The Villain Wants to Change Genres

Chapter 12

After a moment of contemplation, I decided to say what Dedric most wanted to hear.

“…Trust me, another disciple of our master.”

I muttered in a small voice, turning my head awkwardly. However, I made sure it was loud enough for Dedric to hear clearly. If he didn’t hear it and I had to repeat it, the effect would be diminished.

Dedric was now being acknowledged by me as a master for the first time. To maintain this trust, he wouldn’t choose to stay at the Duke’s residence. That would mean he didn’t trust me.

I turned my head slightly to gauge his reaction. Dedric was frozen with his mouth wide open, as if he had heard something unbelievable. However, the moment our eyes met, he suddenly started messing up my hair vigorously.

“Hahaha! That’s right. You’re my first disciple. Yes, yes.”

My upper body was bowed under the pressure, making me dizzy. Really, this ill-mannered commoner knight.

I frowned heavily and struggled to push Dedric away, but there was no way for me to overpower the muscular knight with my strength.

“Dedric!”

Finally, I was able to find freedom only after grabbing his arm and expressing my annoyance. I didn’t like situations that didn’t go my way.

I glared at him while fixing my disheveled hair, but Dedric just showed a grinning face.

“I’m just happy.”

Is he that pleased that I acknowledged him as a master? Someone might think his own child was born.

Seeing his face beaming with joy as if he was about to start jumping around, I thought that maybe, just a tiny bit, as rare as finding a bean in a drought, or when my whims were at their peak, it might be nice to call him master.

Dedric, who had taken a wooden sword from Luwen, said:

“Kid! I’ve given your training plan to the young master, so listen well. Don’t cause any trouble.”

“Yes, Master!”

The peculiar sentiment didn’t last long. I was worried about Luwen, who had moved his body enough to sweat in the middle of winter. We should return to the mansion quickly. He’ll get cold when the sweat cools.

“Dedric. I won’t see you off. Luwen, let’s go.”

“Young master, kid. See you next week.”

The excited Luwen just nodded with a broad grin. Then, as he followed me, he kept looking back.

I wondered what he was looking at, only to find Dedric standing in place, watching us.

“Luwen.”

“Yes?”

I was the one who prepared the gift, but out of spite, I called Luwen’s name abruptly to draw his attention to me. Since I didn’t call him for any particular reason, I hesitated when our eyes met, but soon found a topic of conversation.

“You must never practice swordsmanship alone.”

“Why? I want to practice by myself too.”

“There’s a risk of injury, and if you develop bad habits, they’re hard to correct. I’ll give you free time when your skills improve enough to practice alone. Can you wait until then?”

“Was my posture wrong?”

It was awkward, but not wrong. The sight of him carefully swinging the sword, mindful of the posture Dedric had taught, was admirable. But I was worried that if I praised him carelessly, he might practice secretly alone. Concerned that he might get injured, I responded vaguely.

“No one is perfect from the start. That’s why we need help. Sometimes, walking leisurely is the shortcut to getting there faster.”

Luwen, who always walked half a step behind me, was now standing right beside me. The child looked up at me and said:

“I understand. Um, young master.”

“Yes?”

My voice naturally lightened, finding Luwen standing next to me adorable, cute, and pretty.

“Well, today, for bringing me here… and introducing me to the master…”

I tried hard to suppress a big smile at his stammering words. Wanting to hear a clear thank you, I just added “Mm-hmm” pretending not to know anything.

“Th-thank you… I couldn’t tell the lady because I felt guilty… but I wanted to learn swordsmanship. I really want to become the lady’s guard.”

Did he have to add that he wanted to be Irene’s guard? His consistent personality was evident from a young age.

At the same time, I felt a strange disappointment. Clearly, it wasn’t something I should feel disappointed about. Perhaps that’s why the pettiness that had been quiet, completely taken by Luwen’s cuteness, suddenly reared its head. It was an evolution of the earlier spite that had been satisfied just by drawing the child’s attention to me.

“By the way, Luwen.”

“Yes?”

We were just passing through a narrow path along the side of the main building. Just a little further and we’d reach the garden. When I stopped, Luwen, who had passed me, belatedly stopped and turned around.

“Is saying thank you with just words enough?”

“…So you did have an ulterior motive.”

This kid! “So you did”? That’s too much. After thanking me with such a cute face!

“You gave me exactly what I needed, so tell me what you want. I’ll do anything as long as it doesn’t betray the lady.”

I was momentarily stunned by his answer, which seemed as if he held the upper hand.

Come to think of it, I used to dislike this aspect of Luwen in the past. I was irritated by that attitude, so confident as if he had everything when he had nothing.

But now it’s different. He looks like a wonderful kid with integrity. His future is truly promising.

“Give me a hug.”

“…Wh-what? What did you say?”

“I said, give me a hug.”

I knelt on one knee and spread my arms wide. This made Luwen’s eye level slightly higher than mine.

“Are you serious?”

“Yes.”

“But… why me…?”

“Didn’t you say you’d do anything that doesn’t betray your sister? Are you going back on your word?”

“Haa… Young master, I really can’t figure you out sometimes.”

Luwen walked over step by step and snuggled into my arms. Then he wrapped his arms around my back… Oh my! His arms are too short to reach my spine! Is it necessary to be this cute? My heart ached with the lovability, like holding a kitten in my arms.

“Is this enough?”

“Yes. Luwen is warm.”

I could feel Luwen flinching in my arms. Is he embarrassed? His neck turned bright red in an instant.

“From now on, if you want to thank me, just hug me like this.”

“…This is uncomfortable.”

“What? Are you saying you won’t even greet me then?”

Luwen squirmed for a while, but he didn’t push me away or try to escape.

Usually, these kinds of hugs are a privilege only enjoyed when you’re young. Just wait until you grow up. Even parents find it annoying, let alone older brothers. You should enjoy it while you can.

“Alright. I’ll do it.”

Having heard the answer I wanted, I patted Luwen’s head a couple of times and stood up.

“Shall we go back then? I feel like soaking in warm water.”

“I’ll prepare it right away.”

“You need to wash up too. You sweated a lot. Go wash up. I’ll ask Merin to help me.”

As I spoke while walking, Luwen, who was sniffing his clothes by pulling them towards his nose, slowly approached me. Curious about what he was going to do, I stood still, and he grabbed my arm and buried his nose in it.

“…Wh-what are you doing? Do I smell?”

“Yes.”

“Really?”

Surprised, I quickly pulled my arm away. Did I sweat that much just from moving around a bit earlier?

“You smell like spring, young master.”

“Spring?”

“Yes. When I first came here, it was spring. The lady took me to the garden full of flowers, and it smells similar to what I smelled then. How did you do that?”

Spring scent. How can he express it so beautifully? How wonderful it would be if I could really become Luwen’s spring. If I could be someone as cozy, warm, and comfortable as that season for you.

“It’s probably because of my perfume.”

“I wish I could smell like that too.”

I should ask Merin to spray rose scent on Luwen’s clothes. I couldn’t help but smile at his cute remark.

“That’s your second request, isn’t it?”

“It wasn’t really a request…”

“Oh? It’s an easy request to grant, you know. Isn’t it? It’s really simple. Your sister would like it if you smelled fragrant too. What a shame.”

Tempted by my words, Luwen hesitated for a moment before carefully opening his mouth.

“…Can I ask for it?”

“Of course. If there’s anything else you want or want to have, just tell me. I’ll grant them all.”

Please, ask for a lot more. I’ll give you everything. Build many good memories so that you grow into a person full of confidence who can achieve anything, not someone who worries alone, gives up, and hurts.

* * *

Returning to my room, I entrusted Merin with preparing the bath and headed to my desk. While waiting for Merin to call me, I opened the herbal medicine textbook I had been reading yesterday to continue, but I kept thinking about Luwen washing with cold water.

Merin had firmly stated that such a thing never happened, but I couldn’t understand why this thought kept bothering me. Was it because I knew Luwen had gone to wash up now?

In the end, unable to even turn a single page properly, I got up from my seat.