IHDOE Ch 6

The moment he left Satina's room, laughter burst from him.

[Sharlan] "Haha, Butler. Isn't my sister fascinating?"

[Butler] "Pardon?"

Ignoring the bewildered butler, he recalled her face.

When did my sister's acting skills improve so much?

Or was she originally that kind of woman?

[Satina] "But you are my younger brother."

Ever since their first meeting, Satina treated him like a young brother, trying hard to care for him.

That annoyed me, though.

House Bersabet held no happy family as the one Satina envisioned. To survive in the ducal house, one had to prove their usefulness. So Sharlan provided 'help' so Satina could adapt quickly to the ducal house. Though he realized she gradually broke during that process, it was none of his concern.

Yet she acted strange today.

[Satina] "Because you might get hurt."

He assumed Satina had broken beyond repair long ago. Yet no tremor weakened her voice as she offered fake warmth. As if she believed her own words. Even while knowing he lied, her expression remained unchanged.

Sharlan wondered about her underlying motives, even contemplating whether she had finally lost her mind overnight.

Yet that pathetic worry felt laughable, and not entirely unpleasant to hear.

She is a foolish woman, so whatever scheme she plots will fail quickly.

Should I let it slide just this once?

---

[Cheney] "My name is Cheney. Though I am lacking, I will serve My Lady with absolute devotion from now on."

The maid with short brown hair bowed deeply. Beside her, her profile popped up.

Name: Cheney

Occupation: Satina's personal maid

Current Status: Terrified of her new master

Tip: Trembling in fear after hearing that the previous maid died. Showing kindness might easily win her favor?

Fear, is it……?

The previous maid sought only opportunities to betray Satina. At least Cheney clearly was not plotting an assassination against her.

Sharlan had uncharacteristically sent a normal maid.

Satina stared intently at Cheney's profile, lost in thought. To her, that intense gaze signaled that Satina was glaring at her.

W-What should I do? Does she dislike me?

Possessing a timid personality and suffering mistreatment from the ducal family, Satina used to be the person the mansion servants looked down upon most.

However, a few hours ago, rumors spread that Marie died after opposing Satina.

Furthermore, the Young Duke personally appointed Cheney as Satina's maid, issuing a strict order to serve her well.

Naturally, confusion gripped the servants working in the mansion.

[Servant] "What is going on? Didn't the Young Duke hate Lady Satina?"

[Servant] "But Marie argued with Lady Satina and was dragged to the dungeon. Either way, Her Ladyship is a noble and a member of House Bersabet, so perhaps the Young Duke will not tolerate servants showing disrespect to her?"

[Servant] "Are we all going to die because of Her Ladyship?"

As Satina's silence stretched, dark imaginations bloomed in Cheney's mind.

They said she found fault with Marie and threw her out. Could the same thing happen to me……?

Just then, Satina offered a bright smile and spoke.

[Satina] "You said your name is Cheney, right? Let's get along well from now on."

From Satina's perspective, leaving a good impression on a maid she had to live with made total sense.

To Cheney, who had been tense the entire time, that smile resembled the smile of an angel.

Was Her Ladyship always this beautiful?

Lacking her usual bowed head and the gloomy shadow that constantly hovered over her, Satina appeared entirely transformed.

The stunning beauty's smile put Cheney at ease.

[Cheney] "Y-Yes!"

[Satina] "Then could you fetch my meal first? I missed breakfast today too."

[Cheney] "Understood!"

Running out with energetic steps, Cheney resembled a brown poodle.

Smiling as she saw her off, Satina adopted an indifferent expression the moment Cheney vanished.

She expected a sharper, more strict maid since Sharlan sent her, making this an unexpected outcome.

It makes life easier for me, though. Anyway, guessing that lunatic's thoughts is impossible.

[Satina] "Ah, my head hurts."

Overthinking brought a throbbing headache.

[Liv] "No abnormal physical reactions detected in the player's body. High probability of a stress headache. Shall I play meditation music for relaxation?"

[Satina] "No, it's fine. More importantly, System."

[Liv] "Not System. Please call me 'Liv.' AIs have names too."

[Satina] "Alright, Liv."

[Liv] "Please speak."

[Satina] "Is Sharlan really a male lead target? Not some kind of error?"

[Liv] "Errors don't exist in the state-of-the-art AI system Liv."

[Satina] "What was the person who set this male lead target thinking? Do you know?"

[Liv] "Liv can't answer that question."

She ignored Liv's response. She had not expected a clear answer anyway.

[Liv] "Building Affection with Sharlan will improve the treatment the player receives in the ducal house."

[Liv] "Furthermore, the probability of Sharlan becoming the next Duke Bersabet is 98.64%, so gaining his favor will assist in breaking the betrothal with the Crown Prince."

[Satina] "I know. That's the problem."

She rubbed her throbbing forehead. Breaking the betrothal required the family seal. The only individuals capable of stamping it were Duke Bersabet or the Young Duke.

Her father would never tolerate breaking her engagement with the Crown Prince, leaving the Young Duke as the more likely option.

Above all, bringing up a broken engagement in her current position held a high chance of resulting in immediate confinement and being sold off as a second wife to some old man far away.

[Satina] "Damn it."

Facing Sharlan while laughing merrily sounded worse than becoming siblings with a cockroach. Yet she had no desire to die or endure a life worse than death.

[Satina] "Right, becoming siblings with a cockroach beats dying."

She forced herself to think positively.

This damned game.

She would clear it quickly to win her freedom instead.

Right on cue, a pleasant alert chime sounded.

[Liv] "The Fruit of God has been fully absorbed. Divine grace settles upon you."

[Liv] "All status abnormalities binding you are removed."

[Liv] "Status abnormality 'Divine Curse' removed."

[Liv] "Holy power usage is now unlocked."

[Liv] "Unlocking two random skills."

[Liv] "Acquired skill: Communication with Other Beings."

[Liv] "Acquired skill: Song of Healing."

[Satina] "That much time passed already?"

Satina opened her status window in haste.

Communication with Other Beings: enables communication with non-human entities.

Song of Healing: utilizes holy power once per day to mildly heal the body and mind of entities within a 1m radius.

I obtained better skills than expected.

Setting aside Communication with Other Beings, Song of Healing was an excellent skill for raising Fame.

The problem is whether I can sing……

Legend said the Primordial God created the world with language. Following that deity, all saintess candidates used holy power by singing.

"They said she got into school through Professor Yoo's influence. She really can't sing."

"What is wrong with you? Why can't you bring home a single proper award!"

Years ago, standing on stage for the last time, her entire body froze solid, rendering her unable to move.

I actually felt relief when the accident ruined my throat.

Satina forced the memories away, offering a bitter smile.

---

Cheney stopped by the kitchen to gather the meal.

Steaming savory soup, soft bread, fresh salad, and a side meat dish created a feast so luxurious it bore no comparison to Satina's usual meals.

Because the Young Duke ordered me to serve Her Ladyship properly.

Whatever Sharlan thought was no concern for lowborn servants like Cheney. She needed only to perform the assigned duties.

As she carried the tray back to the room, Rebecca approached from the opposite hallway.

Ah.

As Duke Bersabet's daughter, Rebecca possessed a picky and temperamental nature.

Knowing her temper well, Cheney quickly lowered her head to avoid eye contact. Yet Rebecca showed interest in the meal she carried.

[Rebecca] "That is a luxurious meal for a maid to eat. You are not Father's or Brother's maid. Whose meal is this?"

[Cheney] "I-It is Lady Satina's meal."

At the name leaving her mouth, Rebecca's eyes narrowed sharply. She viewed Satina as nothing more than a silverfish infesting the house after deceiving her father.

To serve such a carefully prepared meal to Satina!

[Rebecca] "Feeding her high-quality food like this? Under whose permission do you dare? Did you decide this arbitrarily on your own?"

[Cheney] "N-No, My Lady. The Young Duke…… personally ordered me to take good care of her meals."

[Rebecca] "Brother did?"

She narrowed her eyes.

[Rebecca] "Hmm."

Even reckless Rebecca couldn't defy Sharlan's will.

[Rebecca] "Well, fine. Move along."

At her permission, Cheney quickly departed.

What on earth is Brother thinking?

She had assumed Sharlan hated Satina most in this house, so why care about her meals all of a sudden?

Though blood-related siblings, guessing Sharlan's thoughts proved difficult even for Rebecca.

[Rebecca] "So Brother said that. Come to think of it, I haven't seen Sister much lately."

She smiled while looking at the woman following behind her like a maid.

[Rebecca] "I should spend some time with Sister after so long, Mother."

---

Satina let out a sigh as she entered the garden.

House Bersabet's garden was famous for its beauty, but considering the people waiting inside, the path before Satina felt like a bed of thorns.

Confinement felt better than this.

Cheney was slow on the uptake, but she was a cheerful, hard-working maid. Meals were decent, and no one came to bother Satina.

She enjoyed a brief period of peace, but the moment her confinement lifted, her younger stepsister Rebecca sought her out.

Ignoring her will only make her more annoying, so I have no choice.

When she arrived at the garden, Rebecca sat at a table and welcomed her.

[Rebecca] "It is a relief you came on your own two feet. If you hadn't come, I intended to have the maids drag you here by force."

[Satina] "Since my 'younger sister' sought her 'elder sister' so persistently, how could I ignore you?"

Her response startled Rebecca.

Did she take medicine during her confinement?

Strictly speaking, Satina's words held no error. Either way, she was a Lady of House Bersabet, making the two of them sisters.

Yet in her memory, Satina always kept her eyes cast down like a mouse before a snake, busy avoiding eye contact.

Satina stood with her head held high, looking directly at Rebecca. She had never imagined such a sight even once.

Annoying.

Twisting her lips, Rebecca spoke to the Duchess sitting beside her.

[Rebecca] "Come to think of it, Mother hasn't seen Sister in a long time either, right?"

Though entering middle age, the woman with elegantly pinned golden hair remained as beautiful as in her youth. To her, time was merely an accessory adding dignity and grace.

The Duchess spoke with a smiling face.

[Duchess] "Indeed. It has been a long time, Satina. Have you been well?"

It was a greeting carrying far too much distance to offer her biological daughter living under the same roof.

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