Thought It Was ‘The End’, Only to Return to a Changed Genre - Chapter 37

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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 7. Villains Are Originally (8)

Edelaine was the person who gave Genevieve her opportunity.

If Shane was her first savior, then Edelaine was the one who laid the foundation for Genevieve to stand on.

There was no need to consider which one she would rely on more.

She lost such a person right before her eyes. And she died trying to protect her. It became a great wound for Genevieve, and unable to forgive herself, she threw herself into work as if punishing herself.

However, even that work was not satisfactory. Her purification abilities had fully awakened after Edelaine’s death, but compared to her predecessors, it was insignificant.

That’s why she couldn’t bear the thought of Edelaine being in danger again.

To Genevieve, who was crying and apologizing for her lack of ability, Edelaine said in a tone that made it seem completely natural that she could do it.

When Edelaine said she could do it, it somehow seemed like it would really happen.

Genevieve wanted to live up to Edelaine’s expectations and trust, and that always became her motivation.

***

Genevieve’s quarters were still the same room she had stayed in as a guest, so it wasn’t in a very good location. Most of the Outer Palace was empty now with hardly any guests, but soon it would be packed with guests who received invitations to the winter Founding Festival.

The Crown Prince had asked if he should give her a section within the Imperial Palace as a wedding gift for her marriage to a Knight Guard, but her husband Harrison was so overwhelmed with gratitude that he nearly died, so it came to nothing.

It seemed the Pope was repeatedly pleading for the Saint to be returned, but Edwin had drawn the line that he wouldn’t return her for a while.

Both attacks had been allowed to happen within the Church.

The Church couldn’t argue against the statement that she couldn’t be placed in a location where safety couldn’t be guaranteed.

Thanks to this, Genevieve temporarily suspended her main duties and began handling the Imperial Court’s schedule.

Since it wasn’t the season, social events weren’t held frequently, but salons and tea parties were often held in warm indoor spaces. Occasionally, well-off families would also hold parties.

Today was one of such events.

Since Knight Guards were prohibited from attending parties while on duty, Genevieve’s partner naturally became Edwin.

“The feeling of escorting a married woman as a partner isn’t bad either, you know? It has a sense of immorality.”

“Don’t say such vulgar things.”

“Genevieve, you’ve also become strangely merciless with your words since Edelaine returned.”

“Me? That can’t be.”

Genevieve lightly laughed off Edwin’s mischievous provocation. Over five years had torn down the wall between them that seemed like they’d never be able to speak to each other.

“It would be fine for me to go alone without a husband.”

“The standard is to take an unmarried sister as a partner, but… it would also be laughable to escort a princess while leaving the Saint behind. Above all, you’re currently the top protection target.”

“…”

Genevieve hadn’t yet brought up with Edwin the story about black magic dispelling that she had told Edelaine.

She thought it was even since Edwin must have already captured and interrogated the culprit but hadn’t said anything to Genevieve either. Edelaine had told her she could do anything, but nothing had been proven yet.

“When you dress up like this.”

“…”

“I wouldn’t even know you’re a Saint, Genevieve.”

Edwin smiled slyly. Genevieve didn’t know how to respond and just blinked her eyes.

“You look like a young lady from some noble family.”

“Ah, yes…”

Since it was ambiguous whether it was a compliment or not, Genevieve decided to just brush it off. If she took everything Edwin said seriously, her nerves wouldn’t survive. She had realized that much by her second year.

“Ah, they’re here. How dare they receive more attention than me.”

Genevieve perked up her ears.

The reason Genevieve and Edwin bothered to attend this tiresome party was because of those two people.

The Blancarde Duke and Duchess, who had holed up at home and refused to come out after their marriage, began going out as if they had been waiting for the right time.

Except for places where only women could attend, they went everywhere couples could go together.

‘It seems like Lady Edelaine is investigating something.’

Since Shane was letting it happen quietly, it probably wasn’t anything dangerous.

Sometimes mingling with members of the Bertrand Family, they showed their faces at every ball held in Delmez. Thanks to this, in less than a month, Edelaine’s popularity soared sky-high just like five years ago.

“She’s quite skilled too. Her rhetoric isn’t chillingly good either, so how does she enchant people so well?”

“Is that strange?”

“It is strange. Genevieve, you might not know well, but Edelaine originally didn’t have that impressive of a presence.”

“…Lady Edelaine was like that…?”

Genevieve muttered as if she couldn’t believe it.

“She was Shane’s fiancée. From a very young age.”

“Ah…”

“There were more than just one or two women who admired Shane. The youngest duke, a full member of the Council of Elders, one of only about twenty Sword Masters in the entire Empire, plus wealthy resources, ugh.”

“Well, yes. Well…”

“Shane was busy chasing after Edelaine who wouldn’t even look at him, but jealousy is a different story. There were many who bullied Edelaine. Since Shane secretly protected her from behind, they couldn’t do anything too serious even if they picked fights.”

That made sense. That sinister man wouldn’t have left people who bullied Edelaine alone even back then.

“In truth, even if they spread rumors about their bad relationship, it didn’t work since Shane kept chasing her, and perhaps finding it troublesome to explain everything, she pretended to be gentle and just got by. She said her health wasn’t good and attended only the minimum parties and social events. Even so, she had the halo of being the future Marchioness Bertrand, so she was popular and had a decent reputation. But look at her now.”

When Edelaine entered arm-in-arm with Shane and smiled knowingly in greeting, young ladies blushed and flocked to her. Genevieve felt a subtle emotion.

It was like seeing herself from five years ago.

Even though Edelaine didn’t have chillingly excellent rhetoric or wit as Edwin said, she had a strange talent for penetrating people’s weak spots. When she smiled warmly and treated them kindly, they couldn’t help but mistake it for affection. At the very least, they would think they were special.

‘There’s no choice but to fall for it…’

She was living proof of that herself.

Edwin muttered in a slightly disgusted tone.

“She’s openly seducing women…”

“Those young ladies… Aren’t they afraid of His Grace’s frightening gaze?”

“Some of them probably have Shane as their target. They might be getting excited, mistaking that her husband is giving them attention instead of his wife.”

That was quite impressive courage.

“I wonder what she’s scheming. It’s not like she’s determined to get on Shane’s nerves.”

“She must be planning something again…”

Genevieve spoke sarcastically with barbs in her words.

***

“Why don’t you tone it down, Edelaine.”

“What am I doing?”

“Stop flirting around.”

Shane said through gritted teeth.

“When did I flirt around. Besides, with you constantly sticking to me, what skill could I possibly use.”

“Even getting cozy with women is flirting.”

“Getting cozy…”

“Don’t embrace them, don’t smile at them, don’t talk to them.”

“…”

Edelaine reflected on her own behavior.

In order to naturally get close to the people on the list Lloyd had given her, she needed to get along well with everyone, so it was true that she had deliberately acted to win people’s favor.

But she didn’t think she had been clingy like a drunk old man, as Shane described.

Edelaine, who was about to laugh it off thinking he was joking, hesitated when she saw Shane’s eyes weren’t smiling.

“What are you scheming? Edelaine.”

“I’m not scheming anything.”

“You didn’t used to like crowded places before.”

“After being cooped up for five years, I started missing people…”

“Don’t lie to me now. I’m on the verge of exploding with jealousy and it’s hard to hold back.”

What would happen if you don’t hold back…

Edelaine asked and answered herself. What else. He’d lock me up again.

‘I deliberately went around because I was afraid it might look suspicious if I just stayed holed up at home.’

Edelaine looked up at the sullen Shane.

Until she caught and killed the mage, she couldn’t guarantee that the dangerous elements had disappeared.

Although hope had arisen that she might be able to covet the male lead, Edelaine wasn’t confident she wouldn’t run away when the nightmares started again.

‘I don’t even know if I’ll be able to escape in the first place…’

It was still difficult to make a decision.

It would be too irresponsible to pretend to accept him only to abandon him again.

For Edelaine, rejecting Shane while keeping things ambiguous was the best option.

Still, at times like this, her heart would weaken. She scrambled for excuses.

“I’ve never embraced you. At most, well, I just put my hand on your shoulder.”

“….”

“This is what you’d call an embrace.”

Edelaine leaned against Shane’s chest and whispered. Shane’s body tensed up. Then he soon let out a deep sigh, pulled her waist close, and kissed the top of her head.

“Go ahead and do whatever you want, damn it.”

Was he telling her to do it, or not to do it.

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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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