Adopting the Male Protagonist Changed the Genre - Chapter 135

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 135

On the day he realized his feelings for Belinda, Cesar made a vow to himself.

He would never consider these feelings more important than his duty.

Therefore, he would never reveal the fact that he held her in his heart.

He had responsibilities to bear, and he could never allow Belinda to become entangled in those obligations.

On ‘that night’ of rebellion, hadn’t he sworn while guarding his parents’ and brothers’ graves for three days and nights?

That he would surely annihilate everything beyond the forest.

Cesar truly believed that was the reason he had survived.

Therefore, Cesar had lived with only that duty as his purpose, but ironically, he had never once thought about life after achieving that goal.

When he thought about what would await him after exterminating all the magical beasts beyond the forest, what he wanted to do, what he should do, he felt as lost as if he were drifting on the vast ocean in a single small boat.

But at this moment, Cesar seemed to have discovered a beacon of light in that vast ocean.

“The direct bloodline of Baluashten is born with the ability to resist curses.”

As if proving Cesar’s words, his eyes slowly turned red. It was an ominous and sinister light incomparable to the sunset glow from before.

Belinda, who had hesitated for a moment, slowly reached out her hand toward Cesar.

“The method of controlling this ability is quite simple. You simply think of what you treasure and cherish most in the world.”

When Belinda’s fingertips finally touched Cesar’s cheek, his eyes regained their original blue color as if dark clouds had cleared.

“Lady Blanche… allows me to remain human. That is why I guard the Marquess’s Daughter’s side.”

At those words, Belinda quickly pulled her hand away as if she had been burned.

Even while watching Belinda’s strangely contorted face, Cesar did not regret what he had just said.

No, in truth he regretted it painfully. Even so, he would never change his meaning.

“Do you know what you just said?”

“Yes… I said that I want to guard the Marquess’s Daughter’s side for the very selfish desire of wanting to live as a human.”

He was still one bound by duty.

If there was anything different from before, it was only that after all his duties ended, he had developed the selfish desire to survive as a human and guard Belinda’s side forever.

Cesar called it a selfish desire, but it didn’t sound that way to Belinda.

Cesar failed to realize that depending on how one heard it, his words just now were tantamount to a confession that among everything that made up his world, he treasured Belinda most.

His clumsiness ultimately made Belinda smile.

She burst into brief laughter and nodded her head.

“I’ll allow it.”

Though he had seemed expressionless, Cesar’s face, which had been hiding tension all along, crumbled.

Like cracks forming in a glacier with sunlight streaming through, Cesar smiled.

“So Cheri, you must return. As a human, to Leo’s and my side.”

“I will certainly keep my promise.”

Cesar knelt on one knee and brought Belinda’s hand to his forehead, making a knight’s oath.

That day, Cesar left his heart by Belinda’s side and departed.

* * *

When all the Rozel trees surrounding the town square were in full bloom, the square bustled with people who had come out to view the flowers.

While the people of the Royal Capital enjoyed spring, only Leo sat forlornly on a bench shaded by a giant Rozel tree, sniffling sadly.

This morning, after seeing off Cheri, Leo had spent the entire morning under his blanket sniffling.

Unable to bear watching, I had taken the child’s hand and come out to the square to cheer Leo up, but it didn’t seem very effective.

“The knight, *sniff*, the knight…”

I hurriedly put a sweet snack into Leo’s mouth as he was about to shed tears again with his swollen goldfish eyes.

While Leo, who had been about to let out sorrowful sobs, couldn’t spit out the sweet that had entered his mouth and was melting it with his tongue, I patted the child’s back and asked.

“Leo, are you that sad that the knight left?”

Leo, whose response was delayed because he was melting the caramel in his mouth, finally nodded after a while.

“I thought the knight would stay with us forever. Because…”

Leo continued speaking while fidgeting with his hands clasped in front of him.

“The knight said he wanted to be Belinda’s knight no matter what price he had to pay. So I thought Belinda and the knight would stay together for a long, long time…”

Every time the child opened his mouth, a sweet scent wafted out.

Feeling somehow ticklish at my fingertips, I spun Cheri’s ring on my finger and asked again.

“Cheri, no, Penandel said… such things?”

“Yes, *sniff*.”

Feeling like I had heard something I shouldn’t have, I cleared my throat and gestured to Terry who was guarding behind us.

“Terry, bring that over.”

“Yes.”

While Terry went straight to the carriage parked nearby, I put a candy in Leo’s mouth and looked at the ring on my ring finger.

“It’s a token of promise.”

Before leaving the Royal Capital, what Cheri had given me when he came to see me was a ring set with a bright blue gem.

More transparent than sapphire and reflecting light like a diamond, it was extremely beautiful.

However, I was more flustered by Cheri’s appearance, as if he were proposing, than by the value of the ring set with an unidentifiable gem, and couldn’t readily accept the ring.

“Things like tokens are only exchanged by those who lack confidence in keeping their promises. Surely you’re not lacking confidence in keeping your promise?”

“That’s not the case. Please simply use it as a token to remind you of the promise.”

“The gem looks extraordinary… It’s not some rare gem or family heirloom, is it?”

“It’s just a secondhand item.”

Feeling somewhat relieved by those words, I reluctantly tried on the ring. The ring fit my finger perfectly as if custom-made.

And as Cheri had said, the ring he left became a very good token reminding me of his promise to return without fail.

Soon Terry returned to us carrying gift boxes stacked higher than his height.

Leo, who had been melting candy while still having tears welling up, saw the gift boxes stacked higher than his height and opened his eyes wide.

“What are all these?”

“Your birthday presents. This much is just an appetizer though.”

Leo looked around once with his swollen eyes, then belatedly pointed at himself with his index finger.

“Me? Is today my birthday?”

“That’s right. Your adoption papers officially went through today. So now when I introduce you anywhere, I can say Leo Blanche.”

Rozel petals fell like snowflakes over Leo’s jet-black hair as he wore a dazed expression.

Confirming that Leo’s age recorded in the status window had changed to ten years old as of today, I said to Leo.

“Congratulations on turning ten, Leo.”

“I had… a birthday too…”

Leo, who had been muttering like that, finally seemed to realize it and raised his voice.

“Belinda, they say today is my birthday. Hehe.”

After wiping the child’s tears with a handkerchief—his face was a mess from crying and then laughing—we got up from our seats.

Leo insisted he wanted to carry his birthday presents with his own hands and struggled to lift the stacked gifts.

While I was anxiously watching the child, worried he might trip with the gift boxes blocking his view.

Through the intense fragrance of Rozel flowers pouring down like a shower, a line I had heard many times before hit the back of my head.

“To treat a young child so roughly, how cruel of you.”

I stopped reaching for Leo and turned my head.

Through the Rozel tree petals falling like snow, that woman was standing there.

Short hair that gleamed like crafted silver.

Pink eyes resembling spring flowers and clothing that seemed somehow removed from the kingdom’s fashion.

Though her clothes were somewhat worn and showed signs of daily life as if from a long journey, her posture was straight as if revealing her noble status.

The moment I saw her, I froze as if cold water had been poured over me.

The Rozel trees in full bloom.

Leo turning ten years old.

How could I have forgotten.

Today, when the flowers of the Plaza Rosel Tree bloomed, was the day Ophelia would arrive in the Kingdom of Jenos from the distant Empire.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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