IHDOE Ch 46
[Aide] "Young Lord, the investigation regarding the priest who was with Lady Satina is complete. He is a high priest named Serpens Santorel, who returned to the capital not long ago."
[Sharlan] "Serpens? That youngest high priest? He is a far bigger figure than expected. How on earth did my sister get acquainted with such a man?"
He accepted the report handed over by his aide.
[Aide] "They reportedly met during volunteer work."
[Sharlan] "Ha, volunteer work? Miss Satina did?"
[Aide] "Yes. It appears she was active at the orphanage under the alias 'Stella,' and her reputation is quite splendid."
Sharlan flipped through the report as he listened. It detailed every activity Satina performed at the orphanage and everyone she interacted with. Reading the name Serpens on every page, his expression hardened into granite.
[Sharlan] "What a pathetic spectacle."
The more he read, the more absurd it became. He had heard rumors about Serpens—a righteous, gentle, and merciful priest who served as an example to all. Yet the report described the exact opposite.
[Sharlan] "He pulled strings to execute an orphanage teacher named Sophia? Aren't forgiveness and mercy the very mottos of the temple? How is heavier punishment rather than forgiveness exemplary behavior for a priest?"
He recalled Serpens' final appearance. In those persistent eyes staring at Satina with clenched fists, there was no trace of God.
[Aide] "Isn't this actually marvelous news?"
Sharlan raised an eyebrow.
[Sharlan] "What is?"
[Aide] "Serpens Santorel is one of the most influential priests in the temple. He reached the rank of high priest at a young age and holds high esteem among other high priests and the archbishop. If Lady Satina has grown close to such a person, it will greatly benefit our family..."
Sharlan slammed the report onto the desk, cutting his aide off mid-sentence.
Shrinking back, the aide promptly shut his mouth, nervously reading Sharlan's complexion.
[Sharlan] "If you lack the intellect to judge, keep your mouth shut. Do you actually trust my sister?"
[Aide] "Pardon?"
[Sharlan] "Do you think her befriending that priest will benefit our family? Hardly."
She probably intended to escape to the temple.
Remembering Satina disguising her signature blond hair and discarding the Bersabet name to play someone else made his stomach twist violently.
Besides, a poisoning attempt...
No wonder she couldn't hide her exhaustion in the carriage despite his presence.
[Sharlan] "First... investigate if there are additional false charges we can pin on this Sophia woman."
[Aide] "Understood."
[Sharlan] "And purchase some high-quality medicinal herbs at the auction."
The aide blinked.
[Aide] "...Herbs, my lord?"
[Sharlan] "Yes."
Sharlan glared at the name "Stella" written on the page. She called them family, so running away now would be unacceptable.
She had become quite a useful sister to him. She deserved a little soothing.
[Sharlan] "She is still my sister, and she nearly died. Shouldn't I at least ensure she recovers her strength?"
The aide scurried off to buy the rarest herbs, resulting in a lavish bowl of restorative soup placed before Satina.
Brewed with precious medicinal herbs and chicken raised with utmost care in pristine mountains, the ingredient cost alone matched six months of a commoner's living expenses.
Sharlan gestured toward the bowl.
[Sharlan] "Go on, Sister. Eat."
She stared dumbfounded at the feast set before her.
Is this poisoned?
As if reading her thoughts, Liv chimed in instantly.
[There is no poison.]
While that was a relief, she still couldn't comprehend why Sharlan was acting like this.
What on earth is he thinking?
As she hesitated over the soup, he spoke.
[Sharlan] "What is it? Can you not eat it?"
[Satina] "No, it's not that."
She lifted a spoonful to her mouth. The broth, simmered overnight by the head chef, yielded a smooth, deep flavor.
[Satina] "Why the sudden restorative meal?"
[Sharlan] "I prepared it specially upon hearing you were nearly poisoned."
[Satina] "Ah."
[Sharlan] "I instructed the chef to serve restorative dishes for the time being, so eat well."
[Satina] "Mm, okay."
[Sharlan] "Also, regarding the teacher who attempted to poison you, I ensured her body was thrown to wild beasts rather than buried in a graveyard."
[Satina] "Huh?"
Didn't Serpens already handle that with an execution?
Sharlan curved his eyes into a brilliant smile.
[Sharlan] "She dared to touch a member of House Bersabet. Ending it with a mere execution would never suffice."
I see.
Whatever he did to Sophia was none of her concern anyway.
[Sharlan] "If you wanted to play at volunteer work so badly, you should have spoken up sooner. Why hide your identity? Had you declared yourself a Bersabet, a mere nursery teacher wouldn't have even dreamed of poisoning you."
His gaze turned razor-sharp. Sensors tingling, Satina sensed something ominous in his tone—
Ding!
[Quest: Convince Sharlan and clear his suspicion!
Reward: Sharlan's favorability +1
Failure: '055. Sharlan's Whim' Ending]
Satina nearly spat out her soup, swallowing it with difficulty.
Why is a Bad Ending suddenly popping up here?!
Her mouth went dry. If the soup wasn't poisoned, would a knight burst in and decapitate her? Either way, she would end up a cold corpse.
Sharlan pressed again.
[Sharlan] "Sister, why aren't you answering? I asked why you hid your identity."
[Satina] "Well, that's..."
Her words trailed off. She couldn't begin to guess what this lunatic was thinking, leaving her completely unsure of how to respond.
[Sharlan] "Sister."
[Sharlan is waiting for an answer.]
[If the player fails to act within 5 seconds, forced entry into '055. Sharlan's Whim' Ending will occur.]
[5, 4...]
With the countdown ticking down rapidly, she blurted out an answer.
[Satina] "I... I was afraid I would bring shame to the family!"
He tilted his head.
[Sharlan] "Hmm?"
[Satina] "As you know, my reputation is terrible. I was worried I might drag down the family's honor with my mistakes, so that's why."
[Sharlan] "Is that why you hid your identity? Even going so far as to dye your hair black?"
He reached out and ran his fingers through a strand of hair draped over her shoulder.
[Satina] "I thought people would recognize me instantly if they saw my face."
[Sharlan] "Not because you were trying to run away?"
[Satina] "Why would I run away?"
She reached up and caught his hand resting on her hair.
[Satina] "My family is right here. And if I intended to run away, why would I do volunteer work?"
The inner storm raging inside Sharlan finally subsided.
Indeed, that makes sense. If she intended to flee the family, she would have left the capital already instead of playing house with volunteer work.
It was all because Satina looked so different that he lost his temper. Thinking it through calmly, it wasn't something to get so worked up over.
[Sharlan] "Tell me first next time you plan on doing something like that."
[Satina] "Understood."
[Sharlan] "Remember this, Sister."
He offered a quiet warning.
[Sharlan] "You are safest under the family's protection."
[Sharlan's suspicion toward the player has been completely dispelled!]
[Quest Complete.]
[Sharlan's favorability has increased by 1.]
[Ending route destroyed. Unlocking '055. Sharlan's Whim' Ending.]
Satina found herself transported back ten minutes into the past, right before her conversation with Sharlan.
[Sharlan] "Sister, why aren't you answering? I asked why you hid your identity."
[Satina] "Well, that's..."
Her mouth moved against her will.
[Sharlan] "Sister."
She pressed her lips together and remained silent. A brief silence stretched between them.
[Sharlan] "Very well. So that is your answer."
He smiled, looking somehow refreshed.
[Sharlan] "Enjoy your meal then."
He stood up and left the room.
Left alone, Satina blinked awkwardly.
Did he leave?
She finished her meal, went about her day, and went to sleep. The next morning, she awoke to an unfamiliar atmosphere.
Strange.
Normally, if she slept in this late, Cheney or Wazl would come to wake her, but no one came today.
Deciding to find a maid before eating, she walked toward the door to leave her room. However, the door wouldn't budge.
Huh...?
She rattled the doorknob frantically, but it clicked uselessly without moving an inch. Pounding on the door, she shouted.
[Satina] "Is anyone out there?! Cheney! Wazl!"
His voice echoed from beyond the door.
[Sharlan] "Be quiet, Sister."
[Satina] "Sharlan?"
[Sharlan] "You are forbidden from leaving your room starting today. I will select new maids for you. Please understand, this is a decision for the sake of the family."
[Satina] "What? What are you talking about? What about Wazl? What happened to him?"
[Sharlan] "That rat slave? I sold him back to the slave merchant."
[Satina] "Sharlan! Sharlan! Wait! Talk to me! Call Cheney! Or Wazl! You can at least let them in!"
[Sharlan] "I have a meeting to attend, so we shall speak later."
She continued to pound on the door, but he gave no response, having already walked away.
She repeatedly tried to persuade him in the days that followed, but he remained completely unmoved.
The only people she could see were a deaf maid and Sharlan himself.
A few months later, word arrived that the female protagonist had become the Saintess.
Shortly after, Satina died of a sudden heart attack.
With a sensation like darkness swallowing her vision, Satina returned to the present timeline. Fortunately, her recovery was quicker this time.
Is it because of the Bad Ending I experienced recently?
As she lost herself in thought, Sharlan snapped his fingers in front of her to catch her attention.
[Sharlan] "Sister, why are you spacing out like that?"
[Satina] "Huh? Oh, right. I guess I was just a little tired."
[Sharlan] "I see. I shall tell the chef to pay extra attention to tomorrow's meal as well."
[Satina] "Mm, thank you."
[Sharlan] "Think nothing of it."
He leaned back in his chair.
[Sharlan] "Speaking of which, about that slave you brought home recently. The one who wields a sword."
[Satina] "Ah, Katan?"
[Sharlan] "That slave caused an accident recently."
[Satina] "What accident?"
Fresh off the heels of the Bad Ending, her heart hammered anxiously against her ribs.
Did he get caught trying to escape? Or did he throw another rampage like last time? Or could it be...
However, the words that spilled from his lips were entirely unexpected.
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