I Don't Want To Do a Romantic Comedy With a Villain! - Chapter 22

Episode 22

Min-joo skillfully brought down freshly brewed coffee, and neatly placed desserts on the table. 

It wasn’t exactly pleasant to become adept at something due to work. It could be described as a rather complex state of mind. 

Min-joo, standing by the door, ignored Vehen’s pressure to leave to hold her ground and speak to Neriant.

Min-joo looked at Neriant, who seemed as sharp and delicately sculpted as glass, without acknowledging Vehen’s insistence to leave. Her face, whether fairy-like or angelic, was so holy and beautiful that it instinctively made knees bend. However, she wasn’t kneeling.

Vehen, unable to conceal his discomfort, awkwardly cleared his throat. 

“…Why have you come, Lady Velirian?”

“I haven’t heard anything about slaves.” 

Neriant responded calmly, pointing out Vehen’s seemingly impolite attitude or ignoring his hints.

Her eyes, halfway lowered towards the floor, seemed pitiful, as if she had experienced various hardships. Min-joo tapped the floor with her heel for no reason, feeling helpless and perplexed.

Unable to interfere, she just kept her mouth shut.

“If you’ve come to say you’ll help with the current assignment or support it, please leave.”

Surprised, Min-joo slammed the floor with her shoe. Despite the attention drawn to the sound of the shoe heel hitting, Min-joo lowered her head as if nothing had happened.

Min-joo was in a difficult and embarrassing situation. It was an event where Vehen got involved with Neriant, a little different from the assignment. A decisive factor that regretted her attitude toward the kind and affectionate Neriant, gradually getting to know him.

And to brush that off? The sub-male protagonist? Was he reluctant to work?

Min-joo’s mouth opened wide in shock. Vehen glanced at Min-joo and clicked his tongue, showing a reaction that he found her pathetic.

Neriant frowned, adjusting the shawl on her shoulder. 

“Why?”

“It’s already smoothly coming to an end. If you genuinely want to help them, do it privately. What you’re doing now is hypocrisy.”

Min-joo clenched the edge of her skirt tightly.

‘Hey, how regrettable of you to say such a thing! You should fall and lick your feet in gratitude!’

She didn’t say it out loud, but she shouted it in her heart, desperately hoping that if she screamed earnestly, someone would listen.

Of course, nothing came of it. Neriant couldn’t hide her bewildered reaction and pursed her lips. After a while, her jewel-like blue eyes passed by Vehen and glanced at Min-joo. It seemed as if she was examining the maid’s response, which was not particularly pleasant.

Min-joo pretended not to know anything, feigning ignorance and humming a quiet tune. She killed the mood.

“I know, I do too. About the hypocrisy. I never had any sincere intention to help in the first place.”

Did she say that? No matter how much she tried to clean her ears and press the rewind button, it was what Neriant said. The fact that the angelic Neriant made such a statement made Min-joo’s eyes almost pop out.

Even the fly buzzing around the snacks widened its eyes.

Neriant, holding the shawl in her hand, took a deep breath and then looked at Vehen. The lovely irises were filled with Vehen.

“I came to see you. Duke, you.”

The content shifted drastically from the assignment, so Min-joo gave up on her thoughts. The excuse for Neriant to come and meet Vehen seemed to be nothing more than a sense of duty.

Apart from encountering each other in social circles, there was no other connection between them. Should she just not think about it? Min-joo’s gaze became blank.

Vehen showed no signs of objection. He didn’t seem embarrassed by Neriant’s straightforward conversation. His forehead and cheeks seemed to say, ‘I didn’t want to see this colossal situation.’

“I won’t ask for the reason. It’s awkward, so please go back.”

Was he trying to send her away? Min-joo quickly alternated her gaze between Neriant and Vehen. She hadn’t even set up the interaction between Neriant and Vehen.

As if reading Min-joo’s mind, Neriant turned her head and firmly refused. 

“Why? You don’t even know why I wanted to meet you.”

“I don’t want to hear it.”

“The Duke’s wishes are not important to me.”

Neriant’s bold and atmosphere-dominating response halted Vehen’s words. Frowning, Vehen rested his chin on his hand, but Neriant confidently continued speaking.

“Listen to what I have to say. I’ll hear your opinions afterward.”

Pulling back her slender neck, Neriant straightened her posture. Her golden, curly hair cascaded down her forehead, and her blue eyes peeked through the golden strands as they occasionally glanced at Min-joo.

“Exactly, the person I wanted to meet is not the Duke. The person I wanted to see is…”

After a deep breath, Neriant turned her head towards Min-joo. 

Startled, Min-joo instinctively recoiled. Light streamed in through the window behind Neriant, creating an incredibly enchanting moment. The serious expression on her face, neatly clasped hands, and her blonde hair, bathed in light, gleamed radiantly.

Min-joo squinted her eyes as the light was blinding. It continued to dazzle her.

“We saw each other at the party, didn’t we? I can’t forget the moment our eyes met.”

“Uh-huh?”

Something was strange. This wasn’t related to the assignment, was it?

“So, I desperately wanted to meet you and escape. How could I forget? How could I forget this face?”

Wasn’t she saying the wrong thing to her? Min-joo took a step back and bumped into the wall. As Min-joo stopped, Neriant stood up from her seat.

Vehen, who had been frozen in confusion, also hastily stood up. He reached out to stop Neriant, but her steps were quicker.

“Lady Velirian!”

Ignoring Vehen’s sharp exclamation, Neriant approached Min-joo closely. Despite her small stature, she exuded an imposing presence, especially in terms of her facial expression. Beautiful enough to take one’s breath away, Min-joo involuntarily swallowed.

Though Vehen belatedly caught up, Neriant had already reached Min-joo. Despite Vehen’s attempt to intervene, Neriant firmly grasped Min-joo’s wrist and tearfully pleaded.

“I wanted to confirm. What is your name?”

“I, me?”

“Yes.”

Min-joo, who was already weak in the face of the stunning beauty before her, was struggling to process the information with her brain almost blinded by the sight of such a beautiful face.

So…

“I’m, Minjal.”

“Yes?”

“Oh dear.”

She blurted out nonsense. She might have mistakenly thought of herself as a wanderer because Ceteran called her that, and seeing Permette delighted at being called wanderer could have influenced her.

When Neriant, with an attitude that seemed to say, ‘What kind of name is that?’ took a step back, Vehen quickly intervened.

“You, go back to your quarter. No, prepare a meal.”

“What was my name?”

“Is that important right now? Go back quickly.”

Vehen’s reaction, trying to get rid of Min-joo, was also incomprehensible. Min-joo stared blankly at the faces of the geniuses in front of her and then bumped her head against the wall.

It sounded like thunder.

With the impact on her head, Min-joo’s mind, which had been white, was filled with all sorts of thoughts and knowledge.

With a brightened complexion, Min-joo leaned towards Neriant.

“Park Min-joo!”

“Hurry up.”

Vehen forcefully grabbed Min-joo’s arm, separating her from Neriant, and pulled her towards the door. Despite Min-joo contorting her body in a futile attempt to resist, she couldn’t easily overcome Vehen’s strength. As the door opened, there was a brief moment when Min-joo was pushed outside.

Neriant, murmuring Min-joo’s name, grabbed Vehen’s wrist and pulled him back. 

“What…!” 

Startled, Vehen reflexively turned to face Neriant. Determinedly narrowing her eyes, Neriant strengthened her grip on Vehen’s wrist, pulling him back even further. 

‘How can she have such strength…!’

Despite the small and delicate appearance of her hand, it radiated a strong force. Vehen couldn’t hide his bewilderment and was dragged along by Neriant.

As Min-joo, who was being held by Vehen, was pulled along, it seemed like a coordinated effort. Min-joo, using her toe, pushed the door closed and stood in front of Neriant. Vehen, who felt desperate, held Min-joo tightly, and Neriant wrapped her arms around Min-joo’s shoulders.

It was like a toy caught between almost-sibling-like younger and older ones.

In that moment, Min-joo pondered various considerations. Seeing Vehen so emotionally driven in his actions must have a reason. 

Therefore, it was worth following Vehen. On the other hand, Neriant had come this far to find Min-joo. 

“Move aside!”

Naturally, Min-joo’s choice was Neriant. Min-joo forcefully pushed away Vehen’s hand, smoothly embraced by Neriant. Min-joo rolled her eyes towards Vehen, who stood there in bewilderment. Vehen’s hand hung in the air, his lips slightly parted, and his wounded eyes subtly distorted.

Min-joo’s eyes, filled with the essence of spring and sorrow, were exclusively focused on her. She didn’t care. Each breath seemed to be tinged with the gentle and warm scent of Neriant. 

Neriant cautiously swept Min-joo’s back and, moving up along the nape of her neck, wrapped her arms around Min-joo’s shoulders. Following the slow descent of Neriant’s hand, Min-joo lowered her head, and Neriant was trembling.

“Why are you like this?”

In Neriant’s transparent eyes, moisture shimmered, and her white cheeks looked as if they might burst into tears at any moment. She nervously chewed on her red lips, displaying a strange sense of joy.

“Park Min-joo, right?”

“Yes. I just told you a moment ago.”

“Isn’t it a name like Minjal or something star-like?”

“That was a slip of the tongue. I was too nervous.”

Min-joo awkwardly smiled, and as she gently traced Neriant’s eye area with her fingers, it seemed to be the trigger. Neriant began to shed tears.

Vehen and Min-joo, unable to contain their surprise, looked at each other, but Vehen, overwhelmed by emotions, averted his gaze first. It was quite trivial. Amidst this, Min-joo, who had criticized Vehen’s awkward emotions, wiped away Neriant’s tears. Despite repeated wipes, the drops clung and fell.

“Why are you crying? Am I so lovable?”

“I thought I was just unlucky, but turns out I have no conscience either.”

“Oh, be quiet. Our fairy is crying.”

“Huh! You’ll be setting up a household, I see.”

“Why not?”

Min-joo, mocking Vehen’s sarcastic words, softly answered while embracing Neriant and patting her back. Neriant, trying to stifle her cries, held onto Min-joo’s clothes. Vehen, feeling awkward and incredulous, couldn’t find a suitable retort. No, he was slightly frightened and couldn’t choose his words.

“Really, are you going?”

“Yes. I’ll be with Neri, no, Lady Velirian.”

Vehen stood next to Min-joo, perplexed and unable to come up with a more mocking remark.

Min-joo swept Neriant’s flowing hair and leaned against her head, caressing her cheek. Affectionate actions continued, revealing a sense of tenderness.

As Min-joo observed silently, unfamiliar emotions welled up within her. 

Vehen grabbed Min-joo’s arm, redirecting her attention. A mixture of feeble desperation, shallow possessiveness, and various other emotions made it difficult to discern what was most prominent.

“I’m the one who will send you home. I’m searching for the sorcerer. Now you’re going to rely on someone else?”

“Why not? I’m right in front of someone who likes me.”

“…You’re my maid. You belong to me. I haven’t permitted you to go anywhere.”

Although Min-joo initially dismissed Vehen’s attitude and naturally denied it, she felt a strange sense of unease.

Really, this man…

Vehen nervously pulled Min-joo’s arm closer. Min-joo’s balance wavered.

“Above all, Miss Velirian never said she would take you in.”

Min-joo’s foot thumped on the ground as it shook. In response, Neriant, shaken by Min-joo’s embrace, instinctively pulled Min-joo closer.

In an instant, Neriant sharply swatted Vehen’s hand away, and the forceful impact caused Vehen’s hand to twitch.

Surprised, both Vehen and Min-joo focused on Neriant, who was inhaling deeply, suppressing what seemed like an imminent explosion of anger.

“Don’t touch my sister.”

Sister?

Neriant’s grip embraced Min-joo, confining her. Perplexed by the inexplicable situation, Min-joo widened her eyes and froze in place.

By the way, what perfume is she using? The fragrance is so delightful.