I’m Trapped in a Bloody Reverse Harem Game - Chapter 186

<Dietrich Capture Event ‘The Source of Fear’>

<The secondary objective has been completed.>

• Leads into Dietrich Capture Event (2) ‘Overcoming Fear.’
• The objective for the event ‘Overcoming Fear’ is not yet open.

Something had changed after returning to the palace with Dietrich.

Whether it was because the affection gauge had filled to four hearts, or due to the aftereffects of our recent outing, I couldn’t quite tell—but he no longer avoided meeting me. On the contrary, he often sought me out first.

Perhaps those two things were connected.

“Haniel. The ring has arrived—I came to show it to you.”

Today was the day the jewel we had purchased on our last outing was delivered. Because it hadn’t fit properly, we’d asked to have it resized, and now Dietrich had brought it.

“Here.”

He placed the ring case in my palm. Before I could open the case, Dietrich spoke in a tone that sounded like an excuse.

“Looking at it again, there are quite a few things that could be better. If you’d like to change the ring, I wouldn’t mind searching for another one.”

“No, I like this one.”

“Do you? Still, for the wedding ring, we should probably prepare something different…”

I opened the case as he trailed off, organizing my thoughts.

Dietrich’s capture event was now nearing its end. I was preparing for that end while listening to his gentle voice. Once the event titled ‘Overcoming Fear’ began, I would be able to finish his capture and return to reality.

And from now on, it was time to clean up the messes I had made and secure the documents.

Kicking Gillian out, the night of the outing where Dietrich pushed the blame onto me, and the secret documents I had yet to obtain.

All of these were now my responsibility and were waiting to come back around. In this game, every action I took seemed to link into a capture event.

The most urgent task was getting my hands on the secret documents—but surprisingly, the time spent with Dietrich was getting in the way of that.

I cut through his soft voice and asked, “Dietrich, how many more times do I have left to come find you?”

“That’s not really important, is it?”

He frowned as he replied. He didn’t seem pleased by the sudden question.

I reminded him of the promise we had made. “We agreed to meet thirty times. A promise is a promise.”

“…We’re at twenty-five now. You’re not thinking of stopping once the thirty are over, are you?”

He asked with a reluctant expression. The displeasure in his eyes showed no signs of softening.

Had I really already met with Dietrich twenty-five times?

It seemed quite a lot of time had passed in reality too. They must be worried.

I looked down at the ring set with a green gemstone and thought of Adrian. The gem was a similar green to Adrian’s eyes, though his were a much warmer shade.

The Adrian in reality was no doubt anxious. Probably fretting over whether he had overstepped again.

I wanted to hurry back and reassure him that I was truly fine.

“Haniel, you’re not thinking about that, are you?”

While I had been lost in thought, Dietrich had apparently asked something. His voice, tinged with tension, pressed for an answer.

It seemed he thought I wouldn’t seek him out anymore once the thirty visits were over.

He wasn’t entirely wrong.

Once I finished his capture, I was indeed planning to return to the Holy Kingdom.

That was one of the requests the real Dietrich had made of me.

To return to the Holy Kingdom once the capture was over.

The real Dietrich had smiled as he said that. A smile that seemed to mock the version of himself in this world.

I answered gently, trying to soothe the anxious Dietrich, “Even after thirty, we’ll continue to see each other.”

Though there were differences between the Dietrich here and the one in reality, they were ultimately the same person.

While I was reflecting on their shared identity, I heard a sound I could never forget.

The familiar sound of footsteps made my shoulders stiffen instinctively.

I wasn’t even that sensitive to sound, yet why was it that sounds that stirred fear embedded themselves so vividly?

“Sir Dietrich.”

It was Adrian.

Brown hair, green eyes. Those deep green eyes, showing no emotion toward me, pierced into my vision.

Why did these people leave such a painful mark on my heart?

That uniquely dry gaze—belonging to someone who had never found a place to rest their heart—was fixed on Dietrich. I dazedly followed that gaze and traced the lines of Dietrich’s face.

“I came to discuss the engagement ceremony, but if you’re short on time, I’ll formally request a visit another day.”

Adrian, who was surely aware of my gaze, didn’t look at me at all and spoke only to Dietrich.

This version of Adrian looked exhausted as well. The scars on his hand remained the same.

Even without actively pursuing their routes, there were some characters who constantly drew my attention—Adrian and Dietrich were among them.

I was currently on Dietrich’s capture route, so that made sense, but if I didn’t capture Adrian, he would remain isolated in this world forever. That alone made him an especially painful presence to me.

His nature, which refused to trust anyone, was simply heartbreaking.

As I was lost in those thoughts, Dietrich suddenly pulled my arm sharply.

“Ah!”

Startled, I was yanked into his arms so abruptly that I let out a small scream at the pain in my arm. Though Dietrich quickly loosened his grip, the pain lingered.

My line of sight, which had been fixed on Adrian, was now blocked. All I could see was Dietrich’s chest.

Now in a posture that looked like a couple in love, Dietrich said to Adrian, “Come back another time. I’m spending time with Haniel right now.”

“Understood.”

Of all the tones I’d heard Dietrich use toward Adrian, this was by far the coldest. Dietrich had always spoken to Adrian with a kind tone.

<Adrian’s affection has slightly decreased.>

The system message popped up, informing me that Adrian’s affection level had dropped.

Unlike Adrian, who never once looked at me, Dietrich had clearly noticed the affection in my gaze toward Adrian.

Just as I couldn’t help but love Dietrich no matter how much he disliked me, I loved Adrian even though he showed no interest in me.

I could act as if my gaze held nothing—but Adrian had appeared so suddenly that I hadn’t been able to hide my emotions.

I had already been worrying about the real Adrian, so my attention was completely consumed by this one.

As the sound of Adrian’s retreating footsteps echoed, I lifted my gaze to look at Dietrich, who had now released me.

In his soft purple eyes was a storm of conflicted emotions.

There was reproach, as if asking why I had looked at Adrian that way—and even jealousy.

***

“Your Grace, the ring from the jeweler has arrived.”

“Really? I should go show it to Haniel.”

Dietrich responded brightly. He had just been thinking about how he wanted to see Haniel.

Even though she was his fiancée, Lucius always gave him suspicious looks whenever they met without reason—so he needed an excuse to see her.

There weren’t many visits from Haniel left. He thought he might suggest not counting today’s visit toward the thirty agreed meetings when he went to show her the ring.

With the ring case in hand, Dietrich went to find Haniel.

As if she had also been about to come find him, she was walking alone through the garden.

Seeing her look at him with a bright, welcoming gaze, Dietrich returned her smile warmly.

When he placed the ring in her hand, she immediately moved to open the case. Only then did Dietrich remember the ring itself and spoke as though making an excuse.

“Looking at it again, there are quite a few things that could be better. If you’d like to change the ring, I wouldn’t mind searching for another one.”

Only now did it occur to him that he had deliberately picked a poor choice back then. When the case was opened, a large and rather clunky green gem was revealed.

Dietrich quickly searched Haniel’s expression. Fortunately, her face showed no hint of disappointment as she looked at the ring.

In fact, there was even a warmth in her gaze.

After studying the ring for a while, Haniel asked, “Dietrich, how many more times do I have left to come find you?”

“That’s not really something important.”

“That’s not really important, is it?”

Her tone as she reminded him of the thirty promised visits irritated him. Dietrich’s expression hardened as he gave her the number, and Haniel’s face fell into thoughtful silence.

It was right after he had reassured her that they would still see each other even after the thirty visits.

That was when her shoulders stiffened.

With the same emotion Dietrich had shown when facing Gillian, Haniel stiffened—and then turned her head toward the cause.

Dietrich followed her gaze and saw how Haniel looked at Adrian.

Eyes full of deep affection. They gleamed with the same light she showed when looking at him.

Only then did he notice the jewel in Haniel’s hand.

The color of the gem set in the ring was exactly the same as Adrian’s eyes.