Thought It Was 'The End', Only to Return to a Changed Genre - Chapter 67
The Empress of Green Windsor, Viola, was a beauty who closely resembled Edwin.
Despite her youthful and beautiful appearance, which made her seem like she was in her thirties, she had actually surpassed the age of sixty this year.
Adeline often received affection from the Empress until she ran away. From the time they first met when she was eight until she fled at eighteen, ten years had passed, but the Empress’s appearance had not changed at all. Adeline seriously suspected that she might be an elf or some other non-human species.
Unlike the Emperor, who was resting in a provincial palace due to deteriorating health, Viola wielded influence both in high society and in politics, holding Delmuz firmly in her grasp. She was the reason Edwin could fill the Emperor’s absence seamlessly without officially ascending to the throne.
Despite her doe-like appearance, her personality was fiery, and she had strong initiative and drive. Some even whispered that she was more of an emperor than the Emperor himself. While the Emperor was gentle, some would say he lacked charisma. In this light, they could be seen as a well-matched pair.
Viola had a close relationship with Emma even before their marriages, and she kept Emma as her closest lady-in-waiting.
‘Father is a member of the parliament, my eldest brother is a lord of a fertile territory, my second brother is a successful businessman, and my mother is the Empress’s lady-in-waiting… Bertrand family is really incredible…’
Emma was probably one of the most influential figures in high society.
She spoke with a smile but did not erase the cool undertone in her voice.
“I heard you almost got into trouble…”
“Shane protected me well.”
“We told you, didn’t we? If anything dangerous happens, hide behind someone.”
Adeline had nothing to say even if she had ten mouths.
She wanted to say that everything was fine since she wasn’t hurt, but she knew saying that would plunge her into a tearful hell. Emma had only recently regained her daughter, whom she thought she had lost. And now she had almost faced the same situation again.
“There must have been plenty around to use as a shield.”
Was she referring to using humans as shields and not actual weapons or stone walls, or was it just Adeline’s imagination…?
Seeing Adeline’s troubled face as she avoided eye contact, Emma sighed softly.
“I’ll stop for now. But soon, Patrick and Jeff will come to see you. Gregory will have something to say too. As you know, those three can be quite overbearing. You should brace yourself for that.”
“Yes…”
Jeff’s terrifying expression was vividly apparent in her mind. Gregory and Patrick would also be full of reproaches. Especially Gregory, who was such an eloquent speaker that listening to him would make Adeline feel like a heinous criminal weighed down by guilt. Adeline had once seriously wondered if this was what political gaslighting felt like.
“Emma, even you turn into a typical mother in front of your daughter.”
“Please don’t tease me too much, Your Majesty.”
“Do you love her that much?”
“Isn’t she beautiful? All children are beautiful to their parents.”
“If my children had been as adorable as Adeline, I would have cherished them as much as you do…”
Viola clicked her tongue.
“All of my children turned out strange, each one of them.”
“Don’t say that. You find him cute in your own way.”
“Well, I guess I do find him endearing, in my own way.”
The conversation was delicate. Adeline watched the exchange while bringing her teacup to her lips. Just like Edwin, Viola said the exact same thing upon seeing Adeline’s face—
‘You really are alive, Adeline.’
Hearing the same words from someone who looked exactly like him, albeit of a different gender, was quite eerie. Furthermore, her piercing blue eyes, which seemed to see through everything, made it all the more unsettling.
However, Viola soon smiled brightly, offering her congratulations and welcome, allowing Adeline to move past the awkwardness without saying anything.
When Jeff mentioned that he had asked Lloyd to cooperate, Adeline realized that none of the Bertrands believed in the so-called miracle of the Saintess. Despite this, they pretended to believe, signifying they would accept her as she was.
No questions would be asked. Her return was all that mattered.
To Adeline, this was more burdensome than being interrogated.
“It would have been better if you had married my son.”
“We couldn’t possibly, Your Majesty. Our house isn’t worthy.”
“Yet you’re fine with House Blanchard? They have imperial blood in their veins too, you know.”
“That’s why we proceeded with the engagement. At that time, Prince Edwin was discussing marriage with the princess of the Remvi Kingdom.”
“What a shame. If I had known it would turn out like this, I would have pushed harder.”
The conversation was chilling. Even if Adeline had avoided an engagement with the male lead Shane, what awaited her was an engagement with the secondary male lead, Edwin.
