I Don't Want To Do a Romantic Comedy With a Villain! - Chapter 124

Episode 124

I like you.

Thump, thump. Her heart raced.

Despite desperately trying to ignore it and draw a line, he ended up crossing it.

Intoxicated by the atmosphere, melted by Permette’s affectionate voice, blinded by the beautiful sight.

Almost unconsciously, she was about to accept it.

Min-joo couldn’t escape from Permette’s tight embrace and swallowed a breath.

Her heart fluttered.

His strong scent, the subtle touch of his skin against her cheek, and his large stature slowly paralyzed Min-joo’s rationality.

‘Did he spend time with me today because he wanted to confess?’

Was it because Min-joo would soon leave, causing impatience?

Min-joo cautiously held onto Permette’s collar amidst the heavenly scene before her.

She could hear Permette’s breathing and the sound of him swallowing dryly, seemingly tense.

“I… like you. I don’t want to lose you to someone else.”

She’s not an object to be taken away. She’s not someone who can be taken or taken away.

But she understood the meaning behind Permette’s words.

With her getting closer to Vehen and Tedric trying to intervene, he probably didn’t want to see Min-joo become someone else’s lover without even confessing.

Min-joo held her breath while listening to Permette’s gentle confession.

“You are the one who makes me human. I want to be a good person for Min-joo. A good lover, a good friend, a good business partner…”

“You are very ambitious.”

“People are like that, aren’t they? Tools don’t have ambitions. But humans live by their ambitions. You’ve given me ambition, Min-joo.”

Was it because she recognized him from the beginning, because she knew him, that this happened?

Was it because she wanted him to become a good person that she ended up igniting this fire in him?

Min-joo nestled in the arms of the man who clung to her desperately, looking up at the countless light bulbs hanging in the sky like galaxies.

The stars blooming in his chest are because of her. They’ll disappear if she’s not here.

‘Why me?’

Why her? Of all people.

It would have been nice if he had met someone kinder, gentler, more beautiful, more dedicated, someone who wouldn’t leave.

How nice would it be if it wasn’t pathetic for her who still wants to run away without looking back?

Min-joo embraced Permette’s back and gently caressed it.

“You already know my answer, don’t you?”

“…”

Permette didn’t respond. That was answer enough.

Min-joo whispered against Permette’s cheek.

She desperately pretended not to know to avoid hurting each other.

She drew a line in the sand because she wanted to be safe.

“I’m sorry. Peril, Permette.”

“…Cruel.”

The man’s voice was heavy.

It used to be fresh and lively, but now it sounded like soaked cotton.

“…Why would you give me ambition and then take it away?”

“Because I didn’t know that ambition would be for me…”

You shouldn’t give ambition to people.

Min-joo remembered the endings with her previous lovers, where they only left each other with scars.

Permette held Min-joo’s shoulders and waist tightly.

She felt suffocated.

“Can’t we do this?”

“We’ll only hurt each other.”

“Even so, it’s fine.”

“That’s not ambition, it’s just being foolish.”

Permette exhaled heavily on Min-joo’s shoulder.

His breath was trembling weakly.

“…You made me foolish, didn’t you? You shouldn’t have made me human.”

“…Permette was human from the beginning, what are you saying?”

Permette pursed his lips.

Then he whispered into Min-joo’s ear.

“I won’t give up.”

“…What?”

“I won’t give up, I won’t.”

Permette stepped back, facing Min-joo directly.

Min-joo couldn’t find the words to say as she looked at his face.

His face, contorted with suppressed pain and tears, looked incredibly sorrowful.

Was it because of the cold or because of the wounds?

Min-joo felt sorry for not being able to understand his emotions.

“Let’s go back.”

Permette furrowed his brows, trying to hold back tears.

Under the bright light shining down on his head, he couldn’t hide his emotions.

He pulled Min-joo through the crowd.

Min-joo could only be dragged along by his strength.

“…Permette.”

“Peril.”

Permette corrected with a nickname, despite being rejected, showing his truly humane side of not wanting to let go of Min-joo.

Selfish, full of regrets, and unwilling to admit defeat until the end.

As they left without saying goodbye to the host, someone grabbed Min-joo’s wrist from behind.

Startled, Min-joo turned around.

“…Your Highness?”

Breathless, Tedric stood holding Min-joo’s wrist.

“Not anymore.”

Tedric, wearing a thick coat, looked more like a noble than a prince.

His wide pink eyes, filled with surprise, were clear and beautiful.

His gentle face was radiant even in the darkness, and his smile upon seeing Min-joo was lovely.

Min-joo looked at Tedric’s flushed face and then glanced at Permette.

Permette stopped in his tracks and glared at Tedric.

“…Why did the Marquis come here?”

“I received a request from someone to mingle in society. And isn’t Rolfreme the epitome of society? You came with my person.”

Tedric released Min-joo at the mention of “my person.”

Min-joo looked at her not-so-hurt wrist and then looked up at Permette, leaning on his shoulder.

His eyes still had traces of tears.

Tedric must have noticed the subtle situation.

As Min-joo glanced at Tedric, he smiled softly.

Permette, wary, interjected.

“The Marquis’ person is no longer available. This person is my friend now.”

“That’s right, friend. It’s a coincidence; I am also a friend of this person.”

“There’s nothing more to discuss.”

When Permette firmly tried to end the conversation and take Min-joo away, Tedric sighed deeply.

It was Min-joo who held Permette back, sensing that Tedric had something to say.

“Going back together now doesn’t seem like a wise choice.”

“…Doesn’t matter, does it? Seems like you haven’t forgotten your previous authority.”

It was a warning not to interfere in trivial matters.

The conversation turned harsh and tense.

Min-joo looked between them, feeling scared that a fight might break out.

When Min-joo tried to intervene to stop their conversation, Tedric smiled softly with narrowed eyes.

“Even if that’s the case, where would my lineage go? My dear, it seems like you need some time to think things through alone.”

Tedric, in his own way, was trying to prevent misunderstandings due to his intense emotions after being disappointed.

Even Permette, who felt annoyed by Tedric’s interference, took a step towards Tedric after letting go of Min-joo.

It seemed like a real fight was about to happen.

Min-joo hastily pulled Permette’s arm and intervened.

“Wait a moment! Why did Tedric come here?”

“Min-joo, please let go for a moment.”

“Peril, stay calm!”

Min-joo held on, refusing to move any further.

Permette narrowed his eyes and glared at Tedric.

Tedric shrugged casually in response.

“I invested in the bulb business. It’s bound to make money. It might be just a spoonful of soup, but thanks to that, I’m getting several investment offers. If several investments succeed, everyone will want to be in my favor.”

In other words, he was going to go from being a crown prince who stood up for himself to being a business-minded, money-grubbing marquis who was going to make a splash in social circles.

Min-joo grabbed Permette’s arm to calm him down and hung onto him.

In the midst of this, she had to give a response, so she awkwardly raised her thumb and smiled.

“Oh, I see! It’s great to see you working hard!”

“I know you’re in a hurry, but that’s a rather insincere response.”

Tedric chuckled and tilted his head.

“Well, what can I say? I’m in a rush right now, so let’s talk later!”

Min-joo wasn’t rude to Tedric once or twice. She was always rude, so it was okay.

“You’re still rude. That’s not the point; the conservative aristocrats have offered me a title. Moreover, there’s talk that His Highness is about to be crowned.”

Min-joo and Permette stopped moving and turned to look at each other.

The meaning behind those words now.

Permette asked seriously, hiding Min-joo behind him.

“Hasn’t His Highness Ceteran not even had his coronation ceremony yet?”

“That’s right. So, even if I have to defy the imperial decree, it seems like they want to push me into the palace. They were adamant about holding the coronation ceremony during today’s meeting, and the conservative aristocrats who support me said they would not attend.”

Tedric arrogantly put his hands in his pockets and spoke. Whether this situation was amusing or uninteresting, his smiling face was irritatingly smug.

“I’m still superficially the opposing force of Ceteran. If I conspicuously provide help, there will be a big uproar among the nobles. If Ceteran wants to resolve this as peacefully as possible, they should handle the situation well.”

Tedric thought it was a prudent response. If he had taken any action, Permette would have likely rushed in like a whirlwind.

Min-joo nodded.

“Okay. I’ll talk to Vehen first.”

“And I tried to meet Marquess Trimidri, but I was rejected. It seems my sponsorship was of no use.”

After finishing his words, Tedric glanced at Permette with a subtle emotion.

It seemed like he was sympathizing with Permette, who confessed impulsively, or feeling a sense of camaraderie.

Min-joo sensed Tedric’s emotions vaguely but pretended not to notice.

She felt it wouldn’t be wise to let them continue talking, especially seeing how upset Permette was.

Why was there animosity between Vehen and Permette?

It was only natural given their relationship, but still.

“Yes. You should go too, Tedric.”

Min-joo, fearing they might start a fight, pulled Permette along and walked ahead.

Not long after, they heard that the carriage was ready and moved to it.

The night sky spread outside the window.

The dark sky, as if no events were happening, was unusually dark as if it would snow soon.

Permette was in agony, even though he already knew the result.

‘I should have been more careful. No, even if I spent more time, it wouldn’t have changed anything.’

Permette was not oblivious.

He already knew that Min-joo harbored feelings for Vehen, not him.

‘Just expressing my feelings was enough. I’ve hung on as much as I could and done what I could.’

He knew he should be satisfied with just spending time together all day.

He also knew that he couldn’t force Min-joo’s feelings and that to appear as a good person, he had to endure and be patient.

‘But…’

While feeling a boiling sensation in his chest, he also felt a painful helplessness.

‘Emotions were like parts. It would be nice if I could just remove them.’

Permette, with narrowed eyes, looked out the window.

It was awkward and uncomfortable to be together in a confined space after being rejected even after confessing.

Perhaps they should have gone separately.

Just being together might have been hurting Permette.

Min-joo tried to brainstorm a way to resolve this awkward atmosphere.

“Uh… What about Pel? What happened to him?”

Permette was leaning his chin on his hand, staring out the window. His expressionless, blank face seemed sharp.

Only after Min-joo spoke did Permette turn his gaze.

“He died.”

“…What?”

Min-joo couldn’t hide her confusion because of the sudden conclusion.

Permette, still resting his chin on his hand, spoke while covering his lips with his fingers.

“After the ownership of the estate was transferred, he tried to escape but was caught and died. Several people who agreed with his opinion gathered and tried together, but only one person survived.”

She should not have retreated.

She should have persisted and fought until the end to give him freedom.

Min-joo felt her heart sinking as if her breath would stop.