Aisha, after watching Skadi leap around like an puppy, finally lost interest in the volleyball match. Her gaze, instead, wandered across the rest of the courtyard, taking in the various activities scattered throughout the area.

One part of the knights were dancing to the music, moving their bodies in a way that—even against her will—made her own tail sway slightly to the infectious rhythm.

‘Damn that music.’ She thought irritably, flicking her tail to stop it from moving.

But what really caught her attention—what made her pause entirely was what the rest of the knights were doing.

Unlike the ones who were playing volleyball or dancing, these knights were seated at round tables, completely focused on something. They were all leaning forward, engaged in various different setups, each one looking completely unique.

Some of the tables had intricate, beautifully drawn boards, while others were simple squares.

Some had small, carved pieces, while others seemed to be using cards—but not the usual ones she had seen before.

It wasn’t just one type of game—there were many.

But whatever they were playing, the knights were invested.

They were laughing, cheering, groaning in frustration, some even rubbing their chins like they were deep in thought.

Aisha’s tail twitched.

Unlike volleyball, which didn’t interest her much, this most definitely did and for some reason, she couldn’t help but feel drawn to it.

Without a word, when her curiosity finally won out, she turned and started walking toward one of the tables.

Julie, noticing her sudden movement, raised a brow. “You’re interested?” She asked.

Aisha, without looking back, simply muttered. “Maybe.”

Isabelle, who had been standing beside them, smiled slightly and decided to follow as well. The three of them approached one of the tables, where a group of knights was laughing and slamming pieces down on the board.

Aisha stepped closer, her sharp gaze analyzing the pieces.

“Oi.” She said, crossing her arms. “What exactly are you guys playing?”

The knights, who had been happily absorbed in their game, suddenly stiffened. One of them—a younger girl with short brown hair—turned her head and froze as her eyes widened slightly upon seeing Aisha standing right there and then widened even more when she realized Julie was standing right behind her.

“O-Oh. Uh. Chief!” She stammered, clearly caught off guard.

The other knights at the table also turned to look—

And panic quickly spread among them.

“C-Captain?!”

“Y-You’re here?!”

Aisha, not in the mood for their theatrics, simply raised a brow.

“Yeah?” She said, unimpressed. “What, am I not allowed to be here?”

“Ah, No! It’s not like that!” The new recruit who was slightly scared of Aisha because of her unapproachable premise panicked when she saw her superior staring at her. And then in a fluster she ended up blurting out her true thoughts.

“It’s just that for a second I thought that I a child had snuck into the party and only after I properly looked did I realise it was you.”

The air froze and every knight at the table suddenly tensed. The moment the words left the girls mouth, every single person at the table had realized her horrible mistake.

Aisha’s eyes darkened immediately while Julie sighed when she heard the new girl call out one of Aisha’s reverse scales.

The other knights at the table also quickly shook their heads, frantically making hand gestures behind their comrade’s back.

‘No. No, you fool. Apologize. Take it back. Take it back before it’s too late!’

But the short-haired knight, realizing far too late what she had just said, stiffened in pure horror as she had totally forgotten that Aisha hated being called small or tiny because of her dainty figure.

She braced herself for the scolding—maybe even a smack to the head.

But—

Aisha simply let out a long sigh like she couldn’t be bothered.

“Yeah, yeah.” She muttered, rolling her eyes. “I’m still waiting for that explanation.”

The short-haired knight blinked.

Wait.

No shouting? No threatening? No intimidating aura of death looming over her?

Had she just…been spared?

A few of the seniour knights exchanged glances, their shoulders relaxing slightly while already knowing that Aisha wouldn’t react harshly.

Why? Because as intimidating as Aisha was with her presence and calculating gaze like she was predicting every single move of their which made it slightly difficult to relax in her, she was actually quite easy going in the sense that she stayed in her own lane and couldn’t he bothered about others.

That is unless Skadi was involved where she completely switches up and acts in the exact opposite manner, reacting to every single provocation from them squad’s guardian dog.

The girl, also sensing she had just miraculously survived, immediately cleared her throat and hurriedly moved on.

“R-Right! Uh—so!” She quickly pointed at the board in front of her.

“This is called a board game.”

Aisha, who had never heard that term before, raised a brow. “Board game?” She repeated, her tone mildly skeptical.

Julie, standing beside her, also frowned slightly. The term wasn’t familiar to her either.

The short-haired knight, still feeling the weight of Aisha’s sharp gaze, cleared her throat hurriedly before diving into her explanation.

“Y-Yes, a board game!” She confirmed, nodding quickly. “It’s, uh…a game played on a board.”

Aisha looked at her like she was looking at a idiot while Julie who had noticed the poor knight’s nervousness, quickly stepped in and said with with a kind smile on her face, “I think Aisha is looking for a more detailed explanation about what these boards game are and not the most simple version like you said.”

The knight swallowed hard, then quickly straightened herself, determined to redeem herself. “Right! So—board games can be different types, depending on their purpose and goal.” She started, her voice steadier now.

She gestured toward the table they were standing at, where an intricate grid-like map was laid out, complete with small wooden pieces shaped like soldiers and banners.

“There are strategy-based games—games like this one, where you have to think carefully about your next move. These usually simulate war tactics, kingdom expansion, or military conquests. The goal is often to capture enemy territories, defeat opposing forces, or manage resources wisely.”

Julie nodded slightly, taking in the setup before her.

Now this was something she could understand.

Aisha, arms still crossed, tapped her fingers against her elbow, quietly processing the information.

The knight then gestured toward another table, where a group of knights was rolling dice, their faces a mix of excitement and frustration.

“Then, there are chance-based games, where the outcome is determined by luck—like rolling dice or drawing random cards. Some are just about betting and hoping to win big, while others mix luck with some strategy, giving players a chance to manipulate their fate.” Discover hidden stories at My Virtual Library Empire

She then pointed toward another table, where knights were intensely moving wooden tiles, forming elaborate shapes.

“There are puzzle-based games, too—where you have to solve patterns, create sequences, or fit pieces together in a specific way. These aren’t about luck, but about pure skill and logic.”

Finally, she gestured toward a group that was playing with uniquely illustrated cards, flipping them over and reacting to their effects.

“And then there are story-driven games, where players take on roles, follow different scenarios, and make decisions that change the outcome of the game. Some are about adventure, mystery, or even politics.”

She exhaled, having covered everything to the best of her ability.

Julie, who had been listening intently, narrowed her eyes slightly.

“So you’re saying all of these different types of board games have already been on the market? If it is so how come I have never heard of them before, especially since such games would be a craze among nobles who always search for ways to entertain themselves.” She asked, wondering if possibly she has missed out on this new fad.

And instead of giving a straight reply the knight hesitated—then, with a somewhat sheepish smile, she rubbed the back of her neck. “Ah, well…” She started, glancing at them nervously.

And then, with one final push of courage, she revealed—

“Actually…all of these were made by Young Master Cassius.”

Clatter.

The wooden game piece that Aisha had been absentmindedly holding slipped from her fingers, landing on the board with a soft thud. Her eyes then snapped to the knight, narrowing sharply. “Even this was made by him?” She asked, her voice flat but undeniably sharp.

The knight’s breath stopped slightly under Aisha’s scrutinizing glare. She immediately nodded—frantically, almost, like she had said something she wasn’t supposed to say.

Aisha tilted her head slightly, her gaze unwavering.

There was something unconsciously intimidating about the way she stared, as if she was displeased about hearing Cassius’s name again.

The knight, looking visibly nervous, shifted in her seat, wondering if she had somehow made a mistake.

That was until Isabelle, noticing the shift in atmosphere, stepped forward. Her soft, yet confident voice cut through the air, breaking the momentary tension.

“Indeed.” Isabelle confirmed smoothly, her tone steady as she smiled knowingly. “All of these games were created by my Young Master.”

Aisha’s eyelids twitched slightly, her fingers tightening around the wooden game piece she had picked up earlier. Isabelle, seeing their mixed expressions, continued with a pleased smile, her voice carrying that usual fondness whenever she spoke of her master.

“You see, one day, Young Master started talking about how…well, ‘this world’ was rather lacking when it comes to entertainment.” She said, tilting her head slightly as if recalling his confusing words. “He said that aside from drinking, dueling, and gossiping, there wasn’t much else that actually engaged people’s minds. And, naturally—”

She chuckled.

“—he got bored.”

Julie sighed, rubbing her temple.

“Of course, he did.”

Aisha, who had been tapping her fingers idly against the wooden piece she was holding, let out a sharp scoff.

“And let me guess.” She said, her tone flat with mild irritation. “Instead of finding something else to do like a normal person, he decided he’d just make his own games?”

“That’s exactly what happened.” Isabelle replied cheerfully.

‘This man’s mind is truly overflowing with nonsense.’ Julie chuckled dryly, shaking her head.

But even so, she couldn’t deny that it was effective nonsense because here they were, watching as his ideas brought genuine joy to an entire legion of knights.

Aisha, on the other hand, had a different reaction. Her fingers tightened around the wooden piece as a deep frown settled on her face.

“Where exactly…” She muttered, narrowing her eyes. “…is he getting these ideas from?”

Isabelle raised an eyebrow.

“You think he’s stealing them from someone else?”

Aisha didn’t answer immediately.

She didn’t like Cassius. Not one bit.

But this wasn’t just about disliking him—this was something else.

Music no one had heard before.

Sports no one had played before.

Games no one had even thought of before.

And yet—he was making them all at once, like they had just popped into his head fully formed.

It was too unnatural.

Too suspicious.

An answer that made no sense.

Too suspicious.

Aisha was sure that Isabelle was about to vehemently deny any allegations against her master. After all, no loyal maid would ever let someone accuse her master of stealing ideas—especially not with how devoted Isabelle seemed to be.

But then—

Isabelle did something completely unexpected.

She nodded her head.

“You’re right.” She said, completely serious.

“My master is most definitely stealing these ideas.”

Aisha froze mid-thought, her mind stalling. Even Julie—who had heard a lot of unexpected things tonight—looked genuinely taken aback.

“…Huh?” Julie blinked, tilting her head slightly.

Aisha, who had been ready for a heated argument, was now staring at Isabelle with pure disbelief.

“What?” She demanded. “You’re actually admitting it?”

Isabelle simply let out a small sigh and gave them a wry smile. “Or at least…” She muttered, as she looked just as confused as both of them. “That’s what my master says.”

Julie’s brows furrowed slightly. “What do you mean by that?” She asked, her tone now edged with confusion.

Isabelle let out a soft chuckle, but there was an undercurrent of uncertainty in her voice—like she herself wasn’t sure what to believe.

“I asked him once.” She admitted. “After he introduced the music, then the sport, and then the games, I started getting curious. I mean…how does someone come up with so many completely new things in such a short time?”

Julie nodded slightly, fully understanding that sentiment. Aisha, arms crossed, still looked like she was waiting for an answer that made sense.

“So…” Isabelle continued. “I went to him directly and asked him.”

“And what did he say?” Julie asked.

Isabelle sighed again, as if she still couldn’t quite believe it herself. “He smiled at me and said…” She paused for a moment, lowering her voice slightly—perfectly mimicking Cassius’s lazy, amused tone.

” ‘Oh, I didn’t come up with any of it. I stole it all.’ “

Silence.

Aisha stared.

Julie blinked.

Isabelle shook her head, looking like she was getting a headache just from remembering it.

“And then…” She continued, exhaling deeply. “He started saying a bunch of bizarre names, strange names that I’ve never really heard of anyone having no matter the race in the continent.”

Aisha’s ears perked slightly, her tail flicking once. “Names?” She asked.

“Names of what?” Julie added, intrigued.

“Names of the original creators of all these things.” Isabelle explained. “The music, the sports, the board games—he listed multiple names and said that they were the true inventors of everything he had introduced.”

For a moment—just a brief moment—Julie found herself considering the possibility. After all, it wasn’t impossible that Cassius had simply…got it from the actual inventors or found these ideas somewhere.

Maybe a hidden collection of works?

Maybe secret documents locked away in the Holyfield archives?

And before she could think about it any further, Aisha suddenly grinned, eyes flashing.

“I knew it!” she declared, voice triumphant.

She turned to Julie, looking like she had just won a battle.

“There was no way that dunce of a master actually thought of all this himself! He must have found it somewhere!”

Julie rolled her eyes at how petty her little sister was acting.

“You’re really too happy about this, Aisha.” She muttered.

Aisha ignored her, still basking in her moment of victory.

But then—

Isabelle popped her balloon.

“Well, that’s also…not what happened either, Miss Aisha.” She added lightly.

Aisha immediately froze, her victorious expression shattering.

“What…What do you mean?” She asked slowly as her eyes narrowed suspiciously.

Isabelle let out another deep sigh—this time, she looked genuinely troubled. “Well, the thing is after we heard the names.” She admitted. “Portia and I got curious.”

She fiddled with the hem of her apron, clearly recalling the strange memory.

“Master spoke about them so confidently, as if they were real people—so we wondered who exactly these people were?”

Julie, realizing where this was going, stiffened slightly. “You…looked them up?”

“Of course.” Isabelle said, nodding.

“Portia and I searched the kingdom’s registry and every historical record we could access using the Holyfield household’s resources—if these people were truly great inventors, they should have been famous by now, right?”

Aisha and Julie both leaned in slightly, waiting for the answer. But then Isabelle said something that sent a cold shiver down their spines.

“But to our surprise.” She said, her voice quieter now. “Not only did we find out that these people don’t exist…but the names of the creations Young Master claimed to have ‘stolen’ had never even been recorded in history.”

Aisha and Julie both froze. For a few seconds, there was nothing but the distant sounds of music, laughter, and the clatter of dice on wooden tables.

Aisha’s fingers tensed slightly.

Julie’s expression darkened.

Neither of them spoke immediately.

Because they both knew—

That shouldn’t have been possible.

If these things had truly existed before, then they should have been documented somewhere. Even the most obscure inventions, even the most forgotten ideas, left some kind of trace.

But there was nothing.

No records. No historical references.

No signs that these ideas had ever belonged to someone else before Cassius.

And yet—he had insisted they weren’t his.

Julie’s mind whirled, the sheer strangeness of the situation settling in. Aisha, meanwhile, was staring at Isabelle, still processing what she just heard.

But Isabelle, instead of looking troubled, simply smiled.

“You understand what I’m getting at, don’t you?” She said lightly, crossing her arms.

Julie narrowed her eyes slightly. “You’re saying…” She began slowly. “…that he just…doesn’t want to accept these works as his own?”

Isabelle nodded.

“Exactly.”

Aisha blinked.

“Wait, wait, wait—hold on a second.” She held up a hand, looking incredulous. “You’re telling me he just…what? Throws all the credit onto imaginary people because he doesn’t want to be recognized for it?”

“That’s what it seems like.” Isabelle replied, her tone almost amused.

Aisha stared in disbelief at the absurd reasoning, while Julie’s brows knitted together, her mind turning over the implications.

“But why?” She asked, her voice edged with genuine confusion.

She glanced around at the knights enthusiastically playing Cassius’s games, their laughter and conversation filling the courtyard.

People always craved new forms of entertainment.

If Cassius had introduced something truly unique, it wouldn’t take long for his name to spread like wildfire through the kingdom.

More than that, if he patented these ideas and turned them into a business, he could secure a comfortable future for himself without relying on the Holyfield household that despised him, regardless of whatever reputation he had before.

These games weren’t just casual diversions. They were a goldmine. With how quickly the knights had taken to them, it was clear they held immense potential.

Tournaments. Competitions. Exports.

If managed properly, he could reshape the entire kingdom’s entertainment industry.

He could even establish his own business empire.

Julie’s green eyes darkened slightly as she mulled over the possibilities. For someone as strategic as Cassius, this should have been obvious.

And yet—

“He refuses to claim any of it as his?” Julie asked, genuinely baffled.

“Mm.” Isabelle gave a wry smile. “I told him the same thing, actually.”

Julie’s gaze sharpened. “And?”

Isabelle let out a small chuckle, shaking her head. “He just scoffed at me, saying that there’s no way I’d do something that stupid.” She said, her voice dipping into a perfect impression of Cassius’s lazy drawl.

Julie tilted her head slightly. “Why?”

“I don’t exactly understand this but…” Isabelle continued, watching their reactions carefully. “…He said that if he made his name famous with these games, then he’d be seen as someone useful to society and someone who could be considered as a decent person and then said…”

“…That’s the last thing he wanted right now.”

Aisha shook her head in confusion and frustration at the man who was speaking in riddles, while Julie couldn’t make sense of what was said no matter how she thought about it.

“…What?”

Isabelle gave them both a knowing smile.

“You’re confused too, aren’t you?”

Julie exhaled through her nose, crossing her arms.

“More than confused.” She muttered.

Aisha’s tail flicked in agitation. “That makes zero sense.” She said flatly. “Why wouldn’t he want to be known for this?”

“I have no idea.” Isabelle admitted, shaking her head. “But what I do know is that he’s doing it deliberately.”

Julie’s mind raced.

Cassius wasn’t a fool.

In fact, from what she had observed, he was likely one of the most intelligent men she had ever encountered which meant that this wasn’t a mistake.

It wasn’t laziness, and it wasn’t an oversight. He had made a conscious decision to stay in the shadows, despite holding the key to immense influence.

Aisha clicked her tongue. “Ugh…Just what the hell is this guy thinking?”

Julie exhaled slowly, her mind troubled. She had seen many nobles before, and she had seen ambition take countless forms.

Some sought wealth.

Some sought status.

Some sought power.

But Cassius?

He was deliberately rejecting all of it.

Why?

Julie’s emarald eyes narrowed.

What exactly is Cassius Vindictus Holyfield’s goal?

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep