IHDOE Ch 32
Updated: Aug 23
He looked down at her clasped hands, which were still held tightly together.
[Serpens] "Were you praying? I believe there are no services today."
[Satina] "Yes, I know. But surely praying to God isn't forbidden on non-service days?"
Anyway, having Serpens as a target isn't entirely a bad thing.
Unlike her mind-draining stepbrother or fiancé, winning Serpens over was simple.
[Serpens] "Indeed. The Lord is always with us." A warm smile touched his lips.
[Liv] "Serpens is moved by the Player's piety. Serpens' affection has increased by 1."
This guy is just obsessed with God.
He felt a profound attachment to the temple where he had grown up. He had favored the heroine because God chose her, and he had loathed Satina because she defied divine doctrine.
So if I act like a religious fanatic just like him before the heroine shows up, boosting his affection will be a breeze. Good thing I pretended to pray.
Satina completed her cold calculation, then offered a bitter smile.
[Satina] "...Is He really?"
[Serpens] "Of course. God loves all creation."
She lowered her gaze and whispered.
[Satina] "I hope so. Because He is all I have left to rely on."
What on earth could have pushed this woman to such suffering?
Serpens let out a remorseful sigh as he looked at her.
She was strikingly beautiful. Bathed in sunlight with her hands clasped in prayer, she resembled a devotional masterpiece painted by the era's greatest master.
Unaware of his approach, she had kept her eyes closed, praying for something with desperate fervor.
[Satina] "Because He is all I have left to rely on."
Serpens knew people who spoke with that expression all too well—those driven into a corner with nowhere left to turn except God.
Speaking with hollow eyes, she looked like a bird trapped in a cramped cage, unable to spread its wings. Her eyes held a sorrow so deep that, were he an ordinary man rather than a priest, he would have instinctively pulled her into an embrace to comfort her.
[Serpens] "If you don't mind, would you share your story with me?"
[Satina] "To a priest?"
[Serpens] "Yes. Unburdening your heart often brings ease."
As one who spread divine love, offering solace came naturally to him.
The woman hesitated.
[Satina] "No, I couldn't possibly."
Her answer surprised him. People pushed to the edge always sought someone to confide in. Unburdening themselves brought relief, and many believed confessing to a priest like Serpens eased the weight of their sins.
Yet she pressed her lips together and shook her head with quiet conviction.
Satina shook her head while watching his reaction. Though Serpens had no idea, every action she performed was a calculated imitation of the very event that originally won his favor for the heroine.
Bright and innocent though the heroine was, she faced occasional trials—such as Satina bullying her or overhearing Satina badmouthing her behind her back.
Whenever that happened, the heroine turned into a tragic maiden weeping from her wounds, and Serpens, who doted on her, flared with fury.
[Serpens] "Why are you crying? Who did this to you? Is it that woman Satina again?"
Each time, the heroine shook her head.
[Heroine] "No, I can't say."
[Serpens] "You...!"
[Heroine] "Please understand, Lord Serpens. I can't complain to you like a child anymore."
She would smile.
[Heroine] "They say God only gives His servants trials they can bear. Surely this, too, is a burden I must endure."
As expected, Satina's response visibly caught Serpens off guard. How many people could refuse when a handsome, devout High Priest offered a listening ear?
She ignored his startled reaction, putting on a melancholic expression.
[Satina] "Please understand, High Priest. I can't complain to you like a child."
Spilling every detail of her situation now would only earn his pity and a few prayers—meager prayers that were entirely useless to her. Boosting his affection demanded a long-term strategy.
So she recited the heroine's line once more. It was an answer overflowing with a piety she couldn't naturally fathom.
[Satina] "They say God only gives His servants trials they can bear. So tell me, High Priest... isn't this also a burden I am meant to endure?"
As expected, Serpens seemed profoundly moved by her response.
[Liv] "Serpens is deeply moved by the Player's piety. Serpens' affection has increased by 3."
For a first meeting, this was more than enough to capture him.
She rose to her feet.
[Satina] "Ah, look at the time... Forgive me, I must be going."
Serpens watched her receding back, only to spot an aged pendant left behind where she had been sitting.
[Serpens] "Wait...!"
He called out upon discovering the pendant, but whether she failed to hear him or was in a rush, she hurried out of the chapel.
The moment she stepped into the carriage, the system chime sounded.
[Liv] "Affection evaluation for Serpens has been completed.
Requesting the Constellation of Destiny to measure ties with Player 'Satina'."
Lexion: Affection 3
Sharlan: Affection 27
Serpens: Affection 25
Katan: Affection 28
Target 5: Affection -60
[Satina] "Serpens' affection rating is surprisingly high."
[Liv] "This rating was measured while he remained ignorant of the Player's true identity.
Should he discover who you are, his affection may plummet without warning. Please exercise caution."
Satina felt the breeze, significantly warmer now than on her birthday.
[Satina] "Don't worry, I have a plan. If I were worried about that, I wouldn't have disguised myself in the first place. Though considering I need to seek asylum before the Summer Foundation Festival, I'll have to move fast."
My targets are set.
She would raise her renown and family standing, break off her engagement with the Crown Prince, and seek asylum in the Free City-State of Planchel.
She desperately wished to still be enjoying this refreshing breeze even after summer had passed.
[Hedzel] "Here's the information you requested."
Satina looked down at the thick stack of papers Hedzel handed over, packed with details about Serpens. It cataloged who he had met since returning to the capital, his current activities, and even his favorite morning coffee recipe.
Since they only recently started dealing in intelligence, I was just testing them without high expectations... but the quality is astounding.
Fitting for someone destined to become the empire's premier information broker in just a few months.
Noticing her subtle astonishment, Hedzel rubbed the tip of his nose.
[Hedzel] "What? Impressed by how good I am?"
[Satina] "Yes."
[Hedzel] "Well, my kids worked hard. They were beyond motivated when they heard it was for you. Look at them right now."
He gestured with his chin toward his companions peeking from behind the wall.
[Hedzel] "I don't know how they heard you were coming today, but not a single one went to work—they've just been waiting for you."
[Hedzel] "Hey! Don't you all have plenty to do?"
[Crowd] "But Boss! Lady Satina is here!"
[Crowd] "That's right! She's been so busy lately, it's been ages since we last saw her!"
[Crowd] "I didn't even get to see Lady Satina go to the party!"
[Crowd] "Wait, me neither!"
[Crowd] "You too? Me three!"
A brave young rat beastkin scurried up to Satina, wearing a bright yellow dress that appeared brand new, and spun in a circle before her.
[Child] "I bought this with the money Lady Satina sent! How does it look?"
[Satina] "It's lovely. It suits you well."
[Child] "Hehe, Lady Satina praised me!"
At her praise, the child bounced on the spot, unable to contain her delight.
Seeing this, the other rat beastkin hiding behind the wall rushed out en masse toward Satina.
[Crowd] "Lady Satina! I bought bread for my mom and younger brother with that money! I've never eaten bread so soft before!"
[Crowd] "Lady Satina, Lady Satina! As for me..."
Surrounding her like chirping chicks begging for food, their eyes were fixed fondly on Satina until Hedzel, unable to watch any longer, stepped in.
[Hedzel] "Quiet! Everyone get back to work!"
[Crowd] "Boss is so stingy! Hogging Lady Satina all to himself!"
[Hedzel] "Yeah, yeah. I've always been stingy."
[Crowd] "Unfair! When I grow up, I'm going to become the boss!"
[Hedzel] "Conspiracy for mutiny already?"
Bantering with the children, his face was incomparably brighter than when they first met. After finally ushering the kids outside, he let out an exhausted sigh.
[Hedzel] "Honestly. Sometimes it feels like they like you more than me. Ever since you sent that money, I've been terrified they'll hang me upside down if I ever badmouth you."
[Satina] "Did you badmouth me?"
[Hedzel] "I didn't!"
He paled at her playful question.
Still, seeing Hedzel and the others, sending the profits from selling the ointment had clearly made a huge difference.
[J. Priest] "...pens! Lord Serpens!"
Serpens snapped out of his daze at his voice.
[Serpens] "Ah. Forgive me. I was lost in thought."
[J. Priest] "You've been doing that quite often lately. Is something troubling you?"
[Serpens] "No, it's nothing. I suppose returning to the capital after so long takes some getting used to."
[J. Priest] "Ah, true. The place we came from wasn't a bustling city like this."
Serpens watched the junior priest organizing documents, falling deep into thought before opening his mouth.
[Serpens] "We don't keep records of visitors entering the Grand Temple, do we?"
[J. Priest] "Pardon? No, of course not. The temple is open to all."
[Serpens] "...Right, of course. A foolish question."
[J. Priest] "Why? Are you looking for someone?"
Serpens looked at the pendant resting on a corner of his desk. He had brought it with him after she left that day, unsure of what else to do.
Had she managed to lighten the suffocating, heavy burden weighing on her heart?
[J. Priest] "Should I ask the other priests? The knights guarding the entrance that day might know something."
[Serpens] "No, never mind."
His heart wavered, but Serpens forced the feeling down. If they were fated to meet again, God would guide their paths.
Yet he never imagined they would meet in a place like this.
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