Thought It Was ‘The End’, Only to Return to a Changed Genre - Chapter 9

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

Chapter 1. The Male Lead is a Villain (8)

“I’m really sorry for deceiving you. I didn’t want to do it either.”

So don’t become a budding criminal and just talk to me. You’re not some idiot who only knows how to furrow your brows, you know how to speak. You were born with such a good voice, you should use it….

“Ha….”

Shane let out a hollow laugh as if dumbfounded.

“I’m sincere about being sorry. So tell me how I should apologize.”

“….”

“Compensation… wouldn’t mean much, but if you want it, I’ll somehow earn it and give it to you….”

Honestly, she didn’t have the means.

Thanks to living frugally during her 5 years of seclusion, she had quite a bit of emergency funds left, but it wouldn’t be enough to compensate what the Blancarde Duke would demand.

Even inheriting the Bertrand Family’s fortune wouldn’t make it possible.

“Anyway, I’ll do everything I can… so you should think realistically too.”

“Realistic, good.”

Shane ran his large hand through his hair and smiled brightly. Edelaine felt relieved at the somewhat softened atmosphere.

“You’re right, Edelaine.”

Edelaine smiled broadly. Finally, we’re getting through to each other!

“Realistically, it would be difficult to keep you locked up for life. Since I’ve involved Genevieve, I can’t control her mouth forever.”

“….”

“No matter how precious her husband’s life is to her, she might decide she wants to save you, whom she admires. It might have already reached His Majesty’s ears.”

We’re… not getting through to each other?

‘He really did threaten Genevieve with her husband’s life….’

There wasn’t a trace of emotion in his voice when he pronounced ‘Genevieve.’

The existence of the female protagonist’s husband, which she had only heard about, felt real.

Moreover, it was very strange that the person talking about the female protagonist’s husband was none other than the male protagonist.

The female protagonist had a husband, and it wasn’t the male protagonist.

Shane clicked his tongue.

“So I’ve been thinking, Edelaine. Realistically, as you said.”

“What, what….”

“How exactly should I tie you to my side.”

“….”

“What should I do with you, who faked your own death and hid, running away for 5 whole years.”

“….”

“If I let you go like this, you’ll run away again.”

She couldn’t say no.

If it hadn’t been for her mother’s death notice, she wouldn’t have returned to Delmez even if it killed her. She felt guilt about what she had abandoned, but no lingering attachment.

Shane watched Edelaine, who didn’t answer, and spoke.

“First, I’m going to put you back in your place.”

“My place?”

“As my fiancée, ‘Edelaine Bertrand.'”

“Did you perhaps forget that I’m already dead?”

“I know that better than anyone. But if we say the Saint brought you back to life, there’s no problem.”

“….”

“You weren’t dead from the beginning, but were sleeping in a comatose state after suffering fatal injuries. The Saint brought you back with the power of long prayers. How’s that? A touching and admirable story, isn’t it?”

“But then Genevieve will be in danger!”

Immortality and resurrection are humanity’s eternal desires.

If they knew that the Saint could not only purify and heal, but also revive someone who was as good as dead, like a vegetative patient, the powerful figures from all across the continent wouldn’t leave her alone.

Unlike Edelaine, who had turned pale, Shane had a nonchalant expression.

“Well, she would be in danger, wouldn’t she?”

Shane shrugged his shoulders.

“If you ask me to protect her, I’ll try my best.”

“Is that what the Saint’s guardian should be saying?!”

Shane smiled cheerfully. It was a smile that showed he didn’t care about Genevieve’s safety at all.

“My fiancée, this time you’ll have to marry me.”

“Shane, you!”

“If you try to run away, I’ll kill Genevieve first.”

“….”

“Next, the Bertrand Family will fall, Edelaine. I hope you don’t think this is a joke.”

“….”

“It won’t be just some death notice, but I’ll have you standing in front of a burned mansion.”

Edelaine tried to find traces of jokes or bluffs in his words. But his lightly smiling face was filled only with sincerity.

‘This bastard really isn’t in his right mind….’

It wasn’t simply that he was screwed up.

Watching Edelaine’s complexion change, Shane burst into laughter.

He was happy that she finally seemed to understand he was serious, but he felt miserable for being happy about such a thing.

This woman always made him feel miserable.

Always.

He had been chasing only the back of a woman who had never once looked back at him.

*

Shane eventually came out with the meal that Edelaine hadn’t touched at all.

Even if he forced her mouth open, she looked ready to spit it right back out, so he decided to leave her be for now as she wanted.

Her eyes, glaring defiantly to avoid losing, were filled with the will to bite if necessary.

‘She really would have bitten.’

Edelaine was certainly capable of that.

Shane smiled wryly.

Since childhood, no one could match her stubbornness.

No matter how much Shane coaxed and persuaded her, after she mentioned breaking off their engagement, she absolutely wouldn’t let him close. Even when her heart softened and her eyes wavered when she showed tears, she never changed her attitude.

“Later, when more time passes, you’ll understand why I’m doing this.”

“Tell me right now. Did I do something wrong? Did I make a mistake? If so, I’ll fix it, so.”

“You didn’t do anything wrong.”

“Then why? Why are you trying to abandon me.”

“Abandon? It’s not like that.”

“Edelaine, please.”

“You’ll understand everything later. Even if I don’t tell you.”

She never told him anything.

Saying he would understand later, she left without leaving any room for negotiation. More cruelly than anyone else, and definitively.

“Your Grace.”

Shane stopped walking.

Genevieve clasped her hands together nervously in front of Shane, who turned to look at her. As always when standing before him, she was scared enough that her skin prickled.

“Lady Edelaine is….”

“Mind your own business.”

“But.”

“Don’t worry, I won’t kill her.”

“She doesn’t seem to be eating at all….”

“That’s why I called you. She obviously won’t eat anything of her own will from the start.”

“You know you can’t keep her locked up forever, don’t you? Your Excellency, please….”

“Genevieve.”

Genevieve’s shoulders trembled.

She wanted to run away. She wasn’t dull enough to miss the warning contained in that low voice.

From the moment they first met, Shane Blancarde had been a frightening person.

Though he had saved her from abuse by her stepfather and helped her rise to the position of Saint, Genevieve found Shane far more terrifying than the people who had beaten her.

Especially since five years ago, when he lost the person he loved right before his eyes.

Genevieve swallowed hard.

But Genevieve couldn’t back down like this either.

Shane had saved her, but it was Edelaine who had cared for her. When she was dragged to the Imperial Palace and didn’t know what to do, it was Edelaine who personally bathed her, dried her hair, held her hand, and put her to sleep. She couldn’t betray her.

Genevieve spoke.

“Lady Edelaine said she had reasons why she had no choice but to hide. Please listen to her story properly.”

Shane shrugged his shoulders.

Genevieve realized Shane wouldn’t listen to her anymore and stepped back. However, her lingering attachment was evident as she kept looking back, unable to give up.

It was quite rare for Genevieve, who was generally docile and well-behaved, to assert herself like this in front of Shane. It must be because she cared so much for Edelaine.

‘She just has too many useless followers.’

Edelaine easily stole people’s hearts.

It wasn’t just Genevieve. Lucian, even that young servant boy she took with her when she disappeared—they were all practically obsessed with Edelaine.

Yet Edelaine herself never thought about what she meant to others.

She always tried to keep herself one step back.

Now that he thought about it, Edelaine had been planning to leave from the beginning, which was why she lived without attachment to anything.

‘A reason?’

There might be such a thing.

As miserable as it was, his fiancée had apparently found him unbearable to the point she couldn’t stand it anymore.

That was the only thing he learned later, as Edelaine had mentioned.

That being by his side was unbearably hateful to her.

So much so that she would fake her death to escape.

‘I can’t forgive you.’

Yet you were the one who told me to be happy—that’s where you went wrong.

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————