I Don't Want To Do a Romantic Comedy With a Villain! - Chapter 149

Episode 149

Terisha looked up at Tedric with a vacant expression.

Empty red eyes stared at Tedric without focus.

Tedric hardened his heart and turned away from Terisha.

“The more we’re together, the harder it gets for both of us. It’s better to keep some distance for a while.”

“…How can you say that?”

Terisha’s anger flashed across her face in an instant.

Everything she had thrown tantrums about, all the irritations Tedric had endured, now felt like an attack on herself, a significant threat.

Terisha screamed, clutching at Tedric’s pants fiercely.

“You stay here! Trying to make yourself happy at my expense! If I’m going to hell, I’m taking you with me. I won’t go alone!”

“Terisha, what’s gotten into you?”

It was painful to watch her emotions run wild without restraint.

Tedric sat facing Terisha, gripping her thin wrist. She had put on some weight, but her bones were still fragile.

Terisha struggled to break free, but she couldn’t overpower him.

“Why do I have to be the one to give up?! Shouldn’t it be you who’s giving up since you have everything?!”

“Enough! Why am I never the one who gives up? Why?!”

Terisha fell silent, startled by Tedric’s burst of anger.

After anger came sadness.

Terisha sobbed, tears streaming down like raindrops.

“What do I… what should I do? Who should I blame? I’ve lost everything, so what now?”

She knew who to blame but still vented her frustration on the wrong person, a futile act born from a life shaped by circumstances beyond her control.

“Nelsie is already dead. So who should I resent while I’m still alive?”

Terisha murmured, defeated. Her feeble arms hung limply, caught in Tedric’s grip.

Tedric felt an overwhelming sense of pity for Terisha.

His poor sister. And what a pitiful person he is, caring for such a sister.

They’ve chosen to wallow in each other’s misfortunes rather than strive for happiness.

Tedric cautiously held Terisha’s hand.

“Before blaming anyone else, let’s try to make ourselves happy. Living with resentment and hatred has been enough.”

“But I have nothing now…”

“We have each other. You still have to recover, and when you do, I’ll give you my title and lands. Promise. Everything I have will be yours.”

Terisha looked up. Her once dull, watery eyes now shone brighter than ever.

Tedric knew what Terisha wanted most.

Something unchanging she could hold onto.

That’s why she coveted the throne and manipulated Tedric.

“Terisha, my sister. I wish you happiness. I hope your world expands, filled with happier days.”

Denial followed sorrow.

Terisha pushed Tedric away, using all her strength, but nothing changed.

“I can’t possibly find happiness in this state of mind. You know I’m nothing but a walking corpse waiting to die. How can I dream of happiness like this? Do you think I don’t understand your intentions of pushing me away because I’m burdensome?”

Is it irreversible? Could they ever go back to being that happy family from their childhood, when they didn’t care about getting their clothes dirty and just ran around the garden, digging in the dirt?

Will he become the wretched orphan who can’t take care of his precious sibling until the end?

Tedric felt afraid.

“My sister, I love you. I always have and always will. You’ll always be my precious family. I could never abandon you. We’ll just be temporarily apart for each other’s safety and well-being. When everything is settled, I’ll be by your side.”

If things don’t get better, they’ll just run away. They’ll hold hands and go far away, where Nelsie can’t reach them.

That was Tedric’s promise.

Terisha fell back weakly, collapsing on the floor.

“…You love me. You consider me your precious family…”

Terisha murmured, staring blankly at the ceiling. She seemed lost in her thoughts.

She lay there, her eyes closed tightly.

“It was hard for me to say those words. But you say them so easily.”

Terisha felt her eyes and nose tingling.

Maybe it was the effect of the medicine, or maybe she was clinging to the idea of familial love, but she knew one thing for sure.

Tedric wasn’t someone who would easily discard her.

He wasn’t someone who would abandon her like their parents did.

Terisha opened her eyes and gazed at the ceiling. Tears blurred her vision, making the ceiling ripple.

“…What kind of happiness are you talking about? How can I possibly find happiness?”

Resignation was all that remained.

She knew they had scratched and wounded each other enough.

She knew it was her fault.

But she was afraid to listen to Tedric’s words, afraid of the possibility of them growing apart as their worlds expanded and they gained more precious things.

She wanted to know what happiness Tedric was shouting about.

Tedric lay beside Terisha, staring at the ceiling.

“My happiness is seeing you healthy, making friends, and doing what you want.”

“Is that all that makes you happy?”

“Terisha, do you know how long it’s been since we lay on the floor together?”

Tedric reached out toward the ceiling. It felt distant and dark like his hand was being swallowed by darkness.

“It’s been over ten years. Maybe fifteen. I still remember it vividly. You playing in the garden, and me following you around, worrying if you’d fall. That was my happiness. And I still believe it’s possible.”

Ah, it’s starting to come back to her.

When they were young, before her body started aching, she used to play in the garden and sometimes end up falling to the ground, or she’d try to catch the fish in the pond and end up catching a cold.

Tedric was always there beside Terisha. Even amidst his busy prince lessons, he’d make time to be by her side, a caring brother.

It’s pathetic that he still remembers that.

“…Do you still remember those times?”

“Of course, I remember. Those memories have kept me going all this time.”

She’s been holding on to those memories to stay strong.

Terisha wondered if her constant tears were a result of illness rather than just emotional distress. Otherwise, why would tears keep flowing endlessly?

She didn’t want to live, but she clung to life because she didn’t want to face Nelsie’s inevitable return.

But now, she wanted to live.

She wants to experience the happiness she longs for.

“I’ll go to Vernige. I need to be self-sufficient there. And I’ll need plenty of guards.”

Plenty, so that she can feel safe if she ever comes looking for her.

Tedric sprang up at Terisha’s hesitant murmur.

“…Really?”

Why did such a simple question feel so tender? Terisha couldn’t understand.

Although she couldn’t comprehend, she felt strangely relieved.

“Yeah. I can leave anytime. You don’t have to come.”

Terisha turned her head and stared firmly at the tightly shut window.

She wanted to look outside. She wondered how blue the sky was, whether it was still winter or early spring.

“Don’t feel obligated to stay with me, Tedric. I’ll be fine without you.”

Unable to say the words “I love you,” she spat out what she could.

She trusted that Tedric, being quick-witted, would understand.

Terisha slowly closed her eyes.

Tears that had been lingering in her eyes flowed down.

* * *

A letter from Min-joo arrived.

Neriant tore open the letter roughly and read its contents.

It cautiously mentioned the possibility of Ceteran being abused, and the need for verification.

‘…What? Is this real?’

Reading the letter, Neriant began to understand Ceteran’s behavior, which had puzzled her until now.

His lack of self-esteem, his timid and cowering demeanor…

The image of him, so powerless that he couldn’t even be considered a prince, flashed through her mind.

‘Come to think of it, Ceteran seemed terrified after the Empress returned to the palace.’

When she heard the news of the Empress’ return and visited the palace as his fiancée, Ceteran was huddled up in fear.

He didn’t answer any questions about what happened, but now it all made sense.

‘But how do I comfort him and solve this?’

Neriant was rough around the edges, lacking in finesse.s

She had no idea how to handle someone as delicate as Ceteran, who embodied meticulousness.

Neriant scratched the back of her head with the barrel of her gun, earning a scolding from her superior.

“I told you not to scratch your head with a gun!”

“I’m sorry.”

When Neriant, in a brief reply, said she understood, she tucked the letter into her pocket, making sure it was well concealed. First and foremost, she needed to visit Ceteran without fail every day. 

Neriant glanced over the city beyond her battalion, holding a gun.

Today, just like any other day, she would go into the city, restrain the helpless, conduct property checks, and perform pointless ideological examinations. Even though she didn’t engage in actual combat, as a soldier, tormenting the weak was a deeply humiliating task.

“What’s with the grim expression?” 

A fellow soldier, a comrade she had befriended in the army, asked, slapping Neriant’s arm. Neriant brushed off her comrade’s arm with a stoic expression.

“I was imagining… a shootout.”

“This lady is obsessed with her job as a soldier. How did you even enlist?”

“Connections.”

“You’re a real lunatic.”

The sarcastic yet disappointed words from her comrade reminded Neriant of her earlier outburst about her dissatisfaction with searching civilians. It wasn’t just once or twice; everyone in the unit remembered.

Neriant sighed and stood stiffly. 

“Can’t you feel it?”

“Feel what?”

“The guilt of conscience.”

Neriant’s remark caught her comrade off guard, and he slowly blinked before turning his gaze to where Neriant was looking.

The distant view of the bustling city felt distant yet eerily real.

Her comrade chuckled wryly. 

“I’m human too.”

Interrupting her comrade’s words, Neriant defensively ruffled his short hair. 

“I didn’t want to handle crowd control either. But what can we do?”

“If they order us to, we just have to do it.”

Neriant angrily jabbed her comrade’s shoulder and turned to head back to the base. Her comrade stood there as if rooted to the spot, his hand gently patting the shoulder Neriant had struck.

“Soldiers are sometimes the country’s dogs.”

Though it was a statement that would fall on deaf ears, he finally uttered it after a long while.

22. Grab

Neriant finished her duties and headed for the palace. The return of the empress had caused a stir in the palace, and it seemed busy with preparations to restore order.

Nelsie was nowhere to be seen, but Neriant knew where she needed to go. The reception room where Ceteran was waiting.

Neriant opened the door to the reception room. Countless candles illuminated the room.

“Have you arrived?”

Ceteran greeted Neriant with swollen eyes. Knowing that the empress had returned, Neriant decided not to inquire about Ceteran’s swollen eyes.

“I have news, Your Highness.”

“Yes. There has been news. Please, have a seat.”

They sat down together, and tea and dessert were served in front of them.

Neriant took a sip of tea and asked.

“I heard about Marquess Trimidri’s incident. It’s unfortunate.”

It was a customary phrase, but Ceteran remained silent, unable to respond.