Chapter 16

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Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter Title: Chapter 5. The Heroine is in Danger (4)

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엔딩인 줄 알고 돌아왔더니 장르가 바뀜

24화

After Genevieve left, Edelaine headed to the dining room for breakfast.

Every servant whose eyes she met bowed their heads as if they'd seen something they shouldn't have. It was so awkward she felt like she might lose her mind.

They'd started drinking before even exchanging proper greetings, so they must have been wondering what on earth this new lady of the house was all about.

'They probably think I'm some kind of weirdo...'

Well, she was about to become even weirder.

There was nothing to fear from someone who'd resolved to be utterly shameless. Edelaine lifted her head high and strode forward confidently. Lloyd, approaching from the opposite direction, spotted her and spoke up.

"I told you not to hold it in. You're making that weird face again."

"......"

"The dining room's this way."

Lloyd seemed to have already sorted out the hierarchy with the mansion's staff. He gave a glance to the maid guiding Edelaine, who bowed deeply and scurried away like she was fleeing.

"It's not overly staffed for the size. Shouldn't be too hard to take control."

"We're not here to fight..."

Edelaine, who had been strutting around like a fighting cock just moments ago, forgot herself and replied.

"I kept only the docile, quiet ones. Apparently, the late duke took all the long-time servants with him when he left for the territory. The head butler is new too—hasn't been here long. People change over quickly."

"Does Shane work them that harshly?"

"More precisely, he hardly ever comes home."

"Whoa, that's perfect."

Edelaine beamed transparently with joy, and Lloyd let out a light chuckle. Edelaine laughed along with him.

The Blancard mansion definitely felt different now. Back in the day, it had been the epitome of a high noble's residence.

When entering through the main gate, the servants would line up in a row to greet you. Every one of them had stiff, tense expressions. It gave off the vibe of a house run by someone who knew exactly how to intimidate visitors.

'I used to come and go here pretty often before I was nine...'

After the duchess passed away, she'd made an effort to hang out with her young fiancé, who was left all alone, out of worry for him.

They'd stuck together for nearly a year. Edelaine had looked after Shane, but the boy had seemed lonely too—he'd sought out his young fiancée more than usual, making all sorts of excuses. He must have really hated being at home.

Edelaine looked up, and her eyes fell on the portrait of the late duke and duchess hanging on the wall.

The duchess was a beauty with a stern expression. True to her imperial princess origins, she embodied the ideal noblewoman, emphasizing dignity and refinement.

Edelaine gazed into the duchess's eyes in the portrait, which matched Shane's in their vivid hue, then shifted her gaze to the late duke's portrait beside it. He too wore a stern, rigid expression, much like his wife.

The mansion they had ruled now lay silent and heavy, sunk into a stifling stillness like a rock.

Edelaine suddenly wondered when Shane had been left alone in this place. Until she left Delmuse, Shane had still been the young duke, living here with his father. Their relationship hadn't seemed great even then.

"Milady."

"Oh, sorry. Let's go."

"You can go on alone now. I need to go meet Mr. Lucian."

"Without breakfast?!"

"I woke up at five and already ate."

"Without me?!"

"You were... at that time..."

"......"

Edelaine clamped her mouth shut.

She'd been sleeping soundly in Shane's arms.

Instead of pointing it out, Lloyd asked sharply.

"Should I have woken you up at the risk of my life? To eat breakfast together?"

"...No..."

"Then take good care of your meals. I'll check later if you left any veggies."

If you are picky, you'll eat what you left. Edelaine nodded obediently. Lloyd was the type to follow through.

"Be honest. You wouldn't have gone even if I hadn't eaten, right?"

"Yeah. We couldn't eat together anyway... I don't want to see him."

There was no need to specify who.

Even back when Shane was milder, Lloyd had disliked him. Shane had brushed past Lloyd a few times too, but never acknowledged him. They were aware of each other but made an effort to ignore it.

Lloyd being allowed to come to this mansion was thanks to Shane's approval, but they never spoke of it.

"That bastard hates me too."

Lloyd twisted the corner of his mouth upward as he added.

"Can't blame him."

Instead of replying, Edelaine patted Lloyd's shoulder and told him to be careful. As always, he nodded with his cheeky blank expression and turned away.

The dining room bore no trace of the early morning drama.

Just a few hours ago, Genevieve had been sitting there pouring her heart out. The Blancard mansion's servants were efficient.

"Sit."

"Why are you alone?"

"Genevieve went home."

"No, I mean..."

She meant why was he sitting there without a single attendant.

But Edelaine couldn't bring herself to say it out loud.

Having been born into a prominent noble family, Edelaine was accustomed to being waited on throughout her twenty-three years of life. But over the recent years—excluding the last month, especially the five years prior—she'd lived alone with Lloyd, her senses from her past life fully awakened.

Lloyd was capable, but she didn't burden him with minor personal services.

They ate together, but she dressed herself.

That was when it was just the two of them, though. When dining in the mansion, she had attendants—pouring water, replacing dishes, bringing plates right to her, that sort of thing.

From way back, Edelaine had tried to think of it as paying for a meal at a fancy restaurant every time.

'I even wanted to tip them and say thanks...'

She'd imagined calling the chef out to praise the service and tip generously. It made her feel a bit better.

"They'll bring the food. Sit."

Shane pulled out her chair himself.

"Why are you doing that?"

"Who else would?"

Shane seated Edelaine and returned to his place.

Breakfast was simple. It was morning, and with the hangover from last night, neither had much appetite. Shane said,

"Does having people around make you uncomfortable?"

"Not really? I'm fine."

"You clam up like a clam whenever someone comes near?"

"I'm just being careful with my words. It's not uncomfortable."

Shane chuckled softly. Feeling exposed, Edelaine bristled.

"I'm telling you, it's nothing!"

"Got it. I'll keep people away as much as possible."

"It's fine!"

"If anything bothers you, tell me."

"I said it's fine! I used to be pretty popular, you know?"

"I know you were popular. Very."

Even if she'd been a shut-in for five years, damn it...

Edelaine recalled reuniting with Genevieve. She believed her long-dead social skills had revived a bit by now.

'...I need to meet some normal people.'

Since returning, the only people she'd met were family, Shane, Genevieve, and Edwin. If she stretched it, Lucian too.

She missed ordinary folk.

"And you hardly stay home anyway. No need to worry about me."

"I'll be home."

"What?!"

"That surprising?"

Shane took a sip from his glass. The simple motion was astonishingly elegant. While Edelaine was lost in admiration, Shane added,

"That a newlywed wants to stay home."

"......Oh, right......"

Don't remind me...

"S-Still, you're busy."

Duke Blancard was a member of the council of elders, a noble with a voice in national affairs. Separate from administration, he was one of the key figures running the empire alongside the crown prince. He couldn't possibly have free time.

He shouldn't. He mustn't.

"If I don't want to, I don't have to."

"Nobles have duties..."

She nearly criticized herself for talking big as a runaway. Edelaine reminded herself to be lenient with her own failings.

"By protocol, I should visit the territory once to see Father, but he'll come to Delmuse for the founding festival anyway, so that's covered."

"Don't worry about me. Do things as usual."

It's easier for me if you're gone.

Edelaine had a lot on her plate.

The culprit behind the attack on Genevieve still hadn't been caught.

She couldn't say for sure it was the warlock, but the possibility was high. Even if not, as long as the warlock lived, he'd target Genevieve's life.

To hunt down the warlock hiding among the nobles, she needed to expand her scope. Since things might differ from the novel, she also needed more time with Genevieve.

Shane let out a short laugh. The sound ended sharply, making Edelaine blink a couple of times.

"You seem to have forgotten, Edelaine."

The relaxed atmosphere shifted in an instant.

"It's fine if you pretend we married of your own will, but..."

"......"

"I won't let you run away again."

Shane folded his blue eyes sweetly as he smiled.

"I won't let you out of this house alone, my love."