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

The door swung open, and Cassius stepped inside, only to stop dead in his tracks. His eyes widened as he took in the sight before him.

The warehouse wasn't just a storage cabin, it was Nala's world.

Fishing nets of strange designs hung neatly from hooks, their fibers coated with something that gleamed faintly in the light.

Rods with intricate reeling mechanisms leaned in clusters against the walls, each one a little different, like prototypes in a line of evolving creations.

On one side, curious devices and odd contraptions cluttered shelves, gears, pulleys, and wooden frames with wires threaded through them.

And in the corner, a long workbench bore the marks of heavy use: scratches, stains, and scattered tools, as if Nala had spent countless nights tinkering here until she got something right.

Cassius felt his respect for her deepen. It was raw proof of everything she'd told him earlier, persistence etched into wood and steel.

Nala's eyes sparkled. She slithered ahead like a child eager to show off her treasures, her tail swishing with excitement.

"Look, Cassius!" She said, reaching up to lift one of the rods. "This one's mine. I designed it so fishermen wouldn't have to strain themselves so much." She pointed proudly at a polished mechanism near the reel. "See the pulleys and added gears? They make reeling in heavy catches smoother."

Before he could answer, she pressed the rod into his hands and darted a few steps back, tugging on the line. "Try it, try reeling me in!"

Cassius raised a brow but humored her, twisting the handle. To his surprise, the rod pulled smoothly, dragging her forward with little resistance. He knew Nala wasn't exactly light, but the mechanism made it feel effortless. In seconds she was right before him, beaming.

"Kahaha! You caught a snake, Cassius. You got me." She puffed her cheeks playfully.

"A snake? Hm." Cassius smirked, pretending to toss the rod aside. "But I was hoping for a fish. And a snake might be venomous, so it's better if I throw back."

Nala gasped in offense and tugged on his cheek with her free hand. "I'm not venomous, you silly goose!" But then she slithered to the side, picking up something else. "Though...this is."

She held up a gleaming hook with a feathered lure attached.

"See this? I coated the tip with nectar from a flower near the eastern cliffs. Deadly to fish, paralyzes them almost instantly. But harmless to us. It's for when you're up against the big ones." She offered it to him with a grin of pride.

Cassius examined it, impressed. "You even thought of that…"

But she was already moving again, pulling a heavy net off the wall and thrusting it toward him.

"And this net! Stronger than anything you've seen. I coated the fibers with resin from a kingdom far south. No matter how much weight it carries, it won't snap."

Before he could put it down, she was piling more into his arms, a jar of potent-smelling feed, a strange-looking cage with gears, and a small device she promised could stun fish with a mild current.

Her explanations tumbled out one after the other, her face glowing with excitement, her hands moving animatedly as she showed him piece after piece.

By the time she paused, Cassius was buried under her inventions. Nets draped over his shoulders, jars balanced precariously in his arms, a rod sticking out from behind his head. His face could barely be seen.

Nala blinked, realizing what she'd done, and her excitement faltered.

"Ah, Cassius! I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to dump everything on you. I just—" She flailed her hands, flustered. "I got carried away. I should've put them on the table first, not on you. I didn't mean to turn you into a storage stand…"

Cassius shifted under the weight, but his smile didn't fade. "It's fine, Nala. Worth it, even."

She blinked, surprised. "Worth it…?"

"Yeah." He said, adjusting the load in his arms. "Seeing how excited you are. Seeing how passionate you get when you talk about what you've made, it's worth more than a little weight. Honestly, I barely notice it. I'm too busy watching you."

Her cheeks flushed, her tail twitching shyly. "Cassius…"

He chuckled, finally setting the pile down on a nearby table. "But..." He added, brushing his hands off. "...as much as I've heard about these inventions, and as much as you've explained them...I want to see them in action."

"How about a little boating trip on the lake? Show me how they work with my own eyes."

Nala's face lit up again, pride and delight mixing with the faint blush still coloring her cheeks.

"A demonstration, huh? Heh, fine then! But don't come crying to me when you realize my brilliance is too much for you to handle."

Cassius smirked, stepping closer. "I think I'll risk it."

But then, a thought tugged at him. He leaned back, folding his arms.

"Though...there's still one problem. The Leviathan. It's unlikely it'll show up now, but...there's always a chance it'll pop out of nowhere." He arched a brow, almost expecting her to flinch. "Scary thought, isn't it?"

But to his surprise, Nala didn't flinch at all. Her expression was calm, almost dismissive. "The Leviathan?" She said, her tone firm, even proud. "That's no big deal. It's not an issue."

Cassius blinked, then chuckled.

"Oh? You're really not scared, are you?" He leaned closer, teasing. "What is it then? Confident you can just negotiate with it again? Maybe bargain your way out of being swallowed whole?"

Her cheeks flared red at the reminder of her earlier attempt to "negotiate" with a sea monster. She hissed, flustered. "Th-That was different! I panicked back then!"

Cassius laughed, enjoying her embarrassment. "So if it's not your silver tongue, then what? Why so fearless?"

She turned to him, her gaze suddenly soft, warm, and unwavering. "Because it's you." She said simply.

That caught him off guard. "Me?"

Nala nodded, smiling faintly. "Yes, you. You were the one who scared it away last time. With just a look. I know you can do it again. If you're by my side, nothing's going to happen to me."

For once, Cassius was quiet. He studied her, then let out a long sigh, shaking his head.

"Honestly...that last time was a fluke. I just got lucky. Next time, maybe it won't back down. Maybe it'll fight. If that happens, we might die on the spot." He looked her straight in the eyes, voice dropping softer. "Do you still want to get on that boat, knowing that?"

He expected hesitation, maybe even nerves. But instead, Nala's expression only grew more certain. Her tail stilled, her eyes locking onto his with complete trust.

"Yes. That's fine with me. I've lived a good life. And if it ends today...then I'll die with you." Her voice was calm, but full of weight. "With you by my side, Cassius, I'd even follow you to the gates of hell."

Cassius stiffened, his chest tightening. For a moment, he was at a loss, staring at her unwavering expression. Finally, he exhaled slowly, running a hand through his hair.

"Do you always do this?" He asked with a weak chuckle. "Do you have a secret skill in seduction? Stealing hearts, maybe?"

Nala tilted her head, blinking innocently.

"Seduction? No, not really." She said honestly, almost silly in her tone. "I haven't tried that yet. Though…" She smirked faintly. "…it does sound exciting. Why? Why'd you ask that?"

Cassius shook his head quickly, chuckling to himself. "Nothing. Forget it." He straightened, forcing his composure back. "Come on then. I'm ready to catch some fish."

Together, they gathered the armfuls of inventions, nets, rods, jars, and cages, and carried them down toward the shore. The lake stretched wide before them, glittering under the sunlight, and waiting at the edge was a small wooden boat.

Cassius placed the gear on board, then stepped in, balancing himself easily. He looked over his shoulder. "Well? Coming?"

But Nala didn't climb in. Instead, she slithered into the water, her scales shimmering as she submerged half her body.

Cassius blinked. "Wait, what are you doing? Going for a swim?"

She shook her head, smiling slyly. "No. I'm coming with you, Cassius. But I'll be outside, pushing the boat instead."

He raised a brow. "Pushing? Really?"

"Yes." She said firmly, anticipating his doubt. "Don't worry about me. I'm a water snake. I'm faster in the water than on land, it's basically my home. And besides…" She gestured at her long tail. "…if I got on the boat, it'd be too cramped. This way, it's easier for both of us."

Cassius sat back with a reluctant sigh. "Alright, alright. But if you need me, I'll row with the oars—"

"Don't underestimate me." She interrupted with a cheeky grin, flicking her tail. "This tail is more powerful than oars, even more powerful than some enchanted ether-propelled boats. Watch."

And with that, she surged forward. The boat jolted, then shot across the water at incredible speed, the bow slicing through the lake with ease. Cassius had to grab the sides, wind rushing against his face.

"Holy shit, Nala, you weren't kidding!"

Behind him, Nala laughed, her tail whipping like a graceful engine. "How's that, Cassius? Better than rowing, right?"

Cassius stood up slightly, spreading his arms as the breeze rushed over him. His hair whipped back, his eyes alight.

"Better? Nala, this feels incredible! I feel like a bird right now, flying over the water!"

Her heart swelled at the sight. Wanting to impress him even more, she increased her pace, the boat practically gliding like a jet across the shimmering surface. Cassius's laughter mixed with hers, both of them shouting playfully.

At one point, he teased. "Careful, Nala! You're the snake chasing me, the bird. You'll never catch me at this speed!"

She shot back, breathless with laughter. "Just watch me, Cassius! I always catch what I want!"

Their joy echoed across the lake, a sound of pure freedom.

On the shore, a few villagers gasped when they spotted the boat streaking like lightning across the water. Some jumped in fright, whispering that maybe the Leviathan had returned.

But when they recognized Nala's white scales and saw Cassius standing tall with his arms spread, they relaxed, smiling knowingly. Watching the lamia's face light up with joy as she pushed the boat, a few of the elders exchanged amused glances.

It was clear to everyone who saw it: the little snake of the past had fallen in love.