Cassius’s sharp eyes caught the flicker of emotion that passed through Isabelle’s gaze—the brief but unmistakable shadow of longing she tried to hide behind her smile.

It wasn’t the first time he had noticed her devotion running deeper than her words suggested, but tonight, it was clearer than ever. She cared for him in a way that went beyond loyalty or duty, and it stirred something unfamiliar in his chest.

Still, as much as he wanted to keep someone as steadfast and devoted as Isabelle by his side, Cassius hesitated. His path was not one meant for someone like her.

It was a journey marked by decisions that would upset many, perhaps even destroy lives.

He was destined to become someone terrible—a lecherous villain in the eyes of many, a man willing to shoulder the burdens of the fate of the world and the hatred of the women of the world to achieve his debaucherous goals.

But at the same time, he couldn’t help but think that he could most definitely make her happy, even with the chaos his life would bring.

He knew he had the means to protect her, to shield her from the worst parts of his world, and to bring some light into her life. The idea of her staying by his side, her presence softening the harshness of his path, was tempting.

But he also knew he couldn’t force her. If Isabelle was to stay, it had to be her choice. He wouldn’t take away her freedom or push her into a life she might one day resent.

Whatever she decided, he would respect it. If she chose to remain by his side, he would do everything in his power to make her happy. And if she chose to leave, he would let her go, no matter what.

…But at the same time, he was also sure that this little maid of his would surely come to hate him and despise him more then anything in the world after receiving the appropriate punishment for her murder of the previous Cassius.

He didn’t want to make her suffer, as he was fond of her vibrant spirit. Yet, if he overlooked the sin she had committed, he would be betraying the memory of Cassius—the one who had given him a second chance at life. His unwavering principles wouldn’t allow that.

Thus, he resigned himself to the inevitable: her life would be ruined. With a heavy sigh, he braced for what lay ahead, fully aware that the events of the coming days would surely ignite her hatred for him, perhaps more than anything else in the world.

And if, beyond all that, she still harbored any fondness for him…Well, that would be nothing short of a miracle.

Cassius studied her face, noting the flicker of conflict in her eyes. He decided to give her space to work through her feelings. After all, this was her choice to make, not his.

He then chuckled softly, leaning closer to Isabelle, his warm breath brushing against her skin.

“Regardless of whether you choose to stay as my maid or aspire for something more, your words tonight have touched me, Isabelle. They’re worth a little reward, don’t you think?”

Before she could respond, he gently pressed a kiss to her cheek, lingering just enough to make her heart race. Isabelle froze, her eyes wide and her blood racing as his lips left a trail of warmth on her skin.

Warmth spread across her face, making her cheeks burn as if his kiss had left a mark only she could feel. She didn’t dare move, afraid the feeling would disappear if she did.

Pulling back slightly, Cassius studied her reaction with a mix of amusement and intrigue, the playful smirk on his lips softening ever so slightly.

“What’s this? Did you not like your reward?” He asked, his tone light and teasing, but his gaze holding a flicker of genuine curiosity.

Isabelle froze at his words, the warmth of the kiss still lingering on her cheek like a mark of fire. Her heart thudded violently in her chest, each beat echoing louder in her ears as she struggled to process the moment.

The question caught her off guard, but it wasn’t just the words—it was the way he looked at her, as if her answer truly mattered to him.

Without thinking, her lips moved before her mind could catch up.

“N-No, young master! I…” Her voice wavered, trembling with the weight of her emotions. She swallowed hard, her gaze darting between his expectant eyes and the floor, and then the truth spilt out, raw and unfiltered, as she said, “I actually wouldn’t mind devoting the rest of my life to you i-if it meant receiving rewards like this from you!…That’s how much your reward means to me!”

The moment the confession escaped her, Isabelle’s eyes widened in panic, and she clapped her hands over her mouth, as if she could somehow take it back. Her heart thudded painfully as she realised what she had just said. Yet, despite the overwhelming embarrassment, a small part of her, a quiet, daring part, felt relieved to have spoken her truth, even if only for a fleeting moment.

She couldn’t bring herself to meet his gaze, instead staring down at her trembling hands, her mind screaming at her for being so bold. But the warmth spreading through her chest refused to fade, leaving her both mortified and oddly at peace with her impulsive honesty.

Cassius leaned back, his smirk never faltering as he observed Isabelle, clearly amused by her flustered reaction.

‘How cute.’ He thought to himself, his eyes twinkling with a mix of affection and teasing. ‘She’s so honest, even when she’s embarrassed. It’s rare to find someone as sincere as she is.’ He couldn’t help but feel a soft warmth in his chest, seeing her so vulnerable yet still so devoted.

‘She’s really something else.’ He thought, marvelling at how she so easily managed to surprise him. ‘But I wouldn’t have it any other way.’

On the other side of the room, Edmund’s fury boiled over as he watched Isabelle speak so freely to Cassius, her words so sincere and unguarded.

‘What is she doing?’ He seethed internally, his jaw clenching as he fought to maintain his composure. ‘She’s…She’s really saying that?’ His mind refused to believe what he was witnessing, the image of her devotion to Cassius burning into his thoughts.

‘She’s supposed to be mine. Why is she offering herself to him like this?’ Edmund’s anger twisted into something darker, the thought of his fiancée being so openly affectionate toward another man filling him with resentment.

‘I can’t stand this.’ The more he watched, the more his anger festered, his hands balling into fists as he struggled to keep his emotions in check.

“I appreciate your honesty, Isabelle, as much as I value the sentiment behind your words.” Cassius said in a tender manner as he gently stroked her golden hair, which made her feel all warm and fuzzy inside. “But could you be honest one more time and tell me where exactly you were glancing a little while ago?”

“…You said that you weren’t looking at any place when I asked you, but is that really the truth?”

Cassius brought her back to his initial question that started this whole flurry of emotions.

But unlike before, when Isabelle was stumped and didn’t dare tell the truth because of how shameful it was, this time she felt much more comfortable with speaking of what she did. It wasn’t that she didn’t feel embarrassed anymore, but she just trusted that her young master wouldn’t look at her any differently if she were to admit the truth.

“I-I was looking at the protrusion in your pants, young.” Isabelle finally admitted as she played with her fingers to hide her embarrassment. “I was looking at the bump that had come up when I rubbed that place.”

“I see…Well there’s nothing wrong with taking a glance at it, as even I would sneak a peek if one of your plump breasts popped out of your dress.”

Cassius said as he traced his hand down her cheeks and slid it down her smooth breasts. While Isabelle was shocked by his actions but didn’t do anything against it and simply accepted him playing with her chest in silence, he continued saying,

“But to keep on glancing it over and over again like you’re trying to copy the answers of someone else in a test…Is there any reason you had such an avid interest in the bulge in my pants?”

“W-Well, young master, it’s actually the first time I had seen such a sight…” Isabelle trailed off as she glanced at the boner in his pants once again with a look of awe in her blue eyes.

“Huh? It’s the first time you’re seeing such a thing?” Cassius asked, even though he already knew that was true, and then looked at Edmund who looked like he was about to blow up any second with a mocking smile and continued asking, “But what about Edmund?…Isn’t he your fiancee?”

Isabelle’s face turned crimson, her eyes widening at Cassius’s question.

“N-No! Young master, we don’t…We’ve never…” She stammered, her voice rising in desperation as she waved her hands frantically. She leaned forward slightly, as if trying to emphasise her point.

“Edmund hasn’t laid a single finger on me! Not even once! The church strictly forbids such acts before marriage, and I—” She hesitated, her gaze locking onto Cassius’s. “I’ve always followed those rules…I’m still…pure.”

Her voice grew quieter at the last word, but her determination to make him understand shone through.

Cassius raised an eyebrow, clearly amused by her adamant declaration.

Meanwhile, Edmund’s fists clenched tightly at his sides, his face contorted in rage. Her words were like daggers to his pride.

‘Why does she sound so desperate for him to know that? Why does she care what he thinks?’ His teeth ground together as his chest burnt with humiliation and fury.

Isabelle’s insistence on proving her purity to Cassius, of all people, felt like a betrayal, an insult that he couldn’t ignore.

‘Does she even remember I’m standing right here?’ He thought bitterly, his anger simmering dangerously.

“Oh? The size caught you off guard, did it?” Cassius asked, wanting to see her flustered face even more. “Care to elaborate on what exactly you mean by that?”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep