The Male Lead isn't Following the Script!
Chapter 169: Deserve a Break

Chapter 169: Deserve a Break

The Holy Temple, once a symbol of divine authority and unshakable power, now stood fractured. The arrest of the head priest and several elders had sent shockwaves throughout the Empire.

Some were delighted, how could they not be? After all, when they sought help from the temple to heal their loved ones, they were cruelly turned away. So this tragedy was a celebration to some.

Whispers of treason echoed in the grand halls, and the heavy iron gates of the imperial dungeons were now closed behind men who once wielded untouchable influence. No one knew how this powerful man had been a mere puppet except a few.

And those would not dare to reveal it. The world did not need to know about certain things.

Edward seethed within the confines of his quarters in the secluded section of the temple. His sanctuary, usually a place of peace and strategic thinking, was now suffocating.

He released the Captain from his control. There was no point in it anyway, and he was already suffering from the after-effects of the mind control.

Colluding with the Temple against the Empire was treason of the highest order. No one, not even the Emperor’s closest advisors, believed the Captain’s desperate pleas of innocence. Edward’s attempts to manipulate the narrative had failed spectacularly.

He paced the room, his hands clasped tightly behind his back. "I planned it well..." He kept telling himself. He would not admit that he was hasty and jumped the gun...

"This... This is Adeline’s fault." Her name left a bitter taste in his mouth. She was the source of his downfall, the disruptor of his meticulously laid plans.

He slammed his hand onto the ornate table, rattling the vials and scrolls atop it. His frustration was palpable, but beneath it, there was a dangerous resolve. "This is not the end," he whispered, his voice laced with venom.

"As long as I draw breath, I will bring her to me. There are many paths to the same goal... and I will find the one that leads her here."

Morning light spilt gently into Adeline’s room, its warmth brushing her cheek and coaxing her awake. Her lashes fluttered open, and finally for a moment, she could experience peace.

She stretched her arms and sat up, trying to piece together how she had ended up in her room. Her memories were hazy—Edward’s schemes, the confrontation, and the aftermath all blurred together.

Her best guess was that her father had carried her back. It would not have been the first time. She chuckled softly, her heart warming at the thought. Despite everything, her family was her anchor.

As the rich aroma of food wafted into the room, her stomach growled audibly. The promise of a hearty breakfast was enough to dispel her lingering exhaustion.

The maids arrived promptly, bringing water and helping her dress. The routine reminded her of her first day in this world—the uncertainty, the strange new surroundings, and the overwhelming realisation that she was not just Adeline anymore but Adeline the villainess.

"So much has changed," she murmured to herself as the maids laced up her dress. Her reflection in the mirror smiled back, tinged with both nostalgia and relief. She had survived so much but at the cost of her peace. A day off, free from plotting and danger, sounded like heaven.

She descended the grand staircase to the dining hall, anticipation quickening her steps. Breakfast was a cherished family tradition, and she was eager to join her father and brothers. However, when she reached the dining room, the sight that greeted her was bewildering.

The long table, usually laden with silver trays of steaming food, was empty. No sign of her father, no sign of Alaric or Aaron, and—most importantly—no sign of breakfast. Adeline frowned, her stomach protesting loudly.

"This can’t be right," she muttered, looking around. The aroma of food was unmistakable! She could almost taste the buttery croissants and savoury meats. But where had everything—and everyone—gone?

Her questions were answered when the steward appeared, his expression composed but his eyes twinkling with amusement. "Miss Adeline, the Marquess requests your presence in the garden," he said with a small bow.

Adeline blinked in realisation. The smell of food, the empty dining room—it all clicked into place. They were having a picnic.

A rare smile spread across her face. "They planned this," she said under her breath, already moving toward the garden. Excitement bubbled within her, and she broke into a run, her slippers tapping against the polished floors as she navigated the familiar hallways.

It has been a long time since they had a family picnic.

The garden was a vision of tranquillity and joy. Sunlight filtered through the tall hedges, casting dappled patterns on the soft grass.

A sprawling picnic setup awaited her, complete with colourful blankets, baskets overflowing with food, and a few servants standing discreetly in the background, ready to assist.

Her father sat on the blanket, he was dressed casually. The way the sun hit his hair was mesmerising. All of them possessed blond hair, and they looked like waving dandelions.

She felt extremely happy and warm. She could not contain herself. She rushed into her father’s lap.

"Slowly, Adeline." He positioned her correctly. She was still small, small enough to sit on his lap anyway. She was tired of being a mature young lady, she wanted to be a kid.

She never got this chance before, in her past life this was something she could never imagine. She intended to take full advantage of the situation.

"If you had arrived any later, Aaron would have finished all the food himself." Alaric saved a few sweets for Adeline. Who knew his younger brother was a vacuum?

"Hey!" Aaron quickly yelled with his mouth full. He was holding bread and sweets with both hands so he was not proving Alaric wrong. I am a growing boy! I need food!

Adeline laughed, her worries momentarily forgotten as she joined them. She dropped to the blanket, her brothers making room for her while their father handed her a plate.

"You have been through so much lately," the Marquess said, his voice gruff but kind. His hand rubbed against her pink hair. It was as soft as he imagined.

"You deserve a break..." He slowly added.

Adeline had to stop herself from crying. She looked down at the pastries on her plate. She did not want them to see her cry. Her little lips quivered, but she stopped herself successfully.

Why was she crying? This was the happiest she had ever been!