I Don't Want To Do a Romantic Comedy With a Villain! - Chapter 164

Episode 164

Vehen’s proposal was a bit of a surprise. 

There was no sign of embarrassment. It seemed like he was just trying it out. 

Vehen naturally believed that Min-joo would become his wife without any doubt.

Min-joo frowned and distanced herself from Vehen. 

“Is that a proposal now?”

“What are you talking about?”

“You said I would become a duchess, didn’t you, to me?”

Of course, in this world, there are plenty of cases where people marry without even seeing each other’s faces, but Min-joo was someone who didn’t even consider marriage. It wasn’t surprising, considering she was barely in her early twenties and hadn’t even graduated from college yet. 

No matter how passionate their love was, marriage was something she couldn’t easily talk about. Besides, Vehen was only twenty-five; it was still too early.

“A proposal, isn’t it?”

Min-joo narrowed her eyes and pressed Vehen for an answer. Vehen just tilted his head without saying anything.

Vehen was getting impatient. It wasn’t a proposal, but seeing Min-joo alarmed him, raising doubts. 

Why? Why does she dislike it? He had wealth, honor, power, a large house, and a huge business, so why? He had a decent face, a good body, and a tall stature. 

He wouldn’t call himself handsome, but he wasn’t someone people would reject either.

Vehen pursed his lips, looking away with a hint of bitterness. 

“…Do you not want to marry me?”

It wasn’t that he felt miserable or sad, but he couldn’t help feeling hurt. Even if it’s just empty words, what’s wrong with saying you’d like to marry someone? Between lovers. 

He squeezed her hand tightly, emitting obvious signs of frustration.

“It’s not like I lack anything… As a marriage partner, I’m not bad, am I…?”

It was a solitary murmuring hoping for a different answer. His protruding lips and the gaze that peeked through, along with the tightly held hand, felt cute.

Min-joo listened quietly to Vehen’s muttering. Since there was no response, his disappointment turned into resentment as he stared straight at her. He even seemed shocked, as if he couldn’t believe it.

“Do you really dislike me?”

His attitude, as if there was no way she could dislike him, was adorable. Like a duke of a great empire fretting that he might not be able to marry. He appeared clumsy, with his bulky build and strong physique, but only watched cautiously.

Suppressing her laughter, Min-joo turned her head. She wanted to see Vehen looking more embarrassed.

He usually handled everything easily and only showed a rough side, so occasionally witnessing his vulnerable side was quite enjoyable. Vehen felt annoyed watching Min-joo’s trembling back of her head as she tried to suppress her laughter.

So, he grabbed Min-joo’s slender waist and pulled her towards him. Even without exerting much force, her body naturally came towards him, light as a feather.

“W-what, what is it?”

Min-joo, who was pulled over unceremoniously, pushed Vehen away in surprise.

With his chubby face pressed against Min-joo’s shoulder, Vehen breathed in the smell of gunpowder and the cold winter air. A faint scent tickled his nose.

He liked her small body fitting perfectly in his arms, her high body temperature, and the shoulders that rose and fell with every breath.

It was difficult to stay upset and stubborn; he would soon loosen up and show his emotions.

He keeps feeling greedy and doesn’t know what to do.

At first, he just wanted Min-joo to safely return to her original world.

But being by her side made him want to be her lover, and once they became lovers, he wanted to marry her.

Even though he knew he shouldn’t want anything more, he became convinced that Min-joo would accept him…

Vehen knew these feelings were selfish, but he didn’t want to admit it.

“If you don’t want to marry, then don’t. I won’t force you.”

He wishes Min-joo would rely on him. He wanted to support her, take care of her, and receive her affection.

Vehen had received a lot of help from Min-joo so far. It was uncertain whether Min-joo considered him a reliable person.

So, he wanted to become a trustworthy man who Min-joo would feel okay marrying.

Rather than a man who throws tantrums and acts spoiled, he prefers to be a solid presence who silently supports her.

“…No, wait. Who said I don’t want to?”

Min-joo laughed hollowly as if she couldn’t believe it, grabbing Vehen’s cheek and pulling it.

Squeak—

Vehen blinked his eyes roundly, unable to grasp the situation.

“Do you want to be with me?”

Before pretending otherwise, these words popped out without passing through his brain.

Vehen’s cheek turned a faint pink. His sparkling emerald eyes seemed innocent.

Min-joo contemplated teasing this man a little more but ended up just laughing.

“I do want to. Not now though. Later, when we’re a bit older.”

Vehen’s face lit up brightly at words tantamount to accepting marriage.

Seeing Vehen’s bright smile, Min-joo felt a mix of awkwardness and a desire to pat him on the head like an obedient puppy.

Briefly happy, Vehen’s face turned dull upon hearing that it wasn’t happening now.

Like a puppy deprived of a treat, Min-joo couldn’t help but laugh eventually.

“Why?”

“What?”

“Why don’t you want to marry me now?”

“Are you a kid?”

“Who?”

“Vehen.”

Huh! Vehen chuckled, furrowing his brows. He couldn’t understand Min-joo’s attitude.

Isn’t marriage something you do when you’re sure you love each other and won’t change?

Noble marriages sometimes proceed like contracts, and commoners sometimes marry after roughly assessing assets.

Min-joo must know how precious a marriage based solely on love is.

Moreover, he was afraid that other men might want Min-joo. Of course, he trusted Min-joo. He knew she wouldn’t betray him, yet he was afraid.

He wanted to hold onto her. Not let her go anywhere, just hold onto her tightly.

“It’s not just me who wants to marry.”

If she knew how he felt, she might be disgusted. Min-joo seemed to have no obsession or possessiveness.

That’s why it was even more frustrating. Because Vehen seemed to be the only one desperately pleading.

It felt shameful to harbor such feelings.

“Aren’t we too young to marry? Nowadays, many people marry after turning thirty.”

“What? Until then?”

Wait until they’re thirty?

Vehen considered the age difference between himself and Min-joo, and calculated the days until Min-joo turned thirty.

It was ridiculously long. He couldn’t wait. Absolutely not.

Vehen pushed out his lips firmly and kissed Min-joo’s cheek. He held her waist tightly so she couldn’t escape.

“I can’t wait. I can prepare everything needed for marriage, so what’s the point of conditions?”

“I haven’t become independent yet. I haven’t even graduated.”

Min-joo was talking about the university she attended. In this context, it was similar to an academy. Academies attended by nobles had very expensive tuition fees and a high standard, making it difficult to quit.

He understood. Min-joo had to graduate and have her own life.

Vehen also knew. It was shameful to force marriage onto a student who hadn’t even graduated.

“How long do I have to wait?”

“I don’t know. Maybe several years?”

“I can’t wait that long.”

Vehen lightly nibbled on Min-joo’s earlobe as if he were urging a horse, his breath and low voice touching her neck eerily.

“…Pervert.”

Min-joo scolded him, widening her eyebrows and pushing Vehen away. Looking at her expression, he felt an unnecessary surge of desire.

Vehen’s fingers tapped her waist as they trailed up her spine.

Min-joo shivered at the gentle touch, but Vehen added more warmth to her lips.

Her face heated up. A creepy sensation crawled up to the tips of her hair.

When Min-joo cautiously touched Vehen’s cheek, the door suddenly opened.

It was sudden, unavoidable.

Min-joo pushed Vehen away, and Vehen rolled onto the carriage floor.

In the bewildering situation, Min-joo breathed heavily and straightened her clothes, while Vehen grabbed his forehead as he lay on the ground.

“…What’s going on?”

With a disdainful look, Robert tilted her head.

It was a question to give a hint even though she knew what had happened.

“Oh, it’s cold! Let’s go inside quickly. Why did Robert come out?”

“Are you crazy?”

“The revolution was successful! Let’s go in and talk!”

There was too much of a giveaway.

Robert muttered a curse under her breath and turned away. That was all she could do.

“Bring the guy lying on the floor too.”

“Oh, yes, yes! Vehen, even if you’re tired, why you’re on the floor?”

Vehen didn’t respond.

As Min-joo pulled Vehen’s shoulder, a purplish bruise appeared on Vehen’s forehead. He probably hit his head on the chair when he fell.

With Min-joo’s scream, Genshtar and the coachman dragged Vehen home.

* * *

As soon as Nelsie opened her eyes, she looked for Ceteran.

As he ascended the throne in a flash, she felt great anger at having kicked the throne with his own feet.

Neriant had not yet returned, and Ceteran, who had been doing his duty as an emperor until the end, was locked in his office.

Nelsie pushed aside the people trying to stop her and roughly opened the door.

“You must be truly crazy!”

“Welcome.”

Ceteran remained unnervingly calm, a demeanor difficult to find when facing Nelsie, who would always shrink back. After dismissing the people, leaving only the two of them, Nelsie scattered the documents piled on the desk onto the floor.

It was rare to see such agitation. Nelsie had always controlled her emotions well.

“How could you do this to me? How did I raise you!”

“I didn’t wish for it. Mother forced it upon me.”

Nelsie’s expression contorted miserably. Veins protruded over her reddened thin skin. Her hands trembled with anger, and even her breathing was rough.

It was a lifelong desire. It was certain that Ceteran would become emperor, and all power would be in his hands. Everyone watched their steps and catered to his whims, and everything went as planned.

The happiest moment of her life was giving birth to Ceteran. It was an unexpected day.

“…To have a son like you…”

She portrayed herself as a villain for Ceteran’s sake. Still, she tried to cherish him as her child.

She didn’t doubt that all her investments would pay off for her.

But how dare he.

“I shouldn’t have given birth to you.”

Nelsie cursed with a sigh. She would have rather bitten her tongue and died.

She should have found a way to stay in the family. If she had, she might have become a duchess herself.

Betrayal filled her. Resentment and hatred surged towards her child who ruined her life.

Ceteran could fully sense Nelsie’s emotions.

Facing his mother’s towering presence, he had always trembled with fear and shrank back.

He wanted to appear good, wanted to do well, wanted to make her happy.

He had devoured himself wanting to be loved.

To put an end to the relationship, he asked.

“Mother, do you love me?”

He knew the answer even without hearing it.

Nelsie couldn’t open her mouth as if she had swallowed a needle.

It was a sufficient answer.