Thought It Was ‘The End’, Only to Return to a Changed Genre - Chapter 180

The one holding a blade to Kaitlyn’s neck was Lloyd.

Lloyd turned his gaze toward Adeline, and their eyes met.

Though her vision was blurred by tears, she could still see that he was alive. Aside from looking a bit pale, he seemed all right. Adeline sobbed.

“I knew… I knew you’d still be alive…”

“Don’t make any unnecessary movements,” he replied.

Even his cold, composed voice was a welcome sound. She had been terrified she would never hear his voice again.

“You’ll get hurt if you’re not careful. Just stay still.”

“Y-Yes.”

His voice, devoid of warmth or sentiment, cut straight through her overwhelming emotions.

Then, pressing his blade firmly against Kaitlyn’s neck, he added a small cut. As Kaitlyn gritted her teeth, Lloyd spoke.

“If my Master gets hurt, this woman will suffer the same. So stay put.”

Is he… threatening him for me? She couldn’t help but feel a strange sense of admiration at the calm, natural way he issued threats. She didn’t care one bit about the sorcerer’s well-being, yet Lloyd spoke as though she would be deeply concerned for Kaitlyn’s life.

“If you kill Kaitlyn, your precious Master dies too!” Harrison growled.

Even Kaitlyn looked at him, surprised.

From the beginning, Harrison had known Kaitlyn’s plan was a losing battle, akin to an egg striking a stone.

The difference in power between their kingdom and the empire was insurmountable.

If Harrison hadn’t managed to conceal his true intentions and deceive Genevieve perfectly, Kaitlyn would never have gotten even this far. They would never have been able to kidnap the woman those people protected so carefully—Adeline.

Harrison knew all this.

His goal had been to bargain the lives of the Duchess of Blanchard and Genevieve to save Kaitlyn. Ideally, he had wanted assurance for the safety of the Kingdom of Brubewein as well.

But now he wasn’t even certain he could save Kaitlyn’s life.

He couldn’t let Kaitlyn die.

That would be a betrayal of Keith.

Harrison had sworn never to betray him. He had vowed never to become as despicable as his father and had promised to dedicate his life to Keith.

But to remain loyal to Keith, he’d had to commit an even more profound betrayal.

Genevieve. Jenny.

Gasping for breath, Harrison sought the woman who had relied on him just a few hours earlier.

The Saintess, whom he hadn’t dared to touch, even feeling it would be a sin.

A person who seemed made from all the world’s brilliance.

With her, even speaking required caution—his words always faltered before her. He wanted to offer her only the most carefully chosen words, which made his speech awkward and hesitant.

Even if he couldn’t call it love, his feelings had been genuine.

Just as his loyalty to Keith and pity for Kaitlyn were genuine.

But he couldn’t betray Keith. Keith came first. Keith was his master, his friend, his brother, and, at the same time, his innocence. Betraying Keith would mean admitting the traitor’s blood ran in his veins.

Genevieve looked at him, unblinking.

She gazed at him as if she were a god passing judgment.

Contrary to her earlier stubbornness in avoiding his gaze, she now stared at him fiercely while held in Crown Prince Edwin’s arms.

Harrison hoped and feared that there was still some emotion in those violet eyes looking at him. He couldn’t bear to meet her gaze fully.

He closed his eyes, tightly, then opened them.

Everything had already fallen apart beyond repair.

If he escaped with Kaitlyn, alive, he would take her somewhere safe…

And after that…

Harrison would atone for his sins.

Resolute, he seized Adeline’s hair and pulled her head back, pressing his sword close against her exposed throat.

“Order that boy to release Kaitlyn, Your Grace. Otherwise, I will kill your wife. If you let Kaitlyn go and allow us to leave, I promise to release her unharmed.”

For a moment, Shane, who had been silent all along, suddenly broke into a bright smile.

“Then go ahead. Kill her.”