Thought It Was 'The End', Only to Return to a Changed Genre - Chapter 20
“I’m fine. I wasn’t very close with my mother…”
“…”
“So I don’t cry. I’m not sad.”
“That’s not it, Shane…”
Adeline sobbed and said,
“You just don’t know how to express your feelings. You’re too smart and grown-up.”
Adeline took Shane’s cheeks in her small hands, brought her forehead to his, and said as if imprinting the words,
“Don’t be alone, Shane.”
“Huh?”
“You shouldn’t think that being alone is just natural. I’ll be with you, so if you feel lonely or sad, you can say it. It’s not embarrassing at all.”
“I’m not even embarrassed, but…”
Her palms on his cheeks were warm. So this was what human warmth felt like. Someone’s embrace…
The moist eyes of Adeline up close suddenly seemed dazzling.
Shane slowly closed and then opened his eyes.
‘Beautiful.’
It was as if his eyes were opened, as if color had been added to a black and white world.
The same scene looked different.
As Shane stared blankly, Adeline started to cry again.
He let his young fiancée comfort him.
In truth, he was still not sad about his mother’s death.
But the hands that cradled his head and stroked his hair sent a thrill through his heart.
It felt good.
It’s strange how someone can suddenly appear beautiful.
Objectively, it was true that Adeline had pretty features, but until then, that fact hadn’t stirred any emotion in him.
‘It’s not like her appearance has changed.’
The day that had seemed ordinary now felt like a lie.
Once she appeared beautiful, everything about Adeline caught his eye.
When it catches your eye, it looks beautiful, and that becomes irresistibly delightful.
Her petite hands were cute, her well-shaped fingernails on the fingertips were beautiful, even the crumbs on her chin were endearing.
‘Have I gone crazy…?’
Such things shouldn’t be lovely.
If someone else had cookie crumbs on their lips, it would look ridiculous, but not when it was Adeline.
Only Adeline was different.
‘I feel fortunate that Adeline is my fiancée.’
Shane felt grateful to his family and the emperor for arranging and approving the engagement.
Shane visited Adeline often.
They watched the flowers blooming in spring, went to the summer villa together, watched the harvest festival in autumn, and played in the snow in winter.
Adeline seemed annoyed every time she was called outside, but she would usually give in when he smiled at her. It seemed like she treated it as a sightseeing trip, watching his face as she ate cookies or drank tea.
But that was okay.
Shane found it surprising and wonderful how much he came to like Adeline.
The emotion grew like a living being.
Directed solely towards Adeline.
This brilliant and lovely child is mine.
She easily captures hearts, is emotional and secretive, yet honest.
Just seeing her green eyes sparkling with affection and her fair cheeks when she smiles was enough to make Shane happy.
Wanting someone’s affection was a first for him, and while he didn’t understand the senseless delight, it wasn’t bad.
‘Is this what they call first love?’
He couldn’t believe it. But if this wasn’t love, how else could he explain this feeling?
But then, one day.
“Let’s call off the engagement.”
“What?”
“Let’s break off our engagement, Shane. Yes, that would be best.”
Suddenly pale, Adeline declared it as if she had seen something terrible.
Like others did.
From that day, his young fiancée changed.
*
After that, Adeline thoroughly avoided Shane.
But still, Shane persistently clung to her.
“Please tell me if I’ve done something wrong, Adeline.”
“You’ve done nothing wrong.”
Adeline refused to tell him anything.
From some point on, Adeline acted like someone who would leave soon. She didn’t share her life with her family and insisted on being alone.
Even though she said that she wouldn’t leave him alone.
Even though she said she’d be there by his side.
“Shane, you need to be honest with your feelings. You know?”
“I know.”
“If the person you love appears before you, don’t worry about anything else and just go for it.”
I have no intention of clinging to you, don’t worry.
Adeline finally encouraged him to take action, but Shane’s feelings didn’t change.
‘Break off the engagement? Not a chance.’
Still, the only thing that could move his feelings was Adeline, and everything else was meaningless.
Even if Adeline hated him, he would never let her go.
“I c-can’t see…”
If she hadn’t died… he would have never.
“If you go like this, I’ll never forgive you. Don’t you dare. No, no…”
“Shane…”
My only color.
My emotions.
Everything I find lovely.
“I’m okay if you forget me… No, you must forget me… Do you understand? If you care about me, be sure… happy…”
I cannot forget.
How could I forget you?
“Goodbye…”
When her pale, thin arm dropped.
And Shane’s world shattered.
…Would you ever understand the despair, exhilaration, and the bitter sense of betrayal he felt when he found out that all this was a despicable lie?
