The Villain Wants to Change Genres

Chapter 170

Luwen is sometimes difficult. Today was especially so.

I sighed deeply and lay down. Rather than seeking out Luwen for a conversation in this state, it seemed better to talk after calming down.

If I let my hopes run wild, it’s not impossible. It’s an advantage that our statuses would become equal without me abandoning my family or Luwen becoming an honorary duke.

‘But that’s all there is to it.’

Unless we deliberately make appointments to meet, it would become difficult to see Luwen. The distance between us would grow. Just as I separated young Luwen from his sister to prevent the same love from repeating, this time I feared our hearts would grow distant as the physical distance between us increased.

‘In that state, what would happen when Luwen debuts in society…’

He would attract attention from those on a completely different level than the still young and immature Academy kids. I have no confidence in competing against them… I’m full of schemes, have a bad personality, am selfish, fearful but lack courage. It’s obvious that others would be far more attractive than me, who doesn’t excel at anything compared to others.

“Hah…”

There’s no solution.

If, just if, Luwen has decided to become the adopted son of the Marquis family, is there any way to stop it?

‘I can’t think of anything.’

I felt like I was in a carriage with wheels stuck in mud, unable to move. I desperately needed someone’s help as I couldn’t escape on my own.

‘I should call Alteo.’

With a third person’s perspective, we might find a different solution.

My head was throbbing. My whole body ached too. As I tossed and turned sighing, I felt strangely hot.

‘Damn this body. I’m really sick of this.’

Just when I thought I was getting by well, I’m running a fever again. Still, it didn’t seem like I would get as sick as usual, so I wrapped myself in blankets, got up, and sat at my desk.

I wrote a letter asking Alteo to come to the clinic in a week and called Merin. After instructing her to send the letter as soon as dawn broke, I obediently lay in bed for her sake since she was worried.

But how could I sleep? I tossed and turned with my troubled mind, and the last thing I saw before falling asleep was the sky turning blue outside the window.

Contrary to my expectation that I would only be mildly ill, I couldn’t properly get up the next day. However, thanks to Master’s medicine and Luwen’s attentive care, I was able to move normally the following day.

That was fortunate, but so much time had passed that it became awkward to bring up the adoption topic with Luwen again.

‘He stayed by my side all day yesterday…’

I wasn’t sure if his anger had subsided or if he just let it go because I was sick. Either way, Luwen returned to his usual self, and I missed the opportunity to gauge his thoughts.

With some anxiety, time passed until a week had gone by. That’s when my sister came to see me early in the morning.

“The First Prince’s trial will be held today. You’ve been feeling frustrated, right?”

“Ah.”

I can’t believe they really kept me here because of the First Prince’s trial?

“I couldn’t tell you beforehand because I was afraid Fei would be scared, but actually they weren’t just targeting the Second Prince.”

My sister spoke gently with an apologetic tone, as if making a confession.

‘…She knew.’

I was aware that the Second Prince had planted subordinates, so their plans had been leaked. But I never thought he would tell my sister about it. Why tell her when it would just upset her?

“After succeeding in assassinating His Highness, they planned to kidnap you.”

“…Huh? Me? Why?”

Just as I was wondering internally, a completely unexpected reason popped up. But hearing the story, the puzzle pieces that had been misaligned seemed to fit somewhat.

“We couldn’t confirm the exact reason.”

My sister sighed softly. Well, assassins wouldn’t be given detailed reasons, so it made sense that the true intentions would be difficult to know.

“This is His Highness’s guess…”

According to the Second Prince, the First Prince lacks foresight and wanted to deal with me as part of his personal revenge. In other words, because of what happened at the slave auction.

“If the assassination succeeded, I would naturally die too, so they planned to take you and humiliate you. Without me and His Highness, no one would be able to find you if the First Prince hid you.”

My face naturally crumpled. I could feel my sister examining my expression, but the disgust made it difficult to control my face. Well, there was no need to hide it now, so I openly showed my revulsion.

“I understand.”

I also understood why the Second Prince had explained the situation to my sister. The reason was quite far from what I had expected. Thinking he was trying to shake up my sister or whatever – that was the result of overestimating the bastard.

‘Come to think of it, didn’t he say something about settling things later?’

I think I heard something like that. I had forgotten about it because I felt strangely unconcerned at the time.

“The reason I’m telling you this is because I want you to be careful from now on.”

“Yes, I will.”

My sister firmly held both my hands.

“Don’t take this lightly, you must keep it in mind.”

She was full of desperation and worry, as if she needed my promise to be reassured.

“I got it. I’ll be careful, so don’t worry too much.”

I know what she’s concerned about. As long as the two of them are safe, they’ll target my life next.

‘Or kidnap me first, then kill me.’

Even if the trial results are favorable to us, the First Prince won’t be sentenced to death. The maximum punishment he could receive would probably be the Second Prince being designated as Crown Prince. It would be perfect if the First Prince’s royal status was revoked as well, but the current Emperor seems to love his children quite a bit, so he’ll probably be lenient.

‘It would be nice if they sent him as a hostage to another country.’

And even better if an unfortunate accident occurred, causing him to die before arriving.

“The trial won’t end in a day or two. It might take a few more days for witnesses to appear.”

“Yes. Just tell me whenever. I’ll definitely go.”

“I don’t want to create a situation where Fei has to stand up. I’ll try my best. But if it can’t be helped…”

She hesitated and trailed off, so I squeezed her hands and smiled.

“Sister. I have Luwen, you know.”

“That is reassuring. Luwen has become much stronger.”

“Right? I was surprised too.”

Although he’s considering becoming Marquis Hooper’s adopted son, if he knew about this situation, he would stay by my side until the trial ended. So in a way, I also had a grace period.

‘It’s not something that will end in a month or two, so I should be grateful.’

What slightly concerned me was that the Second Prince had taken action. He doesn’t move without certainty. He’s stabbing at the Emperor because he’s confident he’ll win. Perhaps he intercepted secret letters the First Prince exchanged with the crown prince of an enemy country.

‘If that’s really the case, this might end faster than expected.’

Should I be happy about this…? No, I should be happy, right? It means my sister and Luwen won’t have to go to war, which means they won’t get hurt. That would achieve my goal too.

“By the way, Fei.”

My sister called me with a strange smile and a secretive voice. She seemed somewhat amused.

“Do you like Luwen?”

“…”

How, how did she know?

‘Is it that obvious?’

It shouldn’t be. I’m confident in my ability to control my expressions. If I can’t even do the one thing I’m good at, there’s really no hope for me.

“Yes. Of course I like him. You like him too, don’t you?”

I tried to deflect calmly, but seeing her eyes curve like crescent moons, she seemed already certain.

“Why are you hiding it even from me? It’s okay.”

I watched my sister’s reaction, wondering if she might oppose. Of course, she’s the kind of person who would support whatever makes me happy, but still… if she said Luwen being a commoner was an issue, it would be difficult for me to freely like him.

‘It’s something I’ll have to face eventually, but this is so sudden…’

While debating whether to tell the truth or brazenly deny it, I decided to confess. Perhaps my sister would encourage me. If so, I thought I might be able to find a bit more courage.

“…Is it that obvious?”

“Not usually. But your expression when Luwen held you on the day of the attack was different from usual.”

Ah… Now that she mentions it, I didn’t have the mental capacity to mind my expressions then. I felt relieved and happy. The emotions inside me overflowed in that moment.

“You looked beautiful. Yes, so beautiful that it made me even angrier. How dare that piece of trash do that to my beautiful sibling…”

My sister’s anger gradually rose. I thought that if the First Prince’s verdict was to be sent as a hostage under the name of studying abroad, he might not arrive at his destination even without my interference.