I’m Trapped in a Bloody Reverse Harem Game - Chapter 57

“Taking charge of my escort during the coronation and now as well—why do you always go out of your way to trouble yourself like this?”

—”It’s no trouble at all.”

“Ardal, just as you worry about me, I want you to know that I worry about you, too.”

Hearing my words, Ardal nodded with a bittersweet expression.

—”Yes, Lady Haniel.”

“Then instead of cleaning my room, I’d like you to take some personal time for yourself.”

—”I appreciate your suggestion, Lady Haniel. However, this is how I spend my personal time.”

Looking at Ardal’s resolute answer, I bit my lip lightly.

Ardal is always so consistent.

His response brought a gentle smile to my face. I beamed at Ardal, my eyes crinkling with warmth. He looked at me silently for a while before smiling softly in return.

—”I was worried about how you were doing… Seeing you smile puts my mind at ease.”

Even after hesitating, the first words out of his mouth were about his concerns for me.

Does Ardal not care at all about whether I’m fulfilling my role as a spy?

<Time Remaining: 60 seconds>

“Already…?”

As I deliberated while looking at Ardal’s face beyond the magic orb, the system displayed the regrettably short amount of time left. There was barely any time remaining for communication.

Even if Ardal doesn’t care, I should still provide a brief report.

“I’m getting more accustomed to the palace and will start searching for the documents soon. Please let Orias know that there’s nothing to worry about.”

—”Yes, I will.”

“Then I’ll contact you again next time, Ardal.”

—”I’ll be waiting.”

Ardal gave a small bow. Even as the connection ended, his gaze remained fixed on me, straight and unwavering, leaving me with a profound sense of fulfillment.

Once I roughly completed capturing the Imperial characters, I planned to use the ‘Ardal Summoning Ticket’ that I received as my initial reward for completing his route.

In the next playthrough, my relationship with Ardal likely wouldn’t be the same, so I wanted to spend more time with him while I still could. In the following playthrough, I intended to focus on capturing Orias, so moments like this—where Ardal looked at me with such eyes—wouldn’t happen again.

Even after Ardal’s image disappeared completely from the communication orb, I continued staring at it for a long while.

Propping my chin on one hand, I idly gazed into the orb before muttering a sudden thought.

“They say there’s no magic, yet here’s a magic orb.”

And to think I can use it so naturally. What a sloppy setting. I scoffed sharply and stood up.

“Time to head out.”

Standing up, I murmured the command softly, just in case.

“Logout.”

The system remained unresponsive. As expected, I couldn’t execute the logout command on my own. Clicking my tongue briefly, I opened the door.

Just as I cracked it open, a familiar voice filtered in through the gap.

“Time it properly and take the Saintess to the temple. Come up with an excuse to bring her there.”

A voice I’d definitely heard before… And if they’re talking about the Saintess, that means me. Why are they planning to take me to the temple?

It sounded like the person speaking was plotting something. I paused without fully opening the door. Was this information for a trap event?

Like with Hella, there was a possibility this might lead to a trap. I strained to listen to the voice, unsure of which capture target’s route this might pertain to.

“Dietrich. Your answer?”

“Understood.”

A Dietrich capture event?

The familiar voice was ordering Dietrich to bring me to the temple. Dietrich’s response was low and somber, unlike his usual self. His normally lively tone was entirely absent, replaced by a grim one, making me furrow my brows.

Who is he talking to for his voice to sound that off?

Cautiously, so as not to be noticed, I peeked at the owner of the voice.

Ah, it’s that person.

The figure who came into view was, as I suspected, someone familiar. It was Gillian, whom I’d seen at the banquet. Gillian, who had been practically thrown out by the Crown Prince at that time, was now coldly ordering Dietrich around.

Is that person in a position to give Dietrich orders? That doesn’t make sense, considering how blatantly Lucius disregarded Gillian.

It seemed strange for Dietrich, one of Lucius’s closest confidants, to be taking orders from Gillian.

<Information about Character ‘Gillian’ has been collected.>

• Information about ‘Gillian’ has been unlocked.

<Gillian Information Updated>

• Capture target ‘Dietrich’ cannot defy Gillian’s orders.

While I puzzled over their relationship, the system updated me with a brief tidbit about Gillian.

Why can’t he defy Gillian?

<Insufficient information to view.>

Seeing the system notification, I pressed my temples. It seemed like the system had been mocking me ever since I got trapped in the herb chamber.

“The setup is complete. Just make sure to do as I instructed.”

Narrowing my eyes at their conversation, I noticed a faint light emanating from Dietrich’s outer coat pocket. The color was similar to the golden glow of the communication orb I had just used.

Dietrich’s beautiful face was twisted into an expression of helplessness as he listened to Gillian’s orders. His features contorted as he nodded weakly.

“Yes.”

Gillian, who had been watching Dietrich nod, glanced around quickly before departing. Even after Gillian left, Dietrich kept his head bowed for a long while. Shallow, labored breaths escaped from his lips.

His breathing sounded strained as he leaned against a pillar in the hallway.

“Haa…”

Cold sweat dotted his forehead. Watching him clutch his chest and gasp raggedly, I quickly opened the door.

As I stepped out into the hallway, Dietrich flinched and trembled as if startled by my presence.

“S-Saintess.”

“Dietrich, are you all right?”

Dietrich called me as he leaned against a pillar and slumped to the ground. Watching him collapse, I quickly approached and held his shoulder.

Dietrich gave me a faint, bitter smile and answered, “Thank you for the support. But, Saintess…”

“Your breathing is unsteady. Try to breathe slowly.”

“I’m fine now.”

I wiped the cold sweat from his forehead with the back of my hand. While still breathing heavily, Dietrich grasped my wrist and, with a chilling smile, asked,

“Saintess.”

“Yes?”

“Did you overhear anything?”

His sharp gaze pierced through me. Feigning innocence, I answered with a blank expression.

“What do you mean?”

“Never mind. It’s nothing.”

“More importantly, Dietrich, you’re so pale…”

Dietrich’s face wasn’t just pale—it was as white as a sheet. Carefully removing his hand from my wrist, I cupped his face with both hands.

“Should I head to the herb chamber and get some medicine?”

Logging out would have to wait, but with Dietrich looking like he might faint, I had no choice. Who else would take care of my capture target if not me?

Dietrich, who had remained silent, shook his head. “No, I’m truly fine now.”

“What’s going on, then? Do you have a chronic illness?”

“It’s nothing like that. Sometimes, when I feel anxious, this happens.”

Dietrich’s complexion began to return. Rising slowly to his feet, he spoke, “I seem to have disturbed your rest. My apologies.”

He smoothed out the wrinkles in his clothes and then ran his fingers through his tousled hair, tidying it up. With a now-neat expression, he looked down at me and reached into his pocket.

From his pocket, he pulled out a round object along with a clean handkerchief. My gaze fixated on the object—it had the same form as the magic orb in the resting place.

Wasn’t that glowing earlier? Is it another magic orb?

Dietrich slipped the orb back into his pocket and extended the handkerchief toward me.

“Saintess, your hand.”

I reflexively held out my hand. Grasping the hand I had used to wipe his sweat, Dietrich gently rubbed the back of it with the handkerchief in a delicate motion.

“I’m fine, so please return to the room and rest.”

“Ah, yes.”

Watching Dietrich meticulously wipe my hand, his touch almost tickling, I nodded.

***

As I entered ‘Haniel’s Resting Place,’ escorted by Dietrich, the system window greeted me.

<Would you like to log out?>

I needed to log out and research information on Gillian and how to capture Dietrich. The system’s recent antics had been irritating, and I planned to look up how to modify its settings as well.

“Logout.”

I spoke firmly to the system.

<An abnormal command has been detected.>

<Logout is unavailable.>

“What?”

The system flickered as if malfunctioning. Puzzled, I stepped outside. I figured I could try again after re-entering.

In the hallway, Dietrich, who had practically pushed me into the resting place, tilted his head slightly and looked at me with a curious expression.

“Is there an issue with the room?”

“No, it’s just… Never mind. Excuse me for a moment.”

“Yes, of course.”

Haniel’s Resting Place was a space that, once designated, no other character could enter—just like Haniel’s House. Though, due to an inexplicable error, there had been times when other characters had swarmed in.

Leaving Dietrich behind, I stepped back into the room.

<Would you like to log out?>

The same prompt appeared. I tilted my head and answered, “Yes.”

I’m logging out.

Just as my vision blurred momentarily, a loud warning alarm blared in my ears.

<Repeated abnormal commands detected.>

<System shutdown initiated to protect ‘Haniel.’>

What, what’s going on? Why is the system shutting down?

<System Shutdown>

<Maintenance in Progress>

<Player ‘Haniel’ Currently Connected>

<System Restart>

<System Usable During Maintenance>

• After stabilization is complete, the system may be updated.

Staring at the urgent system messages, I blinked in disbelief. The red warning windows filled my vision, staining everything in a crimson hue.

<Emergency maintenance will be conducted for one day to stabilize the system.>

“What? I’m still logged into the game!”

<Logout will be unavailable during emergency maintenance to protect player records.>

<Maintenance will proceed based on real-world time.>

<Maintenance duration is affected by the Blessing Ring.>

<Blessing Ring effect applied.>

<Time ratio between reality and game set to 1:1000.>

…You’ve got to be kidding me.

A familiar sense of exasperation washed over me.

So this is what the system window is saying?

<Time Remaining: 23:59>

I let out a desperate scream into the void.

“Does this mean the remaining time just increased?!”