Thought It Was 'The End', Only to Return to a Changed Genre - Chapter 122
Long after Genevieve married Harrison, finally, Edwin’s restless heart found a focus.
It was a bottomless swamp, a pit with no way out.
Edwin had a habit of coveting what belonged to others from a very young age.
Things that didn’t interest him when they were unclaimed suddenly became desirable once someone else cherished and loved them.
As the Crown Prince of the Empire, there was almost nothing he couldn’t have if he wanted it.
Thus, the more unattainable something was, the more precious it became.
Saintess Genevieve was the same.
An untouchable treasure of the continent.
If Genevieve had fallen in love with Shane as everyone expected, Edwin might have fallen in love with her too.
Genevieve, unable to fully harness her powers as a Saintess and trembling under the public’s scrutiny, evoked a protective instinct in Edwin.
She was the first woman he felt a protective urge towards who didn’t belong to anyone.
Had Genevieve become someone’s, Edwin might have loved her.
But Genevieve didn’t fall in love with anyone.
Specifically, she fell in love with Adeline, but after Adeline died before her eyes, she shut her heart tightly.
Edwin’s emotions and interest quickly faded.
The fleeting protective urge he felt transformed into something akin to brotherly affection.
By now, Edwin considered Genevieve more of a sister than his own blood sister.
When she decided to marry Harrison, he genuinely congratulated her.
However, the emotions that might have been directed towards Genevieve and his long-standing boredom now turned towards the worst possible person.
‘I can’t believe it’s come to this.’
He had fallen in love with Adeline.
Life was indeed full of surprises.
Of course, having witnessed Shane’s obsession with Adeline, he had no intention of pursuing her.
Edwin could love only those he could not have.
The moment something became attainable, his love and interest would wither, so he wanted to enjoy it a little longer.
As time passed, just as he came to see Genevieve as a sister, this impulse would fade as if it had never existed.
‘Me, Genevieve, Shane… that crazy Lucian, and that ratty servant.’
Adeline seemed destined to collect only twisted affections. It was amusing how none of them were what she desired.
If Adeline had been a man, Genevieve might have married her long ago.
‘No, even if Adeline were a man, Shane wouldn’t have let her go.’
Edwin chuckled.
His twisted love was immediately unrequited upon realization.
But this budding affection didn’t seem like it could compete with Shane’s intense obsession. It couldn’t even compare to Genevieve’s feelings.
That was exactly how it felt.
“Kyaaaa!”
“…Genevieve….”
“Kyaaaaaa….”
“…….”
“Kya, hoo, uhoo… wahhh…!”
“I wish you’d either scream or cry, just pick one….”
“Hiic, wahhhhh….”
Genevieve, nearly wailing, clung to Adeline’s hands.
“I didn’t mean I wanted you to cry….”
“H-how, how could….”
“How could I not cry?”
“Uwahh, hiic, this, this is….”
“This is what?”
“I, I….”
“What’s happened while you were gone?”
Each time Genevieve mumbled an incoherent question, Adeline would perfectly interpret it.
“Hiic, hiiiiic….”
“I just didn’t sleep well.”
When Adeline offered this simple answer, Genevieve burst into tears again.
With the Saintess sobbing loudly, the attention of the guests in the hall turned to them.
Edwin sighed with a smile and waved his hand.
The blatant stares scattered, and Shane and Edwin formed a barrier, hiding Adeline.
***
The Saintess wept, her tears falling like heavy drops.
Between the Crown Prince, the Duke, and the Saintess stood a frail woman with a troubled expression.
Kaitlyn smiled brightly.
Found it.
Your treasure.
