Thought It Was ‘The End’, Only to Return to a Changed Genre - Chapter 115

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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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Epilogue 3. My Daughter Can’t Be a Villainess (1)

It was already midnight when they passed through the capital’s gates.

Aide Achard, who had finished speaking with the soldiers controlling gate access, knocked on the carriage window. Jeff, who had been dozing lightly, woke up and drew back the curtain.

“Is there a problem?”

“Of course not. But we need to tell the coachman where to go now.”

Jeff then remembered that he had only told them their destination was the capital Delmez before departing.

“I’d like to go to the Blancarde Estate, but they won’t open the doors in the middle of the night. Take us to the Pamit Hotel. My parents are at the estate too, so there’s no choice.”

“Yes, understood.”

Achard answered politely, then turned and said something to the coachman.

Achard was a sixteen-year-old boy from the Kingdom of Brubewein this year. He was good with numbers and had a meticulous personality, so Jeff kept him around to train him.

Jeff massaged his stiff shoulders and stretched long.

It was his first return in two years.

During that time, he had been so absorbed in business that he hadn’t visited Delmez even once. He had wanted to make time to return somehow, but he simply couldn’t find the leisure. After finishing busy work, unexpected matters would arise, and after resolving those, several months would slip by again. Two years had passed in an instant.

Even while living such busy days that he could only exchange news with his parents through letters, there was only one reason he wanted to come to Delmez.

He wanted to meet Lisa, the daughter Edelaine had given birth to.

“Has it already been two years?”

Recalling that summer, Jeff shook his head.

*

Edelaine gave birth to a beautiful daughter two years ago in early summer.

It had been a noisy and extraordinary pregnancy period.

Jeff had never seen a case where a husband experienced morning sickness on behalf of his wife.

He had vaguely heard that such things could happen, but he didn’t know it could be real. It was quite a sight to see a man who seemed like he’d never caught a cold in his life turn pale just from smelling food.

It wasn’t just food smells. He would retch at fresh flower fragrances, the smell of torch smoke, and even the scent of knights’ armor.

Unlike Shane, who suffered from morning sickness for nearly four months, Edelaine had no symptoms at all.

Rather, her appetite returned and she gained weight, becoming pleasantly plump.

“I ate too well while carrying you three too. When I was pregnant with Patrick, I ate a lot of whipped cream, and when I had Jeff, I ate many apples. Edelaine, when I carried you, I craved meat so much.”

“I just find everything delicious.”

Because Edelaine spent all day eating, Shane’s complexion grew paler by the day.

He said it felt like being on a violently rocking ship where someone kept tapping his head with a spoon, and his stomach and skull were half-filled with swirling water.

“That’s really unfortunate…”

“I feel sorry somehow, Shane…”

He lived through four months in pain that neither Emma, who had given birth, nor Edelaine, who was actually carrying the child, could empathize with.

Yet there was nothing in his belly.

Moreover, Shane Blancarde was troubled even while experiencing morning sickness on behalf of his wife.

One day, Shane called Jeff out and said:

“I don’t have confidence that I can love the child.”

“What?”

Even while dry heaving from various smells during their conversation…

“Edelaine said you were happy about it.”

“I was happy. Of course.”

“You’re happy but don’t have confidence you can love the child?”

What kind of nonsense is this?

Shane looked quite anxious.

Jeff tilted his head and stared intently at Shane.

Jeff and Shane had a four-year age difference and were somewhat like friends.

Jeff, who had found Shane following Edelaine around since childhood rather endearing, was the only one among the Bertrand family who took his side.

If Edelaine had truly hated Shane, Jeff would never have helped him, but since that wasn’t quite the case, he often spent time with him and passed along news.

Just telling him what brand of tea Edelaine had for breakfast brought considerable rewards.

Shane Blancarde, who was arrogant in front of everyone else, used respectful language, was careful with his behavior, and controlled his temper just because Jeff was Edelaine’s brother. That alone showed his sincerity.

Gregory and Patrick didn’t like Shane’s obsession, thinking it wasn’t healthy.

‘Who are they to talk about what’s healthy or not.’

Acting all ethical now.

To Jeff, who considered himself the most objective among the Bertrand family, it was absolutely ridiculous nonsense. The ethical consciousness of the Bertrand family, including Emma, was very low and pathetic.

The two worried that Shane’s obsession might someday harm Edelaine, but in Jeff’s view, Shane couldn’t hurt a single hair on Edelaine’s head no matter how angry he got.

Even if he got angry enough to harm himself, he definitely couldn’t show Edelaine anything unpleasant.

“Then why were you happy about it?”

“Because if there’s a being that connects Edelaine and me even more perfectly, it will be harder for her to leave me.”

“…”

“Jeff, I’ve never loved anyone except Edelaine.”

“…”

“People are generally stupid, ugly, and disgusting. When they’re too stupid, it annoys me that I’m the same species as them. When I’m talking and they’re barking, I think it would be better to sit a dog down and educate it instead.”

Isn’t this bastard being too honest with me?

Human Jeff felt strangely disgusted.

“It’s the same even with decent human beings. Honestly, I don’t know what difference there is between humans and monsters, including myself.”

So there was no way he could love them.

The only exception was Edelaine.

“I’m confident I can cherish Edelaine’s other half. But I won’t be able to love it the way Edelaine expects. Definitely.”

“Isn’t that something you don’t know? You love everything connected to Edelaine.”

“By that logic, Jeff, I should love you too.”

He couldn’t think he’d be able to love the child just because half of it came from Edelaine.

In terms of composition, Edelaine would be exactly the same as Patrick and Jeff.

It meant you couldn’t love something based on its components alone.

“Damn it, don’t say disgusting things. It gives me goosebumps.”

“That will never happen, so don’t worry.”

Shane looked unusually anxious.

Shane, who had initially been happy just thinking his connection with Edelaine had become more solid, seemed to be getting worried about not meeting her expectations.

He wasn’t sorry or worried about not being able to love the child.

He was anxious about possibly not meeting Edelaine’s expectations and disappointing her.

‘Is it okay for someone like this to be a father…’

Jeff couldn’t come up with any brilliant solution either.

Though not as much as Shane, Jeff wasn’t lacking in misanthropy either.

The difference was that Jeff definitely loved his family and a few friends. He also found it difficult to love someone.

It’s hard to love others, and even harder to love them in the way they want.

Jeff had now come to love Rachel as a friend, but he probably couldn’t give her the kind of love she wanted.

In the end, all he could offer was common consolation.

“It might be different once you have the baby.”

Maybe.

The child was born.

Every time a scream erupted from beyond the door, Shane looked like he might die.

They said he was holding up well, but as soon as the midwife opened the door saying it was okay to enter, he rushed to Edelaine. He had been trembling outside the door the whole time, afraid she might die.

The baby who had struggled to let out its first cry wasn’t even on his mind.

Shane knelt beside the bed and pressed his forehead against Edelaine’s limp hand.

“I’m sorry, Edelaine. I’m sorry, I…”

“What for… Ah, why are you crying again…”

I’m the one who went through the ordeal.

“It’s a beautiful baby girl, Your Grace. Would you like to hold her?”

Shane slowly raised his head as if he didn’t want to let go of Edelaine’s hand. Jeff realized there was a hint of resentment mixed in Shane’s blue eyes.

He sowed the seeds himself, so I don’t know why he’s resenting an innocent child and acting up.

The baby was very small.

Wrapped in clean, soft cloth, the baby was red and wrinkled. Just born, she couldn’t even open her eyes yet, and her small mouth moved restlessly as if something was bothering her.

Jeff, who had resolved to immediately take the child away and kick Shane out if he showed such eyes while holding the baby, watched as Shane very carefully took the child in his arms.

And he chuckled.

‘Ah, what’s this.’

I worried for nothing.

Jeff witnessed the moment a person falls in love.

Emma whispered quietly to her son.

“What are we going to do with my granddaughter….”

“…Right. What are we going to do with my niece….”

What are we really going to do.

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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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