Thought It Was 'The End', Only to Return to a Changed Genre - Chapter 132
If heās going to cheat after getting married anyway, why not just choose someone based on conditions?
“Aren’t you being a bit too insincere? Both of you. I’m starting to feel offended.”
Adeline and Genevieve simultaneously turned to the door. Edwin was entering.
“Where’s Shane?”
“He’ll be here soon. You just want to see your husband first thing all the time. Am I not even a little bit welcome?”
“Umā¦”
Adeline paused, unable to find a reason why she should answer what seemed like an obvious question in a way that made it seem less so.
“Don’t you have more important things to do? Like going to choose your bride?”
“They all look the same to me.”
“ā¦ā¦”
“They’re all desperately trying to seize the chance to become Empress, like a school of fish swarming around bait.”
And just like that, another tasteless comment was added.
“That’s not something you should be saying to people you’ve gathered.”
“I didn’t gather them. It was my motherās idea.”
“But you were enthusiastic enough to ask us for help, werenāt you?”
Genevieve also nodded. In fact, Edwin had recently been making positive remarks about marriage quite often. Edwin glanced at Genevieve, then back at Adeline and said,
“Why don’t you choose for me?”
“What?”
“If you pick someone, I’ll marry her. How about that?”
What nonsense.
Adeline snorted. It seemed like the groom’s pre-wedding blues were quite severe.
***
Genevieve walked down the hallway, wiping the water off with a towel handed to her by a servant.
She had cast a charm on everyone she made eye contact with just in case, and it had quickly exhausted her. Fortunately, Adeline hadnāt suspected a thing.
Genevieve had taken on the role of both physician and guardian.
As soon as she found out that the blessed bracelet had broken, Genevieve had stuck close to Adeline, essentially becoming a living barrier.
While Genevieve stayed by her side, Shane, Edwin, and the Bertrand family were supposed to track down and destroy the source of the curse.
Adeline should have seen the look on Marquis Bertrandās face when he found out someone had cursed his daughter.
Genevieve had worked under the notoriously cruel Shane for five years, but even she was momentarily scared by the Marquisās terrifying expression. If there was ever a demon from hell, it would look like that.
Genevieve was also extremely angry, but she couldnāt help feeling overshadowed by the intensity of the family’s reaction.
āMaybe the reason Adeline isnāt afraid of Duke Blanchard and handles him so well is because it runs in the familyā¦ā
Perhaps she was used to dealing with merciless faces.
But that thought soon changed. The Bertrand family meticulously hid their ruthless side in front of the youngest child. They also kept secret the threatening acts they committed behind the scenes.
Adeline probably had no idea that Emma Bertrand, who gave off the impression of a graceful doe, was the most menacing of them all.
Still, Genevieve understood their intentions.
She herself wanted to resolve everything without Adeline knowing, if at all possible.
Adeline was already frail, and she didnāt want to make her more anxious.
She had hoped be allowed to witness the Pope’s final moments, but after Adeline was attacked, that didnāt seem like something to worry about anymore.
Anyway, to the Pope, she was just a Saintessāthere had never been any affectionate feelings between them.
That was usually the case with the people around Genevieve. The more burdened someone was, the more they regarded emotions as unnecessary, valuing people only for their usefulness.
Edwin was a prime example.
Shane was an exception, as he didnāt see anyone besides Adeline as human, but others were no different.
Lucian. The Bertrand family.
And perhaps even Genevieve herself was of a similar sort.
After five years of playing the role of Saintess, it was hard to survive with pure innocence.
To live among people who were constantly trying to use her, she had to at least be able to see through them with the same eyes. She needed to be able to say sweet things and act like a sycophant when necessary.
As she was about to enter the sunroom where they usually enjoyed tea time, she saw Edwin standing at the entrance.
Genevieve was about to ask why he wasnāt going in when she saw, over his shoulder, Shane and Adeline kissing sweetly. It seemed that Edwin had found it hard to interrupt them.
Genevieve was about to suggest they give them some privacyā¦ but then she noticed the bitter expression on Edwinās face.
She realized what was going on. She couldnāt help but feel a pang of sympathy as she covered her mouth with a hand.
āAdeline, what sins did you commit in your past lifeā¦ā
Was it not enough to collect Duke Blanchard, that you had to add His Highness Edwin to the mix as well?
Genevieve lamented deeply, unaware it was karma taken on that was never hers to begin with.
