IHDOE Ch 77

Katan walked slowly past the carriage bearing the crest of House Riermont.

Right on cue, a clamor erupted from an alleyway as two stray cats brawled, drawing the coachmen's gaze toward the commotion.

[Coachman] "Phew, as soon as the weather warms up, the cats go wild."

[Coachman] "I know that watchmaker is skilled, but his shop is far too out of the way. If he were in a busier district, coming and going would be much easier."

Katan slipped past the coachmen, who were chatting while they waited for the Marchioness inside the watchmaker's shop. Treating him as just another pedestrian, they paid Katan no mind.

Katan took advantage of their distraction to stealthily snap the carriage's axle. Once driven a short distance, the axle would give way and force the vehicle to a halt.

He purchased sword maintenance oil at a nearby general store and returned to Satina with an impassive face.

[Satina] "Did you buy what you needed?"

She paused her conversation with Laura and rose from her seat when she saw him.

[Katan] "Yes, thanks to you."

[Satina] "Shall we go, then? Please send the dress we discussed to my estate."

As she prepared to board the carriage, he spoke.

[Katan] "My Lady. On my way back from the general store, I noticed the main avenue was heavily congested. How about taking that alleyway back to the estate?"

[Satina] "Is that so? How strange. It shouldn't be congested at this hour."

[Katan] "Perhaps an accident occurred."

[Satina] "I see. Very well."

She instructed the coachman to head down the alleyway Katan had indicated before boarding the carriage. Though the narrow alleyways required a considerable detour, she refused to sit in blocked traffic.

Midway through their journey, the carriage ground to a sudden halt.

[Satina] "Has something happened?"

[Katan] "I will check."

He stepped outside to inspect the situation and returned promptly.

[Katan] "A carriage ahead seems to have broken down. Its wheel shattered, leaving it completely immobilized. Judging by the crest, it appears to belong to House Riermont."

[Satina] "House Riermont?"

It was an unexpected appearance from the very person she had been wondering how to approach. Though taken aback, she couldn't afford to pass up such an opportunity.

[Satina] "Hurry and ask if she would care to share our carriage."

After a brief wait, the Marchioness of Riermont boarded the carriage.

[M. Riermont] "I am in your debt. Thank you."

She greeted Satina with flawless etiquette.

[Satina] "Not at all. Assisting someone in distress is only natural."

[M. Riermont] "Thank you for saying so."

Despite Satina's gentle smile, the Marchioness kept her distance.

Though she had boarded out of necessity, she still viewed Satina as a woman ruining her own reputation by clinging to the Crown Prince. Had she not heard rumors of Satina curing patients with holy power at the western fortress, she would never have accepted the ride.

Roughly thirty minutes remained until they reached the Riermont estate. Watching the Marchioness maintain her guarded distance, Satina pondered how to strike up a conversation.

I shouldn't bring up my business abruptly, so I'll start with a different topic. What should I talk about...? Ah, right.

She noticed the pocket watch held by the Marchioness.

[Satina] "Did you step out today because of that watch? It appears to be an antique, yet it has clearly been maintained with immense care."

[M. Riermont] "Yes. I went out to have it cleaned for the first time in a while."

[Satina] "Watches are such delicate items. Even a slightly clumsy hand can ruin them instantly."

[M. Riermont] "Indeed. The artisan at that shop possesses deft fingers, so if you ever have a timepiece to repair, you ought to seek him out."

[Satina] "Is the carving on the exterior a pear blossom?"

[M. Riermont] "It is."

[Satina] "Pear blossoms... It brings to mind the tale of the holy knight sisters, Lena and Ena."

A flicker of surprise finally touched the Marchioness' face. She clearly hadn't expected Satina to notice such a detail.

[M. Riermont] "Correct. I had it carved with that story in mind. How did you know? The tale of Sisters Lena and Ena is hardly famous."

[Satina] "I discussed it with High Priest Serpens not long ago. That must be why it came to mind."

[M. Riermont] "Are you acquainted with him?"

The Marchioness' face brightened noticeably. Deeply devout, she held such reverence for Serpens that she hosted dedicated prayer gatherings in his honor.

I brought him up specifically to mention his name naturally, and it worked.

Satina offered a gentle smile.

[Satina] "Yes. After meeting him by chance recently, we shared several conversations. High Priest Serpens possesses vast knowledge and refined learning. There is much to learn from him."

[M. Riermont] "He is truly remarkable. It is hard to believe he is not even thirty."

What was the tale of the holy knight sisters, Lena and Ena?

Long ago, in a small village, lived two brave holy knight sisters named Lena and Ena. The sisters shared an exceptionally close bond, but while hunting magical beasts one day, they became trapped inside a cave.

The sisters decided to divide their remaining water and food equally, enduring until rescue arrived.

Then, the elder sister, Lena, thought to herself: My sister is larger than me, so she needs more food.

While her sister slept, Lena took a portion of her own food and slipped it into her sister's pack.

Yet when she woke the next morning, she found her food supply hadn't diminished at all. Though Lena found it strange, she dismissed it as her imagination and put more food into her sister's pack again that night.

Yet the following morning, her food supply remained unchanged once more. Only then did Lena discover the truth. Her younger sister had been doing the exact same thing.

Elder Sister has weaker physical stamina than me, so she needs more food.

With that thought, the younger sister had been secretly adding her own food to Lena's pack. That was why their food supply never shrank!

Upon discovering this, the sisters embraced each other in prayer, moving the deity Lumentaria with their profound devotion. Moved by their love, Lumentaria caused pear blossoms to bloom and bear fruit in the pitch-black cave, sustaining them until rescue arrived.

Well, whether it actually happened is beyond me...

Satina mused to herself.

Regardless, the Marchioness looked at her in a far more favorable light. Learning that Satina possessed deep knowledge of scripture changed her perspective.

[Satina] "It caught my eye because it isn't a symbol commonly carved."

Tracing the pocket watch, the Marchioness wore a wistful expression.

[M. Riermont] "I had this made to match my younger sister's."

[Satina] "With your sister?"

[M. Riermont] "Yes. She was an exceptionally lovely, kind child. Since youth, we understood each other without speaking a word. She was my family and my closest friend. I thought we would remain together for a lifetime, even after marrying and starting families..."

Sorrow filled her face as she looked out the window.

[M. Riermont] "I never imagined she would depart so soon..."

The Marchioness' younger sister, Countess Olins, had lost her life in a landslide twelve years ago. Heavy rain triggered a torrent of mud that engulfed the carriage carrying the Count and Countess, plunging it into the river below the mountain.

Following an extensive search, the couple's bodies were recovered, but the body of their three-year-old son, Max, was never found. An entire family had lost their lives in an instant.

[Satina] "Still, your nephew Max might be alive."

[M. Riermont] "I once thought so, too. Since his body was never recovered, I hoped he might be alive somewhere... Yet I know full well a three-year-old child couldn't survive for days on that freezing mountain, in that rushing river."

She spoke in a voice heavy with regret.

[M. Riermont] "I shouldn't have let them go on that journey. I should have told them to wait until the weather cleared. I shouldn't have sent them away like that..."

She raised her hand and wiped away her tears.

[M. Riermont] "Forgive me. Speaking of it after so long... getting older makes the tears flow far too easily."

[Satina] "My Lady, to be truthful, I once saw a hunter with an item like that."

[M. Riermont] "What? Is that true?"

[Satina] "Yes. So I wondered if it might be related to your nephew... I hoped you might accompany me to verify it."

The Marchioness didn't place complete faith in Satina's words, yet a sliver of hope made her hesitate.

If this girl is not merely a Saintess candidate, but a true Saintess... perhaps...

At that faint thread of hope, she finally nodded.

[M. Riermont] "...Very well. I shall set aside some time."

---

Satina wore a bright expression as she arrived home.

[Katan] "Did the conversation go well?"

She nodded at his question.

[Satina] "Yes, thanks to you, things have become far easier."

[Katan] "I am glad."

She no longer needed to search for parties the Marchioness might attend or hunt for an opportunity to meet her. Securing a private conversation on top of that made everything smooth.

Things became so much easier. What happened? I thought running into a target by chance like this was a stroke of luck reserved for female leads.

[Satina] "I was lucky. It's all thanks to you."

Had Katan not suggested taking that alleyway, she wouldn't have had the chance to speak with the Marchioness.

Katan followed Satina into her room as she spoke.

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