The Male Lead isn't Following the Script!
Chapter 272: Collapse

Chapter 272: Collapse

The moment Adeline realised they were free to explore, she bolted.

With everyone dead, there was no reason to hesitate—except for the very annoying man trailing behind her.

She ignored Edward and focused on her goal: the letters she found earlier. She had many questions in her mind but she was not going to get any answers. How did these people know about the story? She knew the author held secrets, was this related to them?

Her heart pounded as she hurried down the dimly lit hallway, her mind repeating a single thought over and over:

Edward cannot know.

It wasn’t just that she didn’t want him to find out—it felt like something was forcing this idea into her mind, like a warning she couldn’t shake.

Edward should never know that this was just a story.

At any cost.

It was almost like an instinct, something hammered into her brain so thoroughly that it became an undeniable truth.

And it was frustrating, because she didn’t even know why she felt this way.

She had no intention of showing him the letters anyway, but the way her mind and heart screamed it like a mantra made her feel uneasy.

Why?

Why would it be so bad for Edward to find out?

Just then, a voice echoed in her mind, smooth yet undeniably powerful.

"You are not wrong, Adeline," the Goddess’s voice whispered, calm and resolute. "Do not let Edward know this is just a story... It could cause the collapse of this world."

Adeline froze.

Her breath hitched, her fingers curling into fists as she processed the weight of those words.

The collapse of the world?

That was a bit dramatic, wasn’t it?

Why would the world collapse just because Edward knew... What about Annora? She was on their team, was she not? And if they knew about the story... Wouldn’t she know she was the female lead of the story? Was that the reason why Annora hated her?

Adeline had a thousand questions, a million things she wanted to demand from the Goddess, but before she could open her mouth—

Edward’s footsteps echoed behind her.

Her head snapped up.

Of course.

Of course, he was following her.

Adeline bit her lip, frustrated.

Why was he always so insufferable? They had agreed to split up and search!

She glanced back over her shoulder. Sure enough, Edward was leisurely strolling after her, his hands in his pockets, looking entirely too pleased with himself.

"Why are you following me?" she demanded, slowing her pace but not stopping.

Edward’s lips curled into a knowing smirk. "And why are you running?"

Adeline scowled.

"I’m not running."

"You are absolutely running."

"It’s called walking with purpose," she corrected, lifting her chin. "Unlike you, who is just... Lurking."

Edward placed a hand on his chest, feigning offence. "Lurking? That’s an awfully rude way to describe my presence. I prefer to think of it as ’ensuring your safety.’" She felt like punching him in the face to wipe that smirk off of his face.

Adeline let out a loud, exaggerated sigh.

"You’re not ensuring anything except my headache."

Edward simply grinned. "And yet, I’m still here."

Adeline fought the urge to kick him again.

Instead, she sped up again, trying to put some distance between them.

She needed to reach that room before he did.

Edward, unfortunately, matched her pace effortlessly, as if he had all the time in the world.

"Splitting up was your idea, you know," Adeline reminded him, exasperated.

"I know," Edward said. "I just changed my mind."

Adeline glanced ahead—almost there.

The door to the room was still slightly ajar, exactly how she had left it.

If she could just grab the letters and hide them before Edward waltzed in—

"Adeline," Edward drawled, his voice dangerously close.

She jumped.

He was right behind her now, so close that she could feel his breath near her ear.

When did he get so close?!

Adeline spun around, pressing a hand to his chest to stop him.

"Okay. No." She narrowed her eyes. "You are not coming in here."

Edward tilted his head, amused. "Oh? And why not?"

"Because I need five minutes alone," she said. "Is that so much to ask?"

Edward tapped his chin, pretending to consider. "Five minutes, huh?"

"Yes," Adeline said firmly.

"That sounds highly suspicious," Edward said.

"It’s not suspicious," she snapped. "You’re just paranoid."

"Perhaps," he conceded with a smile. "Or perhaps you’re terrible at lying."

Adeline narrowed her eyes. "Perhaps. But consider this—" She took a deliberate step forward, tilting her head. "You stay behind for five minutes like I asked, or I paralyze you with lightning and you’ll be forced to stay put for much, much longer."

For a moment, there was silence.

Then Edward let out a low chuckle. "Ah, threats again?" His smirk faded slightly, his dark eyes sharpening as he studied her. "You seem to enjoy doing that. Don’t you think it’s a bit detrimental to our partnership?"

Adeline sneered. "And you constantly trying to get on my nerves isn’t?"

Edward pressed a hand to his chest in mock offense. "I merely enjoy lively conversation."

"Well, I don’t," she snapped. "And if you want this so-called partnership to continue, you’re going to have to learn to respect my boundaries and treat me like an equal."

Edward blinked once. Then, slowly, a smirk crept back onto his face, but this time, it was different. More condescending.

"Equal?" He repeated the word as if tasting it, as if it was the most absurd thing she could have said.

His smirk widened. "We are not even on the same level."

He took a step forward, closing the space between them.

His voice dropped lower, almost taunting. "You want to be my equal, Adeline?"

Adeline didn’t back down. She lifted her chin, her eyes burning with defiance.

"Would you like a duel to see if I am or not?"

Edward stilled.

For a brief moment, there was something undeniably dangerous in his gaze.

Most people feared him—even the strongest of mages hesitated before provoking him.

But Adeline? She met his cold, piercing stare without an ounce of fear.

She would gladly fight him.

She would gladly kill him.

And Edward knew it.

His fingers twitched slightly, his usual nonchalance fading as something far more primal flickered in his gaze.

Adeline was blessed by the Sun Goddess, an infinite well of holy power. His forbidden magic, though deadly to most, would barely make a dent against her.

If he accepted a fight...

Would she try to kill him right here?

Edward had no doubt that if given the chance, Adeline would strike him down in a heartbeat.

Not out of vengeance.

Not out of some deep, personal grudge.

But because if he died, she would no longer be bound by her vow.

Edward smirked, but it didn’t quite reach his eyes.

"I would love to assess your strength," he murmured. "But for the sake of our partnership, I will accept your condition."

He stepped back, gesturing lazily toward the door.

"Go on, then," he said. "I’ll wait."

Adeline hesitated for a fraction of a second.

She had expected resistance. A snide remark. Another one of his infuriating games.

But he actually let her go.

She didn’t trust it.

Narrowing her eyes, she turned sharply and slipped into the room before he could change his mind.

Edward stayed behind, watching her retreating form.

His smirk softened just slightly.

This woman...

She truly didn’t fear him.

And for the first time in a long time, Edward found himself warming up—just a little—to the idea of their partnership.

Adeline walked past Edward, barely sparing him a glance, but just before she shut the door, she cast one last look his way. He was still leaning against the wall, his arms crossed, watching her with that same infuriating smirk.

With a sharp slam, she shut the door behind her.

Letting out a breath, she turned back to the room. The letters lay before her, a damning truth she could never allow him to see.

Without hesitation, she summoned a spark of electricity. It crackled at her fingertips before leaping onto the parchment. The paper curled as flames licked across it, turning the dangerous words into nothing but blackened ash.

She stepped back, watching the fire consume it all.

The small window in the corner of the room was barely enough, but she pushed it open, letting the smoke drift into the night air. Even so, she knew the scent would linger, she might get found out but this was for the best.

With one final glance at the charred remains, she turned on her heel and opened the door.

Edward was exactly where she left him, still lounging lazily against the wall, waiting.

She ignored him and walked forward, but as she moved past him, the smell of smoke thickened in the air.

Adeline frowned, her mind racing. That wasn’t just from the letters—had the fire spread? No, it wasn’t strong enough for that.

Without thinking, she muttered under her breath, "You smell like smoke."

She hadn’t meant for him to hear it.

But Edward did.

His smirk widened as he grabbed her wrist, bringing her hand to his face.

Slowly, deliberately, he inhaled.

"Yes," he murmured, his voice smooth as silk. "Just like you."

His dark eyes flickered with amusement. "Though, I wonder... Is it from the burning flesh when we killed those people, or..." His lips curled into a sharper grin. "Perhaps I, too, have just returned from burning something I didn’t want you to see?"

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