Thought It Was ‘The End’, Only to Return to a Changed Genre - Chapter 50

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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 10. Happiness is a Sandcastle (5)

 

“Wait, wai-, wait a minute, Shane….”

 

“You’ll bite your tongue.”

 

“Listen to me, ah!”

 

Her vision spun half a turn. Shane had stuffed her body, which had been slung over his shoulder like a sack, into the carriage. As soon as Edelaine fell away from him, she hurriedly grabbed onto him.

 

She wanted to make some excuse, but her tongue seemed stuck to the roof of her mouth and wouldn’t move.

 

Shane placed his hand over Edelaine’s hand that was gripping his clothes, paused for a moment, then removed it as he spoke.

 

“Let’s go home.”

 

His short answer was dry. Shane didn’t even look at her.

 

He’s really angry. So much that he can’t stand to look at me.

 

Oh, what should I do. Edelaine was genuinely flustered. Her mind was empty like a fool’s, not knowing what to say, but only anxiety about needing to do something was rising.

 

This wasn’t the first time Shane had been angry.

 

Right after their reunion, and often after that too, Shane had gotten angry. It was inevitable, and she had rather hoped he would get angrier. That he would rage like mad and leave forever, that he would distance himself that way. So while she might be flustered, she had never felt anxious. She just, simply, wanted to run away quickly.

 

But Shane had always looked straight at Edelaine. Even when she tried to avoid his gaze, he would never allow it, grabbing her chin to force her not to take her eyes off him. He had never turned away like this.

 

Shane climbed into the carriage.

 

“Shane….”

 

“Let’s talk at home, Edelaine. When I’m ready to listen to your bullshit.”

 

“….”

 

Edelaine opened her mouth then closed it silently. The carriage began to move, and Shane still wouldn’t look at her.

 

‘What should I say? What should I say…. Damn it, what the hell should I say, you idiot.’

 

It wasn’t about how she could explain this situation.

 

That would only turn into pathetic bullshit, just as Shane said.

 

Edelaine felt disgusted with herself for trying to say first that she hadn’t done anything wrong, even in this situation.

 

While being dragged by Lucian, Edelaine had clearly known Shane would catch her. Even so, she had pushed Shane to the back burner with the reason that she owed Lucian a debt, that she had to repay it.

 

The trigger was Lucian, but the choice was hers.

 

Shane tries to confine Edelaine because she tries to run away. Edelaine had also operated under the premise that he would chase after her.

 

While waiting for the mage at the cafe, she wasn’t surprised at all that the person who tapped her shoulder was Shane.

 

Shane hadn’t gotten angry either. Rather, he had only told Edelaine not to be angry.

 

Edelaine hadn’t thought deeply about that.

 

He had naturally chased after her because he naturally expected her to run away, and had no expectations.

 

‘I didn’t even care whether he got angry or not, but now that my situation has changed.’

 

She quietly bit her lip and lowered her head.

 

The carriage stopped at the Blancarde Estate.

 

Shane got out first and took Edelaine’s hand to help her down. Then, seeing her fully exposed shoulder, he frowned. He made an annoyed sound through his teeth as he draped his outer coat over her.

 

Then he took Edelaine’s hand and led her into the manor. They didn’t encounter a single servant in the manor—they had all hidden somewhere.

 

Only after Shane entered the bedroom and closed the door did he look straight at Edelaine. Then, letting go of her hand, he said:

 

“Who were you dressed like that for?”

 

“I didn’t choose it….”

 

“That bastard got quite an eyeful.”

 

“…No one really looked at me.”

 

Except for you.

 

Edelaine impulsively grabbed Shane’s hand that had moved away from her. Shane didn’t shake her off. Instead, he interlaced their fingers and used his other hand to embrace Edelaine’s waist, pulling her close.

 

Shane kissed Edelaine’s round forehead, the tips of her eyebrows, and her eyelids as he spoke.

 

“Now tell me, Edelaine. Right now I feel like I could handle whatever bullshit you say.”

 

“….”

 

“Why did you go there. What for.”

 

“Lucian.”

 

“….”

 

“He suddenly took me there, I didn’t even know where it was.”

 

She could feel the palm covering her neck and face stiffen. But instead of hurting Edelaine, that grip slowly stroked near the hair by her ears. Edelaine looked straight at him, hoping her sincerity would reach him.

 

“I wasn’t trying to run away.”

 

“Even though you were in contact with Lucian Call?”

 

“….”

 

“It’s okay, Edelaine. I told you I don’t have expectations.”

 

That you’ll love me, or that you won’t despise me.

 

I’m holding onto you knowing everything.

 

Her vision became distant. Edelaine shook her head and clung to Shane’s wrists that cupped her face.

 

“That’s not it, really….”

 

Her tongue, which had rolled so smoothly when facing unrelated people, was stiff as a wooden block. Shane glanced at the wrist she was gripping and raised his head, and Edelaine looked at herself reflected in his blue eyes with a somewhat terrible feeling.

 

“It’s really not. That’s not what I was trying to do, please believe me.”

 

“Why are you so flustered?”

 

“Shane, I.”

 

“You don’t need to be scared. Ah, is it because I told you not to talk bullshit?”

 

“…No….”

 

“I didn’t know you’d be scared of just those words. Since you’ve been acting so obediently lately, I expected you had some cute little scheme.”

 

“Shane.”

 

“Right, so it was Lucian Call.”

 

He had thought he’d made himself understood, but that man seemed to have more invested in Edelaine than he appeared. Even while speaking, Shane intermittently kissed various parts of Edelaine’s face. As if trying to control his emotions.

 

Each time his lips touched and parted with a soft sound, Edelaine felt like blood was draining from her.

 

“Whatever I say now probably won’t be believable, but Shane.”

 

“….”

 

“I promise. I will never run away from you again.”

 

Shane pulled back a little distance and lowered his face.

 

The face of the man who had ignored everything Edelaine said and only rattled off his own words with a faint smile was now cold, devoid of expression. But this was better.

 

Better than smiling and brushing everything off as bullshit.

 

Shane, who had been quietly looking into Edelaine’s green eyes, chuckled.

 

“You’re good at lying too, my love.”

 

“It’s okay if you don’t believe me now.”

 

This was also a resolution for Edelaine.

 

Even if she said she liked him, Shane wouldn’t believe it. He hadn’t even listened to her words. Suddenly changing her attitude and saying she had actually liked him all along wouldn’t reach him.

 

She had run away her whole life.

 

Pushed away, avoided, lied.

 

She had only run away from Shane.

 

But now, promising that she wouldn’t do that anymore came first.

 

“I won’t run away. I’ll return to you on my own feet. From anywhere, I’ll return to you, Shane.”

 

“….”

 

She had expected him to sneer immediately, but Shane was silent. He half-swallowed his breath, then burst out, contorting his face and grinding his teeth.

 

“…Did you want to see me happy even knowing it’s a lie? Edelaine.”

 

Shane, who laughed as if crying like someone who had tried and failed to suppress his emotions, gripped Edelaine’s shoulders tightly.

 

“If that’s what it was, you succeeded. How is it? How does it feel to see a bastard who doesn’t know what to do with himself over one word from you?”

 

“I don’t have such bad taste.”

 

Shane, who had buried his forehead against Edelaine’s shoulder, took a deep breath. After fidgeting for a moment, when he raised his head, he was smiling again.

 

Edelaine reached out and touched beside his lips.

 

Just that alone shattered his thin expression. Shane said:

 

“If you were trying to say what I want to hear, you should have just been jealous. That would have been enough.”

 

“How could I be jealous?”

 

I was in a position where I couldn’t even be caught being there.

 

“But I’m jealous of everything that passes by you.”

 

“….”

 

If I had the right to be jealous, I would have already caused a scene long ago….

 

“Be jealous, Edelaine. Please.”

 

“I am.”

 

“More. Do it more. Like me, think only of me all day long.”

 

“I do think of you.”

 

“It’s not enough. Whether you’re here or not, I only think of you. Like a madman. I feel like I’ll die without you. That’s why I can’t breathe.”

 

“….”

 

“If you pity me, then love me a little too. Love me, Edelaine. Please.”

 

“…I.”

 

“I’ll believe it even if it’s a lie.”

 

I like you too, that’s actually how it was.

 

Edelaine instinctively realized that these words must not be said right now.

 

Any words spoken now would only become lies.

 

If she made him think that she was using even those words, something would be ruined forever.

 

But she couldn’t just leave Shane like this either.

 

Edelaine spread her arms and pulled Shane’s head into an embrace. Shane bent his waist and was held. She had no choice but to believe that body warmth would convey a little more heart than a hundred powerless words.

 

When I see you, I’ll hold you.

 

I’ll return to you.

 

Since life was uncertain and she never knew when she might die, Edelaine didn’t make promises easily.

 

But once she made a promise, she kept it no matter what. Even if it meant risking her life.

 

She prayed that these words of promise would reach him.

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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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