At that moment, Edwin and Genevieve approached them.
The out of breath Saint grabbed Adaline's hand.
"Lady Adaline, are you all right?"
"Yes. I've been talking to Shane here for a while now. Genevieve, weren’t you hurt too?”
"No. Thanks to His Highness Edwin, I found myself under special protection.”
“Even without me, you are a priority target for security. You keep forgetting about your status.” - Edwin added dryly.
“Why this creature appeared remains to be seen.” - he continued. “But three knights can handle one giant. It's not a disaster. Although...if one person wasn’t so busy holding his wife’s hand, everything would have been resolved much faster.”
“Issue an Imperial decree, I’ll think about it.” - Shane responded lazily, not even deigning to glance at Edwin.
Although there were enough people in the hall to cope with one monster, its very appearance was annoying. Edwin was about to make another barb, but he was interrupted by the roar of the ogre.
“How dare he interrupt the crown prince...” Edwin muttered.
“GRRRRRRR! RAAAAAAAAA! AAARGGH!”
“He's going to the Saint! Stop him!
“Block the way!”
The ogre, bound in chains, rushed forward furiously, without taking his crazy yellow eyes off Genevieve.
[Monsters have no intelligence. They devour people, driven by blind aggression. They usually do not differentiate between individuals.]
[If a monster deliberately attacks one person, ignoring others, this means only one thing: someone is controlling it.]
Despite the efforts of the knights holding the ogre, he did not seem to notice them. Only Genevieve was his target.
Adaline angrily hit Shane on the shoulder.
“What are you looking at? Do something!”
"No."
"Shane Blanchard!" - she exclaimed.
“Scream all you want, Adaline. Neither name nor titles will scare me.” - he responded with a lazy grin, his lips curling crookedly.
“You're having fun now, right? This roar hurt my ears. Do something about this creature already!”
“I can tell you from experience: every time I’m not with you during a fight, it ends badly.” - Shane chuckled.
“Do you think I’m so reckless as to throw myself under attack? I perfectly understand the value of my own life.”
“You can’t tell.” - he responded with a narrowed eye. “I am good at feeling the boundaries of what is permitted. I hate intruding into places where I shouldn’t be.”
[That’s why you try your best to avoid interfering between me and the heroine...] - Adaline almost lost her temper, but bit her tongue in time.
There was a short pause.
Shane sighed softly. His blue eyes, full of irritation and hidden anxiety, drooped. He reluctantly touched his lips to the back of her hand.
"Just promise me you'll stay put."
“Okay, fine, just go already!”
“If you break it, I’ll lock you up. I'm serious."
"Shane, go!"
He went down slowly. On the way, passing by a knight frozen in confusion, he pulled out his sword.
“What a hassle...”
“I would have shown this on my orders.” - Edwin grumbled. But, despite the ostentatious indifference, Shane moved only because of Adaline’s gaze. And yet, now the situation will quickly resolve.
Genevieve pulled Adaline's hand and whispered in her ear:
“Lady Adaline, this...is not by chance...”
“Yes. Looks like it."
Edwin turned to them:
"Do you have a guess?"
“Your Highness, don’t pretend you don’t know.” - Adaline snapped. "Genevieve, stand behind me."
"Genevieve?"
But the Saint did not move. Edwin watched her expression. Genevieve, lost in thought, looked first at Adaline, then at the ogre, still staring straight at her.
Sensing the change, Adaline grabbed her wrist.
“Don't you dare. Don't even think about it!
"Lady Adaline..."
“Shane can handle it. Just wait."
Shane raised his sword. When the ogre rushed at Genevieve, Shane cut his hand with amazing ease, as if it were something soft like cheese.
The crowd gasped and some applauded.
Shane, frowning with displeasure, prepared to strike the final blow.
Genevieve squeezed Adaline's hand. Her violet eyes darkened.
“I think I can do this.”
"No need. You will become a target."
“Target...” Genevieve repeated quietly. And suddenly she smiled softly.
“I'm used to it. Besides...we must show that this method does not work. This is the third time."
Warmth came from their clenched hands.
Determination showed in her features.
[Sometimes there comes a time in life when you have to do something that cannot be avoided.]
Adaline involuntarily squeezed her palm tighter:
“You can do it. I believe in you."
"Yes. Me too."
Genevieve seemed to smile—for real.
The next moment a light flashed, bright, pure. It filled the entire hall.
And almost simultaneously with this, Shane dealt the final blow, the ogre’s head crashed onto the marble floor.