I Don't Want To Do a Romantic Comedy With a Villain! - Chapter 25

Episode 25

If there is a way to return to reality, what would it be?

Min-joo flipped through the pages, but the letters gradually faded, finally turning into dots. She blinked her eyes several times, rubbed them, and squinted, but she couldn’t read any writing on the completely blank paper.

‘Darn it! If I was going to read something, I should have found a way to get back home instead of this nonsense! Am I really this stupid?!’

Min-joo carefully put down the book and grasped her head. She entertained the silly thought of banging her head to lose her memory so she could read the useless information again, even though it wasn’t certain if she would get another chance.

“No way that would work.”

Heh, only a bitter laugh escaped. All she could do was laugh at her foolishness.

Min-joo slammed her head against the floor and cried without tears.

‘I’m truly hopeless. No, it’s not even worth comparing to hopelessness. Sorry, hopelessness.’

While shouting at herself as hopeless, Min-joo woke up from her dream.

Based on the shock from what she read, it seems Tedric’s subordinate Ziken purchased a large ship.

Who cares, really? What does it matter if the faceless Ziken buys a ship, a car, or even a country? It’s embarrassing; she can’t even say she foresaw the future.

Min-joo, unknowingly, was gripping her bone-dry hair, cursing silently.

After a brief struggle with self-loathing, Min-joo quietly got out of bed, looked at the clock on the small table next to the bed, and got up.

“I should work, work… darn it.”

Being diligent was a crime, punishable by imprisonment.

Due to yesterday’s incident, Vehen was still in a foul mood.

When she tried to dress him after waking him up, he turned away with a grunt. Trying to put a shirt on him, he grunted again. Wanting to serve him coffee, he responded with a reluctant hum, complaining even while drinking it.

It was various things. His characteristic act of glaring at something, then abruptly turning his head and snorting in annoyance, was annoying and pathetic, making her feel like her blood pressure was soaring to death.

Why was the sub-male lead character behaving like this?

Min-joo, forgoing her meal, stopped Vehen from going to work, made him sit down, and asked with affection.

“Do you want to see me in a messed-up state?”

“Do you want to see me going crazy?”

“Well, you’re just being grumpy.”

As Min-joo muttered softly, Vehen’s forehead furrowed.

“What did you say?”

“Oh, nothing. Have your meal if you don’t want a hole in your stomach, really.”

Min-joo personally pressed Vehen’s abdomen with her fingers, indicating the location of his stomach.

Vehen brushed off Min-joo’s hand with an irritated expression.

Her skill in pressing was impressive.

“What’s on the menu today?”

“I don’t know, I haven’t eaten yet.”

“Forget it. Bring me a sandwich.”

Normally, there would have been a barrage of complaints and nagging, a harmonious mix of being a servant, not knowing in advance, or not wanting to work. It might not be bad to act up a bit.

Min-joo pursed her lips defiantly.

“You have plenty of money, and the food is always extravagant. Why insist on eating the sandwich I make? Eat what’s given. Food is precious.”

“Sandwich.”

“Really, getting on my nerves.”

“What? That’s what I wanted to say.”

“What’s there to get on my nerves about? Making a sandwich is not a big deal, you know?”

“Then don’t. If I’m hungry, that’s your problem.”

“Seriously, this man is driving me crazy.”

Min-joo brushed her bangs aside with a gentle smile. Strands of hair that covered her eyebrows scattered down.

“What’s with the sandwich?” 

Min-joo answered vaguely and stepped back.

Vehen, who had turned his head to effectively express his sulking, glanced subtly at Min-joo.

“…Eat your meal too.”

While saying that, she would provide the meal. Min-joo chuckled in disbelief.

“I can manage on my own.”

“Go now.”

Look at this sulky one. Min-joo quietly closed the door and walked down the corridor. When will he get over it?

Like a meticulous potato.

Vehen’s anger, which Min-joo had expected to last longer, didn’t last long. The reason was Ceteran, who rushed in like a storm.

“We have to gamble right now.”

“Why all of a sudden?”

“Even though it’s too sudden.”

In the midst of this, Ceteran anxiously asked where Permette had gone, then nervously bit his nails and shivered.

Min-joo wanted to scold Ceteran not to kick Vehen’s leg, but she didn’t want to touch the precious male lead’s body.

Messing up his neatly combed hair, Ceteran explained the reason.

“My brother’s movements seem suspicious. It looks like he’s planning to cut off the tail, from what I can see.”

“Why?”

“You claim to see the future, don’t you? Don’t you know that too?”

“Well, you could ask, and I might say something annoying.”

Min-joo poured a large cup of coffee and sarcastically remarked. Ceteran casually dismissed Min-joo’s words.

“Right now. Take your knights with you.”

“Your Highness, are you expressing thoughts or giving orders?”

“Your rank allows you to move without permission from the royal palace. As long as there’s evidence, you can arrest with your position.”

“Your Highness wouldn’t do that.”

“I’ll go with you. If you mobilize the royal knights, it’ll be a clear declaration of breaking ties with my brother.”

Vehen nodded in agreement with Ceteran’s somewhat shaky but plausible demand.

After all, they would win. They had meticulously prepared and executed their plans without a hitch.

The credibility of the gambling den had hit rock bottom with rumors spreading everywhere.

Even if they couldn’t punish Tedric closing down the gambling den and blocking his funds would still achieve their initial goal.

Vehen turned to Min-joo.

“Convey this to Permette.”

“Me?”

“Then who else?”

That makes sense too. Min-joo, unable to agree or disagree, merely curled her toes and responded. Vehen waved his thick fingers in the air.

“Take a carriage. You don’t know how to ride a horse.”

“Oh, okay!”

Nodding, Min-joo hurriedly left the office. But how did he know she couldn’t ride a horse?

Since there was no time, she brought a change of clothes and quickly boarded the carriage that she had hastily prepared.

She could change her clothes inside the carriage; it would be sufficient. Hurriedly pulling the curtain on the small window, she changed clothes in a rush. If the historical background were a bit older, Min-joo wouldn’t have been able to change alone.

Just as Min-joo finished changing and set aside her servant’s clothes in a corner, the carriage arrived at Permette’s house.

Passing through buildings where nobles gathered, they arrived at the outskirts and reached a rather impressive mansion.

“I need to verify your identity.”

“I’ve come on an errand from Duke DeVirté. I have something to deliver to the master. I am the exclusive servant of the duke.”

Min-joo, who leaned out of the window, conveyed her purpose to the knight blocking the carriage. She emphasized that time was of the essence.

Seeing the spider emblem of the DeVirté duke family and the familiar carriage, the knight recognized the authenticity.

Although Min-joo was a new face, the fact that it was the carriage Vehen often rode in gave the knight enough confidence to step aside.

Min-joo could easily disembark from the carriage.

Permette’s house resembled a fairly prosperous middle-class country house.

The garden was not very spacious, and the building was modest. Following the guide of the knight, Min-joo arrived at Permette’s office.

Permette, who was dealing with paperwork, stood up. His surprised eyes were like rabbits.

While Permette was pleased that Min-joo had come this far, he was more curious about the reason for her visit.

Permette knew Min-joo’s status well. He knew she was not geographically savvy enough to easily leave the mansion and reach the outskirts, and she didn’t have the funds to hire a carriage.

Still, it was good to see her face. Permette quickly realized that his sentiment was nonsensical gibberish.

Why was he happy to see her face? It’s not like there were confidential matters from a foreign country written on her face.

Permette gathered his emotions and smiled calmly.

“What brings you here?”

“Well, that’s…”

Min-joo gestured that they needed to discuss something, listening to Ceteran and Vehen’s conversation. Permette silently listened and then opened the door of his office, calling out.

“Prepare the carriage!”

Upon hearing the command, a servant rushed out quickly. Permette stood Min-joo up and began to gather the evidence he had stored, placing it into a bag. He didn’t initiate a conversation on purpose.

Perhaps, he didn’t want to send her away for no reason.

* * *

Leading the knights and setting off was quite a cumbersome task. 

Waiting for the assembly, and delivering orders, Vehen rode side by side with Ceteran, cutting through the streets on horseback. Many knights followed behind them.

People, astonished by the unusual sight, gathered to watch, and Vehen thought it wasn’t a bad thing. If more people gathered to witness what was about to happen, rumors would spread in no time.

Entering an alley, the road narrowed, making it difficult for the horses to gallop freely. However, they continued their relentless pace toward the gambling den, maintaining a coordinated formation.

The gambling den was a shabby building, and several noble carriages were visible around it.

“Seal off the entrance.” 

Vehen commanded as they stopped in front of the gambling den. Immediately, the knights spread out to block the entrance, drawing their swords.

People gathered behind, making noise as they eagerly watched. When Vehen made a quiet gesture, the remaining knights dismounted and stood in front of the entrance.

Then, with force, they pushed against the locked door, breaking it down. Dust and noise erupted, followed by screams from the astonished onlookers.

“Your Highness, you should enter as well.”

“I know.”

Vehen and Ceteran, dismounting from their horses, drew their swords. The agile and extended blades looked almost sacred.

“Arrest everyone inside!”

His command echoed like a beast’s roar.

With a low and fierce voice, the knights rushed into the building. Vehen and Ceteran followed the knights into the interior.

The space, barely illuminated by candles, had a strange and nauseating smell. A raised platform in the center was surrounded by bars to prevent interference from the outside, and the windows were covered with newspapers, casting a gloom over the place.

On the platform, slaves were struggling, unable to open their eyes properly, fighting for survival in disheveled clothing. The floor was gruesomely stained with blood.

“What is this? Do you know who I am?” 

A noble, subdued by a knight, shouted in agony. Crushed insects writhed beneath him.

Vehen scanned the surroundings and gestured to Ceteran. They couldn’t detain the nobles involved in the gambling, but it was a kind of show—an opportunity to draw attention and instill the image of the just Third Prince in the minds of the people.

Ceteran, raising his sword high, shouted.

“Viscount Ziken, pay for the crimes against the laws of the Empire!”

The shout was loud enough to be heard by those who had gathered to watch beyond the torn door. A noble, pressed against the wall, groaned and pleaded.

“Those who tread on the Empire’s land, all are peasants, and peasants have the right to protection for their survival!”

Ignoring the noble’s plea, Ceteran stepped forward, his foot on the blood-stained floor, and approached the lord with his face against the wall. He raised his sword, striking the lock of the iron door with the hilt.

“For someone trapped in our empire, crying out for help, if this isn’t a crime, then what is!” 

Ceteran shouted, opening the door to reveal a blinding light.

The two figures standing on the platform later testified to the events that unfolded beyond the opened door.

They said that God descended to the earth to observe them directly. That’s how it appeared in the eyes.

The two who held Ceteran’s hand couldn’t escape the raised platform, shedding tears. The invisible iron collar still constricted their necks, pulling tight.

* * *

Permette, anticipating the carriage, hastily mounted the horse. 

Despite the carriage being ready to depart immediately, he judged that traveling by horse would be faster. Min-joo, who followed behind, looked at Permette with a sense of futility. 

Permette also stared silently at Min-joo. 

Should he leave her behind? It would be the right decision since she wouldn’t be of any help, but for some reason, an inexplicable desire to take her along arose, and Permette couldn’t rationalize his emotions.

Is he trying to abandon her? When Min-joo reached out her hand and implored him not to leave her, Permette instinctively bent forward. It was a reflexive action. 

Min-joo extended her hand, but Permette couldn’t bring himself to ignore it. Whether Min-joo desired praise, wanted to know what kind of person he was at his core, or simply didn’t want to be hated—Permette couldn’t comprehend Min-joo’s intentions or his own emotions.

Without dismissing Min-joo’s extended hand, he lifted her effortlessly. Min-joo, who had turned away, was caught off guard. Despite her attempt to ignore Permette’s hand, he couldn’t bring himself to disregard it. 

Perhaps he was curious about Min-joo as a person or didn’t want to be disliked. He couldn’t tell.

As Permette’s arm wrapped around Min-joo’s waist, he effortlessly lifted her. Min-joo, startled and letting out an involuntary scream, looked at Permette in surprise. The moonlight, faintly reflecting off his emotionless face, was tinged with whiteness like a snowfield. The only yellow eyes on his face, standing out against the snow-like whiteness, were like the moon about to swallow Min-joo whole.

In addition to the cold temperature, his face, as white as a snowfield, displayed the only source of light. His eyes, the only thing shining, held a strange emotion that Min-joo couldn’t decipher.