Chapter 9

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Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter Title: Chapter 3. The Villainess Revives (7)

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Shane didn't take his eyes off the man sprawled pathetically on the ground. He spat out each word like he was chewing it to pieces.

Ferociously, like a beast locking onto its prey and staring it down.

Edelaine sucked in a breath.

The hunting dog was here.

His timing's just like the male lead's.

But Edelaine wasn't the heroine.

That was the problem.

The man shot to his feet in a rage, but he would have been better off staying down.

"Fuck, who the hell are you?! Gah."

"I asked what you were trying to do to her."

"I-I, uh, well......"

The alcohol had clearly worn off. The man's face drained of color, pitifully pale, and he gaped like he was choking.

"N-No, uh, n-nothing. Nothing at all."

"To my eyes, it looked like you were about to hit my fiancée with that hand of yours."

"M-Misunderstanding! It's a misunderstanding, there's no way I would—"

The man stammered, sweat beading on his brow. The killing intent slicing into him like a thin blade kept him from even lifting his head.

"Oh, so you're saying my eyes were wrong."

"N-No, I—"

Edelaine figured this was enough. She tugged at Shane's collar.

She'd thought she could let her life go a bit more to hell, that if it all went south, so be it—but she didn't want him dead.

Come to think of it, he was one of the rare few who spoke plainly. If this kept up, he'd go too far.

"Stop it, Shane."

"Stop what?"

Shane answered swiftly without even glancing at her. The muscles in his clenched jaw twitched.

"It was nothing."

"If I hadn't stopped you, it would've been something."

"I could've dodged..."

"You stood there on purpose, letting him hit you?"

Cold accusation poured out. Shane glared at Edelaine with an expressionless face.

Edelaine averted her gaze slightly.

"I was going to dodge."

The hand gripping her shoulder tightened. It hurt a little, making her wince, and Shane sneered.

"And that hurts?"

"Of course it does. I'm human."

"He might look ridiculous, but he's still a man. If that fist had connected, it would've hurt a lot more."

"When did I say he looked ridiculous?"

"And you even closed your eyes, like you were welcoming the hit? Or did I see that wrong too?"

"......"

"Whatever you were trying to gain by throwing yourself at him this time, Edelaine."

Shane warned her in a low voice.

"As long as I'm alive, I won't let you end up like that."

This was the first time she'd heard such murderous concern.

If it even counted as concern.

"And."

Shane tore his gaze from Edelaine's complicated expression and turned back to the cowering man. The guy, who'd been eyeing a chance to flee, flinched as his legs gave out.

"Letting the idiot who laid a hand on you live doesn't make sense either."

"Ugh, ah......"

The crowd, who'd watched Shane and Edelaine bicker with keen interest, suddenly averted their eyes as one when Shane stepped on the man's ankle. Not a soul stepped up to help, even as the horrific scream rang out.

The music had stopped, and Genevieve and Edwin approached, but they were no different.

"What are you doing, Genevieve? Stop Shane!"

"I can't."

Genevieve refused flatly.

Edelaine looked to Edwin. He shrugged. She wanted to rip his shoulders off.

"I told you. He's getting harder to handle."

"That's so irresponsible! That guy's one of Your Highness's retainers too!"

"Yeah. Looks like the third son of the Tate family."

"You're just going to stand there and watch!?"

"Ah, murder in public isn't ideal."

Edwin said it like it was someone else's problem.

It was someone else's problem.

Genevieve chimed in.

"Doesn't Your Grace have the justification? He tried to lay hands on Lady Edelaine."

"Well, that's true."

"If we call it a bare-handed duel, there shouldn't be an issue."

"Then it's not a crime. No problem at all."

Saintess, don't be so cold about this. As Edelaine shot her a betrayed look, Genevieve said,

"If His Grace wants to kill that man, no one can stop him. Honestly, I don't want to either."

"Why is killing him a given? Murder's not allowed!"

"Telling me won't help."

Genevieve, you...... you've changed.

Edelaine wanted to cling like she had with her ex, but if she did, the poor drunkard might get beaten to death.

The male lead! This world's male lead!

A mad dog.

The heroine had become a proxy, and the male lead a rabid beast. Tears blurred her vision. The reports had mentioned he'd grown more extreme, but not that he'd turned into a mad dog.

It wasn't just because the man had lived a worthless life that no one stepped in.

The highest powers in the room—the Crown Prince, the Saintess, the Duke, and even the Marquis's family members blending into the crowd to watch—were all standing by.

A sense of duty washed over Edelaine: she was the only one who could save that man's life.

"Shane, stop!"

She shouted loudly and wrapped her arms around his waist.

As if by magic, Shane froze.

Edelaine carefully pulled at his waist, handling him like a bomb about to go off, drawing him farther from the man and closer to her. He didn't budge, but he didn't shove her away either.

"Stop, that's enough already......"

"......"

"What if you end up killing him......"

Death was scary.

Her own, or anyone else's.

Edelaine squeezed her eyes shut, refusing to look at the already battered man. She babbled whatever came to mind.

"I haven't even had my first dance yet. Hey, want to dance? My partner's supposed to be Jeff, but you're my fiancé, so it should be fine. Let's go dance, Shane. Come on, stop this and let's go......"

She was genuinely afraid he'd kill him.

To keep him from swinging again, she tightened her grip around his waist. Moments later, Shane covered the back of her hand with his own.

"One word from you, and I would've stopped, Edelaine."

"...Don't lie."

"It's true. If you'd told me not to."

Shane chuckled faintly, lifting her hand from his waist to his lips. He kissed each knuckle before speaking.

"Were you scared I'd actually kill that guy?"

"Y-Yeah, scared."

"Of me? Or......"

Seeing her pale face, Shane changed tack.

"If I'd wanted him dead, he would've been gone already, Edelaine."

"......"

"This much should serve as a warning."

He hadn't intended to kill from the start, Shane added.

Edelaine eyed him suspiciously. She half-expected him to finish the job later out of spite.

In the novel's sunny romance days, she'd have believed him outright. But now that the genre was a mongrel mix, she couldn't take it at face value.

"You said we should dance. Let's go."

"Uh, wait a bit.... I feel dizzy; I need to rest."

"Then step on my feet."

"I'm not some kid dancing on her dad's feet......"

Edelaine grumbled and flicked her eyes toward the fallen man. Get out while you can.

Shane ignored the man scrambling away, panting, and slowly scanned the crowd. His gaze was unrelenting.

The warning in those narrowed blue eyes was crystal clear.

Don't take Edelaine Bertrand lightly, or you won't get away with it.

Edwin let out a low whistle.

"Quite the performance."

"My little sister nearly got hit, and that's what you say?"

"She's not my little sister."

The kind of guy who'd shrug even if his own sister got decked had a way with words. Jeff said,

"I was just trying to bring her a drink in case she got thirsty, and he stole her first dance."

"Thanks to that, see? Now no one can doubt Edelaine Bertrand."

Edwin chuckled.

Shane had made a show of it, beating the man while pretending to be in a frenzy. It was meant to prove he'd lose it over his fiancée—and it probably was true.

People would gossip about how much Duke Blancard loved his fiancée, and...

"They'll figure out who's holding Shane's leash too."

"Edelaine must want to toss it away."

"Haha, looks that way!"

They'd chatter about what the returned Edelaine Bertrand was packing. It was clearly not what she wanted, but for Edwin, it was great news.

A useful card had come back to life.