I’m Trapped in a Bloody Reverse Harem Game - Chapter 96

“Taking the documents was reckless. It seems you didn’t consider why I didn’t ask you to do it.”

After neatly organizing the documents, Adrian scolded me with a cold expression. He meticulously pointed out the risks of my actions, emphasizing each detail. As I watched Adrian repeat himself while reprimanding me, the corners of my lips involuntarily curled upward.

“If the knight had caught you… Why are you smiling?”

Noticing my smile, Adrian paused his endless nagging and asked, puzzled. My behavior of smiling while being reprimanded seemed to irk him greatly.

“You’re more concerned about me than I thought.”

I found Adrian’s behavior—taking time out of his day to criticize my actions—endearing. He wasn’t belittling me with unreasonable accusations but pointing out the risks I had taken and advising me to avoid such behavior in the future.

This was genuine concern.

I smiled contentedly at Adrian. If the criticism came from such a place, I would gladly accept it anytime.

“Thank you for your concern, but you don’t need to worry about this matter. I didn’t leave anything that could become an issue.”

“I’m worried that if something went wrong, your testimony about the Second Prince would lose credibility. It’s not your safety I’m concerned about.”

Adrian faltered for a moment before hastily defending himself. Listening to his explanation, which came without hesitation, I rummaged through the system inventory and retrieved another item.

Adrian, who had regained his composure, frowned once again.

“When did you make this medicine?”

“I made it when I went to the herb chamber. I figured someone might ask why I was there on the day of the fire.”

Adrian quietly asked about the scar removal ointment I handed him. He pocketed the ointment and stood, addressing me.

“I see. You seem to have gone through a lot these past few days, so take the day off. I’ll call you if anything comes up.”

“Alright, but this time, make sure you actually use it instead of discarding it.”

Acknowledging that even restoratives had their limits, I nodded without protest. I was on the verge of collapsing anyway.

The event progress was still at 20%, and I couldn’t afford to waste time by passing out!

Quickly answering Adrian, I leapt up from my seat. However, my fatigued body swayed uncontrollably, and Adrian stood up, steadying me and guiding me back to the sofa.

“I’ll call for Sir Dion. Please wait here for a moment.”

“I think I can manage on my own.”

“If you’re tired, rest on the sofa for a while. I’ll be back shortly.”

Before I could protest, Adrian left the room. Left with no choice, I leaned back against the sofa. A cold breeze poured in through the open window I had left ajar upon entering the reception room to meet Adrian.

So cold…

Shivering, I glanced at the distance between the window and my seat and then closed my eyes.

It’s too far.

He said he’d be back soon, so I decided to wait. Curling up on the sofa and resting my head on the cushion, I succumbed to the exhaustion that overcame even the cold and discomfort.

<You are experiencing extreme fatigue!>

<Due to high fatigue, you will enter a ‘sleep’ state.>

<Entering ‘sleep’ state in 5 seconds.>

<You will wake after minimum stamina recovery.>

Wow, I just lay my head down, and now I’m falling asleep? Is it really possible to sleep in just five seconds?

Blinking my heavy eyelids, I checked the system window and curled up tighter as I thought to myself.

Even anesthetics take at least 10 seconds. How can I fall asleep in just five…?

Before I could finish my thoughts, consciousness slipped away from me.

***

“Saintess, Sir Dion is with Sir Lucius…”

Adrian’s voice trailed off as he entered the reception room. Seeing the Saintess deeply asleep, curled up on the sofa, he furrowed his brows.

“Are you asleep?”

Barely five minutes had passed since he’d left. How had she fallen into such a deep sleep so quickly?

Adrian observed the Saintess, her breathing slow and steady, and reached out cautiously. Placing his fingers on the back of her neck, he felt her faint pulse, as calm as her breath.

The Saintess truly slept as if she were dead.

After confirming the pulse at his fingertips, Adrian withdrew his hand. He finally understood why Lucius, when Adrian had visited him at dawn, sometimes touched the Saintess’s neck while she slept.

Lucius had been checking—just as Adrian was now—to ensure the Saintess was alive.

Looking at her pale cheeks, Adrian removed his outer coat and draped it over the Saintess’s body. She was lying in the path of the wind blowing in through the open window. Though he hoped the coat might warm her, her cheeks remained ghostly pale.

As he gazed at the Saintess, Adrian closed the window to block the chilling draft. Drawing the curtains shut to further insulate the room, he returned to the now-dim reception room and stood before her again.

Kneeling by her side, Adrian listened for any signs of others approaching. Confirming the hallway was empty, he extended his hand.

Scarred fingers brushed against the Saintess’s cheek. She did not stir, completely immersed in her slumber. Emboldened, Adrian opened his palm and lightly caressed her cheek. The familiar softness against his hand felt oddly comforting.

His hand, which had been lingering on her cheek, slowly moved downward. Sliding past her chin, it softly traced the delicate curve of her neck, down to her collarbone. Following the line from her neck to her shoulder, his hand traveled further down, brushing past her chest and stopping at her waist. Beneath his coat, her body gently rose and fell with each breath.

A young woman in her early twenties, with a slender frame and striking blue eyes. The more he looked at her, the more she reminded him of someone.

If he had met the Saintess a few years earlier, he might have mistaken her for the person who had saved him.

Her actions and words often held cryptic meanings. She spoke of things only someone who had rescued him could know, leaving him bewildered.

When she visited the village with Dion, he had wondered if she had learned about him there. Yet, the Saintess mentioned things that no one else could possibly know—not the villagers who had imprisoned him, nor Dion and Lucius, who had freed him.

‘The feeling is the same as back then, but it can’t be her. Too much time has passed.’

Since Adrian had grown into adulthood, it was natural that the person who had once saved him would have changed as well. Someone who felt so identical to that person couldn’t possibly be her.

Adrian reluctantly pulled his hand away and gazed at the Saintess’s face. Her loosely tied hair had come undone and now rested on her shoulders. Fixating on her hair, Adrian reached out and lightly touched her shoulder.

As her hair fell back with his coat, something white resembling a scar became visible between her collarbones.

‘If I move her clothing, I’ll see it clearly.’

Adrian squinted, his hand hovering near her neckline. But just as he was about to lift her garment, the Saintess’s eyes opened in the dark. Glowing blue irises locked onto Adrian’s.

“Ah…”

Caught in her gaze, Adrian let out a quiet exclamation and blinked. Even in the dim light, the glow of her eyes was identical to the ones etched in his memory.

“Adrian…? Was I sleeping here?”

“Ah, yes…”

“I really fell asleep in just five seconds… Oh no, it’s already been ten minutes…”

The Saintess rubbed her sleepy eyes and muttered groggily. She ran her fingers through her disheveled hair and got up, patting her cheeks lightly with an embarrassed tone.

Murmuring awkwardly, the Saintess gave Adrian a shy smile. “I don’t usually fall asleep in just a few seconds… I was just a little tired today…”

Scratching her cheek with a bashful laugh, she glanced around the dim surroundings and asked, “Dion isn’t here yet?”

“No, not yet.”

Adrian rose smoothly from his kneeling position. Even though their eyes had met the moment she awoke, the Saintess showed no signs of suspicion or unease. She didn’t seem to find it odd, as if there was nothing unusual about what had just happened.

‘Isn’t it normal to be startled when you open your eyes and meet someone’s gaze?’

While she appeared mildly embarrassed about being caught sleeping, she didn’t seem alarmed.

“Ah, this is your coat. Here you go.”

“You can keep wearing it.”

“Hmm, then I’ll wear it for a bit longer. It’s quite cold.”

“I’ll have a blanket prepared before your next visit.”

“Thank you.”

Adrian replied indifferently to the Saintess, who offered to return his coat. She was cold, and he wasn’t, so the coat naturally belonged on her. As soon as she heard his response, she wrapped herself more tightly in the oversized coat, pulling it up to her neck with a satisfied smile.

“Sir Dion will arrive with Sir Lucius.”

“So they were together today?”

Since the Saintess had started assisting Adrian, Lucius, who had remained secluded in his palace, had begun taking action. Dietrich was moved to tears, and Dion grew more devoted upon witnessing Lucius’s newfound determination. Even Adrian agreed that helping Lucius expand his influence was beneficial.

In Adrian’s mind, there was no better candidate than Lucius to lead the empire in the next generation.

Supporting Lucius from behind the scenes, ensuring his rise to power, was challenging yet fulfilling work. While it bothered Adrian that the Saintess was the reason Lucius had decided to act, he ultimately didn’t care about the motivation as long as Lucius ascended to the throne.

Adrian took a seat across from the Saintess. Still groggy, she yawned and began gathering the empty potion bottles she had left on the table. With a flick of her hand, the bottles vanished into thin air.

Though Adrian had seen the Saintess use holy power before, this ability continued to perplex him. Watching the bottles disappear one by one, he averted his gaze from the incomprehensible display.

Behind the Saintess stood a large clock. While she had added several pieces of furniture to the reception room recently, the only clock remained the one placed directly opposite Adrian.

‘It’s been about twenty minutes. Sir Dion should be arriving soon…’

As Adrian checked the clock’s hands, a sudden realization froze him. His eyes widened as he stared into empty space.

The Saintess had muttered that ten minutes had passed the moment she opened her eyes. From where she had been lying, the clock was completely out of view. Yet she had known the exact time.

Adrian’s expression hardened as he pieced together the oddity. Just as the thought struck him, the Saintess, who had been clearing the bottles, suddenly paused.

She stopped moving and stared at a point just past Adrian’s shoulder. Her eyes darted back and forth as if reading something invisible. The peculiar look on her face deepened before she slowly turned her gaze to him.

Her unreadable blue eyes narrowed faintly as they focused on Adrian.