Thought It Was ‘The End’, Only to Return to a Changed Genre - Chapter 26

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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 5. The Female Lead is Dangerous (6)

The Saint belongs to the Church, but she’s closer to a special position rather than a priest.

Receiving patronage from House of Blancarde and managed by the Greenwinsor Imperial Court as ‘humanity’s living treasure,’ her utility was so high that she couldn’t actually participate much in Church activities.

Half the year was spent wandering across the continent for purification, and half of the remaining time was spent being summoned to Greenwinsor Imperial Court events.

This year, with her marriage on top of everything, she stayed at a separate residence prepared by the Imperial Court during her personal time, which led to complaints within the Church saying, “Are we just cleaning up after the Saint?”

Still, Genevieve tried to actively participate in Church events despite her busy schedule.

This was because the elderly Pope, now over ninety, cherished Genevieve like a young granddaughter.

Despite the unspoken rule that ‘a Saint cannot become a leader,’ the Pope hoped that the Saint would fill his vacant position. In his private meeting with Prince Edwin, he honestly confessed his wish, saying it wasn’t just because he personally cherished her, but because Genevieve’s character and virtue were excellent.

That was a very heartwarming story, but… when you looked at the reality, it wasn’t entirely beautiful.

The Pope was someone who bitterly resented that the Church’s symbol, the ‘Saint,’ had been taken away by the Imperial Court and nobility. He had strong desires for both power and wealth, and in his younger days, he had engaged in power struggles with the Emperor multiple times.

His intention to make the Saint the Church’s leader was to claim a share of the achievements the Saint had built. Even if his affection for her as a granddaughter was genuine, it lacked credibility for someone who loved money and power so much to talk about character and virtue.

The Pope loved money so much that he would allow even ordinary people to attend weekday services that weren’t open to the public, as long as they paid. But the amount was so substantial that unless you were a noble or royalty who had donated generously, you couldn’t even set foot in the Cathedral’s weekday services.

Edelaine listened to Genevieve’s clear voice in her ceremonial robes while carefully observing her surroundings.

A priest with a sturdy build was guarding right behind her, and Knights were stationed at the entrance. All items going to the Saint were first received by nuns who thoroughly examined and inspected them.

Even though they only let in people with clear identities, the security was strict.

‘Since they even sent people to Imperial parties, I should consider the mage as someone who controls not just monsters but people too.’

Edelaine, who had already deleted stories about mages and monsters from her mental trash bin five years ago, tried to revive her faint memories.

A mage was a general term for wizards who used black magic.

Witch, sorcerer, wizard, mage.

There were many names, but they were just divisions within the broad concept of based on characteristics.

People with almost no magical power but who could use herbology, magic potions, and weak curses were called witches or sorcerers.

Wizards mainly used white magic, while mages mainly used black magic.

Black magic required curses, offerings, sacrifices, and such, making it highly lethal magic, so mages were generally targets of social condemnation.

However, because it was as effective as it was cruel, many nobles secretly learned black magic. If caught, they would fall into ruin in an instant, but as long as they weren’t caught, it was fine.

Among black magic were hypnosis and curses that could control people.

The assailant who attacked Edelaine five years ago—or rather, who tried to kill Genevieve—was also someone controlled by a mage’s black magic.

So regardless of personal grudges, anyone could be attacked.

While it was impossible to know who was being controlled, an awakened ‘Saint’ could purify curses too. Genevieve could break the control if she just knew who was being controlled.

That was why the mage tried to kill the Saint.

Originally, purification was possible without even touching… but it was unclear whether the current Genevieve could do it.

‘That’s why the attack that day was the last time she was directly harmed.’

Being a healing flower garden romance, she knew that even with the mage, there would be pink-tinted chemistry and romance-like emotions, and eventually the mage would meet his end without being able to kill the female lead.

It was a point that well demonstrated the female lead’s charm, making even someone who should kill her unable to resist being captivated.

‘I’m someone who doesn’t even like the romance with sub-male leads outside the main story of the female and male leads…’

She hated seeing sub-male leads take up a lot of screen time, and romance or personal affairs with a villain she couldn’t even be with anyway couldn’t possibly catch her eye.

After finishing the service, Genevieve’s eyes met with Edelaine’s as she was about to leave.

Genevieve, who hadn’t known they were coming, seemed surprised and opened her violet eyes wide so they were fully visible. Then she smiled brightly and approached Edelaine.

“Lady Edelaine! If you were coming, you should have told me in advance…!”

“I wanted to surprise you. Oh, but is it okay for you to come over here?”

“Of course, it’s fine. Most of the people here are Church officials.”

Genevieve said after spotting Shane and exchanging greetings with him.

“Have you had lunch? The Church food is quite good. If it’s before lunch, please eat before you go.”

“We’re busy.”

Shane answered instead of Edelaine, but Genevieve only looked at Edelaine. Eventually, Edelaine spoke.

“No, we’re not busy. Genevieve, will you tell me what you usually eat?”

“Oh my, then let’s eat together in my room.”

“That’s okay, right Shane?”

Shane said crookedly.

“You said you wanted to go to the Central Library. If you eat first and then go, the day will be over.”

“Is today the only day?”

“And men can’t enter the Saint’s Quarters.”

“Then you eat in the dining hall.”

“That’s ridiculous. If we’re not eating together, let’s have our meal after we go back.”

Genevieve burst into laughter. When they looked at her with eyes asking why she was laughing, she said.

“You two seem to get along well.”

“We don’t.”

“Ah, could you come this way first? Let’s go outside and talk.”

Genevieve naturally led Edelaine and Shane outside. She grabbed Edelaine’s elbow and gently pulled her, positioning her between the guards and Shane.

She seemed to be making good use of her guards and being careful herself, which was very satisfying.

Edelaine hoped Genevieve would be safe. It was hard to think that the attack that occurred as if waiting for the revival ceremony wasn’t her fault.

‘At this rate, it wouldn’t be strange if there’s another attack during the weekend service.’

Thinking on the premise that an incident would occur was an old habit.

Edelaine being the only one to notice things that no one else expected was also a product of that habit.

Right now, this very moment was like that.

“…!”

Edelaine pushing Genevieve away and the large priest who had been following behind grabbing Edelaine’s neck and pushing her against the wall happened almost simultaneously.

And before her back even touched the wall, Shane, who had drawn a Knight’s sword, cut off the priest’s wrist entirely.

“Aaaaah! My, my hand!”

Thud, a chunk of flesh fell to the ground.

“Catch him! He tried to harm the Saint!”

“Aaaah…”

The priest with the severed wrist screamed and rolled on the floor, while Knights and Church officials raised their voices and subdued him. Genevieve screamed something and was dragged away by the Knights.

Her heart was pounding from the shock. Her legs went weak. Edelaine leaned against the wall and slowly slumped down.

A person’s wrist had been cut with a swoosh. The sound stuck to her ears like it was glued there.

Thanks to squeezing her eyes shut as soon as her neck was grabbed, she had seen almost nothing. She didn’t want to see it either. Edelaine fumbled at her neck that had been grabbed and raised her gaze.

Next to the wrist that had fallen to the ground, she could see a shoe.

It was Shane. He was silent for a moment.

“Does it hurt?”

His voice was cold.

“Of course it hurts. Help me up. I can’t put strength in my legs.”

Shane, who had roughly swung his blood-stained blade to shake it clean, walked toward Edelaine who was slumped down.

Then he also lowered himself to sit, and while wiping the blood that had splattered on Edelaine’s cheek with his sleeve, he said.

“Didn’t your parents teach you not to do dangerous things? Edelaine.”

“That…”

“Or what. Do you get restless if you can’t throw yourself at danger whenever you see it?”

“…I was worried Genevieve might get hurt.”

“So she can’t get hurt, but you can?”

“…”

“Your legs give out just from seeing a little blood, so what were you trusting when you interfered!”

Shane gritted his teeth. As if he was struggling desperately not to raise his voice.

“Damn it, if I hadn’t been there…”

Edelaine thought Shane’s complexion was excessively pale.

She was the one who had been grabbed by the neck. Shane had responded quickly as if he had known it would happen. If he hadn’t snatched the Knight’s sword and cut off the wrist, Edelaine’s neck and back would have been covered in bruises.

But looking at his face alone, he seemed like the one who had been grabbed by the neck instead of her. Edelaine said quietly.

“…Sorry?”

“Is that an apology?”

“Saving someone isn’t something to apologize for, but since you’re angry.”

“I won’t accept that kind of apology.”

“Then thank you, for saving me.”

“…”

“Shane?”

Shane rested his forehead against the space between Edelaine’s shoulder and neck as she sat slumped down.

A long breath flowed out slowly.

Edelaine hesitated, then slowly raised her hand to stroke his fine black hair.

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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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