I’m Trapped in a Bloody Reverse Harem Game - Chapter 33

<The skill ‘Potion Crafting’ has reached level 7.>

• Acquired the skill ‘Advanced Potion Crafting.’
• The variety of potions that can be crafted has increased.
• The time required for potion crafting has decreased.
• The stamina required for potion crafting has decreased.

“Oh, I’m going to die…”

Still crafting potions, I collapsed onto the desk upon seeing the system notification. Damn it, even after all that effort, I’d only managed to prepare 40 spare potions. My welcome banquet tomorrow had long since slipped from my mind.

Fortunately, the time and stamina required for potion crafting had been reduced. It seemed I wouldn’t have to abandon this quest after all.

I raised my head from the desk and reached for the herbs, but before my hand could touch the pile, someone firmly grabbed my wrist. Without even looking, I knew who it was. After all, the only person here with me was Dion.

Dion spoke to me, “Saintess, haven’t you already prepared the necessary amount? You should rest, especially with the welcome banquet tomorrow.”

As I listened to his words, I shook my head. I gestured toward the still-massive pile of herbs, and Dion’s gaze followed my hand.

“If I leave them, all those herbs will go to waste. I want to make as much as I can.”

“You’re taking on unnecessary hardship.”

He sounded like he thought I was being foolish.

“Just make sure nothing goes wrong with the banquet.”

“Mm…”

Removing Dion’s hand from my wrist, I grabbed another bunch of herbs, letting out a soft hum.

I wasn’t planning on attending the banquet tomorrow.

‘Check stamina level.’

<Remaining Stamina: 350/3000>

I hadn’t even bothered to restore the stamina I’d lost from crafting potions. If my stamina dropped below 150, I would pass out. My plan was to faint just before entering the banquet.

Passing out had the same effect as sleep. To minimize wasted time and focus entirely on potion crafting, this was the best approach.

Dion stayed by my side until late at night, only rising when it was time to leave.

“I’ll come to escort you in the morning.”

“Alright, see you tomorrow.”

“Go to bed as soon as I leave.”

“Yeah, yeah.”

Giving him a vague reply, I noticed Dion’s face darken. He glanced back and forth between my face, which showed no intention of sleeping, and the herbs in my hand. Then, suddenly, he stepped closer to me.

As his large frame approached, a shadow completely covered my body.

Standing with his back to the light, Dion reached out, snatched the herbs from my hand, and effortlessly picked me up.

“D-Dion?”

Caught off guard by the unexpected contact, my heart skipped a beat as I called out to him.

What… What is this? Is this some kind of event?

Dion didn’t respond to my question. Instead, he strode toward the bedroom, his heavy footsteps echoing in my head.

The sound of the door opening pierced my ears, startling me. Without thinking, I clutched his chest tightly. Crumpling the neatly pressed fabric of his uniform, I glanced up to see Dion’s sharp blue eyes flicker down to the spot where my hands had wrinkled his clothing.

Reaching the bed, Dion pulled back the sheets with one hand and tossed me onto the mattress.

“Ah!”

“Go to sleep.”

“Oh…”

What? That’s it?

Any hopes I’d had instantly vanished. Dion’s only intent had been to put me to bed. After throwing the sheet over me like a blanket, he turned on his heel.

“Don’t even think about making more potions tonight. Just sleep until I come for you tomorrow.”

With his goal accomplished, Dion left the room swiftly. Watching his retreating figure as he exited without a glance back, I sat up the moment he was gone.

Through the window, I watched Dion tidy up the herbs I’d been working with before leaving the lodging entirely. His steps seemed quicker than usual as he disappeared. Confirming that he was completely out of sight, I turned back to my task.

If I slept now, my stamina would recover, and I’d have no excuse not to attend the banquet tomorrow.

“That’s not happening.”

Kicking off the blanket, I returned to my seat in front of the herb pile.

***

“……”

“……”

The next morning, I found myself face-to-face with Dion at the desk, not in bed. The moment Dion opened the door and saw me sitting there, his face twisted like crumpled paper.

Seeing his thoroughly disgruntled expression, I offered a sheepish smile.

“What do you think you’re doing?”

“Haha…”

“Did you not sleep?”

He didn’t bother hiding his annoyance as he asked. I timidly nodded in response, shrinking under his glare.

For the banquet, Dion wasn’t dressed in his usual knight’s uniform but something more ornate. Frustrated, he tugged at the stiff collar of his outfit.

As the neatly fastened collar came undone, he furrowed his brow and muttered, “Your face is as pale as a sheet…”

“What did you say?”

Muttering under his breath as he stared at my face, Dion grabbed a stamina recovery potion I’d made and held it out.

“It’s obvious you haven’t slept. The banquet is soon, so there’s no time for rest now.”

“Yes, I figured as much.”

“If you knew, then why… Never mind. Just drink the potion.”

“That potion wasn’t made for me.”

At my calm response, Dion paused, as though about to yell, then exhaled sharply and handed me the potion bottle. Taking it, I calmly closed the lid and set it aside. Dion’s face slackened, caught off guard by my actions. Smiling faintly at his bewildered expression, I stood up.

<Stamina is insufficient.>

The system notification I’d been waiting for appeared before me. A few more moments, and I’d reach the threshold for forced fainting.

Looking at Dion, who stood frozen like a statue, I said, “I’ll just change clothes. Wait a moment.”

Even as I spoke and moved, Dion remained motionless, staring at my face.

His complete lack of movement made me wonder if there was some kind of error. Curious, I stepped closer to him.

“Dion, are you okay?”

Was there really an error? Had the game frozen?

The game had never frozen before, but since I’d been in it for so long, maybe some kind of glitch had occurred.

I waved my hand in front of Dion’s face. His eyes moved slightly, following the motion of my hand.

<Dion’s affection has increased.>

Huh? What?

Seeing that Dion’s affection had risen after noticing my clearly haggard appearance, I couldn’t help but be amazed.

As expected of a game character, his affection moved based on factors other than mere looks.

When I chuckled at the system notification, Dion stammered in response.

“That… no. Please, just change quickly.”

“You’re the one who looks worse. Maybe you should drink a potion instead?”

Taking his hand, I placed the potion he’d given me back into his palm. Dion’s reflection shone in the red liquid of the potion. If I could see Dion’s face in it, then he must be able to see mine as well.

“Drink it while you wait.”

“Saintess.”

Dion called after me as I entered the room, but it didn’t seem like he intended to stop me.

<Dion’s affection has increased.>

Upon entering the room, another notification about Dion’s affection increase appeared.

***

Until I stepped out, Dion remained frozen in the same posture as before. Adjusting my attire, I turned my back to Dion and opened my mouth.

“Uh, Dion.”

“Ah, yes.”

“Could you help me button up the back?”

The buttons on the back of my sacred robe had always been fastened by Ardal when I was in the Holy Kingdom. At first, he would fasten them at a distance, but after I maxed out his affection, he would embrace me from the front as he buttoned them up.

Gathering my hair to the front and exposing my back to Dion, I suddenly found myself missing Ardal. I wondered how he was doing. What happened to the characters in the Holy Kingdom after I came to the Empire?

Lost in thought, I tilted my head slightly. However, no matter how long I stood there, Dion didn’t move closer.

“Dion?”

“Why are you asking me to do this?”

“Because there’s no one else but you.”

“I’m a knight, not a servant.”

So what? Ardal was a knight too.

Dion clenched his jaw, glaring down at me as if he were trying to bore holes through me. The heat flickering in his blue eyes was unmistakable, and I let out a soft sigh.

Well, I suppose it makes sense. Dion is a noble, after all. Being asked to do something like this might wound his pride.

“My arms can’t reach. Is there anyone nearby who can help?”

Hearing my troubled tone, Dion let out a long sigh of his own. There were no attendants assigned to this remote lodging.

“Oh, right. Someone did help tidy up in the morning.”

As I absentmindedly mentioned this, Dion placed his hands firmly on my shoulders and reached for the buttons around my waist.

“That servant is a man.”

Dion muttered under his breath as he exhaled deeply and began fastening the buttons. His fingers occasionally slipped over the small buttons, and his hand brushed against my exposed back several times. Each touch, warmer than expected, sent a shiver down my spine.

Perhaps it was because my last physical interaction had been with the Pope in the Holy Kingdom, but my body felt unusually sensitive.

After days of nothing but potion crafting, I’d truly been living like a Saintess. I had thought my senses had dulled, but apparently, I had underestimated the game’s mature-rated settings.

Even the mere brush of Dion’s hand left me feeling heated, and I could only hope he wouldn’t notice the faint tingling near my abdomen.

I can’t just pounce on him—not yet.

“…All done.”

“Oh, thank you….”

After spending quite a while fastening the buttons, Dion spoke in a heavy tone. Awkwardly fumbling, I stepped away from him.

“Sir Dion, the carriage to escort the Saintess is ready.”

We sat quietly, maintaining a noticeable distance until the carriage arrived. The tense atmosphere dissipated only after stepping outside. Smiling faintly with relief at not having succumbed to temptation, I climbed into the carriage.

“…You don’t need to be so tense.”

Perhaps misinterpreting my smile, Dion spoke to me in a low voice.

“I have no intention of laying a hand on the Saintess.”

Dion didn’t enter the carriage, closing the door instead. Left alone in the spacious carriage, I blinked in surprise.

For him to say such a thing meant he’d at least considered the idea. As for me, I’d been eagerly waiting for the moment he would.

<Dion’s affection has increased!>

As the carriage began to move, the familiar system notification appeared. Checking the notification, I smiled contentedly and leaned back against the plush seat.

It seems the day I can confirm Dion’s affection is not far off.