Chapter 88 A Positive Change
Laughter rippled through the knights, soft and unguarded, as they watched Aisha struggle against Skadi's suffocating affection. The warmth of the moment, the raw sincerity, made something in their battle-hardened hearts soften.
And then, one of the older knights, a woman with a mischievous glint in her eyes, let out a low hum. "You know..." She mused, tapping her chin as she looked around at the others. "Since we're all sisters-in-arms, comrades who trust each other with our lives...shouldn't we also show our love for one another like Skadi did?"
A moment of silence.
Then—chaos.
The younger knights instantly blushed, looking between one another in flustered confusion. A few sputtered, a few instinctively recoiled, and others hesitated, eyes darting between their seniors as if unsure whether they were being teased or if this was a serious proposal.
One particularly bold young knight, her cheeks still tinged pink, hesitated for only a moment before offering her cheek to her senior, chin tilted up in mock bravery. "Well...If we're doing this, I might as well get it over with!" She declared, squeezing her eyes shut.
Her senior grinned. "Good girl." Without missing a beat, she leaned in and pressed a friendly, dramatic kiss to her cheek.
The younger knight squeaked.
The entire squad erupted into laughter.
With that, it became a free-for-all.
One knight—grinning ear to ear—took her junior's hand and placed a soft kiss on her knuckles like she was some kind of noble lady, winking up at her playfully. The younger knight turned beet red and dramatically fanned herself.
"Oh, my~! Such a charming lady, my heart can't take it~!"
Another knight puckered her lips and dramatically blew a kiss in her junior's direction. The younger knight, without hesitation, reached out, snatched the air like she was catching something precious, and pressed her closed fist against her chest with a satisfied smirk.
"Captured it. My heart belongs to you now."
Roars of laughter rang out across the battlefield, the playful energy washing away the exhaustion and pain that had weighed so heavily upon them.
Even those still too wounded to move properly were grinning, enjoying the lightheartedness of it all. Some of them even found creative ways to participate—one older knight who couldn't even get up looking towards to the new recruits and pointing at her cheeks to which they too giggled and gave her two cheeks a kiss at the same time.
A perfectly executed double attack.
Even the maids, who had been standing around watching in amusement, couldn't help but smile since it was rare—so rare—to see knights, these strong, disciplined warriors who devoted their lives to protecting others, let their guard down like this.
To be carefree. To laugh. To act like the young women they were, instead of soldiers ready to lay down their lives at a moment's notice.
Julie also watched the scene unfold before her, a soft smile tugging at her lips.
She hadn't expected this—hadn't even thought it possible—but here they were.
Just hours ago, her knights had been prepared to die, their spirits heavy with the weight of betrayal and impending doom. And now...they were laughing, teasing each other, strengthening the bonds between them in a way she hadn't even needed to orchestrate.
It also hadn't been long since a few fresh recruits had joined her private legion, and she had been contemplating how best to integrate them since several of them were from noble families and she didn't know how they'd mix in with the veterans who worked their way to the top. And in a squad like hers, trust was paramount—familiarity, camaraderie, and the ability to rely on one another without hesitation were what made them strong.
So, to strengthen that bond, she had wondered how to bridge that gap, how to make sure everyone felt like they belonged.
But now, as she watched the younger knights playfully swatting at their seniors, shy recruits being pulled into friendly teasing, and hardened warriors giggling like girls at a festival, she realized she didn't need to do a thing.
Cassius had done it for her.
With a single action—one seemingly meaningless moment of shameless teasing—he had shifted the atmosphere entirely. He had shattered the barriers between them, made them open up, made them live.
'What kind of man is he?' She thought, glancing at him out of the corner of her eye. 'I still can't figure him out...but maybe...maybe that isn't a bad thing.'
Was handing the squad over to him truly the right decision?
At first, she had been uncertain. Terrified, even.
But looking at them now…
Looking at him, casually smirking as his maids fawned over him, his knights coming together more seamlessly than she had ever seen before…
Perhaps...this wasn't such a bad decision after all.
While Julie was contemplating over the future of her squad, the last maid in line—Portia, the ever-composed and strict head maid—stepped forward with calm confidence, her gaze steady as she approached Cassius which caught Julie off gaurd.
It wasn't only Julie who was surprised as, her knights, who had been watching the playful display with varying levels of amusement, tensed in surprise.
Why?...Well, because Portia seemed like someone who known for her discipline, for her firm authority she would worldover the younger maids, ensuring order in Cassius's household, judging by the composed and sharp look in her gaze.
That's why they were suprised to see such a strict looking maid also seemingly craving her master's attention which completely went against her image.
Cassius, noticing Portia approach, tilted his head with intrigue. A slow, playful smile curved his lips as he reached out, gently playing with the edge of her ear between his fingers.
"Portia..." He called, his eyes gleaming with curiosity. "Why did you stand at the very last of the line? Were you really so hesitant? I would have thought you'd be one of the first to claim your prize."
Portia's lips curled into a soft smile, one laced with tenderness. "Of course that's not true, Young Master." She replied smoothly. "I actually wanted to fight with the others to be first in line."
A few gasps rippled through the knights, while Julie raised her brow in surprise.
Cassius chuckled, his fingers still idly stroking along the curve of her ear. "Oh? Then why didn't you?"
Portia sighed with exaggerated patience, a hint of amusement in her voice. "Because..." She explained. "With my age and my status as the head maid, it was only natural for me to let the younger girls go first and await my turn."
"Ever so dutiful, aren't you? Always looking after others." Cassius laughed at that, shaking his head. He then cupped her cheek gently, tilting her face up so she was looking directly into his eyes. "Well then, my ever-hardworking head maid...Tell me, where would you like your reward?"
The room was utterly silent as Portia hesitated for only a fraction of a second before—shyly, almost timidly—pointing at her lips.
The reaction was instantaneous.
The knights, who had been watching idly before, leaned in.
Even the maids, who had been giggling and chatting amongst themselves, quieted.
It was one thing for Cassius to lavish affection on the younger maids. That was expected. Normal. Of course, a nobleman would be interested in youthful beauties, full of charm and energy.
But Portia…
Portia was different.
Portia was older.
Portia had lived far longer than Cassius.
For a noble, the standard was clear—young, untouched women were desired, and once a woman passed a certain age, she was considered to have outlived her desirability. They were mothers, caretakers, mentors—not lovers.
Yet, here was Cassius, gazing at Portia not with politeness, not with mere affection, but with a burning intensity.
As if she were the most desirable woman in the world.
Some of the older knights exchanged glances, something shifting in their eyes. A new perspective. A newfound respect.
Cassius was unlike any nobleman they had encountered. He wasn't shackled by conventional ideals of beauty or worth. He didn't discard women past their youth—he saw them, cherished them.
Even Julie, who had been quietly observing from the corner of the room, felt her brow furrow in surprise. This was...odd.
Unheard of, really. She'd grown up watching the nobles, men who were predictable in their tastes—always chasing after the youngest, freshest faces, the girls who giggled and blushed at their every word. So it was rather strange to see someone like Cassius who seemed to appreciate beauty no matter the age.
Julie had always thought her father was an anomaly, a rare soul who looked at her mother-gray creeping into her hair, lines etched around her eyes and still saw the woman he'd fallen for decades ago. His love for her had never dimmed, not with age, not with time.
Julie had cherished that about him, held it close as proof that some men could see beyond the shallow standards of nobility.
But Cassius? Cassius was something else entirely.
Here he was, a nobleman in his prime, gazing at Portia—a woman who must've been decades his senior—with a fire in his eyes that defied every rule Julie had ever known.
It wasn't just affection or kindness; it was hunger, raw and unapologetic. And Portia, with her quiet dignity of someone who'd seen more seasons than most in the room combined, seemed to bloom under that gaze.
Julie's mind wandered despite herself. If Cassius could look at Portia like that, a woman so much older than him, could he...would he...?
She imagined herself years from now, her own youth faded, her face softened by time.
Would a man like Cassius still see her as a woman, not just a shadow of what she'd been? Would he look at her the way her father still looked at her mother?
The thought sent a strange flutter through her chest, a mix of curiosity and something she couldn't quite name.
But then she caught herself—how ridiculous! She was spinning fantasies out of nothing, letting her imagination run wild over a man she barely knew. She shook her head, ready to dismiss the absurdity of it all.
But before she could fully shake off the thought, the room seemed to freeze. Everyone—knights, maids, even Julie herself—went still as Cassius's voice cut through the air, playful and teasing, shattering the tension like a pebble tossed into a still pond.
"Portia, my dear." He said, his lips curling into a mischievous smile as he leaned closer to her. "I just realized something. Didn't I already pull you into my arms this morning when you came to wake me?"
"...Didn't I already kiss you all over that lovely face of yours until you were squirming and scolding me to get out of bed?"
Portia's eyes widened, a flush creeping up her neck and spreading across her cheeks like wildfire. She opened her mouth to protest, but no words came out—just a faint, flustered sound that only made Cassius's grin widen.
The maids gasped, hands flying to their mouths as they exchanged wide-eyed glances. The knights, too, shifted in their seats, some coughing awkwardly, others leaning forward as if they'd misheard. Portia, the solemn, unflappable Portia, ambushed by this young nobleman in the early hours of the morning? The image was almost too much to process.
"Y-Young Master!" Portia finally managed, her voice a mix of indignation and embarrassment. "You can't just say that in front of everyone! A high noble such as yourself should have some level of shame."
"Shame?" Cassius laughed, a rich, warm sound that filled the room. "Why should I be ashamed of adoring you? I thought you'd scold me more if I didn't admit it."
"...Besides, they all deserve to know how lucky I am to have you waking me up every day. Those little frowns you give me when I'm slow to rise they're worth more than gold."
The blush on Portia's face deepened, and she swatted at his arm, though there was no real force behind it.
But made all the female knights throats go even more dry and their eyes widen to the size of saucers was what Cassius did next.
His voice dipped low, that carried just enough weight to silence the crowd. "And like I said earlier it'd be a waste to taste those sweet lips of yours again so soon." He said, his gaze glinting with mischief. "So, I think it's better if I taste some other intimate place that hasn't been tainted yet."
Before anyone could fully process his words, his hands moved—swift, bold, and utterly shameless—cupping Portia's plump breasts with a gentle but deliberate squeeze.
Grope~
A hush fell over the gathered knights as they watched this absurd sight of a noble brazenly groping his maid, while the maid herself didn't seem to mind and was simply blushing at having her udders caressed.
Not a single one of them dared to make a sound and simply watched the scene with enamored looks on their faces like they were watching a spicy drama between a young noble and a older maid, who was old enough to be his mother unfold...
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