I’m Trapped in a Bloody Reverse Harem Game - Chapter 182

Dietrich had vaguely realized that while Haniel looked at him, she wasn’t truly looking at him.

It felt as though she was searching for someone fundamentally different within him.

With sunken eyes, Dietrich thought to himself.

That affection was clearly directed at him, yet it didn’t feel like it was meant for him.

No—what a pointless assumption. Haniel was definitely in love with him.

Whatever the reason, the affection in her gaze when she looked at him was real.

He had even observed how she looked at others, wondering if it was just because she was a saintess—but no, only he received that kind of look.

His conviction grew stronger when she faced Gillian.

Haniel had recognized Dietrich’s hidden fear and stood protectively in front of him. Such a response wouldn’t have been possible without love that went beyond mere concern.

Of all the people who had shown interest in him, none had noticed his fear of Gillian—except for Lucius, who knew about the binding seal engraved on him.

Affectionate concern, feelings received with no strings attached—these things were sweet.

And even sweeter when shown to someone who had laid themselves bare.

She loved Dietrich despite knowing his evil nature.

It made him wonder how far her patience would go.

Even at a jeweler that sold fakes, the way she looked only at him was fascinating.

She didn’t seem the least bit interested in whether the store sold stolen or counterfeit goods. The fact that she reacted that way even while knowing he had brought her there to mock her—that was what made her so unique.

“Do you have a favorite color? If I recall, you like blue.”

When he asked her that, he was met with a surprised expression.

A look that said: How do you know that?

Haniel, who had been momentarily lost in thought, smiled and answered, “Yes. I like it.”

Her response was quiet yet overflowing with affection.

It was as though she were gathering her feelings and gently offering them to Dietrich.

“I like that too, but I also like the colors you like, Dietrich. What color do you like?”

Dietrich hated colors similar to Gillian’s snow-white hair. That shade resembled his own hair as well. He had a clear aversion, but no preferences.

Still, he didn’t mind Haniel’s golden hair. It was also the color of her eyes.

Gazing into her eyes for a moment, Dietrich murmured softly, “Purple.”

If he had said gold, she might’ve thought he was referring to her color.

If Haniel didn’t love him, he would’ve said that he liked gold.

But now, he just wanted to see more of her reactions…

Even at that disappointing answer, Haniel lifted the corners of her lips as if to say “I see.”

Still smiling faintly, she looked up at the sky and asked in a curious tone, “Are all the shops on this street jewelers?”

Perhaps she was worried about the gloomy sky turning stormy. The corners of her mouth, which had been raised, dipped slightly.

Dietrich had asked Lucius to hold her back so that they could share a room tonight.

She might’ve guessed that Lucius could use magic to do such a thing.

He’d tried to probe her intentions without any real plan to let her go—but she didn’t seem interested in leaving.

She accepted the invitation to dine together without the slightest sign of annoyance. Maybe she really didn’t know anything…

As they browsed the jewelry shops, Dietrich kept a close watch on Haniel’s expressions.

Though her emotions didn’t seem to shift no matter which jewel was presented, her expressions were still varied and colorful.

Her gaze lingered noticeably on purple and green gems.

She showed more interest in colors other than blue.

Watching her quietly, Dietrich eventually chose a ring set with a green gem at the last shop.

He considered whether matching her ring to the color of his own eyes would suit the engagement, but something about doing that for an engagement he planned to annul felt wrong.

When the rain began to pour and they stepped outside, Dietrich took the parasol from Haniel’s hands and opened it.

The small parasol could barely provide shade for one person, so it wasn’t of much use to them both.

He glanced over Haniel’s soaked hems, her long hair, and her shoes.

Her curls clung to her skin, and her scent drifted faintly toward him on the damp breeze.

Even Dietrich—who was used to beauty—found Haniel’s appearance vividly striking.

When he asked if it was uncomfortable to move in the rain, the look she gave him—

The gentle affection, the warm touch of someone worried about his cold.

Without realizing it, he tilted the parasol toward Haniel and watched her. His gaze, following the raindrops falling to the ground, landed on her shoes.

Smooth shoes, stockings clinging to her legs, and the rainwater seeping in drew his eyes.

He wasn’t some adolescent boy easily swayed by a short dress, yet here he was, acting like Dion. He lifted his head at Haniel’s voice.

“Dietrich.”

Snapped out of his daze, he smiled as usual as a droplet that had clung to his hair fell.

A drop of water that had formed at the tip of his hair landed and rolled down Haniel’s flawless skin. The droplet, sitting on her now-pale skin from the cold, fell like a tear.

It almost felt like seeing Haniel cry because of him, which wasn’t an unpleasant feeling.

He preferred situations he could control. Watching the moisture spread as Haniel wiped her cheek, Dietrich said, “I wanted to wipe it for you, but I’m soaked too.”

“It’s okay. It’ll dry soon.”

The stiffening of his expression at her next words was due to emotions he couldn’t control.

Why did the idea of something “drying soon” feel so unpleasant?

It felt like he’d glimpsed how she would calmly end things in the future.

“I see…”

“……”

“It’ll dry soon, I suppose.”

Come to think of it, he had no way of knowing where her affection came from.

Right now, no matter what he did, that gaze was directed at him—but because he didn’t know the origin of those feelings, he couldn’t predict when they might disappear.

If it was affection born from his looks, then unless his appearance became hideous, her feelings wouldn’t wane.

Dietrich found himself increasingly irritated by these emotions he couldn’t understand.

If it was a situation he couldn’t control, he’d just have to make it one he could.

There were many pleasures he could give Haniel.

If he gave her everything, made her happy, then she wouldn’t be able to take her affection back.

As he led Haniel—whose hand rested on his arm—into the building, Dietrich thought anxiously.

No one can resist when it feels like they’re being given everything. If he looked at her the way she had looked at him and spoke of love, surely…

He was better at those things than anyone. So, Haniel’s feelings would never fade first.

He thought to himself, anxious.

***

Haniel, watching the street now streaked with lightning, fell into thought. With the inn positioned at a high elevation, it wasn’t a day for the carriage to make the trip.

Seeing her hesitate, Dietrich said, “It would be best to stay here until the rain lets up. There’s an inn, so it’ll be a fine place to rest for a while.”

Haniel, shivering from the cold, nodded and agreed. Her face had gone pale—eating could wait.

As Dietrich struggled with how to bring it up, Haniel spoke first. “Would it be alright if I warmed up first? I’m feeling a little cold…”

“Ah, yes. Please wait here for a moment. I’ll go check if they have a room. I’ll also ask if we can get a change of clothes.”

Dietrich approached the innkeeper to ask about a room. The subdued atmosphere inside allowed Haniel to clearly hear their conversation.

Since this was a place they’d already arranged in advance, Dietrich already knew what the innkeeper’s response would be.

“Oh dear, we’ve only got one room left. It’s larger than the others, so it shouldn’t be uncomfortable even for two people.”

“There’s no helping it, then. We’ll take that room. Could you also have a change of clothes sent up?”

“Yes, of course.”

Finishing the brief exchange, Dietrich returned to Haniel with a troubled expression.

Haniel, who must’ve overheard, only wore a calm face.

It almost looked like she had expected this.

Dietrich found it difficult to guess what Haniel was thinking.

In a situation like this, surprise would be the natural response, yet she seemed to have anticipated that he’d do something like this.

As though she knew beforehand that it would rain and lightning would strike to make such a setup possible…

Now that he thought about it, it had also been strange how quickly she recognized his fear of Gillian.

Could such foresight be part of the saintess’s abilities?

Before his thoughts could wander further, Haniel, her lips pale, opened her mouth.