Depraved Noble: Forced To Live The Debaucherous Life Of An Evil Noble!

But then, to Aisha's immense surprise, Cassius didn't go for her lips.

Instead, he lowered his head to her neck, where she could feel is breath tickling her and took a deep, exaggerated sniff and the moment he did, Aisha's eyes widened, her face flushing crimson.

"Hmm." Cassius murmured, pulling back and looking at her with a casual air. "You really don't stink at all. In fact, you smell quite nice."

"...Like a bundle full of jasmines."

Cassius's words slowly sank in—one by one, each word burrowing into her mind like a dagger.

Her scent...Jasmines.

He just—

Her entire face exploded into red.

Julie, watching all of this raised an eyebrow at Aisha's exaggerated reaction. Skadi, however, was not satisfied.

"Master!" She whined, leaning down from his shoulders to pout at him. "You were supposed to say she smells like a stinky fish! You're ruining the fun!"

Cassius chuckled. Still holding Aisha securely, he then turned his gaze directly into hers and even through her humiliation, Aisha found herself locked in place.

There was something too intense about the way he was looking at her—like he was enjoying her reaction far too much.

Then, with a slow smirk, he spoke again.

"Well, even if she did smell like rotting fish or even a decomposing corpse in fact." He said some morbid words while looking at her with a enchanting gaze. "I wouldn't mind if it meant I could carry such a cute girl in my arms."

"...Especially since there aren't many girls who are both impeccably smart and pretty at the same time like Aisha here, so I consider even being able to have such a close look at her as a blessing that was bestowed upon me."

"."

".."

"..."

"...w-what?"

Aisha froze, her mind struggling to process the sudden onslaught of compliments and intimacy. The unexpected sniff, the casual declaration of her pleasant scent, and then the blatant compliment about her cuteness—it was all too much.

For a moment, she was completely speechless, her mind a blank slate.

Then, the realization of what he had said hit her like a tidal wave. Her entire face turned a shade of red that could rival a ripe tomato. Her heart pounded in her chest, and her breath hastened. She was completely flustered, unable to form a coherent thought or response.

"I...I...Y-You..." She stammered, her voice barely a whisper.

She looked away, her eyes darting nervously around, trying to find an escape from the intensity of his gaze. But there was none. She was trapped, held captive by his words and his proximity.

"My, my, Aisha." Cassius chuckled softly, his voice laced with amusement. "Are you blushing?"

Before Aisha could even open her mouth to say something back even if it was a word or two at Cassius's teasing remark, Skadi struck first.

"Ohhh, she's definitely blushing!" Skadi declared dramatically from her perch on Cassius's shoulders, her silver tail wagging with pure mischief. "She looks like a tomato! No—a whole basket of tomatoes!"

Aisha twitched violently. "I—!"

"And you know what's funny?" Skadi continued, cutting her off entirely, her voice taking on an exaggeratedly mocking tone. "She was just telling me the other day when we were going through your reports about how she could never be like those silly maids who fall for you so easily. How she's 'not weak like them' and 'would never be swayed by a few sweet words.'"

"Oh?" Cassius tilted his head, his eyes gleaming with interest.

Skadi grinned wide, clearly enjoying herself. "But look at her now! She's starting to act the exact same way!"

Aisha's face went from red to an alarming shade of crimson. "I—I did not—!"

She wanted to protest. Desperately. She wanted to say that Skadi was making things up, exaggerating, twisting her words!

But every single time she tried to look up—

Cassius was there.

Looking at her.

Not with his usual smirk or his usual teasing gaze, but with something that made her completely forget how to form words. His crimson eyes were warm, filled with something impossibly soft, like he was holding onto something precious.

Like she was some kind of treasure.

Aisha's heart raced.

What...What was with that look?!

Why was he holding her like this?! Why was he looking at her like that?!

Her heartbeat was too loud in her ears.

She couldn't think.

She needed to escape.

And with no other option, she abruptly turned over and stuffed her face into his chest, hiding from both of them who were looking at her flustered figure from above.

Skadi immediately burst into laughter when she saw this embarassing sight of retreat.

"Oh my gods!" She cackled, pointing at Aisha as she kicked her legs in amusement. "She went into hiding!"

Cassius chuckled, shaking his head slightly. "Like a hermit crab?"

"Exactly!" Skadi snickered, nodding furiously. "She does this all the time! Acts all big and mighty, but the moment she gets flustered or overwhelmed, she hides behind me or Captain!"

Cassius hummed in amusement, his arms shifting slightly as he held Aisha a little closer.

"That's fine." He murmured, his voice softer now, his tone carrying nothing but warmth as he caressed her face. "I don't mind at all."

Aisha stiffened as she suddenly felt his hand on her cheek. His touch was gentle, his thumb caressing her flushed skin, slow and soothing, as if trying to calm her down which made her suck in a sharp breath as body shivered.

Cassius chuckled at her reaction.

"I think it's rather cute..." He mused, his voice dropping slightly. "...that she thinks all her problems will disappear as long as she just...doesn't look at them."

"...Almost like a little baby who thinks her parents disappear the moment they cover their face when they play peekaboo."

Aisha buried herself deeper into his chest when she heard his words and Cassius could feel her reaction—how she curled even closer, how her fingers gripped onto his shirt, how her body radiated heat from embarrassment.

And it only made him smile more.

"Ahh! She's burying herself even more!" Skadi, completely entertained, gasped in horror.

Cassius chuckled, still gently stroking her cheek. "Well..." He murmured, his voice undeniably fond. "It's only natural, isn't it? There's no way she would show how flustered she is at the moment with that pride of hers at the moment."

His hand slid up, fingertips brushing over the base of her cat ears, making them twitch even more which made Aisha let out the tiniest, softest little whimper.

"So cute..." Cassius smirked.

Aisha wanted to disappear.

Cassius then exhaled lightly, his smirk never faltering as he glanced down at Aisha, who was still trembling slightly in his hold, stubbornly hiding her face in his chest as if that would somehow erase the entire situation. His arms were firm around her, keeping her secure despite how much she wanted to vanish into thin air.

"Well..." He murmured, as he looked down at Aisha and then Skadi who was leaning on top of him. "It looks like I've finally got two on board, even if one of you is still quite reluctant. Now..."

He tilted his head slightly, his eyes gleaming as he glanced toward Julie.

"Now..." He said, adjusting Aisha slightly in his arms. "There's only one more person I need to add before we can finally head back home."

Julie, who had been in slight awe this entire time watching Aisha—the same Aisha who never let anyone outside of her and Skadi see her vulnerable, hide in her embrace so blatantly—suddenly snapped back to reality when she saw the look that screamed you're next.

Her fingers twitched slightly, but she quickly forced herself to maintain her composure. She cleared her throat, coughing elegantly to regain her usual regal stance.

"That won't be necessary, Young Master." She said smoothly, straightening her posture. "You're already carrying two people. I doubt adding a third would be—"

"Not a problem at all." Cassius interrupted, his smirk widening slightly.

Julie faltered for just a split second before regaining herself. "Regardless..." She continued, ignoring the way her heartbeat skipped slightly at his confident words. "You may depart ahead of me. I'll follow once I regain my strength."

Cassius sighed in mock disappointment, shaking his head slightly. "You really are stubborn, aren't you, Captain?" He asked, then added casually. "Also, you can just call me by my name instead of Young Master. It feels a bit strange hearing that from you."

Julie blinked.

"…I see." She said carefully, her voice still calm, though there was a flicker of hesitation behind her emerald gaze.

"Now then..." Cassius continued, stretching his arms slightly with ease, making Aisha grumble something incoherent into his chest. "Since you don't seem to believe me, how about a little demonstration?"

"A demonstration?" Julie narrowed her eyes slightly.

"Skadi..." Cassius called up to the energetic wolf girl perched on his shoulders. "Could you possibly stand up on top of me and balance yourself on my head like you're circus performer."

Julie's entire body went rigid.

Absolutely not, she thought.

"That's—" She started, intending to stop this madness immediately, because sitting on a noble's shoulders was already too much, but—

She was too late.

The moment she opened her mouth, Skadi had already moved. With zero hesitation, the wolf girl leaped up onto one leg, perching herself directly atop Cassius's head like he was a balance beam.

Julie stared in sheer disbelief.

"I'm even taller now!" Skadi cheered, arms outstretched as if she were standing atop the highest peak in the kingdom. "Master, you're amazing! You barely even moved when I jumped up!"

Cassius chuckled, entirely unbothered by the fact that there was now a full-grown beastkin balancing on his head.

"See?" He said casually, glancing at Julie, who still looked like she was processing what just happened. "Carrying all of you won't be an issue."

Julie pressed her fingers against her temple, exhaling through her nose...This man was insane.

"Come on, Captain!" Skadi grinned down at her, her silver tail wagging excitedly as she pointed at her. "Just get on already! You can even sit on his shoulders if you want! Skadi will give up her beloved seat for you."

Julie's expression darkened.

"I will not sit on his shoulders." She said in a voice that carried the undeniable authority of a high-ranking knight.

Skadi tilted her head. "Why not? It's really comfy."

Julie's eye twitched. Cassius, meanwhile, was smirking.

"Julie..." He drawled, shifting his hold on Aisha, who had gone completely limp in defeat, still refusing to remove her face from his chest. "Are you sure you're not just hesitating because you think it'll be embarrassing?"

"That is not the issue." Julie shot him a sharp look.

"Then there's no problem getting on, is there?"

Julie inhaled deeply, her fingers curling slightly in frustration.But before she could argue further, Skadi leaned down, her silver ears twitching in excitement.

"Don't worry, Captain!" She grinned. "Even if you do fall because of your clumsiness, Master will catch you!...Isn't that right, Master?"

"That's right." Cassius grinned. "No matter how awkwardly she falls, I'll never let her hit the ground."

"...And honestly I think me carrying her back is safer then her walking and tripping over a stick this time."

Hearing the accusations from her own master and her left hand man, Julie, for the first time, felt the distinct urge to throw both of them into the dirt.

Skadi, still balancing effortlessly on top of Cassius's head, then grew impatient and grinned down at her captain with an expression that was far too pleased with itself.

"Master, you're wasting your time." She said, wagging her tail lazily. "Captain's not gonna accept, no matter what you say."

Julie narrowed her eyes slightly, already sensing danger. "Skadi—"

"It's because of all that formality and pride nonsense." Skadi continued, completely ignoring Julie's sharp gaze. "She'll just keep refusing 'cause she thinks it's her duty to protect you, not the other way around."

Julie's lips parted, but before she could get a word in, Skadi leaned forward, flashing a mischievous grin.

"So, Master, you should just do the same thing you did with Aisha!" She declared boldly, ignoring the way Julie's entire body stiffened in alarm.

Cassius's eyes gleamed dangerously. Julie's heart dropped.

"Skadi..." She said sharply, shaking her head furiously, trying to stop what was about to happen.

But Skadi's tail wagged even harder.

"Come on, Master, it's not like she can run away or anything."

Hearing Skadi's suggestion, he looked at Julie, who was now visibly flustered, and a slow, playful smirk spread across his face.

Julie, realizing what he was about to do, quickly turned around and attempted to crawl away, her movements awkward and slow due to her injuries.

"Oh, no you don't." Cassius chuckled, his voice laced with playful determination. "We wouldn't want you to miss out on the fun, now would we?"

And before she could even gain any distance, she suddenly felt a pair of strong arms wrap around her waist.

A gasp escaped her lips as she was lifted off the ground, her body weightless in Cassius's hold and then to her utter shock, she felt herself being thrown into the air and she was flying.

Throw~

Skadi howled with laughter.

"Whoooaaa, she's really flying—!!"

Aisha, who had just started recovering from her earlier humiliation, snapped her head up in disbelief as she saw her captain soaring through the air like a tossed doll.

And then—

With almost inhuman precision, Julie landed perfectly into Cassius's arms.

Right beside Aisha in the exact same position like two sardines in a can.

A second princess carry.

And for the briefest moment, absolute silence fell over the group.

Cassius, holding both of them effortlessly, simply smirked while looking up at Skadi who was showing him a thumbs up like she was telling a job well done

Aisha, also in his hold, turned her head slowly toward her captain, initially being surprised by her sudden appearance and then looked at her as it she was asking, 'Not you as well, Captain'.

Julie, meanwhile, was completely frozen.

She blinked once. Then twice. Then a third time.

Her mind was blank...She had not been prepared for this.

This wasn't supposed to happen.

She was supposed to retain her dignity.

She was supposed to walk back herself.

And yet—

Here she was.

Carried.

Like a princess.

Cassius chuckled lightly, adjusting his hold on them with ridiculous ease. "Well, well." He said, his eyes twinkling. "I have to say, Captain, you make a rather elegant addition to my collection."