I Don't Want To Do a Romantic Comedy With a Villain! - Chapter 51

Episode 51

Min-joo felt uncomfortable with Vehen’s attitude. 

She’d gotten away with it before, but Vehen had taken it too far. Even when Neriant came looking for Min-joo, he made her do all sorts of things to reduce her interaction with people.

In the scenario, Vehen took a step back and supported his loved one rather than being overly obsessed. That’s why he gave up on Neriant and sent her to Ceteran. So, it’s perplexing not to understand the reason for his obsession with Min-joo. The way he expresses his feelings of affection is different from what was known before.

As Min-joo carefully withdrew her hand from Vehen’s, she spoke.

“No, think about it. It might not be a bad proposal for me, for Vehen, or Tedric. If I keep staying at Vehen’s house, I’ll have to go to the palace to meet the crown prince, and in the eyes of others, I might look like a spy.”

As if not wanting to let go of her hand, Vehen’s thick fingers traced the joints of Min-joo’s fingers. 

“If I keep staying at Vehen’s house, it might be a funny expression, but someone might try to take me away… and to be clear, I can just go home. You said you would help me until I go home, but originally, it was about breaking Tedric’s financial support by joining hands with Vehen.”

It was around the time when Min-joo’s fingers, slowly slipping away, were near the area around her nails. Suddenly, Vehen reached out and grasped Min-joo’s hand, holding it firmly in his grip.

“I want to be sure it’s safe. Still, I won’t tell Tedric about Vehen’s plans. I might be able to play the role of a double agent. Or just shut up and endure as if the future is uncertain…”

“Don’t go.”

Vehen’s face was unexpectedly tender. Faded longing, sympathy, and affection flowed like a worn-out picture. If touched, it seemed like rain would fall from his eyes. He had held on to Min-joo with the same desperation when she had met Neriant.

Min-joo couldn’t understand Vehen’s attitude even more. The longing and affection flowing from his face seemed to be directed beyond Min-joo, toward someone else.

She looked down at the handheld by Vehen. 

“Why is it like this?”

“The crown prince will use you and eventually discard you. Do I appear as someone who would just hold you for no reason?”

“You don’t want to lose someone who knows the future.”

“No, it’s not that…”

Vehen hesitated, his words unclear. The reason for his desperation and urgency was beyond comprehension. Min-joo pulled her hand away from Vehen and asked.

“Do you like me?”

“…No.”

He denied it, but his face revealed affection and an unmistakable anguish that couldn’t be hidden. He denied the emotions again and turned away. Min-joo couldn’t understand Vehen’s dishonesty.

“The crown prince will kill you. You won’t be able to return home. But do you still want to be protected under him? You don’t have to accept the proposal. I’ll protect you.”

“Do you want to see me continue working as Vehen’s maid? I’m scared because I don’t know when you’ll abandon me!”

“What? When were you scared?”

“Always. Vehen, honestly, I’m having a hard time. Seeing the threat to my life during the attack, seeing the bodies piling up, even appearing as an entertaining woman. I’m just… it’s too difficult. The space itself is repulsive to me. I don’t dislike being with you, but…”

Min-joo was the one feeling sorrowful, yet it was Vehen who looked like he might cry. Vehen furrowed his brow to hide the teary eyes.

Vehen continued, holding Min-joo’s index finger tenderly. It was a sentence that didn’t match his attitude at all, but it was Vehen’s maximum tantrum and justification.

“If you don’t want to rely on the crown prince, I can give you a house and a status. I can do that. You have enough value just by knowing the future. Spending money like this is not difficult. I’ve said it before. If you have any wishes, tell me.”

“Is it as easy as you say? I have nothing. Honestly, yes, I want a status and a home. But I have nothing to give to you, Vehen. The prophecy is unnecessary and I’m no help to you. I’m just a parasite, clinging to your power and giving nothing in return.”

“You don’t want to rely on my power, but you want to rely on the crown prince’s power?”

Although there was some force in the fingers holding the index, it was feeble. Min-joo pulled her finger out and formed a fist to defend against him.

Vehen’s expression is completely distorted. 

“Different. Vehen, I don’t know what you want from me anymore. If you want something beyond the prophecy, I can’t give you more.”

Min-joo swallowed her melancholy as she removed her long gloves. The air here felt suffocating, sinking deeper like being underwater, whether by Vehen’s side, Tedric’s side, or anywhere.

“What Tedric wants is just the prophecy itself. So, I’ll give him the prophecy and take my reward. But Vehen, you want more than just the prophecy from me. I want to give, but I’m sure I can’t. I… I can’t give anything to you.”

What Vehen wanted was love.

Min-joo already knew.

If she could give, she would. But Min-joo had to go back. Love with a predetermined farewell would only bring agony.

Carefully, Min-joo continued speaking.

“If it’s something like small gifts, I can accept. But a house and status, they’re too much. Things I can’t repay. And I want to persuade Tedric. It’s too complicated to be Vehen’s maid. I just hope you understand that it’s not me being stubborn or throwing a tantrum. Even if you don’t find a sorcerer for me, even if you don’t protect me, it’s okay. I chose my fate.”

Since she couldn’t love him, she’d leave.

How could one be so cruel?

Vehen couldn’t respond. He couldn’t retort forcefully as usual, nor could he complain about his inability to think clearly. Vehen knew. He couldn’t defeat Min-joo. If she wanted something, he had to give it to her. It was natural. Vehen couldn’t win over someone he loved; he had painfully surrendered to love.

Love is destructive and makes you give up many things.

For Min-joo, Vehen had given up his pride, beliefs, and even his political position. Vehen chewed on his lips, then swept his hand through his hair. The strands, neatly combed, cascaded down his fingers like a waterfall.

Though his face looked like he might cry, oddly, not a single tear fell.

Vehen clenched his fist and lifted his bowed head. It seemed like a resignation, and also like an acknowledgment of something. He hesitated, then uttered in a low voice.

“Alright, do that. But remember. Even if you get a house, you won’t be free. Those around you will all be the crown prince’s people.”

“I know.”

“Your status will probably be one carefully arranged by the crown prince. It might become a constraint for you.”

“I know all that. I’m not that stupid. I also think about things. I’ll make Tedric change his mind, and make him give up the throne on his own accord.”

Vehen didn’t utter the words, ‘How dare you,’ nor did he think them. If it were Min-joo, he believed she could do it. If she failed, he would step in to help. Vehen had the power to support what Min-joo wanted. Expressing love by fulfilling what he desired was all Vehen could do.

Vehen sighed, confirming the mansion visible beyond the lush trees.

“Do as you wish. As I’ve said before, I can accept what you want to do. Your safety and finding a sorcerer won’t be neglected.”

“You’d do all that for me?”

Min-joo couldn’t understand his attitude. He said he couldn’t love her, yet he poured out his affection, suffocating her.

“Just say thank you when that happens.”

“Thank you… but, since Ceteran and Tedric aren’t great either, would you listen if I suggested making two princesses into empresses?”

Min-joo blurted out anything to escape the suffocating affection. It had some effect.

“Stop talking nonsense.”

“Sulk.”

The atmosphere became somewhat lighter. Thinking about it, there were quite a few accumulated things between Vehen and Min-joo. They clashed from the first meeting, and it was amusing that they still got along well. Still, there was no one else who understood and supported Min-joo as much as Vehen did.

Even though more than half of their conversations were arguments, they seemed to fit each other well. Leaning back, Min-joo spoke.

“Do you think ……I’ll ever get to go home?”

“I’m working on it.”

“Passing everything to Permette and Vehen does nothing.”

When Min-joo made a pointed remark, Vehen furrowed his brow. Crossing his legs with a sly expression, he looked even more mischievous.

“I don’t even know what I’m doing properly.”

“It’s obvious, isn’t it? You oversee the management of the territory, give orders to Permette, tell me to bring coffee, make sandwiches, iron clothes well, and so on.”

“Stop talking.”

“Feeling pricked and can’t say anything?”

“How can you say such things with that mouth of yours…”

Vehen, who barely swallowed his retort, was already prepared to get off the carriage that had arrived at his mansion. Min-joo hastily put on the gloves she had carelessly thrown aside.

Why were the gloves so long, not even rubber gloves?

After confirming the carriage, Vehen looked back at Min-joo. With an elegant and aloof gesture, he extended his hand to escort her. Seeing his pouty expression, Min-joo found him even more annoying.

“That’s enough. You’re being too much for a mountain servant like me~”

“Shut up and let me hold you.”

“So oppressive. You might never get married if you keep this up.”

When Min-joo tried to step down by touching the wall, Vehen reached out nervously. He promptly seized Min-joo’s wrist, gently pulled it, and tenderly held her hand. 

It was surprising that, despite the forcibly held hand, Min-joo didn’t feel unpleasant. Vehen furrowed his brow as if annoyed, maintaining his blunt and gruff attitude, yet he handled Min-joo’s hand carefully and delicately.

Adjusting the force to avoid causing pain, firm when needed, he prevented her from stumbling. 

“I have no intention of getting married. It’s a groundless concern.”

“Why aren’t you getting married?”

“You don’t need to know. Today, just tidy up and rest. Check if everything is packed since Rolfreme brought your belongings.”

Vehen held Min-joo’s hand and stepped out of the carriage. The long, flowing skirt was so uncomfortable that, without Vehen’s assistance, Min-joo wouldn’t have easily descended.

As soon as her feet touched the ground, she pulled her hand away from Vehen’s grip. The mansion of Duke DeVirté, which she hadn’t seen for a few days, felt large, ornate, and uncomfortable. Perhaps it was due to the rumors.

When Min-joo, recalling the rumors, took a step back to create some distance from Vehen, Permette casually walked out of the door. His complexion looked tired, with disheveled hair and a shirt stained with blood, reminiscent of when he came up from the torture chamber.

Permette, with a tired yet beautiful smile, approached Min-joo. 

“Min-joo, I was worried.”

“Permette. Why are you here?”

“I had a lot of work, so I stayed up all night. Are you hurt?”

Permette smiled sweetly and reached out to Min-joo. Min-joo hesitated, glanced at Vehen, and then pushed Permette’s arm away. Permette blinked in surprise. He had thought that they had become somewhat closer, but he didn’t anticipate being rejected again.

Vehen, silently observing the situation, raised one eyebrow and walked ahead. 

“Rolfreme, come to the study. I need to receive a report.”

“I’m tired. Can’t I take a quick nap and go up later?”

“Finish your work first.”

Though Permette made a sarcastic remark, Vehen ignored it and went inside first. Min-joo, watching Vehen’s back and deciding to distance herself from him, turned towards Permette.

As their eyes met, Permette, seemingly surprised, closed his eyes and smiled gracefully. It was an incredibly beautiful smile.

“Are you okay? Nothing happened, right?”

“Yes, my body is fine. I’ll quit my job. I’ve decided to accept the house and status from the Crown Prince.”

“You flatly rejected it when I offered it.”

Though he didn’t show it on his face, there was a hint of hurt in his expression. Finding Permette increasingly endearing as he appeared younger and more innocent, Min-joo absentmindedly patted his head as if she were caressing the head of a large dog.

“I’m sorry. But I can’t risk losing another family. We can still meet often.”

The last time someone patted his head was probably when Permette was not even ten years old. It was an indescribable feeling—a mixture of excitement, fear that his heart might burst, and the terror of confessing his feelings right then and there.

Permette, pretending nothing had happened, smiled and leaned his upper body forward. 

“But if I consider myself the closest person to you here, it’s quite tolerable.”

“What’s with the confidence?”

“That’s the point, isn’t it?”

She couldn’t deny it.

Min-joo remembered the time she’d cried herself silly at Permette’s side and shut up.

Permette responded with a bright smile, seemingly pleased with the reaction. 

“I also prepared a gun in your luggage. Practice with it occasionally.”

“Come on, aren’t you coming in soon?”

While they were engaged in a casual conversation, Vehen stuck his face between the doors, interrupting them. 

Permette glanced at Vehen, who had disrupted the flow of their conversation, with a nonchalant expression.