The Villain Wants to Change Genres

Chapter 175

“When? Why?”

“It was on the first day, after dinner time when Luwen came to find me. And the reason was, of course, to provoke Luwen. I told you, we needed something big.”

Even so, a bedroom attendant? Luwen knows better than anyone that I would never employ such a thing. It was obviously a strategy that Luwen would dismiss as Alteo’s bluffing. To think I trusted this guy with this task.

“That’s not all.”

Alteo cleared his throat with a “Hem-hem.”

“I said, ‘Luwen. I heard you might leave the Young Lord’s side? Thanks to that, there seem to be a lot of openings. Thank you.'”

The nuance made it sound like I had accepted him. After glancing at my expression, Alteo continued blabbering.

“Immediately after that, he grabbed me by the collar and WHAM! I hit the wall. He told me not to touch you. So I said something else.”

“…”

“I told him I don’t need his permission to become your bedroom attendant.”

I wanted to hear how Luwen had responded, but Alteo suddenly stood up.

“Now it’s time for the final move, and you’ll need to play your part well, Young Lord.”

Then he abruptly pulled me to my feet as well.

“Excuse me for a moment.”

Alteo closed the distance between us. His face was so uncomfortably close that I instinctively pulled my head back. Then he said:

“Please move a bit further back.”

I was eager to do so anyway, so I quickly retreated, but Alteo advanced as much as I backed away. In the end, we only changed positions while maintaining the same distance.

“This is perfect now.”

Goosebumps rose on my arms, and I wanted to rub them away, but this time he grabbed one of my wrists and pinned it against the wall. In this peculiar position, I had a rough idea of what this guy was trying to do.

“…Don’t tell me you’re planning to show this exact scene to Luwen?”

“Yes. But you mustn’t show any dislike.”

“I feel like I’m going to die from disgust, what are you saying?”

With my face contorted, I pushed Alteo’s chest with my other arm. If we were just pretending, wouldn’t it be enough to simply look close from a certain angle?

“If it looks like I’m forcing myself on you, my head will fly off. Without even a chance to explain. So you absolutely must not show any signs of dislike.”

Luwen isn’t the type to immediately start swinging his sword. He might separate us, but there would be a chance to explain.

Of course, considering the difference in status between Alteo and myself, it wouldn’t be unjust even if his head did fly off. Moreover, if it didn’t look consensual, what escort would stand by and do nothing? Even if it wasn’t Luwen but Merin, they would be horrified and pounce on Alteo.

“I understand that, but… will this really work?”

If Luwen showed no reaction or just left, I would be too embarrassed to properly look him in the face again.

“He will definitely react. Rather than worrying about that, you should be concerned about the aftermath.”

“And if it doesn’t work, do you have a backup plan?”

“Well then, I would say that I’ve become the Young Lord’s bedroom attendant.”

“Wow. I really hate that.”

“That’s too harsh. Anyway, when Luwen comes in, you just need to say you were testing him.”

I nodded with a disgruntled feeling. It really didn’t seem like it would work… I hesitated, feeling like I would only end up getting hurt. But his confident attitude made me trust him just a little. He had seen a side of Luwen that I didn’t know and was certain this would work.

“Let’s begin.”

CRASH!

Alteo knocked over the inkwell on the desk and pressed his body against mine.

‘Ugh. Disgusting.’

Even though it was just pretense, feeling someone else’s body heat and breath made me want to push him away. I had never felt this emotion when touching Luwen. With him, it was just cozy and warm.

“Young Master! What’s happening!”

“Huk. Your expression, your expression!”

Alteo whispered urgently with a desperate voice.

BANG!

The door opened simultaneously. I looked at Luwen over Alteo’s shoulder with a slightly bewildered expression.

‘Ah…’

It seemed like I was seeing this side of Luwen for the first time. A chilling aura emanated from his expressionless face, as if all emotion had died. I could understand why Alteo had said Luwen would kill him.

Shing-

Without a moment’s hesitation, Luwen drew his sword. Before he could actually cut down Alteo, I hastily shouted:

“Wait, Luwen!”

His eyes showed incomprehension. Meeting my gaze, Luwen approached with heavy steps, still gripping his sword. Then he grabbed Alteo’s shoulder, who had somehow turned around, and shoved him away from me as if tearing him off. Alteo tumbled to the floor.

“Why are you stopping me?”

“…It was a test.”

“What kind of test?”

I was too embarrassed to say the words “bedroom attendant” with my own mouth, so I turned my head away.

“Luwen doesn’t need to know…”

I thought Alteo would jump in at this point, but Luwen grabbed my arm tightly.

“Is it true? Is what that bastard said true?”

Startled by his loud voice, I looked at Luwen. His deep black eyes seemed to be rippling. His expressionless face gradually contorted.

“It’s inconvenient if you interfere like this.”

Standing at a distance, Alteo was flapping his lips, but his toes were pointed toward the door. Moreover, his body was half-turned, looking completely ready to flee at the first opportunity.

“Get out.”

At Luwen’s order to leave, Alteo gave me a look. I briefly considered ignoring his desperate glance asking to be let go, but I didn’t think he’d be of any help in that state anyway.

“Alteo, go outside.”

“…Understood.”

It takes talent to speak in a regretful voice while beaming.

Creeak- Slam.

After Alteo left, Luwen and I remained alone. He kept his head lowered and said nothing. But his rising and falling chest and rough breathing revealed his emotions.

“Please tell me. Did you really intend to bring in Alteo as your bedroom attendant?”

After several deep breaths, he asked. His voice sounded as if it had been wrung out.

“…”

According to the plan, I should have answered that I was considering it. But seeing Luwen’s intense reaction, I couldn’t bring myself to affirm it.

“Why? You were never interested in such things before. Did he threaten you?”

“It’s not like that. Just…”

I couldn’t get the words out. The fact that I couldn’t answer proudly might be evidence that my choice was wrong.

‘This won’t work.’

When I had left everything to Alteo, I could remain calm, but now facing the highly agitated Luwen, I suddenly felt afraid. He would be disappointed in me if he knew the truth.

I was used to hiding myself with lies. From the beginning, the me that I showed Luwen wasn’t even my real personality. So I thought I could easily tell this lie too. I thought all that mattered was getting the result I wanted.

‘But that’s not right. Something’s wrong.’

This wasn’t the way I wanted things. Had I chosen the wrong path out of impatience and fear of losing him?

“I’ve endured all this time. I endured again and again. But was there no need for that?”

His sharp voice. It was as if he was condemning me. No, it might really be that.

“Then rather use me, for bedroom services. I’ll provide those services for you.”

“What did you say?”

“If you’re willing to permit someone like Alteo, I’m telling you to choose me instead.”

The tight grip on my arm hurt. What… what kind of words am I making Luwen say? This wasn’t what I wanted to hear.

“…What do you mean?”

“Does that matter?”

“…”

I lowered my head. Coward. I only encouraged the person I loved without having the courage to confess first. Even knowing I had no right to do so, tears threatened to emerge. My chest ached with a stinging pain.

“It was a lie.”

“Which part?”

I sensed the end. If I confessed honestly, Luwen would leave the room right now. And… he would become the Vice Minister of the Sword Department’s adopted son. He had stayed here solely because of me, but now he would be disappointed in me.

‘If it was going to end like this anyway, I should have been honest from the start.’

Then it might have been a somewhat prettier farewell. Not this worst-case scenario that felt like being covered in sticky black slime.

‘It was my choice, so who can I blame?’

I strained my eyes and raised my head.

‘Don’t cry. You don’t deserve to.’

I didn’t want to see Luwen despising me, but I had to face him squarely.

“What Alteo said. It was all a lie.”

“Then what was it that I just saw?”

He didn’t seem to believe me. But perhaps because I had given up, despite my feelings of despair, I could speak calmly.

“It was staged for you to see.”

“Why? Why did you do such a thing? Why on earth?”

Luwen was confused. But once his excitement subsided, he would find it absurd. He might think I had played with him, along with the frustration of being deceived. So I had to tell him. With everything ending anyway, there was nothing to fear.

“I, I like you. That’s why I did it…”

Nevertheless, with the selfish hope that he might understand my feelings, even just a little, I opened my mouth.

This confession truly suits me. Only able to finally say it after hitting rock bottom.