I Don't Want To Do a Romantic Comedy With a Villain! - Chapter 37
Episode 37
Min-joo thought of various situations.
For instance, Chichen has a crush on Vehen and stalks him. Or perhaps selling Vehen’s information to outsiders for money.
Min-joo scrutinized Chichen. Delicate, small, and lovely. A cute and slender person triggers protective instincts. None of the examples matched Chichen, but people never know.
Chichen quickly changed her stance as if asking when Min-joo noticed or if she was just observing. Chichen switched from her usual playful and straightforward attitude.
“That’s pure speculation! Min-joo, have you read too much newspapers and literature?”
“What’s speculative about it? I just talked about what happened.”
A light, high-pitched laughter followed. Chichen is assessing now. Has Min-joo noticed everything, or is she just testing the waters?
Chichen teased with a mischievous smile, shaking off the accusations. She lifted her heels off the ground and swung her legs in the air.
“What’s suspicious?”
“Can I say it?”
“Do you have something you can’t say? It’s just us.”
Tiring. Min-joo felt exhausted trying to hold back tears. She was tired and worn out from many things already.
Min-joo rolled her eyes and looked at Chichen. Chichen continued smiling, never taking her gaze off Min-joo.
The determination and hidden intentions gave Min-joo chills. Chichen lowered her legs to the ground, as if ready to rush towards Min-joo at any moment, scraping the sole against the floor.
“I won’t say it because I’m afraid you’ll harm me. I won’t say it.”
Min-joo shrugged casually. Chichen burst into laughter with a voice that didn’t match the atmosphere, making it even more eerie.
Chichen controlled her laughter and glanced at the scattered glass pieces on the floor. At that moment, Min-joo shrank, gripping the doorknob.
“Min-joo, I’m starting to get tired. Why do you keep going around in circles?”
“You’re the one, Chichen.”
“Can you handle it?”
Min-joo couldn’t decide between two options: a servant crazy in love or a concubine.
Maybe she shouldn’t have scratched the itch. It would have been easier to pretend not to know, to act like it didn’t bother her.
As usual.
Feeling the sudden fatigue, Min-joo tapped her fingers on the doorknob. A calm attitude with feigned indifference was expected.
“I don’t know. I’m going on vacation starting today. I won’t be around for a while, so even if Chichen harms me, and I’m found somewhere as a corpse, who knows?”
“Talking in circles is getting tiresome.”
“No, I’m serious. I’m scared at this point. I may be a money-hungry servant, but it’s tough for me to stay in the mansion because rumors spread too easily. I’m going on vacation. Even if Chichen murders me, the rumors will be too burdensome, and people might think I did it to myself.”
Chichen tilted her head, making a snorting sound.
Min-joo maintained a composed attitude, suppressing her fatigue.
“I know what Chichen is up to. But I won’t say it. Because I’m scared.”
It was sincere.
Min-joo was afraid of Chichen. Not the lovely face, but what she might be hiding behind it, like a hidden knife.
“If, after my vacation, the rumors about me inside the mansion are still spreading, I might feel disillusioned with people and quit being a servant. It’s just a thought. If Chichen is crazy in love, I secretly hope that I’ll quit.”
If Chichen is truly obsessed with love, it would be hard for her to endure being so close to the person she loves for a long time without feeling jealous. Moreover, if the rumors damaging Min-joo’s reputation disappear, Vehen might view her positively and develop affection.
If she’s truly in love, she can’t just stand by and watch.
But if she’s a concubine, Min-joo hopes she stays by Vehen’s side and continues to provide information.
So, when Min-joo returns from vacation, she should check the situation in the mansion. If the rumors persist or even stranger rumors are spreading, Chichen is likely crazy in love. If Min-joo’s negative reputation has disappeared, she’s a concubine.
It might seem simple and somewhat ignorant, but sometimes simplicity is the most effective.
Min-joo carried herself confidently as if she knew everything. Chichen eyed Min-joo suspiciously, but seeing her confident and shameless attitude, she decided to step back for now.
Chichen picked up Vehen’s broken porcelain while speaking cheerfully.
“Well, rumors… When does your vacation end and you come back?”
“About 5 days.”
“Quite a long break.”
“I’ve been deeply hurt.”
Chichen squinted her cat-like violet eyes, tilted her head back shallowly, and then returned to her usual lively and carefree attitude.
Her bright smile was about to burst with zest.
“Enjoy your vacation and come back. Leaving today?”
“Yes, I’m going to pack and leave right away.”
“Have a safe trip.”
Min-joo nodded and opened the door. Without showing her back to Chichen, she retraced her steps, exited the room, and closed the door.
Honestly, it was truly frightening.
When Chichen sifted through the glass shards, Min-joo was afraid she might pick them up and rush at her, hiding a gun or knife in her embrace.
It ended well.
Min-joo sighed silently, muffling her footsteps as she moved slowly. She didn’t want Chichen to hear and follow her, just in case.
Arriving at the room with her mind still in a daze, Min-joo quickly began packing.
From the new clothes from Vehen that she hadn’t worn yet to magical books and the little money she received for working in the theater.
She somehow managed to stuff them into the cheap and shabby bag, which looked like it might burst.
Hugging the bag tightly, Min-joo, walking briskly, headed towards the stable.
In the stable, a coachman with dark skin and a rugged beard was checking the condition of the horses. Min-joo approached him cautiously.
“I have an errand from the master.”
“How far are you going?”
His rough tone was quite harsh. Min-joo opened her mouth, then closed it, lowering her voice to whisper to the coachman.
“It’s to Lord Rolfreme’s residence. The master told me to keep it a secret, even from the aristocrats.”
“What?”
The mention of secrecy seemed quite surprising. Vehen was planning something confidential even with the people inside the mansion.
Of course, from the coachman’s perspective, as long as he did what he was told, it didn’t matter. He nodded and prepared the carriage.
Standing nearby, Min-joo, waiting for the carriage, began to make small talk with the coachman.
“Don’t you want to ask what kind of errand it is?”
“I don’t need to know. Just do as you’re told. Knowing too much might be trouble later.”
If she were a concubine, he might inquire about the nature of the errand, and what she was going to do. Not asking might be an attempt not to reveal too much.
With her heightened sensitivity, Min-joo asked the coachman another question.
“How long have you been working here? You seem skilled.”
“Well, the master wouldn’t hire just anyone. I’ve been here for a long time.”
“Quite a while. I started not too long ago, and it was tough.”
While the coachman was working on the reins, he paused and glanced at Min-joo. Min-joo sensed that he caught wind of some rumor.
Whether it was about that incident or something else, Min-joo pretended innocence with a faint smile, as if she knew nothing.
Maybe everyone knows except her. It was something she didn’t know.
The coachman, ready to depart, signaled to Min-joo. She momentarily missed the signal, but with a hearty “Hey!” she rushed to the carriage.
As the coachman was about to mount the carriage, he subtly remarked to Min-joo, holding the reins.
“You look elegant, that’s why the master cherishes you so much.”
“…I am quite beautiful, aren’t I? But the Master never seems to notice.”
She smoothly delivered the unpleasant words with a natural retort. Ignoring the attempt to counter, she climbed onto the carriage and closed the door with a louder bang than expected.
Unintentionally, Min-joo clutched her luggage tightly and shouted.
“It’s because of the wind! The wind!”
The coachman burst into laughter, and with a flick of the reins, set the carriage in motion.
The carriage shook. Min-joo looked out the window. The path she had walked with Permette came into view.
It felt different from the stroll and conversation they had shared before – now it seemed a bit rougher, more ruthless, and colder. The black-stained trees, the sound of wheels against the earth, and the stars embroidered in the sky seemed to mock her solitude.
Min-joo hugged her bulging bag as if it were about to burst. The expensive carriage interior was silent. The carriage raced without pause and quickly arrived at Permette’s residence.
Min-joo was pleased to see the same gatekeeper as before.
“I have an errand. A message from the Duke!”
“Yes.”
Perhaps only Min-joo was pleased. The gatekeeper opened the door without any reaction and, greeting the coachman, Min-joo entered Permette’s house.
Whether news of Min-joo’s arrival had spread or not, Permette was descending the stairs from the second floor at a brisk pace. His ash-gray hair, left slightly damp after washing, was more curly than usual.
Delicate yellow eyes looked perplexed, and slightly parted red lips hinted at confusion. Below, a few unbuttoned buttons revealed the firm muscles of his chest through the loose shirt. The wide, flowing bishop sleeves covered Permette’s strong and thick muscles, and the slightly larger shirt over the shoulder subtly softened his figure.
Permette spotted Min-joo and grabbed the staircase railing.
“Min-joo!”
“Permette.”
Permette hurried down, stood in front of the door, and quickly approached Min-joo, who was fumbling awkwardly. Then, abruptly, he took the luggage Min-joo was carrying.
It was quite heavy, and Min-joo, who seemed only soft with her floury dough, realized she was stronger than she appeared.
Permette handed the baggage to a servant and extended his hand to Min-joo.
“How did you come? Are you alright? How…”
Min-joo looked at Permette’s rough hand for a moment before decisively grabbing it. If he was offering to escort her, she thought it was permissible to hold his hand for today at least.
Permette, unexpectedly flustered and unable to finish his sentence, looked down at Min-joo’s hand. Then, as if to convey that he wouldn’t let go, he gripped it tightly.
“What happened with the Duke?”
“There’s something, but it’s a bit awkward to discuss here. Can I stay for a few days?”
“Yes?”
Permette was perplexed. Min-joo, who had suddenly come without notice, wanted to stay for a few days. He worried that something serious had happened that even Vehen couldn’t handle.
Permette checked Min-joo’s condition, which seemed unusually slumped and nodded vaguely.
“Yes, yes. Please do. There’s a guest room, so you can stay there.”
“You don’t need to offer such a nice room.”
“No, you’re a guest.”
A guest without status, wealth, or abilities.
Min-joo felt a surge of emotion and bit her lip.
When Min-joo lowered her head and took a deep breath, Permette ordered the servant to prepare the guest room. Then, he wrapped his arms around Min-joo’s shoulders.
“Let’s go to the reception room first. Take your time and tell me everything.”
Min-joo looked up at Permette standing next to her. His white and outstanding face was examining her condition. Worry emanated from him. It felt strange that Permette, lacking both empathy and humane qualities, was concerned about her.
Awkward and inexperienced in expressing concern, his firm hands on her shoulders were surprisingly gentle and sincere.
Leaning on Permette, Min-joo held back her tears.