I Don't Want To Do a Romantic Comedy With a Villain! - Chapter 10
Episode 10
As the cause drew near, more people gathered.
The sorrowful cry of a man echoed continuously, mixed with screams.
It wasn’t inside the mansion, but an incident that occurred on the path connecting the garden and the mansion entrance.
It had only been a week since the last incident, and Min-joo couldn’t help but feel strangely like she was the protagonist carrying incidents and accidents with her. She quietly slipped through the bustling crowd.
It seemed like she had met the maids and workers here for the first time in her life. Min-joo delved deeper into the crowd and unexpectedly spotted a head rising above the people.
Dark brown hair, an emotionless face that seemed expressionless, even when contorted in agony—it was Vehen. Why is he here?
Min-joo immediately realized that Vehen was at the center of the incident.
“You ruined my life!”
It was an outcry filled with anger and sadness, echoing several times.
“Because of you, Leena…!”
A familiar name reached Min-joo’s ears. She urgently pushed through the crowd, storming towards the scene.
A man who looked like a commoner was sitting in front of Vehen, pounding the ground with his fists filled with bitterness and misery. His face displayed sadness and anger.
Just as Min-joo was about to ask the maid standing next to her about the details of the incident, the man glared at Vehen and shouted.
“We were about to get married, but you didn’t let her go, so she died!”
A chill ran down Min-joo’s spine. The feeling of her heart sinking—made her wonder if this was what it felt like. She stared at the man as if entranced.
Leena, whose whereabouts were unknown, the night when intruders caused a ruckus…
“When she told you that she’ll quit, you should have let her go! Why did you keep holding her? You knew, right? You knew everything and kept her as a sacrificial lamb?”
Min-joo turned her gaze to Vehen. He calmly absorbed the man’s anger with a composed expression.
As the man grabbed handfuls of grass and dirt and threw them at Vehen, the scene became perfect chaos with gasps, screams, a dirtied Vehen, and the man sobbing uncontrollably.
It was a moment when Min-joo stepped forward, telling them to calm down. Vehen, with dirt smeared on his face, didn’t bother to wipe it away and bowed his head.
“I’m sorry.”
His neatly bowed head and restrained posture were peculiar. Min-joo hesitated, thinking he seemed so composed that it made her wonder if he truly felt sorry.
The flowing dark brown hair covered his face, so Min-joo couldn’t see his expression. However, seeing his tightly clenched and trembling fist, Min-joo found herself standing in front of Vehen before she knew it.
With shadows cast before his eyes, Vehen raised his bowed head to look at Min-joo. Her back is so small and delicate.
Vehen frowned, chewing on his lips.
“Calm down. I can’t fathom how sad and difficult it must be for you, but still…”
“Step aside.”
Min-joo tried to calm the man, but he brushed her shoulder aside. Vehen, passing by Min-joo, stood close to the man. The silence fell over everyone.
“I understand how shocked you must have been upon receiving the letter. You probably rushed here immediately.”
It was a tone and voice Min-joo had never expected to come from Vehen. Vehen sat in front of the man, meeting his eyes.
He was someone who knew how to bow and yield. Min-joo couldn’t hide her confusion and amazement at this unfamiliar side of the character she thought she knew.
“I should have sent her sooner, but I couldn’t. Leena was exceptionally talented and a wonderful person. I didn’t want to miss out on such talent, so I held onto her. My arrogant judgment was wrong.”
It was supposed to be the rough and bad-tempered Vehen that Min-joo had set up. Yet, this Vehen was different.
“A mistake occurred during the recent relocation of the servants. It’s my fault for not checking thoroughly. I will accept your anger.”
Leena had stayed for Min-joo’s sake. It wasn’t Vehen’s fault. It was the fault of the crown prince, not anyone here.
Min-joo clenched her lips and then grabbed Vehen’s shoulder, stepping forward.
Vehen looked at Min-joo with surprise in his eyes.
“The crown prince did this. The crown prince harmed Leena.”
It was an incident she had kept hidden to use later. Though she had wished for Vehen to get scolded somewhere, seeing him bowing to someone else made her feel uncomfortable.
Is this the feeling of having something only she can pick on? She wondered.
And seeing Vehen carrying this heavy resentment alone made Min-joo feel a little, just a little, sorry for him.
Tears poured from the man’s eyes as he stared blankly at Min-joo.
“Why? Why did the Crown Prince…”
“Many people were hurt at the command of the Crown Prince. The Duke was also seriously injured.”
The man’s gaze shifted to Vehen. Vehen kept his head bowed as if suppressing his emotions.
The man felt powerless and lost. With the direction of his anger now unclear, he couldn’t figure out what to do.
Min-joo grabbed Vehen’s shoulder and bowed her upper body. Permette silently drove away the gathered.
“I know how sad and difficult it must be. How hard it is to lose someone you love.”
The man broke down, crying sorrowfully. Neither Min-joo’s words nor Vehen’s comfort would have reached him.
Vehen, calling for Permette who had chased everyone away, helped the man up. The man, still unable to stand properly, clung to Vehen’s arm and sobbed.
“Prepare a carriage and send him back safely.”
“Always give me these troublesome tasks.”
Troublesome? Min-joo saw the man sobbing to the point where his breath was choked. Permette’s character was truly top-notch.
Min-joo glared at Permette and pulled the man away.
“It’s fine. I’ll take care of it.”
“…I’ll do it, please.”
Permette, with a strong grip, pulled the man towards him, licking his lips. The man, apologizing to Vehen, bowed his head, then sealed his lips and swallowed his sobs.
Permette glanced disdainfully at Min-joo.
“Take care of yourself, Min-joo. Do you even know what it means to care about someone else?”
It was absurd. Min-joo had never heard anyone say she was too caring.
But, in front of a stranger crying, it was generally something anyone could do to offer a word of comfort. Moreover, knowing the truth while Vehen was unfairly blamed, Min-joo couldn’t just stand by.
“If helping someone in need is considered caring too much, then I’ll be the one with a broad sense of caring.”
Min-joo, who responded briefly and firmly, received a disapproving nod from Permette after a short contemplation.
“Yes, do as you wish.”
Permette, energetically supporting the man, walked sluggishly towards the gate. His retreating figure looked quite ruffian-like and rough.
Once Permette was far enough, Min-joo turned her body away from him and frowned at Vehen.
“Why didn’t you say you didn’t do it and just took the scolding? You’re not that kind of person. What nonsense were you spouting, getting into every detail and sending him away?”
“…Why did you step in?”
“Huh?”
Wasn’t that stating the obvious? Min-joo absentmindedly poked her ear with her finger to check if she had heard correctly.
Seeing her finger clean, it seemed she indeed heard it right.
“Why did I step in? Knowing what the other person might do to you.”
“What would someone who’s overwhelmed with sadness do? Concealing a weapon? What would he have done if you intervened, subdued him, and threatened him? What if you had been injured, what then!”
Faced with Min-joo’s nonchalant response, Vehen raised his voice. The meaning was understood, but whether it was necessary to be angry was unclear.
Having acted with good intentions but receiving backlash in the form of criticism was disappointing. Min-joo, responding without hesitation, pointed in the direction the man had disappeared.
“And you? Vehen, if you were hurt? That person would have gone to jail, and unjustly injured, what about you!”
Vehen furrowed his eyebrows. His gaze, looking down at Min-joo, seemed sorrowful. It also seemed like he missed something.
For a moment, Min-joo realized that Vehen was looking at someone else while addressing her.
Before Min-joo could say anything more, Vehen sighed and turned his back.
“You still worry about others too much. Fine, bring me some clothes and take me to the bedroom. I need to wash up.”
Did she win again, or did he avoid an argument? Regardless, Min-joo clenched her fist at the thought of winning.
But what does ‘still’ mean?
Picking up her clothes from the floor, Min-joo returned to the mansion and headed to the bedroom as Vehen had requested. Too much had happened in a short period, and she found herself devoid of any thoughts. It felt like she didn’t want to think about anything.
Entering the bedroom and neatly placing the clothes in front of the bathroom door, Min-joo thought that Vehen would probably ask for coffee again, so it would be good to go before he asked.
As Min-joo turned towards the bedroom door, Vehen sensed her presence and suddenly emerged from the bathroom.
“Hey, the clothes…”
“Ack! Clothes!”
Min-joo screamed, shattering the window and slamming her face into the door.
Min-joo raised her hands and pushed against the door, claiming she didn’t see anything. Her nose throbbed from her haste. Min-joo mumbled an excuse and pressed herself against the door.
“What are you doing?”
Once again becoming an involuntary audience to Vehen’s theatrics, Min-joo frowned at the unexpected appearance of him from the bathroom. The sound of slippers dragging on the floor echoed. Min-joo turned her face in a hurry and shouted.
“Don’t come close! I told you not to come close!”
“What’s going on for real?”
Beyond the awkwardness, Vehen, with a confused expression, slowly approached Min-joo. The sound of slippers dragging on the floor was getting closer. Min-joo imagined Vehen wearing only slippers, and the thought was enough to make her feel nauseous, so she thumped her head several times.
Min-joo’s actions hinted at what she might have been thinking. Her ears turned crimson, and she mumbled various alien words while banging her head. Vehen, who seemed to have grasped what Min-joo was thinking, frowned and approached her slowly.
And then, Vehen, who had lightly combed his damp hair with his hand, stood beside Min-joo. Turning Min-joo’s body around, Vehen leaned against the door next to her. Min-joo was faced with Vehen’s collarbone.
“Ack! I hate this!”
“What do you hate?”
Min-joo forcefully pushed Vehen’s chest with her fist, though it didn’t hurt much, it hurt his feelings. Vehen raised one eyebrow, looking down at Min-joo, his expression questioning the meaning of what she was saying.
The expression was rather nervy.
Min-joo, shocked, turned in circles, pounding the wall with fists, repeatedly saying she had seen it! She has seen it with her eyes! She has seen it with her brain!
“I’m dressed, I’m dressed.”
It felt miserable to watch. Vehen wrapped his hand around Min-joo’s forehead and nervously pushed her back.
Min-joo, who had distanced herself from the door, could now see Vehen’s appearance with her own eyes.
“You’re dressed.”
“I’m dressed.”
“I thought you were undressed.”
“Why would I be undressed?”
“Wouldn’t I bring the clothes to……?”
Thinking that since his clothes were dirty, it was natural to undress.
“I’m really curious about what’s in your head.”
Vehen tightened his robe and furrowed his brow as if to show off. Min-joo felt a little sorry for treating him badly.
Min-joo awkwardly smiled and lightly tapped her head.
“Oh, sorry. I didn’t know.”
“So, you don’t like me?”
“Don’t act like a spoiled child. I said I’m sorry.”
There was nothing else to say besides apologizing. Isn’t that right?
Vehen’s muscles are really firm!
Min-joo shrugged her shoulders brazenly. Vehen, who firmly held his robe, chuckled.
“I’m not that bad.”
“Oh, sorry! Then, what else should I say?”
Vehen, holding back his laughter, slowly approached Min-joo. His face had a chilly yet dangerously playful expression, making Min-joo step back awkwardly.
One step closer, two steps back, and again, backward.
Thump! The table touched her back. Sensing trouble, Vehen trapped Min-joo between his arms and gave her a sharp, threatening look.
“Apologies accepted. Now, tell me how much you disliked it.”
Acting like a spoiled child. Not the demeanor of the male protagonist in a romance novel.
Min-joo looked at Vehen’s approaching face and swallowed dryly.