IHDOE Ch 31

[Satina] "Which brings me to why I'm here. I have a proposal."

[Laura] "A proposal...?"

[Satina] "Surely you aren't satisfied with just this. Don't you want revenge on Mattrans' head tailor—the one who framed you?"

A sudden warmth flared in Laura's chest. She had been cast out from her former shop under the false accusation of stealing another designer's work. Wanting to eclipse the head tailor who ruined her was only natural.

[Satina] "So why not form a real partnership? I'll elevate you into the empire's top designer. I'll wear only your creations to every ball I attend."

It was an extraordinary proposition—becoming her exclusive designer guaranteed prestige. As Satina's renown soared, her boutique would inevitably flourish alongside it. And in her estimation, Satina possessed more than enough capability to reach the apex of noble society.

Laura hesitated briefly.

[Laura] "...Then what do you require in return, my lady?"

[Satina] "Information."

She offered a light answer.

[Satina] "Nobles coming for dress fittings rarely travel alone. They arrive with an entourage of servants. Every piece of idle chatter they exchange becomes invaluable intelligence."

Laura reached her decision quickly. Success in the fashion industry demanded more than pure skill; the influence of one's patron mattered just as much.

Entrusting her future to someone who had already delivered immense profit was the obvious choice. Above all, as a designer, she was captivated by a deep curiosity to see just how high this noblewoman would rise.

A subtle desire took root: when Satina finally stood at the radiant summit, Laura wanted her to be wearing one of her gowns.

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[Liv] "An excellent decision. Liv admires the Player's strategic choice.

The more famous Laura's boutique becomes, the more information the Player will gather. Though noblewomen's gossip may seem trivial, it often conceals crucial leads.

How you leverage that intelligence depends on your skill, Player, though Liv knows you possess talent in abundance."

Satina smirked.

[Satina] "I appreciate the vote of confidence."

[Liv] "Liv is merely stating the obvious."

Satina hummed thoughtfully.

[Satina] "Anyway... Target Character Number 3..."

To achieve the Normal Ending, she needed to raise the affection level of three out of five capture targets to at least 50.

Her fiancé, Lexion, was already discarded. Recalling how shamelessly he had addressed her after being caught kissing another woman brought a wave of nausea.

She also abandoned Target Number 5—whose identity remained unknown, but whose affection sat at a disastrous negative 60. Sharlan had caused utter chaos with an affection rating of 10. A rating of negative 60 was incomprehensible. He would probably swing a sword at her the second their eyes met.

With two of the five targets written off, only her stepbrother Sharlan, the slave Katan, and Target Number 3 remained.

Satina exhaled a long sigh as the Grand Temple materialized beyond the carriage window.

[Satina] "I was hoping for someone normal this time."

[Liv] "Belated wishes will not alter the designated targets."

She glared at the empty air.

[Satina] "It's a dating sim, isn't it? I should at least be allowed to hope for someone my type."

[Liv] "What is the Player's ideal type?"

[Satina] "Someone gentle, kind, mentally resilient, and harmless—like a brown-haired florist. Ideally, a tall, broad-shouldered guy who acts like a giant, affectionate dog."

[Liv] "..."

Liv offered no response.

A tinge of melancholy washed over Satina.

Right. If a man like that actually existed in this game, the endings wouldn't have been such a trainwreck…

Wait, no. Maybe there's an ending where I elope with a sweet florist and get murdered by Sharlan instead?

[Liv] "If the Player intends to proceed with the plan, this initial encounter will be crucial."

[Satina] "I know, I know. That's why I'm dressed like this."

Her reflection in the carriage glass revealed a woman with straight black hair—once so familiar, now replaced in daily life by vibrant gold. Softened by subdued makeup, wearing a modest dress and a plain white kerchief, she looked less like a noblewoman and more like a common town girl.

To avoid drawing attention, Satina ordered the carriage to stop a short distance from the Grand Temple.

She offered a modest donation at the entrance and slipped inside alone. Clad in unassuming attire, she passed the guarding knights without attracting so much as a second glance.

Situated in the imperial capital, the Grand Temple rivaled the Imperial Palace in sheer scale and grandeur.

Satina bypassed the main sanctuary where worshippers gathered, steering her steps toward a dilapidated chapel tucked away in a quiet corner.

Neglected for years due to its secluded position, the chapel bore the quiet marks of disuse. Weeds sprouted through the cobblestones, and a thick blanket of dust coated the wooden pews. Fractured stone statues wore serene smiles, illuminated by sunlight filtering through aged stained glass.

The scene brought to mind the reward tip she had unlocked after the successful party.

Tip: He is deeply devout. Even on Mondays, when no official services take place, he offers solitary prayers. Visiting a deserted chapel on that day may grant you an encounter.

Fortuitously, the day following the banquet was a Monday.

Satina bowed her head slightly and clasped her hands, assuming the posture of a devout worshipper. Yet no prayer left her heart.

I already know you won't answer my prayers anyway.

Images of the game's various bad endings flashed through her mind. Even as she bled out, the original Satina had cried out to God, desperately pleading for salvation from a deity whose presence she had never once felt. She had believed that if she remained faithful, God would eventually gaze upon her.

But God never answered. Divine favor belonged solely to the story's heroine. Satina's designated role was nothing more than a villainess meant to be overcome. Being crushed and stripped of everything she possessed was the destiny ordained for her.

It had been no different back when she was Yoo Suha. Through her parents' divorce, their remarriages, and her painful integration into a new household, she had prayed relentlessly—and God had ignored her every single time.

So Satina stopped praying. The only things she could rely on were her own intelligence and capabilities.

I will reach the Normal Ending no matter what. I'll seek asylum in the Free City-State of Planchel and finally live my own life.

She was willing to do whatever it took. Smiling at the stepbrother who despised her, putting on this ridiculous charade... none of it mattered.

Soft footsteps rustled across the stone floor. Sensing the presence stopping beside her, Satina slowly opened her eyes.

[Liv] "You have encountered Target Character Number 3 for the first time!"

[Liv] "Renown increases by 2."

A gentle voice broke the silence.

[Serpens] "Ah, my apologies. Did I disturb your prayer?"

Her immediate impression was striking: He is so pure.

Short silver hair and innocent green eyes. Draped in a pristine white uniform that framed broad shoulders, he stood bathed in afternoon sunlight—radiating an untainted, almost sacred purity.

Name: Serpens Santorel

Occupation: High Priest

Current Status: Intrigued and curious about the unfamiliar worshipper.

Satina recalled his background from the game. Abandoned at the temple gates as an infant, he had been raised within its holy walls. Blessed with immense divine power from birth, he was a man of rigid principles and unwavering faith. In the original story, he served as a supportive older-brother figure and a reliable patron to the heroine.

Consequently, he deeply loathed Satina—who, despite being a Saintess candidate, defied divine teachings by harboring jealousy toward the heroine and plotting her downfall.

He was a priest who preached divine love and mercy for all sinners, insisting that everything should be forgiven. Yet, upon learning what Satina had done to the heroine, that same forgiving man had spearheaded the movement to condemn and execute her.

Since he didn't have a romantic route with the heroine, I thought he'd be irrelevant to me. Who knew he'd actually be one of the male leads?

When she first discovered his identity as a target, the sheer absurdity had nearly made her burst out laughing.

Who designed these targets?

How could every single option be so fundamentally incompatible with me?

I can hardly wait to see who Target Number 5 turns out to be.

She suppressed a rueful laugh. For now, handling the priest in front of her was the priority.

[Liv] "Because this is your first encounter, affection will be evaluated based on initial impressions and rumors.

Requesting the Constellation of Destiny to measure Serpens' affection toward the Player.

Time remaining until affection measurement: 30 minutes."

Fortunately or unfortunately, Serpens had just returned to the Grand Temple after a prolonged external assignment.

Having only heard rumors about Satina, he had never seen her in person—and thus had no reason to suspect the woman standing before him was the infamous noblewoman.

Had he known her true identity, he would have fixed her with a look of utter contempt rather than initiating conversation.

Satina resolved to exploit this advantage fully, concealing her identity while building his favor.

This act wouldn't work on the others, but it's bound to work on a straight-laced priest.

There was an old saying that deceiving a priest doomed one to hell, but she didn't care.

She was already living in hell.

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