I Don't Want To Do a Romantic Comedy With a Villain! - Chapter 2

Episode 2

Min-joo found it challenging to control her complex emotions. She was angry at Vehen for saving her while feeling grateful, and she knew that people who witnessed it might label her as an ungrateful person.

“You don’t have to bother to save someone worthless like me. My question was valid.”

“You have no luck.”

“If my luck is so bad, why won’t you let me go? You could have just healed my body and let me leave.”

It seemed Vehen never lost at least once. Min-joo did not argue because what he said was not entirely wrong. Min-joo swept her black hair back and continued to shake hands that were still recovering.

“Thank you for helping me. And I didn’t just say that. I need a safe place. If that place is a duke’s residence, it would be even better.”

“Then prove it.”

“What?”

Min-joo raised her less shaky hand to wipe away the tears that had stung her cheeks.

Vehen clicked his tongue, took a handkerchief from his pocket, and tossed it towards her. It was a plain white handkerchief with no embroidery. Min-joo awkwardly grasped the handkerchief, and the white fabric crumpled like a piece of tissue.

Saying he would help wasn’t just an empty promise. Vehen remained relaxed and casual, crossing his long legs. His raised knees stood out prominently.

“What can you do?”

It sounded like he was asking what benefit she could provide him. Vehen’s eyes, tinted with blue and filled with recordings, glittered coldly. Despite the spring-like eyes, the temperature felt like winter.

The gaze was so intimidating that Min-joo thought of the heat at the fireplace. The focus that had burned from below and the gaze that had been directed at her.

Min-joo couldn’t afford to dwell on it.

“I know your future. What you desperately want to achieve, how to achieve it. And I can make it happen.”

Even without much thought, it was a significant advantage. Vehen provided an immediate response without any hesitation. It wasn’t the answer Min-joo was hoping for.

“I don’t need that.”

“Lies.”

“Do I have to explain why I don’t need it? It’s not me who needs a place to stay; it’s you.”

Min-joo had no time to ponder and refute. He wouldn’t let her lose even once.

Vehen arrogantly tilted his head, indifferent like a satisfied beast. Min-joo felt a shiver down her spine and a sense of oppression.

Without saying a word, Vehen’s indifferent attitude remained unchanged. Min-joo couldn’t find words to counter his statements.

“And since you’re so confident, do you know what I want?”

Min-joo knew all too well. After all, she owed everything to Vehen, who was like a god. She knew his goals, what he wavered and crumbled for.

Min-joo unwisely wiped her nose with the handkerchief. Vehen wrinkled his face at the sight of the handkerchief failing to withstand the mess.

Min-joo spoke confidently, her mouth twisted.

“You want to make your aunt’s son, and a long-time friend, the 3rd prince, into the emperor.”

“How can you be so sure?”

“Since I know already.”

Can she say that she’s in his scenario? Min-joo hesitated for a moment.

What if people think she’s crazy and throw her on the street? It’s a huge gamble in an untrustworthy relationship. Claiming to know the future is a big gamble in itself.

Not getting a definite answer from Vehen, she glanced at him with a side-eye.

Vehen seemed indifferent and annoyed as if the dog next door barking vigorously was bothersome. It seems prophecy is not necessary. Min-joo immediately changed to a polite attitude.

In her heart, she wanted to play tricks on Vehen, compliment his straight forehead, and give him a piece of her mind, but she didn’t want to experience being labeled as a sorcerer again.

“I’m good at cleaning. I can write and act a bit. I’ve even changed my younger sibling’s diapers.”

Sniffling, Min-joo looked at Vehen. Vehen stood up straight and stared at Min-joo.

A reprimand was felt in that gaze as if he should have said that earlier. In other novels, when someone claimed to know the future, it was considered right. Life is not that easy.

Min-joo stared blankly at Vehen’s face. He looked like a handsome potato.

He was supposed to be a sweet and honest sub-male protagonist, but why is his personality like this? Oh, right, she set it up that way.

After exhaling a sigh full of annoyance, the handsome potato Vehen extended his hand into the air.

“Stay here for the night. You’ll start work tomorrow. Remember, I can kick you out anytime.”

“Yes, I’ll serve you well.”

The sun had already set unnoticed.

* * *

Min-joo received clothes from the housekeeper and was assigned a room. 

Although there was a separate building for the servants, at Vehen’s direction, Min-joo ended up using the same building as Vehen. The servants were worried about Min-joo, a commoner among them.

‘How busy must she be to be given a room in the same building, making it hard for her to even breathe.’

Thanks to that, Min-joo was scared too. Remembering the harsh words she had poured on Vehen so far, it was only natural for her to feel intimidated.

The room on the first floor that would be her residence had gold on the walls, and the window rattled in the wind. The bed creaked, and the desk had mold on the wood. 

Although the Duke’s mansion was an old building, maintenance seemed to be done periodically.

The exterior looked fine, but the interior followed the trend with floors made of marble, for example. Perhaps Vehen, in his personality, just ordered them to do well, and maintenance workers repaired things according to the trend.

However, the servant’s living quarters seemed horrifyingly neglected, with no proper maintenance or repairs. Perhaps it was a room not in use, or Vehen, being indifferent to the servants, didn’t bother to see how poor the conditions were.

Compared to the extreme conditions she had experienced, this room was much better, but it felt shabby compared to Min-joo’s real home. The more she felt the gap between the environment and reality, the more she longed to return home. 

The smartphone, laptop, and instant noodles! She missed the modern conveniences that no modern person could easily give up.

After settling in, the housekeeper who overheard Vehen’s instructions came to find Min-joo. Smiling affectionately, the housekeeper, with blonde hair and blue eyes, presented a refined appearance.

“I’m Leena. Originally, we had hired a butler, but he ran away after falling in love with a maid… So, for a few months, I’ve been doing the housekeeping duties.”

Love is truly amazing. Min-joo left a short comment.

Leena relied on candlelight to draw Vehen’s schedule on paper for Min-joo. Perhaps due to drawing on the bed, it felt like a worm was crawling.

“Wake him up at 6. Make sure to bring water and a towel for washing, and bring different clothes than yesterday. He doesn’t care much about appearance. Since he sometimes looks for tea in the morning, it’s okay to prepare it in advance.”

It was a shock. Min-joo felt dizzy at the thought of providing a treatment she had never even tried on her parents. 

Of course, there were plenty of other tasks to be done besides the morning routine. Fortunately, freedom was guaranteed from 9 in the afternoon.

During that time, she thought she could find a way to return home. 

“This room is rarely used; there must not have been any available rooms. If you wait a bit, I’m sure you’ll be moved to a better room.”

Was it given because it wasn’t being used much? Perhaps due to resentment towards Vehen, Min-joo felt like she had been assigned an unused and shabby room. Seeing Min-joo’s dejected reaction, Leena quickly changed the topic, stating that Min-joo’s situation was much better compared to other servants.

Other servants had to be busy cleaning and tidying the mansion from 4 in the morning, and they had to prepare meals before the master woke up. The idea of handling all the tasks in the mansion was too bleak. 

The phrase “that’s a violation of labor laws” almost escaped her lips.

While Leena was diligently continuing the handover process, a piercing bell rang through the ears. Min-joo nervously looked around.

“The master is calling. Since it’s ringing in the bedroom, go and see.”

Grateful for the gentle explanation, Min-joo still felt annoyed. There was no separate master.

Muttering complaints, Min-joo got up from the bed and opened the door. Urgently, Leena shouted.

“Oh, by the way, I didn’t even ask your name! What’s your name?”

“I’m Park Min-joo. I’m twenty-three.”

Min-joo, tying up her black hair carelessly, smiled with her black eyes squinted.

“I didn’t ask your age…”

Looking at the already-disappeared Min-joo, Leena finished writing down the remaining tasks on the paper. She could have just explained briefly and finished, but thanks to Min-joo taking over the work, Leena could now get married to her lover in her hometown.

This level of consideration could be gladly given. After 9 o’clock, even though she was supposed to have free time, being forced to work overtime by Vehen, who had passed 9 o’clock, felt like she might die of resentment. 

Min-joo wandered around the vast mansion, unable to find her way.

No candles were illuminating the corridor, and it was only relying on the moonlight to take steps in the dark. She hadn’t even asked where the bedroom was in her rush to come out.

Muttering curses in anger, Min-joo’s frustration grew, but the silent mansion gradually became frightening.

A chilling aura, as if ghosts might appear, could be felt, and even the rustling sound became terrifying. A dark and silent, eerie corridor commonly seen in horror movies or games.

Somewhere, it seemed like footsteps could be heard.

“…I’m not a person seeking a god, but suddenly, I feel desperate.”

Min-joo considered going back to her room, but she didn’t even know where she was assigned, let alone how to return to it. Everywhere looked the same, and no matter where she looked, it was all the same.

Min-joo realized that she was completely lost, and in anger, she pounded the wall with her fist.

“Damn corners of this house, unnecessarily spacious! The house is annoying just like the landlord who resembles it.”

From behind, heavy footsteps were heard. The echoing sound of footsteps continued steadily, reverberating down the corridor.

Min-joo wasn’t sure where the sound was coming from. She gripped the wall, turning pale, and took a step back.

It wasn’t a maid’s walk, more like a man’s, and it was more cautious than a servant’s gait.

Various thoughts raced through Min-joo’s mind. A ghost, or an assassin! It was entirely possible, considering that a person with significant influence like a duke was living here.

There were many reasons, whether political or economic. Moreover, Vehen, a noble who supported the third prince, lived comfortably while the crown prince was alive and well. It was difficult to exclude the possibility that someone loyal to the crown prince might strike at any moment.

The footsteps approached right behind her. Along with the eerie sensation of someone passing through her spine, she felt the presence. Not even a scream came out.

As Min-joo slowly turned around, a hand roughly grabbed her shoulder. The hand was massive and warm.

“Ugh, ugh…!”

She shut her eyes tightly and opened her mouth. The terror-stricken mouth couldn’t even let out a proper scream. The giant hand immediately covered Min-joo’s mouth.

“Be quiet.”

The low voice felt like a cave. Min-joo cautiously opened her eyes, sensing the humidity and weight typical of a cave. The smell of dampness tickled her nose.

“Ve… Vehen…”

“Don’t make unnecessary noise.”

His low voice, still not fully awake, contrasted sharply with his neatly dressed suit and well-groomed hair.

Vehen looked down at Min-joo with an irritated expression.

Moonlight streamed through the window, casting a reflection on Vehen’s face, making it seem like a painting, and at the same time, he appeared to Min-joo like a devil ready to engulf her.

“By the way, were we close enough to address each other by name?”

Vehen’s arrogant emerald eyes calmly glowed. In an attempt to speak, Min-joo ruthlessly struck Vehen’s large hand.

Vehen withdrew his hand, taking a step back. Although the back of his hand was now stained red, the shoulders he gripped were more important. Min-joo rubbed her shoulder resentfully.

“What’s wrong with you? Why scare people when you can just talk? Your personality is really weird, you know.”

There wasn’t a single aspect that Min-joo found likable. Vehen didn’t find her likable either, as he frowned and leaned against the wall.

In the midst of all this, Min-joo found it peculiarly amusing. Despite the awkwardness, Vehen’s posture against the wall seemed like a masterpiece.

“I don’t know who I hired. If they don’t come when called, I can assume they don’t want to work, right?”

It was a cutting remark. There was something repugnant about shaking someone’s weaknesses.

Min-joo couldn’t suppress a bitter laugh. Her roughly tied hair flowed down her back. The dark, dense hair seemed to momentarily capture Vehen’s gaze more than the night sky.

“Finding my way even though I don’t know the way? And telling me to work starting tomorrow? Changing your words is top-notch.”

“Your vocabulary is quite aggressive.”

“Very aggressive. Why did you call me? If you have something to order, say it quickly.”

“You’re incompetent and unlucky.”

Saying that, Vehen leaned his head against the wall and let out a low laugh. The wrinkled forehead and the corners of his mouth that rose sharply belonged to a twenty-five-year-old.

Vehen, who seemed to be enjoying himself, was quite annoying to Min-joo. What was so amusing to him?

Vehen, as if questioning when he last laughed, stiffened his face.

“Bring coffee to the office. If you don’t bring it before I return, I’ll kick you out.”

“Where is the coffee? Also, don’t you sleep? Not getting enough sleep can stunt your growth.”

“You have to find it yourself. And don’t worry about my height.”

Min-joo’s height wasn’t particularly small compared to the end of Vehen’s chin. It was just that Vehen was big.

Although she picked a fight, unable to find her dignity, Min-joo quietly struck the wall with her fist.