Episode 12

“Where did he go?”

He sped away so fast that I couldn't keep up with my eyes.

Leaving me alone with the bags of clothes.

I stood stupidly for a moment, then quickly regained my composure.

‘He’ll come back eventually.’

Ute Velvet wasn't a five-year-old child, and I do not need a guardian.

‘But how old is he, really?’

In all the time I’ve liked Ute Velvet, I never thought to ask his age.

I didn't think it mattered as long as he was over adulthood.

After all, age didn't mean much for an angel.

‘He's probably around my age.’

If he came to the capital right after receiving his medical license, he’d be around twenty-four.

I counted on my fingers and then skimmed through the books Ute had pointed out.

〈 The Double Life of A Villainess〉

〈 Am I the Duke’s Golden Leaf Daughter?〉

〈 The Empress Wants a Divorce〉

“Hmmm…”

I have no idea.

I tried to recall the explanations Ute had given earlier.

The female lead and the male lead. The secondary male lead, the villainess, the mastermind, and the loyal subordinates.

‘Just hearing an explanation won't help.’

On a random page, someone was slapping a maid's cheek.

'Oh…'

Flip.

In another book, the female protagonist fired her personal maid overnight.

Flip.

In another book, a maid was being blackmailed with her family held hostage.

Flip.

In another book, a maid was being punished in place of a reckless lady.

I closed the book.

My head was throbbing.

‘This is romance?’

The feeling that made my body heat up and my heart pound uncontrollably... was that love?

‘It’s more like a ledger of unfair workplace misconduct.’

I tried to open the book again, but I felt dizzy.

Was it simply Ute Velvet's selection of books, or were romance novels predominantly focused on the struggles of maids?

‘Maids also have human rights.’

Why do they get slapped, fired, and punished in place of others?

I felt a lump in my throat, feeling for the maids in the stories.

For my mental health, I left the romance section. Once I stepped away, my vision cleared, my pulse returned to normal, and my fever subsided.

Afterward, I circled the bookstore entrance to the romance section five times.

However, Ute Velvet did not return.

‘Should I just leave?’

Just as I was heading to pay for my books, an unfamiliar voice resounded from behind me.

“The rumors spread like wildfire in half a day.”

As I turned around, a glare came into view.

Dark brown hair flowed like a lion’s mane.

“They say you’re Ute Velvet’s new lover.”

“Who are you?”

“I am—”

“Wait…!”

“Yes, if you’re not completely clueless, you’d have an idea.”

Fierce energy, red lips, and an ability to attract attention at first sight!

‘Is this… the appearance of a villainess?’

It matched the scenes from the romance books I had briefly skimmed.

‘But why?’

I wasn't the female lead.

The woman continued in a confident demeanor as she approached where I stood.

‘I wouldn't be confused if she threatened me here.’

Villainesses didn't only harass the main character.

The main character's family, friends, and even servants…!

‘Then, she must know the Madam… Wait, she mentioned Ute Velvet earlier.’

Besides, she called me 'Ute Velvet’s new lover.'

‘Is this unrelated to romance?’

Meanwhile, the woman had advanced closer.

Her angry face was striking.

“You know who I am, don’t you?”

“No, this is my first time seeing you.”

“How could—Fine, I can take that. But you know why I’m talking to you, right?”

“I have no idea.”

“Oh my gosh! How could someone be so clueless?”

I was being criticized by someone I had just met for the first time.

The woman held her forehead and furrowed her brows.

“Right. It’s not your fault. It’s all because that man is too cunning. People like us are not to blame.”

“Man?”

A warm hand gripped mine tightly.

The woman pulled my arm very softly. Then she screamed.

“You’re completely deceived by that man!”

“Which man?”

“Ute Velvet!”

As she stomped her foot, dust rose from the shelves.

“There are rumors all over town that Velvet is parading around with a new woman! He was quiet for a while, but now… He’s up to his old tricks again!”

“Velvet’s new woman is supposed to be… Me?”

“Who else would it be?”

“So this is… an attempt to keep me in check? Is that your purpose?”

If so, I completely understand.

It’s not that I’m blinded by affection; Ute Velvet is simply a crazy attractive man.

‘There must be many others who admire him besides me.’

During the time I lived next door, so many people entered and left his apartment daily.

The voices I heard through the wall were always different.

‘So I'm the one playing the role of a villainess?'

Not the main villainess, but a minor one.

I decided to humbly accept the fate that lay before me.

“Go ahead, blame me all you want.”

“What?”

“You’re annoyed because I’m hanging around Sir Ute, isn't that the case? You’re upset and frustrated, right?”

“I am annoyed, but that’s not—”

“You can vent all you want. If you want to call me cunning and wicked, do it within the next 15 minutes—”

“My anger is directed towards Ute Velvet!”

“…”

“I’m trying to save you. So you don’t end up suffering like I did.”

“Did he steal your money?”

“That would be better!”

The woman’s eyebrows shot up.

Her healthy hands still held onto mine firmly.

“That man is terribly cruel!”

Cruel?

My mind froze, unable to administer the description with Ute Velvet.

‘His appearance is cruel, though.’

If someone was outrageously good-looking, it must be a violation of the international peace treaty.

“How specifically?”

“If not, why did he peel the shrimp shells?”

“…Shrimp shells?”

Was she joking?

But the woman’s eyes were serious. She was genuinely indignant.

“Why give me his coat when I said I was cold?”

“Uh…”

“Why bring me medicine when I was sick? Why remember my favorite snack that I mentioned liking just once!”

“…”

“And then, what? He had no intentions? No interest in dating at all?”

The woman seemed half crazy.

“How could someone do that!”

“…”

“Such actions are illegal! Don’t you think?”

“Are they?”

“No, but if I could prove my emotional distress in court, they’d rule in my favor every time.”

I don't think that's how the court functions though?

The law might've changed without my knowledge.

“I found out he wasn’t only like this with me. The second daughter of a famous photographer, and the bakery owner. It’s all a mess! A mess!”

“…”

“Making people fall for him! He's a piece of trash that leads people on!"

While she was fuming, the woman checked her wristwatch and hastily composed herself.

“It’s already this late… Anyway, if anything happens, contact me right away.”

The business card bore unexpected words.

〈Divorce Attorney〉

Her earlier remarks regarding legality had now gained more weight.

“Never, ever fall for Ute Velvet’s tricks. That bastard has no heart!”

The divorce attorney emphasized this several times and left the bookstore.

Not long after, the 'incredibly cruel' Ute Velvet appeared.

“Sorry, I’m late, aren’t I?”

He apologized repeatedly and paid for the books, including the ones I had picked out.

Even while carrying several bags of clothes and dozens of books, he didn’t appear tired.

“Why did you rush out?”

“To get my fortune told.”

“What…?”

“There’s a fortune-teller who appears very rarely, so I went to catch them.”

“Ah… How much did that cost?”

Gasp.

The amount Ute mentioned amounted to about two weeks' salary.

Just hearing it made my stomach hurt, but he didn’t seem to mind at all.

“I also bought a talisman.”

“Ah…”

“These things help in times of crisis. Also, the horoscope…”

A terribly cruel man?

This guy?

A man who genuinely believed in things that were clearly scams?

‘Am I the one being fooled, or did I fool him?’

I contemplated dragging him back to get a refund when a small light appeared before my eyes.

“Here.”

“A necklace?”

“It’s a talisman.”

“You bought one for me too?”

“Of course. I thought a ring or bracelet might be cumbersome at work, so I chose a necklace instead. Is that alright?”

Trash that leads people on.

A terribly cruel man.

I gaped at the necklace that matched the color of my eyes and asked,

“Sir Ute, do you like me?”

---

Prev || Toc || Next