Thought It Was ‘The End’, Only to Return to a Changed Genre - Chapter 66
—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————
Chapter 13. The Villain is Half (5)
The prescription Edelaine received was convalescence.
“Why won’t you believe what I’m saying!”
“I wonder… why indeed…”
Genevieve smiled kindly and gave a soulless response. Edelaine cried out in frustration.
“You’re the one who prescribed it, Genevieve…”
“Did I?”
That’s right. The healer had clearly diagnosed that there was nothing wrong with Edelaine.
The medical arts of this world weren’t really at a trustworthy level.
The role of doctors was divided between healers and priests, with healers specializing in internal injuries and priests in external wounds.
As a result, they were vulnerable to diseases that arose from within the body like colds or cancer, and surgery hadn’t developed much either. Since they relied on divine power, technological advancement was slow. When it came to cases requiring amputation or opening the abdomen, it was said that dying was better than having surgery.
However, the healer who examined Edelaine belonged to the imperial court. His diagnosis should have been trustworthy.
Nevertheless, Genevieve prescribed convalescence saying it would be better to prepare for any unforeseen circumstances, and Shane and the Bertrand family immediately confined Edelaine to her room as if it was perfect timing.
‘I’m anxious because I haven’t found out anything except that the mage is a woman.’
Though Genevieve was charming enough to make even women fall for her, the mage in the novel was definitely a man.
But the mage who appeared in the dream was a woman with long black hair.
It meant that the mage had changed significantly from the novel, just like the main characters. It also meant there was far too much that Edelaine didn’t know.
However, reality was the opposite of her urgent feelings.
Gregory pleaded with tears in his eyes, “Please understand this father’s heart,” and Patrick clasped both hands firmly saying, “Please, I beg you.”
If it had been Jeff, she would have scolded him not to act, but she couldn’t say anything to Patrick. He was usually a taciturn and serious person.
Edelaine couldn’t treat Patrick as casually as she teased Jeff. He seemed too adult-like and was difficult to approach.
On top of that, when Emma came running to hug her and cry, Edelaine had no choice but to say she understood.
‘Why does everyone cry so much…’
She was worried sick about how they were surviving in this harsh world.
“You’re the one who argued that I should convalesce just in case, even though the healer said I was healthy.”
“But you lost the gift I gave you, didn’t you, Lady Edelaine?”
When that point was brought up, she had nothing to say again. Having done something wrong, Edelaine kept her mouth shut. Genevieve looked at her as if she found her cute and continued.
“The Founding Festival isn’t much different from five years ago anyway. Rather than that, please spend time with me. The few days I have left after losing my hard-earned vacation to case investigations and taking care of His Holiness the Pope.”
“I think His Highness Edwin should guarantee you a longer vacation.”
“Even if His Highness Edwin gave me a vacation right now, it would be useless once His Holiness the Pope passes away soon…”
Her face, smiling weakly with resigned eyes, already looked tired.
‘Maybe my convalescence was just an excuse, and Genevieve simply wanted to rest.’
If so, even this leisurely tea time had meaning.
Genevieve was the one who was attacked, Genevieve was the one who caught the culprit, yet Genevieve was also the one being investigated.
It was the Church’s desperate struggle to avoid sharing the Pope’s power with the Saint.
Combined with Edwin’s plan to elevate the Saint’s status and control the Church, she couldn’t even enjoy a proper vacation and was tormented instead. Genevieve complained that going on an expedition would have been much better than this.
“And this Founding Festival is meant to choose His Highness Edwin’s bride. Even if you go, it’ll just drain your energy. Originally, His Highness Edwin seemed to want us to choose for him…”
“He would have met more women than us.”
“Exactly.”
“He’ll probably just pick anyone and get married quickly.”
He’s being unnecessarily troublesome.
Edelaine recalled Edwin’s eyes when he came running, sweating inappropriately. His angelic appearance made even his eyes melodramatic material.
Seeing how he was spouting nonsense with his misfortune button pressed before marriage, it didn’t seem like that habit would be cured even after becoming a married man.
If he was going to live cheating on his wife after marriage anyway, couldn’t he just choose based on conditions?
“Isn’t that too insincere? Both of you. I’m starting to feel hurt.”
Edelaine and Genevieve simultaneously turned toward the doorway. Edwin was entering.
“Where’s Shane?”
“He’ll be here soon. Looking for your husband as soon as you see me. I’m not even welcome, what’s this about.”
“Well…”
Unable to find a reason why she should respond to such an obvious statement as if it weren’t obvious, Edelaine stopped speaking and asked.
“Where do you have time for this? You should go choose your bride.”
“They all look the same to me.”
“…”
“They look like a school of fish swarming toward bait, all desperate to seize the chance to become Empress.”
Another fresh garbage comment was added today.
“That’s not something to say after gathering people together.”
“I didn’t gather them. It was the Queen Mother’s will.”
“Still, you must have had some enthusiasm since you asked us to help.”
Genevieve nodded as well. Edwin had indeed made positive remarks about marriage frequently recently. Edwin glanced at Genevieve, then looked at Edelaine again and said.
“You can choose for me.”
“What?”
“If you choose, I’ll marry that woman. How about it.”
He was talking nonsense.
Edelaine snorted.
The groom’s pre-wedding blues without a bride seemed serious.
***
Genevieve, who had received a towel from a servant and dried herself, walked down the corridor.
Just in case, she cast a charm spell on everyone she made eye contact with and quickly became exhausted.
Fortunately, Edelaine didn’t harbor any suspicions.
Genevieve had taken on the role of both attending physician and guardian.
As soon as she learned that the blessed bracelet had broken, Genevieve stuck close to Edelaine’s side, volunteering to become a living item.
While Genevieve guarded her side, Shane, Edwin, and the Bertrand family would find and destroy the source of the curse – that was the purpose of this convalescence.
Edelaine should have seen Marquis Bertrand’s expression when he learned that someone had cursed his daughter.
Having experienced all kinds of hardships and being second to none in fierceness in the Empire, even Genevieve, who had worked under Shane for five years, was momentarily frightened.
If there were evil spirits rising from hell, they would look like that.
Genevieve was also very angry, but she was inevitably overwhelmed by the family’s intensity.
‘Maybe Lady Edelaine’s ability to handle Duke Blancarde without fear was all thanks to her family lineage…’
Perhaps it was thanks to being trained by fierce faces.
But that thought soon changed. The Bertrand family thoroughly hid their savage aspects in front of their youngest. They also hid the threatening atrocities they were committing behind the scenes.
Edelaine would never dream that Emma Bertrand, who looked like an elegant deer, was the most fiercely threatening of all.
But she could understand that sentiment.
Genevieve also wanted to solve all problems without Edelaine knowing, if possible.
She didn’t want to make the already thin person anxious.
She had tried to at least witness the Pope’s deathbed, but with Edelaine being attacked, she couldn’t care less.
Anyway, to the Pope, she was just a Saint – there had never been any tender feelings between them.
Most people around Genevieve were like that. Perhaps because those who carried heavy burdens considered emotions useless, there were many who judged people by their utility value.
Edwin was a prime example of this.
Even setting aside Shane, who didn’t see anyone other than Edelaine as human in the first place, the others were the same.
Lucian. The Bertrand family.
And perhaps even Genevieve herself might be of a similar type.
After playing the role of Saint for five years, it was hard to survive while remaining purely innocent.
To survive among people trying to use you, you had to at least know how to look at people with the same eyes. You had to know how to say pleasant things, and it was easier to act somewhat like a sycophant.
As she was about to enter the sun room where they were enjoying tea time, Edwin was standing in front of it.
Genevieve was about to ask why he wasn’t going in and just standing there, when she saw Shane and Edelaine kissing beyond his shoulder. It would indeed be difficult to interrupt them in that situation.
Genevieve was about to suggest they step away for a moment when she saw Edwin’s face contorting bitterly and realized.
And at the same time, unable to suppress her sympathy, she covered her mouth with her hand.
‘Lady Edelaine, what sin did you commit in your previous life?’
Wasn’t Blancarde Duke enough, so you’ve collected His Highness Edwin as well….
Unaware of the karma that was originally meant for me, Genevieve lamented deeply.
—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————