I’m Trapped in a Bloody Reverse Harem Game - Chapter 37

Before Haniel’s body completely collapsed, Dion swiftly caught her by the waist. Her slender frame went limp as if her soul had left her. As Dion steadied her body, a hush fell over the previously noisy banquet hall.

“W-what’s happening?”

“The Saintess suddenly…”

After the silence passed, murmurs broke out across the hall. Even Tricia, who had been dragging Dahlia away, turned back in surprise.

Lucius, who was the first to notice Haniel’s collapse, reached Dion’s side. After examining Haniel’s face, he asked Dion.

“Did she faint?”

“…Yes.”

“She can’t even manage her own condition?”

“It’s my fault. When the Saintess said she wanted to leave, I should have listened…”

“Nonsense, this is her own fault for not managing her health.”

When Dion bowed his head as if blaming himself, Lucius calmly reassured him.

Clearly unconcerned about Haniel’s condition, Lucius patted Dion’s shoulder and said, “If she’s just fainted, you can take her back. I’ll send a physician to her later.”

“Understood.”

Lucius even seemed pleased. After finishing his remarks to Dion, he turned away.

“Since the Saintess has collapsed, we’ll end the welcome banquet here.”

Hearing Lucius’s muttered words as he turned, Dion understood why he was in such a good mood.

‘He was annoyed by the banquet.’

The Saintess’s collapse provided a perfect excuse to end the welcome banquet early, improving Lucius’s mood. Considering that Lucius had even bothered to attend the banquet, Dion decided to feign ignorance about his attitude. After all, Lucius had helped Haniel when she was cornered by Gillian before the event, which deserved gratitude. Haniel might not realize it, but Gillian was not someone to keep close.

Carrying Haniel’s limp body, Dion left the hall. Following Lucius’s suggestion, taking her back was the priority.

Haniel’s powerless body swayed in Dion’s arms. Adjusting her head, which kept tilting downward, Dion hesitated for a moment in front of the carriage.

If he left her alone inside, she would surely roll around on the floor of the carriage.

Feeling a headache coming on, Dion climbed into the carriage while holding Haniel. After laying her across the seat opposite him, he signaled the coachman to start. As the carriage began to move, Haniel’s limp body bumped against the walls with every jolt. Each time her head struck the carriage wall, Dion flinched and let out a long sigh.

“Even while unconscious, she’s causing trouble.”

Muttering in frustration, Dion rose in the rattling carriage. He lifted her head with one hand and settled into the seat beside her.

Placing Haniel’s head on his thigh, Dion stared indifferently at her pale face.

“What’s the benefit of making potions for the herb chamber that she works so hard?”

The cause of Haniel’s collapse was her excessive work requested by the herb chamber. Thinking of the mountain of herbs piled up in her room, Dion poked her cheek. The soft sensation lingered on his fingertip. Haniel, unconscious, didn’t react.

After poking her cheek a few more times, Dion reached for her hair. Except for the Pope, he had never seen such golden hair before. Its vivid color, as if sunlight had melted into it, stirred his curiosity to touch it.

‘I’d never think of touching the Pope’s hair.’

Imagining the absurd scenario of running his hand through the Pope’s hair, Dion tightened his grip on Haniel’s hair without realizing it. When he noticed the pressure, he loosened his hold and glanced at her face. Relieved to see no change in her expression, Dion smoothed her hair. The delicate strands tangling around his fingers were unexpectedly satisfying.

As he toyed with her hair, Dion debated whether to return the pile of herbs in her room to the herb chamber. She had already made all the potions they had requested, so sending the remaining herbs back seemed reasonable. Although Haniel seemed determined to use them all, pushing herself might lead to another collapse like today.

‘Since she’s overworking herself, it’s better to send the herbs back to the chamber…’

As Dion mulled over the idea, he suddenly snapped out of it.

‘Why am I worried about the Saintess overworking herself?’

Taking his role as her guard too seriously, he was acting more like her caretaker. His actual task was to monitor her, not to protect her.

What Dion should be focused on was not the Saintess’s condition, but her purpose in coming to the Empire. He needed to uncover what she was trying to achieve here…

“…Damn it.”

Cursing under his breath, Dion’s hand unconsciously brushed through her hair again. That peculiar scent he had noticed during their first meeting lingered around her. A captivating fragrance that seemed to bewitch people. The same Dion who had clicked his tongue at Ardal’s behavior now found himself no different.

It must be because he’d been spending too much time around her lately. Her innocent-looking face and her eagerness to take on requests for the herb chamber had lowered his guard. This couldn’t continue. Haniel wasn’t part of the Empire; she belonged to the Holy Kingdom.

Hurriedly, Dion disentangled his fingers from her hair. The strands slipped away easily. Just as he was about to move to the opposite seat, he bit his lip. The weight of her head resting on his thigh felt strangely oppressive. While it would have been easy to lift her head, Dion found himself unable to touch her again. Looking down at Haniel, Dion closed his eyes tightly and turned his head toward the carriage window.

In the end, Dion remained seated with Haniel’s head on his lap until the carriage stopped moving.

***

<Dion’s affection has increased.>

<Lucius’s affection has slightly increased.>

<Dion’s affection has increased to a measurable level.>

<Dion’s affection can now be viewed.>

<Affection Levels>

• Ardal: ♥♥♥♥♥ (First capture complete)
• Orias: ♥♥♥♥♥ (Capture complete)
• Dion: ♥♥♥♡♡

As soon as I opened my eyes, system windows popped up simultaneously. Staring blankly at the windows filling my vision, I looked around. I was lying on my bed in the lodging, not in the banquet hall.

Did I really faint this time?

The system seemed off. I had configured it to let me observe the situation even while unconscious. When I first met Ardal and fainted, I could still monitor what was happening.

So, what’s this about?

This wasn’t my first time truly fainting in the game, which made it concerning. I’d fainted right after my first intercourse with Ardal and after drinking poisoned holy water. Just like before, I had no memories of what happened immediately after collapsing. I didn’t remember riding in the carriage or being placed on the bed.

While the system windows showed increases in Dion’s and Lucius’s affections, I couldn’t feel entirely happy about it. The system was acting increasingly strange.

‘Haniel’s Resting Place’ in the Empire hadn’t been unlocked yet, so I couldn’t go there. What should I do? I needed to log out quickly before the system got any weirder.

Holding my throbbing head, I forced myself to sit up.

The condition for unlocking ‘Haniel’s Resting Place’ was having intercourse with one of the Empire’s capture characters. In my previous playthrough, I had been able to enter immediately after sleeping together as soon as we met in the Holy Kingdom.

Dietrich was still an option for forming a connection right now. He was that type of character—he wouldn’t refuse if I initiated. But doing so would undoubtedly lead to a bad ending.

As I clutched my aching head, deliberating, faint voices came from outside the room. I got up and carefully approached the door.

“This is strange…”

“Strange? What do you mean?”

It was a voice I didn’t recognize, along with Dion’s voice. I listened intently to their conversation.

“I’ve seen a case just like the Saintess’s condition before.”

“Isn’t it simply overwork?”

“Overwork, yes, but… this is similar to what happened when Sir Lucius fell ill.”

“If it’s what Lord Lucius experienced… that illness had no cure….”

Dion’s agitated voice cut through, though it was slightly muffled. He raised his tone, almost shouting at the other person.

“That’s impossible! There’s no commonality between them. Besides, that illness was tied to Sir Lucius’s magical power…!”

Pressing my ear closer to the door, I tried to catch their words more clearly.

<Lucius’s Past Fragment 1/5>

• Collecting all past fragments will trigger an affection-increasing event.
• Each fragment collected will slightly increase Lucius’s affection.
• Your understanding of Lucius will slightly increase.

While the system poured out information in one corner of my vision, the conversation outside continued.

“Regardless, these symptoms are undoubtedly the same as Sir Lucius’s. For now, we should monitor her condition and proceed cautiously.”

“Why all of a sudden…”

“If it is like Sir Lucius’s case, the Saintess should recover naturally. But to be safe, I’ll prescribe a restorative.”

The conversation paused briefly.

“Take this to the herb chamber and ask for the specified medication. I’ll take my leave now.”

The sound of a door opening and closing followed. Once silence returned, I moved away from the door.

“Dion?”

When I stepped out, Dion was sitting on a chair, his large hands covering his face. Crumpled paper lay in front of him. I sat down across from him. Dion, who had been staring silently at me, finally spoke in a heavy tone.

“Are you feeling better?”

“Yes, I’m fine. But what’s that?”

“The prescription the physician left. I’ll go to the herb chamber to get it.”

Gripping the crumpled paper, Dion spoke calmly. It was hard to believe he was the same person who had been shouting earlier.

After confirming that Dion’s affection level was now viewable, I asked him, “Are you going now?”

“Yes.”

“I’ll come with you.”

“Please rest. I can handle this alone.”

He rejected my offer as he stood up. Despite his refusal, I moved closer to him.

“I need to deliver potions to the herb chamber anyway. I’m really fine, so let’s go together.”

The first quest had been completed once I finished making the potions. While I could have sent them to the herb chamber via an attendant, delivering them personally slightly increased Dion’s affection and improved my reputation, as indicated by the system. Although it was bothersome, going to the herb chamber was worth the effort.

When I pointed to the potions I had prepared, Dion handed me the prescription and picked up the potions. He didn’t say a word as we headed to the herb chamber.

Unlike earlier, Dion didn’t make any playful remarks. He walked straight ahead, his face somber. Ignoring his dark mood, I checked the prescription.

<A Skilled Physician’s Prescription>

• Ingredients for an effective restorative.
• Recipe for crafting a restorative potion
• Boosts overall stamina upon use.

<Acquired Advanced Restorative Potion Recipe!>

• Can be crafted upon reaching Potion Crafting Level 10.

<Experience for Potion Crafting has increased upon acquiring the Advanced Restorative Potion Recipe.>

I looked at the system window in awe. Having this advanced recipe would make fulfilling the Saintess role even more perfect.

This isn’t the time to engage with Dietrich. Progressing with Dion’s affection and reaching Potion Crafting Level 10 was too valuable to waste. Once the herb chamber event was completed, a new capture event for Dion would unlock. The slight system glitches were a small price to pay.

I decided to hold out until I could capture Dion.