The Villain Wants to Change Genres

Chapter 27

It seems Luwen was more shocked than I expected. Thinking about how Luwen had clung to the terrace window, wanting to go outside on the day I collapsed, was quite touching. He wouldn’t touch a sword even for a moment because of me. I was very satisfied that my carrot, carrot, and giant carrot strategy had borne excellent fruit.

While I was secretly feeling proud, Irene asked me:

“You want to continue supervising Luwen’s sword practice in the future, right?”

“Yes. At least for the promised three years.”

Thanks to Luwen’s get-well visits, Irene seemed to know my thoughts quite well from sharing many daily moments with me.

“Alright. Then we’ll need to start construction.”

“Huh? What construction?”

“You can’t swing a sword indoors, can you?”

“That’s true.”

Actually, being a duke’s mansion, there’s enough space to swing a sword anywhere indoors. However, swinging a sword indoors is considered quite uncivilized behavior in the empire. That’s why we reluctantly went outside even in cold weather.

But why is she suddenly bringing this up? As I was wondering, Irene poked my forehead with her index finger and said:

“I’m going to build a resting place that’s warm in winter and cool in summer.”

“In my training ground?”

“Yes. We’ll need to start by clearing trees to expand the space, so it’ll be difficult in winter. We should start in spring, aiming to finish before summer arrives.”

It was a project that would cost a fortune, without even needing to estimate.

“There’s no way Father would allow such a big project.”

“I’ll take care of that.”

I’m not sure how she plans to do it, but her voice and eyes showed quite a reckless determination. It’s all good to me, so I nodded.

“Mm. Okay. Thanks, sister.”

I’m grateful that my sister is volunteering to empty Father’s pockets for me. Above all, Luwen would like it too if there was a place to rest right next to the training ground.

Come to think of it, Luwen is quiet. I tilted my head slightly to check, and the child was asleep, tightly gripping my clothes. It’s like an angel flew into my arms and is taking a nap…

“Is Luwen asleep?”

Irene asked, lowering her voice.

“Yes, he’s fallen asleep.”

“Let him sleep without waking him. He’s been watching over you without proper sleep.”

“Really?”

“That’s not all. The child was crying silently, just sniffling without making a sound. It was so pitiful.”

So he clung to me and cried loudly because he was relieved. Since I had persisted despite knowing my poor physical condition, I couldn’t help but feel a bit embarrassed.

I just smiled awkwardly at her affectionate scolding.

“So take better care of your health.”

…But I want to see it again. It’s the first time I’ve seen people worry solely about my well-being without any other calculations. However, while my personality might be bad, I do have common sense, so I smiled slightly and replied:

“Okay. I will.”

“You should sleep more too. You need to rest well. Understood?”

“I got it, sister.”

After seeing off Irene with her smile, I carefully lay down on the bed so as not to wake Luwen. Only then did Merin, who had been silent all this time, approach and arrange the blanket, saying:

“Young master. That scar has faded a lot.”

“Oh? Really? Let me see.”

Merin lifted her bangs.

Indeed. It had faded. It seemed the ointment I made for her was effective.

“That’s good. It’s hardly noticeable. If you keep applying it, it’ll get even better.”

“Yes. I’ve become prettier, but your face right now is a mess, young master. Enough to make me want to retire.”

Oh, so this was a build-up to scold me. Are you using the carrot and stick method too?

“So don’t get up until I come to wake you. Rest well.”

“Okay.”

Merin is quite shy too.

After pulling the blanket up to Luwen’s nape and arranging it, Merin left the room. Then, I definitely felt sleepy. Maybe because my heart felt warm and fuzzy, I thought I could sleep well.

* * *

I can’t tell you how surprised I was to see Luwen’s puffy eyes after I woke up from a good nap. But Luwen seemed as surprised as I was.

As proof, Luwen was showing childish behavior he had never shown before. He clung to me, constantly checking my face, and whenever I tried to move, he would quickly follow and hold my hand tightly.

When I went to the bed with the ice pack Merin brought, he even looked at me with eyes that seemed to praise me. After realizing it was prepared for him, he pouted for a moment, but he calmed down, probably feeling good from the cool temperature on his hot eyes.

“Young master, it’s cold! The other way, the other way!”

“Alright.”

More accurately, he was really taking advantage of me.

“Aren’t you cold, young master?”

“I’m not cold. It’s warm inside.”

Luwen, looking doubtful, touched and felt my fingers. Then suddenly, he stiffened his face and snatched the ice pack.

“Why? Don’t you want to do it anymore?”

“Your hands are cold. What if you collapse again? I’ll take care of it.”

“Who collapses just because their hands get a little cold?”

“Still, you can’t.”

Luwen pulled my hand and tucked it under the blanket. There’s no need to be this overprotective. I let out a small laugh, but then cleared my throat at Luwen’s fierce glare.

While we were having a small wrestle with the ice pack and spending a peaceful time, the door opened and disturbing news was delivered. Somehow, my story had flown all the way to the imperial palace. The 5th Prince was coming.

“Time is tight, young master. You must get ready quickly.”

Even the head butler was making a fuss, probably on Father’s orders. I was annoyed at having my quiet time with Luwen interrupted, but since we can’t treat royalty carelessly, I had to change clothes reluctantly.

And I went to the lobby at the time the prince was expected to arrive. Only then did I realize that Father was in the mansion.

‘I said it wasn’t noticeable, but this can’t be helped, can it?’

I bowed my head in greeting as Father was looking at me. Probably because I thought that’s what you would prefer. But then he suddenly walked towards me.

“I heard you drink rose tea.”

It’s not the first thing you’d say to a son who just recovered from illness, but Father is always like this. What’s the point in expecting anything? If you have no expectations to begin with, there’s no disappointment.

“Yes. His Highness gifted me some good roses.”

“I can’t stand the sight of roses. I thought you were the same.”

You don’t even know your son’s tastes.

“I like them. They remind me of Mother.”

Father sighed lightly and said:

“She wasn’t a good mother.”

“Still, she loved me.”

“Is that so.”

I was trying to brush it off, but I felt my blood boil, wondering if this was all he had to say to me. I’d lose if I got excited. I wanted to turn his insides out, not mine. It felt like that was the only way I’d feel better.

‘It’s good I left Luwen’s ice compress to Merin before coming.’

Thanks to that, I could speak without burden.

“You heard that I was sick, right? And that His Highness is coming to visit me. Yet you’re badmouthing my deceased mother in front of me again. Do you really have to do this right now?”

The lobby was quiet. But it wasn’t empty. I could hear the servants quietly swallowing dry saliva. This situation will probably become gossip someday.

“Don’t drink rose tea.”

Father closed his mouth after saying that. I’m not sure if I managed to scratch his insides, but I think I certainly chipped away at his dignity a bit.

‘I hope you’re satisfied with the dignity your son personally chipped away for you.’

Irene, who came down late, noticed that the atmosphere in the lobby was quite strange and quietly stood beside me.

“What happened?”

I only told her that Father said not to drink rose tea.

Not long after, the 5th Prince arrived. He stared blatantly at me, not at Father who went out to greet him. He barely listened to Father’s responses. Even I could tell he was answering perfunctorily, which honestly made me feel a bit better. Where else would Father be disrespected like this?

“Duke Vinter. Thank you for your hospitality.”

The 5th Prince expressed a clear desire to end the conversation and turned towards me. Conscious of the prince, I bowed my head to Father before heading to the reception room with him.

At his request to clear the surroundings, only the prince and I entered the reception room. After confirming that the servants had withdrawn and closed the door, he spoke in a serious tone:

“Fei. First, I heard you were sick, and I want to apologize for coming unannounced.”

So you do know.

“But the excuse of a sick visit seemed the most plausible. I couldn’t wait until the next scheduled talk.”

Oh, what’s this? It doesn’t seem like a simple sick visit.