I Don't Want To Do a Romantic Comedy With a Villain! - Chapter 62
Episode 62
Min-joo refrained from explicitly asking about Tedric’s evident reaction.
If she were to inquire, he would surely don a more robust mask to thoroughly conceal it. There was no need to provoke someone already sensitive and guarded. Min-joo spoke as she touched the pillar with the barrel.
“I have something I want to ask. Why would you want to become an emperor even though you know you’re going to die? Do you want to leave a name in history or something?”
“You’re still impolite.”
“I hope you don’t die. It would be better to resolve things amicably without shedding blood, don’t you think?”
Even though Min-joo didn’t point it out, Tedric was already wearing a mask. With a warm, sun-like smile, he seemed as if the earlier hesitation never happened.
The man pulled his hand from the drawer and glanced at the bedpost standing by the bedhead. The well-crafted wooden pillar was smooth.
“Then why have wars? There are many things in the world that cannot be resolved through words.”
“…I know that. But if it can be resolved through words, isn’t it better to do so?”
Pink eyes took on a gentle glow. The facial muscles, breath, and posture appeared gentle, but the well-crafted exterior concealed an inner self that was not so smooth.
Tedric uttered sharp sentences in a soft voice.
“You live in a dream, don’t you? I wonder how bright and hopeful your dream is.”
His head was spinning, happily mocking it as a flower field. At least Min-joo had no thoughts of defeating Tedric verbally.
Min-joo aimed the barrel at Tedric as she tapped the pillar she had been drumming. Still arrogant, but as the barrel pointed, it looked incredibly threatening.
“That’s right. My dream is bright and hopeful. So, I plan to bring that dream into reality. No one addicted to drugs, no one starving, a place to sleep, and everyone equal.”
“Are you criticizing my politics?”
“I’ll file a petition if someone loyal wants to complain.”
“You’re not even my person.”
“You’re not even a child. Are you going to keep picking sides, your side or mine?”
“Adults know how to pick sides better.”
Min-joo snorted. She didn’t want to acknowledge it even though it was a correct statement.
When talking with Vehen, there was a sense of being pessimistic about the world and life, yet ultimately pursuing hope. But Tedric was too realistic, even seeming to resign and compromise with reality.
Tedric, running his finger over the pillar, got up from the drawer and stepped towards Min-joo.
“If they’re not on your side, you kill, vilify, and drag them down. Everyone does that. Is there anyone who doesn’t?”
“I don’t do that. If they’re not on my side, it’s their choice. Do I really need to go that far?”
“I do.”
With a casual movement, Tedric pushed the barrel aside. Since she didn’t exert force in the hand holding the gun, it easily yielded.
Tedric subtly twisted the corners of his mouth.
“Because I’ll be dead, framed, and dragged down.”
“Before that, give up the throne and come down.”
“Why should I? I’m fine even if I die.”
“Why do you want to become an emperor even to the point of death?”
Tedric didn’t answer; he just smiled. Min-joo was starting to find his smile annoying.
Evasion, laughter, concealment, deception. Until when?
“Is it revenge? To get back at the Empress?”
“Why do you think so?”
“You don’t have to answer me when Your Highness is not my person.”
Insisting on not answering as long as she was not on his side, Min-joo reciprocated in the same manner.
Tedric, seeing Min-joo’s irritated face, burst into laughter as if finding it amusing. It wasn’t a fake laugh.
“Alright… You’re not my person. Then, if I become your person, will you tell me anything?”
Was he seeking a compromise, or was he just testing the waters? Min-joo pondered while fiddling with the trigger.
“If you become my person, you must participate in the movement to create a better world.”
“It’s a coincidence. I happen to be doing that.”
“Whenever you open your mouth, lies automatically come out.”
Tedric’s audacious response furrowed her impression, and it boiled inside her. Asking Tedric to be her person might easily turn into being used.
But she didn’t want to drag it out any longer, didn’t want to twist and turn in conversation. Min-joo, leaning her head against the pillar, spoke nervously.
“Okay, then, be my person.”
“Oh, suddenly I don’t feel like it.”
“If you intended to drive me crazy, you succeeded.”
While some were using their brains that hadn’t been used to save themselves, seeing a person making fun of others and enjoying their downfall was satisfying.
Tedric burst into laughter. Covering his mouth with the back of his hand, he seemed to be trying to hide his laughter, not revealing any emotion.
As if telling her to drop it, Min-joo clicked the gun in the air.
“I’m tired of going in circles, so I’ll speak directly now.”
“Looking forward to it.”
“Don’t mock me. Your Highness, I’m going to place Prince Ceteran on the imperial throne.”
Tedric didn’t show surprise but pretended to be astonished.
The sight was so disdainful that Min-joo wanted to press the barrel against his forehead like a thug and give him a piece of her mind.
“Really… Can you say such things in front of the Crown Prince?”
“Ah, seriously. Anyway, in the process, I don’t want Your Highness to be hurt. Not just physically but emotionally. Well, there might be some inevitable sense of loss when giving up the throne.”
“I’m impressed by your ignorance.”
Tedric took hold of the gun. Startled, Min-joo quickly placed her index finger on the trigger, but the gun was effortlessly taken from her by a gentle yet forceful grip.
The gun didn’t linger in his hand but was tossed onto the bed.
Min-joo hurriedly reached out to grab the gun, but the distance was too far, so she crouched towards the bed.
“My entire life was dedicated to becoming an emperor.”
Her tilted body couldn’t find balance. Terrifyingly, as Tedric finished speaking, he pushed Min-joo with his finger.
As Min-joo, holding the gun, tried to get up, Tedric grabbed the bed, tilting his upper body over her.
With both hands gripping the gun, Min-joo looked up at Tedric, who had a serene smile and sparkling pink eyes.
“If I give up the throne, my life has no meaning. It’s not just a mere sense of loss that would be undervalued.”
A brown coat over a midnight black shirt covered Min-joo. One of Tedric’s knees was placed over the bed.
Min-joo wriggled to move backward, trying to avoid the man.
“But it’s better than being dead.”
“Isn’t a vigorously burning fire that oxidizes the world more meaningful than a candle illuminating and extinguishing a single room?”
“…You cannot become an emperor.”
“Even if I confine you here, you can’t be sure.”
Tedric completely leaned over Min-joo.
It seemed as if a predator was savoring the prey before consuming it.
Min-joo checked if the gun in her hand was locked.
Although the man appeared threatening, his expression was affectionate and kind. It created a sense of dissonance.
Suppressing the rising fear, Min-joo swallowed her apprehension and casually spoke.
“Even without me, Ceteran will become the emperor. Think about it, Your Highness. Being an emperor isn’t everything.”
“Even if you whisper sweet words of persuasion, I won’t be swayed.”
“It’s sincere advice. I am on Prince Ceteran’s side. Why would I go to such lengths to persuade you if I already know the future?”
Tedric pushed a towel that had fallen on the bed underneath, revealing wet black hair that smeared the bed.
“To easily make Ceteran the emperor.”
“Knowing the future, why bother? Your Highness, there are many ways to live without becoming an emperor. There are many things you can do. Haven’t you ever wanted to do something?”
“Become an emperor.”
“You’re insane.”
Min-joo gripped the gun against Tedric’s chest. Her hands trembled slightly, unsure if she could shoot.
Tedric, as if mocking Min-joo, grasped her hand, pointing the barrel at his left chest where his heart was beating.
He had a languid and peaceful expression.
“If I’m such an obstacle, just shoot me. After all, you have a gun, right?”
“I’ve been trying to avoid that because I don’t want to. You don’t listen well. Is this how you plan to become an emperor?”
Min-joo tried to exert force on her arm to release the gun from Tedric’s hand.
However, the more she struggled, the more Tedric pressed the gun against his heart with firmness.
“As someone who couldn’t become an emperor, what value do I have?”
“Why are you asking me that? You should figure out your own worth.”
“How do you see me? What value do I hold for you? Why are you trying to spare me?”
“I already said it’s because I don’t want to see bloodshed; I want to resolve things peacefully.”
The situation was absurd— the person holding the gun avoiding it, and the one being aimed at pointing the gun at themselves.
Min-joo, fearing that any sudden resistance might provoke him, refrained from moving recklessly. She couldn’t predict what he might do if she resisted.
“There are inevitable things in the world.”
“It doesn’t mean it’s okay for you to die. Move, what kind of strength is this?”
“I’d rather you kill me. There’s no reason to live if I can’t become an emperor.”
“What kind of insane talk is this? Don’t make the same remarks again. Move! Hey, this Crown Prince!”
Through the conversation with Tedric, Min-joo learned that his self-esteem was remarkably low.
He evaluated himself as having no value if he couldn’t become an emperor, displaying an alarmingly low self-esteem.
It wasn’t enough to persuade him to step down from the throne; she needed to show him that there were many ways to live beyond becoming an emperor.
‘I’m tired; why do I have to deal with this? Why do I have to do it?’
Such thoughts were inevitable. But considering it as a public service, even if it seemed troublesome, Min-joo had to do it.
Min-joo, using both hands, forcefully let go of the gun she had been gripping.
As the pulling force disappeared instantly, Tedric lost his balance. He fell to Min-joo’s side.
The bed jolted.
As Tedric, lying on the bed, attempted to rise, Min-joo grabbed his arm reflexively, pulling him down.
Sitting on the bed, Min-joo looked down at Tedric.
His surprised pink eyes blinked a few times before regaining composure.
Min-joo, without saying a word, sternly glared at Tedric. After exhaling a tired sigh, she bluntly spoke with a soulless tone.
“It doesn’t come every day, Min-joo’s counseling time!”
“…What?!”
Tedric, caught off guard by the completely irrelevant statement, couldn’t grasp the situation and displayed a bewildered expression.
Even that soon turned mild and calm.
Pressing Tedric’s shoulders with force to prevent him from getting up, Min-joo pulled a pillow and placed it under his head.
Tedric moved across the bed and rested his head on the pillow.
“What’s this nonsense?”
“It’s counseling time. Come on, Mr. Tedric patient. Let’s express your feelings honestly.”
“What kind of absurd behavior is this? I can’t feel the value of accepting this prank.”
Beyond the confusion, Tedric attempted to rise. Min-joo, holding a gun, warned him by aiming it in his direction.
The smooth steel of the revolver shone brightly under the light.
With a gentle smile mirroring Tedric’s bewilderment, Min-joo assertively spoke.
“Oh, if you try to get up, I’ll shoot. The counseling record will be erased once the session is over. Now, lie down comfortably. Or else, I’ll really shoot.”
As she smiled softly, regret crossed Tedric’s mind.
He thought about how bringing this seemingly insane person into his home might have been a crazy idea.