The Villain Wants to Change Genres

Chapter 7

Luwen, with his cheeks puffed out as he chewed, looked just like a small, precious squirrel. Although he shouldn’t fill up on snacks, I needed to raise his likability a little, so today was an exception. Once I let him do what he wants most, he’ll manage himself anyway, so it’s fine for today.

Eat, eat. Eat a lot.

“…Aren’t you eating, young master?”

Is the person who feeds you always the good person? His tone of speech softened.

“No. I’m not very hungry.”

Actually, I dislike sweets. Just smelling them makes me feel like I’m eating pure sugar, killing my appetite. Anyway, I’m grateful and find it cute that Luwen is eating deliciously, so I’m not hungry.

“You said we’d eat together, but I’m the only one eating.”

“Didn’t you say you didn’t want to eat with me?”

He seemed at a loss for words and pressed his lips together, then put down his fork. I thought he would eat more. I asked in confusion:

“Why? Don’t you like it? Doesn’t it suit your taste? I heard you eat a lot, so why are you eating only this much?”

“Young master, what do you want from me?”

Is he suspicious of my intentions and stopped eating? But even if I tell the truth, he probably won’t believe me. It would be stranger if he did. I maintained my smile and spoke in a gentle tone. As kindly and softly as possible.

“Right now, I want to be Luwen’s older brother.”

“But I’m a commoner?”

“That’s not important.”

“It’s strange. You usually care a lot about social status, young master.”

Sister, how did you educate this child to make him such an old soul?

Or maybe not. Perhaps he matured naturally from growing up in a harsh environment since childhood. His unchildlike behavior might be because his life so far hasn’t been easy. I’m sure I played a significant part in that too.

I’m sorry, Luwen. I’ll make it all up to you. For now, there’s no choice. I’ll have to use Irene.

“You’re sister’s younger brother, right? So am I. So you’re my younger brother too. Isn’t that right?”

“…I’m a servant.”

“Hasn’t sister called you her younger brother?”

Luwen’s face instantly turned bright red. He smiled a radiant smile, his cheeks flushed pink, looking extremely happy.

“She has.”

“…”

Ah, Irene… This fearsome person. She’s already enchanted the child. Really… I’m really glad I brought him here even now.

“If you’re sister’s brother, then of course you’re my brother too.”

“Does it work like that?”

“Of course.”

“But you don’t like me, young master.”

“That’s not true. It’s just… I’m a flawed person and I took it out on you.”

I lowered my gaze and scratched my cheek. Then I awkwardly smiled and met Luwen’s eyes.

“I’m sorry. I’ve done a lot of wrong to you. You probably won’t trust me even if I say I’ll change now.”

“Don’t be good to me, be good to the young lady. She likes you so much…”

He seemed somewhat disappointed. It looks like he wanted to be loved by sister. I’ll have to give Luwen a lot of the affection he wants. So that he has more memories of growing up loved.

I’m confident I can do that. I just need to pour out all the affection and attention I wanted from my parents. Because I know when he’ll feel hurt and upset, I’ll raise Luwen so he doesn’t feel those emotions.

“Of course. I’ll be good to Luwen, and good to sister too. I promise.”

Luwen still glanced at me with doubtful eyes, but compared to when he first entered my room, a lot of the hostility had drained away. I was satisfied with this much for today. There’s still plenty of time.

After finishing the meal, I sent Luwen out and immediately called for my servant, Merin.

“Do the servants wash with cold water by any chance?”

It must have been an unexpected question, as Merin blinked a couple of times as if not understanding, but answered without asking for a reason.

“No. The Duke is a good master. He would never do that.”

I thought as much. It seems I’m the only one in the mansion not receiving proper treatment from Father.

It appears that washing with cold water was something that happened before entering the Duke’s residence. When he was wandering the streets.

* * *

The strategy to raise Luwen well was very simple. It was to give him carrot after carrot, and then more carrots. I had already used the stick plenty, and looking at the small and cute Luwen made me want to give him everything, so I had no other choice.

The priority was for Luwen to get used to me. Under my prejudice that the person who feeds you is always easy to like, I spent the past week having lunch and dinner with Luwen.

There wasn’t a dramatic effect, but his wariness seemed to have softened quite a bit. But wouldn’t he be very happy to receive the king-sized carrot I prepared for Luwen today? The feeling of having a special gift in my pocket was better than I expected.

“Today we’re going to the training grounds after lunch.”

“The training grounds?”

Luwen’s eyes grew round as he chewed with his cheeks full of food.

Luwen now eats whatever he wants to his heart’s content without minding me. I nodded with a satisfied look, watching what I considered the biggest achievement over the past week.

I felt an urge to poke those cheeks puffed up like a squirrel’s due to the food in his mouth, but I desperately held back. It was similar to the desire to smell a puppy’s soft paw pads when you’re not close yet, so it was quite difficult to endure.

“Yes. I have some business there.”

“…You, young master? Business at the training grounds?”

Those eyes looking down on people… no, I mean, those eyes.

“Why? Is it strange?”

“Well, you’re weak, young master. I’m probably stronger than you.”

“I think so too.”

Luwen looked at me with a strange gaze and tilted his head. The old me couldn’t stand being disrespected, so it must be odd that I’m agreeing so readily.

In fact, being weak was a kind of complex for me. The eldest son who’s pushed around by swords in a family that has produced the captain of the Imperial Guard for generations. It’s not even funny.

“Then why are you going?”

“It’s a secret.”

Luwen seemed curious, but filling his stomach was the priority, so he just nodded vaguely and busily moved his hands.

Seeing the food practically pouring into his mouth like a growing child, I put down my fork, wanting to feed him my portion too. Is this what it means to feel full just by watching someone eat?

“Young, master. Umm, if you’re not eating…”

I pushed the remaining steak towards Luwen, who was mumbling between mouthfuls.

“You can eat it.”

“Thank you!”

I watched contentedly as Luwen ate hurriedly with sparkling eyes, then moistened my throat with water.

“Eat slowly. You’ll get indigestion.”

“Okay.”

Did he understand and answer my words? The speed of his fork didn’t slow down at all.

“No one’s going to take it away. It’s all yours, Luwen.”

Luwen, who was chewing with both cheeks fully puffed out like small hills, stared at me. I smiled as I looked into the stars in his black pupils.

“Have some soup too.”

I switched Luwen’s empty soup bowl with my barely-touched one.

Munch munch… Slurp, slurp.

Is his stomach getting full? His eating speed has slowed down quite a bit. By the way, we’ll have to move around later, is it okay to let him eat this much? I was a bit worried, but I didn’t want to take away something he was enjoying eating, so I waited happily until Luwen finished his meal.

* * *

After lunch, we headed to the training grounds as previously discussed. The Duke’s estate includes a wide-spreading forest, and the training grounds are at the entrance of the forest behind the main building.

The voices of the regular knights belonging to the family were so loud that as soon as we rounded the mansion, we could hear their shouts. Every time that happened, Luwen would stand on his tiptoes and stretch his neck out like a meerkat, which was so cute. I know how much you like swords.

“You’ll get lost like that.”

I quietly bent down and held Luwen’s hand. I was worried he might fall if he got distracted, but the child twisted his hand away and stepped back.

When I stopped and turned around, I saw Luwen fidgeting with his arms behind his back. Am I still uncomfortable for him? I guess food alone isn’t enough.

“I know the way too. And I’m not a little kid!”

“You’re not a little kid?”

As I looked down at the top of his head and spoke, he pouted with his ears turning slightly red.

“I’m just not fully grown yet. I’ll grow more!”

We call that being a little kid. I wanted to tease him, but we’re not close enough for that yet, so I’ll hold back.

“Of course. You’ll grow more. You’ll grow so much you’ll even surpass my height.”

Instead, I chose to agree with him, and his expression changed immediately as if he had never pouted.

“That’s right! I’ll grow much, much taller!”

Luwen, puffing out his chest and smiling proudly, was full of freshness. Looking at that innocent appearance, I nodded and smiled.

Afterwards, as I slowly started walking, the sound of small, slightly excited footsteps followed behind me.