[Imagining another version of the future is like looking into hell.]
[If Shane had simply ignored his fiancée, Edwin would have walked another woman in front of her, enjoying the spectacle.]
[But the worst thing was that if they had not broken off the engagement, Adaline could have become the next Empress.]
“I should get my son married as soon as possible.” - Viola said lazily.
"Please do not speak of Prince Edwin's marriage so disparagingly, Your Majesty."
“I can’t choose the first person I meet. If she, like Princess Remvi, forgets about duty and status and runs away with some rogue, there will be no problems.”
"This can't happen twice."
“And it shouldn’t. Edwin had to be content with pitiful consolation, but I wanted to turn everything upside down. It pissed me off. She was the first to come to him and swore her love..."
Adaline listened silently to the story of Edwin's broken engagement.
“Fell in love with the leader of the rebels, betrayed her parents, overthrew them and put the crown on the head of her chosen one.”
“You liked her for her strength of character, didn’t you?”
"Exactly. And that’s why I was doubly offended...”
[It turned out that in that story with Princess Remvi, Edwin was only the “second” - a side character. The princess was not kidnapped, she planned everything herself, she herself brought the rebel to power.]
[I would like to meet her.] - Adaline thought.
[Viola's tastes were obvious: she adored those who went against fate.]
[That’s why I spoiled Adaline before she ran away.]
[Adaline always portrayed a modest, well-bred lady. She stayed aloof, avoided getting close, because being nice and quiet was the safest way to survive. Sometimes she had to participate in Edwin’s intrigues: get closer to someone, pry out thoughts, check reactions.]
“Ah, now, Adaline, I need your help.”
“With pleasure. You can rely on me."
“Mix with the young people, find out what's on their minds. Use any means. Can you handle it?
Adaline caught the hidden meaning in her words. She looked at Viola, and she gave her a sly smile in response.
“It was stupid to think that you were just a quiet person. Appearances are so deceiving. Who would have thought that you would be able to deceive the whole world, and alone...Tch, I should have given you to my son. Such a loss..."
"..."
[I will exercise the right to remain silent...]
Adaline just swallowed her objection.
Emma at this time delicately sipped her tea, pretending that she had not heard anything.
[It was finally clear: no one believed in the Saint’s miracle.]
---Emma finally told her to be careful and let her go.
The audience with the Empress lasted only about an hour, but it seemed to Adaline that she had aged ten years. There is no strength left at all.
[I didn’t fake my resurrection!]
[But it feels like she failed the main trick in a magic show. It's embarrassing and embarrassing.]
"If you're tired, we can come back." - Shane suggested.
“I haven’t seen Genevieve yet.”
“I told you: she doesn’t want to see anyone.”
Edwin intervened with a displeased tone, as if he wanted to avoid another reprimand from his mother.
“I’ll wait in front of her door until she opens it. Even all night."
Shane chuckled.
“It won’t work. We'll leave before dinner."
Adaline looked at him.
“Skipping one meal is not a tragedy.”
“It’s a tragedy for you. If necessary, I will carry you in my arms. Right in front of everyone."
[Shane smiled, but his eyes were cold. He was really ready to carry out the threat, pick her up like a sack and carry her away. But Adaline was not going to give up.]
“No one likes persistent women, Adaline.”
“And sometimes without persistence, nothing.”
Edwin chuckled as he listened to them, but Adaline remained serious.
“Genevieve loves me. She will open soon."
[Sometimes people really need a little solitude to come to their senses.] But Adaline felt that with Genevieve everything was different.
[Genevieve wasn't just withdrawn, she was wounded.]
[It’s good that she at least started communicating with her husband. But, in essence, Genevieve did not know how to rely on others. If I could, I would swallow the pain and pretend that everything is fine.]
[But she couldn’t even do that now.]
[Ah, that means: the shock is too great.]
[Oh, it also meant that the source of her suffering was Adaline herself.]
"Genevieve, I'll wait until you open the door."
And she stayed.
Fifteen minutes have already passed.