IHDOE Ch 83

[Satina] "What are you doing?"

He answered with an impassive face.

[Katan] "Escorting you."

[Satina] "It's fine. I'm just going right up front. You should go rest too."

[Katan] "Still, escorting My Lady is my duty. Besides, I have been riding in a separate carriage this entire time."

[Satina] "And?"

Falling into step beside her, he whispered.

[Katan] "I missed My Lady."

Satina hastily glanced around. Fortunately, everyone else was occupied with their assigned duties, so no one seemed to have overheard his words.

Though aware of his feelings, being startled whenever he pushed forward so abruptly proved unavoidable.

This guy, honestly...

If the feelings he harbored toward her were discovered, Satina would have no choice but to punish him and maintain her distance. A scenario she wished desperately to avoid while still needing to capture Katan's route.

In the original game, he felt like a cute character who knew his place, cautiously watching the female lead's and others' reactions. How he developed such a reckless disposition was beyond her.

Whether aware of her inner turmoil or not, Katan asked with an unruffled expression.

[Katan] "Will you permit me to escort you now?"

[Satina] "Don't say such things outside."

[Katan] "My Lady asked first."

[Satina] "I didn't mean for you to say something like that."

She quickly entered a nearby shop to avoid the gazes of other servants. It was a shop selling leather accessories and small ornaments. Since she had entered anyway, she decided to browse a bit further.

[Satina] "If there's anything you want, pick it out."

[Katan] "Please choose for me, My Lady."

[Satina] "Me? Mm..."

She surveyed her surroundings slowly. Given Katan's high level of activity and constant roaming outdoors, items like pencil cases seemed practically useless to him.

Rather than ornate accessories, a simple bracelet or choker like this... Though a choker is a bit too...

Standing before the display of accessories, Satina hesitated. As if reading her mind, Katan interjected.

[Katan] "I like that choker."

[Satina] "This? Doesn't it look a bit like a dog collar?"

[Katan] "I can wear it constantly, so I prefer it instead."

[Satina] "Is that so...?"

Since the recipient himself liked it, she had no reason to argue.

Holding up a few chokers, she held them against his neck, pondering over choices.

Katan quietly observed Satina selecting a choker for him. Standing a head shorter than him, her long golden eyelashes and sharp nose tip were clearly visible from above. Whenever she shifted, her hair swayed, tickling his nose with a sweet floral scent.

[Satina] "Mm... Since you have pale skin, this one would suit..."

Lifting her head, she suddenly realized she stood far too close to Katan. Though he had asked her to pick a gift, he paid no mind to the items, gazing solely at Satina with dark, intense eyes.

[Satina] "...Let's go with black."

Recalling how he licked her hand while pleading previously, she turned away to avoid his gaze.

---

After purchasing the choker and a porcelain sheep figurine from the shop, the two stepped outside.

While paying for the choker, Katan suddenly pointed to the sheep figurine and asked if he could purchase that as well.

It was an item typically placed on a desk or shelf for decoration. It seemed unnecessary for him, who worked as an escort knight wielding a sword, but Satina readily bought the ornament and placed the wrapped paper bag into his hand.

Well, he'll probably decorate his room with it.

Upon their return, the carriage departed for the capital once more.

Bidding farewell to the Marchioness of Riermont, Satina headed home. The moment she arrived at the estate, Sharlan came directly to see her.

[Sharlan] "I thought you were taking a brief outing, but you returned far later than expected."

Though wearing a gentle smile, he appeared far from pleased.

[Satina] "An unexpected incident delayed me. Did you wait?"

[Sharlan] "Hardly. As you know, Sister, having taken on the role of Acting Head recently, I barely have enough time to work."

Satina found that questionable as well. Why would the busiest person in the estate come rushing to see her the instant she returned?

Stepping forward, Sharlan examined her closely from head to toe.

[Sharlan] "It seems you didn't suffer any harsh ordeals while out. Your complexion looks much better."

She internally thought it might be psychological comfort gained from being far away from the ducal estate, but she refrained from voicing it out loud.

No need to drop his hard-won affection and suffer again.

[Satina] "The domain there was quiet, and the air was pleasant."

[Sharlan] "You seem to have taken quite a liking to it. Shall I purchase a villa there then? There is no need to stay in someone else's house."

[Satina] "No need. How often would I even go? Besides..."

She barely managed to stop herself from inadvertently blurting out, Besides, once summer passes, I won't be here anyway.

[Sharlan] "Besides?"

[Satina] "Besides, I don't think I'll go back there anyway."

She awkwardly changed the subject.

[Sharlan] "Is that so?"

Fortunately, he didn't seem to notice anything strange.

[Sharlan] "Indeed, purchasing a villa later when you actually visit wouldn't be too late. By the way, where is my present, Sister?"

[Satina] "Present?"

[Sharlan] "You said you would buy one."

[Satina] "Ah."

I rely solely on you. I'll bring back a present.

Recalling her previous words, she realized she had said something like that. She had merely said it to soothe him, never imagining he would remember it.

Having finished capturing Sharlan's route, her neglect toward him was showing clearly.

What do I do? I didn't buy anything.

The smile draped across Sharlan's face deepened.

[Sharlan] "Did you perhaps forget, Sister?"

His ominous reaction flustered Satina.

What if his affection drops because of this?

Just then, Katan held out a paper bag from beside her.

[Katan] "My Lady."

It was the paper bag containing the porcelain sheep figurine purchased at the shop on their way back. Quick to grasp Katan's intent, Satina accepted the bag and handed it over.

[Satina] "As if I would forget my younger brother's present."

Sharlan's expression softened slightly.

[Sharlan] "I see. I almost misunderstood that you forgot my present, Sister."

[Satina] "I'm just tired after a long carriage ride."

Opening the bag, a sheep figurine emerged.

[Sharlan] "This is... a sheep."

Noticing his voice dropping again, Satina worked her mind quickly. Since affection stats would resolve things to an extent anyway, acting brazenly was key.

[Satina] "Doesn't this fluffy wool look just like you? I brought back the cutest one among all the sheep there."

[Sharlan] "I am not cute."

[Satina] "You are a cute younger brother to me."

[Sharlan] "Never mind. I had no expectation that you would buy anything grand with your sense for gifts anyway."

Contrary to his words, Sharlan placed the sheep figurine back into the bag and kept it.

[Satina] "May I rest now? I'm a bit tired from the long carriage ride."

[Sharlan] "Go ahead."

Exiting Satina's room, Sharlan walked down the corridor. He stared down intently at the porcelain figurine she had gifted him.

Though he hadn't expected much when she promised a gift, a sheep figurine of all things!

It wasn't even a realistic or detailed depiction of a sheep; he couldn't comprehend what part of this small, round porcelain figurine resembled him. While its appearance might pass as cute in society, Sharlan knew full well he didn't look so adorable.

Her taste in gifts is atrocious.

Though he had known, he hadn't realized it was this abysmal.

Standing beside him, his aide asked carefully.

[Aide] "Young Duke, how should we dispose of that figurine?"

He knew Sharlan's fastidious nature well. Sharlan had discerning taste, using only the finest items from head to toe. Yet a sheep figurine that looked bought from some random stall rather than crafted meticulously by an artisan...

At any rate, since Lady Satina took the punishment in his place, the Young Duke seems to pay considerable mind to her.

Had another noble gifted such an item, Sharlan would have assumed they were mocking him, ridiculing them relentlessly. Yet despite criticizing Satina's taste in gifts, accepting the gift itself revealed his favor toward her.

Still, as for that figurine... he will likely have it thrown into storage or secretly discarded out of the Lady's sight.

[Sharlan] "Display it in my office."

[Aide] "Understood, storing it in the warehouse... Pardon?"

[Sharlan] "I said display it in my office. Her effort in squeezing out nonexistent taste to buy it is commendable, isn't it?"

[Aide] "A-Understood."

Internally, the aide revised his assessment of Satina in Sharlan's mind.

It isn't merely favor. He cherishes her immensely. Perhaps... no, definitely more than his biological sister, Lady Rebecca.

With Duke Bersabet missing, Young Duke Sharlan's authority within the house was absolute. The aide resolved to thoroughly re-educate the servants to ensure no one committed insolence toward Satina.

---

Meanwhile, once Sharlan left the room, Satina sat on the bed with a sigh of relief.

[Satina] "Thank you. You saved me. I'll buy you a present next time."

[Katan] "It is all right."

[Satina] "Still, wasn't it an ornament you wanted?"

Asking to buy such a practically useless item led her to believe Katan genuinely liked it, yet his reaction remained unruffled.

[Katan] "I intended to give it to the Young Duke from the start. Remembering My Lady promised to bring back a present when departing, I anticipated he might find fault with it."

[Satina] "You have a good memory. You could have just reminded me to buy a present for Sharlan."

---

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