The supporting character's harem is very normal-Chapter 536: I can’t lose you too

Catheryne's expression darkened instantly.

Her golden-red eyes gleamed with murderous intent as she glared at Lumiana with pure disdain.

"You're joking, aren't you?"

Lumiana, however, remained calm.

She took another slow sip of tea before nonchalantly responding:

"He's already helped me clean up all the parasites within the Church."

Her lips curved slightly.

"Making him the Holy Son, then marrying him—seems perfectly reasonable, doesn't it?"

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CRACK!

The sound of Catheryne's knuckles tightening echoed like shattering glass.

The tension in the room, already thick with hostility, now felt explosive.

The temperature surged.

There was no fire in the room—

No sunlight shining through the windows—

And yet, the air became suffocatingly hot.

Bubble! Bubble! Bubble!

The tea inside the cup on the table began to boil violently.

Clatter! Clatter!

The lid of the teapot trembled, rattling from the intense heat inside.

Steam poured out, causing the lid to bounce and dance uncontrollably.

Despite this, Lumiana remained unfazed.

She sighed softly, then spoke in an even, unhurried tone:

"Do you truly believe… that while I am under the Church's magical protection, you could defeat me?"

Catheryne narrowed her eyes.

Her fists clenched even tighter, her rage barely contained.

She wanted nothing more than to tear Lumiana apart.

"Your gaze is quite beautiful."

Lumiana propped her cheek on one hand, her other hand lightly touching the boiling cup of tea.

KENG!

The cup shattered instantly.

Countless shards of porcelain exploded outward, flinging steaming tea into the air.

However—

Not a single fragment or drop of tea touched either Lumiana or Catheryne.

Everything approaching Lumiana turned into tiny specks of light, then vanished into the air.

Everything that neared Catheryne was incinerated.

The tea evaporated instantly.

The shattered pieces of porcelain melted into blackened ash, crumbling as they fell to the floor.

"However… your gaze irritates me."

Lumiana spoke softly.

Her voice was calm, gentle—even soothing.

It made Catheryne feel an overwhelming sense of danger.

Like an ancient beast was beginning to awaken.

"Surprised?"

Lumiana dipped her finger into the remnants of the boiling tea—completely unaffected by the heat.

Then, with deliberate movements—

She began tracing strange symbols onto the table.

"Feeling anxious and afraid?"

Lumiana continued, her voice still eerily calm.

"You suddenly realize that the person you always thought was weaker than you… is actually stronger."

"That surprises you, doesn't it?"

"It makes you feel like you've lost control over everything you once believed was in your grasp."

"Am I wrong?"

Catheryne took a deep breath.

She didn't argue—which was as good as admitting that Lumiana was right.

Yes—

Catheryne had always assumed that her power was equal to Lumiana's.

Because of that belief, she had confidently thought that the Karol Empire and the Church stood at the same level.

But now—

As Lumiana effortlessly displayed a power far beyond her own…

Catheryne suddenly felt like her previous thoughts were ridiculous.

A meaningless illusion.

Lumiana finished writing something on the table and then stood up to leave.

"Wait!"

Catheryne's voice rang out the moment she saw Lumiana turn to leave.

"Do you… truly like him?"

Lumiana paused, but she didn't turn around.

Instead, she simply raised her hand and waved lightly.

Then, she continued walking away.

At that moment, the symbols she had written on the table began to rise into the air.

They floated, suspended in the air, glowing with a holy white radiance.

Catheryne's eyes widened in shock.

In that moment of hesitation, that one second of uncertainty, Catheryne asked her everything she needed to know.

Catheryne tightly clenched fists slowly loosened.

She exhaled deeply, and they turned and walked away without another word.

…

Lathel wandered through the ruins but suddenly stepped into a different space altogether.

The world outside had been ravaged by the armies of the various kingdoms, reduced to nothing but ashes and destruction.

Yet here—

It was as if he had walked into another world.

A vast grassland stretched before him, its rolling fields untouched by war.

The gentle breeze carried the scent of a thousand blooming flowers, filling his lungs with a sense of peace.

Ahead, a crystal-clear river shimmered, so pure that he could see straight to the bottom, where rare fish swam lazily beneath the surface.

"Where is this…?"

Lathel couldn't help but feel as if he had stepped into an illusion.

"This is where I rest."

A soft, melodious voice drifted through the air.

The tone was pure and tranquil, like the morning breeze brushing against his skin.

Lathel turned his head and saw a woman in white approaching him.

"The Holy Pope."

Lathel gave a slight nod upon seeing Lumiana.

"No need for formalities. You can call me by my name."

She smiled gently.

"I'm sorry, but I can't do that."

Lathel let out a sigh.

Although he had fought alongside Lumiana and even held her in his arms, that didn't mean she had feelings for him.

On the contrary—

Lumiana was a heroine.

Her fate was tied to the protagonist.

Ikarys had fled.

But that didn't mean he wouldn't return.

Even if Ikarys never came back, there would always be another protagonist to replace him.

The bitter memories of betrayal from his past life resurfaced.

In Earth and Dandite's world, Lathel had suffered betrayal too many times.

This time, he wouldn't let it happen again.

He refused to get caught up in the endless entanglements of protagonists and heroines.

"Why?"

Lumiana's delicate brows furrowed in confusion.

"Because our statuses are different."

Lathel responded.

But his words didn't just refer to their ranks.

His real meaning was—

He was just a side character.

And she was a heroine.

Of course, Lumiana didn't understand his hidden implication.

She merely assumed he was talking about their positions in society.

Which was why she immediately responded:

"If that worries you, then there's no need."

She stepped closer.

"Even though the blessing ceremony was interrupted, you are already the Holy Son of the Church."

Her words carried a quiet certainty.

"Tomorrow, I will grant you full authority over the Church."

Her next words shook the air.

"Your power within the Church will be equal to mine.

You could even—"

"I'm sorry."

Lathel suddenly cut her off.

"I don't want that authority."

Lumiana's expression hardened, her brows furrowing as she stared at Lathel.

She couldn't understand his rejection.

To countless people, gaining even a shred of authority within the Church was a dream.

Even Ikarys, the previous Holy Son, had longed for it.

But Lumiana and Arine were too powerful.

They had completely suppressed Ikarys, leaving him frustrated and envious.

That was the reason he betrayed the Church.

He might not have resorted to rebellion if Lumiana had given him just a fraction of authority.

Instead—he would have chosen the longer, sweeter route.

He would have slowly won over Arine.

Then, eventually—he would have set his sights on Lumiana herself.

Yet now—

Before Lumiana even finished speaking, Lathel had refused outright.

She found that hard to comprehend.

"You don't even want to hear what authority you'll receive?"

Lumiana questioned.

Lathel shook his head.

"No need."

His voice was firm.

"Holy Pope, just treat me like a normal person."

"Besides—once I've helped establish an economic foundation for the Church, I will resign as Holy Son."

"All I want… is for you to build a peaceful world."

"Not one that conquers kingdoms under the banner of God's Love."

Lumiana's expression darkened.

But she wasn't angry.

Instead—she asked softly:

"Lathel, do you realize you just turned down a position countless people would kill for?"

"Even Ikarys—he would have dreamed of hearing those words from me."

Lathel sighed.

"Holy Pope, I am just a simple person."

"Having authority doesn't mean I can develop the Church."

"You should save that power for someone else."

"But we fought together."

Lumiana stepped forward.

"When everyone turned their backs on me—

"You were the only one who stood by my side."

"Is it wrong for me to want to repay you?"

"Holy Pope…"

Lathel rubbed his temples, exhaustion creeping into his voice.

"At that moment—anyone else would have done the same as me."

"You know that the Church maintains order on this continent."

"If it fell, the world's balance would be shattered."

"And I… would be caught in the storm of war."

"The peaceful life I seek would be destroyed."

His eyes met hers.

"I didn't save you just for your sake."

"I did it for myself."

Lumiana studied him silently.

Then—

She raised a delicate hand.

Her slender fingers traced through the air.

DANG!

A bell-like chime rang out.

The sound shook Lathel's consciousness, sending an odd sensation through his mind.

"You…!"

Lathel gritted his teeth, struggling to stay awake.

But an overwhelming sleepiness crashed over him.

"What… are you doing…?"

Lumiana stepped closer.

She slowly removed her veil, revealing a face so perfect—

It was breathtaking.

"I've already lost my brother."

She whispered softly.

"I can't lose you too."

Her fingertips gently touched his forehead.

And then, Lathel fell into darkness.