I’m Trapped in a Bloody Reverse Harem Game - Chapter 175

Adrian was imprisoned.

“Please, I beg for leniency, Saintess.”

Lucius bowed his head, pleading for mercy. Seeing Lucius defend Adrian made me revise my evaluation of him slightly upward.

The once-arrogant Lucius was now lowering his head and even speaking politely.

I wondered if Adrian even knew Lucius was doing this for him. That someone thought so much of him—and yet, he had abandoned them all to run away with me.

I wanted to run straight to the prison where Adrian was locked up, slap him on the back, and tell him to come to his senses.

But since I was still pretending to be terrified, I couldn’t do that.

All I could do was lower my head and clutch Ardal’s sleeve beside me.

Ah, this is so frustrating.

“Please leave. Do not make unreasonable demands of the Saintess.”

Even in this situation, Ardal remained steadfast, calmly driving Lucius away. Once Lucius left, Ardal knelt and looked at my face.

“Lady Haniel. You’re still thinking about him, aren’t you?”

Ardal spoke in a gentle tone. I couldn’t say anything and only opened my mouth silently as tears streamed down my cheeks.

Ah, these tears are real—this is honestly heartbreaking. Adrian, please, try looking around at the people beside you for once.

As I sniffled, unable to speak, Ardal gently wrapped his arms around my shoulders. His awkward patting followed, and he said with a determined expression, “Please go and speak with him. If he dares to lay a hand on you again, I will stop him. You may do as you wish, without worry.”

He lifted me into his arms as he continued, “As long as I am by your side, there is nothing for you to fear.”

Yeah, I think you’re right.

From the moment we first met, Ardal had always been someone I could rely on.

I nodded, resting my head against his chest. Ardal headed for the prison.

***

Adrian was slumped lifelessly in the cell. His once-neat face was a mess. Still handsome, sure—but what good is being handsome in a prison cell?

When Adrian spotted me, he forced strength into his limp body and grabbed the bars.

“Saintess…”

“…Adrian.”

As Adrian reached out his hand toward me, Ardal took a step back and looked at him warily.

I asked Ardal to give us a moment, then placed a chair in front of Adrian’s cell and sat down. Adrian’s gaze fell to my ankle.

“It still hasn’t healed?”

“No.”

“…I’m sorry.”

The moment I heard those words, all the pent-up emotions melted away. I sighed and reached out to stroke his hair.

“It’s alright. It was a long time ago—you might have just been mistaken.”

Adrian looked at me, eyes wide, as if he hadn’t expected to be forgiven so easily.

“It would’ve been nice if we had met under better circumstances, but I guess this is how it has to end this time.”

“What do you mean, Saintess? I haven’t even properly apologized yet. Why—why are you saying it’s over!”

<Ending progression has been updated.>

1. ‘End of the Run’ progress: 100%

<Ending ‘End of the Run’ is now available for viewing.>

<Play will automatically end after viewing the ending.>

<Would you like to view the ending ‘End of the Run’?>

Sensing the end, Adrian gripped the bars with bloodshot eyes. His straight fingers clutched the iron fiercely as he reached out to me. We were too far apart—he couldn’t reach.

‘View.’

In front of him, I opened the inventory window and sprayed the trauma recovery potion I had prepared onto my ankle. The slight throbbing in my ankle completely disappeared.

I stood up from the chair and approached Adrian. He looked at me with trembling eyes.

“P-please, just until I can offer a proper apology—won’t you wait, just until then? W-what do you mean it’s over, I don’t understand what you’re saying…”

Adrian muttered in a trembling voice. He begged, but I couldn’t hear it clearly anymore.

The ending had begun.

Adrian’s pleading figure blurred more and more. It seemed the ending would close on this final image of him begging.

“N-no, Saintess. I was wrong. Why… why are you trying to disappear again, like before—don’t go. I was wrong. Please don’t leave.”

Ah, no. I hadn’t planned to end it like this.

I opened my mouth as I looked at Adrian, who was crying.

It felt like the system had prepared these lines.

[I’m fine.]

I saw Adrian’s lips twitch.

[You don’t need to apologize. I’m just glad… that you’re not hurt.]

A fitting end for a bad ending.

Watching Adrian collapse and tremble, I moved my lips as the system prompted, then shut my eyes tightly.

Just like when I had first met Adrian long ago, my body disappeared through the system. Even though my vision had gone completely black, I could still hear Adrian sobbing.

<Collecting character [Adrian] Bad Ending: ‘End of the Run’.>

I would never meet this version of Adrian again.

And this Adrian, probably—

<The game will now shut down automatically.>

—would never stand up again.

***

“You’re awake.”

Adrian’s relaxed voice echoed. I blinked blankly and squinted as sunlight streamed into Adrian’s office.

I wasn’t on a bed—I was cradled in Adrian’s arms.

In front of Adrian sat Hella, her expression sullen. Holding something in her hand, Hella dropped the item in front of Adrian and said, “Dahlia said to thank you for the herbs. She asked me to deliver this. She and I made the cake ourselves. She said she’ll come by to thank you in person when the Saintess wakes up.”

“No need. Ah, well—the Saintess might need it.”

“Oh, the Saintss’s awake?”

Adrian, slower than usual in sorting through documents, properly shifted his hold on me and spoke. Setting aside the documents, he stood up and gently lowered me to the floor.

“Here, take my hand and try standing. You still look a bit dazed. Are you alright? Do you want to rest a bit more?” Adrian asked with a worried look.

I quietly stared at his face and shook my head. Adrian flicked a finger against Hella’s forehead as she circled around me, then pushed her aside.

“The Saintess’s feeling dizzy—move.”

“Ugh, seriously. Sir Adrian. You’re so annoying… I hate you the most…”

Grumbling like quarreling siblings, the two of them turned their heads toward me.

“Saintess, the me from over there is… Saintess?”

“Saintess, what’s wrong?”

I stared blankly at the sunny office, at Adrian and Hella bickering, then suddenly threw my arms around Adrian’s neck.

Startled, Hella and Adrian tried to calm me. They blamed each other, saying it was the other’s fault for being rude.

After that, Lucius, Dietrich, and Dion came to Adrian’s office after hearing I had awakened. Adrian held me close, scowling at them.

“I’ve told you again and again not to come in without permission unless you’re the Saintess…”

Adrian muttered irritably, then let out a sigh and fell silent.

“Fine, do as you please.”

Adrian’s office remained brightly lit.

“Saintess, here. Hella and Dahlia made this—I can’t guarantee the taste, but I think it’d be good for you to eat something. You don’t look well,” Adrian spoke as he brushed my cheek with his fingers.

I said nothing for a moment, then opened my inventory and handed him the herbs I had brought from there.

“Oh, this. These are the herbs Dahlia used to make her medicine, right?”

“Yes, I brought them… from over there. They’re for you.”

“Thank you.”

When I cleared my throat and spoke, Adrian smiled lightly and kissed my cheek. Perhaps sensing something off in my subdued demeanor, he didn’t ask anything about the game.

Adrian tossed the herbs to Hella and ordered, “Put them in the herb chamber.”

“Ugh, all you ever do is order people around… Who do you think you are…”

“I can hear everything.”

“Is Scribe Adrian here? It’s Tricia. I came to thank you for the herbs you gave Dahlia…”

Amidst the bickering between Hella and Adrian, a knock sounded at the door, and Tricia and Dahlia entered together.

Seeing them, I leaned my body into Adrian’s arms.

I wanted to sleep, just a little.

As I closed my eyes, I heard Adrian’s voice telling Tricia it was nothing. Hella’s scolding, a short snarky comment, and a laugh followed.

Overwhelmed by fatigue, I fell asleep in Adrian’s arms.

***

<Adrian Side Story Complete.>

***

Everyone fails at times, and anyone can be disappointed by the results.

The fact that failure and disappointment disappeared once I returned to reality—that was my greatest advantage.

Even if I failed countless times, I could get back up as though nothing had happened. Even if I was disappointed over and over again, I could preserve only the good memories.

A place where mistakes and imperfections were allowed—that was the world I had created.

‘Execute system.’

<The Saintess Is a Spy! – [ ]th Playthrough – Now Available>

And so, I entered the world I had created.

***