How to Survive as a Princess in a Reverse Harem Game - Chapter 53
Hearing Isaac’s response left me breathless, as if I’d hit an immovable stone wall. How could anyone be this unyielding?
“It’s not natural! It’s not, and you shouldn’t act that way!”
I shot up from the bed, shouting, and Isaac looked up at me with startled eyes.
Ah, I’d gotten too worked up.
A fleeting thought crossed my mind that I might regret this, but honestly, my patience had its limits. This entire conversation felt like yelling into a wall, pouring out my feelings alone while he stood there, unmoved. Who wouldn’t get frustrated?
Forget the affection points or whatever—at this rate, my own heart would explode first. His affection was already rock bottom, so what’s the harm in letting it drop even lower?
……Although, if Meliana’s score was anything to go by, maybe there was a basement level below rock bottom. Regardless, I’d had enough. If I didn’t speak my mind, this tension would never lift.
“I hate seeing you beat yourself up like this. Saving my life? Sure, it’s a massive debt, but do you really think I’d be happy watching you cut off all feelings just to serve me? Do you think I—do you think I was happy about that before?”
“It’s not my place to judge Your Highness’s feelings.”
“Then I’ll say it. Not one bit. It doesn’t make me happy at all. I mean, yes, I’m grateful for your help, but…… even though it’s something I should appreciate, I don’t. Do you understand what I’m saying?”
Understand? I couldn’t even make sense of what I was saying myself.
Ah, my lack of eloquence…….
Here I was, the one shouting and scolding, but somehow I felt like crying. If I was this bewildered, Isaac surely felt the same way. He probably thought this was all completely absurd.
“……I’ll try to understand.”
Contrary to my expectations, his response was calm, almost devoid of reaction. His expression remained impassive, without a hint of emotion, and his voice had no rise or fall.
Just a moment ago, this lack of expression had frustrated me to no end—but right now, in this exact moment, I was grateful for it.
“Anyway, I’d like you to be a little kinder to yourself. Even if it’s difficult, try taking small steps.”
“I’ll make an effort, as you wish.”
Hearing his gentle reply, the tension in my body finally released. Letting out a breath I hadn’t realized I was holding, I sank back onto the bed.
Fortunately, no new message window had appeared yet.
‘I was sure the affection points would have plummeted.’
Relief washed over me, but there was also a touch of emptiness. It seemed that no matter how much I yelled or protested, Isaac believed it was acceptable simply because it was me.
Still, if he was willing to make an effort, I should trust him…….
“Thank you for understanding. You’re free to go now.”
Only then did Isaac finally rise. Considering how long he’d been kneeling, one would expect his legs to cramp or buckle, yet he moved without the slightest hint of unsteadiness. Even as he adjusted his uniform and bid me farewell before leaving the room, he remained perfectly composed.
And that night, the full weight of regret over everything I had said fell solely on my shoulders.
* * *
‘I shouldn’t have…….’
I should’ve held back just a little longer. Why did I say all that? The flood of regret carried over from the night and continued when I opened my eyes in the morning. Especially after checking Isaac’s affection window and his mana accumulation rate, my regrets only deepened.
[<Character> Isaac Harsen
― Affection: 0 / 100 (Caution)]
[― Current Mana Accumulation: 44% (Normal)]
I had seen the message saying my affection had dropped yesterday, but I never expected it would fall all the way to zero.
If my mana accumulation had noticeably decreased, it might’ve been easier to accept, but since it didn’t seem much different from last time, my regret deepened.
I’d gone and messed things up for no good reason. I’d lost the affection I had.
‘Should I take solace in the fact that it didn’t drop into the negatives like Meliana’s…?’
I thought I’d left behind the shameful past of my youth, but here I was, an adult, still feeling this way.
Isaac was supposed to come by later to escort me, and I didn’t know how I was going to face him…….
With nowhere else to channel my embarrassment, I buried my face into the pillow, rubbing it vigorously.
When a maid entered, I forced myself to act nonchalant as I prepared for my appearance.
It was clear Isaac would come to greet me soon, so I remained tense, waiting…
“Your Highness, I have good news!”
To my surprise, there was a guest who arrived before Isaac, bringing unexpected good news.
