The Villain Wants to Change Genres

Chapter 24

“Even though you have so much…”

Luwen looked a bit embarrassed and uncomfortable. Nevertheless, how could I not adore him when he was behaving so well, probably because I was so happy?

“This is the first thing Luwen has given me. It’s really special to me. What should I do? I feel like crying because I’m so happy.”

“It, it’s nothing special. When the weather warms up, the garden will be full of them. Shall I pick some more for you then?”

“I’d like that.”

Luwen, who had been hesitating, tightly hugged my neck and let out a small “hehe” laugh.

I’m going crazy. I feel like I’m going to cry.

“So, if you’re done saying thank you, can you put me down now? You said you were tired.”

Ah, right. That’s true. I did ask for a hug when I was grateful. He must have thought it was a thank you and stayed still. How adorable.

“Why? Let’s stay like this a little longer. I like how warm Luwen is.”

“Am I not heavy?”

“You are a bit heavy. Our Luwen is growing up fast.”

“I’ll grow even more!”

“I know.”

I wanted to hold him longer, but my arms were getting sore from how heavy the little one had become, so I had to put him down. I guess I’ll have to give up on spinning him around.

It’s already too much.

Instead, I picked up the bouquet I received from Luwen. I know that a much larger quantity of flowers went to Irene’s room. But what’s important is that Luwen prepared a gift for me too. I was happy to feel that the child’s opinion of me had improved considerably.

This year, the garden full of peonies might look pretty. Before I knew it, my headache had disappeared completely.

* * *

Luwen woke up a little after five in the morning. He sometimes woke up at this time, and when he did, there were always certain sounds he heard.

The rustling of turning pages, the scratching of a quill pen, the crackling of the burning fireplace. All of these brought comfort. So instead of going back to sleep, Luwen fully immersed himself in the peace and comfort that could only be felt at dawn.

He slightly lifted his eyelids and saw Fei’s back sitting at the desk. It was the same scene as usual, but one thing was different: the peony bouquet Luwen had given as a gift was hanging upside down right next to the desk.

‘Why do you hang it upside down?’

‘This way, we can preserve its shape for a longer time without losing it.’

Remembering Fei’s answer with a smile prettier than the flowers, Luwen suppressed a laugh of satisfaction.

Fei, who had been looking at the book for a while, lifted his head. Luwen reflexively closed his eyes, then slowly opened them again to peek at Fei. He was smelling the fragrance of the peonies Luwen had given him. His long, slender fingers touched a petal and then fell away. Even though only his back was visible, his good mood was palpable.

‘…It’s really nothing special.’

Along with unnecessary embarrassment, a sense of satisfaction spread through him.

All the luxurious decorations in this room belonged to him. Fei was someone who could have anything he wanted. The same was true for flowers.

‘His Highness the Prince seemed like he would gladly give you a greenhouse if you asked for it.’

Yet he was so happy with just a humble bouquet that Luwen had given him, made from flowers taken from the 5th Prince’s garden. Somehow, it felt like he was holding the bouquet Fei loved to his chest.

Young Lord Fei Vinter. He was quite strange. In the past, he was just a scary adult. But the changed Fei sometimes felt like a reliable protector, sometimes like a brother, and sometimes like a careless person who would cough as if dying just because of some flour.

And he was also someone who wielded a sword as beautifully as if he were dancing.

He gently suppressed strong force with fluid and elegant movements. The winter training ground was surrounded by bare trees that had shed all their leaves, but among them, Fei alone bloomed brilliantly. His restrained swordsmanship was so graceful that one could watch in a trance.

‘I want to see it again…’

It was something he was too shy to say out loud. Luwen pulled the blanket closer, feeling the softness of the pillow.

There was a rustling sound, and Fei turned to look this way. Afraid of being caught awake, Luwen squeezed his eyes shut.

A moment later, when he carefully opened his eyes again, Fei was absorbed in his book. About 30 minutes passed like this. With a creaking sound, Luwen felt Fei moving. Luwen closed his eyes again, pretending to be asleep.

He knew Fei was coming towards him, moving stealthily. And as always, he would stroke his head with his soft hand.

‘Luwen, have sweet dreams.’

He already knew the whisper that would follow.

The moment Fei’s hand touched his forehead, Luwen’s eyes flew open. It wasn’t a premeditated action. He just wanted to do it.

“Oh…?”

Fei, caught off guard, opened his eyes wide, then immediately showed an apologetic expression.

“Sorry. Did I wake you?”

“No. I just happened to wake up.”

“Then go back to sleep quickly. It’s still early.”

As Fei patted his chest a couple of times and was about to get up, Luwen grabbed his wrist.

“You said you’d warm up the blanket. It’s warm here.”

As he spoke, Luwen moved to the side. Fei’s face, which had been staring at the empty space for a moment, broke into a smile. He slipped under the blanket. At the same time, the scent of roses spread strongly.

‘It smells nice…’

In fact, Luwen had first seen roses in the 5th Prince’s palace. Among them, the deep purple roses that seemed to have directly transferred the color of Fei’s eyes were particularly beautiful and fragrant.

“It really is warm.”

A purple flower bloomed in the darkness. Fei smiled softly and slowly closed his eyes. Soon, the flower bud he had seen in the imperial greenhouse disappeared behind his eyelids.

Luwen always thought the young lady’s sparkling eyes were like jewels. Even though they were the same purple, the young lord’s eyes, which were a shade deeper, resembled the flower he had seen today.

‘The young lord has become a flower.’

Maybe that’s why he changed.

* * *

It’s already been a month since the new year passed, and we each grew a year older – I turned eighteen, and Luwen became thirteen. In the meantime, we visited the imperial palace once more, and this time we didn’t run into the 1st Prince.

Of course, there was no dinner with my father either. Nevertheless, Irene didn’t get impatient. She just occasionally asked, “Aren’t you hungry?” When I shook my head, she declared that she would prepare something whenever I got hungry.

Thanks to this, the time I spent with Luwen was the same every day, and always fulfilling. We slept together, ate meals, watched sword practice, and at night, I studied alone.

But when spring comes, there will be changes in our schedule. I decided to go learn medicine from my teacher, and Luwen is planning to learn horseback riding. Worried that he might slip and get hurt if he rode a horse clumsily in winter, we planned to start learning in earnest after spring arrives.

In the meantime, I gave him a horse as a gift to get familiar with, and it proudly took the top spot in Luwen’s priorities. I felt a bit sad that my ranking had dropped again, but I decided to let it slide since it’s an animal. After all, it was a gift I had given.

If there was one problem, it was Luwen’s sword practice time.

‘It’s too cold. When will winter really end?’

Even though I wore several layers of cloaks, it was unbearable to just sit still. But I didn’t want to leave Luwen alone, so I followed him diligently, and I was starting to reach my physical limit.

Still, I endured well until now. I thought I could keep going well because my strength surged whenever I saw Luwen. It’s a shame.

‘At least today, with the snowfall being quite heavy, he probably won’t ask to go out?’

However, contrary to my expectations, Luwen, who was stuck to the terrace window like a rice cake, seemed very eager to go out. Is it because he’s a child that he doesn’t feel the cold? Am I just weak? Or is it both?

“Young lord, when do you think the snow will stop?”

“It looks like it will fall all day.”

Why does his drooping shoulders make me feel so sorry for him? I finally closed the book I was reading and asked the child.

“Do you want to go out?”

At my question, the child’s ears perked up, and he turned around with a bright face. He must have been pressing his cheek against the window because one side was flushed red.

Oh, I know that! Strawberry rice cake!

“Is it okay?”

“If Luwen wants to.”

Honestly, I’m not feeling too well, but I can’t help it. I can’t stand seeing a depressed Luwen.

The child, who had been hesitant about asking to go out in this bad weather, started stomping his feet excitedly when I got up first and picked up my cloak.

“I want to go out! I want to go!”

“Alright. It’s cold, so dress warmly.”

“Yes!”

Luwen quickly ran towards the dressing room I had specially made for him. I put on several more layers of cloaks than usual.

Did I put on too much? My shoulders are heavy, and it’s hard to walk. Isn’t my waddling gait too ridiculous? Hmm. No matter how cold it is, I don’t want to look like a snowman.

After some consideration, I compromised by taking off a few layers, and my appearance improved considerably.