I’m Trapped in a Bloody Reverse Harem Game - Chapter 84

The Second Prince examined me with a suspicious gaze. Pretending not to notice his doubts, I gripped his hands tighter and pleaded, “Please help me, Your Highness.”

The Second Prince stared at me with a complex expression but seemed to drop his suspicions. I could feel the tension ease in the hands holding mine.

If Orias saw me lying so convincingly without even a change in my breathing, he would praise me with all his heart and soul. Knowing how pleased he would be with the success of his teachings filled me with smug satisfaction, though outwardly I maintained a sorrowful expression.

Perhaps it was thanks to my high charm stat, but the Second Prince tightened his grip on my hands as if mesmerized. He nodded as if in a trance.

“Alright, Saintess. I will help you.”

Though I could no longer refute Lucius’s claim that I was skilled at lying, it was fortunate that I managed to avert the immediate crisis.

I rested my forehead on the back of the Second Prince’s hand and checked the system window that had appeared before me.

<Event: ‘Rising Affection for the capture target Lucius’ is in progress.>

Was there any useful information I could uncover?

<Event: ‘The Second Prince’s Abduction’>

• Information about the characters ‘Gillian’ and the ‘Second Prince’ can be gathered.
• Collect as much information as possible before the capture target ‘Lucius’ arrives!

<Information Gathering Keywords>

• Binding Seal
• Succession to the Throne
• The Third Prince

<The event’s outcome may vary depending on the information-gathering process.>

• Providing clues useful to the capture target ‘Lucius’ will result in the outcome ‘Perfect Ally.’
• Leaking critical information about Lucius to the Second Prince will result in the outcome ‘The Price of Betrayal.’

The outcome, ‘The Price of Betrayal,’ was clearly a branching point leading to either a dead ending or a confinement ending. The target outcome was undoubtedly ‘Perfect Ally.’

Memorizing the keywords for information gathering, I quickly closed the system window and raised my head.

In short, my task was to extract as much information as I could from the Second Prince before Lucius arrived to rescue me. To obtain the information he held, I needed to offer some of my own.

However, revealing critical information about Lucius would lead to ‘The Price of Betrayal,’ so I needed to provide ambiguous yet provocative details instead.

Provocation. Yes, I should focus on provocative information. Mixing truths and lies appropriately would make it easy to fabricate stories about Lucius.

After concocting a sufficiently provocative and useless tale, I opened my mouth.

“The First Prince is truly a wicked person, Your Highness.”

“You’re the first person to describe the First Prince in such a manner, Saintess…”

The Second Prince, whose voice was as sharp as a blade, subtly withdrew his hands as he replied. Though influenced by my charm stat, he still seemed somewhat doubtful of me. Looking uneasy, the Second Prince glanced around and gestured for me to sit on the bed.

Though I hesitated to sit on the bed bearing a pattern identical to the binding seal, I concealed my reluctance and perched on the edge of it. The Second Prince didn’t sit but leaned against the wall instead.

As I observed the Second Prince leaning in a precarious position, a system window appeared near the spot where his hand rested against the wall.

<Clue Found: ‘Trap Switch’>

• A trap activated by pressing a specific area.
• When triggered, a small prison will form around the bed.

What kind of place is this for such a trap to exist?

I memorized the spot where the Second Prince’s hand rested. The twelfth brick from the bottom—slightly protruding compared to the others—was the switch that would create a prison around the bed.

About five steps away from the bed.

Since something dangerous might happen before Lucius arrived, I considered the possibility of luring the Second Prince toward the bed to trap him.

“Why do you claim the First Prince is wicked?”

“Please confirm this.”

When the Second Prince asked his question, I loosened my clothing slightly and spoke. Frowning, the Second Prince examined the spot I indicated. Unable to see clearly, he stepped away from the wall and approached me, inhaling sharply as he inspected the pattern.

“That’s…!”

“It’s a binding seal. A seal powered by the First Prince’s magic.”

Lowering my head, I explained. Though I had brought the binding seal upon myself, the Second Prince had no way of knowing this.

The only people aware of this fact were Dietrich and Lucius.

Forcing my voice to tremble, I continued, “They say this seal forces the bearer to obey the owner’s commands. That’s why I ended up staying in the First Prince’s palace.”

“That seal belongs to the Grand Duke…”

“Pardon? Your Highness, do you know anything about this seal?”

Leaping up from the bed, I stepped toward the Second Prince and exclaimed.

Squinting his eyes, he replied, “I do know something about the binding seal.”

“If there’s a way to break the seal, please… Please tell me.”

As I subtly distanced myself from the bed, I spoke. I wanted to shed tears to appear pitiful, but no tears came.

“The only way to break the seal is to eliminate the First Prince’s magic.”

“That can’t be… Then I…”

Collapsing to my knees and covering my face as if in despair, I began to sob.

Hesitating, the Second Prince spoke, “I-I’ve heard Gillian mention the binding seal before.”

“Gillian? Are you talking about the former teacher of the First Prince?”

“That’s correct. I…”

As the Second Prince began to ramble, a system window appeared beside him, displaying the event’s progress.

<Information Gathering Progress>

• Binding Seal: 70%
• Succession to the Throne: 0%
• Third Prince: 0%

“…This is all I know about the binding seal. The only way to break the seal is to eliminate the magic powering it.”

“You conducted research on the binding seal with Sir Gillian? It’s a seal that can’t be used without magic. Why would you research such a thing?”

<Binding Seal: 100% — Clue Collection Complete.>

The Second Prince, who had been providing information, frowned as he looked down at me. Seeing the suspicion in his gaze, I quickly shook my head.

With all the clues about the binding seal collected as required by the system, there was no need to ask further questions.

Stopping my inquiries, I staggered as I rose from my seat. As I struggled to stand, the Second Prince extended a hand to help me. Taking his hand, I exaggeratedly stumbled and leaned against the wall he had leaned on earlier, exhaling heavily.

Running my hand along the wall, I felt the slightly protruding stone catch on my fingers. Confirming the switch’s location, I nonchalantly leaned against the wall.

“Saintess, are you all right?”

“Haa… Yes, I think I must have been tense…”

The Second Prince frowned as he observed me and asked, “You didn’t seem tense at all during the hunting festival. Why are you tense now?”

Though I initially thought he was a fool for sharing so much information, it seemed he was capable of critical thinking after all.

He had a point. I had been quite active during the hunting festival.

Placing my palm over the still-visible binding seal, I replied, “I couldn’t help it back then… It wasn’t my intention.”

I kept my words brief. Any clumsy excuses might expose my lies, so it was best to gloss over it.

The Second Prince’s gaze followed the movement of my hand. Watching me silently as I touched the binding seal, he eventually nodded as if reassured.

<Event: ‘The Second Prince’s Abduction.’>

• Time Remaining: 20 minutes.

Finally, it seemed Lucius had started moving. All I needed to do now was avoid provoking the Second Prince and gather a few more pieces of information before the event concluded.

The remaining keywords were about the succession to the throne and the Third Prince.

It was surprising to see the Third Prince listed as a keyword. With his frail demeanor and apparent lack of ambition, what connection could he possibly have with the Second Prince, a figure consumed by a desire for power?

Considering their relationship, as the Third Prince himself had described it as poor, I found it puzzling.

Absentmindedly rubbing the inert binding seal with my fingers, I met the Second Prince’s gaze.

***

“The Saintess is missing!”

Bursting through the door, the Third Prince shouted loudly before collapsing onto the floor. Like a sheet of paper caught in the wind, he crumpled to the floor, drawing only a glance from Lucius and Adrian as they exchanged looks.

“Huff… Huff…!”

“The Second Prince?”

“Yes, it matches what we anticipated.”

Ignoring the hyperventilating Third Prince, Adrian handed a new document to Lucius.

“I’ve predicted their route of movement. Please confirm it.”

“All right, let me see. Adrian, check on the Third Prince. If he dies, we’ll have more work on our hands. It’s bad enough the Saintess is missing without adding to the workload.”

“I understand.”

Taking the documents, Lucius gestured toward the Third Prince with his chin. Adrian coldly nodded before moving to assess the prince, who lay gasping on the floor.

“Your Highness.”

Tears trickled down the Third Prince’s face, dropping onto the floor. Seeing the tears streaking his face, Adrian frowned slightly, then donned gloves before grasping the prince’s face.

“There’s no need to panic. We know where the Saintess is.”

“Huff, but…”

“I said it’s fine.”

Adrian’s tone wavered between reassuring and cold. The Third Prince, confronted by Adrian’s impassive face, began to calm, slowly taking measured breaths.

Perhaps it was Adrian’s unflinching demeanor that helped the Third Prince regain composure. With tears still falling, he managed to breathe steadily on his own. Once assured of the prince’s condition, Adrian removed his gloves and stood.

As the support he had provided vanished, the Third Prince collapsed back onto the floor in dismay. Looking up at Adrian, clearly frustrated, the prince saw that Adrian had already averted his gaze.

“Have you confirmed everything, Sir Lucius?”

Adrian, now tucking his gloves into his pocket, addressed Lucius, who was destroying the documents he had just reviewed.

Lucius nodded slightly and replied in a bored voice, “Yes, I confirmed it. She’s likely in one of the locations you predicted.”

“Pinpointing the exact location will take more time.”

“No, we don’t need any more time.”

Adrian looked at Lucius skeptically at his confident response.

‘Surely, he isn’t planning to use this opportunity to deal with both the Saintess and the Second Prince?’

Given Lucius’s usual behavior, the suspicion wasn’t entirely unfounded.

Noticing Adrian’s doubtful gaze, Lucius opened his palm and said, “That’s not it. I can locate the Saintess.”

“You know the Saintess’s location? What do you mean?”

Lucius, about to explain, glanced at the Third Prince, who was staring blankly at him, and changed the subject.

“I’ll explain that later. For now, we need to find the Saintess.”