IHDOE Ch 44
It was only natural. In broad daylight, a teacher she worked with had tried to poison her to death—how could she possibly be fine? Even if Sophia were executed, what could ever heal the trauma left inside her?
Serpens patted her back and spoke in a tender voice.
[Serpens] "It is all right, Miss Stella. You are safe now."
Her voice trembled faintly.
[Stella] "Lord Serpens..."
He wrapped his arms around her. Her fragile frame trembled in his embrace like a fledgling bird.
I must protect this woman.
He knew a priest had no business harboring such feelings. Even so, he couldn't bring himself to turn away from her.
She lingered in his mind constantly. He had tried so hard to ignore it, only to suffer agonizing regret. If something like this were to happen to her again, he would never forgive himself.
[Serpens] "I will protect you. No one will ever harm you again."
[Stella] "I..."
[Serpens] "It doesn't matter if you refuse. This is my choice, my decision, Miss Stella."
He looked down at her with intense eyes.
[Serpens] "You told me not to concern myself with you, but I can't leave you alone."
He lifted her hand and pressed his lips to the back of it.
[Serpens] "So please, allow me to protect you."
Naturally, Satina turned down his proposal. She refused him with the same warning—that he would regret it once he discovered what kind of woman she was—but Serpens remained steadfast this time.
Despite her refusal, he frequented the clinic to check on her condition. Unbothered by public scrutiny, he even expressed a desire to move her to the temple hospital reserved for nobility. Had Satina not objected, he surely would have done so.
The doctor chuckled while examining Satina.
[Doctor] "From the looks of it, that priest is head over heels for you, Lady Satina. Goodness, he even gave me jewels while pleading endlessly to take proper care of you! At this rate, who knows if he'll throw away his priesthood to propose to you!"
[Satina] "He only acts that way because he doesn't know who I really am. Once he realizes I'm Satina, his attitude will change."
She recalled Serpens from the Bad Ending.
How could a man so gentle toward Stella be so merciless toward Satina?
The vivid sensation of him forcefully prying at her wounds still lingered. A chill ran down her spine at the memory of that aching pain and the dark undercurrent beneath it.
Satina shook her head to dispel the rising memory and looked toward the entrance.
Forget it. Let's not dwell on what has already passed. Something else is far more important right now.
Satina recalled Blin from the Bad Ending. She had vaguely known through the game mechanics that Blin died helping her escape, but she had never imagined this underlying story.
[Doctor] "Are you waiting for some news? You've been staring at the door for a while."
[Satina] "Yes, very important news."
Just then, rapid footsteps echoed down the hall. The light, brisk cadence alone revealed the runner's exhilaration.
Soon the door burst open, and a beaming Blin rushed inside toward her.
[Blin] "Teacher!"
She waved a piece of white paper stamped with red ink.
[Blin] "I passed! I passed!"
She rushed up to Satina, wrapped her arms around her in a tight hug, and spun around on the spot.
[Blin] "Aha! It's all thanks to you, Teacher! Almost every question you highlighted showed up on the exam! I ran here straight away because I wanted to tell you first!"
[She has successfully passed the Imperial Academy entrance examination.
Quest Complete.
Reward: Golden Room Access Ticket Granted.]
Liv chimed in amidst Blin's joyful chatter.
[Stella] "You did so—whoa!"
Though Satina wanted to praise her, the excited girl spun her around until her head reeled.
Serpens, who had followed close behind Blin, gently pried Satina from the girl's arms.
[Serpens] "Now, Blin. You're making Miss Stella dizzy. She only recently recovered, so you must be careful."
[Blin] "Whoops! I'm so sorry, Teacher! Are you okay?"
[Stella] "Yeah..."
Satina nodded and wrapped her arms around Blin this time.
[Stella] "You did so well."
[Serpens] "Now, Blin. Miss Stella needs to rest, so run along."
[Blin] "Ugh, but..."
[Serpens] "You should share the good news with your younger siblings too. Take this and buy something delicious for them."
He handed her a few gold coins.
[Blin] "Oh, right! My siblings! Well then, Teacher, I'll visit again later!"
[Stella] "All right."
Even after Blin left the room, Satina could hardly contain her excitement. Seeing a character she liked succeed, combined with receiving the Golden Room Access Ticket as a quest reward, brought an uncontrollable smile to her face.
Serpens stared at her blankly.
[Serpens] "I believe... this is the first time I have seen you smile, Miss Stella."
[Stella] "Ah..."
She brushed her cheek sheepishly.
Flustered, he stammered.
[Serpens] "No, please don't misunderstand! That is, it just looks lovely, so..."
[Stella] "It's fine. Anyway, I heard you took great care of Blin on my behalf. I was told you even escorted her on the exam day."
[Serpens] "Did she tell you that much?"
[Stella] "I should have taken care of her myself..."
[Serpens] "Please don't feel burdened. As I told you, I would do anything for you."
Serpens offered a gentle, reassuring smile.
Listening to him, Satina calmly finished her calculations. She had no intention of being locked in a cramped temple room like in the Bad Ending, nor did she wish to spend her life staring only at Serpens or dying a dog's death.
It's about time to wrap up this long play.
Satina offered him a smile.
[Stella] "If you don't mind, I heard a delicious crepe shop opened nearby. Would you like to go together?"
At her first invitation, Serpens nodded enthusiastically, his face lighting up.
[Serpens] "Of course!"
The two headed to the crepe shop along the main street. Perhaps due to its recent popularity, a crowd thronged in front of the shop.
[Serpens] "Please rest here while I buy them, Miss Stella. You have barely recovered, so getting jostled by the crowd won't do you any good."
After seating Satina on a nearby bench, Serpens left to buy the crepes.
She watched his retreating back before spotting an Information Guild operative disguised as a pedestrian in the distance.
Roughly ten minutes remained until the arrival of the "bomb."
Nine minutes, eight minutes, seven minutes...
With each passing minute, her heart hammered faster. Counting down silently, Satina stilled her mind.
3, 2, 1...
[Sharlan] "What are you doing here?"
A familiar voice struck from behind her.
I didn't expect him to notice so quickly.
Her hairstyle and attire were entirely different from her usual look, yet he had recognized her instantly from her back alone.
Perhaps I underestimated his sharp eyes.
Satina turned around slowly.
The man, possessing bright, wavy blond hair that mirrored her natural locks, was as beautiful as an angel from a storybook. Yet, the mole beneath the outer corner of his left eye gave him a sharp edge.
[Satina] "Sharlan..."
[Sharlan] "I asked what you are doing here, Sister."
His bright smile seemed to signal joy at an unexpected reunion, but Satina wasn't fooled. That expression meant his mood was beyond foul—it was at rock bottom.
As she stood up, Sharlan stepped in front of her and scrutinized her appearance from head to toe.
[Sharlan] "You seemed busy lately, but what is with this pathetic state? Dying your hair jet-black like a crow…"
He grabbed a strand of her hair.
[Sharlan] "Have you resolved to run away from home this time?"
Satina had been acting strangely lately. A woman who usually knew her place and stayed cooped up inside the mansion had suddenly abandoned the slave she insisted on bringing home and started going out every single day.
To think he would run into her here.
On his way back from a meeting, the silhouette of a woman sitting on a bench had inexplicably caught his eye.
No way.
Satina possessed wavy blond hair identical to his own. Though the long, straight black hair belonged to a stranger at first glance, he couldn't tear his eyes away.
The slender neck glimpsed beneath, the line of her shoulders—every detail clearly belonged to Satina. And the moment he confirmed it was her, his mood plummeted.
Sharlan recalled what Satina had once said.
[Satina] "We aren't related by blood, but because we look alike... it feels like we're real siblings."
[Sharlan] "Are you sick of blond hair now? Does even looking at it disgust you? Claiming you wanted to be family was just empty talk after all."
If the two stood side by side now, no one would ever guess they were siblings. Discarding the blond hair she had loved for making them look alike, all while claiming she wanted to be family...
[Sharlan] "And what is with this outfit? If you insisted so stubbornly on bringing that slave home, you should at least drag a worthless dog like him around with you."
What was this woman thinking? Was she planning to disguise herself as someone other than Satina Bersabet and run away?
Not a chance!
Satina was a Bersabet. Her name was etched clearly into the noble registry and the Bersabet family lineage. Where did she think she was going after leaving the house?
He grabbed her wrist and pulled her.
[Sharlan] "Let's go home. Don't even think about stepping outside the mansion for the time being."
Satina dug her heels, resisting his pull.
[Satina] "Wait a moment, I'm waiting for someone...!"
Her resistance irritated him even further.
[Sharlan] "Follow me quietly before I order the knights to drag you away, Sister. Or do you prefer being forcibly dragged down the main street?"
[Satina] "Sharlan!"
Just then, Serpens stepped between them.
[Serpens] "What do you think you are doing?!"
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