I Don't Want To Do a Romantic Comedy With a Villain! - Chapter 21

Episode 21

“Quick to notice, huh?”

Ceteran, despite his weakened state, rose to sit upright.

Min-joo initially had no interest, but seeing Ceteran pleased with the attention, she nodded and adopted a posture of attentive listening.

“Call me by my name too.”

“Why are you like this today? Did your brain spin too much just from drinking coffee?”

“Bad luck.”

In less than 10 seconds, Vehen gently pulled at Min-joo’s sleeve and, with a mischievous grin, quickly diverted her attention elsewhere.

Ceteran closed his eyes tightly and shouted.

“Ah! Pay some attention!”

At the loud noise, Min-joo, Vehen, and Permette simultaneously turned to look at Ceteran.

Seemingly annoyed by the focused gazes, Ceteran clicked his tongue and glared at them.

“Why are you looking for a sorcerer? Do you know how threatening those troublemakers are?”

“There’s a reason for that.”

“Why are you talking about something only you guys know, leaving me out?!”

Irritated, Ceteran glared as if he could pierce through Vehen.

Vehen, unfazed by the fierce glare, shrugged his shoulders and gave a nonchalant answer.

Ceteran turned to Permette, urging him to answer. Permette hesitated, glancing at Min-joo and Vehen.

When Vehen calmly shook his head, Permette responded with a bright smile.

“I don’t know.”

“Ah, my neck… it’s stiff, ah…”

“Shall I massage it for you?”

Permette raised his rough hand and molded the air.

Every time he clenched her fist, veins bulged, and the bones protruded, causing Ceteran to recoil in terror, tilting his head back.

“You might break my neck like that.”

“Caught you. You’re quite perceptive.”

“You seem to insult the royal family quite freely.”

“Yes, I’m a jack of all trades.”

“Ah, really, my neck is pulling.”

Ceteran frowned and massaged the back of his neck, frustrated that the conversation wasn’t progressing and reaching the point of turning away.

Permette, who had playfully teased the esteemed Third Prince Ceteran, continued his report to Vehen. Seeing the glow on his face, it seemed he found it quite enjoyable.

“Now that we know the sorcerer was her friend, we plan to narrow down the investigation by searching Mireille’s surroundings. It may take a while to secure the people around her due to her long disappearance, but it’s not impossible.”

“While you’re at it, find out where sorcerers gather. They probably live together, so look into that.”

Permette, pretending innocence at Vehen’s words, twinkled his eyes. He tilted his head slightly, not forgetting to maintain an appearance of ignorance.

“Why do you think that way? Don’t you think they’ve integrated into society?”

Vehen, Ceteran, and even Min-joo were fed up with Permette’s innocent puppy act. It felt strangely repulsive, adding to the annoyance. Permette, aware of this, enjoyed the reaction.

That made it even more irritating. Vehen sighed, rubbing his forehead.

“Isn’t it obvious they would stick together feeling disillusioned with society? Would you want to live where your life is threatened?”

“Isn’t it thrilling and exciting?”

Permette’s casual response irked Vehen.

On Vehen’s forehead, there seemed to be a text written, ‘This guy is weird.’ Nevertheless, Vehen’s argument had some merit, and Permette nodded in agreement.

“Understood. We’ll proceed with both tasks simultaneously.”

Ceteran, who had been listening quietly, wiggled his toes and seized the opportunity to speak.

“Can you talk about this in front of me? I don’t know if you plan to capture and deal with the sorcerer or to use the sorcerer. What happens if I intervene?”

“There’s a mountain of things to do, isn’t there?”

Vehen lightly furrowed his brow, as if saying, ‘Don’t get involved in unnecessary matters.’ Ceteran, in response, tapped the messy documents on the table with his palm.

“Right! There’s a lot of dirty work to do! But you, Duke DeVirté! You’re the weirdest!”

“What are you talking about? Please handle the documents with care.”

“I know you’re smart, but how does such a clever head produce so many bills at once?”

Vehen, who was quietly observing the adorable child throwing a tantrum, shrugged his shoulders. Ceteran grumbled and pressed his palm against the documents again. Min-joo hastily gathered the papers and hugged them to her chest.

“It’s because he’s a genius.”

“Are you telling me being a genius allows you to understand and block every legal loophole in less than a day? Honestly, did you prepare in advance?”

Min-joo looked at Vehen while holding the documents. Did he prepare in advance? Perhaps to protect the slaves?

Vehen casually sipped his coffee, seemingly unaffected. Ceteran, irritated by Vehen’s nonchalant attitude, loosened the cravat around his neck.

“Have you noticed anything strange about yourself for the past few years? Your personality, attitude, everything has oddly changed.”

“It seems my state of mind has changed.”

“Your state of mind, huh? Don’t talk like you’re talking about someone else.”

Ceteran’s insides were boiling, but he kept a poker face and just laughed it off. Permette, who had been silently observing, roasted marshmallows over the bubbling lava.

“I don’t know. Your Highness, haven’t you been feeling confused due to your weakened nerves? It’s like the Emperor, isn’t it?”

“Are you saying I’m crazy like the Emperor? Insulting the nobility…”

Min-joo, who had been merely a bystander, began to question Ceteran’s attitude. While Ceteran had a setting of being caring and attentive, she didn’t expect him to have such a fiery temperament.

Whether it was a setting error or the flat character design causing a lack of depth, it was challenging to make a clear judgment. However, the caring setting seemed to be intact, as Min-joo keenly noticed Vehen’s changes.

As for Permette, well, being a character who only ridicules others, it was natural for him not to notice Vehen’s peculiarity.

Min-joo looked down at the documents in her arms. Despite being hastily written, the neat handwriting undoubtedly belonged to Vehen. The filled pages seemed to showcase Vehen’s passion.

‘Did he prepare all this in advance to protect the slaves?’

It was a reasonable suspicion.

The progress was smooth and systematic enough to believe in the proposal, and there was concern about Ceteran’s claim that things had changed a few years ago. Min-joo wondered if there had been a change in Ceteran’s mindset, as Vehen suggested, or what had happened.

Moreover, Ceteran seemed to be directing with familiarity about the sorcerer. Min-joo placed documents on the table, looking at Vehen.

As Ceteran, who had quickly downed his coffee to cool his anger, sprawled on the sofa and sighed, there was a sense that even though Vehen and Permette were competent, being with them was draining and stressing him out. 

None of them, from Vehen to Permette, seemed fine.

Min-joo, although seemingly fine at a glance, didn’t seem to have high expectations.

Ceteran, leaning his head against the backrest, spoke.

“Lady Velirian wants to meet you.”

“The Count said so?”

“No, that woman.”

Before the sentence ended, Vehen frowned abruptly. At the same time, Min-joo’s complexion brightened.

Reacting to the extreme responses, Permette tilted his head, expressing puzzlement. 

“I don’t like it. I don’t even know why I should meet her.”

Vehen refused without hesitation, without a hint of hesitation. Min-joo turned around with a teary-eyed look.

Feeling Min-joo’s reaction with a sidelong glance, Vehen’s shoulders trembled faintly. 

“I don’t like it either. Still, if there’s something to say about the slave issue, it’s not bad to meet her.”

“Of course, you’re not pleased, you’re fond of Lady Velirian.”

Vehen calmly spoke, and his words became a piercing arrow that penetrated Ceteran’s conscience. Startled, Ceteran, who had slumped on the sofa, suddenly stood up. His face was as red as a freshly picked apple, and he seemed desperate.

“H-How do you know?!”

“I can tell by looking.”

“When did you see?! What did you see?!”

Ceteran, who had been squirming in embarrassment with a rustling sound, scolded Vehen. Vehen, sipping coffee without a hint of disturbance, sharp-eyed Ceteran.

It was an attitude full of composure.

“There are many listeners. Can I speak?”

“No! Absolutely not! Just shut up!”

Min-joo couldn’t believe it. Ceteran and Neriant had already met. Moreover, Ceteran had already fallen for Neriant at first sight.

If that’s the case, why hasn’t Vehen met Neriant yet? According to the plot, Vehen should have met Neriant first.

Min-joo grabbed Vehen’s sleeve and whispered.

“Just meet Neriant. I want to see her too.”

“Why do you want to see her?”

“… Haven’t you ever seen a noble lady before?”

“Even a reasonable excuse sounds convincing.”

“Oh, I want to see her. She was so beautiful.”

“You…”

Vehen swallowed his words and closed his mouth as if holding back. He frowned as if it were troublesome and even looked pained.

Min-joo, recalling that one of the things that angered people the most was stopping in the middle of a sentence, grabbed Vehen’s sleeve again.

“Why stop talking?”

“…Forget it. Even if I say it, it’s just nonsense.”

“Listen and try answering with a soothing voice like a jade bead.”

“Who’s the jade bead? …Don’t listen and respond.”

Just recalling it made Vehen feel awkward, and he covered his mouth while avoiding eye contact.

Min-joo stuck close to Vehen, bringing her ear closer.

With a voice as annoying as a pebble, Vehen cautiously approached Min-joo’s ear.

The breath and voice against her ear were ticklish, causing her to shrug her shoulders. His question was absurd.

“Do you… like women?”

“What?”

“I told you not to talk back.”

Ha! Laughter burst out. Min-joo couldn’t help but laugh at Vehen’s cautiously asked question, finding it even more absurd.

Vehen turned his gaze away and snatched the documents from Min-joo’s embrace, spreading them on the table. He was in such an awkward state that even his cheeks turned red.

Min-joo gathered her hands and brought them to his ear, whispering.

“I like both.”

Vehen turned his head to face Min-joo. The wide-eyed look, the flushed cheeks, and the rapid rise and fall of his breath were completely different from what she was used to.

It was hard to tell what he was thinking. Min-joo kept her hands near his ears and whispered so softly that only Vehen could hear.

“I like men and women.”

Min-joo was sincere. As long as the heart is moved, it doesn’t matter if it’s a man or a woman. She hadn’t felt strong emotions yet, so she wasn’t sure.

Though she had experienced dating, it was superficial, and she had never felt deep affection for her partner. So, whether she liked men or women, she couldn’t be sure.

Vehen, who had swallowed his dry saliva at Min-joo’s answer, lowered his head and let out a heavy sigh. He looked as if his soul had been sucked out, appearing utterly exhausted.

Min-joo tilted her head, following Vehen’s gaze, and asked teasingly.

“Was that a sufficient answer?”

“…Yeah.”

“Then you’ll meet Neriant, right?”

“…Yeah.”

Vehen, who answered unexpectedly, lifted his head and looked at Min-joo. Min-joo grinned and looked at Ceteran and Permette, who was watching with interest.

“Mission accomplished. Please make an appointment.”

“…Really strange.”

Ceteran sighed with an attitude that he had seen enough of this amusing scene. Permette silently stared at Min-joo.

“Now, let’s continue after having some snacks. Everyone, get up~”

Min-joo, who successfully arranged the meeting with Neriant she had been longing for, smiled cheerfully and clapped her hands. Reluctantly, everyone got up from their seats.

A few days later, Vehen covered his messed-up face and lowered his head, while Min-joo laughed happily.

Neriant sat in front of them, smiling sweetly with a cute face.