Thought It Was ‘The End’, Only to Return to a Changed Genre - Chapter 139

Adeline ran over and wrapped her arms around Shane’s neck. He bent slightly to make it easier for her to cling to him, though he frowned slightly. Her skin felt cold, likely because she had been standing outside.

“You didn’t wait inside.”

“I wanted to see you sooner.”

“You would’ve seen me eventually at home.”

Shane gently removed her arms from around him, smiling as he did so. Adeline pouted in dissatisfaction.

“You always say things like that.”

“Sorry. I’m just happy you waited for me.”

Shane brushed his thumb along Adeline’s cheek and the nape of her neck. Adeline laughed, feeling ticklish as her shoulders twitched.

“Something must’ve made you happy today.”

“Well, my husband’s face is so handsome, it makes me happy every time I see it.”

“Take a good look, then.”

“I’m too shy to look directly….”

Instead of teasing her about her bashfulness, Shane put a little distance between them.

“The Empress called for you, didn’t she?”

“Yes, with Mother… She asked who I thought would be a good candidate for Prince Edwin’s bride.”

“So, did anyone come to mind?”

“I don’t know. They all seem pretty and kind on the surface… In the end, I guess it’ll come down to the conditions.”

Adeline shrugged her shoulders. It was a fair statement.

Above all, Edwin himself didn’t seem to have much will to get married. Shane guided Adeline back inside, his lips twisting slightly in amusement.

It wasn’t uncommon for Edwin to get under his skin. While Edwin usually tried not to provoke Shane’s temper, he had no qualms when it came to pursuing his ambitions and desires—even if that involved the wife of his relative and friend.

“I’m not planning anything, no need to glare at me like that.”

“Am I supposed to feel better about hearing something like that?”

“If Adeline still hated you like she used to,”

Shane’s face twisted into a deep scowl.

“If she was still avoiding you and running away, I wouldn’t hesitate to take her from you.”

“…….”

“There’s no need to glare. You’re starting to look like you want to rip my head off.”

Instead of responding, Shane’s gaze remained fixed on Edwin’s neck. Edwin, sensing the intensity, clicked his tongue in exasperation.

“You really can’t take a joke, can you?”

“Am I supposed to laugh at garbage like that?”

“…….”

“And it wasn’t even a joke.”

“Can’t deny that. I figured there was no point in hiding it from you—you’d figure it out soon enough.”

“You could at least pretend to deny it.”

“Why bother? I can already see you’re so irritated by the way I look at her, you’d like to gouge my eyes out.”

“…….”

“How about you pretend, just once, that you don’t care…?”

“…….”

“Is this what you call brotherhood?”

Edwin let out a hearty laugh. If Edwin had been messing around with Adeline like he did with countless other women in the past, merely out of passing interest, Shane would have been irritated but would have only issued a warning.

Edwin was not foolish enough to seriously anger Shane over mere curiosity.

But the fact that Edwin had no intention of backing down made it clear that this wasn’t just a fleeting amusement.

“If Adeline ever falls out of love with you, that’ll be my chance. I’m sure it’ll happen before I die.”

But because Adeline didn’t want that, there’s nothing I could do, Edwin added. He seemed to even find amusement in his own helplessness. Truly, his tastes were twisted.

To choose a love where he found pleasure in helplessness—if that wasn’t the behavior of a pervert, then what was?

Mocking Shane’s irritation, Edwin remarked,

“See? You can’t even declare with certainty that Adeline will always love only you. Should you really be showing me such an opening?”

***

“Shane?”

Shane blinked. Adeline was holding his arm, looking up at him.

The person he had loved for his entire life.

His special person…

To Shane, Adeline was still the only one who was special.

His feelings for her had grown steadily, like water flowing along its destined path, and they only deepened with time.