Thought It Was 'The End', Only to Return to a Changed Genre - Chapter 64
“Being a noble isnāt easy, is it….”
“You talk as if it’s not the same for you.”
“I’m the youngest. My older brothers take care of all the hard and difficult things, donāt they?”
The one who was naĆÆve was me, not him…. Adeline reflected on her thoughts.
The boyās profile, who was thinking deeply, looked like that of an adult.
That day, the weather was exceptionally nice, and the teatime on the terrace stretched on with unnecessary chatter. Lost in thoughts because of the good sunlight, she had fallen asleep at some point.
She didnāt know how long she had slept, but she woke up suddenly.
Thinking that her fiancƩ, no matter how good-natured, would be angry if she had slept in the sun and that her mother would scold her for getting tanned, she opened her eyes.
Shane was shading her face with his hand.
“Awake? I was thinking of waking you soon.”
He smiled dazzlingly.
It was the moment when her fiancƩ, who she had only thought of as a child, appeared to her as Shane Blanchard.
*
Her puppy had died.
Sometimes, young puppies die suddenly without any apparent reason.
Adeline cried for two days straight.
In her reborn life, it was the first time she saw a living creature die. It was still terrifying and awful.
The night before, the puppy had been warm, soft, and moving, but by morning, it had become cold and stiff. It was too dreadful. She missed the puppyās smell and touch.
After watching her swollen face from crying, Shane finally spoke.
“Did you like that puppy so much?”
“He always slept beside me… he loved me.”
It was a creature she couldn’t help but love. Thinking of the puppy again, tears streamed down her face.
Shane knelt before her and took her hand, placing it on his head.
“Honestly, I’m jealous that you loved the puppy and not me.”
Jealous of a puppy…?
“But seeing you cry breaks my heart. You can think of me as a puppy.”
It seemed like a strange thing to say, but she understood he was trying his best to comfort her. Adeline, her crying finally subsiding, sniffled and said,
“Why do living things have to die? Can’t they just not die?”
“If people didnāt die and only kept being born, this world would turn into a bug-infested hole….”
“…Shane… you look like cotton candy, but youāre really sharp….”
“…Thatās not a compliment, is it?”
“…I miss my puppy, and it makes me sad… but Iām not looking for something else to replace him. Iām just… terrified of death.”
“Hmm.”
Shane had a troubled expression. Clearly, he didnāt understand why she was so afraid.
Even so, he carefully chose his words. Since she said she didn’t want something to replace the puppy, he seemed to be thinking hard about what else he could do for her.
“Then I’ll keep holding your hand.”
“……”
“I’ll be with you forever. I won’t leave you alone and scared. Wouldn’t that be less frightening?”
What is that supposed to mean? It sounded like he was saying he’d die with her, which was scary….
Instead of arguing with Shane’s clumsy attempt at comfort, Adeline just squeezed the hand he held tighter.
A sweaty, damp palm.
Warm body heat.
Clumsy comfort.
A promise that would probably be difficult to keep in reality.
‘Now, he may follow me around saying he likes me, but once heās a little older, heāll quickly change.’
His confident face, easily promising a lifetime together, believing it wouldn’t change.
Saying they’d always be together. Still so young, not knowing what the future holds.
This was the kind of nonsensical promise made in childhood.
‘But right now, it’s sincere….’
Silly puppy.
What to do. I like him.
He just so lovable.
He promised to stay with me when I’m scared.
So, I’ll make sure to make you happy.
Adeline thought as she wiped her teary eyes.
Shane’s blue eyes were like the sea, so dazzling.
How could he be so beautiful. Smiling at me.
You may be a child easily promising a lifetime, but I am not a child, so I wonāt say it out loud.
But maybe I will make sure to make you, who is probably lonely, happy.
*
But you donāt necessarily have to stay by my side forever.
