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

Aisha's tail flicked restlessly, her amber eyes glinting with unresolved agitation as she walked alongside Julie and Skadi. The polished grandeur of Cassius's mansion, with its gleaming marble and golden light, did little to quell the storm of thoughts swirling in her mind.

She couldn't let the matter of Lady Diana and Vivi drop...not yet. Her claws tapped against the leather-bound book of reports, and she turned to Julie, her voice low but insistent.

"Captain, Lady Diana was married to Lord Wayne, wasn't she? The right-hand man of Cassius's father, the patriarch of the Holyfield family?" Her ears twitched, betraying her unease. "What does he think of all this? He's not just some nobody, he's got power, influence."

"...If these rumors about his wife and daughter are even half-true, what's he going to do? Storm in here with an army? Confront the patriarch himself?"

She glanced around the opulent hallway, her gaze darting to the shadowed corners as if expecting to spot Diana or Vivi lurking behind a tapestry.

"My reports also say they're still here, Captain. Both mother and daughter came to the mansion two days ago with a pile of luggage and haven't left since...Wayne's got to know that, right?"

"So what's his plan? Is he going to barge in here, swords drawn, or go over Cassius's head to the patriarch?"

Her voice grew sharper, her tail lashing.

"Though, honestly, the patriarch's been so absent lately, no public appearances, nothing. Wayne's practically running the show. He's not going to sit idly by. He'll come for Cassius, demand answers. Don't you think?"

Julie kept her eyes forward, her expression unreadable, the soft clink of her sword a steady counterpoint to Aisha's rapid-fire questions. "If you're so curious about what Wayne thinks and what he's planning..." She said, her voice calm but pointed. "...why don't you ask him yourself? Right now."

Aisha blinked, her ears flattening in confusion. "Ask him? What are you talking about, Captain? We're in the middle of—"

Skadi, still chewing her dried fish with a contented hum, interrupted with a playful nudge. "Look ahead, dum-dum." She said, her eyes gleaming with mischief. "Look ahead, and you'll get what the Captain's saying."

Aisha's gaze snapped forward, and her breath caught.

There, striding down the hallway toward Cassius's office, was none other than Wayne Arwald himself. His tall, broad-shouldered figure was unmistakable, clad in a dark, tailored coat that spoke of his status. He must have taken a different path through the mansion's labyrinthine corridors, converging with their route by chance.

Aisha's tail puffed up, and she grabbed Julie's arm, her voice a frantic whisper. "Captain, what's he doing here?! Is he really going to confront Cassius about Diana and Vivi? Is there going to be a fight right now?!"

Julie's lips curved into a faint, amused smile. "If a fight's about to break out, maybe we should turn around and come back later." She said, her tone teasing. "Wouldn't want to get caught in the middle, would we?"

Aisha's eyes widened, but then a sly grin spread across her face, her fangs glinting. "No way, Captain! If there's a fight, we're staying. I want to see someone take on that smug Cassius. It'd be the best show in the realm!" Her tail swished with barely contained excitement, the prospect of chaos clearly thrilling her.

Julie rolled her eyes, shaking her head as she quickened her pace to approach Wayne. "Come on, then...Let's greet him and see what exactly is happening."

She muttered, her voice laced with fond exasperation. Aisha and Skadi followed, though Aisha's steps faltered when she noticed Wayne's face as he turned at the sound of their approach.

The man's stern features, usually as unyielding as granite, looked ravaged by time and strain.

His eyes were swollen, shadowed with exhaustion, as if he hadn't slept in days. His once imposing presence seemed diminished, his shoulders slightly hunched, yet there was a glint in his gaze, a flicker of resolve that suggested he hadn't given up entirely. He looked like a man who had aged a decade overnight, torn between despair and a newfound purpose.

Julie raised a hand in greeting, her voice warm but formal. "Lord Wayne, a pleasant surprise to meet you here...It's been some time."

Wayne's lips twitched into a faint, weary chuckle, though his eyes remained guarded. "A surprise, indeed, Captain Julie." He said, his voice low and gravelly. He glanced at Aisha and Skadi, his gaze lingering briefly before returning to Julie. "Though I suspect you'd prefer we didn't cross paths."

"Every time we meet, it seems I'm delivering some grueling mission from the patriarch, tasks no one in their right mind would relish."

Julie shook her head, her expression unwavering. "Not at all, my lord. It's my duty to serve the patriarch and the Holyfield family. I don't shy away from what's asked of me."

Wayne raised a brow, a knowing smile tugging at his lips. "Is that so? Even the last time we met, when I relayed the patriarch's order to...deal with the young master? To kill him?" His voice dropped, the weight of the memory hanging between them. "Did you relish that request?"

Julie's breath stopped, her calm facade faltering for a fraction of a second. Her fingers brushed the hilt of her sword, an unconscious gesture, and she fell silent, the topic clearly a wound still raw.

Seeing this, Wayne's expression also softened, regret flickering in his tired eyes. "I shouldn't have brought that up." He said quietly. "It was unfair. That order...it wasn't my choice. I argued against it, but the patriarch's will was absolute. I'm sorry, Julie, for putting you in that position."

Julie shook her head again, her voice steady despite the tension. "There's no need to apologize, Lord Wayne. You were only the messenger. I understand the burdens you carry, and I don't hold you responsible." Her words were sincere, though her eyes betrayed a flicker of lingering unease. She met his gaze, her tone softening. "We all do what we must for the family."

Wayne studied her for a moment, then nodded, a silent acknowledgment. "Yes, for family...we must do what we have to do." There was some kind of undertone like he was speaking to himself when he said so, but before Julie could catch it he continued. "So, what brings you here?" He asked, his voice regaining its measured tone. "To see the young master, I presume?"

"Yes." Julie replied, her posture straightening.

She opened her mouth to ask his purpose, hoping to gauge his intentions without rousing suspicion, but before she could, Skadi bounded forward, her tail wagging and her fish dangling from her hand. Oblivious to the delicate tension, she blurted out.

"Hey, Lord Wayne! You here to ask Cassius about takin' your wife and daughter?"

"So, you gonna start a mutiny or somethin'? Fight the Young Master to get 'em back?"

Her eyes sparkled with curiosity, as if she were asking a friend about a tavern brawl.

The air froze...Julie's eyes widened, Aisha's tail puffed up again, and Wayne's expression stiffened, though he didn't immediately react.

Julie then immediately stepped forward, her voice urgent. "Lord Wayne, please, forgive her. Skadi doesn't mean any harm, she's just...speaking without thinking." In her mind, Julie groaned, resolving to drill some semblance of tact into the Fenrir later.

Wayne's lips curved into a watery smile, though his eyes glistened with something sorrowful and pained. "No need to apologize." He said softly, his voice steady despite the weight of Skadi's words. "She's only saying what's on everyone's mind, isn't she?" He glanced at the three women, noting their guilty expressions. "And she's not wrong. I am here to talk to Cassius about my wife and daughter."

Aisha's ears perked up, her heart racing as she realized the rumors, or at least part of them, might hold truth. She wanted to press him, to ask why he seemed so calm when his family was supposedly stolen, why he wasn't raging or rallying an army.

But the haggard lines on his face, the quiet sorrow in his eyes, silenced her. She bit her lip, her claws digging into the book as she held her tongue.

Julie, sensing the precarious mood, chose not to probe further. "We should head to Cassius's office." She said, her voice calm but firm. "We all have matters to discuss with the young master."

"Agreed." Wayne nodded, his expression unreadable.

The four of them walked in silence, the clack of their boots echoing in the grand hallway. As they approached Cassius's office, they spotted Lucius, Cassius's loyal and impeccably dressed butler, standing outside the heavy oak doors.

Despite his delicate, almost adorable appearance, Lucius was known for his unshakable bravery. He'd even face down the king himself without flinching, his loyalty to Cassius an ironclad force that no authority could bend.

Yet, as the trio of Julie, Aisha, and Skadi approached alongside Wayne, something uncharacteristic happened. Lucius's pale grey eyes widened, his face draining of color as if he'd glimpsed a specter.

His gaze particularly locked onto Wayne, and a flicker of panic, crossed his features, a stark contrast to his usual composure.

Julie and Aisha exchanged a glance, their brows furrowing in shared confusion. But before either could call out to him, Lucius, without a word of greeting, fumbled with the door handle and slipped inside, the heavy oak swinging shut behind him with a muffled thud.

The silence that followed was thick, broken only by the distant hum of the chandeliers crystals clinking softly in the draft.

Julie's lips pressed into a thin line, her steely gaze shifting to Wayne, whose haggard face betrayed no reaction, though his swollen eyes seemed to carry an even heavier weight. "It seems we'll have to wait until they call us in." She said, her voice calm but tinged with curiosity.

Wayne nodded, his expression unreadable. "Yes." He murmured, his voice low and gravelly, as if worn thin by sleepless nights.

The four settled into the plush chairs lining the corridor, Wayne claiming a seat on one side, his posture rigid, while Julie, Aisha, and Skadi clustered together on the opposite side.

The maids, ever diligent, had ensured even these waiting chairs were spotless, their velvet cushions gleaming under the golden light.

Aisha then leaned toward Julie, her voice a hushed whisper, her ears flicking with agitation. "Captain, what was that? I've never seen Lucius act like that. He looked like he was about to bolt! Why was he so flustered, especially when he saw Lord Wayne?"

Skadi, still gnawing on her dried fish, piped up before Julie could respond. "He looked like a girl when he's all panicky like that!" She said, her golden eyes sparkling with amusement, oblivious to the tension. "Real cute, like he was gonna cry or something...He'd probably make men go crazy if he were to wear a dress."

Aisha shot her a withering glare, her tail lashing.

"Can you not say useless things for once, mutt?" She hissed, her voice sharp with irritation. Ignoring Skadi's grin, she turned back to Julie, her tone urgent. "Captain, what if it's true? What if Lucius looked so guilty because they did take Wayne's wife and daughter? Maybe he's scared to face him after what Cassius did!"

Julie shook her head, her expression steady but thoughtful. "Aisha, think about it. Does Cassius strike you as someone who'd be afraid to confront Wayne?"

Her voice was measured, cutting through Aisha's spiraling thoughts.

"He wrested command of the Holy Guard from his own father, the patriarch and he's got power most can't even dream of...Do you really think he'd cower before a subordinate, even one as high-ranking as Wayne?"

Aisha's ears flattened, her claws tapping against the book in her lap. She opened her mouth, then closed it, her cheeks flushing slightly as she processed Julie's words.

"You're right." She admitted, her voice reluctant. "He's a tyrant, that one. He'd probably laugh in Wayne's face, even if he did steal his family right in front of him." Her tail gave a single, agitated flick, but her eyes betrayed a flicker of doubt. "Still...why did Lucius look so rattled? If it's not fear, then what?"

Julie's gaze softened, though her posture remained firm. "I don't know." She said simply. "We'll find out when we're called in. For now, we wait."

Just as she spoke, the oak doors creaked open, and Lucius reappeared. His face was noticeably more composed, though a faint tension lingered in the set of his jaw and the way his eyes darted briefly to Wayne.

He smoothed his uniform, as if reclaiming his usual poise. "My apologies for the delay and for not greeting you properly." He said, his voice steady but with a slight strain. "I had to report something to the Young Master. He's ready to see you now...all four of you, together."

Julie's brow arched slightly. "All four of us? Not one group at a time?"

Lucius nodded, his expression unyielding despite the faint unease in his eyes. "The Young Master was specific. He wishes to speak with you all present."

Julie and Wayne exchanged a brief glance, a silent acknowledgment of the unusual request. Wayne's haggard face remained impassive, though his fingers tightened briefly on the arm of his chair.

"Very well." Julie said, rising smoothly, her sword clinking softly. Wayne stood as well, his movements slower, as if carrying an invisible weight.

As they moved toward the door, Skadi, still chewing her fish, lagged behind. She tilted her head, her tail wagging curiously as she looked at Lucius, who remained by the door, showing no intention of following them inside.

"Hey, Lucius, you not comin' in?" She asked, her voice bright and oblivious. "Why're you stayin' out here?"

Lucius's lips twitched into a faint, strained smile.

"I'm not permitted to enter during...certain times." He said, his tone carefully neutral. "My place is here, outside."

Skadi's ears perked up, her eyes narrowing with curiosity. "What kinda time? What's goin' on in there that you gotta stay out here?"

Lucius shook his head, his expression tightening.

"These are matters not to be spoken of lightly." He said, his voice low. His eyes met hers, a knowing glint flickering within them. "You'll understand soon enough." With that, he gently closed the door behind them, leaving Skadi blinking in confusion, her fish dangling forgotten in her hand.

The four stepped into the grand office, their boots sinking into a plush crimson rug that stretched across the floor.

Towering bookshelves lined the walls, their shelves heavy with leather-bound tomes and artifacts. At the center of the room, behind an imposing desk, sat Cassius.

His posture was relaxed yet commanding, his dark hair catching the light from the chandelier above, his sharp eyes gleaming with confidence as if he was excited to see them here. A faint, enigmatic smile played on his lips, exuding the air of a man who held every card in the game.

On Cassius's left stood Isabelle, her curvy frame clad in a crisp maid's uniform, her soft blonde hair tied back in a neat braid. Her devotion to her Young Master was absolute, her every gesture a testament to her unwavering loyalty.

To his right stood Portia, her dark hair swept into an elegant bun, her glasses glinting under the gentle glow of the room. Her posture was rigid, her composed demeanor a hallmark of her service, yet her presence radiated the same fierce dedication to Cassius.

The two maids flanked him like silent guardians, their contrasting appearances unified by their shared allegiance.

If Julie, Aisha, and Skadi were already wary about what awaited them in this office, the atmosphere grew even more perplexing when they noticed the maids expressions.

Isabelle's pale cheeks were flushed a vivid pink, the color stark against her fair skin. She fidgeted slightly, her fingers twisting the hem of her apron as she tried, and failed to conceal her embarrassment. Her eyes darted downward, avoiding the group, as if guarding a secret too mortifying to acknowledge.

Even Portia, whose icy composure was legendary, betrayed a faint hint of unease. A subtle flush crept across her high cheekbones, and her lips pressed into a tight line, as if she were wrestling with thoughts too scandalous to voice.

Her glasses slipped slightly, and she adjusted them with a quick, nervous motion, her gaze fixed on a point just past the group.

Julie's beautiful eyes narrowed, her hand resting lightly on her sword hilt as she scanned the room, her instincts prickling. Aisha's tail twitched, her amber eyes flicking between the maids, catching the faint tension in the air, her suspicion deepening with every passing second.

What could possibly be happening to unsettle even these fiercely loyal women?

The confusion a absolutely spiked beyond limits when suddenly Skadi, standing slightly behind, sniffed the air, her large ears twitching as if catching a sound too faint for the others.

Her eyes then darted around the room, searching, until they landed on Cassius and the moment it did, her pupils widened, and a sudden flush spread across her cheeks, her bushy tail stiffening.

She ducked her head, her hands clutching the remnants of her dried fish as if it could shield her from whatever she'd sensed.

Her reaction was so abrupt, so uncharacteristically shy, that it sent a jolt of bewilderment through Julie and Aisha.

Skadi, the fearless Fenrir who clapped at executions and bounded into battle without hesitation, was flustered?

Just what exactly was going on in this room?