I’m Trapped in a Bloody Reverse Harem Game - Chapter 81

“It’s fine. Don’t worry about it.”

Lucius, who casually adjusted my collar with his fingertips, replied nonchalantly. As soon as he let go, the heat dissipated rapidly.

Feeling strength return to my body, I pushed Lucius’s arm away, leaned against the wall, and glared at him.

“Why are you saying something I should be saying? No, wait—actually, it’s not something I should say, because I am bothered by it.”

“With the seal right there, I had no choice but to check it.”

“If you’re going to pull at someone’s clothes, at least explain your reason beforehand. You should give a warning before touching someone so they’re not startled.”

Grumbling while fixing my disheveled clothes, I noticed Lucius looking at me with an annoyed expression.

“I wasn’t undressing you… Fine. I get it. I’ll warn you next time.”

As if he found explaining himself bothersome, he ended his words abruptly and flicked his fingers, gesturing for us to continue walking.

There wasn’t a trace of sociability in his demeanor. Before I could point out his rude behavior, curiosity prompted me to ask, “What about the seal? If you’ve taken control, does that mean you can give me orders now?”

“I might be able to if I took full control of it, but not at the moment.”

“Well, that’s a relief…”

Muttering to myself, I placed my hand over the seal. Just as Dietrich was forced to obey Gillian, I had no desire to follow Lucius’s commands.

“If I gain more control, we could kill Gillian without any issues. The seal’s effects are tied to its owner.”

‘Without any issues?’

Pressing down on the seal, I mulled over Lucius’s words.

‘That doesn’t sound certain.’

It wasn’t particularly important to me. Without arguing further, I simply nodded at Lucius’s remark.

If problems arose, it couldn’t be helped.

Seeing me agree, Lucius frowned slightly, as if something didn’t add up.

“Don’t you have more questions? You’re aware that killing Gillian could endanger the person marked by the seal, yet you’re so calm.”

“You said there wouldn’t be any problems. That’s good enough for me.”

“…Saintess, do you have memory issues?”

“What do you mean by memory issues? I don’t have any. Why?”

Lucius spoke in a tone gentler than usual, “When you spoke to Dietrich, it seemed like you forgot everything I’d told you.”

“I remember. You said you had no reason to help me. You also mentioned you’d take care of Gillian, regardless of what happened to me.”

“You remember clearly. So why aren’t you asking any questions?”

“Because this is your business, Sir Lucius. Whatever happens, I’m fine…”

“Enough. Stop talking.”

<Lucius’s affection has slightly increased.>

Lucius cut me off abruptly, displeasure evident in his expression. When I didn’t respond further, he muttered irritably, “You’re too sly. I should have realized and dealt with this earlier.”

***

<The control of the binding seal has transferred 60% to ‘Lucius.’>

“That’s enough for today.”

Lucius let go of my hand and spoke. While he had been channeling his magic through me, I adjusted the potion mixture ratios based on the system’s guidance and handed him a piece of paper.

“If you craft the potion following this ratio, it should slow the progression of the illness.”

Lucius had provided me with information about the herbs burned in the Emperor’s chamber and the timeline of his declining health. Though the data was insufficient for crafting a cure, the system combined it to suggest a formula for a palliative potion.

“I’ll deliver it to the herb chamber, but don’t expect them to use it.”

Lucius frowned slightly as he read the notes on the paper. Placing it on the table, he glanced at me and asked, “Beatrice has been bothering you, hasn’t she? Can you handle it?”

At his question, I immediately frowned and shook my head. Beatrice, who used to follow Lucius around, had recently started pestering me. Lucius, for his part, did nothing to stop her behavior.

She constantly found fault with me, asking whether morning prayers were mandatory for a Saintess and attempting to control my actions. Her persistent appearances had left me thoroughly annoyed.

“Handle it? Do you seriously call that a question?”

Snapping back sharply, I saw Lucius give a vague smile before speaking calmly.

“You’re right. That was a poorly worded question. Of course, you can’t handle it.”

“Beatrice used to be your nanny, right? Has she always been like this?”

“Well, she’s always been…”

Lucius trailed off, fiddling with the edge of the paper on the table as he fell into thought.

<Through this conversation, you can acquire ‘Lucius’s Past Fragment (4).’>

• Keyword: Magic

Closing the system window that conveniently provided the keyword, I leaned back comfortably in my chair.

After staring blankly at nothing for a moment, Lucius shrugged casually and said, “She’s always been like this—a meddler who couldn’t stop herself. Still is.”

There was a hint of fondness in Lucius’s tone. His eyes softened, and his usually tense lips curved slightly, as though recalling a pleasant memory.

The gentle expression didn’t last long, quickly replaced by his usual indifference.

“She’s excessive.”

Matching his now-stoic expression, I replied flatly, “She’s unbearable. She still clings to you, doesn’t she?”

“What?”

“She told me not to act carelessly around you because you’re the only magic-user, the first in line for the throne, and an extraordinary person.”

“Ha.”

Lucius let out a sharp, short laugh. I lifted myself from where I had been slouched in my chair and rested my chin on the table. Just as I was about to speak, a system window appeared unexpectedly.

<The player’s emotional changes have increased the sensitivity level by 20%.>

• Current sensitivity level: 50% maintained.
• The sensitivity level is being controlled to protect player ‘Haniel.’

The system-controlled sensitivity level rose slightly. At 50%, I could maintain reason under moderate stimuli. Closing the system window, I opened my mouth calmly.

“You must have struggled a lot because of your magic.”

My tone was more friendly than I had intended. Something about the influence of Lucius’s unique magical talent felt oddly familiar.

Fiddling with the ring on my finger as my chin rested on my palm, I looked directly at Lucius’s face, which bore no response.

“What do you know to act like you understand?”

Lucius replied curtly, folding his arms as he leaned back in his chair. Crossing his legs and lightly tapping his toes, he sneered at me with narrowed eyes.

“You think I’ve struggled? You’ve struggled more than I have.”

“What are you talking about…?”

“You spent your whole life managing offerings, didn’t you?”

“What?”

“It must’ve been because of your holy power that you were exploited. Sometimes, it’s better not to have exceptional talents. Even now, the Pope is digging into your past… Wait, you don’t know anything, do you?”

Pouring out his words with mocking disdain, Lucius’s eyebrows furrowed as he fell silent. For someone so composed, the troubled look on his face was uncharacteristic.

“What do you mean? Offerings? Me?”

“Yes, I’ve struggled a lot.”

“…What?”

What is this man talking about?

What was that about offerings just now? Was Lucius referring to me—or rather, Haniel—spending her life managing offerings?

And what does he mean by the Pope digging into my past? I’ve already completed that route; why would the Pope still be investigating?

Lucius’s baffling words left my head spinning. As far as I knew, there was no additional information about Haniel. The player merely inhabits Haniel’s body to experience the game. Haniel shouldn’t have any past…

“You asked about the hardships caused by magic earlier. I’m answering you now, so focus.”

“Wait a minute. Could you elaborate on what you just said…?”

“I used to get praised a lot for having amazing magic. It was all meaningless praise, though.”

<Lucius’s Past Fragment (4).>

• Collecting in progress.

A system window suddenly popped up. Spinning vividly, the system window darted into view from beyond my sightline, swirling before my eyes as if to hypnotize me.

<Collecting Conversation Fragment>

It was as if the system window had been created to urge me to focus on Lucius’s words. After completely overturning my thoughts, it disappeared.

Blinking, I looked at Lucius, who was speaking with an unusually serious expression.

“Those who worshipped me so ardently turned their backs on me as soon as my magic temporarily disappeared. The only ones who stayed by my side during that time were Gillian and Beatrice.”

“Gillian?”

“Gillian was the one who orchestrated the disappearance of my magic. I don’t want to discuss it, so let’s move on.”

I opened my mouth wordlessly.

I wanted to know more about Haniel’s background, but my thoughts were all over the place.

“Beatrice stayed by my side. She wasn’t kind, but she was helpful.”

Beatrice… helpful.

Furrowing my brows, I mulled over his words and slowly nodded.

<You have collected ‘Lucius’s Past Fragment!’>

• Lucius’s Past Fragment 4/5.
• Collecting all fragments will trigger an affection-increasing event.
• Lucius’s affection has slightly increased.
• Your understanding of Lucius has slightly increased.

Right. I need to focus on this.

What matters isn’t Haniel’s past but capturing Lucius.

“She always tells the truth.”

“Beatrice tells the truth?”

Focusing on Lucius’s words, I frowned and asked. I couldn’t agree with the idea that Beatrice always told the truth. Everything she said was designed to undermine others.

“The people around me gathered because of my magic and status. Once those disappeared, they all left. I’ve already filtered out those drawn by my magic. The ones here for my status…”

Lucius trailed off, his words fading. I could guess who he was thinking about.

Tapping my fingers on the table, I drew Lucius’s gaze back to me.

“Dietrich, Dion, and Adrian.”

“…What?”

“Among the people I know, the only ones who could bring you down are them.”

Rising from my chair, I walked over to Lucius, who was still sitting with his arms crossed. Grabbing his arm, I pulled lightly. Lucius allowed me to take his right arm, scowling all the while.

“If they were only drawn to your status, they would have left long ago, given your lazy lifestyle. You don’t maintain a position like yours by doing nothing.”

“Didn’t I tell you not to speak so bluntly, Saintess?”

“Even as the First Prince, it doesn’t seem like you’ll become Emperor…”

“Saintess.”

“So cheer up, Sir Lucius.”

Smiling, I patted the back of his hand. Seeing him tapping his toes arrogantly, I added a little more force to my pat. Yet Lucius didn’t stop me.

When his reddened hand twitched slightly, Lucius let out a small laugh and said, “Take your hand off. It’s unpleasant.”

<Lucius’s affection has slightly increased.>

This guy is really…

Grinding my teeth, I let go of his hand and placed it back on his lap.