Thought It Was ‘The End’, Only to Return to a Changed Genre - Chapter 39

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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 8. Find the Real Villain (1)

 

The Saint’s abilities had fully awakened.

 

However, the world knew nothing.

 

The fact that the Saint’s abilities weren’t particularly impressive was a flaw known only to a few among those involved, and to the public, only the preciousness of the Saint’s very existence had been emphasized and packaged.

 

But all the key figures knew.

 

Since Edwin planned to keep Genevieve hidden until the winter Founding Festival, he made sure public attention was drawn to the monster’s appearance and Shane’s exploits. The Saint’s achievements were intentionally erased.

 

“But why at that particular moment.”

 

Genevieve answered Edwin’s muttered words that came out like a sigh.

 

“I felt like I could do it, so I tried and it worked.”

 

“If it was so easy, why didn’t you do it before?”

 

“I couldn’t before. I’m telling you I didn’t avoid doing it on purpose.”

 

Edwin frowned with dissatisfaction. Abandoning all dignity, he leaned deep into the sofa and tapped his chin with his index finger as he spoke.

 

“Should I ask what triggered it, this…”

 

“…”

 

“The only thing that’s changed is the miraculous returnee.”

 

“Rather than a miraculous returnee… wouldn’t she be a pitiful captive?”

 

Speaking carefully, Genevieve glanced sideways at Edwin.

 

Reading Shane’s mood and stopping herself had already become an ingrained habit she couldn’t help.

 

Shane spoke without showing any signs of offense.

 

“Then does that make me a cruel hunter?”

 

“It suits you so well I can’t even laugh.”

 

Edwin answered with a laugh, contrary to his words.

 

Genevieve made eye contact with her husband Harrison, who was standing behind Edwin’s shoulder. Harrison smiled gently, and Genevieve felt relieved by it.

 

Edwin’s decision to downplay Genevieve’s achievements was probably just because she had to stay in Delmez until the winter Founding Festival ended, but Genevieve had agreed for a different reason.

 

‘Getting entangled with Duke Blancarde again would really be utterly tiresome.’

 

Even though they had both married different people… just one line about their dramatic collaboration would make romance-disguised scandals blaze like fire on dry kindling.

 

She absolutely didn’t want to be linked with him.

 

“You handle the investigation team, Shane.”

 

“Must I really do it?”

 

“You seem to have forgotten, but you’re still the 【Guardian of the Saint】, so get your head straight and do what you need to do. How long are you going to cling to your wife’s side?”

 

“I’m thinking of putting forward a suitable branch family member as proxy and going to the estate ourselves.”

 

“Haha, you’re good at jokes too.”

 

“I’m not in the mood for jokes though.”

 

“That makes two of us, so don’t talk nonsense.”

 

“Let’s go with that for now. Edelaine might dislike the Blancarde Estate.”

 

“…”

 

This bastard is so fucking annoying, can’t I just hit him once…

 

Edwin tilted his head and seriously pondered.

 

‘He’s not the type to just take a beating either, and I’d only scrape my precious knuckles.’

 

It wouldn’t be profitable, so he decided to give up.

 

In fact, until Edelaine returned, he hadn’t even thought Shane was annoying. Nothing reflected in his dried-up, withered eyes, and he just seemed like someone waiting to die. Seeing him in that state, it was impossible to feel anything other than pity.

 

Even that pity wasn’t properly accepted.

 

His pride was strong, and he was still someone who had far too much to casually pity.

 

House of Blancarde, connected to the Imperial family by blood, boasted enormous wealth and power. And what about the branch families and connections spread throughout all levels of society, as extensive as their long history? They had become an untouchable foundation of power in the present day.

 

Even now, the Council of Elders was headed by the elderly Marquis Catlin, but everyone assumed that when he reached the appropriate age, Duke Blancarde would naturally succeed him. Marquis Catlin himself was someone the previous Duke Blancarde had placed there.

 

Born with everything to an almost unfair degree, he was also physically capable and intellectually gifted.

 

Even with his nature of having not a speck of interest in others, those who were captivated by him overflowed. Descriptors like magnetic attraction and charisma that commanded crowds followed him around.

 

On top of that, by discovering the Saint and becoming her protector, he gained public popularity and fame.

 

It was a much more stable and free position than Edwin, who was born as the Emperor’s son. The Emperor could have more sons, but Shane was the only legitimate heir of Blancarde.

 

But all of that held no great meaning for Shane.

 

He had always been like that.

 

He was an arrogant person who didn’t care in the slightest what people called him or how they thought of him.

 

Perhaps it was because everything had been easy for him.

 

Except for one thing – matters concerning Edelaine.

 

Edwin had the ambition to become Emperor and take Greenwinsor into his hands.

 

In contrast, Shane had everything yet his ambition was directed solely toward Edelaine.

 

With frighteningly blind love.

 

Not only the desire to greedily devour, dominate, and keep her in his grasp, but also with the desperation of craving love.

 

That was a part Edwin couldn’t understand.

 

‘A hunting dog that doesn’t even look at other people acting like a pet only for one person is quite amusing…’

 

The woman who had deceived him throughout his entire life would have given him only defeat and misery.

 

Shane lost her and remained as an empty shell, just waiting for his body to crumble, yet Edelaine never once looked back at him.

 

But why on earth?

 

Edwin couldn’t understand at all what part of Edelaine made Shane so desperately thirsty.

 

Sure, she was pretty, quite clever, cheerful, and had an attractively straightforward personality, but there were many such people.

 

Moreover, Shane wasn’t the only one obsessed with Edelaine.

 

Knowing well how much Genevieve had suffered from being immature as a Saint, curiosity finally surged toward Edelaine, who had triggered her awakening.

 

‘It seems like a bad habit is about to emerge.’

 

Edwin smiled slyly. He had always only felt interest in people of the opposite sex who had competitors.

 

“You won’t be able to return to the manor for a while, so what will you do about being anxious? Should I give Edelaine a room? She can stay at the Imperial Palace.”

 

“If she needs one, my room will suffice.”

 

“Edelaine might find it uncomfortable. I’d like to look after my friend’s convenience too.”

 

“I won’t even bring her here in the first place. She’s definitely become a target because of this incident.”

 

Shane gestured toward Genevieve with his chin.

 

“I can’t keep such a dangerous person nearby.”

 

“That’s why you shouldn’t have done such a thing, Genevieve…”

 

Edwin looked at Genevieve with a sigh. Genevieve said.

 

“Lady Edelaine keeps getting caught up in things.”

 

“Hm?”

 

“I thought that if I definitely became a target, Your Grace would send Lady Edelaine far away, and we could use that opportunity to completely eliminate them.”

 

“…”

 

“You sent Lady Edelaine back to her family home, didn’t you, Your Grace?”

 

Shane smiled, pulling only the corners of his mouth up.

 

“I was thinking of sending her to the shelter.”

 

“Then Lady Edelaine would starve. Even if you fed her directly, she might or might not eat.”

 

“Right. When confined, she doesn’t eat well.”

 

“She’d be angry too.”

 

“We’re on good terms these days.”

 

Genevieve held back her words, but couldn’t quite hide her somewhat wistful sentiment. Shane said.

 

“She seems to pity me quite a bit, so she’s been docile. It would be a waste to make her angry.”

 

“Please do that. Since there’s someone targeting me, I can’t even go to treat her for a while.”

 

“Don’t even think about getting near Edelaine.”

 

“Yes, I know. I said I won’t go…”

 

Edwin glanced at Harrison’s face and said.

 

“Genevieve, look at your husband’s face.”

 

He looked clearly fed up, wondering how to understand the abnormal conversation involving confinement, shelters, and forced feeding. Genevieve gripped Harrison’s hand tightly and said.

 

“Harrison, that’s not about me, it’s about His Grace. I don’t have hobbies like confining people I love.”

 

“Uh, Jenny, you, you don’t need to worry about me. I didn’t, didn’t hear anything.”

 

Edwin chuckled.

 

“A model Knight Guard.”

 

“Thank you.”

 

“Is that supposed to be a compliment?”

 

Genevieve glared at Edwin, who spoke mischievously.

 

“Don’t bother my husband, Your Highness.”

 

“How terrifying.”

 

Edwin shrugged his shoulders dramatically. Shane said.

 

“Just hold your husband’s hand and take daily walks by the lake.”

 

“That’s a good idea. Harrison, let’s go on a date.”

 

Someone said they’d isolate people completely out of concern for danger, yet they don’t care whether their own husband is in danger or not. Edwin snorted and wished for his Knight Guard’s safety.

 

Thinking that he was the only one who cared about Harrison.

 

***

 

Gregory burst in with a frightening expression. Patrick followed, closing the door silently.

 

Jeff raised his hand to greet his father and brother.

 

Emma also looked up to welcome her husband and eldest son.

 

“Another incident happened?”

 

His expressionless face and dry tone showed not a trace of emotion, but his green eyes, identical to his daughter’s, gleamed with sticky emotion that hinted at what lay beneath.

 

Jeff answered.

 

“They say an Ogre appeared in the Hall. Shane and the Saint dealt with it together nicely.”

 

“Appeared or summoned?”

 

“Logically, there’s no way an Ogre would just appear in the middle of a building, so it must have been summoned. They say they’ll form an investigation team to look into it.”

 

Edelaine quietly raised her hand.

 

“Um, Father… Why am I here?”

 

The sharp atmosphere suddenly subsided. Gregory blinked once and looked at Edelaine.

 

“Edelaine. I heard you weren’t hurt, but seeing with my own eyes that you’re safe puts me at ease.”

 

She decided not to ask when or from whom he had heard this.

 

Edelaine was of the opinion that one shouldn’t dig too deep into frightening truths.

 

Sometimes there were truths better left unknown. If knowing wouldn’t change anything, it was better not to know.

 

“Yes, that’s true, but… shouldn’t I be going to the Blancarde Estate?”

 

“Until the Blancarde Duke returns, you’ll be staying here again.”

 

“I wasn’t told anything about this. Jeff suddenly came to get me, and then,”

 

“…We can’t leave you alone when we don’t know what might happen.”

 

Edelaine realized.

 

Though he spoke gently, it meant her guard had changed.

 

“Go ahead and wait for me a little.”

 

“I could just wait here though.”

 

“You hate being apart from me that much?”

 

“…”

 

“I love you, Edelaine. I’ll miss you.”

 

Under the kind warden’s command.

 

That night, Edelaine summoned Lucian through Lloyd.

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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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