Thought It Was ‘The End’, Only to Return to a Changed Genre - Chapter 51

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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 (6)

 

When she returned after finishing her preparations for bed, Shane, who had been sitting on the edge of the bed, stood up.

 

“Going out?”

 

“I’ll be back before you wake up.”

 

“Alright, take care.”

 

“….”

 

“Still anxious even when I say take care?”

 

Instead of answering, Shane only smiled faintly. Edelaine straightened his disheveled shirt collar as she spoke.

 

“You can lock the door, or even tie me up.”

 

“What if I confine you somewhere no one knows?”

 

“As long as there’s a place to wash…”

 

Without shower facilities, it would be rather uncomfortable. If there were complete bathroom and shower facilities, even a confined life would be bearable. Though she might gain some weight… Edelaine chuckled as she thought about the practical aspects of confinement.

 

“It would also be troublesome to worry the people around me, so let me take walks occasionally.”

 

“That’s all you need?”

 

“Good meals, a place to wash, and occasionally seeing people – wouldn’t that be fine?”

 

It seemed like it would actually be an excessively comfortable life.

 

When she thought about it in detail, the five years of seclusion seemed more like a confined life. She had essentially imprisoned herself.

 

Edelaine looked up at Shane, who was quietly gazing down at her, then impulsively stood on her tiptoes and kissed his cheek. Shane remained motionless like a statue, then silently left.

 

The door was locked.

 

Lying alone, Edelaine tossed and turned for a long time, unable to fall asleep.

 

When sleeping with Shane, she could fall into deep sleep quickly without time for useless thoughts. It was thanks to the sense of security provided by the weight and body temperature of being tightly embraced.

 

‘There’s a long way to go…’

 

The price of a lifetime of lies and avoidance was deep-rooted distrust. Since everything was her own karma, she couldn’t even feel wronged.

 

The result of liking Shane but not acknowledging it and coldly abandoning him.

 

Edelaine had liked Shane Blancarde from the beginning.

 

A pretty boy who wore expressions that didn’t suit his age. Though he smiled warmly out of courtesy, he couldn’t hide his indifferent and bored eyes. Then gradually, he began to open his heart only to her, and Edelaine was so happy that she resolved to protect him.

 

She would ensure this boy, who had to become an adult too early, would no longer be lonely.

 

The boy who smiled joyfully only for her was truly adorable.

 

The boy who said only she was special was also special to her.

 

Even after realizing that making him happy wasn’t her role, that resolve never changed.

 

Edelaine wished for Shane’s happiness above all else.

 

Though not wanting to die was certainly sincere, she thought if Shane could be happy by her disappearance, she could willingly abandon everything. She was willing to suffer for it.

 

Even while hiding in an unknown land, Edelaine never regretted it for a single moment. She believed they would be happy that way.

 

Now she knows how devoted Shane is to her, how desperate he is.

 

What kind of feeling it is to wake alone at dawn and gaze at her for a long time.

 

How deep that anxiety is, being unable to sleep without holding her tight for fear she might go somewhere.

 

Shane was no longer light to Edelaine either.

 

***

 

Shane stood in the corridor outside the bedroom for a long time.

 

His feet simply wouldn’t move.

 

But if he didn’t distance himself from Edelaine right now, he felt like he might kneel and beg her to please love him. But even doing that wouldn’t make her love him.

 

Rather, knowing he couldn’t be harsh with her, she would flee without fear.

 

Yes, Shane couldn’t hurt Edelaine.

 

It had been that way from the beginning. Not for a single moment had it changed – it was simply impossible for him.

 

Even while resenting her, when Edelaine wavered, his hands moved first.

 

Even while saying he wouldn’t expect anything, when Edelaine hugged him first or kissed him, he couldn’t help but smile like a fool.

 

Shane wouldn’t be able to make Edelaine cry.

 

He couldn’t touch anything she loved.

 

Not Saint Genevieve, not the Bertrand Family, not even Lloyd – he couldn’t inflict a single scratch on them. Even knowing that if something happened to them Edelaine would be sad, he absolutely couldn’t do such things.

 

Then how should he hold onto her now?

 

Shane had nothing left.

 

Edelaine would slip away from him too easily, like grains of sand between fingers. She would leave without any lingering attachment.

 

“I’ll return to you from anywhere, Shane.”

 

Though he knew those words had no power, that was all Shane had left.

 

He was a stupid bastard who couldn’t help but be happy even knowing it was a lie, who expected things despite saying he wouldn’t.

 

***

 

She ran barefoot through the forest.

 

Her feet, pierced by sharp stones and branches, seemed already numb, the pain dulled.

 

Her breath rose to her throat and her lungs felt like they would burst.

 

Her vision was pitch black. Though she couldn’t see ahead, she ran frantically. She stumbled and rolled, fell and got up gritting her teeth. The sensation of blood flowing from her scraped knees was vivid.

 

Beast sounds, the cutting wind scratching her cheeks, humid earth smell and disgusting blood smell all tangled together, disturbing her senses.

 

But more than all of that, she was completely absorbed by the quiet footsteps.

 

The pursuing footsteps were steady. Neither faster nor slower.

 

That person is going to kill me.

 

They’re going to kill me.

 

Edelaine knew this was a dream.

 

She had experienced it many times.

 

Even knowing it was a dream, she couldn’t wake up from the nightmare.

 

‘No, they’ll chase me, I’ll die.’

 

If she stopped, she would die.

 

She didn’t know who was chasing her. All she knew was that if she didn’t run, she would die.

 

I don’t want to die. Dragging her barely moving legs, Edelaine burst into tears. Isn’t anyone there? No one’s there. Please save me. Save me, help me…

 

Edelaine thought of many names.

 

But she couldn’t call out any of those names.

 

This is a dream. A nightmare.

 

A damn persistent dream.

 

It’s not a prophetic dream. No, this isn’t my future…

 

This isn’t it.

 

“Ah, heu, uut, huk.”

 

She ran and ran again. Her arms, face, and nape scratched by branches stung.

 

Edelaine knew she couldn’t survive just by running like this.

 

Whether she ran or didn’t run, she wouldn’t be able to live.

 

But unable to give up, she gritted her teeth when her vision suddenly brightened. The seemingly endless forest ended and a cliff appeared. It was a cliff brightly lit by the moon with nowhere to hide.

 

The approaching footsteps sounded like the ticking of a time bomb.

 

Who is it? Who’s trying to kill me?

 

Before dying, she at least wanted to see the face of the murderer trying to kill her.

 

Could it be the mage she could never find, who had disappeared? Or perhaps…

 

‘The ones who always killed me were the people I loved.’

 

Shane, Edwin, or Saint Genevieve.

 

The Bertrand Family abandoning their irredeemable daughter.

 

Or it was Lloyd, who had become closer than blood brothers.

 

She only dreamed of being murdered by the people she loved.

 

Edelaine waited for the beast to appear. She had to see its face.

 

No, no.

 

Edelaine gasped for breath. She was afraid to confirm the faces of her loved ones gleaming with murderous intent.

 

This dream wouldn’t end until she died.

 

In that case.

 

Gritting her teeth, Edelaine dragged her immobile legs toward the cliff. Squeezing out her last strength, she squeezed her eyes shut and ran.

 

A large hand reached out from behind and savagely grabbed her hair. Her scalp burned as if it would be torn off. Edelaine screamed.

 

“Ahhh…”

 

“Where are you going, my love.”

 

The sweetly whispered voice clung stickily to her ear. Shane.

 

Her throat was strangled.

 

“Hah, hah, huk!”

 

She gasped for air urgently like a fish dragged onto land. Edelaine bolted upright and wrapped her arms around her shoulders.

 

Her entire body was soaked in cold sweat.

 

Shane hadn’t come yet.

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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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