IHDOE Ch 76

Her sharp retaliation made Coraline snap back.

[Coraline] "What did you say?"

Coraline thoroughly despised Satina.

Though both held the title of a duke's daughter, they came from entirely different backgrounds. Coraline was the legitimate, blood-born daughter of Duke Radius and his Duchess.

But what was Satina?

If her mother had not seduced Duke Bersabet with a pretty face, Satina's status wouldn't have permitted her to exchange a single word with Coraline.

She became a duke's daughter by pure luck, and she became the Crown Prince's fiancée by the exact same luck.

Rumors claimed Satina had cured diseases and crafted remedies using holy power at the western fortress, but Coraline doubted it amounted to much. House Bersabet had likely orchestrated the whole thing behind the scenes, terrified the Crown Prince might cancel the engagement.

Yet how dare that woman speak to me like that!

Satina spoke, her voice dripping with annoyance.

[Satina] "Say what you will, but I am still the Crown Prince's fiancée, am I not?"

[Coraline] "And so?"

[Satina] "Strictly speaking, aren't you having an affair with him, Miss Coraline? I wonder if your position gives you the right to question me so brazenly."

[Coraline] "W-What did you just... An affair with His Highness? An affair?!"

Satina met her outburst with a serene expression.

[Satina] "Is it not?"

[Coraline] "You...!"

[Satina] "Stop shouting and think carefully. Consider whether your position allows you to act so brazenly toward me."

[Coraline] "You really...!"

[Satina] "Unless you want to live as his mistress for the rest of your life, shouldn't you be begging me to grant this annulment?"

[Coraline] "Shut your mouth! His Highness will annul this engagement with a woman like you very soon! You will be abandoned! Strip away the title of his fiancée, and you are nothing!"

[Lexion] "How noisy."

The commotion drew him out from the audience chamber.

Seeing his face once a day was tiresome enough; seeing it a second time was completely unwelcome.

Satina frowned sharply, but Coraline rushed toward Lexion as if her savior had arrived.

[Coraline] "Your Highness! Do you know what that woman... what she just said to me?!"

She clung to him, weeping dramatically.

[Coraline] "She told me to live as your mistress for the rest of my life! She asked how I dared hold my head high, hurled insults at me, and... and... sob!"

This is actually for the best.

Coraline shed tears as if overcome by sorrow. She planned to use this opportunity to oust Satina and claim the position of his fiancée for herself.

However, his reaction was nothing like what she expected.

[Lexion] "Is she wrong?"

Coraline looked up, utterly dumbfounded by his cold response.

[Coraline] "...Your Highness?"

[Lexion] "You are not my official fiancée, after all. I assumed you stayed by my side, fully aware of that."

[Coraline] "What do you mean? I love you, Your Highness..."

[Lexion] "Because you love me, I assumed you would be satisfied with that position."

Right. I knew he would say that.

Satina listened to their exchange, unsurprised.

Coraline might have loved him sincerely, but Lexion was incapable of returning such feelings. Even in the original novel, his arrogance and cruelty made him the male lead who caused the female lead the most heartbreak.

Promised the throne before he was even born, receiving adoration from others felt entirely natural to him. His affair with Coraline was merely a fleeting distraction. He was a man utterly incapable of love.

Coraline looked thoroughly confused, unprepared for the man she had been kissing an hour ago to treat her so coldly. In her mind, Lexion should have blamed Satina and comforted her.

[Coraline] "I... I naturally assumed Your Highness would annul your engagement with her and marry me..."

[Lexion] "Did I ever tell you I would annul my engagement with Satina?"

He made no attempt to hide his irritation as the conversation dragged on. His words struck Coraline like a physical blow.

[Coraline] "How could you do this to me...?"

[Lexion] "Enough. If you intend to be this tedious, don't bother visiting the palace again."

[Coraline] "Your Highness!"

Coraline wailed, and Lexion scowled, waving a hand in annoyance at the noise. The Chief Chamberlain guided the sobbing girl out of the palace as her legs gave way.

Lexion didn't glance at Coraline once as she left. Instead, he turned his gaze to Satina.

[Lexion] "Are you satisfied now? You've hated her all along, haven't you?"

No, you bastard!

What she wanted was an annulment, not to be treated like a jealous woman getting rid of a rival. If it secured her freedom, she would have willingly sung at their wedding.

[Lexion] "Since things worked out the way you wanted, refrain from bothering me for a while."

Before she could respond, he turned and walked away.

---

[Satina] "I should have just ignored her instead of picking a fight."

She muttered, thumping her forehead against the table.

Frustration nearly brought her to tears. Her retaliation had achieved nothing except creating bizarre misunderstandings.

Hedzel watched her with concern.

[Hedzel] "What are you going to do now? Should we cancel the house contract in Planchel, the Free City-State?"

[Satina] "Are you crazy? Why would we cancel it?!"

[Hedzel] "You said the Crown Prince refuses to grant the annulment."

[Satina] "Then I'll just have to force one somehow."

[Hedzel] "How?"

[Satina] "I'll enter the festival event and win the title of the Empire's Golden Star."

Right before the Summer Foundation Festival, the Imperial Family selected the Empire's Golden Star and granted her a wish. While unreasonable requests like surrendering the throne were off the table, granting an annulment from the Crown Prince was entirely within reach.

To do that, I need to expand my influence and prestige within high society first.

Satina pulled up her status window to check her fame score. Her fame score stood at sixty-three.

Though her fame had risen steadily as rumors of her deeds at the western fortress spread, the growth had leveled off.

I needed to raise my fame to reach the Normal Ending anyway, so this works out.

Still, attending parties as she was wouldn't guarantee that snobbish nobles would pay her any attention. She needed a powerful guide to reshape her social reputation.

Someone like the Marchioness of Riermont. She possessed immense prestige and extensive connections in high society. Countless people scrambled to curry her favor.

For now, I need to bump into her at a party.

[Satina] "First, look into the Marchioness of Riermont for me. Find out which parties she attends."

[Hedzel] "Got it."

[Satina] "And make sure to finalize the house contract in Planchel. Understand?"

[Hedzel] "I said I got it."

She let out a long sigh, stood up, and left Hedzel's hideout.

---

[Katan] "Do you require a meeting with the Marchioness of Riermont?"

Satina nodded slowly at his question.

As they wound through narrow alleyways toward their waiting carriage, Katan remained lost in thought.

Soon, the carriage bearing the insignia of House Bersabet came into view near Laura's Wardrobe. Sharlan had assigned it to her when she announced her outing that morning.

[Sharlan] "You aren't in good shape, so why wander around instead of resting at home?"

[Satina] "To get a dress fitted."

Unable to tell him she was meeting Hedzel, she offered a quick excuse, though he gave her an incredulous look.

[Sharlan] "Is it necessary to step out just to fit a dress? Can't you send a servant or summon the designer here?"

Her persistent persuasion barely convinced him, but using his carriage had been a non-negotiable condition.

It was much more convenient before he started looking out for me.

Back then, no one cared where she went, allowing her to move freely. Now, she had to fabricate alibis just to step outside.

Satina slipped through the back door of Laura's Wardrobe, intending to board the carriage as if she had finished shopping.

Katan stepped up beside her.

[Katan] "My Lady."

[Satina] "Yes?"

[Katan] "How about speaking briefly with Miss Laura before we leave?"

[Satina] "Why? Did something happen?"

[Katan] "I believe it would help solidify your alibi."

[Satina] "Hmm, is that so? Come to think of it, Sharlan is naturally suspicious."

Discussing capital trends or new fabrics with Laura would make it far easier to fabricate an excuse if he questioned her later.

I don't need to head back right away anyway, so a quick chat won't hurt.

[Satina] "Thank you for the advice."

[Katan] "Think nothing of it, My Lady. So long as it serves you, that is enough. May I step away for a moment?"

[Satina] "Is something wrong? Are we being followed?"

She asked, her expression growing serious.

[Katan] "No, nothing like that... I need to purchase maintenance oil for my sword."

[Satina] "Doesn't the knighthood have plenty of that?"

[Katan] "None that meet my standards."

[Satina] "Is that so? Alright, go ahead."

She tilted her head but readily let him go. She knew little about swords, so she had no reason to question him.

[Katan] "Thank you."

He offered a brief bow and walked away.

Once he confirmed that Satina had entered the shop, he turned and walked away from the general store. He stopped before a watchmaker's shop.

Parked right outside was a carriage bearing the prominent insignia of the Marchioness of Riermont.

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