Thought It Was ‘The End’, Only to Return to a Changed Genre - Chapter 77 - For the Real Villain, a Search

For the Real Villain, a Search

The Saintess’s powers had fully blossomed.

Yet, the world knew nothing.

Few among the insiders even knew that the Saintess’s abilities weren’t all that extraordinary—to the public, the importance of her existence had always been overemphasized and glorified.

However, all the key figures knew the truth.

Edwin intended to keep Genevieve hidden until the Winter Founding Festival, so he focused public attention on the monster’s appearance and Shane’s heroics. The Saintess’s actions were deliberately downplayed.

“But why at that moment?”

Edwin muttered with a sigh, and Genevieve answered.

“I thought I could do it, so I tried, and it worked.”

“If it was that easy, why didn’t you do it earlier?”

“I couldn’t before. It’s not like I held back on purpose.”

Edwin frowned, his dignity discarded, as he slouched deeply into the sofa, tapping his chin with his finger.

“Should I ask what triggered it…”

“…….”

“The only change is the miracle reborn.”

“Rather than a miracle reborn… isn’t it more like a pitiful captive?”

Genevieve cautiously spoke, glancing sideways at Edwin.

It had become a habit for her to be so conscious of Shane’s reactions, walking on eggshells around him.

Shane responded without showing any signs of being offended.

“So, am I the ruthless hunter then?”

“That suits you so well, I can’t even laugh.”

Edwin replied, smiling despite his words.

Genevieve made eye contact with her husband, Harrison, standing behind Edwin’s shoulder. Harrison’s gentle smile gave Genevieve a sense of relief.

Edwin’s decision to downplay Genevieve’s actions was mainly because she had to stay in Delmuz until the Winter Founding Festival ended, but Genevieve had her own reasons for agreeing.

‘I’m really sick of being entangled with His Grace Blanchard.’

Even though they had married other people… just one dramatic event of them working together would spark rumors disguised as romance like wildfire.

She absolutely did not want to be entangled with him.

“Shane, you’re in charge of the investigation team.”

“Do I really have to?”

“Seems you forgot, but you’re still the ‘Guardian of the Saintess’, so pull yourself together and do your job. How long are you going to stick by your wife’s side?”

“I was thinking of putting a proxy in charge and heading to our estate.”

“Haha, you’re quite the joker.”

“I’m not in the mood for jokes.”

“Neither am I, so stop the nonsense.”

“For now, let’s leave it at that. Adeline might not like staying at the Blanchard estate anyway.”

“…….”

This guy is so annoying, can’t I just punch him once…?

Edwin tilted his head, seriously considering it.

‘He wouldn’t just take it, and the only thing that would get hurt is my precious hand.’

It wasn’t worth it, so he decided against it.

In fact, until Adeline returned, he hadn’t thought Shane was annoying. His lifeless eyes showed nothing, and he seemed like a person just waiting to die. Seeing him like that, it was impossible to feel anything but pity.

And he didn’t even accept that pity properly.

His pride was too strong, and he still had too much to be pitied lightly.

The Blanchard Duchy, connected to the imperial family by blood, boasted immense wealth and power. And what about the widespread branch families and connections established over its long history? By now, it had become an untouchable power base.

Even now, the head of the parliament is the elderly Marquis Catalin, but everyone assumed that once the time was right, the position would naturally be passed on to the Duke of Blanchard. After all, Marquis Catalin had been placed there by the previous Duke of Blanchard.

Shane Blanchard was born with everything—extraordinary physical abilities, exceptional intelligence, and more. Despite his disinterest in others, people were still drawn to him. He was described with terms like magnetic pull and charismatic leader, captivating the masses.

In addition to these traits, he gained public favor and fame by discovering and becoming the guardian of the Saintess.

His position was far more stable and free than that of Edwin, who was born the Emperor’s son. After all, there could be other sons of the Emperor, but Shane was the only heir of Blanchard.

However, none of this held much significance for Shane.

He had always been that way.

No matter what people called him or how they thought of him, he was an arrogant man who didn’t care in the slightest.

Perhaps it was because everything came easily to him.

Except for one thing: Adeline.

Edwin had ambitions of becoming Emperor and taking control of Green Windsor.

In contrast, Shane, despite having everything, directed all his ambition solely toward Adeline.

With a frighteningly blind love.

Not just a desire to possess, control, and keep her close, but also a desperate yearning for her love.