IHDOE Ch 30

[Satina] "Should I cry? Why would I?"

[Lexion] "Because you saw me kissing another woman."

What kind of nonsense is this again?

A dry laugh escaped her lips at his shameless statement. So she offered an amused smile instead.

[Lexion] "Why are you laughing?"

[Satina] "No reason, just finding it laughable that Your Highness thinks that way."

Avoiding his touch, she spoke.

[Satina] "What kind of relationship do we share that would cause me to throw a crying fit in that situation?"

[Lexion] "It is not as though you lack the right. You are my fiancée."

[Satina] "Ah, so it is. Now that I think about it, we are still engaged."

[Lexion] "Still?"

Should I bring up breaking the betrothal now? No, let us discuss it with Sharlan later.

Lately, Sharlan's Affection was rising steadily, making it seem possible to bring up breaking the betrothal soon at this rate.

[Satina] "Do as you wish. Your Highness meeting this woman and that woman is hardly new, so throwing a crying fit over such things now would strike anyone as ridiculous."

[Lexion] "When you threw such a fit during your birthday?"

[Satina] "I am reflecting on that incident myself."

At her serene response, a spark flickered within his indifferent golden eyes. He appeared intrigued by Satina's uncharacteristic demeanor.

At that moment, the music playing at the ball transitioned into a dance tune. Lexion extended his hand toward Satina like an act of generosity.

[Lexion] "Let us dance once."

He acted as if offering this dance would soothe her, assuming she was sulking over the previous incident. Right on cue, Sharlan—who was looking for Satina—approached her.

[Sharlan] "Here you were, Sister. Ah, Your Highness is here as well."

Noticing Lexion belatedly, Sharlan wore a complex expression, subtly pulling Satina toward himself to widen the gap between her and Lexion.

Noticing Sharlan's move, Lexion provocatively wrapped an arm around Satina's shoulder, pulling her to his side instead.

[Lexion] "Long time no see, Young Duke. Many people seek you out due to the newly sold ointment, so is it fine for you to stand around like this?"

[Sharlan] "Though many seek me, could it compare to Your Highness? Above all, I promised to dance with my sister at this ball."

[Lexion] "Ah, you need not concern yourself with that matter. I shall look after Satina myself."

[Sharlan] "What do you mean by that?"

At his question, Lexion replied with a composed face.

[Lexion] "Does saying I shall dance with my fiancée feel so strange to you?"

Strange indeed. Satina answered inwardly.

A man who never paid attention to whatever she did suddenly asking her to dance now—what man wouldn't find that suspicious?

[Sharlan] "Sister agreed to dance with me."

[Lexion] "What matters is her choice."

Lexion extended his hand toward her once more.

[Lexion] "Let us go; the song will end at this rate."

[Sharlan] "Sister."

Two of the empire's most coveted bachelors, gathering in one place, drew curious gazes from everyone nearby.

I certainly need not worry about dress sales.

Forget the three dresses she’d promised Laura—thirty of them would sell easily and turn a handsome profit.

Separately from that, a headache brewed. She couldn't comprehend why men who usually ignored her like a dog staring at a chicken suddenly squabbled among themselves.

The past Satina's course of action in this situation was predetermined. She would have taken Lexion's extended hand with joy, touched by his attention and grateful simply to dance with him.

However, recalling the face that serenely kissed another woman just moments ago, she held no desire to do so. Thus, she took Sharlan's hand instead of Lexion's.

Besides, taking his hand actually makes it easier to call off the engagement anyway.

[Liv] "Sharlan's Affection increased by 2. Lexion's Affection increased by 3."

Choosing Sharlan explained his rise in Affection, but Lexion's reason was obvious.

He views me as a toy.

After acting like an obedient puppy regardless of what he did, Satina's unfamiliar reaction piqued his interest.

That ends now.

She smiled at Lexion.

[Satina] "Let us go, Sharlan."

[Sharlan] "Yes, Sister."

Sharlan replied with a bright voice, uncharacteristic of him. Then, obediently following like a dog accompanying its master, he stepped onto the dance floor with her.

Lexion stared intently at Satina's retreating figure as she held Sharlan's hand and moved away.

[Lexion] "Amusing."

Did she always possess a face like that, speaking in such a manner? He tried to recall her face on her birthday. Nothing came to mind.

By contrast, the face of the woman who’d challenged him moments ago was burned into his memory—so fiercely alive, with those provocative red lips.

It felt as though he met her face properly for the first time.

Because she can use holy power again? Could that be the sole reason?

Even so, Satina was merely Satina—a foolish woman who looked upon him desperately as if he were her savior, harboring such devotion that she knew no bounds.

Piquing mild interest was one thing, yet it differed little from tossing a pebble into the ocean. However, even he couldn't know how far the ripples caused by that pebble would spread.

---

Satina let out a deep sigh, rubbing her brow.

Exhausted.

She knew Lexion would attend, but encountering him like that was unexpected.

And I never expected him to be a target character.

Being her fiancé made it somewhat natural, yet what was there to like about a man who abandoned her while committing adultery with another woman?

I loved him.

The past Satina loved such a man with all her heart. Believing Lexion was the sole person who could save her from this hellish ducal family, she assumed some tiny fragment of affection existed behind their engagement, regardless of why it was formed.

Clinging to such futile hope, she endured whatever Lexion did, striving to earn his favor.

None of that matters anymore.

She merely desired to break the betrothal with him as soon as possible and draw closer to the Normal Ending.

Either way, things are going smoothly for now.

[Liv] "Through attendance at this ball, the player's Fame finally crossed out of negative numbers. Congratulations!."

Though still a figure lacking compared to the original heroine, escaping negative numbers was something to celebrate.

[Satina] "Shall I check Affection levels after a long time?"

[Liv] "Requesting the Constellation of Destiny to measure player 'Satina's' bonds.

Lexion: Affection: 3

Sharlan: Affection: 27

Target 3: Unmet

Katan: Affection: 28

Target 5: Affection: -60"

[Satina] "Sharlan's Affection figure is quite high."

[Liv] "Correct."

[Satina] "Judging by how things are going, I should be able to call off the engagement soon. Though I definitely didn't expect him to be one of the targets.”

She recalled the info about Target 3—the reward she’d earned for pulling off the ball.

[Satina] "Then, before meeting that fellow, shall I visit Laura, who crafted the dress?"

---

When she arrived at Laura's boutique, complete chaos reigned inside.

[Customer] "Is this the place that crafted the dress worn by the Bersabet ducal daughter yesterday? I wish to order a dress to wear to the next ball."

[Customer] "Our young lady wishes to purchase a summer dress. Naturally, that is possible, right?"

[Customer] "Wait! Don't cut in there! We were ordering first!"

Desperately shouting among maids sent by their masters, Laura called out.

[Laura] "W-Wait. Please wait! One person at a time! I shall take orders slowly, one person at a time!"

Only after the commotion subsided did Laura spot Satina. Disheveled, she closed the boutique door and looked at Satina.

[Laura] "You arrived……"

[Satina] "You look busy?"

[Laura] "Yes, thanks to you……"

With an exhausted face, she guided Satina inside. She knew yesterday was the day of the Imperial Ball, as the dress she crafted for her was unveiled to the world.

Though enchanted into crafting the dress for Satina, countless worries plagued her before sending it out.

Hearing that she agreed to make a dress for Satina free of charge, an acquaintance scolded her for her foolishness.

"You are a fool. Do you believe those words? Do you really not know who Satina is? Do you think a dress will sell just because that trashy ducal daughter wears it? Rather, you should worry whether notoriety taints your dress!"

Laura understood her acquaintance's concerns completely. She might have thought the same before meeting Satina in person. Yet sitting idle meant bankruptcy due to a lack of customers.

She thought this dress might become her final creation. Pouring her soul into completing the dress with such thoughts, she found it magnificent.

It would be wonderful if promotions went well like this……

After sending the dress to Satina, anxiety kept Laura awake from the start of the ball until this morning.

Arriving at the boutique with a dark face, crowds swarmed the narrow alleyway.

What is this? Why are so many people here? Did a murder case break out?

Terrified, she attempted to open the boutique door, only for the swarming crowd to rush toward her instantly.

[Customer] "Is this the boutique that crafted Lady Satina's dress?"

[Customer] "The dress! Can we purchase the dress?!"

After that, scenes like the one Satina witnessed unfolded.

Laura spent the entire day attending to maids and receiving orders. Yet those unable to place orders far outnumbered those who did.

Laura stole a glance at Satina seated across from her.

I heard both the Crown Prince and Young Duke Bersabet requested a dance from her yesterday.

When two men who never gave Satina a second glance suddenly took notice, everyone assumed her dress was behind it. Either way, sales went up, which was an absolute blessing for Laura.

Setting down her teacup, Satina spoke.

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