I Don't Want To Do a Romantic Comedy With a Villain! - Chapter 45
Episode 45
As Tedric finished speaking, the knights who had been roaming with Mirtese and around him all turned to look at Min-joo simultaneously.
Startled, Min-joo flinched, and as she showed signs of trying to escape, the knights, with swords at their waists, pounded the ground and leaped forward.
Thud, the sound of metal clashing echoed as swords at their waists swayed.
The sound of footsteps approached gradually.
Min-joo had a premonition that even if she escaped at that moment, she would be caught soon. Escaping would only prove that she was unrelated to Tedric.
Tedric, who had no qualms about hurting people, would punish Min-joo for eavesdropping.
Min-joo closed her eyes and took a deep breath. When she opened her eyes, knights had surrounded her, approaching so closely that they were almost at her nose.
Her arm was caught, and she was dragged, prevented from escaping as they blocked the way in front and behind.
Min-joo kneeled in front of Tedric.
Despite the blow to her pride, Min-joo bowed her head and repeated the sentence in her mind that she could do it.
“This path is known to be seldom traveled by people. It’s my mistake, Your Highness.”
Mirtese, showing a troubled expression, inclined his head to Tedric. Tedric, with a calm and smiling face, looked down arrogantly at Min-joo kneeling in front of him.
“People naturally inhabit where people live. I don’t blame the Count. However…”
Tedric spoke in a leisurely tone, fixed his gaze on Min-joo. Mirtese sighed with relief, and the knights had already drawn their swords.
“Judging by your appearance, you seem to be a lady from some noble family. Where do you come from?”
Elaborately adorned black hair and a moderately priced dress. Even if she was a noble, Tedric thought it wouldn’t be from a prestigious place. He intended to harm the woman and spread the news to her family.
Tedric’s bright pink eyes flashed vividly. Min-joo, with bowed head, spoke.
“I am a maid in service to the Duke DeVirté. I came searching when I heard that you walked outside the palace.”
Tedric’s soft smile, filled with interest, changed into a brilliant one.
His sparkling eyes were captivating, and his twisted lips were fierce. Min-joo deliberately lowered her head and continued speaking.
“I have something important to tell you.”
“Go ahead.”
Tedric replied in a tone mixed with laughter.
Min-joo felt her bones tingling and took a breath to compose herself. If she couldn’t capture his interest, she wouldn’t survive. All Min-joo could do was gamble.
With a stiff expression, Min-joo lifted her head. Min-joo’s black eyes were determined, burning with resolve.
“There is a traitor among our comrades.”
“Why are you coming here and saying such things?”
“The duke knows everything; some of the latest reports will contain falsehoods, and he is engaged in a trick to set traps for His Majesty.”
It’s a lie. Vehen would have been suspicious, but he wouldn’t have been able to pin them down, nor would he have been able to appease them.
Min-joo reported the serious matter urgently, maintaining a calm expression, tone, and restrained breath.
“I couldn’t identify who the turncoat in the mansion was, so no one could be trusted. That’s why I came despite the inconvenience. Your Highness, you should consider alternatives.”
Tedric, wary of the woman who came suddenly to appeal, touched his lips.
Tedric closed his eyes slowly, then opened them, revealing a seemingly friendly smile.
“I heard that the Duke buys maidservants who are loyal. This maid seems quite faithful.”
What? Min-joo took a deep breath.
She knew there were spies, but to think that everyone who knew the Duke’s secrets was associated with Tedric.
Does that mean that Leena, who died on the day of the mansion attack, was also associated with Tedric?
The butler and maid who left before the mansion attack would also have been Tedric’s spies.
Wait, wasn’t Tedric the one who ordered the mansion attack? But then why would he kill his people?
Despite the inner turmoil, Min-joo maintained a calm and composed attitude.
Tedric scanned Min-joo and continued speaking leisurely.
“If what you say is true, it could be quite troublesome. I’ll have to plow a new field.”
“You won’t just weed them out?”
Min-joo feigned surprise and asked.
Mirtese raised his voice, asking where the commoners dared to question His Majesty, but Tedric raised his hand gracefully, silencing him.
“Do I need to go to such trouble?”
He meant to remove all the spies planted in the mansion.
Min-joo sensed that his words meant more than just firing them. If she quit working for Vehen, she would be disposed of as well.
That’s why Leena’s death and the mysterious disappearance of the butler and maid who fled before made sense.
They created confusion, secretly handled everything, and got rid of them.
Min-joo shivered and clenched her fist. Pretending to be a spy to survive now seemed deadly.
“You decided to return to your hometown today, right? You’ve worked hard until now.”
Having heard enough, he was implying he would kill her.
Using the excuse of going back to her hometown to murder her. Min-joo grimaced and spoke with a firm voice. She had to somehow catch Tedric’s attention.
“Your Highness, I am blessed with the favor of the Duke and Lord Rolfreme.”
Tedric just smiled casually, as if it were nothing.
Mirtese, not wanting to waste any more time, signaled to the knight with an attitude that he did not want to delay further, and the knight, monitoring Tedric’s gaze, held his sword.
“Receiving the favor of two nobles. It must be a cause for celebration among commoners.”
Tedric, who responded calmly and leisurely, flicked his index finger into the air. Only then did the knight raise his sword high.
This was a disaster. If she died like this, Min-joo’s body wouldn’t even be buried in her hometown. She hadn’t wanted it to come to this.
It was an unavoidable choice for survival.
“I see the future!”
Tedric raised his sword again at Min-joo’s desperate cry. As his fingers moved, the sword, raised high into the sky, descended towards the ground.
Balancing on the edge of life with just one finger, Min-joo exhaled loudly.
As she spoke, her mind spun in confusion, feeling dizzy. But no matter what action she took, it felt like a dead-end, a cliff.
Even if she ran away, she would be caught and killed. She trusted Permette and hadn’t even armed herself to rebel.
All she had to believe in was her audacity to know the future.
With a straightened finger around his chin, Tedric raised one eyebrow as if intrigued.
While he seemed very gentle when smiling, without the smile, Ceteran’s stern face occasionally peeked through. They were indeed brothers.
“I haven’t seen you in the temple.”
“I’m not a priest.”
“A sorcerer?”
“No, not that either.”
In this meaningless banter, Tedric lifted the corner of his mouth affectionately.
“If it’s neither, then it must be a lie. I’ll admit lying is a talent.”
Although Mirtese frowned in irritation, Min-joo didn’t hear him.
Min-joo alternated her gaze between Tedric and the shining knight’s sword. Apologies to Vehen and Permette, but Min-joo’s priority was staying alive.
Whether she helped Vehen and Permette or returned home, she had to live. Clutching her skirt tightly, Min-joo whispered.
“The future I see leads to death. If I’m not here, you’ll die.”
“That’s unfortunate.”
“Planning to poison the Empress? You’ll put poison in her tea and murder her, won’t you?”
In Min-joo’s scenario, Tedric indeed poisoned the Empress. Having firmly established his power, Tedric invited the Empress to a gathering, openly put poison in her drink, and had her killed.
He had gained enough power to openly question the Empress’ poisoning. Threatening Ceteran, the Empress couldn’t resist and drank the poison.
As a result, Ceteran, enraged by Tedric’s actions, actively moved against him, providing a turning point in their confrontation.
Tedric, with his chin in hand, played with his lips with his fingers.
His pink eyes were filled with interest.
“I didn’t think about it, but that’s quite an interesting accusation. In the future you see, am I a lunatic who murders my mother?”
“And you’ll die soon.”
Min-joo responded confidently and shamelessly. She had to. If the emotions surging inside her breached the dam, she would lose to him.
Mirtese angrily declared that this impudent commoner should be torn apart immediately, but Tedric silenced him with just a wave of his finger.
Their eyes met.
Tedric’s vigilant and suspicious gaze keenly examined Min-joo.
From the pace and depth of her breath to the fluttering of her eyelashes and the number of times she blinked, he scrutinized Min-joo. Unfazed, Min-joo kneeled confidently before him.
Tedric, standing tall without lowering his head, smiled arrogantly.
His gaze directed at Min-joo was filled with amusement. His pink eyes, neither affectionate nor warm, displayed a chilling temperature.
“I’m curious. I’d like to have a little more conversation.”
“I’m sorry, but it’s time for me to go. Good adults should return home early.”
“You’re witty.”
It sounded like a voice saying, ‘How dare you.’
Min-joo resisted the knight’s grip on her arm, straightened her skirt, and stood up.
Seeing her resisting again, Tedric gestured with his hand to stop.
With an emotionless face, Min-joo stood before Tedric.
Although she barely reached his chin, Min-joo, trying not to flinch, silently thought to herself that she wouldn’t be scared even if she died.
“If there’s anything you’re misunderstanding, let me clarify. It’s not a request but an announcement.”
“Since it’s a sudden announcement, I should inform my house and come back.”
“Jokes are fun, but I don’t have much patience.”
With the mention of getting on the carriage, Tedric turned towards the direction where Mirtese was.
The knights’ brutal force held Min-joo’s arm in place.
Struggling and wriggling, Min-joo didn’t even blink. With an emotionless face, she spoke.
“I’ll just say it and come back! Lord Rolfreme is waiting for me ahead. If I suddenly disappear, they’ll find out!”
“Is that so important? You stopped breathing today. The world will know.”
To disappear from the world.
Next to the Crown Prince, perhaps trapped for a lifetime. If the scenario in her dreams ended, and she could no longer see the future, she would be discarded.
Min-joo cried out desperately.
“When they find out that I, who received favor, was kidnapped by the Crown Prince, they won’t stay silent!”
“You’re overflowing with confidence. Do you think nobles will make such an effort for commoners?”
“They know too, what I prophesy! They know everything!”
She was loaded onto the carriage waiting at the roadside like a piece of luggage. As Min-joo, who had fallen on the carriage floor, hurriedly tried to get up, a knife was pressed against her throat. Any slight movement and her skin would be cut.
Tedric exchanged some words with Mirtese and walked leisurely towards her.
Every action seemed relaxed and graceful. His platinum hair shimmered with the reddish glow of the sunset whenever he moved. Tedric, bathed in the sunset, looked as if he were soaked in blood, appearing cruel.
It seemed as if the sins he committed were manifested in color. Tedric, sitting in the chair after boarding the carriage, glanced at Min-joo, who stood somewhat ambiguously.
“There’s much to discuss. Please sit.”
“Can we skip the small talk? I’ll go and come back, just four words.”
“Let’s depart.”
She was completely ignored. As Tedric finished speaking, the carriage door closed, and the wheels started rolling.
In the sudden movement, Min-joo lost her balance and eventually sank into the chair. If only she had run away as soon as she found out.
Why are the people involved always so stubbornly unresponsive, like a bunch of fools? It’s like an optional hearing, considering their opinions.
These people, who are the main characters in the scenario and leaders of the empire, make the future of this country worrisome.