Thought It Was 'The End', Only to Return to a Changed Genre - Chapter 24
Beside Shane, Genevieve, with a saintly expression worthy of the ‘First Servant of the Goddess,’ clasped her hands and said,
“I had just awakened my powers, so I was very lacking.”
Adeline, still in Emma’s embrace, glared fiercely.
Genevieve, not you too!
Genevieve avoided Adeline’s gaze and lowered her eyes meekly, speaking piously.
“But the Goddess answered my five years of prayers. It took time, but now…!”
Genevieve was even skilled at modulating the intensity of her performance. She deserved an award for Best Actress.
“I was able to revive my benefactor, Lady Adeline…!”
Gregory, Patrick, and Jeff’s eyes wavered, swayed by the veteran saintess’s showmanship.
No, this can’t be happening.
Adeline needed to speak up and deny it immediately. She had to say it was all fake, that this crazy male lead and female lead had kidnapped and imprisoned her, spouting nonsense.
But Emma’s grip on her was so weak that she couldn’t bring herself to speak.
“Why didn’t you say this from the beginning?”
“Did you give me a chance to? You blamed me for Adeline’s death without listening to anything I said.”
“That’s….”
“And for five years, Adeline was as good as dead. There was no certainty the resurrection would succeed. I thought it wouldn’t be too late to tell you after it worked.”
Lie after lie flowed smoothly from Shane’s lips.
‘That bastard, that crazy bastard! Putting on such a show!’
However, Gregory, Patrick, and Jeff wouldn’t be easily fooled.
Gregory, befitting the father of a villainess, was very suspicious by nature. Speaking positively, he was a noble through and through. However, on a negative note, he was point-blank devious.
Patrick, who had helped manage the marquisate since childhood, and Jeff, who had been traveling the continent for business, were no pushovers either.
Surely, they wouldn’t believe in a body double. They’d demand something plausible and storm out angrily.
Adeline believed that, but….
“So that’s why you didn’t formally break off the engagement.”
Gregory muttered in a low voice.
No!
Adeline screamed silently.
With that one statement, as if ready to accept the situation, Patrick and Jeff’s expressions began to change as well.
“I told you. I have no intention of marrying anyone other than Adeline.”
“…Yes, you did.”
“Because Adeline isn’t dead.”
No, you thought I was dead too.
Adeline couldn’t expose Shane’s lies and only moved her lips silently. Shane, who made eye contact with her, smirked, but only Adeline could see it.
Genevieve, who made eye contact with the shocked Adeline, gave a regretful look.
And then she sealed it.
“I can swear in the name of the Goddess. The person here is indeed Lady Adeline Bertrand. I treated her with my own hands….”
You treated me, but I wasn’t even sick! There was nothing to heal!
“I even changed her clothes and took care of her with my own hands.”
So that’s why you insisted on changing my clothes. You said it would be uncomfortable to sleep in a dress….
“She is definitely Lady Adeline.”
“If there is even a single lie in what you said—”
“I would be abandoned by the Goddess immediately and never be able to use holy power again.”
Please don’t stake your divine power, on which the fate of the continent depends, on verifying my identity….
“But as you can see, I am still a servant of the Goddess.”
It was a flawless finish.
Adeline trembled with betrayal.
Instead of pursuing their romance, the male and female leads were teaming up to screw her over.
“But the corpse we confirmed that day was definitely…”
“That’s enough, Patrick.”
Gregory spoke, his voice hoarse and rough.
“If they’re willing to say that much, we can’t doubt them any longer. …Adeline.”
“….”
“I’m truly sorry. When a person’s deepest wish comes true, sometimes they can’t believe it. No, that’s just an excuse. I’m sorry.”
Adeline couldn’t say anything, like a child who had swallowed honey. Seeing the resolute Gregory, the crying Emma, and the gradually crumbling Patrick and Jeff….
“Welcome back. Truly, welcome….”
“…Yes….”
Her guilty conscience ached and cried.
