Thought It Was ‘The End’, Only to Return to a Changed Genre - Chapter 199

“You’re awake, sleepyhead princess.”

“Wow, that’s so cringey. Are you out of your mind?”

The words came out before she could think.

Jeff, who had entered with an armful of flowers and groceries, pretended to be hurt. Patrick, who followed behind him, shrank back slightly, looking a bit sheepish.

“Isn’t that a bit harsh, Adeline…?”

“Think about who crossed the line first, Jeff.”

Adeline retorted coldly.

She had no idea what kind of fantasy her older brother harbored about her, but Jeff occasionally spouted cheesy lines he must have picked up from who-knows-where.

He seemed to see her as a frail younger sister, someone to be protected, but Adeline had no intention of living up to his strange expectations.

Frail? That word wasn’t even in her dictionary.

‘I just have poor durability.’

The two were entirely different concepts.

Sibling relationships, by their nature, were supposed to involve the occasional harsh banter.

“Thanks to you, Jeff, the Green Windsor Empire has become an oil-rich country.”

When Adeline spoke, Jeff grumbled as he set his things down on the table.

“The Green Windsor Empire was already oil-rich without me.”

“I’m so proud to have a brother who contributes to the national economy.”

“…Enough. Clearly, your sharp tongue is still intact, so you’re fine.”

Not that it was anything to boast about, but Adeline was confident that even if she fell into the sea, her mouth alone would stay afloat.

With her sharp tongue warmed up, she decided to address something she’d been keeping bottled up.

“Sorry for worrying you. And thank you.”

“……”

Patrick and Jeff exchanged looks, their expressions difficult to read, and remained silent.

It felt odd to thank the brothers who had practically confined her, but Adeline couldn’t help but acknowledge how much they had worried over her while she’d been bedridden.

While she had been tormented by her dreams, those around her had suffered as well.

Jeff, wearing a strange expression, gritted his teeth and muttered,

“Do you think throwing in a sudden thank-you will make us feel touched?”

“Your eyes are welling up, Jeff.”

“You’re such a cheat.”

Listening to their exchange, Patrick chuckled and said,

“You’re the same way with me, Jeff.”

“Things are different with Adeline and me.”

Jeff grumbled, sulking. He seemed oblivious to the fact that his grumbling made him an endearing younger brother in Patrick’s eyes.

Patrick and Adeline were ten years apart in age.

With Jeff, there was an eight-year gap.

Because of their significant age differences, even though they had spent their childhoods together, neither Patrick nor Jeff had interacted much with Adeline growing up. Their roles had mostly been to dote on her whenever they saw her.

In contrast, Patrick and Jeff, only two years apart, had spent nearly all of their childhood and school years together.

Though they often looked more like friends than siblings, neither of them ever quarreled in front of their youngest sibling.

“There’s no real difference. Ever since we were kids, you’d act all cocky until I felt like smacking you, then you’d suddenly do something adorable and make me forget about it.”

“Me…?”

Jeff’s face practically screamed, ‘You really think I’d do something adorable?’

“Yeah. Even now, you’re the same.”

“……”

“And your smooth-talking hasn’t changed either.”

“Brother…”

“And the way your eyes light up like a cat’s whenever you find an opportunity to tease your siblings hasn’t changed either.”

Patrick shrugged, amused. Jeff, as if suddenly remembering something, said,

“Oh, right, Adeline. Our big brother brought a bride-to-be.”

“What!”

Adeline’s eyes widened at the sudden and radical news about her eldest brother, who had reached the age of 33 without any hints of marriage or even rumors of a relationship.

Marriageable age came early in this world.

Women typically married in their early to mid-20s, and men generally married by their mid to late 20s.

For nobles, marriage was often a tool for expanding influence, so it was rare for the heir of a noble house to be without a spouse or fiancé.

Adeline had assumed Patrick would have settled down with someone by now, but he was still single.

‘Then again, Jeff is in the same boat…’

Both brothers had previously been engaged.

Patrick’s engagement had ended due to his fiancée’s infidelity, while Jeff’s had been broken off because his fiancée grew tired of his neglect. In other words, he’d been dumped.

Adeline had expected both of them to quickly find new partners, but surprisingly, there had been no news since.

They were both good-looking, so… could it be that they weren’t popular?