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

Cassius's hand had just slipped daringly between Aisha's cheeks, fingers brazenly groping her as she bent forward over the table, biting her lip to keep from making a sound, her tail twitching madly under the table.

Her breath was coming out shaky and uneven, and though her face burned red with humiliation, her body was betraying her, arching toward his touch, as if inviting him to go further.

But before he could push his luck, a voice suddenly rang out from behind them, smooth and full of amusement.

"Well, well, well...you're quite a lucky young man, aren't you?"

Cassius froze on the spot, his hand snapping back like he had been burned, while Aisha jerked upright, pressing her knees together and grabbing the edge of the table to keep herself from shaking.

"Young, handsome, surrounded by three beautiful women even while you're eating dinner." The voice went on, rich with teasing humor. "Why, there are men who would kill for a position like yours."

Cassius turned his head slowly, praying that the voice hadn't seen what was going on under the table.

Standing there with her cane in one hand and a mischievous grin on her wrinkled but lively face was none other than Wanda, Nala's grandmother, the tavern owner, and de facto head of this small fishing village.

"Grandma Wanda." Cassius greeted quickly, straightening up, his usual roguish grin returning to mask his earlier guilt. "I suppose you're right...but you should know, right now I'm not just in the company of three beauties..." He leaned forward on his elbow, shooting her a daring smile. "...I'm in the company of four."

For a moment Wanda blinked at him, then tilted her head slightly, as if testing whether he was being cheeky or serious. When she saw he meant it, her grin widened, and she let out a low chuckle.

"Oh-ho...you do have a silver tongue, don't you, boy? No wonder you've got them all wrapped around your finger. Now I'm starting to see why my granddaughter keeps blushing whenever I ask about you, even though that shameless girl never blushes over anything else."

Cassius smirked at that, his eyes glinting playfully, meeting her gaze in a brief silent challenge.

They regarded each other for a few moments, like two people trying to size up the other's intentions, until finally Wanda chuckled again and broke the moment with a wave of her hand.

"Well, never mind all that." She said, turning her sharp but kind gaze on the table. "I came to ask how the food was. I made sure to go all out tonight, when my granddaughter brings guests home, I intend to feed them properly."

Hearing this, Skadi slammed her hands on the table with a loud bang, her cheeks flushed from both beer and excitement.

"It's amazing!" She declared at the top of her lungs. "Absolutely amazing! So good I just want to kidnap you and drag you home so you can keep making fish like this every day!"

Wanda burst out laughing at that, tapping the table with her cane. "Even if you kidnapped me, dear, it wouldn't taste the same. The secret is in the fish. This lake has the freshest catch you'll ever get, and that's why the flavor is so good."

"Then I'll do both!" Skadi chomped down another piece, swallowed, then pointed at her with a determined look. "I'll kidnap you and the fish! Then I can eat like this every day!"

"Ha!" Wanda chuckled again, clearly entertained by the girl's antics.

Aisha, still trying to regain her composure from earlier, finally cleared her throat and said in a more demure tone.

"It really is delicious. Normally I can't stand fish, the smell is too strong. But this one is so fresh, no smell at all. The flavor is delicate, the flesh soft...it's perfect."

Wanda's brows rose, intrigued. "Oh? That's surprising. I thought the feline races loved fish. But I suppose you're like my granddaughter then, she's a lamia, and lamias are supposed to love eggs, but that girl runs from the table whenever I serve them. Hates them, says she can't even stand the texture."

She turned then toward Julie with a sly little smile.

"And what about you, dear? Do you like the food? You'd better say yes. I had to break my back over that stove for this meal, and I even slipped and fell in the kitchen while cooking."

Julie's eyes went wide as she nearly leapt to her feet. "Oh my god! Are you okay? Are you hurt? Do you need to sit down—"

Wanda suddenly let out a laugh so hearty that the entire table turned to stare.

"Oh, calm down, dear. I'm only joking!" She said, wiping a tear from the corner of her eye. "You looked so flustered sitting there that I just had to tease you a little. You should loosen up, enjoy yourself. You're far too pretty to sit there looking like you swallowed a lemon."

Julie stared at her, stunned, then let out a sheepish laugh and sat back down, her cheeks pink. Cassius, meanwhile, leaned back in his chair, smirking to himself.

'So that's where Nala gets it from...' He thought with faint amusement.

Julie cleared her throat, then said, "The fish is amazing. But honestly, what really surprised me is the beer. It's got this nutty, almost creamy flavor to it. Oily but pleasant. I've never tasted anything like it."

Aisha nodded, raising her mug. "I was thinking the same. I don't know what's in it, but it's incredible."

"Oh, there's a secret to that." Wanda said, her voice dropping conspiratorially as she leaned in closer.

Julie and Aisha both perked up, expecting some rare herb or secret brewing method.

"It's brewed not just with wheat and oats..." Wanda explained cheerfully. "...but we also add fish bones to the mix. Sometimes even some of the flesh, let it ferment together, it gives it that special flavor you're tasting now."

Julie froze with her mug halfway to her lips. "…You're joking, right?" She asked, smiling nervously.

But Wanda only shook her head with a warm, knowing grin. "Not at all...We are a fishing village after all, since it's only natural we would add our one spice to it."

There was a long, stunned silence before both Julie and Aisha turned pale as the reality set in, realizing they had been happily downing fish-bone beer all evening.

Meanwhile Skadi lifted her jug with a grin. "Cheers to that! Makes perfect sense to me!"

She clinked her drink against Cassius's with gusto and drank deep, while Cassius himself just chuckled into his ale.

He was also just about to give his opinion on the beer when Wanda's voice came through.

"My, my...but this truly is a wonderful day." Wanda said, her tone casual but carrying an undeniable weight. "Something I never expected to see in my lifetime. Julie, Aisha, and Skadi, three leaders of the Holy Guard, sitting here in my humble tavern. Even one of you would have been enough to make the whole village celebrate for a week, but three?"

"...Truly, the ancestors must be smiling on us tonight."

The trio couldn't help but smile politely, exchanging glances, but then Wanda's attention slid to Cassius. Her sharp eyes softened ever so slightly before she leaned in, lowering her voice.

"And of course..." She said, her voice quiet enough to make everyone lean closer. "...there's also you...the third Young Master of the Holyfield Household, Cassius Vindictus Holyfield."

Cassius blinked, nearly choking on his drink. Julie, Aisha, and Skadi all froze in unison, their eyes snapping to Wanda in shock.

"It is truly an honor..." Wanda continued, as though casually discussing the weather. "...to host one of the most powerful men on the continent in this tiny tavern of mine. Right here in Ainsworth. And to think…" She smiled knowingly, her voice taking on a teasing lilt. "...my own granddaughter is engaged to such a man. I'd say today is a blessed day indeed."

The table went dead silent, as from the moment they'd all met, he hadn't once given Nala his real name. He'd gone out of his way to keep his identity quiet, and Julie and the others had respected that, never calling him by name in front of Nala.

But here was Wanda, not only casually calling him by his full title, but speaking as though she had known from the start.

Seeing their collective surprise, Wanda chuckled softly and waved a hand.

"Don't look so alarmed. It's not that surprising I know your name. You don't walk around with three of the Holy Guard leaders at your side if you're just some ordinary man. And besides…" Her eyes narrowed knowingly. "...your eyes give you away."

Cassius gave a small sigh and leaned back, running a hand through his hair.

"I still remember the rumors when you were born." Wanda continued, her tone almost nostalgic. "They said your eyes were like fresh blood, as though a demon itself had blessed you. The story spread all the way out here, even to this tiny village. So even if you hide your name, Young Master, you can't hide those crimson eyes."

Wanda's attention then shifted to Skadi, and her smile turned just a bit sly.

"And besides..." She added lightly. "...this little one over here keeps calling you 'Master.' Who else would she call by that title?"

Skadi nearly choked on her fish, her ears flattening as she whimpered and looked away guiltily, while Cassius let out a soft chuckle.

"Well..." He said finally, leaning forward. "...since the cat's out of the bag, I suppose I can be honest. Yes, I am Cassius Vindictus Holyfield, third son of the Holyfield household." His expression grew a little serious as he inclined his head. "I apologize for not telling you sooner, but I have my reasons for keeping a low profile."

Then his gaze sharpened slightly as he looked at Wanda.

"But what I am more curious about, madam, is how casually you mentioned my 'engagement' to your granddaughter. Are you saying you intend to marry her into my family?"

Wanda tilted her head slightly, completely unfazed by his tone. "Well, am I wrong?" She asked. "My granddaughter already told me how the two of you stood there declaring yourselves husband and wife. She told me how you swore to take her away with you."

"...Granted, I had to wring that confession out of her since she was so embarrassed, but still, she said it."

Cassius blinked in surprise as Wanda gave a small, dramatic gasp and leaned forward across the table.

"Don't tell me..." She said with mock shock. "...that you're planning to betray my granddaughter now. After all the things you said to her, all those promises you made, are you going to break them? That would be unforgivable!"

Cassius's smile flattered. "No, no, of course not!" He said quickly, sitting up straighter. "I stand by every word I said. I'm ready to take her home with me right now if she'd just stop fighting me on it!"

He exhaled, shaking his head in disbelief before giving Wanda a wry smile.

"I suppose what surprises me is that you're even willing to give her to me, and that you seem so...approving of me, as from what I can see, you love your granddaughter very much. But most people wouldn't dare let her marry a man with a reputation like mine."

His tone darkened slightly as he continued,

"You must know what the rumors say about me, that I mistreat women, use them, discard them when I'm bored. That even the most desperate peasant wouldn't give their daughter to me out of fear."

He leaned forward, eyes narrowing slightly, almost as if challenging her.

"So tell me, why would someone as sharp as you want her to marry someone like me?"