Adopting the Male Protagonist Changed the Genre - Chapter 75

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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 75

That stubborn fool.

In the end, unable to break his stubbornness, I was resting with my head against the chair’s backrest.

“When I was young, I raised a dog.”

Perhaps it was because I was too tired. A story from the past leaked out defensively.

I quietly closed my eyes as if recalling an old tale.

In the second fragment of memory, Belinda had been completely happy.

By her side was a large Doberman.

Like Lord Penandel beside me, that big fellow followed Belinda everywhere.

Its body gleamed jet black like velvet, but due to a genetic defect it suffered from albinism so only its eyes were blue, making it even more precious to Belinda who loved rare and special things. It was practically the only dog of its kind in the world.

The sensation I felt at my fingertips when petting that fellow was still surprisingly vivid.

“It was loyal and only looked at me. It never wagged its tail for anyone else.”

I languidly opened my eyes and turned my head to look up at Lord Penandel.

Come to think of it, did Lord Penandel resemble my dog—no, Belinda’s dog?

I found myself fiddling with the gem on my choker as if it were a very old habit.

It was just a counterfeit, not a magic-sealing stone, yet it felt like it was strangling me.

Then, perhaps from how much I had tugged at it throughout the day, the seam finally snapped.

I didn’t even have the energy to pick it up, so I unconsciously gestured to Lord Penandel as if calling a dog.

He silently approached me and put the necklace back around my neck.

Just then, Cao, who had returned through the open window, dove into our merged shadow as if falling.

Feeling the weight of the gem being placed around my neck, I couldn’t help but recall the day Belinda had received this necklace as a gift.

I lost my parents at a very young age, so I don’t know what it’s like to have a birthday surrounded by family.

But perhaps because Belinda had once lost such memories, she was blindly devoted to creating a family.

And her memories affected me too.

I discovered there was a deep swamp in my heart that I hadn’t even known about.

‘I never wanted something like a family.’

‘Or a birthday table set just for me.’

‘Or hearing “Happy Birthday” as the first greeting on my birthday morning.’

‘Or dinner eaten with everyone gathered around.’

I realized only after glimpsing Belinda’s memories that I had sunk forever into that swamp, submerged in so many desires I didn’t even know existed.

“Lady Blanche.”

At the lighthouse-like voice that woke me, I slowly blinked my eyes.

“Ah…”

My mind, which had been swept away by past storms, finally anchored itself in reality.

This place was the Blanche Estate Annex.

I am Belinda Blanche.

And this fierce, loyal knight guarding my side is my temporary escort knight.

I was engraving that fact in my mind when I couldn’t resist drowsiness any longer and closed my eyes.

* * *

“You cannot sleep here.”

“…”

“Lady Blanche?”

“…”

Cesar gazed quietly at Belinda’s sleeping face.

A single dried leaf that had come along when she recalled her familiar was stuck in her hair.

With the fairy of sleep settling on her delicate features, her sharp and sensitive expression softened, making her look very peaceful.

She had spent the entire evening at the ball, then searched the night streets for the child without rest, so it was natural she’d be tired.

On top of that, she had squeezed out her magic power to command familiars—it was remarkable she hadn’t collapsed along the way.

‘She didn’t step forward when she herself was attacked.’

But when Leo was in danger, she didn’t hesitate to dirty her dress and kneel on the wet, muddy ground.

Anyone who saw that would have realized how meaningless rumors could be.

‘Protecting the young lady from such rumors would also be my duty.’

Since I’m her escort knight, even if temporarily.

To protect her so not a single drop of rain touches her, so not even the scent of rain clings to the young lady—that is my…

‘Is that really a knight’s duty?’

A faint ripple appeared in Cesar’s calm eyes.

He couldn’t easily answer that question. No, rather than being unable to answer, it was closer to a sense that he shouldn’t answer.

Why was he feeling this way?

It was the moment he reached out his hand to remove the leaf stuck in Belinda’s hair while pondering.

“Brother, why do souls want to destroy precious things when they become corrupted?”

He suddenly remembered asking his brother that question in childhood.

What had his brother answered then?

“Because they become weaknesses.”

He froze.

His hand reaching toward Belinda stopped in midair.

For some reason, Cesar couldn’t carelessly touch her.

“But Cesar, that’s a demon’s instinct, not a human instinct. People become stronger when they have something precious.”

“Why?”

“Because it gives them a reason to get back up when they fall. Wanting to protect precious things is human instinct.”

The human instinct to protect precious things.

But hadn’t he witnessed it? The sight of human instinct crumbling tragically.

“Remember this. No matter what emotions you feel, you must never give them names.”

“Don’t create ripples on the surface. You mustn’t even think of looking to see what lies beneath.”

Cesar recalled his father’s advice and decided not to name the emotions he felt toward Belinda.

Instead, he weighed gains and losses as usual.

‘She’s not precious. She’s simply necessary.’

He withdrew his hand.

In the end, that night, his hand never touched Belinda.

* * *

“Ugh, my head.”

As soon as I opened my eyes in the morning, a splitting headache greeted me.

I clutched my throbbing head as if suffering from a hangover, barely managed to sit up, then blinked and looked around.

“…?”

I was sure I had collapsed in the drawing room armchair last night.

It was definitely still the same armchair from yesterday.

The problem was that the chair that should be in the drawing room was sitting right in the middle of my room?

‘What kind of cognitive dissonance is this?’

“Lady Belinda!”

Just then, Leo came running through the door and circled around me like a puppy meeting its owner after a long time, shouting with joy.

“Are you alright? I found you sleeping in the chair this morning, but you were sleeping so soundly… The knight told me this morning that Lady Belinda would be tired.”

Yes, Leo. Seeing that you’re safe makes me feel like all my ailments are cured and I could live a long, healthy life.

“I’m fine…!”

…I was about to say, but I couldn’t finish my words because my stomach was churning.

Leo’s face, which had been watching me, turned pale.

Oh no, it’s not that, Leo. I’m not glaring at you, it’s just… ugh.

“W-water! I’ll go to the kitchen and get water! Please lie down!”

“Wait…!”

Leo ran out immediately without giving me a chance to stop him.

I collapsed back into the chair again. The bed was right there, but I didn’t even have the energy to go that far.

‘Never, ever again, no matter what happens, will I scrape my mana down to the very bottom.’

To feel a hangover without even enjoying the pleasure of drinking. This is the worst.

“Lady Belinda!”

After a while, Leo came back with a tray full of water cups and explained each one to me.

“This is cold water, and this is warm water. The one on the far left is warm water with honey, and this one is made cold with lemon syrup, and…”

Though I hadn’t been drinking, what I needed most right now was the honey water.

I gulped down the entire cup of honey water.

Ah, now I feel like I might live.

“Lady Belinda, are you in a lot of pain?”

Leo kept checking on my condition restlessly. Looking at his face made yesterday’s events feel like a dream.

“Go to bed and rest more.”

Leo rolled up his sleeves and struggled to support me.

I put just the right amount of weight on Leo as I moved toward the bed.

As soon as I managed to sit on the bed, I called out to Leo who was about to step away from me.

“Jui-bam-tol.”

“Yes?”

“Come closer here.”

Leo blinked and took a step closer to me.

I hugged Leo tightly and fell onto the bed with him.

“Kyaang!”

Leo made some kind of cute sound, but I didn’t care and rubbed my forehead all over the child’s head.

“L-Lady Belinda.”

Leo, whose face had turned bright red, smelled like fluffy blankets dried in the sunlight.

Only then did my restless heart finally calm down.

“I’m finally home.”

Yes, it felt like I had returned to my real home after a very long time.

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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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