Thought It Was 'The End', Only to Return to a Changed Genre - Chapter 21
A clue emerged while investigating Lucian.
The Crown Prince was passionately eradicating underground crime syndicates and had requested Shane’s cooperation.
Shane had little interest in who was killing or being killed. He would have preferred to leave Delmuz, but he couldn’t. It was the only place that still held traces of Adeline.
He needed to cling to those traces just to continue breathing.
‘If I had known you would risk your life to protect a so-called saint.’
He wouldn’t have bothered to pick up a girl covered in dust, beaten by her father to death. If he hadn’t, Adeline wouldn’t have died.
While ignoring him completely, she warmly smiled at that girl, obviously very fond of her, but to think she would sacrifice her life to save her.
Shane regretted it countless times.
If he could turn back time, he would wish he hadn’t picked up Genevieve.
If he hadn’t left Adeline’s side.
If he had just clung to her side, ensuring no harm could come to her, regardless of whether she hated him.
But no amount of regret could bring Adeline back.
Then, at least according to Adeline’s wishes, her legacy should save the world.
Shane invested generously in money and power to ensure Genevieve was recognized as the Saintess, keeping her busy across the continent.
“Genevieve is a human being too, Shane. Even slaves aren’t treated so harshly.”
“Mind your own business. She hasn’t dropped dead, has she?”
“Just because she isn’t dead doesn’t mean it’s okay.”
“If she can’t handle it, she’d say so.”
“Only if she felt listened to.”
Crown Prince Edwin scoffed.
“Some even gossip that you’ve fallen hard for the Saintess.”
They must be blind. That’s no way to treat someone you’re smitten with.
“Genevieve is also suffering from guilt. You shouldn’t make it worse.”
“I haven’t said anything.”
“Not saying it outright doesn’t mean…”
Edwin and Shane were master and servant, relatives, and almost friends. They had spent the most time together since childhood, which was why they could talk like this.
Genevieve was just pitiful.
With the notion that she, who survived instead of Adeline, knew what she must do, without granting even an unnecessary death, merely exploited as a tool.
To Edwin, it was no different from exploitation, yet Genevieve endured silently.
‘I knew you were obsessed with Adeline.’
For Edwin, Adeline was also close to a friend. She was from a prestigious noble family, straightforward, and smart enough to be useful. Edwin liked her quite a bit even though she always grumbled about being exploited, as long as she received proper compensation.
But Adeline didn’t particularly like Shane. She blatantly avoided him.
It was a one-sided relationship, so he assumed the feelings weren’t deep.
‘Five years since her death, and he hasn’t changed.’
After Adeline died, Shane seemed completely broken.
Such extreme fixation was so dangerous.
Edwin, picking up the documents he had received, said,
“It’s a bit awkward to bring this up, but I need to confirm something. Do you know about the young servant Adeline used to keep with her?”
“I know.”
How could he forget that damn punk’s face?
She wouldn’t even meet with him, yet she picked up that little brat, fed him, clothed him, and kept him by her side.
Shane gritted his teeth. He remembered the face of that punk who clung to Adeline’s side, boasting as if he was loved—unlike him.
“It seems that servant had ties with that rat king. Especially six years ago, almost like it was his own home for a year.”
“Do you suspect that Adeline was involved in crimes with the rat king?”
“No? No! I’m not crazy enough to suggest such a mad thing in front of you!”
Even if he had suspicions, he would not have mentioned it in front of Shane.
“It’s just that his activities around that time were suspicious! Adeline frequently stayed at a hotel run by that guy, and also…”
Stammering an excuse, Edwin’s hands held documents that Shane snatched away.
The possibility sprouted as Shane quickly read through the text, his blue eyes gleaming.
*
It was all Adeline’s plan.
A remarkable spectacle had been played out. The audience was the entire world.
It was natural for her to act like someone about to leave.
If all this had been planned since a very long time ago.
“Ha, haha.”
The pale arm that had fallen before his eyes was still vivid.
The touch of the blood-stained fingers that had touched and fallen from his cheek was still vivid.
It was all a lie.
He could hardly breathe.
He couldn’t tell whether he was happy or sad. Just a heavy emotion filled his heart.
One thing was clear.
Adeline was alive.
She had not died.
