Thought It Was ‘The End’, Only to Return to a Changed Genre - Chapter 52

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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 11. The Villainess Has Grit (1)

 

Shane Blancarde was born into a blessed environment.

 

In the Greenwinsor Empire, those more blessed than him would be difficult to count on one hand.

 

Born into one of the noblest bloodlines, he grew up within a tightly woven web of power and was destined to inherit a position at its peak.

 

Shane Blancarde inherited the ducal title when he was 22 years old.

 

At a young age, he became the youngest duke, lord of the largest territory in the Empire, and a member of the Council of Elders, yet no one could doubt his capabilities.

 

The most trusted friend, relative, and subject of the Crown Prince who had inherited substantial governing power in place of the reclusive Emperor. An excellent knight who joined the Knights as a minor duke and reached the level of Sword Master. The 【Saint’s Protector】 who first discovered and protected the Saint, called the treasure of the continent…

 

He seemed like an almost perfect human being.

 

However, when one looked into Shane Blancarde’s personal life, surprisingly, his life was full of failures.

 

This was mainly true of his human relationships.

 

Shane Blancarde was abandoned by his mother shortly after birth. His mother did not care for him, and after he grew a little, she despised him to the point where a complete stranger would have been better.

 

Perhaps his first misfortune was not being a weak and delicate child who would chase after his mother’s love desperately.

 

Shane Blancarde was not childlike, and he lacked nothing even without parental care or affection. Countless servants cared for him and provided him with abundant food, clothing, and shelter.

 

He never cried once and calmly understood everything. The more he did so, the more his mother was disgusted.

 

If young Shane had been a crying child who desperately craved his mother’s affection, that woman might have found her child endearing at least once, but Shane was far too clever and emotionally detached for that.

 

His father didn’t properly look at his only son either.

 

His father had long grown tired of his wife, who was born of the noblest bloodline in the Empire. Though he apparently didn’t create any illegitimate children, he only wandered outside, and naturally gave no affection to the legitimate child his wife bore. He had enough sincerity to be angry that his wife didn’t care for their son, but that was as far as it went.

 

Moreover, he was someone who found the heavy responsibilities entrusted to him burdensome.

 

He was timid and cowardly. To hide this aspect of himself, he deliberately acted more authoritative and domineering than necessary. The best he could do was not ruin the Blancarde Family and pass it on to his son early.

 

Though he didn’t receive his parents’ love, as if in compensation, Shane Blancarde easily gained the love of people who didn’t know him well.

 

People were easily captivated by the person called Shane Blancarde.

 

By nature, people tend to be drawn to unfamiliar things they don’t possess. This was even more true if it was something rare that couldn’t be easily obtained.

 

Shane Blancarde was exactly that kind of existence. Moreover, he had a pleasingly attractive exterior and seemed indifferent to everything around him. These were perfect conditions to make those who wanted to possess him even more desperate.

 

Many people desired him, but Shane Blancarde kept no one close.

 

The only person Shane could call a friend was Crown Prince Edwin. He seemed to have a few people he used as confidants, but there was no human interaction. They were those who had been saved by Shane during his time with the Knights or who were unilaterally following him, captivated by his competence.

 

That was mostly the case.

 

Shane’s surroundings were filled with people who desired and admired him.

 

What kind of person he was didn’t matter.

 

No matter how much one tried to package it in nice words, Shane couldn’t be said to have good character. He was cold and unkind. Sometimes violent and extreme. Ruthless and bold. Some might try to package that as charisma, but it was simply a lack of interest.

 

It was quite ironic that he was loved because he had no interest, but because of this, he would appear perfect to those who chased after him.

 

But the person Shane truly desired had never once looked back at him. There were only failures.

 

Since he had never even wished for his parents’ love in the first place, perhaps there was only one person who brought him failure.

 

It was a lifelong failure, and it was still continuing.

 

In Lloyd’s view, Shane Blancarde’s life would have been perfect if not for his failure, Edelaine Bertrand.

 

The more he investigated Shane Blancarde, the more this seemed true.

 

Shane only made efforts for Edelaine.

 

To look good to Edelaine, he only pretended to be kind and affectionate in front of her.

 

He even managed his reputation minimally back then.

 

He was someone who could show that much consideration when trying to gain an advantage.

 

Without Edelaine, Shane Blancarde could have lived a somewhat better life. If he had shared just a little of the attention he poured into Edelaine with those around him, he might have become a person with not-so-bad character.

 

If he had lived caring somewhat for his family and surrounding relationships and met someone worthy of his love, wouldn’t he have become someone capable of quite ideal and devoted love?

 

He might have become someone who loved, cherished, and protected just one person with unwavering devotion.

 

‘It’s a pointless hypothetical now.’

 

It was spilled water and a broken cup.

 

Edelaine had already ruined Shane.

 

Edelaine was poison to Shane as well.

 

Lloyd quietly observed Shane giving instructions to his adjutant. The adjutant, a former knight, had short-cropped reddish-brown hair and maintained a rather expressionless face, but couldn’t hide his sparkling eyes that seemed completely captivated by Shane.

 

However, Shane had not an ounce of interest in his adjutant. Did he even know his name? At the very least, he would have completely forgotten that he had once saved that man’s life.

 

“By the way, Your Grace, have you taken on a new attendant?”

 

Lloyd looked up. The adjutant glared at him standing beside Shane as if he were some foreign substance.

 

“Is that something for you to worry about?”

 

“B-but isn’t this conversation somewhat confidential?”

 

“If confidential information leaks, it would be troublesome for me, not you.”

 

“That’s…”

 

“Don’t worry about useless things and just do your job properly.”

 

The adjutant bit his lips as if feeling wronged.

 

To Lloyd’s eyes, the adjutant looked like a puppy wagging its tail frantically, wanting its master’s love. What was so great and wonderful about a master who wouldn’t even give him a single treat? His sparkling eyes were full of the desire to be loved.

 

Well, with just his appearance, he might look great and wonderful.

 

Lloyd thought generously and said.

 

“I’ll step outside.”

 

“You said you had something to say.”

 

Lloyd didn’t want to receive unnecessary wariness from Shane’s follower. Looking at the adjutant without hiding his feeling that this was bothersome, the man’s face had turned almost as red as a tomato. Lloyd said.

 

“Please call me after your important conversation is finished.”

 

“It wasn’t that important, and it’s over now.”

 

Shane gestured to his adjutant.

 

The adjutant gritted his teeth, bowed his head briefly, and left the office.

 

“Occasionally giving the dog a treat would be good.”

 

“I don’t keep dogs.”

 

“Well, you’re dog-like yourself.”

 

“The one acting like a dog relying on his master would be you.”

 

“Sometimes you called me a rat.”

 

“That was Jeff’s opinion. I called you a damn bastard.”

 

“What a huge difference. How surprising.”

 

“You won’t give up on a single word.”

 

“Should I let you win? I’ll consider it next time.”

 

Of course, he had no intention of considering it at all.

 

This man only acted like a child when it came to matters concerning Edelaine.

 

Shane frowned irritably.

 

“Enough with the pointless word games.”

 

“Ask me anything. My master told me to answer without hiding anything.”

 

“…”

 

“If you’re going to confine me for a while, please let me retrieve my belongings from the Imperial Palace.”

 

“I won’t do such a thing.”

 

“That’s… surprising.”

 

This time he was genuinely surprised. When Lloyd’s eyes widened, Shane snorted.

 

“I don’t expect to be able to confine you perfectly anyway. If I had, I wouldn’t have announced the marriage to the world from the start and would have locked you away in prison forever.”

 

“That would have given you peace of mind, at least.”

 

“Instead, she would have hated me completely.”

 

“Are you afraid of that? Still?”

 

“…”

 

Shane didn’t answer. Lloyd changed the subject.

 

“Then will you return to the Imperial Palace?”

 

“If Edelaine wants to. But there’s something I want to ask.”

 

“I told you to ask. What is it that you’re hesitating so much? It doesn’t suit you.”

 

“Does Edelaine usually have trouble sleeping?”

 

“…”

 

“To think I’d be asking another man about my wife’s sleeping habits.”

 

“Don’t express it so disgustingly.”

 

“Tell me, Lloyd.”

 

“Recently, you seemed to be sleeping deeply. I see. It must have started again.”

 

“….”

 

Lloyd sighed.

 

“Is that all? What you wanted to ask.”

 

“No….”

 

If that were all, it seemed unlikely he would have called him aside separately. As Lloyd waited quietly, Shane covered his eyes with his hand and spoke.

 

“Edelaine has become strange.”

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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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