The Villain Wants to Change Genres

Chapter 38

Fei’s delivery of Father’s last words.

And the letter Father left behind.

The promise.

Even when I tried not to think about it, it kept coming back to me. At those times, my chest would tighten, and I couldn’t do anything. I shouldn’t be this weak. I need to be strong to protect my brother.

‘He’s my brother. My last remaining family…’

That’s why Father’s promise hurt even more.

Father was uncomfortable with Fei, and Fei had given up all expectations he might have had for Father. The relationship between father and son continued to run parallel, never converging. Irene believed it was Father who needed to change his attitude.

So she worked on it for three years. At the end of it, Irene was finally able to hear what she wanted to hear.

That he had distanced himself from Fei to break the Duchess’s abnormally twisted obsession, that she had consistently poisoned Fei to gain attention, and that in the winter when Fei turned eight, she finally tried to kill the child to receive a new seed.

He said that despite ingesting a lethal dose of poison, Fei barely survived after hovering between life and death, thanks to the tolerance he had built up from constantly being poisoned. However, that incident greatly damaged Fei’s body.

The Duke killed the Duchess and buried everything in exchange for cutting ties with her family.

After saying that much, Father sighed and continued.

‘Fei doesn’t know that his mother poisoned him. The proof is that he still loves that person. I told him not to drink rose tea in case it might bring back memories, but he defiantly drinks even more.’

He shook his head with a bitter smile.

‘I don’t know who he takes after to be so stubborn.’

For a moment, Irene saw Father’s expression soften. Her thoughts hadn’t been wrong.

Father doesn’t dislike Fei. If Father reached out first, they could bridge the wide gap between father and son. It would take a very long time, but it would eventually become a wound that could heal.

‘It was your fault, Father. There’s no child who doesn’t crave parental love. Children, you know, look for the reason they’re not loved within themselves. Did you really not know how much that child thirsted for your attention and affection?’

The Duke listened to her words without saying anything.

‘I love and respect you, Father. But for Fei, you’re the worst. Please reach out to him first, Father. Only you can heal the wounds Fei has received. It’s not too late.’

‘He won’t want me. We’re already disconnected.’

‘No. He’s just pretending to protect his own heart. Because if he doesn’t, it would be too painful to bear, so he’s protecting himself.’

‘Wouldn’t it be better to leave him be if hating me freely makes him comfortable?’

Irene shook her head firmly.

‘Do you really think that would make him comfortable? Don’t turn away, please approach him first, Father. You need to protect Fei. That’s what parents do, isn’t it?’

The Duke was silent for a long time. Irene held the Duke’s hand tightly and added, almost pleadingly.

‘Father. It’s not Fei’s fault, is it?’

The Duke, who had been staring at his held hand, looked up and asked.

‘Do you really think that child would want to get along well with me?’

‘At first, he’ll probably dislike it because it’s awkward and uncomfortable. But… I think he’ll like it deep down.’

The conversation broke off again. The Duke pondered for a very long time, and Irene simply stayed by his side, hoping her father would find the courage.

Finally, having made a decision, the Duke said.

‘Alright. I’ll try. But if that child truly rejects me, then I’ll stop. The current Fei seems stable. He has someone he can give his heart to, and he’s pursuing his dreams free from the pressure of being the eldest son of the duchy. There’s no need to stir things up unnecessarily.’

‘I understand. But please promise me. That you won’t give up easily. That you’ll make an effort.’

‘I promise.’

The Duke smiled gently. Irene thought that smile looked very much like Fei’s.

Yes, that’s how it was, but…

“Father…”

Drip, drip-

Teardrops fell onto the letter, absorbing the ink and turning murky.

[Irene, my daughter.

I’m sorry. I don’t think I’ll be able to keep my promise.

I’ve been poisoned. I probably won’t last more than a few days. I’m leaving this letter because Fei came to see me.

The more I talked with Fei, the more I realized you were right. Fei just wanted his parents’ attention. So he drank the tea his mother gave him as a child, knowing it contained poison.

Even though she was such a cruel mother, he loved her because she was by his side. Rather than a father who showed no interest, he loved the mother who was there, even if she used him as a tool.

But this realization comes too late. What use are any words now? I can’t give him what he wants. Wouldn’t it just leave bitterness in his heart?

So I hurt the child. I can only hope that remaining a bad father to the end will be the best choice. So please don’t tell Fei about our promise.

Irene. My beloved daughter.

I entrust you with Fei, my son whom I failed to love in the end.

I’m sorry for being an unworthy father.]

Irene pressed the sleeve of her garment against the tear stains she had left, trying to erase them. But the tears wouldn’t stop easily.

Father lost the chance to be forgiven by his child, and Fei forever lost the time to forgive and be loved by his father. All because of someone’s dirty greed.

‘First Prince. You won’t get anything you want.’

After closing her eyes for a long time to control her emotions, Irene finished the paperwork she had to handle and headed to Fei’s room.

Merin, who had grown thin in just a few days, was pacing in the hallway when she greeted Irene.

“My lady…”

“Merin. Fei will be alright. You don’t need to worry too much. I’ll bring him back safely.”

“Yes, yes. My lady. I’ll believe you. Our young master… *sob* *hic*…”

Patting Merin on the back as she wept like a waterfall, Irene ordered her to rest and then opened the door to Fei’s room. Luwen was standing still, facing the wall, even though he must have heard her coming.

“Luwen.”

“…”

He was endlessly staring at a cat drawing that looked like a doodle.

“Luwen.”

When there was no answer, she called again, and only then did he slowly turn his head. His eyes were full of sorrow and resentment.

“The young master is a liar. He said he wouldn’t go anywhere. He said he would always be by my side. He said he would stay hidden without moving until I brought the young lady back… And yet…”

Irene slowly moved to stand next to Luwen. The cat drawing hung lonely without a frame. Amid the playfulness, a careful affection could be glimpsed.

“Did Fei draw this for you?”

“Yes.”

“We lost Fei because we were weak.”

“I know. That’s why I’m even angrier. If only I had been stronger! The young master wouldn’t have given himself up because of me!”

“Then isn’t it clear what we need to do? There’s no time to be sad. Luwen. Instead of lamenting, train yourself more. Become stronger than anyone else.”

Luwen’s stained eyes sank deeply. He knows without Irene saying it. That’s why he couldn’t move from this spot. The current frustration, resentment, weakness, indignation, and fear. He was swallowing all those emotions, pressing them down. Even though his nails were digging into his palms, Luwen clenched his fists tightly.

‘I’ll grow stronger. So that no one can lay a hand on the young master.’

So that person can stay comfortably in a safe and peaceful greenhouse.

He will protect that warm smile that always sits in the same place, looking at him with affectionate eyes.

To do that, he needed to choose only one of the two people. He couldn’t protect Fei this time because he was greedy. The excessive desire to protect both people ultimately led to losing one.

‘If I had stayed by the young master’s side until the end, he wouldn’t have been taken alone.’

Even if captured, the two of them would have been together. Then he wouldn’t be trembling alone in fear among those vicious people now.

Luwen straightened his back and stepped away from Irene. Then, he politely bid farewell to the benefactor who had saved him.

“Young lady. I said I would return after three years, but I’m sorry. I want to protect the young master. I want to be by the young master’s side.”