I Don't Want To Do a Romantic Comedy With a Villain! - Chapter 48

Episode 48

Even jealousy seemed excessive for Vehen. 

It might have been possessiveness, not jealousy, that he didn’t realize. Vehen knew that the emotion was more than he deserved, yet he harbored enmity towards Permette.

The emotion didn’t last long. Permette responded as if it were obvious, looking somewhat awkward. 

“People can’t help but feel emotions. I understand that occasionally you might see me as a tool, but you go too far.”

“What are you saying? Do you like Min-joo?”

Permette remained silent. Rather than not finding an answer, it seemed more like he was conserving his words. Vehen resisted the urge to let out a hollow laugh that was trying to escape.

Permette had often shown an affinity for Min-joo. So, while Vehen wasn’t furious or consumed by jealousy, he put down his pen and continued speaking.

“Yeah, there are more important matters than that. I won’t allow Min-joo to engage in crazy antics as a double agent. Your first task is to identify and eliminate the spies. Do it before Min-joo comes.”

“But you said you would go as soon as daylight comes tomorrow.”

“I’m saying finish it tonight.”

It was a crazy request. No matter how efficient Permette was, it was impossible to clean up the spies hiding in the mansion in just half a day. He pondered whether he should be grateful for the excessive trust or curse for burdening him with this task.

If the boss scolds, let him scold. What can he do? He never listened anyway. Permette nodded simply, keeping his thoughts straightforward.

“When you say eliminate, do you mean I should take care of it myself?”

“Since when did you need permission for that?”

“Well, that’s true.”

Vehen waved his hand as if annoyed. The ink-stained fingers with drops of ink hovered in front of him. Vehen’s composed face was imposing.

“That’s your job.”

It was a message not to pay more attention to Min-joo, and not to develop emotions. It was a directive to perform the tasks properly, not pretending to be human but executing the orders. It was arrogance based on possession.

Permette nodded without much resistance, but as a noble, he couldn’t confront and demand Min-joo from the palace. He simply withdrew because he couldn’t afford to confront.

He was already becoming more human. His duty as a tool was fulfilled.

Vehen looked down at the desk, covered in ink puddles. The black ink looked like blood.

Vehen knew Tedric well, having clashed with him many times. If Min-joo boldly played the role of a double agent, she would be in danger.

So, being kidnapped by him also meant being acknowledged for usefulness. If she were useless, she would have been found as a corpse.

She probably convinced Tedric that she knew how to make prophecies, and naturally would have sought a deal to be sent back to her homeland. Even though he had promised to send her back, she would have found another way to extend her reach.

He had promised to protect her. He had vowed to shield her from threats. But perhaps it was just empty greed.

The more Min-joo tried to do something, the more she slipped away. Even if it seemed within reach, she would suddenly escape.

This time, he had tried to protect her at all costs. However, Min-joo ridiculed it as an excessive desire and ended up falling into the hands of the enemy.

Min-joo must have presented prophecy to Tedric, and Tedric wouldn’t easily let go of a prophet. Even Vehen had no intention of letting Min-joo go. Would a greedy villain easily release her?

He couldn’t bear it any longer. He wouldn’t retreat. Vehen’s patience had reached its limit, and it was as precarious as a dam on the verge of collapsing.

Even if he wasn’t loved, confirming his existence intact was sufficient. Vehen frowned fiercely as he wiped the ink-stained fingers with a handkerchief.

The villain, Tedric, wasn’t the only one.

* * *

The Crown Prince’s room was more spacious, luxurious, and adorned with gold decorations, countless jeweled vases, and paintings on the ceiling than any bedroom Min-joo had seen before, including Vehen’s bedroom or the guest room provided by Permette. 

It resembled a prince’s bedroom in every way.

Expecting to be taken to a reception room or an interrogation chamber, Min-joo was led to a bedroom where no one seemed to frequent, perhaps to avoid prying eyes.

Even though she had heard that people were coming and going for confidential discussions, Min-joo wasn’t sure if she could enter the bedroom. Nonetheless, she discreetly admired her surroundings, carefully taking in the opulence.

Heavy footsteps approached slowly.

“I’m willing to believe in things like dimensional travel and prophecy.”

How convincing had she been in the carriage? Min-joo turned around to face the approaching Tedric, who was gradually removing layers of clothing.

“What do you want from me?”

Min-joo retreated as Tedric drew near.

Backward, farther back. Stepping on the tightly woven rug, she tried to step back further, but due to Tedric’s pursuit, she found herself cornered, losing her way.

“Going back home.”

“Couldn’t DeVirté help you?”

“He did help me, though I’ll tell you now, it was quite a coincidence that I met Your Highness.”

Thud, something touched her calf. Min-joo glanced behind with a sidelong glance.

An expensive-looking bed was obstructing her path. She tried to turn in another direction, but due to Tedric’s relentless pursuit, she lost her way and stood still.

“Shall we test whether that’s a lie?”

Tedric smiled, his lips curling slightly upward. His eyes showed no sign of amusement, heightening the tension.

Seeing Min-joo show signs of trying to escape, Tedric clasped his hand around her cheek.

“DeVirté knowing about the spy is true. You being a spy is a lie. Me dying would be true, right? So, the word ‘coincidence’ is also somewhat true.”

“Don’t lay a finger on him.”

“Why lay this out?”

His hand, accustomed to holding a sword through swordsmanship, had more calluses than she expected.

Tedric’s hand traversed Min-joo’s cheek and headed for her head. Perhaps because he was a villain who could harm her at any moment, she couldn’t move, frozen in fear. It was terrifying.

“Would the world be happy if I died?”

Tedric asked indifferently while removing the ornaments from Min-joo’s head one by one.

Thud, the ornaments fell onto the bedspread.

“Just give up the throne and step back.”

“Are you asking me to give up everything I’ve built so far?”

“If you just give up the throne, you can survive. If you quietly step back without poisoning the Empress, Ceteran won’t be after your head.”

“Why do you think I would poison the Empress?”

It was the last remaining ornament.

As Tedric pulled out the hairpin, Min-joo’s black hair cascaded down like a waterfall. A strange scent emanated from the flowing locks.

Tedric grasped Min-joo’s hair in his hand and slowly, cautiously pulled. Strands of black hair flowed through his fingers.

“Because you’re poisoning her.”

“Why would I?”

“I don’t know.”

“I think I do.”

As meaningless banter continued, Tedric suddenly stiffened his expression. When Min-joo felt an eerie horror from his emotionless face, Tedric pushed Min-joo’s shoulder with his finger. Her body tilted.

“Who would dare make assumptions? That I would poison the queen.”

Her skirt fluttered.

Min-joo’s feet left the ground, wandering through the air.

Floating in the air was momentary, and falling onto the bed was also instantaneous.

Lying on the bed, Min-joo looked up at Tedric.

Tedric was smiling gently. He concealed his emotions and masked them with a smile.

“So I’m inclined to believe you’re a prophet.”

“You don’t like the ……empress, do you?”

Tedric ignored her, pretending not to answer.

He loosened the cravat around his neck and tossed it to the ground, letting his jacket fall to the floor.

Min-joo planted her hands and pushed her upper body up, retreating backward.

Brushing back the hair covering his forehead, Tedric spoke.

In the darkness, his pink eyes shone brightly.

“Are you my person? Did you abandon DeVirté and come to me? If you’re not mine, there’s no need to tell me.”

“If I’m not your person, will you kill me?”

“You went to such lengths to avoid being killed. Are you afraid I’ll kill you?”

“Yes.”

Tedric sat on the edge of the bed, not showing any intention to do something. Relieved, Min-joo stealthily slipped away from the bed’s edge.

The man bowed his back and washed his face. He seemed a bit tired.

“If I promise not to kill you, will you become my person?”

“Why are you so obsessed with having your own person?”

“If you’re not my person, there’s no reason to talk.”

Min-joo pondered for a moment.

Tedric’s repetitive and evasive language was starting to irritate her. They were constantly testing each other, avoiding, deducing. It was becoming tedious.

Now was the time to speak honestly.

Although Tedric would likely continue to hide his emotions and deflect the conversation, if one side didn’t become truthful, it would only be an endless repetition.

Min-joo gathered the scattered ornaments on the bed and placed them on her thigh, then spoke.

“I’m not a person of anyone. However, I’m prepared to betray if it means I can go home. I’m seeking a way back home, and regardless of what happens here, whoever becomes emperor, doesn’t matter to me. “

Tedric chuckled softly, burying his face in both hands. A sensation of dust floating in the wind filled the air.

Pink eyes peered through delicate fingers, focusing on Min-joo.

“It’s amusing. You say it doesn’t matter even if I become emperor.”

“Yes. Conversely, it doesn’t matter if Your Highness dies or is ousted from the throne.”

“That’s what you said about seeing the future.”

“That’s right.”

“Then what is the most perfect future you’ve seen among those you foresaw?”

That’s why not knowing the future is a problem. It’s like a vending machine where you don’t know what future you’ll get.

It’s funny to think that there are naturally multiple futures.

Min-joo sighed deeply, resting her head against the bedpost. Black hair flowed down the post.

“There’s only one future I’ve seen. However, there is a perfect future that I can envision.”

Tedric lowered his hands slightly, revealing his eyes.

Min-joo turned her head to face Tedric.

“Your Highness giving up the throne and peacefully stepping back. Not poisoning the empress, not harming anyone further, simply returning the crown prince position to Ceteran quietly. If you step back now, you might obtain the position of the grand duke. Or you could marry a princess from another country and become a king.”

Min-joo spoke as she gripped the bed, envisioning a happy ending where no one sheds blood and everyone lives happily ever after.

There won’t be Permette being used as a tool, Vehen would not be labeled by the people as the Empress and Prince’s dog, or Ceteran losing his mother and seeking revenge with a sharpened blade.

Neriant won’t be dragged into their power struggles and witness an unfortunate outcome.

If only Tedric would quietly step back.

Though it might seem unlikely for Tedric, who schemed and played dirty tricks to become both a villain and an emperor, to step back easily, above all, it would be the perfect ending if he let go of everything he had built up.

Min-joo wouldn’t have to plan to overthrow Tedric, and with the help of Vehen and Permette, she could find a sorcerer and return home.

There would be no need for unnecessary fights.

Tedric completely removed his hands from his face. Slowly, he turned his upper body to face Min-joo.

Due to the disheveled hair, Tedric’s eyes were not visible.

“…You speak as if I am the problem.”

Min-joo once again sensed the faint fragrance she had known from him. It was a strong and provocative floral scent, almost making her nose tingle. Unconsciously, Min-joo reached out and brushed aside the bangs covering Tedric’s face.

He still wore a smile, but it seemed melancholic. 

“Your Highness, I know giving up is difficult, but why turn down a path that could make everyone happy? Even if you’re not afraid of dying, isn’t it better to live to the end than to be remembered as a tyrant?”

Comforting wasn’t Min-joo’s style, but it was better to try to persuade Tedric even a little when she saw him wavering. Min-joo tidied Tedric’s bangs.

“It’s not that Your Highness is the problem, but from the moment Your Highness and Ceteran engage in this power struggle, it won’t end unless one side backs down. Your Highness, do you want to become emperor because you like power? Is there a reason why you must become emperor?”

“Then does my brother have a reason to become emperor?”

“His Highness Ceteran is likely to become the Holy Warrior.”

Ha, a low chuckle could be heard. It was unclear whether it was mocking Ceteran or mocking himself for being pushed aside from the throne. 

Tedric pushed Min-joo’s shoulders, causing her to fall onto the bed. Black hair cascaded over Min-joo’s face, obscuring her view. Thus, she couldn’t see Tedric’s face.

“I want to show how ruthless the politics of a tyrant can be.” 

He said in a self-pitying tone. There was a mix of laughter, disappointment, and various other emotions, creating a murky atmosphere.

When Min-joo raised her hand to clear her hair, Tedric’s hand covered her eyes. 

“I’ll sleep on the sofa; you can sleep here.”

“Why?”

“Don’t ask for the reason.”

After the man’s hand fell from her face, Min-joo opened her eyes, but he was already walking away, turning his back. 

His shoulders, visible beyond his shirt, seemed burdened.