When the Villain Refuses to Die Villain's Reputation

Yan Rui strutted — or tried to strut — down the endless palace hallway. His silk robes swished around him like they had a personal vendetta against his ankles.

Yan Rui (MC)

(thinking):“These robes are too long. I swear if I trip in front of someone, I’ll die from shame before the prince even executes me.”

He tried walking with a villainous swagger, head held high, lips curved in what he thought was a mysterious smirk. Judging by the horrified looks from passing servants, he was failing spectacularly.

Two maids carrying laundry baskets slowed as he approached.

Maids

A: (whispering): “That’s him… Lord Yan Rui.”

Maids

B: (whispering back): “Don’t look at him directly. They say if you meet his eyes, he’ll curse you.”

Maids

A: “No, no. I heard he once killed a man just for bowing too slowly.

Maids

B: “That’s nothing. Didn’t he poison someone at the prince’s banquet last year?”

Yan Rui froze mid-step. His fake smirk twitched.

Yan Rui (MC)

(thinking):“…Excuse me? Bowing too slowly? Do I look like a traffic light?? And poison? Lady, the only thing I’ve poisoned is my stomach with instant noodles!”

He cleared his throat and attempted to glare at them. The maids stiffened, clutching their baskets.

Yan Rui (MC)

“Ahem. You two—”

The maids gasped, dropped deep curtsies, and practically sprinted away before he could finish.

Yan Rui stared after them, jaw dropping.

Yan Rui (MC)

(thinking):“Seriously? I wasn’t going to kill you. I was going to ask where the bathroom is!”

A soft ding rang in his head.

[System Notification]: Villain behavior: insufficiently intimidating. Please adjust your role to match the script.

Yan Rui (MC)

“…Shut. Up.”

Determined to prove himself at least semi-threatening, Yan Rui ducked into the garden courtyard and practiced expressions in front of a polished bronze water basin.

Yan Rui (MC)

(to his reflection): “Okay, practice. Villainous smirk… no, that looks like I’m constipated. Evil glare… nope, that’s just a squint. Cold sneer— oh, great, now I look like a discount anime rival.”

He buried his face in his hands.

Yan Rui (MC)

(groaning): “I can’t even look like a villain. How am I supposed to survive thirty days of this?”

Footsteps echoed down the stone path. Yan Rui peeked through the trees and spotted a group of servants walking by, gossiping.

Servants

1: “Lord Rui hasn’t thrown a tantrum yet today. Strange.”

Servants

2: “Maybe he’s planning something. He’s always been obsessed with catching the Crown Prince’s attention.”

Servants

3: “Hah! As if His Highness would ever notice him.”

Yan Rui stiffened.

Yan Rui (MC)

(thinking):“…Wait, what? Obsessed with the prince? ME? Oh, no no no. That’s not happening. Rule #1: Stay the heck away from Prince Li Feng. Rule #2: Stay alive. Rule #3: Refer to Rule #1.”

But no matter how many times he repeated it, he couldn’t shake the chill that crawled up his spine. It felt like someone, somewhere, was already watching him.

Author

To Be Continued