The grand hallways of Cassius’s mansion shimmered under the crystalline glow of chandeliers, their prisms scattering delicate patterns across the polished marble floors. The air carried a faint perfume of lavender and wax, all due to to the relentless devotion of the maids of the household who keep such a large building clean all the time.

These women moved with the grace of dancers, their hands swift and sure as they dusted ancient vases, polished silver candelabras, and arranged vibrant flowers in gilded urns. Their loyalty to Cassius, their Young Master, was unshakable, woven into every meticulous task, from scrubbing the floors to crafting his favorite desserts.

They served with pride, chins lifted, hearts swelling with the honor of maintaining the splendor of his estate. No other noble could command such fervent dedication; no other household could rival the seamless elegance of Cassius’s domain.

Their devotion was not mere duty but a privilege, a sacred trust to uphold the majesty of their master’s home. Yet, as they glided through their tasks, a subtle shift rippled through the corridor.

The soft clatter of cleaning tools quieted, the low hum of their chatter faded, and a reverent hush settled like a velvet curtain. Heads bowed, not in fear, but in awe, as three figures strode purposefully down the hall: Aisha, Skadi, and Julie, the revered leaders of the Holy Guard.

To the maids, these women were legends, their names whispered with admiration.

Aisha, with her feline grace and fiery spirit; Skadi, a Fenrir whose raw power and innocence captivated all who saw her; and Julie, the steadfast captain whose quiet strength inspired unwavering loyalty.

They were the embodiment of what a woman could achieve through grit and resolve. Yet, despite knowing the Holy Guard served their master, the maids couldn’t suppress their surprise at seeing them here.

The trio operated with near-total autonomy, as Cassius preferred, rarely troubling him with reports or seeking his counsel. They were a self-sufficient force, executing their duties with precision and independence.

So why, the maids wondered, were they here today, striding toward Cassius’s office with such purpose?

The answer lay in their determined steps, the weight of their presence signaling a matter of grave importance.

Julie led the way, her emarald eyes fixed ahead, her posture rigid with discipline. Her long, platinum-gold hair was tied back tightly, her sword a constant companion at her hip, its worn hilt a evidence to battles fought and won.

The matter she needed to discuss with Cassius was no trifling thing, it was a decision that could shift the course of the safety of the citizens in the country, a request requiring his explicit approval.

Every step she took was a deep effort to clear her thoughts, to ensure her words would be sharp and her arguments airtight. She needed to be ready, not just for Cassius’s scrutiny but for any questions that might be raised. Her role as captain demanded nothing less than absolute clarity.

But her focus shattered when Aisha, walking at her side, let out a gasp so sharp it echoed off the marble walls. The girl from the feline race’s amber eyes were wide, her tail puffing up as she clutched a leather-bound book stuffed with reports on the Holy Field estate’s daily affairs.

“Captain, listen to this!”

Aisha’s voice was a blend of scandalized delight and disbelief, as if she’d stumbled across the juiciest gossip in a tavern tabloid. She flipped the book open, her claws tracing the page as she read aloud, her tone dripping with theatrical flair.

“Lady Diana Langley and her daughter Vivi abducted by the nefarious Young Master Cassius, spirited away to his mansion to satisfy his wicked desires!

She paused for effect, her ears twitching as she shot Julie a look of horror.

“And this one, ‘Cassius Holyfield, struck by their beauty in a hospital visit, succumbed to his lustful urges, craving a mother and daughter in his bed, and stole them from their sickbeds to his estate!”

Aisha’s voice rose with each word, her tail swishing furiously as she flipped to another page.

“Oh, and it gets better. ‘The pitiful duo, threatened with the destruction of their hospital for the commoners, had no choice but to submit to his every whim!” She snapped the book shut, her amber eyes blazing with incredulity as she turned to Julie. “What in the world is he doing in this place? What kind of lecherous nonsense is he up to out there? These reports, people are talking about him like he’s some depraved villain!”

Her voice trembled with Indignation, though a flush crept up her cheeks, betraying her embarrassment at the scandalous implications.

In her mind, the image of Cassius, already a figure of questionable repute because of his lustful nature that she herself has witnessed, loomed larger, his rumored adoption of the beloved noblewoman and her daughter painting him as a man driven by base desires.

Julie, however, didn’t falter. Her expression remained calm, her steps steady as she continued down the hall. She tilted her head slightly, her green eyes narrowing as she regarded Aisha with a measured look.

“Are these reports confirmed, Aisha, or are they just rumors floating around the estate?” Her voice was even, cutting through Aisha’s theatrics like a blade through silk.

Aisha’s ears flicked back, and she clutched the book tighter, her tail giving a single, agitated lash.

“Well…they’re rumors.” She admitted, her voice dropping to a grumble. “Nothing official, just what people are whispering about in the markets and taverns…But still, Captain, there’s so much of it!” Her eyes darted to the side, her indignation warring with a flicker of doubt.

Julie’s lips twitched into a faint smile, the kind she reserved for Aisha when her little sister’s dramatics got the better of her. “There’s no need to get worked up, Aisha.” She said, her tone light but firm. “You know how rumors spread.”

“Remember when we first met Cassius? Everyone said he was forcing himself on the maids, and we found out that was nonsense…This is likely the same people spinning tales to fill their days.” She glanced at Aisha, her expression softening, as if speaking to a child who was prone to flights of fancy. “There are also always stories about him. Did you hear the one about him being the king’s secret son? Or a dragonborn hiding his scales? Or, my favorite that he’s actually a woman disguising herself as a man?”

“…Do you think that those rumours are also true?”Her voice carried a teasing lilt, her eyes glinting with amusement.

Aisha’s mouth opened, then closed, her cheeks flushing deeper as she bit her lip. “Well…those don’t sound true.” She muttered, her tail drooping slightly.

But she wasn’t ready to let it go. She straightened, her eyes flashing with renewed conviction as she met Julie’s gaze. “But this one’s different, Captain! My subordinates, they’ve seen things. Cassius has been spotted with Diana and Vivi, visiting them often. And they’ve come to this mansion, stayed for days without leaving! That’s not just gossip, that’s evidence!” Her voice rose again, urgent, as if she could will Julie to share her outrage. “He’s got to have stolen them, right? I mean, it’s Cassius he’s probably got them locked away somewhere in this place!”

Julie stopped walking, turning fully to face Aisha. Her smile didn’t waver, but her eyes held a quiet intensity, pinning Aisha in place. “Do you really believe that, Aisha?” She asked, her voice low and deliberate. “That Cassius abducted them? That he’s holding them against their will?”

Aisha froze, her ears flattening as Julie’s gaze bore into her. She shifted her weight, her claws flexing against the book as she struggled to hold her ground.

“I…I don’t know.” She said finally, her voice barely above a whisper. Her eyes flicked away, her cheeks burning with embarrassment. “I mean, he’s…he’s lustful, right? Everyone says so and he is a absolute pervert. But…” She hesitated, her tail curling tightly around her leg as she forced the words out. “As much as he acts like some depraved noble, I…I don’t think he’d do something like that. Force himself on them, I mean.” The admission seemed to pain her, as if she’d wanted to paint Cassius as the villain but couldn’t quite bring herself to believe it. “He’s not that bad.” She added, almost to herself, her voice tinged with reluctant respect.

Julie’s smile widened, just enough to show her approval. “Exactly.” She said, resuming her stride. “Don’t let every wild story sweep you away, Aisha. We’ve got bigger things to worry about today.” Her words were a gentle anchor, pulling the conversation back to the pressing matter awaiting them in Cassius’s office.

Beside them, Skadi ambled along, her golden eyes half-lidded with contentment as she gnawed on a strip of dried fish, the salty scent trailing in her wake. Her bushy tail swayed lazily, brushing against the floor, and her silvery hair bounced in untamed waves with each carefree step.

She’d been silent during Aisha’s outburst, but now her lips curled into a mischievous sneer, her sharp canines glinting as she glanced at the feline humanoid.

“Yeah, Aisha, stop makin’ up stories and blamin’ the Master.” She said, her voice bright with the cheer of a child, though it carried a taunting edge. “He’s a good person, the best Master! You’re always pickin’ on him just ’cause you don’t like him!” She punctuated her words with a playful toss of her head, her ears twitching as she took another loud bite of her fish.

Aisha’s amber eyes narrowed, her tail puffing up like a bottlebrush as she whirled to face Skadi. The Fenrir’s taunts, delivered with that infuriating blend of naivety and smugness, hit Aisha like a spark to kindling.

To her, Skadi was like an annoying younger sister, well-meaning but endlessly aggravating, her blind devotion to Cassius a constant thorn in Aisha’s side.

“Mind your own business, mutt!” Aisha snapped, her voice sharp enough to cut through the corridor’s hush. Her claws flexed against the leather-bound book still clutched in her hands. “You don’t know anything!”

“You just follow Cassius around like a brainless pup, wagging your tail without a single thought about what he’s really up to!..Your head’s too small to even grasp the kind of trouble he could bring!”

Skadi’s golden eyes widened, then narrowed with indignation. She puffed out her chest, her tail bristling as she planted her feet firmly on the marble floor.

“I know plenty, unlike you!” She retorted, her voice rising with pride. She tilted her head, her silvery hair spilling over one shoulder, and shot Aisha a sly, side-eyed glance. “And you know, my mama used to say, when I was a pup, that sometimes when boys were mean to girls, it meant they liked ’em. They just didn’t know how to show it right.” She paused, her sneer widening into a irritating grin as she pointed the half-eaten fish at Aisha like a sword. “And you’re just like that, Aisha! Always hissin’ and clawin’ at the Young Master ’cause you like him! You’re just too embarrassed to admit it! I’ve figured out your true desires!” Her tail wagged furiously, as if she’d just cracked the greatest mystery in the realm.

Aisha’s cheeks flushed a vivid crimson, her ears flattening against her head as her tail lashed wildly. The suggestion that she…she, of all people could harbor feelings for Cassius, that insufferable, lecherous noble, sent a wave of mortified fury through her.

Her teeth gritted so hard they squeaked, and her claws dug into the book, threatening to tear the pages. “You little mutt!” She hissed, her voice trembling with barely contained rage. She took a step toward Skadi, her lithe frame coiled like a spring, ready to pounce. “Say that again, I dare you! Try to make me and Cassius a couple one more time, and I’ll—”

Before Aisha could lunge, Julie sighed, a long, exasperated sound that cut through the brewing storm. She reached out, her calloused hand gently ruffling Aisha’s tousled hair, her touch both calming and firm.

“Easy, Aisha.” She said, her voice low and soothing, though it carried a hint of weary amusement. “Don’t let Skadi get under your skin. You know she’s just teasing.” She then turned her steely gaze to Skadi, who was still grinning, her fish dangling from her fingers. “And you, Skadi, stop provoking her. Be quiet and eat your fish.”

Skadi blinked, her grin faltering under Julie’s steady stare. “Okay, Captain.” She mumbled, her ears drooping slightly. She obediently brought the fish back to her mouth, chewing with exaggerated enthusiasm, her tail giving a single, sheepish wag.

But her golden eyes still sparkled with mischief, darting to Aisha as if tempted to poke the feline again.

Julie shook her head, a faint smile tugging at her lips as she resumed walking. Her hand lingered on Aisha’s head for a moment longer, a silent reassurance, before she let it fall.

Keeping these two in line, Aisha with her fiery outbursts, Skadi with her relentless teasing was like herding a pair of squabbling siblings. Her mind, already burdened with the weight of the coming meeting, felt heavier still with the task of managing her team.

But beneath the exasperation, a quiet fondness warmed her chest. They were her sisters in arms, exasperating as they could be, and she’d guide them through this, just as she always did. As they neared Cassius’s office, Julie’s expression hardened, her thoughts sharpening once more for the challenge ahead…

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep