Thought It Was 'The End', Only to Return to a Changed Genre - Chapter 141

“Don’t drink it.”

Adeline’s wrist, the one that had held Edwin’s teacup, felt either burning hot or freezing cold—he couldn’t tell.

Slowly, she collapsed, her pale face wearing what seemed like a faint smile.

Edwin almost thought it was a dream—a nightmare.

It had to be, because otherwise, this couldn’t be happening.

All he wanted was to have tea with her, just the two of them. No—no, that wasn’t right.

Adeline had drunk the tea and collapsed.

This wasn’t a dream, nor a nightmare. This was real.

Edwin reached out belatedly, but her body had already crumpled to the floor.

“Adel… Adeline!”

“…Ugh…”

A faint groan escaped her lips.

But that was all.

Edwin, with trembling hands, lifted Adeline’s limp body.

She was impossibly light, her slender frame offering no resistance. One glance at her bloodless face and pale lips was enough to know she had been poisoned.

He knew this, yet he couldn’t move.

His sharp mind was useless now.

All he could see was Adeline, unconscious in his arms.

He had to call for someone.

“Move aside!”

Lloyd barged in, pushing Edwin out of the way.

He placed a hand under Adeline’s nose and on her neck, biting his lip in frustration. Then, he pulled out a small vial from his coat.

“Damn it, she has to drink it all…”

He muttered angrily to the unconscious Adeline, prying her mouth open and pouring the contents of the vial down her throat.

Then, he turned to Edwin, who was frozen in shock, and shouted.

“What are you standing around for? Go get a Saintess, a healer, anyone!”

“…Oh.”

“This is just first aid! If you’ve got time to stand there gaping, move, you bastard!”

Startled back into action by Lloyd’s outburst, Edwin bolted out the door.

Outside, Harrison stood with a confused look on his face.

Edwin, nearly screaming, ordered him,

“Harrison, get a healer! Now!”

Harrison quickly regained his composure. “Yes, sir!” he shouted before running off.

“Master, come on, stay with me! If you die, damn it, if you die, I’ll never forgive you…”

Lloyd’s hands, cradling Adeline’s limp neck, trembled violently.

He clenched his teeth. Adeline was still breathing. His fingers, hovering near her nose, could just barely feel the faint rhythm of her breath, and her pulse was weak but still present.

But she was so pale.

Lloyd’s breath came in ragged bursts. There was no color in her face. How could she be so drained in just seconds?

He knew well how fragile human life was. He had learned, at a young age, how easily a life could be taken, even by the smallest hands.

That’s how he’d been raised—learning to kill quickly and efficiently, being paid to do so.

Before Adeline had found him, he hadn’t known what it was to fear someone’s life slipping away.

Now, seeing her face drained of color filled him with terror.

“Wake up, please…”

His voice was unfamiliar to his own ears, shaking with desperation.

Lloyd tried to recall Adeline’s voice, reminding himself of her indomitable spirit. She was someone who wouldn’t die easily—someone who would fight to the end. She would survive this, too.

“I made this just in case I got poisoned.”

“You prepared this yourself, Master?”

“Yeah. You never know.”

“Why this particular antidote?”

“Just a hunch.”

“…”

“Don’t ask. Just keep it on you.”

“If it’s for you, shouldn’t you carry it yourself?”

“No, you need to have it.”

“…”

“You’ll always be by my side, right?”

And with that, she had smiled, with a foolishly trusting look on her face.

Of course, he would always be by her side. That was his life’s purpose. But if she died now, his life would end, too.

Lloyd had never been more desperate in his life. He prayed silently for her to open her eyes, for someone—anyone—to save her.

“Adeline!”

“You—you idiot! Why are you so late…?”

Lloyd snapped, his voice choked with emotion.

Shane, panting heavily, rushed to Adeline’s side. His eyes trembled as he slid his hand under the back of her neck, lifting her into his arms.

“Lloyd.”

“I—I gave her the antidote. I gave it to her.”

“What antidote?”

“The one she told me to use if she was poisoned.”

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