Chapter 3

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Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter Title: Chapter 3. The Villainess Revives (1)

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엔딩인 줄 알고 돌아왔더니 장르가 바뀜

12화

Chapter 3. 악녀는 부활 (1)

The male lead is the villain, the villainess has been kidnapped, and the heroine married another man.

So what genre is this novel now?

'It's a horrific mishmash...'

At the very least, it couldn't be called a romance fantasy anymore.

Edelaine squeezed her eyes shut. With fraud, kidnapping, and imprisonment thrown in, was it a crime thriller now?

'The only common thread is that my chances of survival are abysmally low.'

Whether as the villainess in a romance fantasy or the victim in a crime thriller, her role seemed utterly hopeless for survival.

'That's my luck, damn it.'

Currently, Edelaine was kidnapped and locked away in an unknown location, her future hanging in the hands of the world's top villain—a madman who'd done a complete one-eighty.

She hadn't committed any particular sins in her previous life, so why was this one such a shitshow?

'Lloyd coming to rescue me seems unlikely. No, he absolutely shouldn't.'

Considering Shane's eyes overflowing with resentment toward her and his chilling threats, it didn't seem like he'd let Lloyd live.

Besides, Lloyd was born to be an assassin—better suited for nimble, stealthy combat than frontal assaults.

So what should she do now?

Edelaine racked her sluggish brain. Her mind wasn't connecting properly, probably from mindlessly eating and lounging during her seclusion.

Truth be told, she had no clever ideas. All her cards had vanished five years ago.

'Guess I have no choice but to grovel. Pride doesn't put food on the table, and if begging keeps me alive, so be it.'

She could kneel and apologize as much as needed, but the problem was that it probably wouldn't work on Shane.

Her stomach prickled with pain. Stress-induced gastritis, most likely.

Anyway, sitting idle solved nothing.

With resolve to beg on her hands and knees if necessary, Edelaine sprang from the bed.

Since Genevieve had just waltzed in, there probably wasn't a lock on the door. It could be overconfidence that she could catch Edelaine anywhere she fled, or maybe the whole mansion was under surveillance.

Either way, she didn't want to lie in this windowless room any longer. It might give her depression even if she didn't have it before.

But the moment Edelaine stood, the door opened again.

Assuming it was Shane or Genevieve, she looked up—only to freeze stiff. Her opponent did the same.

"Oh my God."

A frail voice trembled. Edelaine let out a strangled gasp.

"Mother..."

Her mother, Marchioness Bertrand Emma, had grown far thinner and gaunter than in Edelaine's memories. Her pale complexion and sunken cheeks made her look like a patient.

"I-Is that really, really you, Edelaine...?"

"......"

"Edelaine, my daughter!"

Emma rushed over in an instant and pulled Edelaine into an embrace. Edelaine couldn't bring herself to push away her mother, who seemed like she might crumble if shoved too hard due to her frailty.

"You're alive, you're alive. Oh, Edelaine!"

"Mother..."

"Ugh, heuhh, let me see your face, your face..."

The palms cupping her cheeks were cold and rough. The fingertips tracing her eyes trembled so much that Edelaine felt tears welling up. Emma had wasted away terribly.

She stood frozen, barely breathing from not knowing what to do, when three familiar faces appeared behind Emma.

Her father Gregory, eldest brother Patrick, and second brother Jeff.

And trailing them were Shane and Genevieve. Seeing him smirk snapped her back to reality.

"Mother, step away."

Patrick said coldly.

"What an unpleasant thing to do, Duke Blancard."

Gregory clicked his tongue next, pinching the bridge of his nose. Jeff scoffed.

"You sure found some woman who looks vaguely similar. You said you'd show proof of Edelaine, and this is it?"

"I personally placed my sister's corpse in the coffin and buried it with these hands. This is truly distasteful. We'll handle this formally..."

Shane pushed Genevieve forward and said,

"The coffin buried in the ground was empty. She was practically dead when she went in, though. That was the limit of the saintess's power at the time."

Shane spouted lies without batting an eye. Beside him, Genevieve clasped her hands with the pious expression of the Goddess's First Servant—a perfect saintess.

"I'd only just awakened my abilities, so I was sorely lacking."

Still held by Emma, Edelaine glared wide-eyed.

Genevieve, you too?!

Genevieve averted her gaze from Edelaine's stare and said demurely,

"But after five years of prayer, the Goddess answered. I needed time, but now...!"

She was even skilled at modulating her performance. Oscar-worthy.

"I was able to revive Lady Edelaine, my benefactor...!"

Gregory, Patrick, and Jeff's eyes wavered at the seasoned saintess's showmanship. Oh no.

She had to speak up and deny it immediately. Say it was fake, that this crazy male lead and heroine had kidnapped a perfectly fine person and were spouting nonsense.

But Emma's frail grip on her was too weak for words to come out.

"Why didn't you say so from the start?"

"Did you even give me a chance? You blamed me for Edelaine's death and wouldn't hear me out."

"That's."

"Besides, Edelaine was as good as dead for five years. I couldn't be certain revival would succeed... I thought announcing it after would be fine."

Lies flowed smoothly from her unblinking mouth.

'That bastard, that lot! The madman's putting on a show!'

But Gregory, Patrick, and Jeff wouldn't fall for it easily.

Gregory had the suspicious nature befitting the villainess's family in the novel—noble if put kindly, insidious if not.

Patrick, who'd helped manage the marquisate since childhood, and Jeff, who'd traveled the continent building businesses, were no pushovers either.

They'd surely snap that no one would believe such an impersonator, tell them to say something sensible, and storm out. Edelaine believed...

"So that's why you didn't formally break off the engagement."

Gregory murmured lowly. No. Edelaine screamed silently. With that one phrase sounding like acceptance, Patrick and Jeff's eyes began to shift too.

"As I said, I have no intention of marrying anyone but Edelaine."

"......Right, you did say that."

"Because Edelaine didn't die."

No, you thought she did too.

Unable to expose Shane's lies, Edelaine just worked her lips. Shane met her eyes and smirked faintly—but only she could see it.

Genevieve, catching Edelaine's shocked gaze, gave a apologetic look.

And drove in the wedge.

"I swear on the Goddess. This is undoubtedly Edelaine Bertrand. I treated her with these hands..."

You treated her, but she wasn't sick to begin with! Nothing needed fixing!

"And changed her clothes while caring for her."

So that's why you insisted on changing my clothes. Even when I said it was fine, you claimed sleeping in a dress would be uncomfortable...

"It's definitely her."

"If there's even a speck of falsehood in those words."

"I'd be forsaken by the Goddess and never use divine power again."

Please don't stake the divine power that holds the continent's fate on verifying my identity...

"But here I am, still the Goddess's servant."

Perfect closing.

Edelaine trembled with betrayal.

The male lead and heroine weren't doing their scripted romance—instead, they were teaming up to screw her over.

"But the corpse we confirmed that day was clearly."

"Enough, Patrick."

Gregory said. His voice was hoarse and raspy.

"She insists that much; we can't doubt further. ...Edelaine."

"......"

"I'm truly sorry. When a long-desired wish comes true so desperately, people can't believe it instead... No, that's an excuse too. Forgive me."

Edelaine couldn't utter a word, like a child who'd swallowed honey. Seeing resolute Gregory, weeping Emma, and Patrick and Jeff gradually crumbling...

"You've really come back to us. Truly, so very..."

"...Yes..."

Her furry conscience ached as if crying out in pain.