I’m Trapped in a Bloody Reverse Harem Game - Chapter 148

Leaving behind my final night in the Holy Kingdom, I headed for the Empire. Perhaps because I wasn’t pursuing Orias in this playthrough, he didn’t seem particularly saddened by my departure.

Rather, he only asked me—insistently—to make sure I retrieved the documents, and that was it. I felt a little hurt.

Barely managing to keep my lip from jutting out in a pout, I nodded to Orias and boarded the carriage with Dion and Dietrich.

“Please take care.”

Leaving behind Orias, who saw me off with a bright expression until the end, and Ardal, who had looked anxious since the day before, I departed the Holy Kingdom.

Seeing me silently staring down in gloom, Dietrich tried to lighten the mood with light questions. As expected, he was good at keeping up appearances.

Even when I had such a sullen expression, he spoke to me with no hesitation, and seeing that, I found myself smiling for the first time in a while.

Now’s not the time to mope like this. I can’t afford to feel hurt every time I start a new playthrough—I need to get used to it.

Watching Dietrich skillfully lift the mood, I gathered myself and summoned the system window.

‘Use Eyes of the Wraith.’

Now was the right time to use the ability. Dion, who was related to it, was right in front of me, and although not reliable, Dietrich was here too. No matter what I saw using the ability, if I got scared, at least they’d help calm me down.

If it were just me and Dietrich, I’d worry about what form that “calming” would take, but it’s not just the two of us right now, so it should be fine…

I took a deep breath and cautiously opened my eyes.

Eyes of the Wraith.

The ability I had obtained lived up to its grim name, and the moment I activated it, it revealed a vivid and intense world to me.

Blinking blankly at the sight before me, I rubbed my goosebump-covered arm and opened my mouth.

“…Dion?”

<Dion’s affection has decreased!>

• Affinity is very low.
• Displaying familiar behavior while affection is low may result in a decrease in affection.

I called him with trembling hands. I had addressed him as I usually would, but what came back was a cold glare and a long-missed system window showing a drop in affection.

Ah, right. Dion was the type of guy whose affection dropped just from being spoken to.

Clearing my throat as I looked at the system window, I addressed him again.

“Sir Dion.”

When I spoke more formally, Dion, who had been ignoring me, finally responded.

“If you need anything, please wait until we arrive at the palace.”

“I don’t need anything. I was just curious about something.”

As I carefully broached the subject after being tense ever since getting in the carriage with Dion and Dietrich, the two exchanged glances.

Seeing Dietrich smile, it seemed like he intended to answer on Dion’s behalf.

Dion clicked his tongue briefly with a face that screamed, “Of course.” His eyes were full of certainty that I had been sent to the Empire as a spy to extract information.

Ah, those eyes of Dion. Now that I look at them again, they’re really infuriating. How did I ever manage to pursue a guy who was openly hostile from the moment I met him, without even a strategy guide…?

I must have been pretty desperate back in the second playthrough, when I couldn’t log out.

Perhaps not wanting me to focus on Dion’s expression, Dietrich brightly smiled and spoke to me.

“If the Saintess is curious about something, of course we must answer. What is it you’d like to know?”

Though his tone was polite and his face wore a smile, it didn’t feel like goodwill—it felt like he was probing.

Feeling awkward under Dion’s sharp gaze from behind Dietrich, I rubbed my fingers and posed my question to Dion again.

“Sir Dion, aren’t you going to treat the wound on your neck?”

“…Excuse me?”

“A wound, Saintess?” Tilting his head, Dietrich looked over Dion’s neck and said, “There’s no wound on Dion’s neck.”

“No, please—go on.”

Dietrich questioned me, tilting his head, but Dion stopped him and spoke.

“What wound are you talking about?”

“A scratch. May I take a closer look?”

When I activated the ability, I could see a wound on Dion’s neck that looked perfectly fine just moments ago.

There was also something faintly present behind his back.

Squinting, I moved closer.

Dion frowned as I came near, but he obediently tilted his head to allow me to examine his neck.

There were marks as though he had been scratched multiple times by sharp nails.

Gazing intently at the marks, I reflexively reached out and touched the wound. Though the surface looked rough and scabbed over, it felt smooth under my fingers.

I kept rubbing the seemingly unmarred skin, and Dion blocked my hand.

“There’s a wound there? It’s barely visible, yet you’re so concerned—how kind of you.”

Dietrich claimed he hadn’t seen any wound and praised me with a grin.

As I returned to my seat, Dietrich added with a smile, “It’s normal for knights to have a few wounds, so no need to worry, Saintess.”

“It looked like a scratch from fingernails… If it’s not treated, it’ll leave a scar.”

The wound wasn’t visible to the naked eye—only visible through Eyes of the Wraith. It probably wasn’t a normal injury. But I forced myself to speak calmly.

It was a wound that exuded malice. As if someone had dug into the same spot repeatedly with their nails. The indistinct presence behind Dion flickered darkly.

When I finished speaking and rubbed my arm again, an empty silence filled the carriage.

Perhaps finding it strange that I was reacting to a wound he couldn’t see, Dietrich gave a vague smile with a slightly confused look.

Dion, however, touched the spot where I had laid my hand and stared at me. After a long pause of contemplation, he finally spoke as he looked at me.

“Saintess, may I invite you to my family’s estate once we arrive in the Empire?”

“Dion?”

<Event! – Dion’s Invitation ->

• You have received an invitation from character [Dion].
• If accepted, your residence in the Empire will be set to [Dion Family Estate].

Startled by the sudden proposal, Dietrich looked flustered as he tried to dissuade Dion. But Dion ignored Dietrich’s reaction and stared straight at me.

“Yes, I’d like that.”

<You have accepted the event – Dion’s Invitation.>

• Your residence has been set to [Dion Family Estate].

Only after receiving my answer did Dion finally look away from me and glance at Dietrich. Dietrich’s normally gentle lips were trembling.

Grinding his teeth, Dietrich forced a smile as he spoke to Dion, “Wouldn’t that be uncomfortable for the Saintess?”

Dietrich’s violet eyes, unusually dark, gleamed ominously. If I weren’t watching, he looked like he might smack Dion in the mouth. Only then, as he met Dietrich’s gaze, did Dion’s expression falter.

Even so, he didn’t take back what he had said. Dietrich pressed on, determined to change my mind.

“It’s far from the palace, and there isn’t a temple nearby that the Saintess could visit.”

Seeing Dion remain stubbornly silent, Dietrich sighed and turned his attention to me instead.

“Saintess, the place Dion is referring to has never hosted a guest before, so it might be uncomfortable for you. You’d be better off at my estate…”

But I had no intention of changing my mind. It was obvious that going to Dion’s estate was a requirement to enter his single route—why would I change my plans?

I shook my head and declined Dietrich’s offer.

“I appreciate the suggestion, but I’d like to go to Sir Dion’s estate,” I said, glancing at Dion, who was rubbing his neck beside Dietrich.

“Because I’m curious about how Sir Dion got that wound.”

<Dion’s affection has slightly increased!>

As I welcomed the pleasant notification of increased affection, I deliberately ignored the faint, wavering figure looming behind Dion.

Whatever Dion had attached to him, thankfully I couldn’t see it clearly yet due to my low level.

***

When we arrived at the imperial palace, Dion was the first to step down from the carriage. Dietrich followed, and naturally, I turned to look at him.

“Please be careful.”

In the second playthrough, Dion had made no effort to hide how much he disliked me. The same Dion who had kept his distance from me after exiting the carriage now reached out his hand.

Even though his affection hadn’t risen yet, why was he being so friendly?

I looked at him suspiciously as I took his hand.

Just how much are you planning to use me?

I recalled what the real Dion had once said—that when he was young, his family tried to resolve an issue by searching for someone with holy power.

If I connect that to Dion’s behavior now, he must be treating me kindly because he’s hoping I’ll be able to get rid of the strange phenomenon that’s been plaguing his estate.

Even though I wanted to reject Dion’s self-serving kindness, doing so would only hurt my affection rating. I hesitantly extended my hand and let him help me down from the carriage.

Dion noticed the trembling in my hand and furrowed his brows in concern. “Saintess, are you feeling unwell…”

“Saintess, shall we head in?”

Just as Dion leaned in to check on me, Dietrich cut between us without warning.

He walked beside me the entire way down the corridor, constantly striking up conversation to block Dion’s view. He chatted endlessly about the palace decorations, the gardens, and the nearest temple, all while Dion clearly struggled to find a moment to speak with me.

Even with two men showing such eager interest, I couldn’t feel at ease.

One was keeping Dion in check, not wanting him to get too close to me. The other was simply desperate for me to solve the issues in his estate.

<Dietrich’s affection has decreased!>

<Dietrich’s affection has decreased!>

.

.

<Dietrich’s affection has decreased!>

As proof, Dietrich’s affection points were plummeting due to blocking Dion’s approach. His face was nearly obscured behind the overlapping, semi-transparent system windows.

“Please go ahead, Saintess.”

Despite his bright smile, Dietrich’s expression shifted to one of cold formality as we reached the drawing room. He stepped aside and gestured for me to enter first.

<You have discovered capture target: Imperial Scribe ‘Adrian’!>

<You have discovered capture target: Crown Prince of the Empire ‘Lucius’!>

<You have encountered all capture targets!>

• Reward: ‘Eyes of the Wraith’ skill level increased!
• Can faintly see things invisible to ordinary people.
• Usable once per day, for 1 hour.
• Special Note: This is a required skill to enter character [Dion]’s perfect ending.

As indifferent gazes turned toward me, a cascade of system messages poured down.

The true start of the capture route had begun.