I’m a Villainess but So Popular

Chapter 166
Translator: Missme
Editor: Aru

Side Story 11. The Secretive Autumn (4)

“Cassius, what’s wrong? Are you all right?”

I rushed up to him and grabbed his arm.

Only then did he come to his surroundings and turn to face me with a pale face.

“Yerine, are you all right…”

“What? Me?”

But I was the one who wants to know if he was okay.

Cassius’s gloves drew my attention as I was thinking about how unusual he was.

It wasn’t until I noticed Cassius’s sharp claws poking through the surface of his ripped gloves that I knew why he was acting so strangely.

I brushed his back to make him feel comfortable and opened my lips as much as possible in a clear voice.

“Oh, Cassius, I’m not hurt.”

“Are you really certain you don’t get hurt”

Cassius, who asked worriedly, examined my face and arms.

Cassius examined my whole body, not just my face and arms, before concluding that I was not injured.

He sighed in relief, but the gloomy shade on his face remained.

It was painful to see him biting his lips firmly and staring anguishedly at his sharp nails protruding through his gloves.

“I’m alright, Cassius. You may put on additional gloves for your nails again, and you will not injure yourself as a result.”

“Still, I could have injured you.”

Cassius remarked, casting a heavy shadow on his face.

“I guess I clung to you too carelessly.”

“What do you mean, carelessly? Not at all, Cassius. You wore gloves and approached carefully. You kept taking care of me carefully.”

I wanted to persuade him in some way so that he wouldn’t have to be so depressed.

I wanted to explain that his claws protruding from the gloves were just unfortunate.

I wanted to emphasize that he could confidently cling to me.

“No, but I still don’t believe that was enough.”

Cassius remarked with a shake of his head.

“I sent the kids because I was concerned they’d be injured, and some of the servants are remaining for security reasons, although they might also be hurt.”

A low voice sounded as solid as a rock.

The concern could be seen in the eyes, which shone with bright gold.

As I looked at it, my heart gradually grew heavier.

“But I believe it was a mistake to keep you as an exception. You, too, might be injured.”

Cassius previously admitted to me that every eight years he transformed into a tiger.

He was hesitant at first to spend the period with me.

However, I persuaded Cassius to stay with me since I could protect myself with magic and recover rapidly due to the dragon’s eye.

Cassius eventually agreed to my terms after much persuading.

Instead, Cassius chose to put on specialized gloves to protect me from his claws, which had become powerful and sharp like a tiger’s claws.

I attempted to trim his nails at first, but it was a bad decision that destroyed all the blades that were shattered in front of his too-hard nails.

Cassius was relieved after a week of preparing for such a transformation, and he believed he could remain with me even if he transformed into a human beast eight years later.

‘Last time, the gloves didn’t rip…..’

Cassius was relieved to be able to stay with me because of the gloves.

Cassius, in fact, would not be with me if I didn’t have the gloves on.

Gloves were his primary way of defending me from himself, who had transformed into a tiger.

However, the methods no longer functioned and were destroyed.

Cassius was most likely taken aback by the fact.

And I’m sure he’s hating himself for clinging to me while trusting only the gloves.

Cassius, in my opinion, did everything he could.

“You always say it’s okay because you get healed quickly, but that doesn’t mean you’re not hurt.”

The breeze, which had before been cool, now felt as cold as a chill.

Is it because the one I care about the most is depressed?

“I apologize, Yerine. I think I was a little off the top of my head. I should not have gone so close to you earlier…..”

Cassius apologized with a sad expression.

He had a faint smile around his mouth.

That smile that seemed to have been forcibly made, made it even more pitiful.

“I’m going to be a bit more cautious.”

I was about to respond that ‘you’ve already been so cautious, but how more cautious you should be?’ But I kept my mouth quiet.

‘Nope. Cassius will not listen to whatever I say right now.’

Rather, it was obvious that he would be much more remorseful.

‘Let’s take it slowly.’

Looking up at the great fall sky, I attempted to clear my mind.

* * * * *

The walk was eventually ruined by a little incident in the backyard.

Attempts to brighten the atmosphere of an autumn picnic by sitting on the grass, eating refreshments, and sitting on the grass also failed.

Instead, we went back inside.

Cassius sat far away from me, closed his jaws as tight as a clam.

It was a far contrast from his previous statement that he would hug or carry me on his back all day.

He seemed uneasy and stared at me while looking blankly at the other place with a melancholy expression.

When our gazes collided, he hastily averted his gaze.

“Cassius, please don’t look away from me in such a fright, because I’m not going to devour you.”

It’s a little disheartening and aggravating.

Even though he was in his human-beast form, which others couldn’t see, he was always relaxed and sat comfortably in front of me.

“Sorry.”

Cassius chewed his lower lip and apologized.

Finally, I couldn’t take it any longer and stood up to approach him.

“Oh, Yerine, I’m sorry. I don’t think you should get too close…….”

Cassius pulled himself into the corner of the sofa, his new gloves stretched out.

In fact, Cassius’s size has grown to the point where even if he sits in the corner, he takes up half of the sofa’s space, making it pointless.

Even though he knew it, he looked pitiful, as if he was trying to avoid me, as if he was afraid his hand would touch me.

“Look at me, Cassius.”

I made direct eye contact with the gleaming golden eyes.

Cassius opened and shut his lips as if he had something to say.

I instinctively approached him, looking him in the eyes.

“I fear you’re getting too close…………”

“Because I want to be close to Cassius.”

Cassius attempted to conceal his hands behind his back.

I swiftly grabbed his arm and didn’t let him go before he could completely hide his hand.

Cassius couldn’t knock me out despite his concerned expression.

“Please don’t hide your hands. I like Cassius’ hands.”

“…….”

“You don’t have to worry about getting me injured or scratched in this stance. So you can rest assured.”

Cassius sighed at my words.

“Yerine, you don’t have to do this because of me.”

“No, it’s simply that I want to do it.”

I quietly accepted Cassius’ remarks and placed Cassius’ left hand on my lap.

I touched his hand, which was covered in heavy gloves and placed my right hand on it.

Then I slipped my fingers between his.

I didn’t want to let go of this hand.

“Cassius, like me, can do anything he wants. I can be as close to Cassius as he was before, and I can embrace and grasp his hand.”

When I looked up, I saw a reflection of myself in his slightly widened golden eyes.

“I hope you look at me with comfortable and pleasant eyes, not those guilty eyes.”

I gathered my strength in my fingers and spoke calmly.

“You’re not obligated to put up with it.”

For a brief period, the room was deafeningly silent.

Cassius smiled softly as he stared at me.

“I appreciate you saying that.”

I also smiled at him and hugged his arm.

As usual, I leaned over and rested my head against his body.

“I want to be this close to Cassius all the time. Isn’t Cassius the same way?”

“Of course I would love to.”

“Then just do it.”

“I can’t do it.”

“There’s nothing you can’t do.”

I said this by placing my hand on Cassius’ glove.

Cassius questioned, astonished, as soon as I felt the knot he’d tied around his wrist to keep the gloves from falling off.

“Yerine, what are you doing?”

Then I turned and softly pushed his arm with the other wrist.

I gently pulled his quivering arms away as he shook his head and attempted to manage his strength to the maximum.

“Cassius, the blood did not flow on your wrist.”

How hard did he tie the knot in such a way that it left such a mark?

I pondered how Cassius had moved in that state until now, looking at the surface of the rough gloves and Cassius’ wrists that had gone red from the knots.

“I’ll go grab some medication.”

“No, you are not required to do so with this.”

“Cassius, you act like a person who was issued a restraining order even though I was not injured. Do you think I’ll be able to put up with this?”

Cassius kept his lips shut as if he didn’t believe he could disagree with it.

I just stood there calmly staring at the scene till I applied the medication and loosened the knot on the other wrist.

“Okay, that’s it. Make sure to tie the glove straps with this amount of tension. Even with this amount, they will never come off.”

“It’s too weak.”

“I shall reject the objection because Your Majesty the Emperor’s precious body must not be damaged.”

Cassius put his hand around him as he glanced down at the gloves in astonishment.

“Don’t be such a bully to yourself. Cassius’s claws and hands are likewise a part of Cassius.”

Of course, it’s a bit huge than normal, but the fact that those strong nails belong to Cassius stays unaltered.

Even though their nails may injure me, I think they’re beautiful.

I don’t have an option but to adore it.

Because it is a component of the person I most admire.”

Don’t be too hard on yourself.”

I smiled warmly and reached out to take his hand in mine.

I was hoping he would know how I’m feeling.

And I hope from tomorrow, he will be able to relax and lean on me like before.

“Ye, Yerine? What are you doing?”

Cassius’s voice echoed in the room.