The Villain Wants to Change Genres

Chapter 33

“Why are you helping us, young master? What’s in it for you?”

“If the eldest son keeps acting up, it might get tiring for me. Oh, and he’s also my father’s enemy.”

I replied nonchalantly, and the leader suddenly burst out laughing, “Hahaha!” Then he struck the floor with the axe resting on his shoulder.

“I like it. I like your reason. If we’re going to be used and killed by noble gentlemen anyway, you’re better. What should we do?”

“You won’t die. Your death would be a loss for the Second Prince. You know the saying, the enemy of my enemy is my friend. Trust me. I’ll save you.”

“Sure, sure.”

He doesn’t believe me. Everything I said is true. Oh well. They’ll understand when they see how things turn out later anyway. No need to waste my breath explaining now. Let’s just get to the point.

“Now, I’ll explain the plan to save you, so listen carefully. First, you must not harm anyone in the mansion. Especially Irene and Luwen. They’re my sister and servant.”

“How are we supposed to recognize them if you just say that?”

“You’ll know when you see them. My sister has the same silver hair and purple eyes as me. Luwen looks like a chick, or an angel, or a fairy. You won’t be confused because when you see him, you’ll wonder how such a pretty, cute, and handsome boy exists.”

What’s with that look? I feel like I’m being treated as really strange. It’s all true, what can I do?

“Don’t understand? Then if you think you see light, that’s Luwen. He’s even prettier when he smiles, but unfortunately, you won’t get to see that.”

“…We’ll figure it out ourselves, just explain the plan. How do we escape after taking you hostage?”

“Don’t be impatient. I’ll explain step by step, so wait. By the way, can you act?”

We need some realism.

* * *

The Kans were dumber than I expected, which took up quite some time. The one good thing was that they were confident in their acting skills.

If Irene or Luwen became suspicious and dug deeper, accidentally revealing that this was all staged, it would be over. In that case, it would be easy to twist it into me bringing in the Kans under my direction to kill my father.

‘I explained that we’d all die if the First Prince, who surely left watching eyes in the mansion, pushed it that way, so I’ll have to trust they’ll do well on their own.’

…But why do I feel so uneasy? As I sat at the desk, repeatedly pondering possible variables, Luwen, who had been tossing and turning, woke up. His face full of sleepiness, rubbing his eyes, looked exactly the same as when he was younger, appearing simply adorable.

“You’re awake? You woke up at an odd time.”

“Ugh… What time is it?”

Luwen got up, pushing aside the thin summer blanket, and walked towards me. Then he rested his chin on the desk, looking up at me with a cute, coy face.

He’s really an angel, I tell you. I put down my quill and gently stroked Luwen’s hair. With his eyes closed, enjoying my touch, he looked just like a cat. I was a bit disappointed that he wasn’t purring.

“It’s a little past one. Why don’t you sleep more?”

“I don’t think I’ll fall asleep again soon. I want to watch you study.”

“What’s there to see? It’ll be boring.”

“I like the sound of the quill pen.”

Luwen opened one eye and tapped the quill pen. The ink that fell from the rolling pen seeped into the blank paper in dots.

I picked up the quill again and drew lines on the paper with ink marks. Overlapping here and there, sometimes in curves, sometimes in circles, and finally added a dot.

“How is it?”

“It’s a spotted cat? It’s cute!”

“I drew it because Luwen looking at me reminds me of a cat. Want it as a gift?”

As I asked while fanning the ink dry, Luwen nodded with sparkling eyes.

I waited for a while and even checked if any ink would smear to avoid it turning into a horror cat, then handed it over.

“Do you like it that much?”

“Yes! I love it!”

“That much?”

He carefully held it, afraid it might crumple, and nodded. He used to cherish the peony I picked from the imperial greenhouse the same way. Seeing him treat a casually drawn picture so preciously made my heart ache.

When Luwen said he wanted to hang the picture in the room, I told him he could hang it anywhere he wanted. He was busy enjoying himself, trying the picture against various spots on the wall.

“Young master! Can I hang it here?”

“Sure. I said you could hang it anywhere. You don’t need permission.”

“Hehe.”

Luwen, who grew up brightly without shadows, was like a sparkling lake in midsummer. Just looking at him made me smile; he was dazzling, shining, and brilliant.

As I chatted with Luwen about small things while looking at the picture on the wall, the scheduled time approached. The signal was a sudden scream. I got up, pretending to be puzzled as if I had no idea what was happening.

“Did an accident happen outside?”

As I was heading towards the terrace, I was stopped by Luwen grabbing my arm before I could take a few steps.

“Young master, wait a moment!”

“Hm? Why?”

“The screams are strange. They’re coming from all directions.”

Luwen, with a stiffened face, set me in place and carefully headed to the terrace. He looked quite dependable as he peeked out between the curtains. I suddenly felt how much he had grown.

“It’s intruders.”

With a hard voice, Luwen closed the curtains thoroughly and approached me.

“…!”

I had to focus on the situation rather than admiring Luwen, so I opened my lips and inhaled. Then I shook my head as if I had heard something unbelievable.

“No way, it can’t be. Who would enter the Duke’s residence? There are many regular knights too.”

“Those people aren’t real knights. They were all people with strange attitudes and ways of speaking.”

When did you observe all that? Do you need to have good eyesight too? He really was a child lacking nothing.

Meanwhile, the bell announcing the presence of intruders rang loudly. The frequency of people’s screams shortened, and someone was running around shouting, “Intruders!”

In the suddenly changed situation, Luwen grabbed the wooden sword leaning by the bed.

Good choice. He could have used a real sword in actual combat, but due to lack of experience, the familiar wooden sword would probably have a much higher lethality rate.

“I’ll go check outside and come back. Young master, stay in the room… no, do you want to come along? I think it would be better to meet up with the young lady.”

Yes. I knew you’d say that. But Luwen, I’m going to send you alone to Irene. I’ve warned them not to touch you two, so the same situation as in the original story won’t happen.

“Luwen, go to my sister. I’ll go to Father.”

“Young master, I can’t let you go alone. Let’s go together instead.”

Luwen’s hand gripping my arm tightened. He seemed a bit scared. I patted the back of his hand a couple of times and spoke slowly.

“Actually, this morning… I argued with Father.”

“That-“

I shook my head to stop Luwen from speaking.

“I’m worried about Father. But I’m also worried about my sister. Luwen, you’re the only one I can trust.”

“There’s no guarantee you’ll safely reach the Duke’s bedroom. Then let me escort you there. And then I’ll go to the young lady…”

“And leave my sister alone until then? You said all the regular knights are fake. What if those people threaten my sister?”

“But…”

Luwen made a tearful face. I pretended to ponder, stalling for time, then looked straight into Luwen’s eyes and said:

“How about this? Luwen, you’re fast. Quickly go get my sister and bring her to Father’s bedroom. Let’s meet there.”

Luwen closed his mouth tightly. His tense face showed the stubbornness typical of a child who couldn’t give up on either me or my sister. Does it feel like having to choose between mom and dad? I’m forcing him to choose only one person to stay by their side right now.

“I’m not going to Father without thinking. It will take time for the intruders to come up here. Father’s bedroom is on an even higher floor, so I’m actually moving further away from them.”

I continued speaking as I removed Luwen’s hand from my arm for the first time, a cling that I had always welcomed because I loved it.

“I’m slow and lack stamina. I can’t go to both Father’s bedroom and my sister’s room. Besides, Father is stronger than anyone. If I just meet Father, I’ll be safe. He’ll protect me because I’m his child, right?”

He should understand well enough that it’s difficult to run around the mansion with me in tow. And even if he takes me along, my sister will head to Father. In the end, Luwen would protect me who’d be lagging behind, and Irene would run alone. It would be the same situation as now, just in a different place.

Our Luwen, you can think that much, can’t you? Right? You know how much my sister values family. You should know as much as I do. Think efficiently.