Thought It Was 'The End', Only to Return to a Changed Genre - Chapter 94
That meant hugging even in front of Genevieve and Emma. Seeing her hesitate because of the embarrassment, Shane raised an eyebrow.
“Fine, I promise.”
Pfft— Shane chuckled as Adeline reluctantly nodded. This time, it was Adeline’s turn to look at him with a stink eye.
“Childish.”
“You do know.”
“Of course.”
Edwin, who had been quietly listening, spoke up.
“If you’re done with your blather, both of you, get out.”
“Can we really?”
“Shane, you come back.”
Where do you think you’re going?
***
Genevieve greeted Adeline with great enthusiasm.
Shane reluctantly left her, whispering in her ear,
“Don’t do anything foolish, my love. I’ll be watching.”
“Yes, yes. Got it.”
She’d be grateful if he watched over her. It’s safer that way.
As Adeline brushed off his threat with a smile, Shane looked at her with an unreadable expression for a moment. Adeline lightly grabbed his chin and left a kiss by the side of his lips.
“Take care, my love.”
Before Shane could say anything, Adeline closed the door.
Turning around, she found Genevieve with wide eyes.
“…It’s the first time I’ve seen Lord Blanchard retreat without a word.”
Well, it’s Adeline, after all.
Genevieve marveled to herself and muttered something incomprehensible, convincing herself with a strange reason.
Adeline decided not to elaborate.
“Your eyes aren’t very swollen.”
“Genevieve… No one uses divine power just because their eyes are a bit swollen…”
It’s like putting a cast on a mosquito bite. Such extravagance.
‘Even Mansour couldn’t live like this…’
The supreme healer of this world…
An SSS-grade healer worrying about my little scratches.
Genevieve, pretending not to hear, placed her palm over Adeline’s eyes. The white light swirled and seeped into the area around her eyes where no warmth remained.
Adeline was about to say she was fine when someone knocked.
“Jenny, may I come in?”
“Jenny…?”
Genevieve’s cheeks flushed a deep red.
“It’s my husband. Is it okay if he comes in?”
“You’re the owner of the room. You don’t need to ask me.”
“But if you’re uncomfortable…”
“Are you planning to kick him out?”
Adeline only asked to see if that was possible, but Genevieve spoke as if it was a matter of course.
“Of course.”
“No. Let him in, please. Just don’t mind me.”
“I can’t do that. But since you’re okay with it, I’ll introduce you.”
Finally, she would meet the female lead’s husband.
Her heart was pounding. He was the one who made Adeline most vividly realize that this world had diverged from the novel she knew after reuniting with Shane.
‘He’s the Crown Prince’s bodyguard, right?’
Genevieve had said he was a sturdy, gentle, and kind person.
“Jenny. Ah, we have a guest.”
“Come in, Harrison. This is Adeline Bertrand, now Adeline Blanchard. She’s also the Duchess of Blanchard.”
“Pleased to make your acquaintance, um… How should I address you?”
Harrison’s eyes widened in surprise, then he smiled gently.
“Just call me Harrison, Duchess Blanchard. I’ve heard a lot about you.”
“I hope it was all good things.”
Genevieve interjected.
“I only told the truth.”
“Oh dear. Harrison, I’m not such a bad person.”
Harrison burst into laughter.
“I heard you are a gentle and kind person who has helped Jenny a lot during tough times.”
“Me… gentle…”
Genevieve looked embarrassed.
“That’s not true.”
“She did say that’s not true.”
“It’s not true.”
Objectively, she was far from gentle. The three of them burst into laughter at once.
‘He seems like a reliable, bear-like person.’
He was the complete opposite of the cunning Edwin. And different from the cold-blooded Shane.
Harrison seemed to be a steady, simple, and unchanging person.
Though she recently realized she had no eye for people, she was relieved that her first impression of him wasn’t bad.
Genevieve looked so happy and stable with Harrison.
‘As long as the female lead is happy, that’s all that matters in a novel.’
It wasn’t up to Adeline to judge what kind of person Harrison was, nor did she need to.
Knowing whether Genevieve was happy with Harrison or not was enough.
***
Five days later.
Adeline stood alone at the masquerade ball.
Strictly speaking, she wasn’t alone.
“Smile, Adeline.”
“Would you be able to smile if you were me?”
