I’m Trapped in a Bloody Reverse Harem Game - Chapter 76

“I spoke briefly with the Saintess, and she felt unreliable. She seemed like someone approaching you, Sir Lucius, to gain something. Didn’t you feel the same way?”

“Well… maybe.”

I could hear Lucius’s voice from inside. It was indeed Lucius talking with Beatrice.

What were they discussing? Was this some kind of attempt at sowing discord? Given Lucius’s low affection level, there was no need to manipulate him, so why go through the trouble?

“Regardless, this is nothing to worry about. Whatever happens between the Saintess and me, it’s not anyone else’s business.”

“Anyone else?”

“It’s not something you need to know. Don’t concern yourself.”

“Sir Lucius! I’m saying this because I care about you! I wouldn’t say such things to anyone else.”

Beatrice raised her voice, clearly upset. Although her tone was polite, her manner was no different from when she had reprimanded Lucinda.

It was hard to tell whether this was intentional, but Beatrice seemed to want to control the situations involving both Lucius and Lucinda. It felt dubious to dismiss this as mere affectionate advice.

This way of speaking… it felt familiar somehow.

I frowned slightly as I strained to listen more closely.

It was similar to how my guardians had treated me when I was younger. They always acted just like Beatrice.

“If you weren’t the crown prince, would the Saintess still treat you favorably?”

“Beatrice.”

“No, you already know that’s not the case. From the time you were not the crown prince, I was the only one in the palace taking care of you.”

“We’re the only ones who can raise you this well. Other people are only interested in your talents. We treat you like our own child.”

“Everyone else complimented you for being talented, right? Don’t let it go to your head. You’re not as talented as they make you out to be.”

“Sure, you seem talented now because you’re young, but in a few years, the support will stop. By then, we’ll be the only ones left…”

Beatrice’s tone was so similar to theirs that I felt like I could hear those dreadful voices again.

Whether in the game or reality, it seemed people like that were unavoidable.

I furrowed my brow even more and focused on listening to gather more information.

Now that I think about it, I’ve been gathering information through eavesdropping throughout this playthrough. I collected Lucius’s past fragment while overhearing Dion and the physician’s conversation, and I had also gleaned details by eavesdropping on Dietrich and Gillian.

Busy with capturing characters, I hadn’t given it much thought, but it seemed I had a natural knack for the spy skills a player might need.

Despite all my eavesdropping, I’d never been caught—

“What are you doing, eavesdropping here?”

“Ah!”

Oh, I got caught.

Seeing Adrian’s face, I instinctively pressed my index finger to my lips.

<Adrian Capture Event (Special): ‘Suspicion’ is in progress.>

• Current Progress: Certainty 30%, Disappointment 70%

It had been a while since I’d seen Adrian, and now he stood staring coldly at me with my ear to the door. It seemed his certainty percentage had increased since last time.

<Adrian Capture Event (Special): ‘Suspicion’ progress updated.>

• Current Progress: Certainty 20%, Disappointment 80%

Hmm… It went back to the same.

Facing Adrian’s suspicious gaze, I spoke quietly. He wouldn’t be able to hear inside, but Adrian might.

“I noticed something unusual. Just give me a moment.”

Pointing toward the door with the finger I had pressed to my lips, I explained. Adrian frowned and approached me.

“Sir Lucius is inside, isn’t he? Regardless of who he’s speaking with, do you think I’d stand by while the Saintess eavesdrops on his conversations?”

“No, that’s not it—”

“Come with me. I’ll ask why you were listening elsewhere.”

“Wait, Sir Adrian.”

Adrian spoke coldly, “Would you prefer I drag you out? If not, stay right there.”

<You have collected Lucius’s Past Fragment!>

• Lucius’s Past Fragment 3/5
• Collecting all past fragments will trigger an affection-increasing event.
• Lucius’s affection has slightly increased.
• Your understanding of Lucius has slightly increased.

Seeing Adrian’s resolute stance, I slowly stepped away from the door. Having collected the past fragment I was after, I had no reason to keep listening.

As I moved away, Adrian relaxed his expression and gestured for me to follow him.

“This way.”

Following Adrian, I opened the system window to check the fragment I had just obtained.

<Lucius’s Past Fragment 3>

• Beatrice’s Gaslighting

Ah.

As soon as I read the fragment, it felt like I had been struck.

I had thought the conversation sounded similar to what my guardians used to say to me.

If the information gathered from that conversation was labeled as gaslighting, then was what I experienced in reality also gaslighting?

“Saintess.”

“Yes, I’m coming.”

Entering a room after following Adrian, I absentmindedly sat down on the chair he pulled out for me.

But Lucius, being gaslit? How? Lucius is the only remaining wizard in this game and the First Prince.

“Why were you eavesdropping?”

Could someone as remarkable as him really be gaslit by a mere nanny?

“Saintess, are you listening to me?”

Seated across from me, Adrian crossed his arms and sighed. His fingers twitched irritably and irregularly. Stopping my train of thought, I turned to look at Adrian, who asked again.

“Why were you listening to Sir Lucius’s conversation?”

Despite his stern tone, Adrian didn’t seem hostile. It felt like he wanted to understand why I had been eavesdropping before making a judgment.

Unlike the younger Adrian, there wasn’t a shred of cuteness about him now, but I knew his disposition leaned toward goodness.

I figured I should tailor my response to align with his nature.

I offered a plausible excuse.

“I was worried about Sir Lucius.”

“You don’t have any reason to worry about Sir Lucius, Saintess.”

“Even if I don’t have a reason, I can still be worried.”

I countered lightly, and Adrian let out another long sigh.

“Please don’t speak emotionally. I’m not asking for such superficial answers.”

“It’s not superficial—it’s genuine. I’m genuinely worried about Sir Lucius.”

“I’ll say it again. You are not in a position to worry about Sir Lucius. If there’s anyone you should be concerned about here, it’s yourself, not him.”

<Adrian Capture Event (Special): ‘Suspicion’ progress updated.>

• Current Progress: Certainty 30%, Disappointment 70%

Although Adrian’s words were firm, the progress in the capture event updated favorably.

Seeing the update, I smiled and said, “Even if it’s not my place, I’d like to step in if I can be of help…”

I trailed off, smiling, and Adrian responded coldly, “Sir Lucius has no need for your help.”

<Adrian Capture Event (Special): ‘Suspicion’ progress updated.>

• Current Progress: Certainty 35%, Disappointment 65%

The more I answered kindly, the more Adrian’s certainty seemed to grow. His words and feelings didn’t seem to align—his responses pushed me away, but the system’s progress suggested otherwise.

“Of course, that’s true…”

As I mumbled, fidgeting with my fingers, Adrian unfolded his arms and leaned slightly closer to me. Lowering his voice, he spoke as if offering advice.

“Saintess.”

“Yes.”

“You overheard the conversation between Sir Dietrich and Sir Lucius. Originally, Sir Lucius had no intention of protecting you. It’s only because Sir Dietrich requested it that he’s doing so. But if you behave improperly…”

Adrian fixed his steady gaze on me and explained, “The protection will be revoked. Since Sir Dietrich is absent, I won’t urge him to protect you either.”

After delivering his heavy statement, Adrian straightened up. When I didn’t respond, he added, sounding slightly more impatient than usual.

“If you leave this place and run into Gillian, what do you think will happen to you?”

“Based on what Sir Dietrich said, Gillian will probably try to steal my holy power.”

“So you do know.”

Adrian nodded as I calmly answered.

Rising from his seat, he spoke again. “Sir Lucius is about to finish his conversation and come out. Stand up. I’ll overlook what just happened, but be more careful in the future.”

Finishing his words swiftly, Adrian led me out of the area.

As soon as we stepped outside, the door to the room where Lucius and Beatrice had been opened.

Lucius stepped out, frowning slightly as he saw Adrian and me.

“Adrian, why are you here?”

“I came to deliver a message.”

Adrian’s expression remained unchanged as he replied, “Lady Tricia and Lady Dahlia have expressed their desire for the Saintess to visit. They wish to convey their thanks for the hunting festival.”

“Dahlia, sure, but Tricia? She wants to express gratitude? Look into it. Tricia wouldn’t invite someone just to thank them. There’s bound to be something else.”

“I thought the same and looked into it, but… nothing suspicious came up.”

While the conversation continued, Beatrice stood quietly behind Lucius, her head lowered as though she had no intention of intervening. As she lowered her gaze, perhaps sensing my stare, Beatrice glanced at me briefly before returning her focus downward.

Adrian and Lucius resumed their discussion.

“Even if nothing seems suspicious, I’d prefer the Saintess didn’t leave this place.”

“It might be better to invite Lady Tricia here instead.”

“Yes, that would be the safer option.”

Beatrice, who had been looking at me with an inscrutable expression, quickly dropped her gaze again without showing any further interest. Her behavior made me frown.

Although gaslighting was revealed as part of Lucius’s past fragments, and he didn’t seem particularly affected by Beatrice’s words now, I still found her actions unsettling.

If gaslighting was significant enough to be a keyword in Lucius’s past fragments, it must have deeply influenced his character.

Perhaps his indifferent nature was tied to this fragment.

“Saintess, do you approve of Lady Tricia’s visit here?”

If my guess was correct, I felt bad for thinking Lucius needed to lose something to gain a sense of urgency.

Hearing Adrian’s question, I nodded. “Yes, that’s fine.”

“Then we’ll set the meeting for three days from now…”

“Sir Lucius, I have something to say.”

Interrupting Adrian, who was arranging the schedule, I glanced briefly at him before taking a step closer to Lucius.