I Don’t Want to be a Villainess

“Alright, then let’s start from the beginning.”

I looked at Yoon Da-ho, who was sitting across from me, with a serious expression.

“……”

Although he had followed me when I called, Yoon Da-ho had a very perplexed and incredulous look on his face as he sat there, and he made a very sulky expression in response to my words.

“Don’t make that face. Just say it. When did you first realize your grandfather had those thoughts?”

“……Sigh.”

Yoon Da-ho, who seemed to be trying to gauge what I was thinking, eventually let out a deep sigh.

“What am I doing here, following you like this…”

It was pointless for him to complain now, but he probably thought that way too.

“……I’ve known since I was very young.”

Still, when I didn’t back down and continued to look at him, Yoon Da-ho ultimately opened his mouth with an expression of discontent.

“You mean, from a time when you can barely remember?”

“Right.”

Yoon Da-ho nodded.

“Specifically, how do you know? Can you sense the feelings of people other than your grandfather?”

“Sure. It’s my specialty. If someone feels good or bad, or annoyed, I can feel those emotions clearly.”

Hmm.

“Are you saying it’s an empathic ability?”

“I think so.”

“If you can empathize like that, then how come your personality is so……”

I almost asked if it was as bad as it looks and hurriedly shut my mouth. But since about half of the word had already slipped out, it wasn’t that difficult to imagine the following words.

Yoon Da-ho narrowed his eyes.

“Is that why you absolutely didn’t want to marry me?”

In response to my question,

“I have no intention of living with someone who has negative feelings towards me for the rest of my life.”

Yoon Da-ho answered while still looking at me with narrowed eyes.

“That’s probably true.”

And I nodded at that remark.

In reality, the feelings I had for Yoon Da-ho could definitely not be interpreted as ‘fondness.’

“……”

“What’s with that look?”

Normally, when I stared like this, the other person would blush or look away, but Yoon Da-ho made a very displeased expression. It looked as if he had seen something unpleasant. There was no room for other interpretations; it was that clear.

On the contrary, it was refreshing how easily that emotion was conveyed.

Certainly, he wasn’t mesmerized by my pretty face.

I didn’t think he liked me from our first meeting either, Sara said.

Back then, Sara was only focused on Choi Na-kyung. Everyone else was just like a rock, neither more nor less. Separately, she was quite scared of those rock-like presences, though.

“Did your negative feelings only ever ‘exist’?”

When I emphasized the last word and asked, Yoon Da-ho’s brow furrowed without mercy.

“Are you saying it’s not the case now?”

When I asked again, Yoon Da-ho crossed his arms and looked at me. This time, his expression seemed more like he was facing something uncertain rather than displeased.

“I don’t get the meaning of the question.”

“Are you saying I don’t dislike you that much anymore?”

“No.”

“Correct. That’s accurate.”

Yoon Da-ho let out a hollow laugh at my answer.

Regardless of that, I kept talking.

“But does that mean your feelings have changed or something?”

“Yeah, your feelings are much more ‘concrete’ now.”

“What do you mean by ‘concrete?'”

“You ‘dislike’ me. Before, it was more like an annoyance that bordered on indifference.”

“Are you saying you displayed such an attitude to grab my attention?”

That’s right, he was a madman who wanted to say something like I was eating like a pig when he saw the skinny Sara at our first meeting. Well, if it were just to grab attention, he wouldn’t have said such strong words. It was more likely he was trying to gaslight me. Anyway, from Yoon Da-ho’s perspective, he had to maintain the engagement with Sara.

Whether the process was negative or positive.

While I was terrible at managing relationships, I ended up making everything a mess.

“Hmm.”

I leaned back in my chair.

It seemed like my speculation was half-right and half-wrong.

To put it bluntly, Yoon Da-ho might actually be a puppet of the former chairman of the Ho-myeong Group and could be lying to me. In any case, he wasn’t someone I could trust one hundred percent.

“Alright, then let’s get back to the point.”

“I know you’ve been saying something similar since earlier.”

When I snapped my fingers, Yoon Da-ho frowned and spoke.

“That emotion you felt from your grandfather, say it properly one more time.”

Of course, I disregarded what he said and continued.

“My grandfather is in a good mood lately. He probably thinks things are going quite well. I’ve felt that vibe a few times before. And he likely thinks there’s only one plan that’s going well.”

“You marrying me.”

Yoon Da-ho nodded.

“You really do dislike me, huh?”

I asked with a smile, and Yoon Da-ho genuinely frowned as he responded.

“Yeah. Of course.”

“So you’re saying the direction of that emotional energy is unknown?”

“I might not know the direction, but I’ve felt your grandfather’s emotions thoroughly since I was very young. I can confidently say that I’m not mistaken this time.”

“I see.”

Basically, I despised Yoon Da-ho immensely. Honestly, even at this moment, I disliked him to the point of wanting to punch him. I was just barely holding back.

Naturally, I didn’t trust him either. Since I disliked him that much, I wouldn’t believe him even if he was offering me rice cakes made of beans.

But if there was one thing I could trust about Yoon Da-ho, it was that he also despised me immensely. He truly disliked the existence of ‘Ye Sara,’ including me.

And he thought that because of that, marriage would absolutely not happen.

Thanks to that, I finally understood the other party; it’s quite ironic.

*

But in the end, Yoon Da-ho was of no help at all.

He didn’t give me any information about what plan his grandfather was concocting; he only said, “He thinks the plan is going well.”

No, knowing what that plan is is the most important, and there’s nothing I can do just by hearing that; all I can do is be cautious.

“What could my weakness be?”

When I returned home and asked that, Ha Neul, Sua, and Sohee looked a bit embarrassed.

“It’s me.”

“Of course, it’s me.”

“Think of it as me.”

Well, that’s not entirely wrong.

But I could just drown out their worries with money. In the short term, they might be distressed, but in the long run, if I have money, recovery is possible.

The Ho-myeong Group also seemed to be testing the waters.

So, that weakness might be either me or Sara’s weakness.

Physical strength? That’s not going to be a weakness unless there’s a kidnapping situation. It’s not like I’m going to outrun the chairwoman’s position.

I have too much money for that to be a problem, and aside from friends, I didn’t have any family to be held hostage and threatened.

People from the Ho-myeong Group likely wouldn’t have the thought of physically trying to deal with me. I’ve already been kidnapped once. They wouldn’t allow another kidnapping from the Yujin Group either.

“……Oh.”

I suddenly remembered.

There is a weakness, indeed.

The fact that I exist within Sara.

How is that a weakness?

Because to outsiders, it might just look like multiple personality disorder.

Well, seeing as Areum, who has lunch with me every day, didn’t know, I think I’m fairly good at disguising it.

But if someone were to catch on or figure it out, it could become a weakness.

I wasn’t quite sure how it could be used as a weakness, though.

Who would know?

For now, just the three people with me: Ha Neul, Sohee, and Sua.

And the exclusive maid, Yang Hye-in.

Perhaps lately, Areum, who I had just informed, might have a slight possibility.

None of them were people who would easily spill information, but with Areum, there was a small chance.

Ha Neul, Sohee, and Sua were always by my side, quite literally living with me, whereas Areum was separate.

If someone managed to sweet-talk or threaten someone, information could leak out.

And with a very slim possibility, there’s the chance that Choi Na-kyung herself could realize it.

There are subtle differences in personality and attitude between me and Sara. For reasons unknown, if she was extremely obsessed with Sara, she might catch on to those subtle differences.

Besides, I had also lashed out at her when I was kidnapped.

…Wait, thinking about this could be quite serious, couldn’t it?

If I, or Sara, were to end up mentally weak or something, it would be hugely advantageous for Choi Na-kyung. The parental rights haven’t been suspended yet.

Even those who commit significant child abuse don’t usually lose parental rights in an instant. It usually gets stripped through a trial but for now, Choi Na-kyung is in a situation where she’s not caught yet.

…Can someone hold parental rights even while fugitives?

I’m not sure.

I don’t know for certain, but I surely need to prepare.

In case you forgot, you promised to spend your entire life with me last time.

That feeling haven’t changed.

I also want to stay together for a long time.

…So, I need to come up with more certain measures.

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