I Don't Want To Do a Romantic Comedy With a Villain! - Chapter 144

Episode 144

The schedule afterward went smoothly. 

Vehen finished his meal and returned, and Min-joo spent the day tidying up.

The next day, with Tedric’s help, they were able to summon Baroness Shuana to Hiltate.

Min-joo, with Chichen’s help, got ready and moved to Hiltate. Hiltate continued to function as usual so that Min-joo’s absence wouldn’t be felt.

While Min-joo was away, many people left the third floor, and Vehen filled in for the busy Neriant.

There were many new faces. It was said that even after the abolition of slavery, their situation hadn’t changed.

After assessing the situation, Min-joo sat in a corner of the second-floor coffee shop.

Before long, guided by a staff member, Baroness Shuana approached.

“Hello, I’m Baroness Shuana Meghini.”

The woman introduced as Meghini appeared slightly older than Min-joo, and her round glasses partially covered her face, adding to her charm.

Though not extravagantly dressed, she looked neat enough to inspire confidence.

Min-joo stood up and nodded respectfully.

“Hello, I’m Park Min-joo. Please call me Min-joo.”

Meghini’s face seemed tense, but she politely returned the greeting and took her seat. As if on cue, the staff member placed coffee and cake on the table and disappeared.

Recalling the etiquette she had observed at the coronation party, Min-joo followed suit, managing to mimic proper manners to some extent.

“I prepared a simple menu not knowing Baroness Shuana’s preferences. I hope it suits your taste.”

“No, it’s fine.”

Despite her friendly response, Meghini didn’t touch the coffee or cake, keeping a guarded stance toward Min-joo.

Min-joo, aware that she was summoned at the behest of Tedric, a prominent figure in the conservative camp, understood Meghini’s caution as someone aligned with the reformists. So, she thought it would be better to engage sincerely rather than resort to flattery.

Quietly cutting the cake with her fork, Min-joo spoke.

“I heard you’re associated with the reformists, Baroness Shuana.”

“I’ve heard about you too, Lady Min-joo. They say you’re doing good work.”

“It’s just doing what’s right. Like Baroness Shuana.”

Though genuinely meant, Min-joo’s words seemed to unsettle Meghini, who adjusted her glasses.

“You speak as if I’m doing something extraordinary, Lady… Min-joo.”

“Efforts to change the world are extraordinary, aren’t they?”

Min-joo smiled again, sincerity evident in her expression. Meghini clasped her hands quietly.

The coffee shop remained bustling. Their conversation easily drowned in the noisy chatter.

“I’m curious why you’ve summoned me, considering I have no political standing or wealth.”

“Marquess Trimidri’s actions have raised eyebrows.”

Meghini lifted her head slightly. Her glasses glinted white.

“And?”

Her tone was welcoming yet subtly cautious, as if pleased yet wary.

Meghini’s deep blue hair swayed like the night sea.

“What did you want to talk about?”

Her tense face exuded seriousness. Min-joo seemed to understand why Meghini was considered the next leader after Marquess Trimidri.

There was a cautious yet captivating charm about her, something that drew people in.

Min-joo tried to emulate a similar seriousness. Whether it had any effect, she wasn’t sure.

“I want to support Baroness Shuana. Marquess Trimidri has committed unforgivable acts and must face the consequences. It might seem like a mere commoner can’t do much, but I can. Making Marquess Trimidri face justice and leading Baroness Shuana to lead the reformists.”

It was arrogant. Min-joo’s reality was being a mere commoner who made money through business and believed in doing the right thing.

But she was the lover of a duke, the benefactor of a former crown prince, the friend of a duke’s dog, and the dear sister of the woman who would soon become empress.

Min-joo knew she wasn’t someone who could easily confront nobility. If she wished, there was nothing she couldn’t achieve.

Meghini adjusted her glasses, cautiously asking for more details, wanting to hear more.

Outside, the winter wind was felt.

* * *

Hin stayed at Min-joo’s house and learned household chores from Chichen and Genshtar.

Min-joo hoped that Hin could protect herself, so she gave her a maid’s salary. Robert made a small pouch for Hin, where she could keep her money.

Since it was winter, there was no thought of going outside.

The ground froze easily, icicles formed under the branches, and those without shelter died day by day in the winter nights.

“Hin, if you’re going out, dress warmly.”

“It’s stuffy.”

“It’s better than catching a cold.”

Robert took good care of Hin. Whether it was because she rescued the child herself or she grew fond of her as she listened to her story, it was hard to tell.

From a distance, they looked like a family. Robert smiled warmly as she wrapped a scarf around Hin.

Although there were some ill feelings towards Robert… regardless, she had been a great help, and affection had grown over time.

But for Min-joo, Robert was someone she could never speak well of.

“Okay, let’s go eat cake with gloves on.”

Every time Robert looked affectionately at Hin while taking care of her, Min-joo was captivated by mixed emotions.

She had pushed Vehen’s life into ruin, made Min-joo miserable, and brought back the comfortably asleep Neriant.

Seeing such a person spending affectionate time with a child in front of her was extremely bizarre.

“You can’t eat in my name anymore, I have a business to run.”

Min-joo clutched the letter in her padded hands. Padding in winter, after all.

“Now you’re talking back at me? Should I leave then? Huh?”

“There’s nowhere to go. And you, Robert, should go outside, work, meet people, and so on.”

She said, tearing open the sealed letter firmly. Somehow, there was no sharp response coming back.

When Min-joo turned her head in confusion, she found Robert looking at her with a wounded expression.

“Robert?”

“Forget it. Who are you to dictate orders? I’ll just make some steamed chicken in the middle of winter.”

It was indeed Robert. Min-joo let out a sigh of relief and continued tearing open the letter.

Seeing Neriant’s name written on the letter, Min-joo could open it without worry. 

Neriant started with a long string of complaints about the military.

[There’s a lot of complaints, but it’s the army, you gotta take what you can get, so we’re all just doing it.

Ceteran is getting weirder and weirder, and he keeps calling me when I get off work. It’s not like I’m a dog or anything…….

I’m trying to calm him down, but he cries when I tease him, so I keep teasing him. Anyway, it’s not my fault, right?

I got a promotion, but I think it’s because I’m the crown prince’s fiancée, and it doesn’t seem so bad to wield some power.]

After that, she expressed how much she missed her sister but was too busy to desert.

Min-joo took a pen and paper to write a reply.

[Hi, Neriant…]

After a muffled noise, Min-joo put down the pen without finishing the letter, and Hin and Robert left the house.

The snow that had fallen heavily before still showed no signs of melting. Thanks to that, the frozen roads were still slippery.

Robert held Hin’s hand tightly. Hin happily shook their joined hands.

“Why aren’t you working, Robert? Why don’t you meet people?”

Robert was about to retort curtly, but she held back and squeezed Hin’s hand firmly.

Looking into the clear, bright eyes, there was no sign of the usual harsh words.

“How can I meet people? Look at how I am by birth.”

Hin knew about sorcerers. She cautiously stepped on the slippery road, planting her feet firmly.

“I’m a slave too, but I get paid to work at Min-joo’s house. No one would know unless I said so! That I’m a slave!”

Her laughter and innocent words felt like arrows piercing through her chest.

‘I hoped I’d be like that too. I thought if I didn’t say anything, no one would know, and I could get along well with you.’

Her friends, the people in the village who didn’t know anything, could still get along with her.

A few days ago, they had walked along the streets together and saw wanted posters hanging everywhere.

Her friend’s face was drawn on the worn-out, tattered old posters.

The friend she had believed would be okay.

When they asked a passing guard about it, they said the body had been found earlier.

It felt like her heart was being torn apart. But even if she could turn back time, there was no way to save her friend.

If she hadn’t saved her, she would have died, and if she had, she would have ended up like this now.

“Live like that. I’ll live like this.”

Robert held Hin’s hand tightly and walked across the icy pavement.

“Still, I hope Robert is happy. I’ve made so many friends since coming here. Every day is fun. I’m happy.”

Hmm… Robert smiled with a mixture of self-deprecation.

Hin, not realizing Robert’s pace, rubbed her reddened cheek and sniffled.

“I’ll save money, and I’ll buy a gift for Robert.”

“I don’t need it.”

“No! I’m Robert’s best friend, so I’ll buy it.”

The child looked at the sorcerer with a natural smile. Since coming here, she has experienced daily happiness.

She told the sorcerer that she was the most precious person to her, who had confined herself without belonging anywhere.

The sorcerer didn’t want to lose a newly made friend in a long time.

They walked and headed towards Hiltate. It was a place that welcomed any presence.

* * *

While Min-joo was in Korea, many nobles lost their lives due to the anger of commoners.

As a result, the relationship between the commoners and nobles deteriorated, and the commoners used violence, claiming they couldn’t pay taxes.

With the collaboration of Tedric and Vehen, efforts were made to make both conservatives and reformists agree. The trial was initiated due to Marquess Trimidri’s monopoly and abuse of power.

It happened in an instant, uncontrollably.

The court was beyond the authority of the royal family, so from the moment Marquess Trimidri was brought to trial, there was nothing Ceteran could do.

All they could do was provide testimony and recommend competent lawyers.

But even that wasn’t easy due to Min-joo’s interference in hiring lawyers.

‘Now that we finally meet, I have a favor to ask.’

Min-joo met her adoptive parents who provided her with a fake identity.

They were lawyers and naturally knew many people in the same profession.

‘I hope lawyers will stop practicing when Marquess Trimidri seeks legal counsel.’

Most of the lawyers were commoners, and many had lost their families due to Marquess Trimidri’s excessive crackdown.

So Min-joo’s adoptive parents replied that they would try their best, and the lawyers who lost their families stopped their practice at the right time.

It happened a week after Min-joo returned.

“The trial is about to begin. They said they got a good lawyer.”

Standing in front of the court with Vehen, Min-joo looked at the familiar court.

Just like before, and today, for the right path.

Where she hoped something would change.

Min-joo squeezed Vehen’s forearm, and Vehen kissed her cheek.

Surprised by the sudden physical contact, Min-joo shuddered, and a faint laugh scattered in the wind from above.

“W-what, what’s going on? Out here!”

“Because I wanted to.”

“…all of a sudden?”

There was mischief in the thin emerald irises.

Vehen kissed Min-joo’s forehead and gently smiled as he stepped back.

“Because you’re by my side. That’s why I like it.”

How did this person endure it before he regressed?