I Don't Want To Do a Romantic Comedy With a Villain! - Chapter 32

Episode 32

Min-joo peacefully wandered through the forest, stretching as if refreshed. 

With her arm feeling like it might break, Permette kept a watchful eye on Min-joo. After Min-joo finished stretching, she casually turned and lightly tapped Permette’s shoulder.

“Let’s go back. I don’t know if Vehen succeeded in pushing through the bill.”

“He probably did. After all, he’s Your Excellency.”

“Are they investigating Viscount Ziken’s residence? I’m getting a little nervous.”

“That should have been taken care of as well.”

Min-joo thought it would be resolved, but the content of her dream bothered her. 

In the drama script she wrote, Crown Prince Tedric easily fell into foolish situations, but in the altered scenario of her dream, he seemed even more shrewd. It was as if in her script, she deliberately made him look foolish. But who knows? Once she found the sorcerer and returned home, it would all be just a story from another dimension. 

She’ll never see Vehen, Permette, Ceteran, and Neriant again.

It didn’t matter. As long as Min-joo could go back, that was enough.

They walked down the forest path, not far from Vehen’s mansion. Since Min-joo rarely went out, the gatekeeper was someone she had never seen before. He insisted he wouldn’t open the door until their identities were verified.

Vehen’s employees seemed to share his stubbornness since they were paying well for their work. Therefore, the gatekeeper wasn’t easily swayed to open the door.

Another gatekeeper went back to the mansion to confirm Min-joo and Permette’s identities.

Permette, who had spent seventeen years close to Vehen, kicked the iron gate several times with his foot.

The massive iron gate creaked and shook slightly.

“Stop it, stop! How can you survive with that temper?!”

As the gatekeeper prepared to respond to Permette’s violent attitude, Min-joo grabbed Permette in alarm. When Min-joo pulled at his clothes, Permette fell silent.

“I killed them all before they could draw their swords.”

“Boasting, aren’t you?”

“It’s a fact.”

“Permette, you’re really something else.”

As the absurd conversation continued, the gatekeeper who had gone to the mansion returned with a maid in tow. They didn’t exchange words, but she had a recognizable face.

After the maid verified their identities, Min-joo and Permette were allowed into the mansion. While walking through the elaborately arranged entrance, Permette, who had been nervously scratching the back of his head, ordered the maid.

“Prepare the carriage; we’ll be leaving soon.”

“Yes, I’ll do that.”

The maid nodded politely, acknowledging the instructions. Min-joo, torn between standing next to her colleague and standing next to someone familiar, eventually ended up walking in between and surprised Permette by turning around.

“Aren’t you going to eat?”

“It’s still a long way to dinner; I’ll eat when we get back.”

She was referring to lunch. It was already four in the afternoon, so it was indeed a late lunchtime.

In her position as an employee, Min-joo couldn’t force Permette to eat before leaving, so she just nodded.

“All right, then. Can’t be helped.”

“Let’s have a meal together next time.”

“Are you buying?”

Suddenly standing next to Permette, Min-joo playfully asked. Permette, looking at her with a playful expression, responded.

“If I had known you liked receiving things like this, I would have embraced you sooner.”

“Do I look like that materialistic? You got me all figured out.”

Perhaps because they had become closer, Permette felt good seeing Min-joo laugh and joke without any reservations. He was glad he had lent the carriage to Neriant because he liked the way she laughed at him.

When Permette was about to suggest making a dinner appointment, Min-joo spoke first.

“Never mind, it was just a joke. I can’t even repay you for the shoes; when will I repay you for the meal?”

There was something oddly bitter in Min-joo’s nonchalant response. She seemed to enjoy receiving, yet Permette felt that Min-joo, who didn’t receive anything, felt somewhat distant. Permette impulsively grabbed Min-joo’s sleeve carefully.

“…You don’t have to pay me back.”

His low, earnest voice carried a weight of sincerity. It was one of the rare moments when Permette spoke sincerely. Min-joo met Permette’s gaze, then turned her head away, lightly smiling.

“…What’s the point of giving away money if you go bankrupt? Just consider it saved. Become rich, buy land, a house, and maybe even an empire.”

When Min-joo pulled her arm, Permette’s hand, which had been gripping her sleeve, twitched towards the ground. Permette held his empty hand and examined it. Veins on the back of his hand stood out. His impulsive words came out heavy.

“Do you still dislike me?”

The maid glanced back slightly at Permette’s question but immediately pretended not to and looked straight ahead. Min-joo, who was already closely following the maid, turned around at Permette’s question, and with a slight smile, as if questioning why he would ask such a thing, she lightly scoffed.

“No, I’ve grown fond of you now.”

“Then why won’t you accept it? I’ll treat you to a meal.”

“Do I have to accept it? Save it, I told you.”

Naturally, a line was drawn, and not even the opportunity for Permette to cross the line was given. Permette lost words and closed his mouth.

He wants to do well. He doesn’t want to be hated. He wants to give something.

So, he wants to see Min-joo happily smiling.

Permette stopped walking.

Min-joo looked at Permette, who was far away, but just shrugged her shoulders and walked to the mansion following the maid.

The distance grows. Permette thought that he must narrow this distance.

‘If this is love, isn’t it too heavy an emotion?’

Suddenly, emotions settled heavily like a stone.

5. It became likable.

Not long after entering the mansion, a carriage prepared by Permette was ready.

Min-joo changed into a maid’s outfit and she saw him off, and she smiled and waved.

His beauty was so extraordinary that Min-joo closed her eyes tightly and just waved her hands roughly.

As the carriage moved and passed through the large iron gate, Min-joo sighed, tapping her shoulder with her fist.

A thunderous alarm warning that she might starve to death on an empty stomach rings out.

Tired.

It was even more so because she hadn’t had a proper meal since morning.

“What’s your relationship with the master?”

A maid, whose name was unknown, but proved her identity to the gatekeeper, suddenly popped out from beyond the door.

She was a cute girl with neatly tied light blue hair. Her cute appearance went unnoticed due to Permette’s beauty.

As surprised as one should be at something cute, Min-joo clenched the door, unable to scream, and supported her shaky legs.

Perhaps because of an empty stomach, her legs wobbled even more.

“Just, you know, a casual acquaintance……”

The maid looked at Min-joo, who couldn’t properly control her legs like a newborn deer, and apologized with wide-eyed, violet-colored eyes.

“Sorry, I didn’t know you’d be startled. Are you okay?”

“No, my heart is pounding. Almost jumped out of my mouth.”

“It shouldn’t jump out of your mouth. Should I catch it? Can you walk?”

A girl who looked hardly more than twenty took Min-joo’s arm and pulled her along.

Min-joo was very vulnerable to cute and pretty people, so she obediently entrusted herself to the maid.

Min-joo was weak when it came to appearance, no matter who the other person was.

If we were to judge by personality, Min-joo should have been enemies with Permette.

The maid unabashedly supported Min-joo. She took Min-joo’s arm and wrapped her shoulder around it. As they got closer, Min-joo completely abandoned her guard against the scent that came over her.

There was no choice. The warm fragrance from the young and cute maid was too irresistible for Min-joo to be on guard.

The maid smiled brightly and asked.

“You’re serving the duke, aren’t you? Do you know my name?”

The maid’s voice was as lovely as a million jade beads rolling. It felt like my ears were melting.

“No, I don’t know, but I’ll find out from now on.”

“You’re not even pretending to know. You’re interesting.”

“If you smile, that’s enough for me.”

If she’s pretty, that’s all that matters. If she’s cute, even better.

Min-joo smiled subtly at the unnamed maid.

Although she claimed not to know her name, the maid didn’t have a bad attitude. She spoke mischievously but laughed easily and behaved affectionately.

“I’m Chichen. No surname, just a commoner.”

“How can a name be this cute?”

Chichen chuckled. Her laughter was refreshing, like popping a lemon, and Min-joo smiled contentedly.

Good. It feels healing.

Moreover, Min-joo hadn’t had a proper conversation with anyone since she worked as a maid for Vehen, making it even more enjoyable. Until now, she hadn’t had the time for personal conversations unless it was related to work. Also, Vehen’s tendency to find her and give her errands whenever she tried to catch her breath was ghostly.

Yes, the reason she didn’t make any friends was Vehen’s fault. Maybe it’s the same for nobles. Oh well. Envious.

Chichen led Min-joo to the kitchen.

The scent wafting from the kitchen to Min-joo, who felt like she was starving to death, was as stimulating as a cat-facing catnip.

Chichen smiled with cat-like eyes folded.

“Are you hungry? I’ll get you some bread or something.”

“Can I?”

“Why not? How long do you think I’ve been working here? This is okay.”

Ah, so she was a cute and fresh junior despite the gloomy senior.

Min-joo was fine with that.

Even if she quit this job, if she spent a day without exchanging a word with her colleagues, she wouldn’t know how lonely it could be.

“Actually, Min-joo, I wanted to talk to you.”

“You know my name?”

She hadn’t even introduced herself, but somehow she knew. As Min-joo opened her eyes wide in surprise, Chichen giggled softly.

“How could I not know when the Duke is so infatuated with you? You’re famous!”

Min-joo considered whether Vehen was infatuated with her. Making sandwiches, ordering various errands – maybe that counted as infatuation.

When Min-joo responded with a confused look, Chichen laughed aloud, apparently pleased with Min-joo’s reaction.

“I’ll bring the bread, and then I’ll tell you why you’re famous in a little while!”

The kitchen they arrived at was already bustling with evening preparations. Even though Vehen wasn’t particularly a big eater, they seemed to be preparing for any unexpected situation.

Watching the busy maids and the head chef, Min-joo felt the urge to treat Vehen, who never touched the diligently prepared food, to a delightful evening. If it were Min-joo, she would have forced herself to eat even if her stomach burst for the sake of their efforts.

Chichen skillfully maneuvered through the busy staff, holding croissants, cheese, and an apple. She engaged in friendly conversations with each person she met.

‘I don’t have any friends.’

Seeing this, Min-joo couldn’t help but feel that she hadn’t naturally blended into this place. Despite being proud of her adaptability more than anyone else, standing still, she realized she hadn’t assimilated into the social fabric here.

Chichen, who had brought milk along with the food, smiled gently as she offered the meal. 

“I brought just enough since we’ll be having dinner soon.”

“That’s more than enough.”

Min-joo expressed her gratitude and took a bite of the apple. The juicy explosion in her mouth was dizzying. It was the first meal she had barely managed to get, and it tasted exceptionally delicious.

“Come over here.”

Observing Min-joo absentmindedly eating, Chichen, who looked concerned, led her to the servants’ dining area. In the process, Min-joo devoured the other half of the apple.

The servants’ dining area was shabbier and more humble than the one Vehen used. It was connected directly to the kitchen, allowing the smoke to waft in, and cleaning tools were piled up in the corners. Occasionally, a mouse would sneak in and make a mess.

Min-joo had occasionally solved her meals here, but no one had ever approached her or struck up a conversation. Therefore, she was genuinely grateful to Chichen for sitting side by side on the long, shabby wooden table in the servant’s dining area.

However, while she was still enjoying the meal, Chichen wiped her hands on her apron and asked.

“Min-joo, are you the Duke’s lover?”

“…What?”

Suddenly, the apple Min-joo was eating rolled off her lap. What on earth was this talk about, like a dog chewing on grass to cook soup?