Thought It Was ‘The End’, Only to Return to a Changed Genre - Chapter 67

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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 (6)

 

Genevieve had shared subtle emotions with Edwin for a brief moment, but that was only a few eye contacts, hands held a little longer before letting go, and the touch of arm against arm when they stood side by side.

 

A few seconds of subtle contact.

 

It might be difficult to call just that an emotion, and it could have been a moment only Genevieve was conscious of.

 

To a playboy like Edwin, that much would be nothing at all.

 

Though they had now become comfortable like siblings, until she learned that Edwin had a fiancée, Genevieve’s heart would flutter every time she saw Edwin.

 

Edwin looked like an archangel from religious paintings, and unlike the frightening Shane, he often smiled at her.

 

Just one smile, a few warm words.

 

Genevieve at that time was lonely enough to have her heart completely stolen by such trivial things.

 

Especially when baseless rumors about her and Shane Blancarde began to circulate, she found it difficult to visit Edelaine, thinking she was causing her trouble, and needed somewhere to lean on even more.

 

The person who became her support at that time was Edwin.

 

But Edwin never took that decisive step forward, and Genevieve learned about his fiancée just before her feelings became clear.

 

After that, Genevieve devoted herself to work, and recently even got married.

 

During all that time, they never once spoke to each other about that contact from back then.

 

Years later, having become accustomed to her duties and status as a Saint, it was fortunate that she hadn’t advanced her relationship with Edwin due to that brief emotional attraction.

 

Being a Saint was already difficult enough; life as an Empress would be absolutely unbearable.

 

Genevieve knew her own capacity.

 

She wasn’t cut out to be a particularly great person. Genevieve still preferred a simple bowl of soup and a piece of bread over glamorous banquets. She much preferred comfortable and soft pajamas that didn’t constrict her over sparkling expensive dresses.

 

‘As my stepfather said, maybe it’s because I was born lowly.’

 

What could she do about having a poor nature? Her innate tastes would never become refined, even if she died.

 

Even if she and Edwin had connected emotionally, she was certain it wouldn’t have lasted long in reality. He would surely have affairs, and if necessary, keep several mistresses. She didn’t have the confidence to endure such things.

 

Genevieve thought Edwin would choose an Empress based on thoroughly public standards. She couldn’t imagine him pouring all his emotions into loving someone like Shane did from the beginning.

 

‘So is that first love?’

 

Choosing a doomed love as first love was quite a talent.

 

Was it the price for all the karma she had accumulated?

 

Genevieve realized that Edwin, who was turning his head away, also knew the outcome of her feelings.

 

It was a doomed love with no possibility of fulfillment, completely closed off.

 

***

 

For someone so determined, am I not doing too little…?

 

Edelaine suddenly realized.

 

In her dreams, she was busy being murdered and chased dozens of times, but that all only happened inside Edelaine’s head. To others, she was a weakling who slept all day, ate the meals brought to her, and despite all that, acted tired as if she were dying.

 

She was also a fake patient with no ailments despite the world’s strongest healer visiting her daily.

 

Her cold self-objectification wouldn’t stop.

 

If she had to find excuses, there were many.

 

Unlike before, there were so many people interfering now.

 

Unlike the old days when she would often visit and play at the hotel Lucian operated alone, now when she went out alone, people would follow her as if she might get into some accident, naturally narrowing her range of activities.

 

Well, since it all started with kidnapping and confinement, it couldn’t be seen as entirely due to her own laziness.

 

Edelaine was as good at rationalization as she was at objectification.

 

But even so, having absolutely nothing to do with her own hands all day was still too much.

 

Shane seemed determined to prevent Edelaine from lifting even a finger.

 

He rarely nagged since she wasn’t just stuck in the bedroom and often took walks.

 

Even during her reclusive life, except for a few months when she had fallen deep into a swamp, she had managed most household chores herself. Such a lazy lifestyle was a first since her very early childhood.

 

Edelaine observed Shane’s expression through the mirror.

 

He was even humming softly while brushing her hair.

 

Having the world’s greatest healer as a personal physician was overwhelming enough, but using the world’s greatest villain or male lead or whatever he was as a servant was equally uncomfortable.

 

“I could do it myself…”

 

“I’m doing it because I want to.”

 

“Still…”

 

“If I could, I’d want to personally manage you from head to toe, but I’m restraining myself to just this much.”

 

“…”

 

“Can I trim your toenails? Aren’t they getting a bit long?”

 

She was speechless.

 

If it had been anyone other than Shane saying this, she would have scolded them asking if they thought she was a newborn, but the face looking up at her showed no sign of joking whatsoever. Reading Edelaine’s uncomfortable expression, he continued with a regretful look, as if making a huge concession.

 

“Then can I at least do your fingernails?”

 

“Why do you want to do such things…”

 

“Because I love you.”

 

“Not everyone who loves someone wants to trim their toenails and fingernails.”

 

That would be the case normally.

 

Edelaine didn’t have much dating experience either, but she knew that wasn’t normal unless it was a special case.

 

However, Shane looked puzzled as if wondering what the problem was.

 

“Why? When you like someone, you want to do everything for them. Personally grooming, washing, caressing… so that there’s no place my hands haven’t touched.”

 

“Isn’t that just possessiveness?”

 

“It’s natural to want to possess someone because you love them.”

 

She felt like she might be convinced.

 

She learned that being too confident gives persuasive power even to perverted-sounding words.

 

Edelaine wondered whether she should be disgusted or respect his preference for acting innocent.

 

Shane lifted Edelaine’s hand and said.

 

“Your fingernails aren’t that long.”

 

“Ahhh.”

 

Then he knelt below the chair and grasped Edelaine’s foot. Edelaine hurriedly pulled down the hem of her pajama skirt.

 

“Ah, wait! Get up!”

 

“Toenails don’t need to be pretty, do they?”

 

The amazing thing about Shane was that he said such things sincerely.

 

Shane seemed to be the type who poured tremendous love and devotion onto his lover. If the other person was selfish, he’d be the type to be used one hundred percent and then abandoned.

 

‘But why does he look so happy…’

 

Such a scary male lead nature…

 

“Don’t look so closely. It’s just a foot, how different could it be…”

 

“Why? Like you said, it’s just a foot.”

 

Shane chuckled and kissed Edelaine’s toes. Edelaine unconsciously frowned and curled her toes. She wanted to pull her foot away immediately, but her ankle was firmly held and wouldn’t budge.

 

Then, enjoying Edelaine’s gaze staring at him, he deliberately kissed her ankle and mid-calf area again.

 

“This won’t do after all! Stop it, don’t do that!”

 

“It’s just a foot though?”

 

“Don’t obsess over just a foot. If you really want to do it, do it while I’m sleeping. I absolutely can’t watch this with a clear mind.”

 

“That won’t do, Edelaine.”

 

“What is it this time?”

 

“You’re giving permission too easily when you know what I might do while you’re sleeping.”

 

“I just said you could trim my toenails…”

 

It wasn’t like she had given permission for anything major.

 

“I know you won’t do anything.”

 

“Yeah, it’s good that you know that.”

 

“…”

 

Shane smiled meaningfully and lifted Edelaine into his arms.

 

She felt uneasy, but she didn’t have the confidence to sleep peacefully in his embrace knowing what he might do while she slept.

 

Sometimes ignorance was bliss.

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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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