Thought It Was ‘The End’, Only to Return to a Changed Genre - Chapter 63

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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 13. The Villain is Half (2)

 

She should have kept her mouth shut.

 

Edelaine regretted it once every minute.

 

Even she could see that she looked like a terminally ill beggar, but she never expected that everyone she met would get such serious expressions and clasp her hands so tightly.

 

Genevieve, who burst into tears the moment she saw her, had at least given a reaction Edelaine had anticipated, making it easier to handle.

 

‘Though it was hard to pry her off…’

 

That girl had clung to Edelaine’s hands until she was practically dragged away by Church officials, desperately trying to pour even one more drop of divine power into her. She made such a fuss about not wanting to leave that Edelaine had to swear to God that she was perfectly fine.

 

That was a few days ago.

 

The Pope, who had seemed near death, was unexpectedly stabilizing, so they said he could return in time for the start of the Founding Festival.

 

What was difficult to handle were the people who pitied her as if they couldn’t bear to ask directly.

 

“It’s not entirely good news, clearly.”

 

“I’m sorry for being jealous and misunderstanding, my lady!”

 

Either crying and making incomprehensible apologies.

 

“If there’s anything you need help with, you must tell someone – not necessarily me, but anyone, understand?”

 

“I don’t want to interfere in marital affairs, but you can’t just keep enduring everything.”

 

And then they would glare at Shane with suspicious eyes.

 

They didn’t even give her a chance to explain.

 

They would jump to their own conclusions, throw their pity at her, and leave, making Edelaine want to tear her hair out.

 

“Say something…”

 

“Say what?”

 

“That it’s a misunderstanding, that you’ve done nothing wrong.”

 

“I don’t care what anyone thinks.”

 

Shane just laughed as if he was enjoying it. Only Edelaine felt frustrated.

 

“If this makes you care about your own body even a little, I don’t mind what people say.”

 

“…”

 

At this rate, the ridiculous misunderstanding would solidify into fact.

 

‘Soon there’ll be rumors that I’m terminally ill.’

 

Indeed, several people already pitied Edelaine as if she were about to die, and glanced greedily at Shane. They seemed to already covet the vacancy that would arise after her death. Shane also showed his displeasure at this, which was apparently too much even for him to tolerate, and they would meekly back down.

 

The best solution would be for her to recover her health.

 

But since she literally just couldn’t sleep and wasn’t actually sick anywhere, there was nothing she could do unless the fundamental problem was resolved.

 

Her actual condition wasn’t bad at all.

 

Thanks to Shane, she was eating regularly, and when she was in his arms, she could at least close her eyes for a while. Even right after waking from nightmares, if she held onto him, she could regain her composure much faster.

 

‘It’s just the appearance…’

 

That looked bad.

 

Even Queen Viola said, “I have no hobby of overworking someone who looks like they’re about to die, and if I tormented you in this state, Emma would never want to see me again.”

 

But the decisive blow came when she met Gregory, Patrick, and Jeff after a long time.

 

Perhaps warned by Emma beforehand, they didn’t make a loud fuss, but Gregory’s bulging eyes and Patrick’s horrified expression conveyed the emotions they felt.

 

It was like sitting on a bed of thorns.

 

‘This is why I’ve been avoiding them…’

 

The eve festival party was unavoidable.

 

Gregory took a deep breath, swallowed many words, and spoke through gritted teeth.

 

“Edelaine, you don’t look like you’re in any condition to go out.”

 

“It’s just severe insomnia, Father. Nothing hurts.”

 

“…”

 

The stare was piercing. Gregory glared at Shane as if he didn’t expect a proper answer from Edelaine. Shane shook his head and said.

 

“We had a healer examine her, but there was nothing particularly wrong.”

 

“So you’re saying the child got into this state from just insomnia.”

 

Gregory looked at Edelaine as if he couldn’t believe it. As if she couldn’t have become such a wreck without some serious illness…

 

‘This is what happens when you dream of being murdered or watching people die every day…’

 

If she had simply lost sleep, it would have ended with just dark circles under her eyes like in the old days. When Edelaine smiled awkwardly, Patrick bowed his head and said.

 

“Edelaine. Shall I get you some tea leaves that help with sleep?”

 

“Thank you.”

 

If she drank that, she’d probably have longer, more varied nightmares…

 

Though saying she was fine would be tiresome, Edelaine tried to say at least that much.

 

But the moment she tried to speak, something surged up from inside, making it impossible to say anything. Edelaine hurriedly covered her mouth, and at the same time, something warm burst out between her fingers.

 

“Ugh!”

 

“Edelaine!”

 

So now she was retching too.

 

How could she show such a disgusting sight in front of people? She was so embarrassed she didn’t know how she’d live. Edelaine couldn’t bring herself to lift her head properly and staggered. Thanks to Shane grabbing her arm to support her, she didn’t fall, but it felt like she wouldn’t feel better until she vomited everything inside.

 

“Edelaine!”

 

“Blood, blood!”

 

“She coughed up blood!”

 

What, blood? Who, me?

 

‘Did I bite my tongue or something!’

 

Her vision spun. Unable to lift her head at all, Edelaine tried to hold her breath while leaning against Shane.

 

If she let her guard down even for a moment, she felt like she’d vomit up everything else.

 

“Damn it, Edelaine, let go!”

 

“Just, wait, I’ll vomit, ugh…”

 

The moment he touched her, she felt like she’d pour vomit all over Shane’s face, so Edelaine tried to curl up. When nausea came, she must have bitten her tongue and they mistook it for blood, but she didn’t have the presence of mind to correct them. It felt like motion sickness.

 

“Shane, this way!”

 

Shane lifted Edelaine up. Because her body shook, she vomited once more what she’d been holding back.

 

Only when Edelaine saw Shane’s shirt stained bright red did she realize she had actually coughed up blood.

 

***

 

The Blancarde Duchess had coughed up blood and collapsed at the eve festival.

 

The news spread like wildfire across dry fields.

 

Having appeared in just a month looking haggard like a different person, rumors about her health problems were already circulating.

 

People whispered that the Saint’s miracle wasn’t much after all, that she had briefly come back to life but was dying according to natural order.

 

‘How could that be?’

 

Kaitlyn bit her lip.

 

Those who had grown up comfortably without ever worrying about their next meal must live with their brains removed, she sneered, clenching her lowered fist.

 

Having learned that the Saint loved the Blancarde Duchess, Kaitlyn had tried to approach her.

 

However, the Blancarde Duchess, who was caught up in health rumors at the time, never showed her face at parties.

 

Hoping to meet the Blancarde Duchess, Kaitlyn had attended every guest event she had no interest in, only to be disappointed every time.

 

Kaitlyn could only cast magic when her target was within her sight.

 

‘I thought about sneaking into the Blancarde Estate…’

 

True to the rumor that she had invited unmarried women of marriageable age to find a bride for the Crown Prince, Queen Viola gave the guests no respite.

 

Mia, excited by the glamorous city life, would run off like a puppy whenever Queen Viola called, and naturally Kaitlyn had to follow.

 

Moreover, having come against her foster parents’ opposition, Kaitlyn couldn’t receive support from her family. If she got caught sneaking around, she’d be tied hand and foot, so it was wise to look after her own safety first.

 

There was no need to rush.

 

Once she met the Blancarde Duchess, the game would be as good as over.

 

Fortunately, the Blancarde Duchess appeared at the eve festival.

 

Kaitlyn intended to curse and control her.

 

She planned to begin her revenge by getting that woman under her control.

 

She would use that person, whom the Saint cherished enough to cry desperately over, to hurt and isolate the Saint with her own words. Since she was someone who had been involved with the Saint and the Duke for a long time, she was also suitable for creating dirty stories.

 

She could say she used the grace of saving her life to demand they turn a blind eye to her affair with the Duke – dirty stories could be created however one wanted.

 

People might not believe the words of a minor noble from a small kingdom, but they would believe what that woman said.

 

But.

 

‘Why the hell did it fail?!’

 

The woman who should have become her puppet had suddenly collapsed and been carried away.

 

She shouldn’t have been vomiting blood—she should have become a dog kneeling before me!

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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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