Adopting the Male Protagonist Changed the Genre - Chapter 174

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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 174

“Do you remember when I said I thought I encountered a demonic beast at dawn on the day you and Belinda went to the Barrier Forest?”

Cesar didn’t answer, but Leo continued speaking.

“I thought it was a demonic beast then, but now I’m not sure. Because it touched my cheek from behind the curtain just like you did for me, Knight. So if that person was my father…”

Leo paused briefly and tilted his head back to look up at his father’s portrait hanging above.

At first it had seemed very unfamiliar, but after hearing Cesar’s story, it felt as familiar as a childhood friend.

Only then could Leo smile brightly at his parents’ portrait with dimples showing.

“He was still expressing that he loves me. That alone is enough.”

As soon as Leo finished speaking, a very heavy silence settled over the Black Swan’s Room.

Cesar, who had been silently looking up at Theodor’s portrait following Leo, opened his mouth.

“Leo, I should tell you about your parents’ final moments.”

He made up his mind while facing his nephew’s face lit by the magical lamp’s glow.

Belinda had left it entirely to Cesar to tell Leo about what happened six years ago.

That was tantamount to leaving it to him how to convey Theodor’s death and sins.

“It will be too heavy a truth for you to bear. Perhaps you might resent me on the day I tell you the facts.”

Actually, until entering the Black Swan’s Room, Cesar hadn’t intended to tell Leo the truth.

He had planned to say what was publicly known – that he was a foolish tyrant and an unfilial son who stained his hands with family blood.

‘Brother, in the end you were never wrong even once.’

He could finally understand the meaning of the noble love he had spoken of.

There was no way to deny that Theodor had been completely consumed by the demonic beast’s curse.

His soul, changed even in appearance, boiled with murderous intent and hatred, and the only way to stop that madness was to take his life.

“I believe the words written in this book. That only ‘true love’ will free us from the chains of the curse.”

However, just as those words said, Theodor overcame the demonic beast’s curse for a moment and conveyed his final affection to Leo.

Cesar realized that telling Leo lies would be trampling on that.

Moreover, after plunging the sword into his brother’s heart, Theodor’s hand that brushed Cesar’s cheek was also not by chance.

In the end, it was none other than himself who couldn’t accept Theodor’s tragic end until the very last.

Cesar held the hand of the child too small to bear the truth and spoke calmly.

“Your father and my brother was a very admirable person. However, the House of Baluashten’s ability wasn’t fair to everyone.”

Though Theodor had a stronger mind than anyone, his ability wasn’t as strong as that.

Perhaps that was the beginning of all the tragedy.

Cesar’s story that began this way didn’t end even as the sun set and night deepened.

Late at night, the Black Swan’s Room that had been closed since swallowing Cesar and Leo opened again.

Cesar, who was carrying the sleeping Leo and leaving the room full of remnants of the past, hesitated upon discovering something.

Just as they were when they entered the room, Belinda was waiting for them without even changing her clothes.

Cesar hurriedly approached her.

“Marquess’s Daughter, you haven’t slept yet…”

Then Belinda raised her index finger to her lips and pointed at Leo. It meant not to make loud noises so Leo wouldn’t wake up.

Belinda quietly approached Cesar, who had immediately stopped speaking, and gestured with her fingertips as if telling him to bring his ear closer.

When Cesar tilted his head toward her like a well-trained large dog, Belinda wrapped her hands around Cesar’s neck and embraced him.

Cesar’s body stiffened.

Whether she knew this or not, Belinda even stood on her tiptoes to hug Cesar and whispered in a very small voice in his ear.

“You endured well.”

“…”

At those words, Cesar’s expressionless face that had been calm throughout crumbled.

With a face showing deep exhaustion that wouldn’t be strange if he fainted right away, Cesar dropped his head onto Belinda’s shoulder with a thud.

“Yes, it was difficult.”

He no longer said he was fine.

However, he never collapsed or fell to his knees either.

* * *

After contacting Terry through the magical device ‘Twin Songbird’s Nest’ and finishing the backlogged work.

I stretched lazily and opened the window. Instead of the bone-chilling cold wind, a gentle warm breeze flowed into the room.

When I came to my senses, complete summer had arrived in the North.

The ground was revealed like new flesh growing on frozen earth, and as if by magic, seeds and bulbs that had been sleeping underground competed to bloom flowers.

As if they had endured that harsh season to pour all their life force into summer, the North’s summer was very beautiful.

Leo and I decided to fully enjoy this summer before returning to the Royal Capital.

Today was a perfect day for the long-awaited picnic with such nice weather.

Though the outing was suddenly decided, the castle’s employees skillfully helped with the preparations.

While waiting for Cheri, who rarely ran late after finishing preparations.

Leo’s voice mixed with admiration reached my ears as I was checking the outing supplies.

“Wow, Knight! You’re sparkling!”

I unconsciously turned around and saw Cheri hurriedly coming down the stairs in the hall.

“I’m sorry for being late. There were many things to prepare.”

I forgot to respond and stared at Cheri, who was dressed up brilliantly from head to toe.

He usually wore only light clothing or knight uniforms.

Whatever change of heart he’d had, he appeared in formal wear with chain brooches and such hanging all over, his hair neatly slicked back – it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say he was attending a royal ball.

After finally examining his red eyes that still bore traces of that day’s wounds, I stepped back from him who had become somewhat excessively splendid.

‘I just grabbed whatever to wear.’

I fiddled with my skirt hem and asked in a sullen voice.

“Your Excellency, your attire is more splendid than usual.”

There were employees and knights watching us in the wide hall.

When I used formal speech out of consideration for their gazes, Cheri glanced around once.

And he too, in formal speech,

“Since it’s a date with the Marquess, I put more effort than usual.”

Said this, making people cover their mouths.

Of course, I was included among those who covered their mouths.

I quickly moved to a place where I could avoid people’s gazes and spoke sharply to Cheri.

“Sir, this isn’t a date.”

Then Cheri hesitated and drooped his shoulders dejectedly.

“…I see.”

What a curious thing. When I first met him, I thought he was like a machine because he showed no change in expression.

Now I could tell just from his voice that he was tremendously disappointed.

As I felt a strange sense of guilt and awkwardly rolled my eyes, fortunately Cheri, who quickly composed his emotions, asked again.

“Then could you tell me how today’s outing differs from a date.”

This person is more persistent than he looks.

As I received his escort and boarded the carriage, I explained the dictionary definition of dating.

“A date is when people who have romantic feelings for each other spend time together.”

“But didn’t you refer to going out with the mage during the Bonmaje Festival as a date.”

“That’s… just because Chaser’s way of speaking is cunning. He probably throws around ‘date’ to just anyone.”

Even at my words, Cheri didn’t seem quite convinced.

I know. My words are a bit abstract for Cheri to accept.

As I wondered how to explain this so Cheri would understand, he nodded as if he had cleverly realized it himself and said.

“Then for today’s outing to become a date, the Marquess’s Daughter’s judgment would be important. Since I already have feelings for the Marquess’s Daughter.”

“Gulp.”

Leo, who had been dangling his feet and watching the scenery outside the window, made a choking sound on my behalf.

I quietly spoke toward the back of Leo’s head, who was pretending to look out the window while listening to us.

“Leo, could you cover your ears for a moment? I have something to discuss with the Knight.”

“Yes, yes.”

Leo tightly covered both his ears and even squeezed his eyes shut without being told to do so.

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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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