The Villain Wants to Change Genres

Chapter 43

Luwen stood in front of a stable, peering into its empty interior. It was where the beloved horse he had received as a gift from Fei when he was young used to be.

‘Iru…’

It was a horse with an elegant and dignified white mane. Just like Fei.

The horse, which he had named by taking one character each from their names and cared for meticulously, was gone. On the day the attackers took Fei away, they had also taken all the horses from the stable.

He had heard people whispering that they would never return, that the attackers would dispose of all the horses. Luwen vaguely believed that he would never see Iru again.

Nevertheless, Luwen was only afraid of the fact that Fei had been captured by such cruel people. Knowing that despite appearing gentle and mild, Fei was not someone who would easily submit to others made him even more worried.

‘I hope he doesn’t try to defy them in an attempt to protect Iru…’

Once started, his imagination continued to branch out. And only in horrific and terrible directions.

It was when Luwen was biting his nails anxiously.

“Luwen, Iru has returned.”

The moment he saw the once well-maintained mane in a mess, his heart sank. It was as if Fei was asking for help. As if saying this is what I look like now, please come rescue me quickly.

“Luwen.”

The stable keeper handed the reins to Luwen and said,

“There’s a pouch attached to the reins… I think the young master left it.”

Luwen, who had been somewhat dazed, reacted promptly at the words “young master.” On behalf of the restless Luwen, the stable keeper unfastened the pouch that had been carefully tied to prevent it from falling off and looked inside.

‘There’s only paper.’

Without a moment’s hesitation, Luwen quickly took out the note and read it.

[Sister, Luwen.

I’m comfortable and doing well now. Although not as good as my bed, the sleeping arrangements are fine.

Maybe it’s because I’m apart from you two, but I keep thinking about the times when the three of us had fun together.

Especially, do you remember when we all went to the lake last year? That’s when Luwen rescued a baby duck that had fallen into a hole. The mother duck was quacking so loudly beside us. Thinking we were trying to harm it.

I want to go on a picnic together again. Just the three of us – sister, Luwen, and me. I’ll be counting the days until we reunite.

-Fei]

At first, memories came flooding back. How happy they were last spring when they all went on a picnic to the lake on a day when flowers were in full bloom. With his beloved young lady and young master together, he envied no one. He thought he was the happiest person in the world.

He didn’t realize that something so insignificant at the time would become such a precious memory now.

‘Is he really safe?’

He wondered if those brutes had forced him to write this. As this thought occurred to him, his heart became uneasy again. As the seed of doubt sprouted, he had a strange feeling.

‘Indeed, the picnic last year was enjoyable, but there’s no reason to mention it in the current situation…’

Moreover, they had gone on a picnic this year too. The fact that he specifically brought up last year’s story…

‘There might be some hidden message he wants to convey.’

But Luwen found it difficult to interpret. He lacked too much information to understand the content. However, Irene, who had been spending most of her time at the Imperial Palace recently, would know more information. She might be able to interpret it.

Luwen carefully folded the letter, put it back in the pouch, and headed to Irene’s office. He hurried because he needed to deliver it before she left for the Imperial Palace.

‘I’ll deliver the letter and then go straight to the young master.’

Iru was an intelligent horse. Surely, it would serve as a guide to where Fei was. Camping alone in the mountains full of monsters and wild animals wasn’t a problem. Because right now, the scariest thing would be Fei.

Fortunately, Irene was still in her office.

“What is it, Luwen?”

“A letter has come from the young master. It seems there’s a code, but I can’t figure it out.”

Irene received the pouch Luwen held out and immediately read the letter, furrowing her brow. She closed her eyes for a moment, thinking, and then smiled.

“Thank you, Luwen. Thanks to you telling me it’s a code, I was able to figure it out quickly.”

“What does it mean? He’s not in danger, is he?”

“No. Fortunately not. Fei is saying that if we rescue the baby duck, we can be together again.”

“Who does the baby duck represent?”

“Their children. The problem is that he deliberately conveyed the message in code. Probably conscious of the First Prince’s troops. We need to move quickly.”

As Irene hurriedly left the office, Luwen quickly said to her back,

“I’m going to the young master.”

Irene paused and turned around.

“It will be dangerous.”

“Right now, the young master is in the most danger. I need to be by his side. He can’t sleep well at night without me.”

Luwen was prepared to leave even if Irene didn’t allow it. Nevertheless, he told her specifically to mean don’t search for him. There was no need to divide the search party in two.

Irene stared at Luwen intently, and seeming to have glimpsed some determination in him, she asked with a shallow sigh,

“There’s no use in trying to stop you, is there?”

“No.”

At his resolute answer, Irene unfastened the sword at her waist and handed it to him.

“A wooden sword would be too dangerous. I’ll lend you my sword.”

“…Thank you.”

“It’s a gift I received from Father. It’s very precious to me, so you must return it. Understood?”

A gift from the Duke. Luwen grasped the sword tightly with both hands. He could fully feel her wish for his safe return.

“Yes. Without fail.”

“Good. I’ll trust you. Pack plenty of food. Especially, take a lot of water. And when you find them, don’t attack hastily. The important thing is to check Fei’s condition and ensure his safety.”

Luwen took to heart Irene’s worried instructions. He also knew that it would be difficult to face alone those who had invaded the mansion that day. So, avoiding fights as much as possible and staying by the young master’s side – that was the goal he should prioritize.

“I know. I just want to be by the young master’s side too.”

However, if things go wrong. If his life is in danger, then he would use his own life to help him escape.

“I’m going to negotiate with the Second Prince about the baby ducks. I’ll leave as soon as preparations are complete on this side. Go ahead and wait.”

“Do you know the location by any chance?”

“I plan to use a horse with a good memory. Like you.”

“It seems like you know everything, young lady.”

“Not really. I don’t understand Fei’s thoughts well. Why did he break his promise with you that day? The smart Fei would know it’s dangerous to move. He would know best that it’s better to wait for us.”

“…”

“Moreover, the more I think about that night, the more it feels like we were actors in a scripted play.”

It was hard to tell whether the words that followed in a mumble were directed at Luwen or were just her talking to herself. It was also an aspect that Luwen, who was already overwhelmed just dealing with Fei’s absence, hadn’t thought about.

‘But I want to confirm that the young master is safe more than any minor doubts.’

If there was some reason he needed to move, if it was necessary, Luwen would accept it.

‘It might be better if it’s all scripted as the young lady says. That would mean the young master is safe.’

Whatever situation one might assume, right now they’re all just hypotheses. For Luwen, the reality that he needed to leave immediately to find Fei was more important.

“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t be complaining to you.”

Irene, who soon came to her senses, gave a bitter smile. Luwen shook his head and said,

“It’s okay. It’s because you’re worried too, right?”

“Yes. Thank you for understanding.”

Irene took a deep breath, exhaled, and then smiled brightly as usual.

“Everything will be fine! Right?”

“Of course.”

“Be careful. I should hurry to the Imperial Palace too.”

“See you later.”

“Yes. Let’s do that.”

After parting with Irene with a light greeting as usual, Luwen began to pack. Despite having to go on a dangerous journey, the anxiety that had been pressing on him all this time receded slightly.

However, Luwen couldn’t leave right away. The moment he saw Iru collapsed and sleeping from exhaustion, he realized that leaving today would be impossible.

‘You’ve run hard.’

Luwen sat down next to Iru and stroked its body. The sensitive horse woke up but recognized Luwen and rested its muzzle on his thigh.

“Rest well. When you wake up, let’s go find the young master. Help me.”

-Snort.

It was as if the horse understood Luwen’s words.