IHDOE Ch 33

The temple frequently engaged in various charitable works in accordance with its doctrines of love and benevolence.

A High Priest of Serpens' stature had no obligation to participate in such menial service, yet his devout faith compelled him to strive constantly to follow divine teachings.

Upon returning to the capital, he dedicated his time to teaching and caring for children at an orphanage. He never expected to encounter the very woman who had occupied his thoughts.

With long, straight black hair, deep pink eyes, and pale skin, she stood out as a striking beauty even from afar.

He watched her move busily in the distance, gathering laundry.

[Serpens] "Is that...?"

The orphanage director followed his gaze.

[Director] "Ah, do you know Miss Stella?"

[Serpens] "Her name is Stella?"

[Director] "Yes. She began volunteering here a short while ago. She's still young, but exceptionally capable."

[Serpens] "I see."

[Director] "I asked discreetly, and it seems her life has been fraught with hardship. Her fiancé cheated on her with another woman, and her relationship with her family is estranged... Yet she remains remarkably mature and deeply devout."

Serpens privately agreed with the director's assessment. He recalled the pendant she had left behind in the dilapidated chapel—a piece hanging from a chain carved with temple emblems, worn smooth and darkened by years of touch. She had undoubtedly treasured it for a very long time.

What could make a woman so young and beautiful pray with such desperate yearning?

The memory of her profile, turned toward the divine in agonizing prayer, lingered persistently in his mind.

A teacher hurried over frantically.

[Teacher] "Director! Disaster! Emily and Jayden are fighting again!"

[Director] "What? Ugh, those troublemakers! What is it this time?! Lord Serpens, if you will excuse me..."

[Serpens] "Of course. Go ahead."

Even after the director and teacher rushed off to stop the children, Serpens remained in place, gazing at the woman.

A gust of wind swept across the courtyard, ripping the laundry from her grip. Instinctively, Serpens caught the fluttering cloth as it blew toward him.

Beyond the white fabric, her pink eyes widened in surprise.

He offered an embarrassed smile.

[Serpens] "Good day."

She bowed politely while receiving the linen he held out.

[Stella] "Ah... good day."

[Serpens] "I didn't expect to run into you here. How long have you been volunteering?"

[Stella] "It's been about a week now."

[Serpens] "Which reminds me... did you happen to lose a pendant?"

[Stella] "A pendant? Do you mean the one on a chain engraved with the temple emblem?"

[Serpens] "Precisely. You left it behind at the chapel, so I have been keeping it safe."

She placed a hand over her heart, exhaling in relief.

[Stella] "Thank goodness. I thought I had lost it forever..."

[Serpens] "I will bring it with me the next time I visit the orphanage."

[Stella] "Thank you. I don't know how to repay your kindness."

[Serpens] "Please, think nothing of it. I am glad to return it to its rightful owner."

He addressed her once more.

[Serpens] "Miss Stella."

[Stella] "How do you know my name...?"

A warm smile touched his lips to reassure her.

[Serpens] "My apologies. I heard it from the director."

[Stella] "Ah, no... it's fine."

[Serpens] "It has been weighing on my mind... were you able to resolve the trouble you were facing that day?"

She shook her head with a melancholic expression.

[Serpens] "Pardon my intrusiveness. If I may ask, what inspired you to begin volunteering here?"

[Stella] "Ah, well... the scriptures say, 'Only when your love and charity fill the entire land shall you find true peace.'"

[Serpens] "Chapter 5, Verse 21. Remarkable. Your knowledge of the scriptures is quite profound."

She offered a bashful smile.

[Stella] "Oh, no. I am nowhere near the level of the priests."

[Serpens] "You are too humble. You ought to be more confident in yourself. Was that passage what prompted you to volunteer?"

[Stella] "Yes. Reading those words made me think... I should do a little more than just pray. I wanted to do whatever I could, hoping it might bring me some peace..."

Tucking a stray strand of windblown hair behind her ear, she looked up at him. Beneath her gentle words lay a glimpse of resolute determination.

Serpens couldn't help but admire her.

What a resilient woman.

At their first meeting, she had been consumed by profound sorrow—a soul driven into a corner with nothing to cling to except God.

Yet the woman standing before him now was striving to do her absolute best within her means, living faithfully by divine teachings.

---

Ridiculous. Showing this much goodwill simply because I concealed my identity.

Satina vividly remembered what Serpens had said to "Satina" in the game. Faced with the villainess, his eyes had turned icy as he berated her. He despised Satina—a Saintess candidate who harbored petty jealousy, clung desperately to the Crown Prince, and invited constant scandal.

[Serpens] "You should be thankful you are a Saintess candidate. Otherwise, I would have condemned you myself."

[Serpens] "If you intend to live only to tarnish the temple's honor, you would be better off dying and returning to God's embrace."

How could a man so gentle and affectionate toward a common woman be so merciless and frigid toward Satina?

This time, I'm going to exploit the very divine doctrines you're always preaching.

She had deliberately left her pendant behind to spark his curiosity, then used Hedzel's intelligence to locate the specific orphanage Serpens visited, engineering this exact encounter.

True to his role as a compassionate and devoted priest, Serpens possessed unwavering faith and a distinct weakness for the vulnerable. Satina exploited that weakness directly by crafting the persona of "Stella."

Predictably, Serpens had formed a deep fondness for Stella. Reciting scripture from memory during their conversation had particularly impressed him. He would never suspect she was reading from a system prompt hovering in her vision.

The results were sweet indeed.

[Liv] "Serpens is deeply moved by the Player's piety. Serpens' affection has increased by 3."

[Serpens] "If there is ever anything I can do to help you, please don't hesitate to ask. I will assist you to the absolute best of my ability."

Hearing his voice so drenched in affection and goodwill made her stomach turn.

Yet she remembered the bad ending she experienced on her birthday with agonizing clarity—the sensation of blood draining away, her body freezing cold, and the terrified expressions of her attacker and maid. Death was anything but sweet; it was horrifying and gruesome.

[Stella] "Thank you so much for your thoughtfulness, High Priest."

To survive, Satina was willing to do whatever it took.

---

Whenever Serpens visited the orphanage after that, he made a point of stopping by to speak with Satina. He inevitably brought up temple scriptures, and Satina effortlessly answered with Liv's aid.

[Serpens] "You truly are remarkable. It seems as though you have memorized every passage in the scriptures, Miss Stella."

[Stella] "Oh, no... hardly every passage..."

[Serpens] "You may take pride in it. It demonstrates how closely you keep the Lord's will in your heart."

Volunteering at the orphanage was surprisingly tranquil. Given the chronic shortage of hands, the staff was thrilled to have a diligent, capable worker like Satina.

[Teacher] "We are so fortunate to have you, Miss Stella."

[Teacher] "Things have become so much easier thanks to you."

[Teacher] "You're so devout and hard-working, Miss Stella. Did you say you used to work as a maid in another estate?"

Amidst all this, Satina never neglected to receive regular updates on the information guild's progress.

The information guild is running smoothly.

The ointment's popularity is surging, boosting sales as well.

Though her days were so crammed she felt three bodies wouldn't be enough, everything was proceeding as planned.

Then came a day when she returned from finishing the laundry to find the orphanage teachers huddled together, their faces grim.

[Stella] "Is something wrong?"

The teachers looked up from their worried huddle.

[Teacher] "Ah, Miss Stella! Are you finished with the laundry?"

[Teacher] "Thank you for your hard work today!"

[Stella] "Yes. But is something troubling you all? Everyone looks so serious."

[Teacher] "Ah, well... we've been trying to teach the young children how to read, but they're making virtually no progress."

[Teacher] "The director ordered us to make sure the children master the alphabet quickly, mentioning how closely the temple is watching. But that's easier said than done!"

[Teacher] "Exactly! Memorizing the alphabet usually takes three weeks, yet he expects them to master it in just seven days!"

The teachers sighed in unison.

Evidently, with Serpens visiting the orphanage so frequently of late, the director felt pressured to demonstrate tangible results. Yet forcing young children to sit still and memorize the common script was no easy feat.

[Teacher] "No matter how much material we push, there's only so much children can absorb in a day. We teach them diligently, only for them to forget everything by the next morning!"

[Teacher] "We can't exactly force such young children to sit down and endlessly copy letters by hand, either."

[Teacher] "So we were just discussing how to help them memorize the alphabet more easily."

After listening to their dilemma, Satina spoke up cautiously.

[Stella] "Would you like me to share a method I know?"

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