Thought It Was 'The End', Only to Return to a Changed Genre - Chapter 244

Ara’s tiny, bean-sized conscience protested so much that it hurt.

“Someone else?”

“Yes, anyone but you…”

“Do you think I’d just sit back and let someone else become your fiancé instead of me, Ara-ya?”

Without realizing it, Ara lifted her gaze and looked at Sa Yihyeon. His voice had sounded very cold, but Sa Yihyeon was smiling as usual. Bright and warm like sunlight. She must have misheard.

Ara shrugged.

“If you slack off on your training and a disciple more talented than you appears, then it’ll change, right?”

“That won’t happen.”

“Well, you keep coming to see me whenever you have time…”

Ara glanced at the flower placed on the table.

“If you keep giving me things like this, it feels like you’ll get overtaken by someone else in no time.”

“I told you, that won’t happen.”

“There’s no such thing as something that absolutely won’t happen. Ah, whatever. I don’t want to see you, so please leave now.”

“Do you really hate seeing me that much?”

Ara froze.

How could she possibly hate seeing him.

‘Why is he making that face again…’

It was the face of a puppy that had been raised for years and then abandoned by its owner. Ara bit the inside of her cheek.

With tears welling in his eyes, Sa Yihyeon was beautiful enough to ruin several nations. If Ara were an emperor, she would’ve granted him anything he wanted, whether the country fell or not.

But Ara was not an emperor, and she was a villainess whose life was in immediate danger.

What kind of male lead even comes with a seduction function.

And why is he using it on the villainess instead of the female lead?

‘This kid’s obsessed with climbing the ranks!’

Ara might be the Sect Leader’s only daughter, but she held no real power, yet he was still doing his best to win her over.

Sa Yihyeon was a lion-like male lead.

“It’s not that I hate you.”

In the end, Ara’s heart softened, and she spoke quietly. As she sat down in the chair and lowered her head, Sa Yihyeon knelt in front of her and looked up at her from below.

Ara couldn’t lift her eyes out of guilt. The hand that held the back of hers was rough, with thick knuckles and calluses, unlike his delicate face.

Sa Yihyeon was a good fiancé.

Even though their engagement was only nominal, he visited her at least once a month and always brought her gifts.

Once a month was when he was busy. In truth, whenever he had time, he would stop by even briefly just to see her face. And he never came empty-handed.

As if determined not to lose to the guardian orabeonis (brothers) or the elder harabeojis (grandfathers), he brought silk and jeweled accessories, somehow managing to buy such things with money from who knew where.

If he had only given gifts, she could have returned them and been done with it, but Sa Yihyeon always acted weak toward Ara like this. He told her she was pretty, and his fondness overflowed in his attitude and expression.

How could she not grow attached?

Ara was human too. It was only natural to want to return something when you received so much.

“Why do you like me this much?”

“I like you because I like you. Why would I need a reason?”

“I don’t even remember when we first met.”

“I remember, so it’s fine.”

What kind of romantic was this guy?

‘And later, when the Purification Saintess appears, he’ll throw me away without hesitation.’

And not just throw her away, he’ll kill her.

No. Stop.

Ara bit her lip.

Unlike before, when she thought she wouldn’t need to run away if the engagement was simply broken, Ara had now made up her mind that she had to escape no matter what.

There was no way she wouldn’t grow attached, and no way her heart wouldn’t waver.

Ara wasn’t confident that she wouldn’t become jealous if Sa Yihyeon brought the Purification Saintess and gave his heart to her.

It would be fine if he was never hers to begin with, but if Sa Yihyeon ever became hers.

Ara hardened her resolve and roughly shook off Sa Yihyeon’s hand.

“Go. Please leave.”

“Ara-ya.”

“I said leave!”

“……”

Ara squeezed her eyes shut. She let Sa Yihyeon lift her hair and stroke it as if reluctant. She kept her eyes closed stubbornly until he left, and after a small sigh, he finally walked out of the room. Only much later did Ara open her eyes.

On the table, a single white lotus had been left behind.

Beside it, a tiny spark flickered, then flared up, and a small chick wrapped in flames appeared.

It was the phoenix spirit beast, Noyi.

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