IHDOE Ch 50

[Priest] "High Priest seems heartbroken lately."

[Priest] "Ever since he returned to the temple looking lost a few days ago, he has done nothing but pray..."

Priests whispered among themselves, watching him from afar.

Serpens had always been a diligent, exemplary priest whose noble conduct served as a model for everyone in the temple. Yet ever since his return with a shadowed face a few days prior, he hadn't moved an inch from the altar.

Abandoning his duties and skipping meals to pray continuously, his state filled the surrounding priests with deep concern. Ordinarily, Serpens would have noticed their worries immediately and composed himself, but he possessed no emotional room left to spare.

With a dark expression, he stared up at the statue of the deity.

[Serpens] "Dear God, what on earth am I to do?"

He had cried out for days, yet the benevolent chief deity, Lumentaria, offered no answer.

When he first discovered that Stella's true identity was Satina, a terrible sense of betrayal tore through him.

How could she conceal her identity so flawlessly? Recalling her terrible reputation, he was certain she intended to deceive him to extract something valuable.

Yet whenever he trembled with rage at her audacity, another voice surfaced quietly in his mind.

But she asked nothing of me.

When he had offered to help Stella, his heart had been genuine. Had she requested money, he would have surrendered his entire fortune for her sake. Yet she had asked for nothing.

Were all her words and actions lies?

She had passionately taught Blin every single day, prioritizing the child's well-being over her own. What possible gain could a ducal daughter derive from enrolling a commoner like Blin into the Academy? At the very least, the goodwill she displayed while volunteering had been genuine.

He couldn't stop thinking about his final glimpse of Satina—Sharlan dragging her away like a kidnapper while she followed quietly, having surrendered everything.

At that moment, her name echoed through the hushed whispers of the priests outside.

Serpens held his breath, straining his ears to listen.

[Priest] "By the way, did you hear? They say Lady Satina headed to the West Fortress."

The West Fortress. Hearing those words, Serpens felt his heart plunge into an abyss.

Currently, the West Fortress was the fiercest battlefield in the empire, enduring relentless attacks from violent magical beasts. To think she was going to such a place.

[Priest] "The West Fortress? Her? That must be a baseless rumor. Why on earth would she go somewhere like that?"

[Priest] "Well, I heard she went to conduct relief work..."

[Priest] "Pfft, her? Relief work? It's all a cheap publicity stunt. She is doing relief work... pfft."

Scornful mockery saturated their hushed voices. Unable to endure it any longer, Serpens confronted the priests.

[Serpens] "That is enough, all of you. Heading to the West Fortress hardly seems like something to mock..."

The priests turned to him with bewildered expressions.

[Priest] "But High Priest, it's Satina."

[Priest] "Right. There's no way that woman would do anything out of goodwill."

[Serpens] "No. Miss Satina is far more devoted to volunteer work than you think, caring for the children..."

He attempted to defend her by bringing up what happened at the orphanage, but the priests refused to believe him.

[Priest] "Haha, High Priest, you are far too kind-hearted, caring about a woman like her."

[Priest] "It would be nice if she were actually that kind of person."

Satina's final words to him suddenly resurfaced in his memory.

[Satina] "I... wanted to be seen as someone other than 'Satina Bersabet' by just one single person, whoever it might be."

Serpens realized the truth. No matter what goodwill drove Satina's actions, people would relentlessly question her motives. Even if she offered bread to a starving child on the street, people would scramble to find fault with her kindness.

[Satina] "If you knew I was Satina when you saw me praying, would you have comforted me, High Priest? Or would you have despised and avoided me?"

Only now did he understand why she had no choice but to hide her identity. Even if she offered prayers to God with a pure heart, people would mock and despise her all the same.

Satina was right. In the past, Serpens would have doubted her actions as well. He would have looked down on her for clinging to the Crown Prince and tarnishing the temple's honor. Yet now, he understood all too well why she had been forced to act that way.

Because they are family... because she couldn't escape even if she wanted to. That's why...

She had wanted to survive. What thoughts had crossed her mind when she opened up to him about her family?

[Satina] "What if I turned out to be someone like that trashy ducal daughter, Satina? Would you still offer to help me then, High Priest?"

Noticing Serpens' dark demeanor, the gossiping priests began casting nervous glances in his direction.

Serpens buried his face in his trembling hands. He possessed no right to judge these priests.

[Serpens] "No! How could someone compare you to such a wretched woman!"

[Satina] "See? High Priest, you know nothing either. So please, don't concern yourself with me anymore."

If he had answered differently back then, would she have offered a different response in turn?

He had resolved to protect her, swearing never to let her suffer such pain again. Yet, he had treated her with prejudice born of rumors, inflicting deep wounds upon her heart.

My faith and desperation when I prayed back then haven't changed, so what exactly did?

Nothing had changed, just as she said.

The confusion and rage clouding his mind dissolved entirely. He wanted to see her.

[Satina] "What if I turned out to be someone like that trashy ducal daughter, Satina? Would you still offer to help me then, High Priest?"

This time, he wanted to give her a different answer.

[Serpens] "I must go to the West Fortress as well."

---

[Serpens' Affection increased by 10.

Serpens' Affection increased by 10.

Serpens' Affection increased by 10...]

Notifications surfaced in the darkness, glowing with brilliant light.

As Liv, reporting the notifications immediately was proper, but waking the sleeping Satina over this was out of the question. She was exhausted from recent events.

Reflected in the vast lake inside a dark cave, Satina lay fast asleep, wrapped snugly in her blankets.

Unable to resist, a hand reached out toward the lake. Ripples spread across the water's surface. The moment fingers crossed through the lake, excruciating agony—like being burned alive—racked his entire body. Yet, if it allowed him to reach her, such pain was bearable.

Crossing the lake, his true body arrived inside Satina's bedchamber.

Beyond the open window stood the tree branch where he had bloomed flowers on her birthday. Fresh green buds now sprouted on the bare wood.

Quietly shutting the window so she wouldn't catch a cold, he approached her bed. Squatting beside her, he carefully took her hand.

A thrill coursed through him at the touch of her smooth, fair skin. The scorching pain tearing through his flesh remained, yet dying right here felt almost welcome.

He buried his face in her slender hand, letting out a ragged sigh.

Interacting with her behind the shell of a male lead target was one thing, but touching her directly in his true form felt extraordinary.

If possible, he wanted to devour her whole, stowing her safely inside his belly—where no one could see or touch her, leaving only the two of them in this world.

What would she say if she learned the truth?

Would she glare in fury and resentment? Or smile and praise him?

Whatever her response, he stood ready to welcome it with joy.

---

Arriving at the West Fortress, Satina made a firm vow to herself.

Whoever wrote this scenario, if I ever catch you, you're dying by my hands.

She knew she would encounter this man at the West Fortress, but she never expected him to be a male lead target.

The chime ringing the moment their eyes met nearly made her scream on the spot.

[First encounter with Target Character 5!

Fame increased by 2.]

Standing well over six feet tall with a powerful build, sun-kissed skin from long campaigns, neatly swept-back brown hair, and sharp green eyes—he possessed sophisticated good looks as long as he kept his mouth shut.

Yet the moment he spoke, all aristocratic refinement vanished, replaced by a raw, savage air.

[Tyron] "Long time no see, Satina! Never expected to run into you here. Shouldn't you look a bit happier to see an old friend?"

Fresh from battle, beast blood coated his armor in sticky layers as he cackled, spreading his arms in a grand gesture.

No sane person would throw themselves into the arms of such a man, even for a lover of the century.

Satina was completely sane, so she offered a sweet reply to her childhood friend. She looked at him with a flat expression.

[Satina] "Piss off, you lunatic."

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