Thought It Was 'The End', Only to Return to a Changed Genre - Chapter 124
Adeline woke up, gasping for breath. Her hand was tightly gripping Shane’s collar. Shane had his eyes closed, holding her close. Adeline rested her head on his firm arm, careful not to wake him with her breathing.
‘Does his face emit negative ions or something…?’
Watching him made her feel strangely calm. Maybe it really was true.
As if entranced, Adeline reached out and gently traced Shane’s eyebrows with her thumb. His delicate features, which could easily appear too refined, were given a strong and sharp impression by his eyebrows.
She had always found it amusing how only one of his eyebrows would arch whenever something displeased him. She used to laugh to herself, wondering if that was some kind of male lead specialty since she was young.
Shane Blanchard was a consistent person.
Chasing after Adeline, who kept running away and pushing him away, he had always straightforwardly said he liked her, that he loved only her.
It was just that Adeline never believed him.
Looking back, Shane had always done his best to love her.
How could someone be so unwavering?
If Adeline were Shane, she would have long since lost all affection for a troublesome woman like herself.
She had never believed his words of love, had staged the most elaborate scam of the century, ran away, and even left him with trauma. She had lied so much that he couldn’t believe anything she said anymore, yet she had even made him beg for her to say she loved him.
‘What on earth does he like about me…?’
The more she thought about it, the worse it seemed…?
How is it even possible to love someone like her…?
On the other hand, Shane had countless qualities that made him lovable.
At least, to Adeline, he did.
He was impressively capable, almost annoyingly so, as if nothing was ever difficult for him. His awareness of his own brilliance made his indifference to others’ attention endearingly arrogant, and even his occasional irritability and sensitivity were lovable.
Despite acting as if duties and responsibilities meant nothing to him, he faithfully carried out his given role and took responsibility for those under him as if it were only natural.
Shane didn’t show obvious kindness, but he was a fair superior.
He didn’t take out his emotions on those weaker than him and judged others with precise fairness.
That was why, despite his indifferent attitude, people kept gathering around him.
Moreover, Shane wasn’t just a cold-hearted person.
He was someone who could say he liked what he liked, someone who didn’t avoid or run away from love but faced it head-on and clung to it.
‘He’s much more of a proper adult than I am.’
Adeline found Shane’s devoted, gentle, and ultimately yielding nature endearing.
He could be a bit harsh at times.
But as long as he was kind to the person he loved…
Adeline deliberately ignored the very large and important point: Shane loved her and only her. He could never hold such feelings for anyone else in this whole world.
If he had loved someone else instead of her, he would have found happiness long ago.
Still, she was glad that he hadn’t given up on her. It was a completely unreasonable selfishness.
“I’m sorry for being such a bother…”
I’m sorry for being such a troublesome person who can’t even tell you I love you. Adeline murmured softly.
She was the one who said they should be honest, yet she felt sorry for only telling lies.
Perhaps the reason she couldn’t reveal the truth was simply that she lacked courage.
Since so many parts of the nightmare had changed, even if she did tell the truth, they might not all die. But Adeline couldn’t bear to take that risk, even if it was a one-in-a-million chance.
Reality was not a dream.
She had resolved to kill the sorcerer, but if…
‘If I can’t kill her, does that mean I’ll die?’
Knowing that person had to die, she couldn’t bring herself to do something as cruel as confessing her feelings to Shane when everything’s still so uncertain.
Occasionally exchanging kisses and playful banter might have shown her feelings, but…
‘Even if I don’t say it, it’s not much different from expressing my love with my whole body.’
She knew it was irresponsible, but she couldn’t help it. She couldn’t bear it any other way. Unlike in the dream, Adeline needed reassurance that Shane loved her. She wanted to know that this was reality.
In doing so, she ended up toying with him in a way.
What kind of wretched person plays with someone’s heart without giving them a clear answer?
“If you’re sorry, then hug me.”
“…You weren’t asleep?”
“I woke up.”
“Then why were you keeping your eyes closed?”
Feeling embarrassed for being caught talking to herself, Adeline snapped, but Shane replied as if it were the most obvious thing.
“Because you were touching me. Why would I do something as foolish as interrupting that?”
“…You’ve gotten better at acting cute…”
“I’ve learned that this works best. You’re weak to my face, aren’t you?”
Shane smiled like a big cat, playfully showing affection. What a brazen, self-assured person.
“If you pity me, kiss me, Adeline. That’s all I need.”
The most straightforward, shameless person in the world…
Adeline smiled bitterly and kissed the lips of the man who looked so pitiful.
