Chapter 26

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Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter Title: Chapter 7. The Villainess Stays True to Form (4)

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엔딩인 줄 알고 돌아왔더니 장르가 바뀜

33화

I'd done something truly cruel to Shane. And to Genevieve, too.

Edelaine had only wanted to survive—she wasn't devoid of conscience.

That was exactly why she had no intention of seeking forgiveness from Shane or Genevieve. She'd abandoned them just to save her own skin.

Every time Shane's attitude, his gaze, his actions felt so achingly familiar from the past, she'd shoved away the nagging "what if" because of that.

No way. Really? Nah. I'm not an idiot. It's been five years, and I'm a con artist besides. No, but still...

If only she'd been oblivious enough not to pick up on those subtle hints, her heart might have stayed at ease. If only she could have truly believed that Shane hated her and nothing more.

"I didn't explain a damn thing, so hate me all you want."

Edelaine hadn't offered any explanation for her circumstances.

It wasn't a situation that could be logically unpacked and understood, to begin with. Coldly speaking, claiming it was all "just" because of nightmares would sound ridiculous even to her own ears. Even if it had been a life-or-death matter for Edelaine herself.

Besides, in the dreams, she'd been killed the instant she tried to spill the truth.

Surviving for the first time left her clueless on the right course of action. All she knew was that with nothing clear, it was best not to court danger recklessly.

She still didn't know who the warlock was, and the story hadn't reached its conclusion.

Maybe the tale only ended when the villain died, not when the heroine found happiness.

"Were novels always some kind of contest between the villain and protagonist over who survives...?"

It felt oddly like a sweaty sports manga setup. Guess when the genre changes, so do the win conditions.

Edelaine's top priority remained unchanged.

She refused to become a plot device in the story.

Rather than get exploited as one again and suffer through those nightmares, she was dead set on escaping.

The nightmares had been that horrifying. No one who hadn't experienced the world denying her existence and driving her toward death could possibly understand.

A world declaring her the sole obstacle, insisting everyone would be happy if she just vanished.

The loneliness of watching people move like puppets, bound to their roles, while she alone saw through it.

Before the nightmares could restart, she wanted to distance herself from the protagonists and secure a safe life.

But escape might not be the right solution after all.

Her life-or-death flight five years ago had ended in kidnapping, imprisonment, and a forced marriage.

And yet another thing: it had been over a month since she'd returned to the protagonists' sides, and no nightmares had come.

Perhaps the story that demanded "Edelaine's" death had finally ended.

If so, her only option was a head-on confrontation.

Edelaine planned to uncover the warlock's identity and tip off Crown Prince Edwin or Shane. If they got distracted fighting the warlock and surveillance on her slipped, she'd bolt in that window.

But.

"What if we kill the warlock and the problem vanishes?"

Edelaine stared intently at Shane's face as he slept, clutching her like some talisman.

It was a question she'd shoved aside her whole life, refusing to dwell on it.

If she couldn't have him, she wouldn't even think about it.

That cake belonged to someone else.

No matter how tempting it looked, coveting another woman's man would bring divine punishment, right?

The heroine would make him happy, so she shouldn't worry her pretty head and just focus on surviving.

Her life came first—some romance that wasn't even hers wouldn't put food on the table.

But with the ending already derailed and escape off the table...

What if eliminating the warlock solved everything?

Then.

"Doesn't that mean I could have him...?"

Especially since she couldn't run anyway.

She'd tried so hard not to fall for him because she already had, deeply.

With him constantly confessing how much he liked her, doing nothing but sweet things—it was impossible not to reciprocate.

Edelaine had long adored Shane Blancard.

A man who gave his closeness to no one, cold to all, yet melted into sugar-sweet affection for her alone, calling her special. No one could resist that without thawing.

She'd chosen to let him go gladly, wishing him happiness, content to watch from afar.

Once she acknowledged it, greed began to stir.

No, he says he likes me...

Even after she'd pushed him away and said cruel things, even after scamming and fleeing—he still liked her.

He grinned like he'd won the world at the thought of marrying the woman he'd blackmailed into captivity. Watching that, she'd told herself to get angry, but her resolve crumbled into helpless laughter more than once.

When she begged him to let her go, to let her escape, he clung to her, pleading he couldn't sleep without her because she steadied his anxiety...

"How could I not love this foolish man...?"

She was born a villainess—was it wrong to covet the male lead?

Maybe it was instinct, true to her role.

Just like "Edelaine" had, perhaps Edelaine was fated to love the male lead too.

The only difference was that Edelaine had prioritized Shane's happiness above all.

If this wasn't a world demanding her death, maybe she could make him happy herself.

"No, no. Get a grip, Edelaine. Nothing's certain yet. Protect Genevieve first."

Edelaine steeled herself.

First, kill the warlock.

It would take time for Lloyd to finish his background check.

In the meantime, Edelaine planned to stick as close to Genevieve as possible.

Conveniently, the Empress Dowager had sent a message via Emma requesting a meeting. Edelaine looked forward to seeing her mother after so long once she entered the palace.

That way, she could naturally slip into the palace and stay by Genevieve's side.

But.

"She doesn't want to see you, Edelaine."

"What?"

Edwin said it with a teasing lilt.

"She only lets her husband into the room, then barricaded herself against me, Her Majesty, and everyone else. Says she doesn't want to see anyone. After I went out of my way to grant her leave, no less..."

"No way, Genevieve...?"

Edelaine reeled in shock.

"Genevieve doesn't want to see me?"

"She especially doesn't want to see you."

"Uh... Well, yeah, that could happen. Could it? Yeah, sure it could... But isn't that weird?"

"You're glitching out..."

Edelaine had never even imagined Genevieve rejecting her. The realization that she'd never considered it hit her twice as hard.

"Could Genevieve actually be angry at me, like Shane was?!"

At their reunion, Edelaine had fretted more over being misjudged as a homewrecker than deceiving Genevieve. Sure, she felt bad, but awakening the saintess's powers had been absolutely necessary, so the guilt was muted.

From Genevieve's perspective, though, it was different.

Maybe her kindness had her worrying for Edelaine first. Then again, it must be hard to vent resentment at someone who'd already been kidnapped and locked up...

"Would camping out by her door be too creepy...?"

"She'll come out if she gets bored."

Shane replied indifferently.

"Or cut off her meals. Hunger will drag her out."

"Genevieve isn't some wild animal."

"Once her leave ends, she'll be hauled out whether she likes it or not."

"That's even more pitiful!"

If her feelings were hurt, Edelaine wanted to soothe her. She turned to Edwin.

"She was pretty shocked? Seeing someone's wrist get severed right in front of her must've been gruesome..."

"Shocked over something like that? On expeditions, you see corpses rotting and bursting open all the time. Wounded soldiers covered in blood, flesh mashed up, limbs torn off—it's routine. No way she'd freak over a severed wrist."

"..."

Our heroine's been living that hard-boiled life, huh...

"No idea why she's suddenly acting fragile, but something must've changed her mindset. I'll pass along that you're here, so go see Her Majesty first."

"Okay..."

Edelaine swallowed her tears. Is this what it feels like for parents standing before their sulky teen daughter's locked door?