I’m Trapped in a Bloody Reverse Harem Game - Chapter 106

The rumor that I would return to the Holy Kingdom after the coronation spread quickly.

“Adrian, what brings you here so early in the morning…?”

So much so that Adrian came looking for me overnight.

The moment he saw me, Adrian grabbed my shoulders and pushed me against the wall. Staring at me with a fierce gaze, he demanded aggressively, “Is it true that you are returning to the Holy Kingdom?”

Since his capture was complete, no system window appeared, but it felt as if his suppressed resentment had surged uncontrollably.

“You said you would stay by my side.”

The grip on my shoulders grew stronger. It didn’t seem like he was doing it intentionally, but it hurt.

I tried to push Adrian away, but before I could, Ardal appeared out of nowhere and pried Adrian’s hand off my shoulder.

“Lady Haniel, are you alright?”

Holding Adrian’s wrist tightly, Ardal asked me. Judging by his light armor, he must have been standing guard all night. I was used to seeing him like this, having watched him guard my room overnight even back in the Holy Kingdom.

The veins in Ardal’s forearms bulged. Seeing both their arms trembling slightly, it was clear they were engaged in a subtle power struggle.

Leaning against the wall, I watched them for a moment before pressing my fingers to my forehead. As much as I liked seeing Ardal and Adrian’s faces in the morning, I did not enjoy watching them fight.

Since yesterday, they had been constantly engaged in these power struggles, and just watching them was exhausting.

“Let go, Ardal. What if you hurt Adrian?”

Only ten days remained until I saw the ending. At this rate, I would log out after doing nothing but watching them fight.

With a sigh, I placed my hand on Ardal’s arm, but he pushed me behind him and took a defensive stance. Despite Adrian being unarmed, Ardal was excessively cautious.

More than the physical threat, Ardal seemed to want to shield me from the emotions Adrian was directing at me. Staring at his broad back, which completely blocked my view of Adrian, I pressed my forehead again.

This situation is more troublesome than I expected. They’re too wary of each other.

Ardal’s large frame completely obscured me, making it look as though I was hiding from Adrian.

“Saintess.”

When I didn’t step out from behind Ardal, Adrian called me in a trembling voice. He sounded shocked.

“Are you really going back?”

Stepping forward to calm Adrian, I was met with a devastated expression, as if he had just witnessed his world collapse.

I motioned for Ardal to step aside before moving closer to Adrian. His deep green eyes shimmered with unshed tears.

“Even if I return to the Holy Kingdom, it doesn’t mean you won’t be able to see me.”

We could still meet if I returned to the Holy Kingdom. But if I logged out and started a new game, I would never be able to see this Adrian again.

“How long do you intend to make me wait this time? You can’t.”

I spoke to Adrian as gently as possible, but he only clung to me and pleaded desperately. His arms around my shoulders felt unbearably heavy.

“Lady Haniel.”

I waved at Ardal again to give us some space before embracing Adrian in return.

I thought things would be easier once I captured them, but instead, all I felt was guilt.

“I won’t make you wait, I promise.”

“Saintess, please don’t leave.”

Adrian wouldn’t listen and kept trying to stop me.

Seeing how shaken he was over my lie to obtain the document, I briefly considered telling him the truth.

Adrian would never betray me. In fact, he might even be of help.

Yes, he could help me find the document. I should confide in Adrian alone.

“Adrian, actually, I have something to tell you about this…”

Overcome with guilt, I was about to reveal Orias’s plan when another voice interrupted me and Adrian.

“Saintess!”

“Hella…”

It was Hella. She ran up without hesitation, grabbed me from behind, and shouted.

“Don’t go!”

Just how widespread was the rumor that even Hella had come looking for me overnight? It made sense for Adrian to be immediately informed, but not Hella.

Clinging to my shoulder with tears streaming down her face, Hella pleaded with me.

“Don’t abandon me!”

“I’m not…”

With both Adrian and Hella clinging to me from the front and back, I felt like a parent running away from home, leaving their children behind.

“Saintess, what do you mean you’re returning to the Holy Kingdom?”

Following Hella, Dahlia and Tricia barged in next.

Hah. Well, this is a mess now.

“You’re leaving behind His Highness Lucius? How could you, Saintess?”

“Beatrice?”

Before I could even calm Adrian, more people continued to show up. Hella, Dahlia, and Tricia were expected, but I had not anticipated Beatrice.

Seeing all these people desperately trying to change my mind, I let out a troubled sigh. There were too many people gathered for me to address them one by one.

“Lady Haniel, His Holiness is calling for you.”

Until Ardal, who had stepped away, returned and subtly rescued me, I was completely overwhelmed.

“Saintess, you can’t go!”

Even as I left, Hella continued shouting after me. I waved at her slowly.

Hella, I’m sorry, but… at this moment, I really want to return to reality.

***

On the fourth day of the funeral, I grew increasingly exhausted from dealing with people clinging to me every time we met. I hadn’t gained any information about the document Lucius had.

At this rate, I might just suffer and fail…

“Haa…”

While assisting Orias with the funeral, I stepped outside to a secluded staircase to catch my breath and let out a deep sigh.

“Tired?”

A familiar voice spoke above me. Lifting my head from where it had been resting between my knees, I looked up toward the source of the voice.

“Lucius.”

When I called his familiar name, he approached me with a faint smile.

Though he was smiling, Lucius was just as exhausted as I was, managing not only the funeral but also dealing with the Second Prince and preparing for the coronation. His fatigue was evident.

Dressed entirely in black mourning attire embroidered with gold near the sleeves, Lucius sat down beside me with a heavy thud.

Fiddling with the gold embroidery on his sleeve, he slowly spoke.

“Saintess, after the coronation, are you really…”

“Are you going to try to stop me too?”

“You really intend to leave.”

Before he could finish speaking, I cut in with a question. Lucius murmured coldly before falling silent, staring intently at my face.

I had no real intention of returning to the Holy Kingdom, but the reason I was so sincere about saying I would leave was that I planned to return to reality.

Resting my arms on my knees, I met Lucius’s unwavering gaze.

“I can’t stay here forever.”

At my words, which sounded like an excuse, Lucius twisted his lips in a smirk. He observed me silently before responding in a composed tone.

“I know you’ve endured a lot while living here. I also know there haven’t been many joyful memories. I didn’t treat you well at first either. If I think about that, I can’t blame you for wanting to leave…”

“No, I’ve actually had far more fun than you think, Lucius. All my memories here have been enjoyable.”

“You only ever worked. How could that have been enjoyable?”

Lucius chuckled as he asked. He wasn’t wrong; there were hardly any purely joyful moments during my time in the Empire. Reflecting on my experiences, I murmured slowly.

“Looking at it objectively, it’s true that it’s hard to find enjoyable moments…”

I had pushed myself to exhaustion fulfilling the herb chamber’s requests, nearly collapsed from overwork, encountered danger in a strange village with Dion, and took on the binding seal in Dietrich’s place to free him.

Later, I spent time with Lucius, faced threats from the Second Prince, and worked frantically with Adrian preparing for the interception.

And yet, I could still say with certainty that none of it had been miserable.

It was truly strange. If I had worked this much in reality, I would have been overwhelmed with stress.

Looking at Lucius’s weary face, I blinked and smiled playfully.

“But from my perspective, it was all truly enjoyable. Maybe it’s because you were by my side?”

“Are you trying to seduce me? During a funeral…?”

“I don’t quite understand why things that should have been difficult feel so enjoyable. It’s puzzling to me as well.”

“Saintess.”

Tilting my head in thought, I then smiled and spoke.

“I think, after all, it’s because you were by my side, Lucius.”

The moment I said that, Lucius’s face twisted violently. He reached out and pulled my head toward him.

His lips, slightly roughened, swallowed mine completely. His tongue, familiar with the act, slipped inside and scraped against my cheek.

<Magic has been supplied to the ‘Unknown Seal.’>

The system window I had seen many times before appeared beside his face. I still didn’t know what this seal was.

But with the ending approaching, did it even matter?

Before, I had always pushed him away when he infused magic while kissing me. But this time, I wrapped my arms around his neck and deepened the kiss.

“Mm…”

The tingling magic prickled against my cheek, sending shivers down my spine. As I leaned into Lucius, he stopped infusing magic and instead gently stroked my back. His fingers traced down my spine, slowly grazing over my hips before pulling away.

As his hand withdrew, so did his lips. Lucius tilted his head slightly, resting his forehead against mine as he asked, “Don’t you think it would be a shame to leave after going through so much?”

“To be honest, I don’t.”

I had done everything I could in the game.

Keeping our foreheads together, I answered Lucius firmly. He pulled back and shook his head.

“No, I mean it would be a shame for me.”

Lucius, speaking with unwavering determination, continued without pause, “Saintess, I want to show you something wonderful.”

“I’ve already seen enough.”

I had seen and enjoyed the faces of all the capture characters to my heart’s content. There was nothing more I wanted.

When I replied without hesitation, Lucius frowned.

“You haven’t even properly toured the Imperial Palace or stepped outside the palace walls. What have you actually seen?”

Even those areas were implemented? Just how detailed was this game? I couldn’t even begin to grasp the level of depth the developers had put into it. Just how much had they built beyond what I had seen?

Even if I didn’t leave the palace, the lavish decorations of the Imperial Palace were fun to look at.

As I pondered Lucius’s question, I smiled brightly and answered, “Lucius, you.”

It didn’t matter how much of the world was implemented in this game. My purpose for entering it had only ever been the capture characters.

Though there were five others, I stopped after saying Lucius’s name.

At my brief response, Lucius’s expression twisted even further.