The Villain Wants to Change Genres

Chapter 132

‘Perhaps I’m the one who needs to date someone.’

I thought that dispersing my attention might help diminish my obsession with Luwen, even a little.

Of course, it was an impractical thought. There’s no way I could be interested in anyone other than Luwen.

“Young master, did you hear what I said?”

“Ah, yes. I understand. I’ll be careful. Don’t worry.”

I awkwardly bent my stiff arm and placed it on Luwen’s forearm. The sensation of our skin touching felt unbearably good. That’s why it felt more dangerous.

“Can you let me go now?”

“Yes.”

Despite his answer, Luwen didn’t release his arms from around me. Rather, they tightened to the point where I could barely breathe. It felt like being trapped in his world. A moment I wished could last forever.

“…I’m sorry.”

The strength gradually drained from his arms, and a chill that seemed impossible in the thick summer air came between Luwen and me.

“Don’t be sorry. I’ll be back.”

Suppressing my lingering feelings, I climbed the stairs. I could feel his gaze fixed on my back. That’s why I couldn’t turn around. My face… was too hot to show.

Click. Only after closing the door, perhaps reassured that Luwen could no longer see me, did my legs give way. As I slid down, Alteo, who had been standing blankly, stepped back hesitantly.

“Are you really sick? Not just pretending?”

Seeing him cover his mouth and nose with one hand, I couldn’t help but laugh. How could a person be so consistent?

“I’m not collapsing because I’m sick, so help me up.”

“Really, you’re not sick?”

I just stared at him silently.

Finally, Alteo, looking rather reluctant with a distorted face, helped me up. Leaning on him, I moved to the bed and plopped down.

“Did the 1st Prince abandon you? Why is the Chairman here?”

“That’s not it. Actually, I did gain some trust… but…”

“I’m Norman right now, so you should continue speaking informally. Don’t get confused.”

“Oh, y-yeah. Anyway, I gained trust… but this isn’t exactly according to my plan.”

Alteo explained while stammering. He was rambling, twisting his body as if reluctant to speak, which was unlike his usual self.

After listening to his confusing explanation with patience, the conclusion was quite simple. Since Dwean is also a poisonous herb, the Prince apparently had built immunity to it. So in the end, they spent the night together as planned.

“So. Did you hear what you wanted?”

Perhaps because I responded so casually, Alteo, who had been looking at me with strange eyes, spoke with a composed voice.

“Well, something similar. Enough to insist if needed.”

“It seems you weren’t invited to the bed again, judging by the fact that you were sent to me.”

“That’s not it. Just when I thought this was enough, he said they’re sending someone additional to care for Norman. So I, as the Chairman, volunteered to take responsibility for nursing my department junior.”

So he used me after achieving his goal. Carefully managing even the smallest detail of his image until the end.

“His Highness said to bring you right away when you’re cured.”

And so he was sent as the person to monitor my recovery.

He had succeeded in attracting some attention, but it wasn’t enough to miss if absent. It was exactly the level of attention Alteo wanted.

“Ah! It seemed like you received a letter from the young lord’s mansion. I was waiting outside the door, and I heard someone shout ‘Fei Vinter!’ in an extremely angry voice. Is everything alright?”

“Yes. I can roughly guess why.”

I had told Linder to send a reply to the imperial palace when leaving the mansion last night. Those remaining wouldn’t know my destination, so no matter how much they were pressed, they couldn’t reveal my whereabouts.

‘It seems they already sent someone and came up empty-handed.’

Thanks to Linder’s interference with their tracking, they must have realized I had escaped. So perhaps their thoughts turned to monitoring Norman, who was supposedly infected by Fei Vinter. With Alteo arriving as the monitor, it seemed the matter could be considered resolved.

“So how long will the Chairman be staying here?”

“Until you recover. I’m being quarantined with you, so where would I go?”

“This dormitory has two-person rooms, so there’s no place for the Chairman to sleep.”

“If I sleep with Norman…”

When I frowned, he cleared his throat with a “ahem.”

“That won’t work, right? I’ll sleep on the floor.”

Then he patted the wooden floor and laughed.

“In my room?”

“Th-that’s not okay either?”

He looks at me with a sad face. Come on, those antics only work on people who fall for them.

“Luwen wouldn’t like it.”

“Then if I get Luwen’s permission, it’s fine?”

Alteo asked with a broad smile, as if confident he could get permission.

I was certain that Luwen, who was wary of Alteo, wouldn’t allow him to stay by my side all night. Thinking that if he was refused, I could just make him sleep in the first-floor corridor, I casually replied.

“Go ahead and try.”

“Great!”

Armed with groundless confidence, Alteo left the room with a beaming smile. Perhaps because of this, I felt a strange unease.

‘What is it? Why do I feel so uncomfortable?’

Is it because that guy looked so happy?

‘But Luwen wouldn’t possibly permit it…’

Since it was obviously a needless worry, it wasn’t worth thinking about. Rather than wasting time on this, I’d better prepare a meal. With thoughts of making the Korean food I had promised, I left the room.

Going downstairs, I found that Luwen had already organized all the ingredients. But Luwen himself was nowhere to be seen. Alteo was also missing, so I looked around and discovered that the front door was slightly open.

‘Oh, was he kicked out?’

That’s entirely possible with Luwen. But since they sent someone for monitoring purposes, if Alteo leaves, someone else might come. Moreover, since he came on the Prince’s orders, it would be problematic to actually drive him away.

Thinking that Alteo, who knew the circumstances, should convince Luwen to let him stay in the dormitory when Luwen returns alone, I began preparing the ingredients.

I made bulgogi and japchae with wheat flour noodles instead of glass noodles, which Luwen likes. Although I always felt disappointed without proper glass noodles, what matters is that Luwen enjoys it.

Suddenly, I was smiling to myself, remembering how young Luwen would stick out his tongue and flap his hands when I made something spicy for him. Just then, I heard the front door creaking open.

Surprisingly, Alteo must have spoken well, as he was trailing behind Luwen. When our eyes met, he grinned and even flashed a victory sign.

“Have you prepared a meal?”

Startled, I turned my gaze to Luwen at his question. The corners of his mouth, with his eyes fixed on the table, were gently curled upward.

“What’s this? I’ve never seen it before, but it smells good. Can I eat some too?”

“There’s nothing for you to eat.”

Alteo shot a look asking for permission, but ignoring his gaze, I placed the bulgogi I had transferred to a plate in front of Luwen.

“Sit and eat.”

“Young… When did you prepare all of this?”

Were you about to call me “young master”? He diverted quite smoothly, so I smiled and replied.

“I did it while you two were talking. But why did it take so long?”

When I turned around after serving plenty of japchae, Luwen was waiting.

“Ah… Can I tell you after we eat?”

He asked carefully while taking the plate.

“I don’t mind.”

Glancing behind, I saw Alteo grinning.

What is that bastard doing? He’s so suspicious.

I had made plenty, considering Alteo from the start, but seeing his smug face made me reluctant to give him any.

‘But I can’t let him starve.’

With a disgruntled face, I scooped my portion and told Alteo to help himself. He prattled on about how this was his first time tasting such fantastic food. When I smiled sweetly and said I’d take it away if he kept talking, he finally shut up and ate quietly.

* * *

After finishing the ambiguous meal that ended up being both breakfast and lunch, Alteo slipped into Luwen’s room.

‘Why is he going in there?’

Even Luwen didn’t stop him.

‘…Could it be that they agreed to stay together? Alteo and Luwen together in that small room?’

The first-floor room is even smaller, with no space for someone to lie on the floor. That would mean the two of them would have to share the bed…

‘Ah, I don’t like that!’

I’d rather sleep uncomfortably with Alteo myself than have Luwen sleep with that person. But Luwen seemed to have made the decision with the same thought, which made me feel frustrated.

I’m definitely going to oppose this. I absolutely hate it.

“Luwen.”

“Yes, young- Norman.”

“You have something to tell me, right?”

After pointing with my eyes toward Luwen’s room, I looked at him. He avoids my gaze and smiles awkwardly, as if knowing he did something wrong. It seems my thoughts are correct.

“Since he came on His Highness’s orders, we can’t drive him away, and it seems we need to let him stay in the dormitory.”

“Yes. And?”

“He had the audacity to ask if he could sleep with you in your room, so I told him to sleep in my room. But since my room is so small…”

I was prepared to voice my absolute opposition, but Luwen’s explanation was trailing. There was clearly something more. It didn’t make sense that such a simple explanation would take so long that he didn’t return until I finished cooking.

So I waited for the rest, but Luwen dropped an unexpected bomb.

“Would it be alright if I shared your room with you?”