The Villain Wants to Change Genres

Chapter 151

The problem was… facing Luwen made last night’s events come back even more vividly. My body tingled as if time had gone backwards. I wondered if the aphrodisiac’s effects still remained.

“Are you awake?”

Luwen approached with his usual warmth in his voice.

I unconsciously lowered my head, afraid he would hear my heart pounding. The tips of his shoes came into my view. Even that made me tense. I had been fine just moments ago… This was disconcerting.

“Y-yes…”

Am I being too awkward? But having experienced my first time without any mental preparation, I couldn’t act normally in front of the person involved.

‘I didn’t expect to be like this!’

I thought I could smile brazenly as usual. But in reality, I was stuttering like a broken clock that couldn’t move forward even one second. Perhaps noticing my strange behavior, Luwen also fell silent.

There had been times when conversation stopped between us before, but never with such uncomfortable silence.

‘What should I do? Should I just confess outright?’

Last night, the emotions conveyed while our bodies were pressed together gave me courage. Perhaps that’s why I couldn’t hear the nonsense in my head anymore. I was ready, so there was no need to wait for a confession.

‘Yes, I think I can do it.’

I took a deep breath and raised my head.

“Luwen.”

“Young master.”

We called each other simultaneously.

“Oh? You go first.”

My heart was pounding so hard that I unconsciously gave way. Thump-thump. It was beating so fast that I felt dizzy.

But it wasn’t just nervousness. With a bit of excitement and impatience, I waited for his words.

“Are you concerned about yesterday?”

His casual tone and demeanor. Unlike me, he seemed unbothered, which made me feel strange for a moment. It seemed it wasn’t something worth noting for him.

‘…It must be my imagination?’

While trying to dismiss uncomfortable thoughts, he continued.

“There’s no need to worry. You were ill, and I simply took care of you. You can see it that way.”

What? What does that mean?

“Is that all? So… last night was just simple nursing?”

“Yes. I’ve always taken care of you when you were ill, haven’t I? So there’s no need to feel uncomfortable or avoid me. I am only your loyal servant, after all.”

“……”

Kind voice. Eyes looking at me lovingly. The Luwen familiar to me.

But why did it feel so cold? As if he was pushing me away. I couldn’t understand what Luwen was thinking. He had always seemed transparent, but now I couldn’t guess what he wanted. …I didn’t want to realize it.

When I didn’t answer, Luwen bowed his head as if in prayer.

“So please, don’t cast me aside.”

His voice was sorrowful and desperate. He was worried about being abandoned by me. It seemed that my feelings hadn’t been conveyed at all.

Apart from my romantic feelings, did he not know how much I cherished him? He might say he knew, but it felt like it hadn’t reached him at all. Otherwise, how could he ask not to be abandoned?

“How can you say that? I can’t manage without you, why would you upset me like that…”

“Because yesterday I did something I shouldn’t have.”

Something he shouldn’t have done. Those words particularly pierced my heart.

“…But I wanted it. You didn’t do anything wrong, so don’t think you’ll be cast aside.”

Luwen looked up at me with hopeful eyes.

“Then may I continue to stay by your side as before?”

I tried to appear calm, putting on the caring smile he liked, and nodded. As before. That meant treating last night as if it never happened, but I couldn’t say anything else right now.

‘It was all a misunderstanding.’

I felt bitter. I had finally gathered the courage to confess.

‘This is difficult… Why is it so difficult?’

It felt like facing the most unsolvable problem in the world.

But it was a problem I absolutely didn’t want to give up on.

‘Yes. I don’t want to give up.’

No matter how depressed and disheartened I was, my feelings for Luwen were stronger. Luwen was something I could never let go of. If I cut him out of me, I would be empty with nothing left.

‘Anyway, since yesterday wasn’t planned, let’s pretend it never happened as Luwen wants.’

Thinking this way, I became relatively calm.

Besides, looking back, nothing had really changed. My one-sided love simply continued. So I’ll stick to the original plan of seducing Luwen to get a confession from him. If, in the meantime, I gain courage again, then I’ll definitely confess first.

‘We’ll see. You’ll have to pay dearly later for making me feel this way today.’

I’m a person who holds grudges. I felt like I’d need about 100 kisses to get over this disappointment.

“Well, that’s the end of this conversation. More importantly, how did your advanced knight promotion exam go?”

I shifted the topic lightly, as if I had called him from the beginning to ask about the exam, while resolving to win his heart somehow.

Luwen seemed to find it difficult to answer. I had expected this. If he had taken the exam properly, he couldn’t have arrived at that time.

“You couldn’t take it, right?”

“It doesn’t matter.”

I felt troubled. He missed the exam he had prepared hard for because he came to save me. And it was all for a setup that he fell for. Guilt choked my throat.

“…Let’s have you take the exam at the Imperial Palace.”

I could at least do this much for him. No, even if Luwen refused, I would make it happen.

“Isn’t the knight exam at the Imperial Palace only possible for nobles?”

“That’s true, but since Luwen can handle sword energy, it should be fine. I’ll make the arrangements.”

I spoke as if it was nothing, but in reality, it wasn’t easy. As he said, the knight exam at the Imperial Palace was exclusive to nobles. No matter how much Luwen had manifested sword energy, being a commoner meant the doors wouldn’t open for him.

Of course, that didn’t mean there was no way. The key was getting the Emperor’s permission.

The Sword Dance Department, consisting of retired knights, had the Emperor’s trust, so if they proposed it, there was a high chance of approval. I would convince them and then ask the Second Prince to support their proposal.

The timing wasn’t bad either. The knight exam at the Imperial Palace would be after the First Prince’s incident, so there would be gossip about it everywhere. The Emperor wouldn’t be pleased, so if attention shifted to Luwen’s special treatment, he might even welcome it.

‘Plus, since Luwen has the potential to become the youngest Sword Master, there will be almost no opposition.’

Even if there was some opposition, it didn’t matter. I just needed to make sure it didn’t reach Luwen’s ears.

It seemed I would be incredibly busy returning to the imperial capital, reopening the clinic, and convincing the sword instructors who had now become politicians. But that might be better. I wouldn’t have to think about other things.

“I understand. But don’t overexert yourself. The knight exam will be held again in a year.”

“What’s there to overexert? Don’t worry.”

I smiled reassuringly. Luwen nodded and smiled gently.

“Besides, it’s almost lunchtime, you should eat.”

“I’m not hungry…”

“Nadian and the others are worried about you. How about at least showing your face?”

They’re here? I was briefly puzzled about how that happened, but then remembered that the Vice President’s group had changed carriages on the way back. I didn’t know what was discussed, but they seemed to have come to the mansion together.

“Alright. That’s a good idea.”

When I staggered from back pain while getting up, Luwen supported me. I patted his arm and smiled.

“I’m fine. You don’t need to support me.”

“……”

But he held me even tighter. As if he didn’t want to let go.

I wonder if he knows that confusing people like this is a crime.

“Really, I’m fine. I’ll walk by myself.”

Only after I said it again did Luwen release me. Only then did I feel a bit more at ease. I never expected that something familiar would one day feel uncomfortable.

‘But eventually I’ll get used to it again.’

It just takes time. Then this subtle tension I’m feeling now will disappear.

I wanted to feel that comfort again as soon as possible.

When I went to the dining room, Nadian, little Norman, Cadin, and Rona’s group were there. After reassuring them with comforting words about their concerns, I ate what was probably one of the worst lunches of my life.

Honestly, I didn’t want to eat because my headache hadn’t subsided, but Luwen kept putting food on my plate as usual, urging me to eat more. Nadian followed suit, then little Norman, and even Cadin quietly transferred food to my plate.

The food wasn’t tasty, but the nagging to eat more because I looked unwell was nice to hear. It felt just like when we lived together in the dormitory.

After the meal, my friends said they were returning to the academy. They needed to pack and leave immediately to make it in time to visit their hometown. It seemed they were all going to Cadin’s hometown together again.

“Luwen. Could you take the kids back to the academy, and set up an appointment with Honorary Duke Cromwell?”

“With the Honorary Duke?”

“Yes. Any date and place convenient for the Honorary Duke should be fine.”

“Understood.”

I nodded, then called Rona and headed to the office. Luwen seemed uncomfortable, but I pretended not to notice.