Thought It Was ‘The End’, Only to Return to a Changed Genre - Chapter 218

As Adeline began spending all her leisure time in the vegetable patch, people naturally started gathering around her.

“It’s not like you’re coming out, so I have no choice but to come to you.”

“I need to see you at least once a week to survive, Adeline.”

Emma and Genevieve were the core members.

Jeff, who often stayed at the Blanchard estate rather than his own Bertrand estate before and after his travels, and Rachel, who came to visit Jeff, were also regulars.

Unfortunately, Patrick couldn’t visit often since he had returned to his territory, but whenever he did come, he brought Mia along.

Unofficially, Edwin and Lucian occasionally joined as well.

‘If someone wiped out just the people gathered here, wouldn’t they be able to conquer the empire?’

By the time Adeline realized something strange was happening, it was already too late.

The gatherings around the vegetable patch grew more extravagant by the day.

Claiming the sun was too harsh for him, Edwin built a red-roofed gazebo. Every time Genevieve returned from her expeditions, she brought an abundance of local specialties, mostly food.

Seemingly feeling competitive, Jeff and Lucian also started bringing loads of items.

With so much food around, meals became inevitable.

Adeline’s vegetable patch, small enough to resemble a retired old man’s balcony garden, had turned into something akin to a luxurious camping ground. Despite only producing humble crops like potatoes, herbs, and tomatoes, the surroundings became unreasonably grand.

Rachel remarked,

“Did you know? People are calling these gatherings the ‘Garden Club’.”

“What? That sounds like some gardener’s union or something…”

It sounded like an incredibly suspicious group.

Genevieve chimed in,

“Oh, I’ve heard that too. I guess it’s because we meet here so often. It does sound like we’re plotting something.”

“It does sound quite suspicious, doesn’t it? When in reality, it’s just a group of people overeating. Ugh, I’ve gained so much weight lately.”

The truth was far from grand.

Watching these central figures of the empire idly gather, eating seasonal foods and chatting, made Adeline wonder if it was alright for them to be so relaxed.

Even the conversations were utterly trivial.

“You ate more than me.”

“No way, I brought that.”

Rachel skillfully removed a well-roasted potato from a skewer and placed it on a plate. She plucked some herbs to garnish it, making the simple baked potato look like a fancy dish.

‘At first, she probably came to see Jeff, but…’

Why one of the most celebrated designers in the capital was applying her exceptional aesthetic sense to something as mundane as baked potatoes was beyond comprehension. If this wasn’t a waste of talent, then what was?

Still, she seemed satisfied, so who was Adeline to judge?

‘If she’s happy, then let her be.’

No one would complain if a designer grilled potatoes, a pope sliced cheese, a crown prince drank wine, or a duke and duchess pulled weeds.

If there was no issue, there was no responsibility.
Right?

Adeline rubbed her stomach and swallowed the question she wanted to ask.

Are you all really doing your jobs…?

Later, this gathering would become the most infamous secret society in the Green Windsor Empire, though its true nature was never fully revealed.

Fortunately.

One of Shane’s daily rituals was watching Adeline while she slept.

There were times when he simply wanted to gaze at her endlessly, but she always felt burdened when she was awake—likely because she wanted to do whatever he wished.

But Shane didn’t want her to do anything for him.

Even after holding her as tightly as he could, even after hearing her say “I love you” dozens of times, his desire to simply look at her was never fully satisfied.

It wasn’t because of a fear that she might disappear.

Sometimes, he just couldn’t resist the urge to look at her.

I’m glad you have so many things you cherish now.
And I’m happiest because I’m one of them.

Everything you love will become chains that keep you by my side, so I can accept even the things you love that aren’t me.

If you had told me your secret earlier, I could have protected you. That’s my only regret.

If she had feared being killed or cast out by some ‘female lead’, he would have eliminated that woman, whoever she was.

If she had feared being killed by a mage, he would have killed even an innocent person before they committed a crime.

If she had doubted his faithfulness, he would have gouged out his own eyes and handed them to her.

Whatever it took, he would have ensured her peace of mind.

He would have banished her nightmares.

It was a shame he hadn’t done so when he had been by her side.

‘There’s nothing left to disturb your sleep now, Adeline.’