I Don't Want To Do a Romantic Comedy With a Villain! - Chapter 60

Episode 60

The Count already considers Neriant as a stranger.

Neriant had already been living here for over half a year, and judging by Count Velirian’s demeanor and the stories she heard around her, she was certain that the Count had noticed her.

The Count, as heard in stories, was an affectionate father who deeply loved his daughter. He was known to be a family-oriented and loving father, always making time to be with his daughter, despite being reluctant to arrange a marriage for her. However, his current attitude is completely different.

He didn’t visit Neriant’s room, avoided meal times together, and whenever he called Neriant, his gaze was that of a stranger.

“I heard he brought in an unknown woman. Dresses and jewelry were scattered around, causing quite a commotion. Thanks to that, the Count got extremely angry. Honestly, there’s no reason for him to yield, given the family’s status and the lady’s impeccable qualities!”

Listening to Chete’s words, Neriant pondered deeply. If she were more astute, she might have understood the underlying meaning, but she lacked the skills for mental warfare.

Firstly, the reason the Count was so agitated about the news of Tedric was clear. It was to avoid canceling the marriage talks with Tedric, who was suffering from indecision. Showing that he cared for his daughter would also be advantageous.

However, Neriant couldn’t be entirely pleased. If she broke off with Tedric, she would end up marrying Ceteran.

She didn’t want to marry anyone. She never felt the need for a romantic relationship. However, in this place where marriage seemed to be the only normal endpoint of life, Neriant found herself questioning whether she was wrong.

Having been left here without any prior knowledge, Neriant suffered from intense loneliness and depression. Exercise became the sole joy in her life.

Thanks to that, she could sculpt her abs to be as defined as Se-yeon’s real body and train the muscular thighs full of wild charm.

If she married Ceteran, she could use it as an excuse to meet Min-joo outside and repair their relationship if Neriant worked hard. Min-joo was a special presence for Neriant, admired since their first meeting in high school.

Feeling isolated here, with Min-joo being the only familiar face, Neriant yearned for her desperately.

‘Even if I have to use Ceteran, I have to meet Min-joo. Even if my knees crack and ache, I have to kneel and beg.’

With a firm determination, Neriant turned to Chete.

“I have something to say to my father. Please tell him I want to meet.”

If necessary, she would turn this place into a battlefield just to meet Min-joo.

Neriant clenched her fists, and the muscles in her arms stood out prominently.

* * *

After adjusting her coat, indulging in expensive desserts with a touch of gold, and enjoying a hearty meal until evening, Min-joo returned to the mansion of Vehen.

This is the taste of money.

Having fully realized the taste of money, Min-joo couldn’t help but worry about what would happen if she became unable to live without it.

The maid who came to welcome her was a familiar face.

“You didn’t run away, did you?”

Chichen, with her refreshing blue hair and a cute face with no trace of makeup, greeted Min-joo.

“I came to pick you up, Lady.”

“When did Vehen let you go?”

Min-joo casually glanced at Vehen, who, for some reason, was wearing a displeased expression. Then, she belatedly looked down at his lower body and, upon realizing something, furrowed her arrogant face.

“Did he let her go?”

“I can’t confirm it, how can you be so sure?”

“Can you check for me?”

“Ugh, just hearing it gives me goosebumps. Denied.”

“I admit it.”

After concluding the pointless conversation, Vehen hid Min-joo behind him and revealed his enmity.

“Are you the runaway maid from that day? Why did you come back? I hope you’re not here to die.”

“I came to pick up the young lady as the preparations to welcome her are complete, Your Excellency.”

Chichen politely replied and handed Vehen a letter.

Vehen and Min-joo, both confused by the situation, accepted the letter after exchanging glances.

[Duke DeVirté,

As the weather gets colder…

(Omission)

Anyway, whether you and Min-joo are lovers or not, I have a deal with Min-joo, so I’ll take her.

The location is Paital D-27, feel free to visit.

Then we’ll have a chance to meet again…

(Omission)

-Tedric Friedre Sienna.]

Although the letter was short, it conveyed the message that Tedric would take Min-joo away.

Even if he were a crown prince, could he find a new house in just a day or two?

Vehen clenched his teeth and crumpled the letter in his hand.

Min-joo, who read the letter together, also stared blankly at the crumpled paper.

“…It seems the prince’s energy is astonishing…”

Min-joo chuckled with a bitter smile and turned her gaze towards Chichen, feeling disheartened. Chichen responded with a polite and kind smile.

Look at that fake smile, it gives her chills.

“If you pack up and move within today, you’ll be fine. Lady, a carriage has been prepared separately, so you can ride it immediately.”

“…So, it was me.”

“Then, is it Your Excellency?”

Without stopping her wry laughter, Min-joo passed by the stiff Vehen and entered the mansion.

Chichen stood in front, guiding the way. In this unbelievable situation, Min-joo’s brain activity came to a halt.

Originally, it’s most comfortable to give up thinking if it doesn’t make sense.

She pushed Chichen out, who offered to help with packing, and started organizing her belongings in the shabby bag.

Originally, Min-joo didn’t have much luggage, so the packing was easy. The most challenging part was organizing the voluminous dresses.

Feeling annoyed in the middle, Min-joo stuffed the dress into the bag, which seemed about to burst, and left the room.

Vehen was still standing in front of the door. Sudden farewells have a way of breaking even the most hardened.

“I’m leaving. You can come over for a visit. I didn’t say I’d stop you from coming, right?”

“I never said I wouldn’t keep an eye on you.”

“Hehe, you can go out and meet me. There are many ways.”

When Vehen responded with his chubby face, Min-joo affectionately smiled and patted his shoulder.

Chichen was loading the luggage onto the carriage that Tedric had prepared, whimpering along the way.

Min-joo playfully laughed.

“Tedric knows we’re lovers, right? He said we should have our date outside, how can we stop that?”

“Lovers.”

“It’s just a saying, not the reality.”

Vehen looked down at Min-joo with sad eyes. The deep green eyes, a mix of worry, concern, and hidden fear seemed on the verge of overflowing.

Min-joo’s laughter, tinged with pity for him, turned bitter.

“It’s okay. Everything will be fine. I won’t die easily, and you won’t fail. You’ve been doing well so far.”

He looked like he might cry. Although Vehen occasionally had a face that seemed like he might cry, he never shed a tear.

Could it be that the long regressions and numerous failures had made him someone who couldn’t cry? The inside of Min-joo’s mouth felt dry.

Vehen still seemed like he might cry, but with a hesitant face, he reached out to Min-joo.

Thump, his palm touched her forehead. Min-joo silently observed Vehen’s actions.

To prevent herself from falling into Tedric’s hands and to make him remember which direction she was heading. That was her wish.

Vehen looked down at Min-joo’s face. Kneading her forehead with his hand, he hesitated for a moment and then kissed her.

Though he kissed the back of his hand, she felt the heat of his mouth on her forehead.

The proximity to his large and warm hand made her catch a whiff of the scent of water and light coffee.

His neck and shoulders, filling her field of vision, tickled her.

“Instead of a goodbye kiss.”

“….”

“….Does it bother you?”

She couldn’t find the presence of mind to answer. It wasn’t that bad.

Min-joo felt the sensation of his palm leaving, but she couldn’t take her eyes off him.

Did it touch? His desperate wish. Even if she went there, would she remember this kiss?

Vehen hoped that Min-joo would remember him. To remind her of himself.

Having received enough answers from her expression alone, Vehen breathed a sigh of relief, then, chewed on each word heavily.

“I’ll go to meet you. Wait for me.”

“….Yeah, I’ll…wait.”

Hearing Min-joo’s response, he laughed casually, but the bitterness that emanated from that laughter was incredibly acrid.

“Lady, we’re departing!”

Chichen shouted with a lovely voice.

Startled, Min-joo hastily climbed into the carriage.

Vehen stood still, silently watching until Min-joo disappeared beyond the horizon, hidden among the trees.

He wanted to shout at her not to go, to come back alive. His throat ached to cry out.

Recalling Min-joo, who had gone to Tedric and returned, Vehen struggled to swallow the rising tears.

Confessing to Min-joo had also been impulsive. The conversation that day was too similar to what remained in his memory.

“I refrained from confessing because I was afraid it would lead to more desires.”

He should have refrained. Looking back now, he regretted it too much.

It was more important to save Min-joo than to use his affections to make her his lover. He was afraid that relying on affection might lead to another mistake.

But expressing his affection to Min-joo brought a strange sense of liberation.

He had been too impatient, too patient in trying to save Min-joo.

Now, he wasn’t sure anymore.

Was Min-joo hoping to live happily with someone, or did she want to escape into helplessness?

Despite living so many lives, there was still so much he didn’t know.

Especially when it came to things related to Min-joo.

Vehen could only turn away after Min-joo completely disappeared from his sight.

Min-joo held her breath, feeling the awkward atmosphere.

The carriage rolled busily, and the unfamiliar coachman swiftly drove the carriage.

Why didn’t Chichen run away? How could she survive under the prince? 

Glancing between the window and Chichen, Min-joo gradually swallowed her growing curiosity and endured the silence.

“You seem to have a lot of questions. Why don’t you ask?”

Chichen broke the silence with a question. Although the heavy stillness disappeared, the air became sharply different.

Feeling the awkward air, Min-joo took a moment to finish various thoughts and then asked without hesitation.

“How did you survive? It doesn’t seem like running away at the right time was just luck.”

“What you don’t know, young lady, is that I’ve been working for the crown prince for a long time, and I’m in charge of the spies in the manor. Fool, if you’d just captured and tortured me in the first place, you’d have been done weeding them out a lot sooner.”

“Since the beginning, you were a spy here.”

“Not exactly. I’ve been working here since I was nine. I became a spy afterward.”

Chichen continued, twirling her blue hair around her finger.

“And before you get all superior because you spared my life, it’s not that I ran away. I went to report to His Highness the Prince. You’ve managed to stir up quite an interesting situation.”

“I’ve always liked incidents and accidents. It seems His Highness values you, Chichen. If he had found out about the spy, he might have killed everyone, but he kept you alive.”

“As long as I’m paid on time, I listen better than anyone. I may say so myself, but I’m quick-witted and good at understanding people’s preferences. I don’t think anyone in power could dislike me.”

Min-joo knew it well, the calculated act of appearing affable.

Min-joo chuckled, resting her head on the window. The carriage rattled, causing her view to sway.

“Is Chichen going to be my maid now? Watching over me and reporting to His Highness?”

“Of course. Now that it’s come to this, forget the bad feelings, and let’s get along. Still, I liked you, Lady.”

“As long as you don’t try to harm me, I guess we can get along. Did you spread the rumors about me?”

Chichen burst into a burst of playful, childlike laughter.