inwardly.

Regardless of how she accomplished this task, it was a golden opportunity that might never come again.

Had he stood in Satina's position, he would have demanded an immense sum of gold coins using this opportunity. He would have demanded the dismissal of every servant who ignored him.

Well, he would have brought them back later through some means to torment Satina anyway, but still……

Yet a mere memory? For an indefinite moment that would fade over time, she chose……

[Sharlan] "I can grant a dance anytime. Regretting later that you should have requested something else will prove useless."

It was strange. An unfamiliar emotion wriggled deep inside his throat. He should scoff at her as a foolish woman, yet laughter failed to emerge.

He couldn't identify what to call this emotion yet. He couldn't tear his eyes away from her smiling face.

[Liv] "Completing a difficult task perfectly spreads positive rumors about you among House Bersabet's servants.

Fame increased by 5. Sharlan's Affection increased by 3."

Unaware that she smiled while looking at the notification window.

---

The day of the Imperial Ball arrived at last. The biggest topic among nobles attending the Ball was Satina.

[Man] "Did you hear that rumor? Word says Lady Satina is attending the ball today."

[Woman] "My goodness! Really? How long has it been since her uproar at the Imperial Palace?! Servants and officials throughout the palace saw His Highness dragging her out like a dog……"

[Woman] "If it were me, shame would keep me from stepping anywhere near the Imperial Palace for a long time."

[Man] "Whomever she takes after, her brazenness is astounding!"

[Woman] "To think a girl like that—a useless saintess candidate with terrible holy power, who isn't even Duke Bersabet's biological daughter……"

[Woman] "By the way, who is her partner today? Surely she isn't coming alone again? Though His Highness holds a fiancée, he never attends balls together with her."

[Woman] "Don't say such things. Had you seen the dress Lady Satina wore to the last ball, you would offer gratitude for His Highness' mercy in not breaking the betrothal on the spot."

[Woman] "That purple dress? That was absolute garbage! Where on earth did she procure a dress that looked fashionable back in our grandmother's era?"

[Woman] "For the sake of my eyes, I pondered whether to gift her a dress myself!"

[Man] "Word says her escort today is Master Sharlan, but is that true?"

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