I Don't Want To Do a Romantic Comedy With a Villain! - Chapter 117

Episode 117

Since he’s a bastard, it might be natural. 

He’s just a fool who can’t do anything without Terisha.

Tedric hugged Terisha’s shoulders in silence.

She breathed heavily in his arms.

* * *

He keeps telling her to come and go as if he knows everything.

Neriant opened the door to the reception room and hesitated.

The opulent reception room adorned with gold was dazzling, but it was annoying.

“You’ve arrived.”

Ceteran, who arrived first, slowly closed and opened his eyes.

Neriant looked at him without saying a word. There was a paper in the man’s hand.

It was a familiar paper.

“You seem rather busy. Thanks to you, I’ve been able to see the palace and enjoy it.”

Neriant sneered sarcastically.

Ceteran smirked and gestured to the couch in front of him.

He’s impudent but within limits.

If he wasn’t the crown prince, she’d punch him.

As Neriant sat down in front of Ceteran, Ceteran put down the paper he was holding on the table.

“I heard you’re enlisting.”

It was an enlistment application. Neriant frowned and looked at Ceteran.

Ceteran’s face had become haggard since then.

Whether it was because of busy work, difficulties in building power, or something else unrelated to Neriant.

“Yes, I am enlisting. But I don’t understand why it’s in your hands.”

“I don’t refuse. It’s a military under my command. Do you think reports won’t reach me? It’s an enlistment application for the person who will marry me.”

It meant that the officer had reported it.

Since the funeral of the empress, rumors had spread that Neriant would marry Ceteran.

Neriant was annoyed but didn’t show it, taking a deep breath.

“Let’s call off the engagement. I am a soldier, and you are to become the emperor.”

“Because of Park Min-joo.”

Because of that prophet.

Ceteran furrowed his brow nervously with a sharp face.

It was a daunting face full of vitality, but it didn’t have much effect on Neriant.

“Why involve my sister? It’s irrelevant. I never wanted to marry in the first place, and you forced it upon me.”

“I’ve told you it’s not possible. The marriage will proceed as planned.”

He doesn’t want to lose anything anymore.

Ceteran lost his mother, his closest friend, and his brother. He didn’t want to lose the woman he loved either.

Political issues are important, but they can be resolved with time and effort.

But not anymore, he doesn’t want to lose anymore.

It’s a marriage his mother hoped for. It’s a marriage she allowed, he can’t disappoint her.

“Find someone you love to marry, and leave me out of it. Your Highness.”

Why does she keep trying to leave him?

Ceteran felt as if he were standing on the edge of a cliff, teetering dangerously close to the edge, with the fear that even a slight misstep would send him plummeting into the abyss.

They don’t love him. Neither his Mother nor Neriant. Even though the love he desires is not that grand.

“Why do you think I don’t love you?”

He felt like crying. Everyone he loved and wanted to love had left Ceteran. Those who gather around Ceteran only want to share the leftovers of power.

How, how much more must he become a better person to receive love?

“Why do you think I don’t love Lady Velirian?”

Emotions intensified, leading to a mistake. Nelsie’s outburst shook his mind.

‘Stupid! I told you not to show emotions in front of others!’

But he wants to be loved. He wants to love.

He has no one left beside him now.

Ceteran’s face, gradually turning pale with the impulsive words, seemed frightened.

Neriant quietly observed his change, furrowing her brow and lifting one corner of her mouth as if amused or amazed.

“Well… Your Highness, do you happen to love me then?”

Love. An emotion so distant to her because she’s never experienced it.

She’s never been in a relationship, never had a crush, she’s always been too busy working out.

She might have felt something similar with Min-joo, but that was just a deep friendship.

Admiration, affection, and friendship, mixed with ambiguous emotions.

Ceteran clenched his fist tightly. His trembling arms and pale face didn’t look like those of someone in love.

“… Is that not allowed then?”

It sounded like seeking permission.

As if a child were asking their parents for permission, even though they knew they were going to get scolded.

Neriant couldn’t understand Ceteran’s behavior.

He seemed so afraid, despite confessing his love.

Why? He, who is such an impressive noble and soon to be an emperor, is afraid of saying he loves?

No, it seemed like a different issue.

Love wasn’t the problem.

It seemed like a reluctance to do something on his own.

“Whether you love me or not, it doesn’t matter. I don’t like you. I don’t love you, and I don’t want to marry you.”

But it had nothing to do with Neriant.

Neriant wasn’t even interested in Ceteran. The more he stubbornly clung to love, the more she wanted to start a revolution.

Because he was a ruler who could easily be swept away by emotions, she didn’t want him dead.

“Please allow me to enlist.”

It was a firm statement. And at that, Ceteran’s face contorted with pain.

“…Don’t you want to become an empress? Don’t you want to be the most powerful person in the country? Don’t you want all the wealth and attention, the glamorous and comfortable life?”

The offer was to give up everything if she married him. Neriant wasn’t interested. Money would be nice, but she already had enough, and she wasn’t interested in others, so she didn’t want attention, and a glamorous life seemed cumbersome. 

If she had been flashy or liked to boast, she might have found it intriguing, but Neriant was plain. Neriant replied with a stoic expression.

“I don’t need it. It’s all just bothersome things.”

Ceteran pursed his lips. He seemed to have a lot to say, but he lowered his head instead. 

“Do you dislike me? Do you think you can’t love me no matter what?”

“Why do you want to marry me? Why do you love me? If you’re a prince, there will be other women lining up.”

The man’s clenched fist showed no sign of loosening. He just held on as if enduring it.

“I’ve fallen in love. Naturally, like winter passing and spring arriving. Naturally, with you….”

Firm and strong, unlike himself who easily faltered and crumbled.

Ceteran seemed like someone who could hold on firmly if he wavered.

Instinctively drawn to the strong.

Ceteran liked strong people because he was weak.

With his head deeply bowed, he hunched his shoulders.

He looked frail for a prince.

“I’m just a useless bastard. But still, I thought I could choose at least the person I want to share my love with…”

There was never anything he could choose.

He just flowed along the mainstream, following Nelsie’s instructions and Vehen’s persuasions.

He tried to keep Neriant by his side, making various excuses.

Even though he only tried to make one, just one choice.

“Did I make the wrong choice again this time? Am I always wrong…?”

Ceteran swallowed his tears silently. The more he spoke, the more miserable he became.

He seemed to understand why Nelsie told him not to show emotions.

He wasn’t this miserable when he showed emotions to Vehen.

Was it because he wanted to look good in front of Neriant?

He wanted to show only the good side of himself but ended up showing an ordinary and stupid side, making himself miserable.

Ceteran closed his eyes tightly and covered his face with his clenched hand.

Because tears seemed to be about to fall.

“Now I have no one left by my side. If we get married, Lady Velirian will at least be on my side… I’m sorry for being so pushy. But please, just once more… reconsider?”

Huh? Cute, huh?

Neriant’s impression of Ceteran, who struggled not to cry like a small animal, was that she felt like she had to protect him like it was either her or not… His low self-esteem as he tearfully asked for marriage was honestly a bit cute.

‘Am I a pervert?’

It was shocking. To think of someone crying as cute.

But when Min-joo cried, Neriant felt more sympathy and pity than cuteness.

It felt crazy to be both charmed by his low self-esteem and wanting to tease and torment him more.

Maybe she’s a pervert.

Where’s the trash can? She should comfortably lie down.

But being cute is being cute, and she didn’t want to get married.

Being an empress felt burdensome, and she also had dreams of being a soldier.

“It’s too hard to endure alone… I only have Lady Velirian. I know even saying this is burdensome, but please, I earnestly ask. I don’t want to break off the engagement…”

With no response, Ceteran finally couldn’t hold back his tears and shook his shoulders thinly.

It was frustrating.

With no mother or close friend left now.

The feeling of being harshly rejected by the person he loved pushed Ceteran into despair.

He didn’t ask for anything grand.

Just to have someone by his side.

He didn’t even ask for extravagant love.

“…… Am I crazy, really?”

Ceteran lifted his head at Neriant’s unintentional remark. He looked desperate.

His reddened eyes and moist, trembling pupils, the pained expression, were incredibly cute.

Neriant realized belatedly that her inner thoughts had slipped out and hurriedly covered her mouth.

But it was too late. Ceteran was biting his lip tightly, barely holding back tears.

‘If the revolution succeeds, won’t the empress just become like a mascot for the country? Wouldn’t that be less of a burden? And if a soldier promises marriage, they’ll send you off, right?’

This was serious. She was becoming weak because he was cute.

‘From a rational standpoint, marriage isn’t so bad. I can report Ceteran’s current status to Sister Min-joo. It’s like being a spy. It’s okay, it seems okay.’

Her self-justification was correct. Neriant was fully aware of it, but what could she do? Ceteran was cute.

She hopes he cries all day long.

If she tormented him maliciously and told him not to, and he cried like a baby, she could find it cute every day.

Ah, she should find a trash can on her way home. One that fits her perfectly. Fits snugly.

Neriant cleared her throat and organized her thoughts.

“Uh, if we get married, you’ll be in charge of the military, right? I’ll receive proper training and promotions based on my achievements.”

Ceteran’s face began to brighten gradually.

But then, Neriant’s sudden acceptance of marriage made him suspicious, as he couldn’t understand why she suddenly agreed.

“…Why, aren’t you breaking off the engagement?”

Even though he choked up and looked wary, it felt mischievous.

Neriant was more eager to embarrass the Ceteran than to tell him he was cute.

“Please answer. Permit me to enlist.”

“…On the condition that you don’t participate in the war. Nothing more.”

Participating in the war. It’s something she wants to do.

But if she participates in the war, she won’t be able to tease or make Ceteran cry.

It’s a shame, but maybe she can endure it a bit. Neriant nodded her head.

“That’s right.”

Ceteran sniffled as if he couldn’t believe it.

“…You won’t betray me?”

“What do I gain from betraying you?”

Neriant’s casual and blunt attitude instilled even more trust.

Ceteran felt his chest swelling and bit his lip tightly. His face flushed red.

Anyway, the marriage between the female lead and the male lead in the scenario is about to begin.