Thought It Was ‘The End’, Only to Return to a Changed Genre - Chapter 232

Looking at Lisa’s tiny face, where her distinct and well-defined features seemed oversized for her small frame, Adeline couldn’t help but feel she was utterly perfect.

The almond-shaped, sharp eyes, the high-bridged nose, porcelain-like white skin with a rosy flush on her plump cheeks, and her glossy, full lips—there wasn’t a single feature that wasn’t adorable.

‘No, I shouldn’t be like this.’

No matter how lovely Lisa seemed to her, Adeline knew she couldn’t forget the old adage: “Every parent thinks their child is beautiful.” Losing sight of that would turn her into one of those insufferable, doting parents.

‘And as it is, there are already far too many uncles and aunts fawning over Lisa. This is going to be a problem.’

She worried that Lisa might grow up spoiled. After all, when she opened her eyes to the world, her father was a duke, her uncles were a marquis and a merchant lord, the crown prince was her godfather, and her godmother was the pope and saintess.

‘She’s practically living in a world where she’s the strongest character in the story…’

If a protagonist had such a background, they would surely be criticized. Lisa was unlikely to face any hardships, and even if she did, she had countless protectors who would swoop in to eliminate the root of the problem.

At that moment, something warm clung to Adeline’s leg. It was Lisa.

“Mommy, mommy… cawwie me…”

“Lisa, isn’t it nap time?”

“Wisa woke up… and Mommy nawt thewe…”

Lisa rested her chin on Adeline’s knee, clinging tightly. Adeline gently placed her hands under Lisa’s arms and lifted her onto her lap.

The traces of her nap were still evident on Lisa’s face: lines pressed into her cheek from the pillow and a bit of drool at the corner of her mouth. Adeline chuckled as she wiped Lisa’s face clean.

Lisa naturally nestled into her mother’s arms, rubbing her cheek against Adeline like a baby koala.

Having grown up surrounded by people who adored and cuddled her, Lisa loved being held. She clung wholeheartedly, pressing her cheek against whoever was holding her, and few could resist her.

She wasn’t shy around strangers, and she couldn’t even imagine the possibility that someone might dislike her.

Adeline found herself wondering if she had given birth to a child or a puppy that resembled Shane. Watching Lisa toddle on her short, chubby legs as she chased after people reminded Adeline so much of a playful puppy.

‘No, I can’t let myself get carried away. I need to stay objective… But then again, what’s wrong with a mother thinking her child is adorable? I’m not forcing my thoughts on anyone else—I’m just keeping it to myself, aren’t I?’

As she wrestled with these thoughts, smiling faintly to herself, Lloyd approached her, looking slightly weary.

“Young Miss, I’ve told you before—no running in the hallways.”

“I dun wike Woyd’s nagging…” Lisa pouted.

“This isn’t nagging. It’s a rule you need to follow,” Lloyd said firmly.

Puffing her plump cheeks in displeasure, Lisa grumbled as she buried her face against Adeline’s chest.

“Woyd not even cawwie Wisa…”

Adeline glanced at Lloyd, who looked mildly exasperated as he responded.

“I’m the one who carried you earlier and patted you to sleep, Miss Lisa. Even when my arms felt like they were about to fall off, I kept patting your back.”

“Bwut when Wisa woke up, Woyd nawt thewe!”

“I left to fetch a handkerchief to clean the drool on your face.”

Lloyd remained serious, even when speaking to a three-year-old.

“Woyd nawt cawwie Wisa!”

“……”

Lloyd’s nose twitched slightly, a clear sign of his frustration.

Adeline silently rooted for him. Lloyd was the only hope for ensuring Lisa grew up with proper manners. Someone had to teach her that tantrums and stubbornness wouldn’t always work.

“Becaws Woyd now cawwie Wisa, Wisa run to find Mommy. Woyd meanie.”

“……Yes, you’re right. I’m the bad one,” Lloyd replied with a resigned tone.

Hope was defeated.

Adeline stroked Lisa’s slightly rounded head and sighed.

In the end, Lloyd, too, was just another doting uncle.

Lisa turned to look at Lloyd with a smug expression before stretching her arms toward him. With a weary sigh, Lloyd took Lisa from Adeline’s arms.

“I could’ve held her,” Adeline mumbled.

Lloyd didn’t respond.

Adeline felt a little hurt. Someone had taken her child away.

I’m her mother. Why doesn’t she ever smile at me like that? Why are they so close?

A sense of betrayal crept into her heart toward both Lisa and Lloyd.

Since Lisa’s birth, Lloyd had taken over much of the responsibility of chasing after and taking care of her. While he pretended to be strict, insisting that Lisa needed to learn proper manners early on, Adeline could see through him.

Watching Lisa beam happily in Lloyd’s arms, Adeline clicked her tongue in mild exasperation.

You’ve been completely exposed, Lloyd.