I Don't Want To Do a Romantic Comedy With a Villain! - Chapter 6

Episode 6

Permette raised his hand with an intrigued expression.

“Me.”

Vehen frowned, seemingly unable to comprehend them, but under the combined eager gazes, he reluctantly raised a finger.

“…Me.”

“Great. Now, I’ll tell you what to do.”

Min-joo leaned against the table, revealing her dark intentions with a sinister smile.

2. Enjoy your revenge.

* * *

As the sun completely set and the evening grew late, lights began to twinkle in various places. 

Permette sat in a carriage heading home, chin resting on his hand, quietly tapping his fingers.

‘It’s not someone to be trifled with.’

During the debriefing after completing his assignment, he mentioned Min-joo. They had apprehended someone suspected to be a spy. Vehen’s reaction was unprecedented for Permette, who had always entrusted such matters to him and respected his opinions.

Vehen, usually calm, had turned pale, shockingly lifting his hand. 

‘Why are you doing this? As if that person is anything special.’

‘Min-joo, that woman…’

‘Why bother explaining? Did that person claim to know the future?’

Vehen explained about Min-joo. It was more like a notification than an explanation, but Permette gained a small realization that if she touched Min-joo, Vehen would be very upset.

The more this happened, the more suspicious Permette became of Min-joo. Though the evidence was not conclusive, the attack had occurred on the first day Min-joo started working at the mansion, and the intruders seemed well-informed about the mansion’s layout.

Considering the lack of people moving around the lodging at night after nine, the fact that Vehen’s residence and the barracks were separate, and other details, this crime couldn’t have been easily committed without an internal spy. While dismissing the suspicion of a spy, executing such a plan required information to be leaked for months.

Yet, when mentioning the Crown Prince while reporting to Vehen, Permette couldn’t ignore his conspicuous reaction. Reflecting on the events of the day, Permette narrowed his eyes.

‘To make the Third Prince a hero is the most efficient way to feed the Crown Prince disinformation.’

Most nobles knew this, but commoners did not—the fact that the Third Prince was suppressing the Crown Prince and aspiring to become the Emperor. 

The strained relationship between the Crown Prince and the Third Prince. Commoners were too busy filling their bellies to know. 

If Min-joo belonged to a household above the middle class, suspicions arose, but judging by her behavior, it didn’t seem likely. Perhaps she was connected to the Crown Prince in some way.

Even after teasing her intentions several times, there was nothing to be gained. Of course, teasing was entertaining, but it yielded no results.

“Who is she really…?”

Apart from her reactions when teased, there wasn’t a single aspect of her that Permette found appealing. Her background was unclear, and her true identity remained a mystery.

It would be refreshing to have a solid date even in the confines of a prison cell, but with Vehen being tight-lipped, there seemed to be no way. Moreover, Vehen had roamed freely for a whole month, searching for a spy even more ambiguous.

For a moment, Permette closed his mouth, gazing out the window. Then, he shouted to the guild member guarding the carriage behind him.

“Find out Park Min-joo’s identity. I’ll give you a week.”

He wished she were just a con artist, he thought.

* * *

Having finished her meal separately, Min-joo approached Vehen with a sandwich in hand. Vehen, who had skipped dinner and remained in his bedroom, was still sitting with a composed posture, diligently playing with his pen, seemingly engrossed in writing something.

Not wanting to disturb him, Min-joo stopped at the door and observed him. Vehen, who had been writing fervently for a while, lifted his head and turned to look at Min-joo. His neatly combed hair was now disheveled.

“If you came, just say something.”

“How can I interrupt when you’re writing so earnestly?” 

Min-joo replied innocently, taking a seat in front of Vehen. The sandwich she had made and placed on the table might not have been skillfully crafted, but it was nutritious.

Vehen put down his pen and leaned back against the backrest. His broad shoulders rose prominently.

“Why did we have to entrust the task to Permette?”

“Because he interacts more with commoners than nobles. To undermine support for the Crown Prince, our focus should be on the sentiments of everyone except the nobility.”

“Still, I’m not sure spreading malicious rumors to undermine support for the Crown Prince among commoners will be effective.”

When Min-joo explained the plan to Vehen, it seemed too easy for him to accept. While Permette, accustomed to following orders, might doubt and accept Min-joo, Vehen was the one giving orders. 

In a position where suspicion and caution were necessary in planning operations, Vehen’s nature was thorough and rational.

Min-joo hadn’t demonstrated much to make Vehen easily accept and implement her plan. 

‘Maybe it’s because my scenario isn’t plausible.’

Perhaps it was because the characters in the scenario she had written lacked coherence, or when things weren’t resolved well, Vehen might consider holding Min-joo accountable.

Holding Min-joo accountable wouldn’t feel heavy for him, as he knew Min-joo would likely run away in the face of real responsibility.

‘Anyway, if it’s resolved well and goes smoothly, that’s all that matters.’

Min-joo rationalized to herself and clenched her fist.

Vehen sipped his coffee with a faint frown. Whether he enjoyed the coffee Min-joo had made for him or not, he smiled slightly each time he took a sip.

While Min-joo found his reaction satisfying, Vehen’s stomach, which consumed five cups of coffee a day without proper meals, probably didn’t share the sentiment. Feeling concerned for his well-being, Min-joo pushed the plate with the sandwich toward Vehen.

“It works. Don’t worry and have the sandwich. What are you writing all day, skipping meals and everything?”

“Are you worried about me?”

“Oh, I almost swore at you for being so ridiculous. It’s human to ask your enemies if they’ve eaten, it doesn’t mean anything, so why don’t you eat?”

“I guess I’m not human.”

“Seems that way.”

In response to Min-joo’s calm answer, Vehen narrowed his eyes and glared at her. Min-joo accepted his sharp gaze with humility and offered a kind smile.

“Eat. Also, wipe the ink off your hands.”

Only then did Vehen withdraw his intense gaze and wipe his hands with a handkerchief.

Seeing ink stains even on his shirt sleeves, it seemed he had worked tirelessly. Min-joo reached out and grasped his sleeve.

“What are you doing?”

“Just stay still.”

Lightly restraining his startled arm, she rolled up his sleeve. Bewildered, Vehen pulled his arm back.

“What are you doing?”

“Quiet, please.”

Ignoring his confusion, she continued to examine his opposite arm. Vehen quickly withdrew his arm, frowning.

“Excessive. Turn off your concern; it’s not like I’m hurt.”

Min-joo, with an astonished look like a startled rabbit, stared at him. Vehen casually pulled his arm away.

“Are you injured?”

“Why does it matter?”

“Where else are you hurt?”

It would have been satisfying to see him tripping over a stone on the street and breaking his nose, but seeing him genuinely hurt was a bit unsettling.

To confirm if he was more injured, Min-joo reached out to his opposite arm. Vehen quickly pulled his arm back, wrinkling his forehead.

“Too much. Turn off your concern.”

“I care because you’re not hurt. And I did tell you not to get hurt. It’s a matter of conscience.”

Vehen raised one corner of his mouth in apparent disbelief. 

“Isn’t it impressive that I survived that chaos? Laugh at me, if you want. You already hate me anyway.”

Though she disliked him, Min-joo felt a bit flustered, thinking she had made it too obvious. However, if she truly despised him, she wouldn’t even bother engaging in conversation.

He was a character she had shown affection for, saved his life, and, to some extent, felt a slight bitterness toward. If she had to define it, it was more akin to affection.

Min-joo scolded him with a frown. 

“I wouldn’t be so heartless to mock someone injured. If I truly hated you, why would I bother making a sandwich?”

“No wonder it looked miserable.”

“That’s a pretty low blow. And is it that weird?”

Vehen looked at the sandwich with a troubled expression. The mess of vegetables and ham spread out haphazardly, was in such disarray that even if he paid, it would be challenging to eat.

Min-joo shamelessly pointed at the sandwich with both hands. There could almost be a background sound saying, “Ta-da.”

“It’s packed with nutrients! It might not look good, but it’s hearty when you eat it!”

“Eat it?”

“If you dare?”

“You’re truly unfortunate.”

Exhaling deeply with fatigue, Vehen picked up the sandwich. Vegetables fell off as he gripped it, leaving only the bread in his hand.

Vehen, with an expression like he was about to explain, stared at the sandwich. Min-joo, avoiding eye contact, commented on how lovely the wallpaper looked.

To save face, Vehen used the fork and knife he had brought and scattered the vegetables and ham that had freely spread across the bread. Min-joo observed him, chin in hand.

“Anyway, are you hurt elsewhere? Did you apply any medicine?”

“Can’t you tell by looking at the bandage? And you don’t need to know where I’m injured.”

“You’re truly unfortunate.”

“I know. You’re unfortunate too.”

They exchanged mocking glances, hurling light insults at each other. Watching Vehen take a bite of the sandwich, Min-joo leaned back in her chair.

Knowing that reacting angrily to the irritating attitude would only result in a back-and-forth of insults, Vehen gave up and quietly chewed the sandwich.

Min-joo tapped the table with her fingers and cautiously broached the topic. 

“But… should I continue being a maid? There doesn’t seem to be much to do, and the pay is meager.”

“I’ll pay more if you shut up. Your taste is off.”

“Sure.”

Shutting up because her taste was off didn’t mean she would stay silent just because he paid more. Min-joo covered her mouth with her hand and nodded solemnly.

Seeing her reaction, Vehen chuckled softly.

It wasn’t a big laugh, but his small smile, like ripples spreading on a calm lake, felt refreshing like a clear summer lake. It was cool like the clear summer lake, warm like a blanket dried in the fresh sunlight, and lovely.

Min-joo realized that her impression was wrong and buried her head on the table.

Thud! Vehen frowned as if someone crazy shook the coffee with a shocking impact.

“How much do you want to raise your salary?”

“…I’d be grateful for a lot.”

“You have no conscience even though you can’t do the job.”

Vehen, who finished eating the sandwich with relish while teasing, seemed quite pleased.

Finding it amusing to watch her own self-deprecating comedy show, Min-joo chuckled with her forehead resting on the table.

“But… do I really have to continue being a maid?”

“Then, what qualifications do you have to stay in this house?”

“A helping teacher? Oh, what is it? Why are you looking at me like that?”

Glancing up, she expressed the evaluation of indifference and pity all over her body.

Min-joo bluntly pointed out his attitude. Vehen ignored the criticism, wiped his mouth with the end of the napkin neatly placed on the empty plate, and put the utensils on the clean plate.

The tapping hand, half-lowered eyes, and upright posture were perfect and elegant, like a noble. 

“You can follow me if you want to be a maid. If you want to be confined to the mansion as a teacher, feel free to do so.”

“My long-cherished dream was to be a maid.”

To be confined to the mansion, sticking to the female protagonist and returning home, it was impossible. Min-joo smiled excessively brightly and flattered.

Ignoring Vehen, who decided to ignore her tearful flattery, Min-joo pushed the plate toward him.

“Clean up. More coffee will be served on the way back.”

“Oh, I can’t hear anything. What?”

Holding her hand to her ear, Min-joo fluttered around, pretending not to hear.

Now, even becoming amazed, Vehen, who had forcibly become an audience to Min-joo’s exaggerated performance, played along reluctantly.

Min-joo shouted towards Vehen with her ear inclined.

“Your stomach is screaming for it to be killed!”

“Stop talking nonsense and bring down the coffee.”

“Yes! Regret it later when your stomach is ruined!”

Responding cheerfully, Min-joo stood up from her seat, ignoring Vehen’s irritable swearing, and quickly took the dishes and cups to leave. Vehen, looking beyond the door, smiled slightly, tilting his head.

While roughly doing the dishes and wiping her hands, Min-joo loitered near the kitchen as she poured coffee. She had to thank Leena, who had helped her on the first day she arrived, but she couldn’t find her anywhere. 

Shy to ask another maid about Leena’s whereabouts, Min-joo, who seemed more reserved than she thought, couldn’t bring herself to speak up. Everyone seemed too busy to approach.

A maid entering from the main gate called out to Min-joo. It was someone she hadn’t seen before.

“A letter has arrived from Count Velirian. Please deliver it to the master.”

Feeling awkward about using the term ‘master’ for Vehen, Min-joo nodded hesitantly and accepted the letter.

“Velirian?”

The name sounded familiar. The Count Velirian’s family – the household of the female protagonist. 

Was this the beginning of an episode where she would meet the female protagonist already?