I Don't Want To Do a Romantic Comedy With a Villain! - Chapter 123

Episode 123

By the way, did he bark just now?

Min-joo looked puzzled at Permette, who casually imitated a puppy.

Of course, she had thought he looked like a cat or a dog, but imitating one was another matter.

When Min-joo jerked her hand away in surprise and stepped back, Permette firmly pulled her shoulder.

“You’re going to fall.”

With his casual demeanor as if there was someone else barking, Min-joo became even more bewildered.

Permette naturally wrapped his arm around Min-joo’s trembling shoulder and acted like a lover.

“Shall we go for a snack, or would you prefer a little walk?”

Just like someone who had a younger lover.

Min-joo looked at Permette, who was smiling brightly and pushed away the hand on her shoulder.

Without insisting on a second refusal, Permette backed off.

“Let’s take a little walk. They say it’s good for your health to walk after a meal.”

“For the same reason as Grandma.”

Permette laughed mockingly and coughed dryly, suppressing his laughter.

Min-joo laughed brightly in response to his teasing.

“Peril, would you take Grandma for a walk?”

Finally, she couldn’t hold back her laughter.

Permette turned his head and chuckled, suppressing his laughter while shaking his shoulders, but Min-joo cheekily pursed her lips.

Bending her waist and patting Permette’s back, Min-joo scolded him playfully.

“Sweetheart, Grandma’s leg hurts. Let’s walk and go back quickly.”

Sweetheart. Permette looked at Min-joo with a smile in his eyes.

His expression seemed complicated. He seemed pleased with the affectionate nickname at one moment, but then his face turned cool.

Permette placed Min-joo’s hand on his arm and pursed his lips.

“…I’m not a sweetheart.”

Was he upset about being treated like a child?

It might feel hurtful to be treated like a baby by someone you like.

Min-joo linked her arm with Permette’s and playfully laughed.

“Does it matter if Grandma’s leg hurts?”

“Shall I carry you?”

“That’s okay.”

Strolling down the street without a care in the world was quite enjoyable.

Min-joo had never dreamed that she would get along so well with Permette.

Permette walked alongside Min-joo, matching her steps as they wandered the streets, and if there was a shop that caught Min-joo’s interest, he willingly made time.

They talked easily with shop owners, behaved amiably, and even managed to get some freebies. They also walked in sparsely populated parks.

It was a pleasant time without any arguments, Min-joo thought.

So she realized belatedly that it was already evening.

“It seems like the winter makes the sun set quickly.”

“Yes. Isn’t it a pity?”

“It is. Thanks to Peril, it was fun.”

Permette stood in the path where people passed by, looking at Min-joo.

With his nose red from the cold, Permette looked quite cute.

“If there’s still some time left, would you come with me?”

“What’s the plan?”

Every time he spoke, a puff of breath escaped his lips. The white breath disappeared into the wind immediately.

Min-joo exhaled and rubbed her cheek with the back of her hand.

It was starting to feel chilly, and it seemed like it was time to go indoors.

Although it wasn’t as cold as a Korean winter, it was still cold enough to endure.

“Are we going inside?”

“Unfortunately, it’s outside.”

“I’m freezing.”

“If humans could just die so easily, it would be convenient.”

He’s teasing again.

Min-joo glanced at Permette with a smirk and snorted.

“Alright, let’s go. As long as it doesn’t take too long.”

“I’ll escort you when it’s over.”

“I’ll graciously accept.”

“I think I’m going to have to cry.”

“Go ahead.”

Sob.

She really can’t deal with this.

Who cries pretending to cry?

Min-joo grabbed Permette’s arm and pulled him along.

“Let’s go.”

“Yes.”

They set off optimistically, but if Min-joo had known they were heading to an unfamiliar noble’s house, she wouldn’t have followed.

It wasn’t her intention to get involved with nobility.

She already had enough people she knew, and she didn’t feel the need to meet anyone else just because she was preparing for a revolution.

Besides, she didn’t even know how to behave properly towards such noble people.

“I’ll leave.”

“Where are you going?”

As Min-joo tried to turn back to the carriage, Permette quickly grabbed her waist.

It looked ridiculous with her hanging in the air like that.

This guy keeps ignoring her dignity.

“Let go of me. Do you think I’m some sort of baggage? Up and down, up and down, huh?”

“I’ll show you something truly rare. You can just look and then leave, right?”

“Why are you holding onto me like this?”

There was no use running away, especially since she couldn’t run properly because of her skirt, and it was obvious she wouldn’t get far from Permette.

Min-joo gave up on the idea of escaping and obediently stayed with Permette.

With a playful frown, Permette chuckled and shook Min-joo twice in the air before setting her down.

“Eat more.”

“I’m eating just fine, why the nagging?”

She had gained some weight, but she hadn’t been eating much. She was subconsciously controlling her portions.

Managing her weight had been Min-joo’s long-standing habit.

Min-joo tightly held onto Permette’s arm and walked towards the backyard where the nobles were gathered.

“So why did we come here?”

“I previously invested in something with hesitation. But it seems the commercial development has been successful. Today is a promotional party for that. Normally, parties don’t go well in winter, but there’s a rumor about a groundbreaking invention, so everyone has gathered.”

A gun, maybe. Or perhaps the development of a nuclear weapon.

But that’s not commercial, is it?

Min-joo nodded vaguely.

Anyway, it wasn’t related to the revolution.

She felt relieved. No need to think too much.

“I’ve also located where Pel is, as you requested, but I’ll tell you on the way back after the party.”

“……Okay.”

Procrastinating was not a good thing.

Min-joo gathered her thoughts and resumed walking.

The backyard wasn’t very spacious. It was smaller than Vehen’s mansion but larger than Min-joo’s house.

However, there were many people.

Although there wasn’t much food prepared, servants brought out more intermittently.

The winter backyard was bleak with bare trees, but it still had an elegance to it.

Min-joo had been worried about dressing too simply for meeting Permette, but luckily, the people at the party were wearing layers of coats, so it wasn’t a problem.

The host, who seemed like a count, welcomed Min-joo and Permette.

“You said you’d be late, but you’re earlier than I thought. Viscount Rolfreme.”

“Yes, indeed. Hasn’t it started yet?”

After Permette politely greeted him, they engaged in conversation.

Seeing this, it seemed Permette was also a noble.

Min-joo stayed in her place and casually looked around.

The count smiled warmly and greeted everyone.

“Our major investor hasn’t arrived yet, so it couldn’t have started. Is this person next to you your partner? It seems like our first meeting……”

Surprised by the gaze on her, Min-joo looked at the count.

How should she react? Should she greet him?

When Min-joo glanced at Permette, he smiled softly.

As if telling her not to worry. To trust only him.

“She’s my lover. She’s feeling shy, so she looks flustered.”

As Min-joo looked at Permette in embarrassment, he pretended to be an affectionate lover and hid Min-joo behind him.

“Oh……”

The Count glanced at Min-joo hiding behind Permette and smiled politely.

“May I ask your family name?”

“Count. I will properly introduce her later. My lover doesn’t like crowded places.”

It was a polite way of saying not to pry further, and also implying she wasn’t from a suitable family.

The Count glanced at Min-joo and smiled warmly at Permette.

Was it because Permette had invested heavily?

Min-joo tried to hide her discomfort under the unpleasant gaze and pretended to be embarrassed.

“……Viscount……”

Min-joo gently pulled Permette’s coat and cautiously spoke with a lowered voice.

As she looked like a shy noble with a lot of embarrassment, the count lost interest.

Permette silently observed Min-joo’s reaction as if enjoying the show.

“……Peril……?”

Min-joo shook Permette’s coat as if she were whining to make it look more like they were lovers.

Upon hearing the nickname, Permette smiled happily.

“My lover is sensitive to the cold. Let’s go check on the investment results then.”

Permette wrapped his arm around Min-joo’s shoulder, and Min-joo placed her arm around his waist.

After leaving the count’s side and moving to a corner, Min-joo tightly grabbed Permette’s waist.

She didn’t squeeze too hard, but Permette pretended to twist his upper body in pain.

“Ouch.”

“What? Lovers? Shy? What’s the point of pretending to be chased away for being a commoner?”

Min-joo grumbled as she pinched Permette’s side. There was no fat to grip onto.

Permette, who presented a poor acting performance, leaned his head against Min-joo’s and whispered.

“Even if you were revealed as a commoner, being a reformist noble, I wouldn’t have chased you away. Besides, if I retrieve the investment funds, the business will fail.”

If retrieving the investment funds would lead to the business failing, how much had he invested?

How much money did Permette have?

Min-joo now understood why the count had catered to Permette.

Min-joo leaned closer, pretending to be passionately in love.

“You’re a reformist? Did you invest knowing that?”

“No, I just made a good judgment because of my business acumen.”

Min-joo looked at Permette disdainfully and then shook her head.

Whether he said it or not, Permette playfully lowered his head even more to face Min-joo.

His yellow eyes stubbornly stared at Min-joo.

“You acted well. It was cute.”

“What are you talking about? From now on, instead of saying we’re lovers, just say we’re friends. There’s no need to insist that we’re lovers just because we’re partners.”

He couldn’t miss the opportunity.

Permette swallowed his response with that thought.

Hiding behind him, grabbing his coat, and looking at him shyly, Min-joo looked so cute.

He wished he could keep watching her like this, but it was a shame he couldn’t.

‘Will I be able to see her every day if she becomes my lover?’

Could he capture all the various sides of Min-joo he hadn’t seen before and feel them with his skin?

Permette bit his lip, but his voice was drowned out by the count’s call.

“You’ve waited long enough.”

Permette and Min-joo’s gaze turned towards the voice.

Although the count muttered something long-winded, Permette pulled Min-joo’s shoulder as if to say he had waited and started walking.

Blending into the crowd, Min-joo busily looked around and leaned on Permette’s chest.

He seemed excited.

“Look up.”

Permette whispered and raised his head.

Min-joo looked at his profile.

The only light that illuminated Permette was the moonlight.

Sparkle.

As Permette blinked, a round light like a galaxy was floating above his head.

Gasps echoed throughout the area.

The bright light illuminating the darkness filled the sky, and Permette’s beautiful face suddenly shone brightly.

“Isn’t it beautiful?”

Beautiful.

“I wanted to show you.”

Truly beautiful.

“It felt like stars were pouring down right in front of us. I wanted to see it with Min-joo.”

Of course. Light bulbs were invented to illuminate the darkness.

Permette smiled brightly.

His smile was so lovely that Min-joo felt he was like an innocent youth.

He might lack ethics and morals, but there must be many stars twinkling inside him.

Min-joo hoped Permette would never lose those stars and remain happy.

Permette looked at Min-joo with an adorable smile.

The hand around her shoulders was generous, and his embrace smelled of warmth and winter.

“I have something to say.”

Permette lowered his head and brought his lips close to her ear.

Although they didn’t touch, she could feel his warmth and breath.

“I like you.”

So, even his confession was clear.