I Don't Want To Do a Romantic Comedy With a Villain! - Chapter 158

Episode 158

Min-joo knew that the emperor meant little to Tedric. He was indifferent, cruel, and a ruthless spectator of his childhood. 

She wondered if he felt a strange sense of loss at the Emperor’s passing, or if he didn’t care. She wanted to ask Tedric but couldn’t.

“You seem busy. You used to visit often.” 

Min-joo said with a teasing smile instead of a greeting. Tedric replied with a wry smile.

“You’re the busy one, Min-joo. I’ve been trying not to disturb you.”

It seemed like he had fallen into the game of love and was dizzy. Perhaps it was because he had descended from the position of a prince that he had such eloquence.

Min-joo chuckled and sipped her milk tea. 

“I know why you’re here. You must have a lot of questions for me.”

Tedric took off his coat and handed it to the maid. The sound of the marble floor hitting the shoes made a crisp yet refreshing sound. Min-joo nodded with a smile, and Tedric took a seat.

“Are you here as a counselor, or as an instigator?” 

He asked, wondering if she had come to comfort him for the emperor’s death or to seek revolution.

Min-joo held up two fingers, indicating she hadn’t swallowed all the biscuits yet. Tedric seemed to suppress a laugh as he nibbled his lips.

“Alright. Let’s hear about your role as an instigator first, and then we’ll talk about your role as a counselor.”

Her attitude suggested she could answer any question, no matter how challenging.

Struggling to swallow the biscuit, Min-joo rinsed her mouth with milk tea. Only then did the biscuit go down smoothly. 

Meanwhile, Tedric dismissed all the servants waiting in the reception room.

Inside the reception room, there was only the sound of crackling firewood from the fireplace, various noises from outside the window, and the sound of daily life seeping through the closed door.

“Ceteran will become the emperor.” 

Min-joo said straightforwardly, knowing that Tedric tended to beat around the bush.

Tedric, being perceptive, understood her meaning without many words. The pink irises had already hidden their traces.

“Are you worried I’ll covet the throne? Or are you worried that I won’t be safe from Empress’ threats?”

“Correct. Frankly, I don’t think you’ll covet the throne, Tedric. What worries me the most is your safety.”

Tedric’s pink eyes resurfaced with Min-joo’s honest answer. The subtle smile lingered around his lips.

“Do you want me to leave?”

Tedric asked honestly. If he wasn’t disappointed, it would be a lie.

He liked Min-joo, wanted to be with her, and wanted to express his affection. But despite having plenty of time, he hadn’t done it. It was all on Tedric.

So, rather than blaming Min-joo, it was right to blame his weakness. It was Tedric who had given up on Min-joo. It was now unreasonable to throw a tantrum.

“But Terisha has already left, and if I follow, my position will be exposed. Empress is watching me.”

Being in a barren land where external help was not expected, if Tedric followed Terisha, they could easily be exposed and perish together. The reason for sending Terisha would disappear. Tedric wanted to protect his only remaining family more than his own love.

“I have to stay here. Even if I’m threatened, there’s nothing more important than Terisha’s safety.”

“Tedric. Then who values Tedric’s safety?”

Tedric closed his mouth, seeing Min-joo’s pained words mingled with pity on her contorted face.

She was upset. Min-joo wanted Tedric to cherish himself more. Since their first meeting, Tedric had thought of his sibling and struggled to do everything for their safety. From implementing ruthless policies to becoming emperor, everything was for Terisha until the moment he gave up the throne. 

Tedric’s lack of self-interest might have been for Terisha’s sake.

‘So why?’

Why didn’t he value himself? Why did Tedric’s world only revolve around family? Then who cared for Tedric? Who could Tedric rely on?

Min-joo felt sorry for him.

“Then who cherishes Tedric? Why do you act like nothing about yourself is important?”

From the beginning, things weren’t good between them. Min-joo had doubted and tried to persuade him. But as she got to know him, she realized he was a fragile and vulnerable person. As human to human, she cared for him.

Min-joo wished for happiness for both Permette and Tedric, for them to meet better people and live prosperous lives. She fervently hoped they would be incredibly happy and that laughter would bloom every day.

“We’re friends, aren’t we? Tedric, I worry about you. I worry you’ll get hurt or in danger.”

Tedric also understood Min-joo’s feelings. He knew that she knew he liked her, but she didn’t want to be harsh, and he knew that she had a deep heart and that she would eventually come around.

Min-joo worried about Tedric, pitied him, and wanted to help.

It was too much for Tedric.

Smiling, Tedric touched his chin.

“Min-joo, you have things to do. There’s a grander goal than worrying about me.”

His tone was gentle but firm.

Min-joo closed her mouth and looked at Tedric. He seemed harsh, yet gentle.

“I won’t worry about your plans. I shouldn’t even exist in them. Min-joo, don’t be swayed by various emotions. I’m just a pawn in your plans, and my opinion is not needed.”

It was a clear message to thoroughly utilize and calculate for the plan. Min-joo understood it logically, but emotionally, she found it unreasonable. 

Tedric’s presence grew. As a person, she couldn’t use him. 

Whether it was because he was once a villain or because he held the position of a prince, Tedric excluded emotions from what he needed to do and assessed utility.

“But, Tedric.”

“I helped you for that reason, Min-joo. If the plan succeeds, it will benefit me too. That’s why I’m helping. Our relationship is just that. Even if we call each other friends, that’s the extent of it.”

Tedric smiled as he looked at Min-joo. An invisible line seemed to be drawn between them.

It was saddening. So sad and distressing.

“Why? I thought we could become close friends.”

Thinking that way, she introduced Terisha to a reliable and skilled apothecary and worried about Tedric, who had lost his father and sent his sibling away to the capital.

If they weren’t friends, how could she have done that?

Min-joo’s hand clenched the edge of her skirt. The fabric creased under the pressure of her grip.

“Do you want to hear an honest answer?”

Tedric asked in a tone devoid of emotion as if he were dealing with a perfect stranger. Knowing his smile was tainted with falsehood, she felt even more sorrowful.

Min-joo felt like she knew the answer. So, she hurriedly opened her mouth and shook her head.

“No, I don’t want to hear it. I don’t want to know.”

“Why not? Weren’t you curious? I’ll tell you.”

It seemed like he was joking, but perhaps Tedric wanted Min-joo to be curious about his answer. Maybe he wanted to express his emotions and feel relieved to her. However, Tedric was already an adult, and he had his own obligation not to impose his emotions on Min-joo.

So, he concluded with a light joke.

“Don’t invest too much in me. Isn’t there someone else you should do that for?”

It was a request not to worry about him, despite all the circumvention.

“Tedric, I see this as a conversation between friends. There’s no need to involve Vehen.”

“Do you think DeVirté would think the same?”

Tedric sighed a little wearily and pressed his finger against his temple. His finger traced alongside his prominent nose.

It was a perplexing attitude, not understanding why they had to have such a conversation. So, what was necessary for the plan?

It was disappointing and hurtful. Despite not having spent much time together, they had handled many things together.

It was distinctly different from Permette. Of course, neither Permette nor Tedric’s attitudes were pleasing to Min-joo. Both were coercive and oppressive to her.

No one had asked for Min-joo’s opinion, and she didn’t feel respected.

“……I intend to end it before Ceteran is crowned as the Emperor.”

“In what way?”

“That’s… “

Min-joo spoke up. Various emotions swirled in her chest, clawing and passing through.

She never wished for more than friendship from them. She simply hoped for long-lasting friendships, if possible.

Permette and Tedric, both. With their attitudes and emotions, there was no room for Min-joo’s opinion in their one-sided demands.

The ease with which relationships between people could change was evident from their first meeting to their current relationship.

Even the feeling of regret for drifting apart was because Min-joo had given them so much affection.

Perhaps even trying to hold onto them could be hurtful. Maybe that was the case. Min-joo’s desire for Permette and Tedric to remain friends with her for a long time might not be what they wanted.

‘Maybe I’m holding onto their future.’

If preventing them from finding new people and interfering with their potential happiness meant giving them up, Min-joo was prepared for it.

Permette and Tedric deserved to be happy. Min-joo hoped for that for them.

Even though she felt gloomy, she could endure it.

Today, the air felt cold. That’s why she felt like crying.