Thought It Was 'The End', Only to Return to a Changed Genre - Chapter 116
“I’m not even thinking about marriage yet.”
Viola’s eyes widened.
“It would be better for you to marry soon, wouldn’t it?”
“The current situation isn’t particularly bad.”
“How long are you going to do your father’s bidding?”
Edwin only smirked in response. It wasn’t that he was trying to please his father, he simply had no presence to be bothersome.
“I’ve waited long enough. You must choose a consort before the end of the Founding Festival. If you don’t choose, I will pick someone myself…”
“Then please do as you wish.”
“What?”
“Anyone is fine. You’ll make a good choice, Mother.”
“Are you really my son? The one who always doubts everything unless he does it himself?”
“How do you view me, really?”
Edwin looked up at his mother, a deliberately angelic smile on his face, but Viola wasn’t fooled.
“When I see you using that pretty face I gave you for nothing but trivial things, you seem like your father.”
“……”
“Let go of old regrets, my son. I’ll overlook your unusual behavior just for today.”
Viola patted his shoulder as if she could see right through him and then left.
Edwin sighed, not hiding his fatigue.
He would become the next emperor without much fuss.
Since the position was his to claim whenever he wanted, Edwin preferred to enjoy his current freedom.
‘Regrets.’
Viola seemed to think Edwin was acting foolishly because he loved Genevieve.
She wasn’t entirely wrong; she saw her son somewhat accurately.
If Genevieve had chosen Edwin, he would have married her without hesitation.
But Genevieve didn’t choose Edwin.
Even after his fiancée disappeared, nothing changed.
Unlike Shane, who had chased after Adeline since childhood, Edwin enjoyed free relationships regardless of his engagement to a princess from another country. He mostly chose women who wouldn’t cause any problems afterward.
Adeline had once clicked her tongue at him.
“If you live like that, you’ll regret it later.”
“I’ve never done anything to regret.”
“You’re making enemies, meeting this woman and that woman.”
“I’ve explained enough and only met people who would understand. I’ve been thorough with contraception too.”
“Wow, what a scumbag.”
“Adeline, you said that out loud.”
“Oh, my mistake. Sorry.”
“I forgive you. I’m a generous person.”
“Since I’m forgiven, let me give you a word of advice. If you keep acting like trash, you won’t even notice the stench, so you’d better come to your senses.”
“I wore perfume though. Is it bad?”
“A playboy side character always ends up crying. A woman with any sense wouldn’t give you a chance.”
“Me, end up crying?”
“Sure, laugh while you still can…”
Genevieve was a sensible woman.
She didn’t pay attention to a man with a fiancée and naturally nipped her burgeoning feelings for Edwin right at the bud.
Only Edwin held onto these unresolved emotions, lingering in regret.
‘What’s the big deal.’
Genevieve had married Harrison as if she had picked someone at random. It was obvious she had married to escape.
Despite that, she allowed Harrison into parts of her life where Edwin couldn’t enter, and also…
Edwin cut off his trailing thoughts.
‘Why am I so annoyed?’
It had nothing to do with him whether Genevieve was happy with Harrison or not.
Edwin met the eyes of a woman who had been watching him persistently.
She was a woman who had lost her husband shortly after marriage and had been in a long-term relationship with Edwin.
She was discreet and didn’t demand exclusivity, making her the longest relationship among those he could call lovers. As always, when their eyes met, she stood up naturally.
Though it wasn’t the right situation, Edwin wanted to release his inexplicable irritation.
In a vacant room in the palace, they met and clung to each other without hesitation.
“Will someone from this gathering become the crown princess?”
“Probably.”
Edwin said nonchalantly as he slipped his hand under her skirt.
“I’ve served Your Highness for a long time…”
“Nothing will change.”
Until then, Edwin had no particular thoughts. But then,
“I could endure it because I wasn’t anyone’s!”
Her voice trembled with rage.
She pulled out a dagger hidden in her bosom and raised it high.
She was already on top of Edwin, her murderous intent clear.
Unlike Shane, Edwin had no training and couldn’t subdue her without causing a commotion.
Moreover, getting embroiled in a scandal about nearly being killed by a lover while potential crown princesses were present was unthinkable.
‘I made a mistake.’
At that moment, someone knocked on the door so hard it seemed it would break.
Taking advantage of her surprise, Edwin pushed her away, and the door burst open.
Edwin let her escape.
“Nothing’s going right, damn it.”
He couldn’t accuse her. This was his own doing.
Someone entered through the open door. Whoever it was, they helped resolve the situation. Edwin looked up.
And… Adeline was standing there.
She clicked her tongue at the sight of Edwin, dress shirt half-open.
“See? I told you, you’d regret it.”
She laughed as if looking at the most pathetic person in the world.
