I Don't Want To Do a Romantic Comedy With a Villain! - Chapter 11

Episode 11

Min-joo glanced at Vehen. 

Her attention was drawn to the untidy dark brown hair, filled with moisture, and water droplets running down his neck. The sight of well-developed muscles peeking through the robe also caught her gaze.

Perhaps it was because of the black robe, but his fair skin stood out prominently. It wasn’t something she intended to admire. As Min-joo turned her head, showing signs of wanting to escape, one of Vehen’s eyebrows twitched sharply.

“How much did you dislike it?” 

The hand gripping the table dug deeper. The closer proximity brought a warm yet gentle fragrance. Somewhere around the upper abdomen or chest, an indescribable sensation tingled.

Feeling an urge to jump, Min-joo briefly held her breath and lowered her head. 

“Why aren’t you answering? You always had a quick response to unnecessary remarks before.”

“….”

But the more she heard sarcastic remarks, the more her irritation rose. She couldn’t comprehend why she tolerated and gave in to his blatantly arrogant attitude. 

What can he do if she doesn’t like it? Min-joo looked up. Her vision was filled with Vehen.

“Anything else to say?” 

His emerald eyes were deep like a swamp. Min-joo momentarily lost her words and leaned back. Vehen followed.

It was getting too close. Knowing it was a joke, Min-joo urgently pushed Vehen’s shoulders away with both hands and shouted.

“I really disliked it! Why? I wouldn’t dislike it if you weren’t so close!”

“Why would I be disliked? Is it because you thought I was not wearing clothes?”

“What kind of answer do you want? Just stay away since you’re so close.” 

Min-joo’s face, now reddened, contrasted with her black hair, making it more noticeable.

Unaware of how hot her face had become, Min-joo pushed Vehen’s shoulders again. Despite her efforts, Vehen slowly retreated, examining Min-joo’s reactions.

“Stop saying nonsense. I won’t leave you alone.”

He seemed quite satisfied. Vehen lifted the corner of his mouth slightly and adjusted his slightly open robe. Min-joo still grumbled, leaning on the table. Her lips were pouting.

“Not a pervert, really…”

“What?”

Hearing Min-joo’s grumbling, Vehen raised an eyebrow and twisted the corner of his mouth. A mischievous playfulness briefly flashed across his expression.

As it was something Min-joo would never do again for the sake of her heart and mental health, she stood up from the table abruptly, applauding.

“Wow! Our duke’s fragrance is amazing! I thought my nose was melting!”

“What’s with that strange way of speaking?”

“Do you need coffee? Oh my, the incompetent servant forgot again. I’ll be right back!”

“Just a moment.”

Although she tried to pass Vehen with hurried steps, he effortlessly grabbed both of Min-joo’s shoulders and lifted her.

Frustrated and disheartened, Min-joo thought she should either vent her anger or indulge in some comfort eating. Settled back at the table by Vehen’s hand, she raised her arms in a defensive posture, resembling a wary puppy. 

Vehen chuckled at the prospect of being bitten, then withdrew, allowing Min-joo to lower her arms.

“Count Velirian’s party is not far off. You might not be able to attend the party, but do you still want to go?”

“Yes! I want to go! My heart is trembling, and I can’t even sleep!”

“That sounds more like insomnia.”

“What do you know? My heart is trembling, I know it.”

“Not a word of agreement.”

“Of course. It’s the stamp of my life.”

Still guarding herself with her arms, Min-joo, with an expression of challenge, glared at Vehen, who found her reaction amusing and childlike, prompting laughter.

However, as Min-joo continued to glare, she suddenly sighed as if she had just remembered something. 

“By the way, how did Lady Leena’s fiancé find out and come here?”

In response to Min-joo’s question, Vehen clenched his fist, flicking his thick eyebrows. 

“Why does that matter?”

“Just curious. Without a messenger.”

“What’s with the messenger? I sent a letter.”

Min-joo couldn’t find an answer in Vehen’s straightforward response and tilted her head. A letter? Then she remembered him writing diligently on letter paper the day after the attack on the mansion, sending letters to the hometowns of those who lost their lives. 

Min-joo felt that Vehen wasn’t the character she thought he was—an intricate character. He’s not that delicate. Min-joo’s shock had nothing to do with Vehen, so he nonchalantly pushed her away.

“Go get some coffee. Let’s forget about today’s events.”

“What…?”

Min-joo’s eyes narrowed as she turned to walk out into the hallway. Probably something about Leena’s fiancé coming to visit and making a scene. Min-joo, pleased with her quick intuition, mentally complimented herself and tilted her head, pretending not to know anything.

“What happened today?”

“Oh, come on…”

Uselessly observant. Vehen let out a heavy sigh in exasperation.

“Enough, go quickly.”

Vehen patted Min-joo’s shoulders twice and walked toward the clothes placed near the bathroom door. Min-joo couldn’t take her eyes off the water droplets flowing down his neck, the broad shoulders revealed beyond the robe, and the veiny back of his hand.

Min-joo touched the shoulder where Vehen had placed his hand. Somehow, it felt like heat was emanating from his shoulder.

* * *

Ten days had passed. During that time, Min-joo had nurtured her growing resentment towards Vehen while enduring his teasing. If she were a plant, she would have already bloomed flowers and more.

Today, Min-joo was in an exceptionally cheerful mood. It was the day of Count Velirian’s party, and it was an opportunity for Min-joo to wear the new dress she had acquired ten days ago.

Despite Vehen’s repeated questions about whether she needed to come along, Min-joo had declared that she would go, shouting she would with confidence. 

Looking out the window, Min-joo felt a surge of excitement. The weather was pleasant, the sky was clear, and the autumn leaves were beautiful. It seemed like a day for anything.

“Stay still because it’s bothering me.” 

Vehen said, looking irritated as he finished his schedule just before departure.

“How can I stay still? Isn’t the concentration of a noble that low?”

“You find various ways to provoke me.”

“I might write a book later. ‘1,000 Ways to Annoy Your Master, Making Your Noble Furious,’ or something like that.”

“Your naming sense is also inept.”

Despite his sharp retort, Min-joo remained undeterred. As always. Min-joo, who had been staring outside for a while, glanced at Vehen’s stack of documents. Seeing only a few papers left, she lightly tapped the desk and raised her shoulders.

“Will it be over soon? Can I go change into my dress?”

“Do as you please.”

“I’ll be back soon. If you leave, indigestion will become a chronic condition for three households.”

“What?”

Min-joo, who had uttered an obscure curse or profanity, happily opened the door to the office with her excited steps. Strangely, Vehen felt like he could see a dog’s tail cutting through the air like a propeller—something that should not be visible.

Vehen squinted, wondering if he had gone crazy. Blinking, he realized there was no tail. Relieved that he wasn’t insane, Vehen stifled a small laugh.

Thump, he hit his head on the desk. 

“I’m going crazy…”

Every time he spent time with Min-joo, laughing and enjoying himself, Vehen felt like he was losing his mind.

Crossing the corridor and arriving at her overly luxurious room, Min-joo opened the wardrobe. Goodbye to the tiresome servant attire and the ragged clothes of unknown origin!

Behold the soft and neat dress bestowed by Vehen’s overflowing wealth from his vault. Min-joo shielded her eyes with her hand; it was dazzling.

In reality or scenarios, money was everything. Min-joo realized the reason why the CEOs loved money so much.

Min-joo took out a plain blue dress.

Fearing that Vehen might leave her behind, Min-joo hastily changed into her dress. She tidied up her roughly tied black hair into a more elegant style and examined her face in the mirror.

With no makeup or anything, the only thing Min-joo could do was remove the eyelashes stuck to her face. Once done with the face check, Min-joo rushed to Vehen’s office.

As she reached the vicinity of the office, Vehen, who had finished his work, was coming out of the room. Min-joo, who had felt betrayed, urgently called out to him.

“Stop! Wait! Don’t leave me behind!”

Vehen reflexively turned to look at Min-joo. Although he had no intention of leaving her behind, Min-joo’s cry was like the roar of a wild beast.

He couldn’t ignore it.

Perhaps because he had been seeing only Min-joo in servant attire, she looked a bit different.

Min-joo, who used to tie her hair with forks or sticks, had used a hairband after a long time, and the ankle-length simple dress made her look like a well-bred noble lady who had received a thorough education and upbringing.

Seeing her sprinting towards him without slowing down, Vehen twisted his body, preparing to catch Min-joo.

He extended his arm towards Min-joo, who was rushing towards him with her skirt spreading widely. Her hair swayed with the momentum.

“What are you doing?”

Min-joo, who had stopped abruptly in front of Vehen, looked up at him.

“….”

“Are you going to hug me?”

“Nonsense. I just wanted to check my sleeve for ink stains.”

With a puzzled expression, Vehen lowered his gaze to his hand, which Min-joo had shaken off. Min-joo looked up at Vehen with a teasing gaze and chuckled.

“Of course you are – you wouldn’t have opened your arms to me to be held in those wide arms, would you, my lord, my duke?”

Just because she was good at reading situations, Vehen swiftly turned his reddening ear towards his wrist. In his dark monochrome suit, his blushing ear stood out like the moon in the night sky.

Min-joo, realizing that he felt embarrassed and shy, burst into laughter with a sigh-like breath.

“Next time, I’ll accept it.”

Min-joo lightly tapped his bicep with her shoulder and smiled playfully. Vehen’s cheek tinged with a peach-like hue.

“There won’t be a next time. Just walk properly.”

“Okay. Can I get something to eat on the way?”

“You don’t.”

“Why?!”

Min-joo’s voice, full of injustice and disappointment, echoed through the corridor. The warmth that clung to Vehen didn’t seem to dissipate.

Vehen’s carriage was magnificent.

Min-joo couldn’t tell if it was to show off the duke’s grandeur or to brag about how much money was rotting in the Duchy of DeVirté. It felt different from Permette’s carriage. 

Permette’s carriage, while plain on the outside, boasted subtle splendor, comfort, and coziness on the inside. In contrast, Vehen’s carriage was extravagant both externally and internally, adhering to the basics.

It makes one wonder if the character’s personality is so evident. Min-joo confirmed their arrival at the destination and grasped her skirt to disembark from the carriage.

“Hold on.”

Vehen, who got off first, extended his hand. Despite his neat and rugged appearance, it was quite an odd feeling to have a handsome man reach out to her. It almost felt like being a princess.

Min-joo looked at his straight and graceful fingers, then grabbed the carriage wall and descended. Vehen’s hand awkwardly dropped towards the ground.

“I have hands and feet too, you know.”

Annoyed, Vehen, who lowered his head, signaled towards the open door. Min-joo, with a cheeky smile, tapped the carriage, giving the departure signal. The carriage headed towards the stable. Vehen, with a displeased attitude, touched his leg and looked at Min-joo.

“You’re really…”

“Why?”

“Let’s not talk.”

“There are two ways to make people angry. The first is to stop talking.”

“You’re talking nonsense again.”

Rolling his eyes, Vehen gestured towards the wide-open door. Min-joo stood in place, surveying the Velirian Mansion.

It might not be as good as Vehen’s residence, but compared to other noble mansions, it was large and splendid. Above all, the building harmonized exceptionally well with the surroundings. She couldn’t wait to feel how warm the interior was.

As the sun began to set, the sky started to tint orange. Ignoring Vehen’s questioning gaze, Min-joo playfully swayed her foot in place.

‘I can meet Neriant.’

Excited, Min-joo smiled brightly. As she followed Vehen, a person, who was beyond the half-open window, moved head along with Min-joo and Vehen’s actions.

It was a persistent gaze.