Chapter 29

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Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter Title: Chapter 7. The Villainess Originally (7)

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I Came Back Thinking It Was the Ending, But the Genre Changed

Chapter 36

Chapter 7. The Villainess Originally (7)

The world turned upside down overnight.

Genevieve had grown up enduring long years of abuse from her stepfather.

Her mother, always wary of her stepfather's moods, would pretend not to see even when he kicked her daughter with his boot.

She toiled at household chores like a servant, and before her immature body could even heal from one wound, another would appear.

It was truly hellish day after day.

The man she met while hiding in a corner of the garden, defying her stepfather's orders, was clearly someone of high status at first glance. Fine-quality clothes, neatly groomed hair, and impeccably refined features that were hard to look away from.

Yet despite his striking beauty, the first thing Genevieve felt toward him was fear.

The man was expressionless, his sapphire-blue eyes holding nothing but coldness.

Even her stepfather, who struck her at the slightest provocation and occasionally showed glimmers of sympathy, at least let his brutal violence betray some emotion. But this man had nothing. Her survival instincts weren't so dull that she could feel any fondness for someone who showed no interest yet intended to take her away.

However, when her stepfather saw the man, he trembled violently, shouted that they could do as they pleased, and fled.

After that, her memories grew hazy.

People who seemed to be the man's retainers bathed her and dressed her in soft clothes she'd never worn before.

Then the man suddenly took her to the imperial palace and declared her the <Saintess>.

The most shocked person was Genevieve herself.

"Me...?"

Though she thought it couldn't be true, she couldn't bring herself to deny it outright. She was terrified of having to return to her stepfather's house.

She didn't want to go back.

Genevieve wanted to live like a human being.

She longed for a life where she didn't have to wash laundry in icy water until her fingers were raw, where she didn't have to watch every step, where she didn't have to worry about being kicked by her stepfather's boot at any moment.

So even though she knew she couldn't possibly be the Saintess, she couldn't voice the denial.

The man who had brought her was Shane Blancard, the young Duke.

He was of such lofty status that he could apparently pass off someone whose powers hadn't even been verified as the <Saintess>. Without uttering a single "I'm a fake," Genevieve somehow ended up as a guest in the palace.

The luxurious life she thought would be comfortable turned out to be far from ideal.

The guilt of deceiving everyone gnawed at her heart, and people began to appear who saw through her and viewed her with disdain.

Not only did they gossip openly, but insidious bullying began that only Genevieve herself could perceive.

It was around then.

"This is my fiancée, Edelaine. She insisted on being introduced to you."

"Nice to meet you, Genevieve. Oh, is it okay if I call you Genevieve?"

Shane introduced his fiancée.

Even then, Genevieve felt no fondness for Shane. He was her savior from her stepfather, but he was also too frightening.

The crown prince, who occasionally visited and bombarded her with one-sided, curiosity-driven questions before leaving, was far preferable.

At least the crown prince wasn't scary.

"Call me whatever feels natural. And please speak comfortably."

"Is that really okay? You're the Saintess, after all."

"I'm young."

"Our ages aren't that far apart."

Shane said.

"She's not even officially the Saintess yet, Edelaine. You don't need to speak formally to her."

"R-right. Not official or anything..."

Genevieve, who had been staring at the floor while gauging moods, finally lifted her head.

The woman Shane had brought was a beauty with platinum blonde hair reminiscent of sunlight. It resembled Genevieve's own hair, but while hers leaned toward silver, this woman's was closer to gold.

The woman approached with sparkling emerald-green eyes and a bright smile, firmly grasping Genevieve's hand.

"Shall I? Then I'll think of you as a little sister. Take care of me, Genevieve."

"Pardon? Uh? Yes?"

"Shane's a guy, and His Highness Edwin lacks tact, so you've had it rough, haven't you? It must have been hard to even voice your discomforts. But now I'm here, so tell me anything that's bothering you."

"It's not that bad..."

Genevieve glanced at Shane.

Shane had looked displeased from the moment he introduced Edelaine, and when she grabbed Genevieve's hand, he openly furrowed his brow. Genevieve worried if he might chop off her hand at any moment.

"Maybe I should ask for a room in the palace too. My mother has a room she uses, but..."

"You can use my room."

"What are you saying? Why would I use your room? What if weird rumors start..."

"We're engaged. What's weird about it?"

"Umm..."

Edelaine averted her gaze awkwardly. But she smiled brightly at Genevieve, who could only blink in confusion.

"Or come stay at my house. I have so many things I want to give you. Everything would suit you perfectly."

Genevieve spent several days at the Bertrand mansion.

Edelaine gave her dresses, accessories, and shoes—lavish items she said didn't suit her. Even Genevieve, with her untrained eye, could tell these were brand-new dresses never worn before.

"The real gifts are custom-ordered, so they'll take some time."

"This is already more than I deserve..."

In the mornings, she personally came to wake her and shared meals together, taking her to all sorts of places.

They went to plays and art exhibitions, even took a cruise. She talked about visiting the summer villa in summer and the Marquis Bertrand's territory in winter. To help the shy Genevieve, she brought her to several parties too. Genevieve never danced once, just trailing behind Edelaine.

"Why are you being so nice to me?"

"Because... you're cute?"

"...I have no idea how to repay all this debt. The truth is..."

"What debt?"

"..."

"You haven't incurred any debt, Genevieve. As long as you enjoyed yourself and were happy, that's enough."

"But."

I'm not really anything like a Saintess. Genevieve couldn't bring herself to say it. Somehow misinterpreting her conflicted expression, Edelaine said,

"You're the protagonist of this world, Genevieve. You can be as happy as you want."

"Pardon?"

"That way, I can be happy too."

"..."

"When you make it big later, remember me fondly. Then this will be an investment."

Edelaine laughed it off breezily.

It was around then.

Rumors spread that the girl the young Duke Blancard had brought wasn't some <Saintess>, but his lover.

It was a horrific story.

Genevieve wanted to refute it, but aside from Edelaine and Edwin, no one really spoke to her anyway.

What if Lady Edelaine hears the rumors and gets upset?

She swore to the goddess she'd never harbored any romantic feelings for Shane.

"Please believe me, Lady Edelaine! I've never done anything shameful!"

"Huh? I know. Too bad."

"Pardon?"

"Give it a shot. Shane's a good guy."

"Yes...?"

"Handsome, rich, smiles nicely, and he's kind. He must be devoted too."

Even Genevieve, who didn't know Shane well, understood what "devoted" meant.

If a man didn't spare a glance for anywhere else when Edelaine was in front of him, it would be stranger if he wasn't devoted.

"Kind? Does he smile a lot...?"

"You don't like guys who smile too easily?"

"No, that's not the issue... You're talking about Young Duke Blancard, right...?"

"Just call him Shane."

"How could I possibly..."

"Maybe Shane likes you too? You're so cute and pretty."

Edelaine stroked Genevieve's hair, emphasizing, "There's no reason he'd dislike you, so I don't mind at all! Not one bit!" But that wasn't it. That really wasn't...

For the first time that day, Genevieve felt a pang of pity for the terrifying Shane Blancard.

However, Edelaine's lack of misunderstanding didn't make the rumors disappear.

The gossip only grew more fleshed out day by day.

A maid saw the two enjoying a tryst at the Blancard mansion. They were glued together at all hours, impossible to even look at. The lady of the Marquis Bertrand pretended not to notice. Poor thing, having her fiancé stolen by the fake Saintess she cherished like a sister, crying every night.

Even Genevieve, who occasionally visited the church while staying at the palace, overheard whispers.

If it was this bad for her, what must it be like for Edelaine?

She had no mood to attend a ball, but as a "candidate" Saintess treated as a guest, Genevieve had no choice but to go when summoned. At the imperial ball, wearing a dress Edelaine had gifted her, she heard voices laced with malice.

"That's her? The one who stole her caretaker's fiancé."

"Goodness, what a vixen."

"Look at her; she's got the looks to seduce any man."

"Young Duke Blancard is cruel too. Pretending to be so devoted to his fiancée, then bringing in that filthy girl as the Saintess. She's obviously his lover."

"Isn't it because Lady Bertrand is so cold? Men prefer obedient girls they can control over haughty ones who ignore them."

"Probably..."

"So dirty..."

Her face burned with shame.

No. I hate Shane Blancard. I wouldn't take that scary man even if he were offered. Being handsome isn't everything—he treats people like stones. He doesn't even treat me like a person to begin with.

This was a problem beyond mere liking or disliking. How could she feel affection if he didn't treat her as human?

Yet Genevieve couldn't step forward.

She'd never been good at speaking up. Raising her voice would bring her stepfather's palm flying at her.

But the injustice was unbearable. Steel yourself against the fear and say it's not true—then another voice rang out.

"What did you just say?"

"Pardon? Ahh, Lady Bertrand..."

"Who are you calling dirty?"

"Pardon?"

Genevieve paled. It was Edelaine's voice. Edelaine had heard all those filthy words. As she tried to step forward, a thunderous roar preceded her.

"She's just my fiancée. We're not even married—it's merely an engagement arranged by our parents in childhood. I don't want that kind of slander from people who commit adultery so easily."

"But Lady Bertrand, it's true that fake Saintess clung to your fiancé."

"I'd love it if she did..."

"Pardon?"

"And she's not a fake. Genevieve is definitely the Saintess."

"How... do you know that?"

"Because Shane brought her."

Her firm voice held no tremor.

Though Genevieve knew that faith was directed not at her but at Shane, her heart still pounded.

"Genevieve is the Saintess. Without a doubt."

Those words were the trigger. Genevieve awakened a partial divine power.