The Saint's powers have fully awakened.
But no one knew about this.
Even among those in the know, few knew that Genevieve's abilities were not at all amazing. For the public, her image has long become a symbol of exaggerated holiness, more legend than reality.
But key figures knew the truth.
Edwin decided to hide Genevieve from the public eye until the Winter Founding Festival. Therefore, he focused everyone's attention on the monster's appearance and Shane's heroism, deliberately downplaying the Saint's contribution.
“Why then?” - He muttered with a sigh.
“I felt that I could...I tried it and it worked.” - Genevieve answered calmly.
“What was stopping you before?”
“I tried before. But it didn't work out. This was not deterrence."
Edwin frowned. All his regal bearing disappeared, he sank heavily into a chair, thoughtfully tapping his finger on his chin.
“What was the impetus?”
Genevieve remained silent.
“The only thing that has changed is the miracle found again.”
“Rather not a miracle, but a pathetic prisoner...” she said carefully, casting a sidelong glance at Edwin.
Her restraint was almost automatic, the habit of constantly focusing on Shane, being careful around him, as if she was walking on thin ice.
But Shane didn’t even raise an eyebrow.
“So I am a merciless hunter?”
“This role suits you too well to laugh at.” - Edwin responded with a grin, despite the irony in the words.
Genevieve met her husband's gaze, Harrison, who stood slightly behind Edwin. His warm, calm smile calmed her down a little.
Edwin's decision to remain silent about Genevieve's true role was dictated by necessity: she had to remain in Delmez until the end of the Winter Festival. But Genevieve herself had reasons for this.
[I am sick and tired of everything that connects me with His Lordship Blanchard.]
[Even though each of them had been married for a long time, a single instance of them working together could provoke a wave of gossip. And no matter how hard they wanted, no one would believe that there was nothing between them.]
She never wanted to be drawn into this story again.
"Shane, you will lead the investigation team." - Edwin announced.
“Do I have to?”
“Should I remind you that you are still a “Guardian Saint”? So get your act together and get down to business. Or do you plan to continue to sit next to your wife?”
“I was already thinking about appointing someone in my place and returning to our estate.”
“Ha, how witty.” - Edwin snorted dryly.
"I'm not kidding."
"Me too. So stop talking nonsense."
“Anyway, we’ll decide later. Adaline, I think, still won’t be happy about the trip to the Blanchard estate.”
Edwin narrowed his eyes.
[This is a thorn...What if I hit him hard once?]
He seriously considered this idea.
[Although...He won't stand it. And in the end my hand will suffer. It's a pity]
He sighed and abandoned the idea.
[Actually, until Adaline returned, he wasn't particularly annoyed by Shane. His eyes were empty, there was no life or fire in them. He looked like a man who was simply waiting to die. And it was impossible to evoke anything but pity in him.]
[But he couldn’t even accept it.]
[Too proud. And too alive to be pitied as if he were dead.]
[The House of Blanchard, relatives of the Imperial dynasty, possessed enormous power and no less wealth. Their influence spanned the oldest family lines, vast lands, and dozens of families associated with them over the centuries.]
[Even now, the old Marquis of Catalin remained the formal head of parliament, but everyone understood: as soon as the right moment came, the Duke of Blanchard would take his place. After all, it was the former Duke who placed Catalin in this chair.]
[Shane was born with the full package: outstanding physical attributes, brilliant mind, innate charisma. He never strived for popularity, but attracted people like a magnet.][By becoming the guardian of the Saint, he only strengthened his position and people's love.]
[His freedom and position were much more stable than Edwin's, even though he was the Emperor's son.]
[The Emperor may have had other sons.]
[And Shane was alone. The only heir of the Blanchards.]
[But none of this meant much to Shane himself.]
[He has always been like this.]
[Whatever words they called him, whatever their tone, he didn’t care. Arrogant, aloof, unattainable.]
[Perhaps because he got everything easily.]
[Except one.]
[Adaline.]
[Edwin had ambitions - the throne, power, control of Windsor.]
[And Shane, already possessing everything that could be desired, directed all his terrible, blinding thirst towards her.]
[Love didn’t just burn him, it tore him apart from the inside.]
[This was not just a desire to possess, to subjugate, to keep with oneself.]
[It was a crazy, painful longing - not to be loved in return.]