Thought It Was ‘The End’, Only to Return to a Changed Genre - Chapter 125

“I shouldn’t have tried to be brave.”

Adeline regretted it every minute.

Even she had to admit she looked like someone with only days left to live, but she never expected that everyone she met would react with such grave expressions, clasping her hands tightly.

She had anticipated Genevieve bursting into tears the moment she saw her, so dealing with that reaction was easier.

‘It was just hard to peel her off…’

Genevieve had clung to Adeline’s hand, trying to pour even the smallest drop of divine power into her, right up until she was dragged away by church officials. She had caused such a scene, insisting she wouldn’t let go, that Adeline had to swear to God that she was perfectly fine.

That was a few days ago.

It was said that the Pope, who seemed on the brink of death, had surprisingly stabilized and would be able to return in time for the Founding Festival.

What was difficult to deal with were the people who looked at her with pity, as if they couldn’t bring themselves to ask her outright.

“It’s not entirely a good thing, is it?”

“I’m sorry for being jealous and misunderstanding you, Madam!”

Some would cry and apologize for reasons she couldn’t understand.

“If you need any help, you should tell someone, even if it’s not me, okay?”

“I don’t want to interfere in a married couple’s matters, but you shouldn’t just endure it all.”

They would glare at Shane with suspicion.

They didn’t even give her a chance to explain.

They would draw their own conclusions, offer their pity, and leave, making Adeline want to tear her hair out in frustration.

“Say something…”

“Say what?”

“Say it’s a misunderstanding, that you’ve done nothing wrong.”

“I don’t care what anyone thinks.”

Shane just smiled, as if he were enjoying it. Adeline was the only one feeling frustrated.

“As long as it makes you take better care of yourself, I don’t care what anyone says.”

“…”

At this rate, the baseless misunderstandings would soon solidify into accepted truths.

‘Soon there’ll be rumors that I’m terminally ill.’

Some people already pitied her as if she were on the verge of death and eyed Shane greedily, as if they couldn’t wait to take the position that would be left vacant after her passing. Even Shane couldn’t tolerate that, so he showed his displeasure, and they would back off.

The best solution was for her to recover and get healthy again.

But it wasn’t as if she was actually sick—she just couldn’t sleep. Without addressing the underlying issue, there was nothing she could do.

In truth, her condition wasn’t that bad.

Thanks to Shane, she was eating regularly, and when she was in his arms, she could catch some sleep, even if just for a moment. Even after waking up from nightmares, holding him helped her regain her composure much faster.

‘It’s just that I look…’

…Terribly unwell.

Even Empress Viola had remarked,

“I don’t have a hobby of overworking someone who looks like they’re on the brink of death, and if I keep pushing you in this state, Emma might never look at me again.”

But the final blow came when she met Gregory, Patrick, and Jeff after a long time.

They must have been warned by Emma in advance, as they didn’t raise their voices, but Gregory’s wide-eyed shock and Patrick’s horrified expression conveyed their feelings clearly.

It was like sitting on a bed of nails.

‘I avoided them for this very reason…’

But there was no avoiding the pre-festival banquet.

Gregory took a deep breath, swallowing his words, and spoke through gritted teeth.

“Adeline, I don’t think you’re in any condition to be out.”

“It’s just the same severe insomnia I’ve always had. I’m not sick, Father.”

“…”

Their stares were piercing. Gregory looked at Adeline as if he didn’t expect a proper answer and then glared at Shane. Shane shook his head and said,

“She’s been examined by a healer, but nothing unusual was found.”

“So you’re saying she’s become like this just from insomnia?”

Gregory looked at Adeline in disbelief, as if it were impossible to be in such a state without a serious illness.

‘If you had dreams every night where you were murdered or watched others die, you’d end up like this too…’