I’m Trapped in a Bloody Reverse Harem Game - Chapter 90

Lucius’s expression as he stared at me without emotion appeared lonely, but the Emperor showed no reaction to it. Instead, the Emperor anxiously swallowed dryly, his gaze fixed on me, awaiting my response.

Since the evidence proving the Second Prince’s attempt to harm me was undeniable, it seemed my consent was essential.

Aren’t the Emperor and the Crown Prince supposed to share a close bond? I don’t know how successors are chosen here, but if this were an ordinary imperial family, Lucius, as the First Prince, would undoubtedly be the Emperor’s son.

Then why does the Emperor show no interest in Lucius and only focus on the Second Prince?

I had planned to leave the matter of dealing with the Second Prince to Lucius or Adrian because it felt like a waste of time to bother with someone like him. But with things turning out like this, I felt compelled to act personally.

I answered coldly, “Yes, do as you wish.”

“Very well, then this matter will henceforth—”

“I will also contact the Holy Kingdom separately.”

“What do you mean by that, Saintess?”

The Emperor, who had been exhaling deeply in relief, straightened up and spoke. As if he had heard something utterly absurd, he spoke urgently and pressed his hand against his chest, leaning back on the bed.

“I mean that, regardless of Your Majesty’s decision, the Holy Kingdom may still offer its opinion on the Second Prince’s treatment.”

Speaking in a somewhat hostile tone, I bowed my head and left the Emperor’s chambers. As he tried to stand, the Emperor staggered, his legs giving out as he collapsed back onto the bed. I glanced at the physicians rushing in to check on him before extending my hand to Lucius.

“Let’s go, Lucius.”

Lucius alternated his confused gaze between the Emperor and my outstretched hand before stepping toward me. Placing his hand over mine, Lucius furrowed his brow, as if suppressing an overwhelming emotion.

Lucius’s expression was ambiguous, neither happy nor sad, as he clasped my hand with his injured one. Careful not to press on his wounded area, I gently pulled him along.

I was consumed with the thought of heading to “Haniel’s Resting Place,” prepared in Dietrich’s residence, to contact the Holy Kingdom immediately.

As I marched toward the resting place in a rage, Lucius asked awkwardly, “Saintess, why are you angry?”

“Do I look like I wouldn’t be? The Emperor blatantly disregarded you. Why is he like that?”

With my sensitivity restored to normal, my voice came out harsher than usual. The abrupt return to a 100% sensitivity level made me feel even more emotional.

While I voiced my frustrations about the Emperor on Lucius’s behalf, Lucius responded calmly.

“It can’t be helped; the Second Prince is the Emperor’s only child.”

“What?”

“You didn’t know?”

“How would I know that?”

When I turned to Lucius with wide eyes, he asked back in disbelief, “Then why did the Holy Kingdom send you here?”

When I blinked at him dumbly, Lucius let out a hollow laugh. Even I had to admit that I knew almost nothing about the imperial palace to be considered a proper spy.

But there was no helping it. To learn such information beforehand, I would need to read spoilers, which would diminish the game’s enjoyment. While knowing the content might make the gameplay easier, it would reduce the satisfaction of seeing the results unfold.

“Saintess!”

“Dietrich and Dion? Why are you here…”

I paused mid-sentence at Lucius’s question and turned my head toward the familiar voices I hadn’t heard in a long time. I saw Dietrich, who had been away searching for a way to save me, and Dion, who had been forcibly dispatched under Dietrich’s orders.

The impeccably dressed pair approached me. It had been longer since I last saw Dion than Dietrich, but Dietrich’s expression was a sight to behold.

His neatly arranged eyebrows were scrunched together, and his delicate eyes were filled with worry as he hurried toward me.

“Dietrich!”

Dietrich pulled open my collar. Dion, not expecting such rude behavior from the usually composed Dietrich, shouted loudly from behind.

I could guess why Dietrich acted as if he were undressing me. He must have been trying to check on the state of the Binding Seal. Watching his actions quietly, I lightly stroked his bowed head. Dietrich, who had been intently staring at the area where the Binding Seal had been, turned to me with a delighted expression.

Grasping the hand I had used to touch his hair, Dietrich brought my palm to his lips and said, “I was worried about you, Saintess.”

I felt his warm breath against my palm. Gazing into his teary eyes, I smiled and replied, “If you’re concerned about the Binding Seal, it’s fine now. Look, it’s gone.”

Even though I knew this was just a character’s worry within the game, I felt strangely satisfied. As I smiled and pointed to my chest, a groan came from behind Dietrich.

Looking up slightly, I saw Dion covering his flushed face with his hands. When our eyes met through his fingers, Dion bit his lip and muttered, “Could you please fix your clothes?”

I hadn’t even taken off my clothes, so why was he scolding me? And why was he acting as if he’d never seen my body before?

“What’s with you all of a sudden?”

He’s seen me undressed before, so why was he making such a fuss now?

“All of a sudden?”

Someone else reacted to my remark toward Dion. Lucius, narrowing his eyes, glanced between Dion and me before his expression grew even more grim as he looked at Dietrich holding my hand.

Dietrich, who had been pressing his lips to my palm, gazed down at me with sorrowful eyes and let out a low sigh. It was an undeniably sensual sigh. Staring at me with a gaze that seemed desperate to embrace me, Dietrich lightly held me and pulled me close.

He appeared concerned about my condition.

“When did you both arrive?”

“As soon as we heard about Gillian.”

Dietrich answered in a gentle voice, his lips curving downward.

“When I saw what happened to you, Saintess… I… I couldn’t…”

His voice, which had been soft and steady, wavered with sorrow. Just as I was about to reach out to comfort Dietrich, who was speaking in a guilt-ridden tone, Dion’s voice interrupted.

“So that wasn’t an act… it was genuine?”

Dion muttered in disbelief, and Lucius replied, “Yes, it seems to be genuine.”

As the atmosphere grew heavy, Dion’s question pierced through the tension. Dietrich, who had been bowing toward me, raised his head with a cold expression and glared at Dion. Shortly after, he changed his expression and smiled warmly.

“Haven’t I said countless times that I’m being sincere?”

“How am I supposed to trust your sincerity?”

Dietrich’s warm expression clashed with the chilling tone of his voice as he began conversing with Dion. As Dion retorted sharply, Dietrich berated him for withholding useful information. Meanwhile, Lucius approached me.

“Saintess, where were you headed?”

“Oh, right. I was on my way to the resting place.”

I was absentmindedly watching their argument when Lucius’s question reminded me why I had come to Dietrich’s residence.

“If it’s rest you’re looking for, why not return to my palace?”

“I need to contact the Holy Kingdom. The communication tools are in there…”

Hearing the words “resting place,” Lucius questioned me with evident dissatisfaction. When I explained my reasons, he nodded as though begrudgingly convinced and said, “Finish your communication and return to my palace.”

“Yes.”

I replied while looking at the door to Haniel’s Resting Place. Even as I walked toward the door, Dion and Dietrich continued bickering. The moment I opened the door, they stepped back and offered to wait outside politely. However, Lucius followed me inside without hesitation, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

<Haniel’s Resting Place>

Seeing Lucius casually following me, I wondered for a moment if I had entered the wrong room instead of Haniel’s Resting Place.

“Is this the resting place? It’s unique.”

Lucius roamed freely around the room, commenting.

“A magic orb? This is powered by magic.”

Even when I checked the system window to confirm the location, it clearly indicated I was in Haniel’s Resting Place.

This place was supposed to be accessible only to player characters.

Pressing my aching head, I glared at the system window.

<Characters with holy power or magic can enter ‘Haniel’s Resting Place.’>

As if to defend itself, the system displayed new information. Ignoring the explanation, I stopped Lucius, who was rummaging around the room. I didn’t want him finding anything strange in my resting place.

The book he discovered last time had already been enough of a shock.

“Lucius, if you’re not going to leave, could you just sit quietly?”

Taking the magic orb from him, I spoke. Lucius obediently nodded and perched on a corner of the bed. Compared to the bed in Lucius’s room, this one was humble. Seeing him sit quietly, I returned the magic orb to its original place.

As I hesitated whether to use the orb with Lucius present, he spoke calmly, “What did you mean by what you said to Dion?”

His tone was devoid of emotion. Ignoring his question, I rubbed the orb’s surface.

<Communication Orb>

• Enables contact with capture targets in the Holy Kingdom (Orias, Ardal).
• Usable once a week.
• Limited to 5 minutes per use.
• Random connection.

(Available)

Since it had been a long time since the last use, the orb was active.

Hmm, I guess it’s fine to use it?

Covering the orb with my palm, I watched it gradually glow as I responded to Lucius’s question.

“What did I say to Dion?”

“You said, ‘All of a sudden.’”

Through the golden light of the orb, a blurry image began to appear. Peering at the still-unclear vision, I froze when I heard a voice close to me.

Lucius, who had been sitting on the bed, was now behind me. His injured hand gripped my shoulder as I placed my palm on the orb. Unable to move away, I stiffened and exhaled shakily.

When did he get so close?

His injured hand, which must have been painful, was exerting force.

“Why would seeing you undressed feel so sudden?”

“Lu-Lucius?”

“Did something happen with Dion, Saintess?”

His voice remained calm. Relaxing slightly, I tilted my head up to meet his face, only to find his menacing eyes staring down at me, leaving me stammering.

—”Haniel.”

While locked in a tense gaze with Lucius, a familiar voice came through the connected orb. The soft, gentle voice and the golden hair visible even from the corner of my eye belonged unmistakably to Orias.

Orias, who had affectionately called my name, froze upon noticing Lucius beside me.

The air became thick with tension. It was a familiar atmosphere to me.

“You seem close to the Pope as well.”

Lucius’s suppressed voice dripped with jealousy.

This is… definitely that kind of atmosphere.

Lucius’s hand on my shoulder slid down my collar as if to display dominance in front of Orias. Even if this was just a game, I couldn’t help but be flustered.

Wait, hold on. It’s fine if you’re doing this, but not in front of Orias!

***

[Lucius Captured!] Character Information Unlocked

Capture Target 5: Lucius

• [Crown Prince]
• [Disposition: Neutral]

<Gameplay Difficulty: ★★★★★>

• Entering Lucius’s route triggers an event requiring the player to train abilities acquired through the ‘Sacred Beast.’ If the maximum level is not achieved, critical events for capturing Lucius will fail. Players must manage their time efficiently.
• Failing to achieve ‘Maximum Ability Level’ or ‘Curing the Emperor’ results in the generation of high-risk ‘Second Prince-Related Events,’ which are not recommended for players.

<Capture Difficulty: ★★★★★>

• Capture Target ‘Lucius’ starts with a base affection level of negative. Due to his nature, he can only be encountered at official parties and events. Random meetings disguised as coincidences are impossible, making the route particularly challenging.

<Capture Entry Method>

• Progresses through three events.

1. First Event: The Cause of the Emperor’s Illness
2. Second Event: Completion of the Emperor’s Treatment and Resolving Relationships with Gillian and Beatrice
3. Third Event: Succession to the Throne

Essential Characters for Route Progression:

• Gillian, Beatrice, Second Prince.

Character Design:

• [Black/Gold]

[S] Playstyle Preference:

• Curiosity-Driven, Showy, Exploratory

Revealed Events (Required for Capture):

1. Lucius’s Past Fragment
2. The Third Prince’s Invitation
3. The Second Prince’s Kidnapping

Happy Endings:

1. [Information Hidden] (True Ending)
2. [Information Hidden] (Normal Ending)
3. ‘Twisted Salvation’ (Reverse Harem Ending)

Bad Ending:

• [Information Hidden]