I’m a Villainess but So Popular

Editor : Aru

Side Story 1. Summer Vacation (6)

Astra, who suddenly stopped talking like a doll of orgel with a broken spring, just stared blankly down at her knee.

“Astra!”

“Huh?”

It wasn’t until I called her name several times.

There was a dark shadow left on his blank face that she could not erase.

“Are you all right?”

“Oh, uh……”

With her usual smile in front of me, Astra swept her slightly sprained red hair behind her ears.

“It’s okay. I’m sorry.”

“Are you really okay?”

“Yeah, I just got a little dazed.”

I looked anxiously at her smiling brightly again.

“Are you sure you’re okay, Astra?”

Cassius looked around Astra’s complexion, but Astra kept saying she was okay.

“Really, I’m really fine.”

As she stroked her hand to show that there was no problem, she looked at me and spoke out in a slightly subdued voice.

“It wasn’t a big deal. It’s just that you two were playing around……..”

When I saw her hesitating, I nodded enthusiastically.

I wanted to let her know that she doesn’t have to hide anything if she has a hard time.

Astra closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and opened her mouth.

“It reminded me of me playing around with Rayl at home.”

Her face, which brought it up, seemed both relieved and sentimental.

“Ah.”

I couldn’t think of anything to say.

Years after that, Rayl’s name was hard to say.

Although she has gotten a little better these days, she avoided mentioning his name until she graduated from the Academy, as if it had become a taboo.

When his name came out, we all used to be quiet.

Like this moment.

“How’s he doing?”

When Cassius broke his silence before me, Astra stared at him with an unexpected look.

“Yes, he’s good.”

“That’s a relief.”

Cassius answered calmly and turned his head.

“Well, as long as he’s with you, I don’t worry about anything big happening.”

“Really?”

“Yes, you’re not the one who neglects your work and duty.”

At the end of Cassius’s words, the silence was heard again.

‘Every time, this is how it works.

Rayl, who was involved in Iker’s threat to kill his family, was arrested after the incident was resolved.

Originally, he was left with the death penalty.

However, Rayl’s confession, with the help of a drug that only tells the truth, proved that he was threatened.

It was also revealed that he joined Iker but tried to save the present emperor and the Seven Imperial Family, successors.

This situation was taken into account and Rayl was spared the death penalty.

He was instead prevented from coming out for the rest of his life.

I was also told that he wore a necklace that would cause a lethal electric shock if he just one step away from the designated place.

The place where he was detained for life was Astra’s castle with a special prison underground.

In fact, he could have been imprisoned in another prison, but Cassius, who knew what Astra and Rayl had to do with each other, designated the prison there so that the two could not fall apart.

“He misses you a lot.”

While continuing his silence, Astra suddenly said something.

There was no subject, but I could see who she was pointing at once.

“Rayl?”

Astra nodded slowly when I asked.

“Yes.”

For years, every time I met Astra, I asked her how he was doing.

But I’ve never heard that he wants to see us.

The conversation about Rayl always ended with saying that he was doing well.

Today was the first time the topic went further than that.

“Um……”

So I didn’t know what to say.

Because it was completely unexpected.

“So are we.”

I was surprised by Cassius’s sudden voice.

But unlike me, his face looked very calm.

“Astra, tell him we miss him a lot.”

When I stared at him quietly, his gaze of the sun stayed with me.

A big, thick hand tapped my back.

As if he knows everything as if he understands.

‘Did he know that?’

Rayl’s name was always in the corner of my mind like a heavy rock.

It wasn’t that I hated him or resent him.

Although I was resentful of him for joining Iker, it didn’t mean that I hate Rayl.

It was even more so because I knew he was sincere about trying to save me.

Otherwise, he couldn’t have cried so desperately in front of those monsters.

But it was too difficult to go beyond the walls of time without a single conversation.

In fact, I wanted to see him, and I wanted to have a friendly conversation with him, as in the past, but I couldn’t get the courage to do so.

I only knew after seeing his golden eyes for a long time.

‘Cassius was just like me.’

Not only did he notice my feelings, but he also felt similar feelings to me about Rayl.

That’s why he used the word “we.”

“Yes, I will tell him.”

Astra’s skylight eyes containing the stars were bent smoothly.

“I’ll make sure to deliver it to him.”

The master of the southern region who smiled brightly at her long-time friends was brighter than anyone else.

***

The third morning in the villa came.

Unlike yesterday when I overslept, Cassius and I both got up early on time and finished getting ready to go out.

‘Finally, it feels like a real vacation day.’

It was the day I went on vacation for the first time and went outside the villa site.

We decided to stop by the downtown area of Jacqueline territory.

It is, so to speak, my first time going out sightseeing.

The whole villa was busy preparing to go out, and at 9 a.m., all preparations were completed.

Wearing a hat in a hurry, I grabbed a map in one hand and climbed into the carriage holding Cassius’s hand.

“Both of you have a safe trip!”

I waved at Chester and Maya, who has seen us off at the entrance with the villa’s users.

Soon the carriage began to move slowly, and as soon as I left the villa site, I put my nose on the map and looked carefully.

“So once we get there, we’re gonna go to the restaurant, stop by Treshen Bakery, and then we’re gonna go to the theater, right? Oh, we are going to Jacqueline Garden too, right?”

“Yes, exactly.”

Last night I asked Astra, who is familiar with the local geography, where the famous place is.

So I set up a route with Cassius before going to bed, referring to the information I heard from Astra and the map of Jacqueline territory she gave me.

I checked with the map to see if there was any more place to go and if there was a mistake in the route.

“Yerine, the map is going to pierce.”

“Well, I’m just checking again to see if I missed anything.”

“I love that aspect of you.”

Cassius smiled softly and looked at me with his arm resting on the window.

I think I heard in my previous life that the effective period of hormones that cause love is three years, but somehow Casius’ eyes seemed to become more dense and sweet as the years went by.

I heard my heart beating with a throb.

But for some reason, I didn’t want to fall for his affectionate pranks.

I wanted to tease him again.

“Yes, thank you. I love Cassius, too.”

Deliberately pretending to be calm and not shaken, he conveyed in a calm voice.

I could be confident that my face didn’t show any shame at all.

The social skills I learned after graduating from the Academy and working at the palace were very good to use at times like this.

“Isn’t that too soulless? It looks like you’re prone to bow down.”

Cassius said with a lot of disappointment.

As expected, he expected me to be very shy.

“And in the old days, when you said you liked me, you blushed, and it was so cute! Of course, you’re still cute!”

“You must be the only one who calls an adult over 20 as cute, Cassius.”

“No, Blothea says you’re as cute as she couldn’t breathe, doesn’t she?”

“I think Erica is an exceptional case.”

“Your fan club always sends you letters saying you’re cute and cool.”

“Let’s say that’s an exception too.”

“No, you have to admit this, Yerine.”

Cassius raised his arms and spoke in a serious voice.

“If so many people look at you and say you’re as cute as they couldn’t breathe, wouldn’t that mean you’re cute even if you just breathe?”

It seems that not only his eyes are getting sweet, but his words are getting sweet too.

“Hey, you’re gone too far.”

I pressed Cassius’ forehead with a face similar to Archimedes, who shouted “Eureka”.

“But why don’t we have a conversation about our date? I think that topic will be much more interesting.”

Stretching my back and leaning against his back, Cassius gently nodded, rubbing his forehead.

“Is there a place you’re looking forward to the most?”

I glistened my eyes and asked, but Cassius did not give an answer immediately.

With his fingers around his mouth, he rolled his eyes and opened his mouth after much consideration.

“Well, it’s hard to choose.”

“Hey, what do you think is so hard?”

Tilt my upper body, I held his hand tightly on his lap and asked again.

“Just pick one place. Where you want to go the most.”

“Um……”

Cassius smiled awkwardly as if he was in trouble.

“I really don’t know.”

I poke my lips out at the steamy answer and flung myself into the velvet cushion.

“Oh, you have o fun.”

Then Cassius laughed out loud.

“But I really don’t know. I’m looking forward to everything.”

“But there’s always something people prefer. You don’t even have that?”

His sparkling eyes of the sun drew a line as soft as a crescent moon.

As soon as his eyes, who received sunlight in the dark carriage, glistened softly, a honey-like voice came to my ears.

“Well, I’d love to be anywhere with you.”

The moment I heard the word, I couldn’t think of anything to say.

“Yerine?”

My heart was pounding.

The sound came out too loud.

I felt as if I was getting a fever all over my face.

My head was full of words like “What should I do?”.

“Yerine, are you okay?”

While rolling my eyes anxiously, my eyes met Cassius, who was looking at my complexion worriedly.

His worried and tight lips quickly drew a playful smile.

Perhaps he thought he had taken the opportunity after a long time, Cassius approached me with a sneaky look at me, which was as hard as ice.

“So, why are you so stubborn?”

The hand with the veins sticking out swept away my purple hair.

A touch that is so lovable, feels like he cherishes me that much.

At the same time, as if I never wanted to give it to other people, the flesh that had been touched, carried me and heated me up.

“This is why you’re cute.”