I Don't Want To Do a Romantic Comedy With a Villain! - Chapter 53

Episode 53

After closing the book, she immediately woke up from sleep. 

Min-joo blinked her eyes and vividly recalled the sentence that still lingered in her mind.

“I’ve come back to the past.”

Crazy development. Crazy plausibility.

“Hey, does this make any sense? Dimensional travel and possession regression, that’s crossing the line.”

If you look it up, there might be reincarnation as well. Well, is Permette or Tedric a reincarnation? It’s not even funny.

From Min-joo’s past experiences, she knew the scenario didn’t lie.

Tedric’s actions confirmed it.

The scenario in the dream was the future of this world. Min-joo found it so unbelievable that she burst out laughing.

Dimensional travel was already unbelievable, but Min-joo’s close friend Se-yeon being possessed by the female protagonist was somewhat acceptable.

However, the fact that the sub-male protagonist underwent regression? Even if Min-joo wrote the scenario with her foot, she never included such a setting.

What kind of worldbuilding is this? Is she going to find a ring and embark on a journey, wielding a staff to defeat a bald villain without a nose?

Even the book cover has changed.

The scenario book cover, which was solid and murky, with a dull spring color, now had a moldy color.

Min-joo wondered if she had seen it wrong due to fatigue, but it was certain. The color had changed.

“At this rate, unicorns and dragons might appear… It’s starting to get creepy.”

First, it’s essential to confirm if Vehen has regressed.

Min-joo sat on the bed and pondered deeply. Come to think of it, something was strange.

When she planned to disrupt Tedric, it was as natural and smooth as flowing water, just like the sniper responding when the mansion was attacked.

Various other things too…

Min-joo got up from the bed, ignoring the chilling shiver that ran through her from head to toe.

When lying on the bed, according to Min-joo’s cleanliness standards, one must never wear shoes. So, she touched the ground with bare feet.

She didn’t want to wear high-heeled shoes because it would hurt her feet. Permette left the shoes in the palace.

Min-joo reluctantly searched her bag and pulled out the expensive shoes that Vehen had given her.

While finding the shoes, Min-joo realized that the bag she rummaged through was her luggage exactly as Permette had packed it.

Without taking the time to tidy her disheveled hair, she put on the black shoes and marched out of the room.

The fluttering skirt and tousled black hair didn’t match at all, and due to the nap she took, Min-joo’s eyes were slightly swollen.

Unbeknownst to her, the evening sky had turned reddish.

Thump, Min-joo abruptly burst into Vehen’s study. Thanks to the door swinging open, Vehen, who was alone, looked surprised with wide-open eyes.

“Vehen!”

“Could you please knock? Have you forgotten courtesy in the meantime? Or maybe you’ve lost your manners?”

Permette didn’t seem to have returned after finishing work, and Vehen, who was alone, was lighting candles.

It seemed like he was preparing for the approaching dusk.

With a shirt and jacket on, Vehen looked more disheveled than usual.

Vehen, who always buttoned up to the end and even wore a tailored vest, had an unusually pronounced difference. Vehen had half of his dark brown hair flowing down as he held a match in his hand. The small flame flickered as the wind played with it.

“I told you to rest, so why did you come?”

“I have some questions.”

“Sit.”

Vehen finished lighting the candle, extinguishing the match in the trash. A soft exhale, and the candle, easily extinguished by his breath, illuminated him like a spotlight, brightening various spots on the wall.

Min-joo sat on the sofa.

“What happened to Viscount Ziken? And what about Tedric’s money laundering route? What happened with the spy work? And what do the reformist nobles plan to do?”

Vehen threw the match into the trash and approached slowly.

Slightly annoyed and awkward expressions were evident on his face.

Vehen sat on a stone seat, crossing his legs.

“I thought you’d stop caring. Just go home if you’re done with it.”

“Is cutting ties right after getting some help from Tedric the level you operate on? Are you a fair-weather friend?”

“What difference does it make if I tell you? I’ll handle it myself. You worry about how to go back home with your status and estate.”

“Vehen, seriously, you’re so touchy. Why do you get upset so easily? Does it make a creaking sound when you press on your stomach?”

Vehen glared at Min-joo, his expression full of irritation. Unintimidated, Min-joo shrugged confidently.

In any case, she was going to quit her maid job. It didn’t matter.

“So, answer my questions. I might be able to help.”

“The spy was reported to Permette based on your information and was dealt with immediately. I sifted through it until this morning. I didn’t kill them, but it’ll be difficult for them to lead a normal life. I cut off their tongues and fingers.”

“Harsh.”

“That’s necessary for the Crown Prince to spare them.”

Vehen knew about it too.

Min-joo found Vehen’s cruel yet tender consideration intriguing.

Surely, if it were Vehen, he would have sent them back to their hometown, having lost their tongues and fingers due to an accident, along with a letter and a little money.

Just as he wrote a letter to Tedric for Leena, who had been killed as a spy.

And those who knew nothing would criticize Vehen as a villain and a lawless man.

Min-joo stared at Vehen intently.

Despite his stern demeanor, there was no one more affectionate and meticulous than Vehen.

Sensing Min-joo’s gaze, Vehen awkwardly turned his head.

“We haven’t fully uncovered the details of the Crown Prince’s money laundering route yet. It’s only been a few days, so there’s no need to be too hasty. And finding the mastermind behind Viscount Ziken is as good as a failure. The evidence disappeared.”

“Did Tedric instruct to clean it up?”

“Of course. And the reformist nobles plan to continue their support. If things go south, I’ll just end it on my terms. And if, by any chance, things improve, we can give credit to the Third Prince.”

“Creating an emperor out of one person is an immense task. What about Ceteran? What is he doing?”

Vehen raised one thick eyebrow, looking at Min-joo irritably. Despite his somewhat arrogant demeanor, his familiar actions didn’t seem as annoying now. Min-joo casually rested her chin on her hand.

“I’m really curious. Tell me, what does Ceteran do? Just being a prince? Proposing to Neriant? Accepting whatever you and Permette spoon-feed him?”

“It’s His Highness.”

“Is that important? Anyway, it’s completely blocked, seriously.”

Vehen sighed and tilted his head in response to Min-joo’s provocation. Although Vehen treated Min-joo fairly casually, it didn’t seem like irritation. Rather, it felt like he was relying on Min-joo through their conversation.

Sweeping back his falling forelock, Vehen spoke.

“What His Highness does in the future is a matter for later. It’s not the right time yet. If you act on your own, you’ll become a target, and it’ll only cause noticeable disturbances.”

“Do you know it in detail as if you’ve experienced it? Have you… time-traveled?”

Min-joo looked at Vehen nonchalantly and boldly. Vehen froze, not brushing his hair back as usual. Observing his reaction, Min-joo was certain.

Yes, it made more sense for the scenario she saw to be true than a lie.

Min-joo narrowed her eyes, turning her head towards the hand she rested her chin on. She looked more arrogant than Vehen.

“Some people have traveled between dimensions, others have possessed others, so isn’t time travel nothing special, right?”

“You.”

Vehen couldn’t continue speaking and buried his face in his hands. It was embarrassing and confusing. Just until this morning, she seemed unaware, so when did she figure it out?

Perhaps because of the dream showing the future? Vehen spoke with his face buried in his hands. His muffled voice leaked out.

“I won’t ask how you know. If you say you saw the future, I’ll leave it at that.”

This line… Min-joo compared it with the dialogue she remembered from Vehen. It was identical, not missing a single detail.

“Yes, I’ve come back to the past just like you said.”

If reading the scenario was also part of the scenario.

A chill ran down Min-joo’s spine at the sudden thought. If she wasn’t included in this place and became a perfect stranger.

But if Min-joo became a character in the scenario… Fear surged at the possibility of being bound here without being able to return.

Hastily interrupting Vehen’s words, Min-joo interjected.

“I’ve experienced more lives than you can imagine.”

Vehen, who had been covering his face in surprise at Min-joo’s unexpectedly accurate words, lowered his hand. Min-joo continued as if she were possessed. However, with each word, Vehen’s complexion grew paler.

“I’ve come back to the past after living a lifetime and even after just two years of living…”

“I…”

Vehen stumbled at the end of his sentence. Min-joo, hearing Vehen’s words matching perfectly up to the very end, became terrified.

No, when did this scenario turn into a horror genre? Wasn’t it supposed to be a romance? Why the fear? Why so scary?

“How do you know what I was going to say?”

Vehen asked, scrutinizing Min-joo’s face.

“What was that about dreaming? Wow, seriously, I got chills! Look at this, I have goosebumps on my arms! What’s going on!”

“I want to ask a real question. Seriously, who are you?”

“I’m a prophet!”

“Stop messing around. Aren’t you tired of this?”

Where’s the room for getting tired? Min-joo shivered with a chill, rubbing her forearm with both hands.

If it’s this identical, then the scenarios to come are confirmed as the future.

Min-joo, clutching her arm with both hands, spoke.

“So, you’ve time-traveled? Since when? Did you know about me?”

“…Let’s just move on. The fact that you accurately predicted the future is more important information.”

“No, it’s important to me, and the fact that Vehen has time-traveled is important too!”

With shining black eyes and goosebumps covering her body, Min-joo seemed like a scaredy-cat, despite enjoying horror movies.

As Min-joo pressed for an answer, Vehen avoided her gaze and mumbled.

“I’ve experienced countless pasts, just like you saw in your dream. That’s all.”

“Tell me more. It might help with what’s coming in the future.”

Vehen hesitated, seeming uncomfortable and awkward. 

Will it be helpful?

Leaning on his armrest, Vehen rested his chin on his hand, and his fingers pressed against his jaw. 

“I… started experiencing numerous regressions from the age of twenty. I’ve lost my head due to defeat against the Crown Prince, and on the flip side, I’ve pulled the Crown Prince down to his death. There were times when both the Third Prince and the Crown Prince perished, leading to the Second Princess becoming the Empress. The empire faced destruction and absorption by foreign nations at times.”

Min-joo couldn’t find words to respond to such shocking revelations. If Vehen’s words were true, he had witnessed countless different endings.

Unable to continue in the face of Min-joo’s astonishment, Vehen continued with a familiar demeanor. The signs of weariness and exhaustion might have been due to the countless regressions.

“There were times I betrayed the Crown Prince and sided with the Third Prince. I… know more futures than what you’ve seen. Many outcomes changed based on when I eat, or what you say.”

It seemed like he was describing the butterfly effect. Min-joo regained her composure and raised her head.

With an indifferent expression, Vehen, still resting his chin, continued.

“Just because I’ve experienced numerous futures doesn’t mean I know all the outcomes. This is the first time Lady Velirian has been possessed. I tried my best not to create too many variables… but I couldn’t stop it.”

Min-joo noticed something strange in his complaint. Vehen, who saw her puzzled expression, chuckled as if familiar with the situation.

He appeared languid and relaxed.

“Yeah, this isn’t our first meeting. I’ve encountered you several times in the past.”

It was truly unbelievable. 

Min-joo recalled the day she first met him.