IHDOE Ch 40

[Serpens] "I beg of you. Please, break off the engagement with a man like him."

Marriage to a man who cheated on his fiancée would never bring happiness. Stella was a magnificent woman. Wise and breathtaking, she was a gem capable of being loved by anyone.

A man like that had no idea how precious a treasure he held and would only treat her poorly. She deserved to marry a better man and live happily.

When recalling the moment she nearly died, Stella neither wept nor grieved. She spoke with quiet detachment, as if recounting someone else's story. Her composure pained Serpens even more.

Taking her hands in a desperate plea, he held on tightly.

[Serpens] "If it is because of your family, I will use every ounce of my power to assist you. So please, don't throw your life away by marrying a man like him."

[Stella] "I am fine, Lord Serpens."

Gently slipping her hands from his grip, she offered a soft refusal.

[Stella] "So please, don't do anything you might regret."

[Serpens] "I will not regret it. The temple teaches us to aid the weak, and I am merely following its doctrine."

[Stella] "No, you will certainly regret it."

A bitter smile touched her lips.

[Stella] "Even if you help me with pure intentions according to temple doctrine, others will misinterpret your kindness. People will spread rumors that you have fallen for me."

[Serpens] "That doesn't matter."

[Stella] "I don't wish for you to suffer such hardship on my account."

Ah, how could this woman think of another's well-being over her own, even in a moment like this?

She possessed a kind nature.

[Stella] "I am not a good enough woman for you to incur such a loss, Lord Serpens. You know nothing about me."

[Serpens] "Miss Stella."

[Stella] "I am not as kind a person as you think. I have committed terrible acts and tormented others. If you learn what kind of person I truly am, you will distance yourself from me."

[Serpens] "I will still help you."

[Stella] "And what if helping me leads to your excommunication from the temple? Even if your reputation falls into ruin, even if everyone mocks you, can you still say you will help me?"

Looking directly at him, Stella pressed further.

[Stella] "What if I am someone like Satina, that wretched villainess? Would you still say you would help me?"

[Serpens] "No! How could anyone compare you to such a dreadful woman?!"

[Stella] "You see? You know nothing about me. So please, don't concern yourself with me any further."

Satina smiled at his foolish face.

Yes, I expect nothing from you.

[Serpens' affection has increased by 5.]

As long as he helped her escape this wretched game, anything else mattered little.

---

Someone watched the two of them from afar—Sophia.

She had been beside herself ever since learning that Serpens and Stella went to Blin's house.

No, calm down, Sophia. What reason do you have to be anxious?

You only did it out of concern for Blin, worried she might go astray.

I did the right thing! When a child is in trouble, consulting the parents is only natural!

She wrapped her arms around her cold, trembling body. She recalled the day she met the drunkard.

[Sophia] "Did you know your child applied to the Imperial Academy recently?"

[Sophia] "I found a good match for her. He is religious and wealthy. He happens to be looking for a lively, healthy girl like Blin... What do you think?"

I only did it for Blin! That's why I did it!

I was worried she would go down the wrong path! Her father agreed to it, too!

I did nothing wrong! God will know my true intentions.

Clasping the pendant carved with the temple emblem, she offered a silent prayer.

The moment she heard Blin and Serpens go to the guard station, she could no longer sit still.

Driven by anxiety, she rushed toward the station to see how things were unfolding with her own eyes.

Cutting through the park near the guard station to take a shortcut, she caught sight of familiar silver hair amid the bushes.

Is that... Lord Serpens?

There was no mistaking it. His glistening hair, spotless white uniform, and holy face that seemed to forgive all sins belonged to Serpens.

Instead of heading to the guard station, Sophia quieted her footsteps and crept closer.

She then noticed another figure speaking with him. Standing opposite Serpens, her face remained hidden, but Sophia recognized her instantly. Unlike Serpens, the dull black hair and slender frame clearly belonged to Stella.

Distance muffled their conversation, but his expression was painfully clear. He held Stella's hands, pleading with her.

Why is he with that woman...?

Sophia couldn't believe her eyes.

The Serpens she knew was a high priest who was kind to everyone yet maintained a distant boundary. Watching him from afar during temple ceremonies made him appear like a divine messenger incarnate—a man untouched by worldly desires, living solely for God.

Yet the Serpens standing with Stella now was entirely different. A raw desire that had no place in those green eyes flared within them. He was tormented, anxious, desperate. He looked not like an emissary of God, but an ordinary man consumed by passion.

As if Stella...

[Sophia] "That's not right."

You are a priest. You live for God and must treat everyone equally.

So why do you look at that woman like that?

Venomous despair and anguish consumed her. Her eyes filled with blue malice.

It's all because of her. Stella! Stella! Stella!

That wicked woman had lured Serpens with her filthy body.

[Sophia] "I have to get rid of her."

The moment she spoke those words, her mind cleared instantly. Everything became obvious.

[Sophia] "Once she is gone, Lord Serpens will return to how he was."

She squeezed the pendant around her neck. Everything was guided by God.

---

When she visited Blin's hospital room, the girl was engrossed in solving practice problems, unaware of Satina entering.

[Stella] "Hello, Blin. How are you feeling?"

Blin looked up, startled.

[Blin] "Teacher! When did you get here?!"

Though bruised with yellow and blue marks across her face and body, her expression remained bright.

[Blin] "I'm fine!"

[Stella] "The doctor mentioned you need more rest."

[Blin] "But the exam is only days away."

Looking at the questions before her, she spoke with firm determination.

[Blin] "I have to pass. Now that Father is gone, I need to take care of my siblings..."

[Stella] "Yes, you will certainly pass."

[Blin] "Right?"

Looking at Satina, she giggled.

[Stella] "Why are you laughing all of a sudden?"

[Blin] "No reason. I just thought your name suits you so well."

[Stella] "Oh?"

[Blin] "In the ancient tongue, Stella means 'star.' It fits you perfectly."

[Stella] "Why do you think so?"

[Blin] "Because you are my star."

Satina remained silent.

[Blin] "I used to think the only way to escape that filthy place was to earn a lot of money and get rich. I thought normal work wouldn't be enough... But thanks to you, Teacher, I can dream of something else."

[Stella] "Blin."

[Blin] "I know I might fail... but having the hope that my life could head in a different direction is all thanks to you, Teacher."

Chuckling, Satina flicked Blin's forehead lightly.

[Stella] "Fail? After who taught you? Stop making excuses and solve another exercise."

[Blin] "Argh! I'm a patient! I'm already working hard!"

Exaggerating her movements, Blin clutched her forehead playfully, whining. Then, an anxious look crossed her face.

[Blin] "By the way, Teacher... how did Father find out I applied to the academy? I'm worried it might cause trouble."

[Stella] "Ah, don't worry about that. I'll handle it. Just trust me and focus on passing the exam. Got it?"

---

[Sophia] "Thank you for coming to my home today, Miss Stella. I have something important to discuss."

She sat opposite Stella.

[Stella] "Thank you for inviting me. I've been wanting to speak with you as well."

[Sophia] "Oh, really?"

[Stella] "Yes, I heard you value temple doctrines greatly and care for the children."

[Sophia] "Ah…"

Sophia nodded with a dry expression.

So this is how she seduced Lord Serpens and the other teachers—with sweet talk like that.

However, she wasn't foolish enough to fall for such cheap tricks.

[Sophia] "I know we are both busy, so I will get straight to the point. I called you today because I have some advice regarding your conduct."

[Stella] "My conduct? Is there a problem?"

[Sophia] "I'm sure you don't mean anything by it, but you seem overly close with the high priest who has been visiting the orphanage lately."

[Stella] "Ah..."

[Sophia] "Of course, I am not misunderstanding anything. But to outside eyes, it could easily look as though you are trying to seduce him."

She continued in a quiet, measured tone. '

[Sophia] "I know you are exceptionally pretty, Miss Stella, but you need to be a bit more modest..."

[Stella] "Pfft!"

Listening to her, Stella burst into laughter, her shoulders shaking as she giggled.

[Sophia] "...Miss Stella? What is the meaning of this?"

[Stella] "Ah, no. Forgive me."

She wiped away a tear of laughter.

[Stella] "I just never expected you to say something like that, Miss Sophia. It was so different from what I anticipated that I couldn't help myself."

[Sophia] "What..."

[Stella] "When you asked to meet, I assumed we would be discussing something else entirely."

She leaned forward, resting her hands on the table. Her face suddenly came dangerously close to Sophia's.

As Sophia flinched back, Stella smiled sweetly.

[Stella] "You were the one who told Blin's father, weren't you?"

---

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