I am Late so I am the Villain? - Chapter 7

Riya covered her writing with her shaking hands after reading up to this point.

The next sections included the same information as previously.

The plot continued.

Riya’s brother, Kante of Annabel Kingdom, gathers an army and comes to battle the Hernian Empire as a response to Riya’s death, and Prince Yucal Brian absorbs his authority and takes over the Hernian Empire under Elton’s regency.

In other words, Riya Lisburn’s death brings the story to a conclusion.

Riya, who was feeling much more worried as usual, wandered around the room chewing her nails.

‘Come on, I’ve got to get out of here. If I stay like this, I’ll die soon. I have to write quickly. I need to write a best-selling novel!’

Her writing was, however, worse today, maybe due to the tension of sitting at the desk in the study.

After considerable deliberation, she decided to go for a stroll outside to relieve her tension.

When things were not going well, she would go for a stroll and walk aimlessly.

She happened to run across Seir when she stepped out to the entrance to grab some fresh night air.

He was busy explaining instructions to the Vassal Chief as he walked down a hallway.

“Riya?”

He recognized her and eagerly welcomed her.

Seir hadn’t seen Riya in quite some time.

Of course, it was because Riya was doing everything she could to avoid him.

And it became more conceivable since Seir had been so preoccupied with managing the castle and territory.

Meanwhile, Seir felt better after seeing Riya for the first time in a long time.

Riya looked quite attractive in his eyes now, despite the fact that she had purposefully hung out her untidy hair and chosen the most modest clothing to evade Seir’s attention.

Riya’s look was completely contradictory to that of the gorgeous Elijah, yet Seir was smitten by her.

Unlike earlier, Riya’s plain appearance, devoid of gorgeous clothes or accessories, was more appealing to Seir.

“Where were you going? It was in the middle of the night.”

“It’s…It’s not really necessary for you to know, is it? It’s a completely personal choice.”

Riya averted her head and replied harshly, yet her demeanor piqued his interest even more.

The troublesome villain that used to follow Seir about was charming and arrogant in Seir’s perspective.

“Let’s wrap this up, Alex. Let’s get the rest completed tomorrow morning.”

Seir shifted his gaze to Riya after dismissing the Vassal Chief.

Riya thought to herself as she felt Seir’s hard gaze on her.

‘Excuse me, but could you kindly stop staring at me like that? I still want to live and be able to survive!’

She turned around, hoping to see if she might escape when she spotted someone lurking behind the pillar and observing her.

Riya’s heart began to beat rapidly on its own as she discovered it.

‘Oh my God!’

It had to be Charlson.

The plot appeared to be following the script.

Riya tightened her hand, adamant about surviving.

Then she turned around and looked at Seir with a defiant expression.

“Please listen carefully to me from now on, Seir-nim. I’m……”

Seir Brian’s pulse raced as he noticed Riya staring up at her, biting her lower lip.

“I no longer like Seir-nim.”

Riya’s bombshell revelation surprised Seir, who opened his eyes wide and gazed at her in amazement.

He shook his head, as if he couldn’t believe it.

“Hey, Riya, wasn’t it your idea to marry me? Even though I couldn’t resist your appeals and accepted your proposal, still, it’s bizarre for you to say that.”

“I mean, my prince. Since I got married, my tastes have changed. Okay, so……”

Riya, who was flabbergasted, glanced around, noticed a lovely maid walking by, and clapped her hands as if she had a brilliant idea.

“It’s just that my tastes have shifted! Now I prefer women to men.”

Riya grinned uncomfortably and scratched her head as Seir looked at her with interested eyes, aware that no joke would work on this man.

Someone was walking from the other side as she turned her head to get out of this uncomfortable situation.

Riya’s body stiffened the minute she noticed his presence.

It was Yucal Brian.

Norton, Yucal’s escort knight, stood behind him.

Riya immediately crossed Seir’s arm, embarrassed.

Yucal’s moist nude body was clearly evident in her gaze, despite the fact that she was completely dressed.

“Are you going out to check the territory, Hyung-nim?”

Seir gazed at Riya, her arms affectionately crossed with his, and bowed respectfully towards Yucal.

He took advantage of the situation by reaching back and pulling Riya’s waist toward him.

Yucar’s sharp eyes captured the scene without batting an eye.

Riya carefully covered her nose with one hand in case it bled again and hid her face behind Seir’s shoulder, but she couldn’t escape Yucal’s piercing stares.

“Seir, be cautious these days since there are shallow persons in the castle peeping in on other people’s baths.”

“Ha ha, Hyung-nim. Is there such a wicked person in this castle, Hyung-nim?”

Riya’s face grew pale as Seir broke out laughing.

Yucal walked away, his attention fixed on Riya’s back, who leaned against Seir, trying to avoid his look.

“Is there something wrong, Prince?”

Norton, his escort knight, was perplexed by Yucal’s odd stare at Riya.

It was odd because his master had never paid attention to a woman before.

“Nothing at all.”

Yucal looked around and shook his head.

Unknowingly, a smile appeared over his lips.

When he saw a hilarious look full of nosebleeds and was about to cry, he smirked without even realizing it.

***

Miryu inquired, as if concerned, next to Riya, who was carefully ready to go out in the morning.

“Are you sure I don’t have to accompany you outside, Madam?”

Miryu was restless as she saw Riya leave the house in the same yellow dress she typically wears while she’s laying about at home, with only her hair combed.

“Don’t ever imagine following me.”

“Madam, you’ve changed so much. You used to be unable to go out by yourself. Even when you were heading somewhere nearby, you always had me by your side.”

Miryu was skeptical of Riya’s sanity when she stated she would walk that far alone, despite her compulsive aversion to leaving the house, let alone going out to the street.

Riya shifted her gaze away from her inquisitive eyes.

“Don’t be concerned. The weather is perfect and serene. Why can’t I go by myself?”

Even if she wanted to, Riya couldn’t take a chatty, aesthetic Miryu with her.

Because she was writing a 19-rate novel, she had to keep it a secret until the end, and Miryu was the type of person who could spread rumours even while her lips was closed.

Miryu gave Riya a sour look as she walked away.

It was difficult for her to discern if her Madam’s condition had worsened or improved.

Meanwhile, Riya came to a halt in front of Hyena Publishing and stared up at the building, her mind racing.

Then she pushed her way inside with a daunting step.

Making money did not appear to be easy, as expected.

A secretary with a horrible chilly look was typing again, rolling her eyes.

“Welcome.”

The secretary sounded mechanical to her, no matter how clearly she heard it.

‘Does she look like a robot?’

This time, thankfully, she avoided the procedure of recommending salamander eyeball juice and went right to the editor office.

Riya gripped the doorknob hard, fearful that she might shove her back.

Inside the room, Marquis Hyena sat at his desk, his back straight and his gaze fixed on her.

“Sit down.”

Riya was taken aback when he suggested a seat immediately opposite him.

His face was around 50 cm away from her.

“Should we then begin the editorial meeting?”

Then Hyena clenched his hands and looked over the manuscripts on the desk.

Riya sat down and looked at the part where he was looking down.

Her cheeks grew white as she noticed the underlined section.

It was a passage depicting a passionate love affair between a male and female character.

“Oh, no, editor-nim, how can we talk about this……”

The red-faced Riya objected, but Hyena made a harsh sound and pointed plainly at the nude description.

“This is the scene where Julia pushes Caius down. And Julia was meant to lick Caius’s nape.”

“And…what about that?”

Riya nodded.

“It is stated that Julia strips Caius’s shirts and caresses his chest. Right?”

“That’s right.”

Riya, her cheeks flushed, mentally yelled ‘Crazy Hyena’ 10 times.

“Julia, by the way, is a woman, and Caius is a man. Am I mistaken?”

“Yes, that…”

“A woman attacking a man, does that make sense?”

“What?”

Riya, perplexed, questioned back.

“No, what’s weird about that? My story is about an innocent Julia who wakes up in a castle and has to tame a wild and egotistical guy. Did you read it correctly?”

Before she could continue speaking, Hyena slammed his fist onto the desk. Then he yelled and screamed.

“Don’t be a fool. It is very inappropriate for a woman to strip a man’s clothing or to tame a man. Who advised you to create such a dreadful novel?”

Riya gaped open her lips in awe.

Hyena would have been beaten by girls on the street if they were in Korea.

“Aren’t you the one who had a strange thought, editor-nim? What’s the problem with a woman attacking a man? Is there a law that only men should attack women? In bed, there is gender equality, and while ladies look quivering on the outside, they are quite active on the inside.”

Yes, there was evident discrimination between men and women throughout this time period.

Nobles had a large number of wives and maids.

So, in the novel, she attempted to establish a freedom zone in the hearts of poor women.

Why? What was the problem with that?

Riya sighed and reacted angrily to Hyena’s menacing stare.

“Rewrite when I speak gently.”

“Heh, I don’t like it. It is illegal censorship to prevent the writer from writing what we want to write!”

“All right, then, I’ll give you a chance.”

“What chance?”

“You’re coming at me. If you successfully use force to bring me down, I’ll let you write whatever you want.”

“What? What exactly do you mean by “force”? Are you suggesting that we hold a wrestling match here?”

Riya shook her head as she examined Hyena’s strong body.

‘Would you like me to attack that body? Do you have a thought of your own, man?’

Hyena stood straight, arms folded, and proudly stared down at Riya.

“If you can’t take me down, rewrite it as you are told. Create a story about a man taming a woman.”

Riya had a feeling she wouldn’t be able to communicate with this man.

‘What more can I do? How could I possibly attack him?’

Theoretically, the woman can knock the male down, get on his body, and shower him with kisses.

The man on the other end should be delighted and groaning, but by any stretch of the imagination, Riya doesn’t believe he’ll perish with ecstasy at her kiss….

‘How should I start?’

The man may react by shoving her, stomping her, and then spitting at her. If not, then maybe the man won’t react at all, like a hard piece of wood.

‘I’d feel really humiliated if that happened. What should I do?’

Riya pondered it in her mind, but she couldn’t come up with a means to apprehend that awful person who is associated with the concept of gender equality.

“Start now.”

Hyena kept pushing her to attack him, imagining himself as a big Rambo with his arms crossed.

However, based on the icy, flashing eyes, it appeared like a sign that said ‘No access’ was attached.

“Wait, wait a minute. Time, time out please! Hold on a minute, please. I’m going to mess you up in a minute!”

Riya stumbled out, muttering.

Outside, the secretary was reading a book and sipping juice while striking a sophisticated stance.

Riya sucked her saliva and stared at the glass of juice, thirsty.

It wasn’t the salamander eyeball juice she’d seen the day before. It had a lovely orange juice hue.

“Isn’t that orange juice? Could you just give me a sip if that’s the case?”

Riya begged with a pity face on purpose.

Because of that fucking damn editor, Riya felt like her throat was ready to burn.

“Well, it’s not orange juice, but it’s kind of mixed. If you don’t mind, please drink it all.”

Without moving her gaze away from the book, the secretary remarked.

Riya, unable to quench her thirst, took her glass of juice and drank it all at once.

It wasn’t until it got to her throat that she realized it was bitter and sour.

“Ugh, how does this taste? What exactly are the ingredients?”

“It’s juice from the scales and toenails of an orange lizard. But it contains 0.00001% oranges.”

“Scales……toenails……”

Riya wanted to puke immediately, but the liquid had already made its way to her stomach.

“But what’s the problem with this? My stomach is heating up.”

Riya grew agitated and rushed around, claiming she didn’t know what to do, but the secretary remained calm.

“Perhaps a fire is bursting in your stomach. Anyway, it’s fine. You’ll have enough energy to take someone down.”

“What are you talking about? What kind of energy?”

“Yeah, you’ll see it quite soon.”

At that moment, Hyena’s roar was heard from within.

“Come on in. I’ll pull out all your hair if you don’t succeed in an hour.”

“Gasp!”

Riya stumbled into the office and quickly ran into it.

Hyena replied leisurely as he put his legs on his desk and stared down at Riya in his arrogant stance.

“I’ll give you three seconds, after which you can come to me. If you fail, your writing will be completely revised.”