The Villain Wants to Change Genres

Chapter 118

Alteo, who had been reading carefully, asked incredulously:

“Having to help unconditionally once in the future, are you writing a contract for this? Because you don’t trust my word?”

“Would you trust me? We don’t even know when it might happen.”

How could I trust Alteo when I couldn’t even trust Luwen’s promises?

“Do I really need to write in the contract… that I use Dwean herbs?”

“Think about what I’m helping you with. If the Chairman betrays me, I’m the only one who becomes a traitor.”

Alteo made a face. Of course, he wouldn’t want this in writing. But I can’t trust him without this much documentation. I need this so I can use Alteo when I need him later.

“Then how am I supposed to trust you?”

“That’s why we’re writing a contract. I become an accomplice too, so this is also my weakness.”

“The contract content… and if secrets learned during the contract are revealed… do we really need to risk, k-k-kill, ha. Risk our lives?”

“Yes. Because you’ll be learning quite significant secrets.”

This contract was being written for Fei Vinter, not Norman. If I contracted as Norman, it would lose effectiveness, and when I tried to use him later, he could find a loophole to invalidate it. Therefore, my real name had to go in the blank signature field.

Since I shouldn’t go around announcing that I’m a young lord, keeping this secret is important.

“What happens if I can’t become the 1st Prince’s physician?”

“I wrote that we can modify the conditions by mutual agreement.”

“And if we can’t reach an agreement?”

“There’s no reason the Chairman can’t become the 1st Prince’s physician… can’t we just move past this?”

“I am quite impressive, hmm. Fine.”

For a moment, Alteo’s eyes gleamed maliciously. He seemed to think that if agreement couldn’t be reached, he wouldn’t need to fulfill the contract. Humans, really.

He continued to scrutinize the contract carefully afterward, but didn’t think to modify his own conditions. Especially the important ‘favor’ part. Perhaps he was being careless because it seemed like a distant future matter. That works in my favor.

Instead, he asked in detail about how I would help him. He said he wouldn’t sign if it was just one-word advice like before.

“I’ll explain that after we sign the contract. It would be disadvantageous for me if you just heard my explanation and didn’t sign.”

“Really! You’re not showing any of your cards?”

“Didn’t you know? In contracts like this, you’re supposed to hide as much as possible.”

Alteo made a groaning sound. When I told him that without his earlier disclosure there would be no contract, he grumbled that he wouldn’t lose even one word.

Why would I concede when I don’t need to?

“Alright. I’ll sign. But add that you’ll help properly.”

“That works.”

A smile spread across Alteo’s face. He handed me the contract with added content. It was already signed.

‘He doesn’t even know that we need to make two copies of the contract?’

But since this was advantageous for me, I kept quiet. It makes sense to pretend not to know when you can keep your opponent’s weakness in hand while protecting your own.

After that, I spread the contract on the table so Alteo could see clearly, and signed the name “Fei Vinter.”

His reaction came immediately.

“If… if you’re l-lying… no, i-impersonating n-nobility is… how s-severe… hic, sob.”

“It’s not a lie, and it’s not impersonation. Norman is the fake identity. Why do you think Luwen took such care of me? If you think about it, the answer is obvious, isn’t it?”

Some people tried to cause discord by suggesting that Luwen saw me as a young lord substitute, wrapping it in excessive concern. But Alteo never mentioned that. I think he was avoiding the obvious, thinking “surely not.”

‘He must have felt uneasy after observing me in the subjugation unit.’

Sure enough, Alteo, who had turned pale white, felt his neck with both hands instead of arguing. As if checking whether it was still attached.

I took advantage of his panicked state to quietly collect the contract. While I neatly folded it and placed it in my inner jacket pocket, Alteo was still confused.

“I think we can consider the contract established. Shall I give you my advice now?”

“No, no, wait, just a moment…”

He was a typical example of someone strong against the weak and weak against the strong. He acted so confident with country bumpkin Norman, but now trembled like an aspen leaf as soon as I revealed my identity. Since I had expected this reaction, I wasn’t particularly moved.

“The secret… is that the secret? Y-your identity as a young lord…”

“Yes. That’s right. If my identity is revealed because of the Chairman, I will immediately proceed as per the contract.”

I deliberately used vague wording to make it broadly applicable. Examining each sentence in detail and not setting specific conditions was clearly Alteo’s mistake. Well, he’s still a student without much experience getting duped.

If I hadn’t experienced in my previous life how dangerous ambiguous sentences can be during my modeling career, I wouldn’t have known either. In contracts, “surely everyone would think this way” doesn’t apply.

“If I, I mean, if I just don’t spread it around, that’s enough, right?”

“No. It includes all cases where my identity is revealed because of you. Whether you acted incorrectly, gave hints, or if my identity is exposed at the academy causing me to be expelled, it all applies.”

“That’s too extreme!”

Pale-faced Alteo trembled his lips and squeezed out the words. I leaned back on the sofa, crossed my legs slowly, and pretended to think with my eyes closed. Then I tilted my head and opened my eyes. Alteo’s Adam’s apple bobbed visibly.

“It doesn’t seem that way to me.”

“I don’t know about the rest, but blaming me if you get expelled is too much!”

“There’s been no problem until now, so if such a thing happens after revealing my secret to the Chairman, I’ll naturally assume you reported it secretly. Just keep the secret well and there won’t be a problem. Simple, isn’t it?”

“Such an unreasonable…”

Alteo looked at me with dumbfounded eyes. But being inherently cunning, he seemed to quickly regain his composure.

After a moment, with clearer eyes, he swallowed dryly with a serious face.

‘That’s right. Think about how to use me, a young lord as it turns out. It’s already happened. Focus less on the inevitable disadvantages.’

I silently smiled at him.

“Will I be dragged into your circumstances, young lord?”

As expected. He must have already known about the imperial political situation. After regaining his composure, he acted quite intelligently. Especially in not asking for detailed explanations.

“I’d like to do medical volunteer work as Norman later, and having an imperial physician’s pass would be convenient.”

Alteo looked at me with suspicious eyes, but what could he do? If I say so, that’s how it is. For the time being, he’ll try to verify my authenticity and live in tension about getting involved in politics. Because of the clause about becoming the 1st Prince’s physician.

But that’s only for a day or two. I don’t need Alteo until before the 1st Prince’s impeachment trial. If we don’t contact each other until then, his suspicions will be resolved.

Appearing to want to bite back, Alteo smoothly swept the table. When he belatedly noticed the contract was gone, he frowned as if he’d eaten something foul, then straightened his face with a sigh. He seemed completely resigned.

“Will you… give me proper advice?”

“Let’s fix your attitude first. The person in front of you is Norman.”

“…Got it, whew… I understand.”

His pretense was awkwardly obvious, but he’s good at wearing masks. It would be different if there were more observant eyes.

Still, thinking it’s better to avoid entanglement with the Chairman if possible, I began speaking. It was time to give advice, so I explained the information Alteo needed in detail. As I continued, Alteo’s eyes came alive. He even brought paper to take notes.

“That’s all.”

“Hmm…”

“Now it’s up to the Chairman’s ability to use this information.”

Alteo nodded and muttered while reviewing what he’d written down. He seemed to be thinking about how to utilize it.

If he properly absorbs what I’ve told him and is careful, he will rise to the position of the 1st Prince’s physician. Since the fastidious 1st Prince dislikes many things and frequently changes staff, Alteo will naturally be promoted as long as he doesn’t fall out of favor.

That’s why I told him everything the Prince likes and dislikes. So he can survive well. If he fails and is dismissed, then the contract becomes worthless.

Though knowing how cunning Alteo is, he’ll likely secure the physician position even without additional help.

“I’ll plan later, but there’s something I want to ask.”

“…Me?”

Alteo pointed at himself, opening his eyes wide as if he’d heard something unexpected.

“Yes. This is also confidential.”

“Can’t I not ask… I don’t want to know more secrets…”

He even made a sad face and whined in a pleading tone. I was bewildered, wondering what kind of act he was putting on.

“Part of this is your fault too, so just listen. I’m in a difficult situation.”

Ignoring his unconvincing whining, I said what I needed to say.

Alteo made it obvious he didn’t want to listen, rolling his eyes exaggeratedly, but finally calmed down when he learned it was related to Luwen. However, by the end of the story, he was interested and raised the corners of his mouth in a grin. His unsettling smile caused my trust in him to plummet vertically.

‘What little there was has crumbled to dust.’

But if not him, the other candidate is Adrian. Since it’s a choice between two evils, I waited for his answer to see what he would say.

“Norman, you’ve never had a proper relationship before, have you?”

“Why is that relevant?”

“That’s what I thought.”

I never answered, but he’s drawing his own conclusions. However, since it’s true that I have no dating experience, I just raised an eyebrow with a sour feeling.

“So you don’t even know your own feelings.”

What is he saying? It sounded like he was implying I liked Luwen but didn’t know it. Of course I like him, but that’s a different kind of affection.

“It’s not romantic feelings. Luwen is like family to me, so that’s impossible.”

“You said your face gets hot when you see Luwen.”

When I nodded, Alteo continued.

“Doesn’t it get worse when you make contact? Or when your eyes meet?”