I Reincarnated As A Villainess, But Why Did I Become A Cat Butler Instead? - Chapter 181

Chapter 91.1

In a surprise, I turned around to see Cadis approaching me silently, his eyes wide open as he stared at me, but he quickly hid the hand that had protected my forehead behind his back.

“I-I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to startle you. I got carried away and didn’t think it through. I apologize.”

“It’s alright, Cadis. Thank you.”

A hint of color returned to his stiffened face.

“What were you doing?”

“I was taking a walk. Her Highness the Princess gave me permission.”

Saying so, he subtly showed me the magic shackles on his ankle and wrist as if to reassure me that he had safety measures in place, ensuring that I wouldn’t harm anyone.

“It won’t stay long, and the knights are watching over there…”

Seemingly thinking that if I knew he had been wandering alone, I would scold him, so Cadis defensively gestured towards the second-floor window of the east wing. It was the location of the guest rooms for the hired servants that Elaine had brought with her.

Curiously, when I followed his pointing finger, I only saw an open window with no one in sight. However, my attention was drawn to a silver flask placed on the windowsill, and that led me to make a guess.

‘…The knights must be enjoying the day drinking.’

Meanwhile, puzzled that the knights were nowhere to be seen, Cadis looked at me, not knowing what to do.

I patted him on the shoulder.

“As long as you don’t cause any trouble, I don’t intend to question you for going for a walk.”

“….!”

As my hand made contact with his shoulder, he flinched and stiffened as though responding instinctively to a perceived threat.

It was at that moment that I belatedly realized, with a sense of regret, the terrible things that ‘Rowaine’ had done to him. Despite exchanging names and growing somewhat more comfortable with each other, I should have been more cautious with my touch.

“Oh, I’m sorry. I… I was thoughtless.”

“No, you’re not!”

My eyes widened in surprise as I froze in place when Cadis suddenly slapped his own cheek.

“I’m pathetic! Eunsoo is such a kind person, and I unknowingly…”

When he attempted to slap his own cheek again, I swiftly reached out and grabbed his arm. Regardless of the significant difference in size, with his muscular arms dwarfing mine, my intervention seemed to have an effect.

“Stop, please. You didn’t do it on purpose, and it’s natural to get startled. Why are you so insistent on punishing yourself?”

“Yes?”

His gaze wavered, and he seemed confused.

“I made a mistake… and surely you must be upset, so I deserve to be punished.”

“It’s not really a mistake, and I’m not upset. Even if I was…”

My voice trailed off, and I couldn’t finish my sentence. Given the harsh environment he endured as a slave and a fighting machine, along with the rigorous training he received, it was only natural that he reacted this way.

Gazing into his innocent and transparent eyes, a heavy sigh escaped me as my heart weighed down with mixed emotions.

‘Elaine will rescue him. She’s doing everything she can to secure his freedom as a gift from the Emperor.’

With her affection, he would gradually grow into the remarkable male protagonist he was meant to be.

Unable to bear the sight of his obedient and sorrowful eyes, I looked away. It was heartbreaking. If he had received proper education and grown up in a nurturing environment, he wouldn’t have been treated as a slave, deprived of the dignity that every person deserves.

“Miss Eunsoo.”

However, Cadis carefully lifted my chin and made me look at him.

“Please don’t turn away from me.”

“….?”

“You’ve looked at me that way from the beginning. With sadness and pity… like you’re burdened.”

“That’s…”

Unintentionally, my expression must have revealed sympathy, despite not intending to show any.

Feeling embarrassed, I pressed my lips together, attempting to conjure up an excuse though I found myself at a loss for words and fell into silence instead.

“You have no idea how happy I was that someone asked me my name. I’ve wanted to express my gratitude all along.”

He smiled warmly and extended his wrist to me as if making a resolution before closing his eyes firmly.

“Of course, I’m willing to accept any punishment for my actions. Even if you were to cut off my hand, I would never hold any resentment.”

Frightened by his audacious statement, I instinctively jumped back and pushed his hand away. Just as I was about to retort, making it clear that I had no intention of punishing him and to tell him to retract such dreadful thoughts altogether—

“Even if I were to cut off your arm, you’d still have to bow down and ask for mercy, arrogant b*stard. I’ll cut your filthy hand right now.”

—The familiar, smooth and low voice resounded as someone seized Cadis by the collar. Dimitri, who always boasted a perfect appearance, appeared in a loose shirt with even the buttons undone as he tightened his grip on Cadis’s neck.

“Dimitri!”

Thinking that something like this had happened before, I clung to Dimitri’s arm.

…This was already the second time I played the pitiful role, like a floating straw.

Please consider sending some love either through the translator’s Ko-fi or by leaving a rating/review for this series on novel updates~!

For update pings, novel discussions and/or to send mistake reports, join our discord server~