ââ¦Compliments?â
Yernia reflected on what she had just heard and wondered if she heard it right.
Why was he suddenly asking for compliments from her?
She just liked the sensation of thick, curly hair wrapped around her hands, but she couldnât feel them from Cassian out of chagrin.
Was it because she knew it was him?
It was strange to hear that no one except Cassian had made an effort to appear like someone she would adore.
What was the purpose of teasing her everyday, then?
âYeah. Donât I look good to you?â
Cassian didnât let go of Yerniaâs hand so that she couldnât escape from his question.
âOh, thatâs not trueâ-â
Cassian had perfectly captured the exact appearance of Yerniaâs ideal type.
As Yernia stared at him as if she was possessed, she forced herself to return to her senses.
âDonât get caught up in his external appearance. He is Cassianâthe future Duke Lecardo.â
This was Yerniaâs resolve after recalling the days he used to tease her.
He was so worried that Yernia would disapprove, and Cassianâs face brightened a little.
âReally?â Flashing her a nervous smile, Cassian put his face closer to Yernia for further inspection. âThen how was it?â
When he approached her, Yernia took a step back and avoided getting close to his upper body. âDid you eat something wrong, Cassian?â
âPlease praise me, Yernia. Who do you think am I doing this for?â
Yernia began to think if there was something seriously wrong with Cassian.
According to him, she was the sole reason he drastically changed into the opposite of his style.
He wore unappealing glasses that didnât match his hair that he wouldnât have curled in a hundred years.
She didnât ask him to do all this, but why was he begging for compliments?
âWhatâs wrong with you, Cassian?â
Can a person change this much?
Yernia recalled the last time she saw Cassian and it was the day she met his doppel-ganger.
After that, Yernia swore to put everything back in its place.
Unfortunately, Cassian wasnât himself anymore and she found that sudden shift in his appearance, strange.
âCassian. How did you know?â
âWhat?â
âAbout my ideal type. I donât think I ever told you that so how did you figure it out?â
Yernia had never told Cassian about her taste in men.
She remembered telling Cassianâs doppelganger, but she was confident that it wasnât him.
Why was she feeling uneasy then?
Donât tell me that the doppelganger was Cassian himself?
âOh, that.â Cassian echoed without much thought.
Then, he pursed his lips as if contemplating something while staring at Yernia.
âWhy?â
Yernia became more anxious from his silent yet intense stare.
What else had she told Cassianâs doppelganger?
She couldnât remember any of it except her confession about ideal types.
Yernia couldnât remember the conversation she had with him as a whole.
She suddenly had a cookie in her mouth.
âWhat?â
âOf course, I know your type! Why shouldnât I know that you love men who are the exact opposite of me? I have known you for many years after all.â
Something seemed wrong.
Yernia  couldnât even argue because her mouth was shut as she chewed on her cookie in dissatisfaction.
He made his hairstyle that way so he could ask compliments from her.
When she raised her hand to touch Cassianâs hair, she found out later that its texture felt good, so she kept stroking without realizing it.
Cassian lowered his head so they could see each other eye-to-eye, encouraging her to touch him more, and that movement brought Yernia back to his senses.
What was she doing?
Yernia let her arm drop to her side.
Staring at her falling hand in disappointment, Cassian interlocked their fingers suddenly.
Whatâs wrong with him?
âIâm afraid you will fall, so I held your hand,â Cassian said as if he had divined her thoughts.
He winked at Yerniaâs ankle.
âIâm worried because you fall often, Yernia.â
Yernia narrowed her eyes at him in suspicion.
Cassianâs fingers were too big and thick that the knuckles of her small hand got buried entirely.
âOf course, Iâm not going to hurt my ankle again, Cassian. Donât you think so?â
He might just be worried that Yerniaâs ankle will be hurt but she didnât take it that way at all.
Cassianâs hand squeezed the back of her hand and held it tightly so that it couldnât escape.
The ankle seemed like an excuse for some reason.
âWhat excuses? Are you crazy?â Embarrassed at thought, Yernia shook her head vigorously. âI had never held hands with Cassian before!â
Why was she thinking about it in the first place?
Yernia felt ashamed that she was reading too much into his actions despite his pure intentions.
She just got weak because of his adorable appearance.
If it werenât for that, Yernia would have behaved as usual.
âSince when have you been worried about me?â
Yernia ate the cookie that Cassian forced her to bite.
The cranberry cookies he bought were refreshing.
Just in time.
The book club was dull, and she was getting a little hungry.