Depraved Noble: Forced To Live The Debaucherous Life Of An Evil Noble!
Chapter 296 296: Incarnation Of Etiquette

Cassius stayed where he was on the grass, his arms resting loosely across his knees as he gazed up at her with a steady, calm expression. Julie fidgeted slightly on the stump, glancing down at him with a small frown.

"Cassius...you don't have to sit on the grass like that, you know." She said softly, her brows knitting slightly. "There's another stump right over there. You could at least sit on that. I don't want you getting dirt on your pants because of me."

But Cassius only shook his head, his sharp eyes never leaving hers as he settled into a cross-legged position more comfortably.

"No." He said simply, his tone calm but firm. "It's better for me to sit here."

Julie tilted her head slightly, confused. "Why?"

He smiled faintly and leaned forward just a little, his voice lowering into a warm, reassuring tone.

"When someone's struggling to open up...It helps if I sit lower than them. Makes them feel like they're in control of the conversation, like they're in a position of power...It's easier to let your guard down that way."

Julie blinked, staring at him for a moment before letting out a surprised laugh. "Ha...The way you're saying it, it's like you've had heart-to-heart talks with a lot of ladies in the past."

Cassius didn't even flinch at her teasing. Instead, he smiled and placed a hand on his chest with gravity.

"Of course. I'm a gentleman. I simply can't stand to see a lady hurting. And whenever I see such a sight…" He let out an exaggerated sigh. "I always lend an ear...Always."

Julie shook her head with a small smirk, unable to stop the laughter bubbling up in her throat. "Gods, you really are shameless sometimes, you know that?"

"Perhaps." Cassius said lightly, his grin widening. "But it seems to be working, doesn't it?"

Julie rolled her eyes playfully but couldn't deny that his words, and his posture, did make her feel oddly comfortable. His sincere gaze, the way he leaned forward slightly as if he genuinely wanted to hear her every word, gave her courage she didn't expect.

She inhaled deeply, fingers twisting together in her lap before she finally spoke.

"If you really want to know, Cassius, about my motivation, why I've been doing all this, why I've thrown myself into these things..." She hesitated, her voice softening. "Then I suppose I should start with my mother."

Cassius didn't interrupt. He only nodded slowly, his eyes soft and attentive, urging her to continue without a single word.

Julie smiled faintly, her gaze drifting to the side as her fingers brushed absentmindedly over her satchel.

"My mother...she came from a noble family in the far north. It's a place where the winds are bitter cold, the land is harsh, and crops barely survive. A truly unforgiving land."

Cassius didn't speak, but his slight nod encouraged her to go on.

"The family she came from was...brutish, to say the least." Julie continued, her voice quieter now. "A warrior family through and through. They valued strength above all else. They trained their children with swords before they could even walk properly. And as for my father…"

Her lips curved faintly as she looked at Cassius.

"He, too, came from a warrior family. The Hellbane clan, famous for their unbreakable resolve and their bloodline of knights sworn to your Holyfield family."

Cassius tilted his head slightly. "So, a daughter born of two such families…"

Julie's smile them widened, and she leaned forward with a faint sparkle in her eyes.

"Tell me, Cassius. If a lady came from such a background, what would you expect from her?"

Cassius didn't hesitate. He smirked, his eyes gleaming with amusement as he answered.

"I'd expect her to be a little brutish, like her kin. A warrior woman with a sword in hand, a few scars to prove her mettle, muscles to rival her brothers, and a presence that could intimidate even battle-hardened men...Someone who'd look at home on the battlefield."

Julie's chest puffed out proudly as she crossed her arms. "Not at all."

Cassius raised a brow, his smirk deepening. "Oh? Am I wrong, then?"

"Completely." Julie said with an almost smug look as she leaned in closer, her voice dropping into a tone filled with admiration. "My mother...was nothing like that. In fact, she was the complete opposite."

Cassius leaned back slightly, intrigued.

"She was one of the most elegant and noble ladies ever to walk this continent."

Julie said softly, her eyes bright as though seeing her mother in her mind.

"Despite coming from such a brutal family, she carried herself with grace and poise. Her nobility didn't just show in her blood, it was in every single gesture she made."

"Whether she was reading a book, drinking tea, or even just glancing at someone...there was an elegance to her that no one could match."

Cassius's lips curled slightly as he watched her speak with such pride and Julie continued, her voice swelling with glory for her mother.

"She was so refined, so gentle, that even the queen herself once praised her elegance. Women from all over the continent admired her and strived to emulate her, but none could ever quite reach her level."

"...It's said she was the very incarnation of etiquette."

She then twirled her fingers absently as her expression softened. "But...I can't really remember her that well. I was only two years old when she passed away from illness."

Cassius's expression softened immediately. "I'm sorry for your loss, Julie."

Julie nodded, offering a small, bittersweet smile.

"Thank you...But still, I have a vague image of her in my mind. And after hearing Father talk about how wonderful she was, how even he, a battle-worn brute, looked like a proper gentleman when standing beside her, I couldn't help but think that my mother must've truly been the most elegant and noble woman in the world."

Cassius chuckled softly, shaking his head. "It's clear how much you look up to her. You're proud of her, aren't you?"

"Of course I am." Julie said firmly, her voice ringing with conviction. "Even though I barely knew her, she's the woman I admire most. She's my inspiration for everything I do."

Her cheeks flushed faintly as she glanced at him, hesitating for a moment before adding. "…And that's also why I've always looked up to your mother as well, Cassius...Lady Florence."

Cassius blinked, startled. "My mother?"

Julie nodded with a small smile. "She too was the epitome of elegance and poise. I've heard stories of how people would stop in their tracks just to watch her walk by, and how her presence could silence an entire hall."

"My mother and Lady Florence were close once, friends in their younger days, I've been told."

Cassius's eyes widened slightly in surprise. "I didn't know that…"

Julie's expression softened. "Well, it's true. The two women I admire most were once dear friends. It feels like fate, doesn't it?"

"Perhaps...It is fate. That your mother and mine were so close once...and now here we are." Cassius exhaled lightly through his nose and said with a faint smile.

Julie blinked, and then a small smile spread across her lips. Her eyes softened as she tilted her head slightly.

"And you know, Cassius...everyone in this world has someone they idolize, right? A person they hold in their hearts as an example of what they want to be. Do you have someone like that?"

Cassius's smile faltered faintly, and he let out a wry chuckle. "Usually, for boys, that person is their father, isn't it?"

Julie nodded lightly, her eyes glimmering with curiosity. But then Cassius's expression shifted, and a small awkward smile appeared as he rubbed the back of his neck.

"But...you already know how my father was. And what happened to him. So…" He trailed off with a sigh. "I can't say I ever had such a figure in my life."

Julie's smile faded slightly, replaced with a soft, apologetic look. "Ah...I'm sorry for bringing it up."

He shook his head, waving his hand slightly. "Don't be. It's just how things were."

Julie let out a quiet sigh of her own, looking down at her hands. "Just like you said...boys often idolize their fathers. For girls, it's the same with their mothers."

She paused for a moment, a gentle yet sad smile appearing on her face as she continued.

"In my heart...I've always idolized my mother. She's been my inspiration ever since I was little. Even though people call me a prodigy, a goddess of war, even, I never really cared about any of that."

Cassius raised his brow slightly but didn't interrupt.

Julie's voice softened, almost trembling. "What I truly cared about...was becoming like her. I wanted to grow up to be elegant, refined, and graceful...So that one day, when people looked at me, they wouldn't just say I was a great warrior. They'd say, 'She is her mother's daughter.' That's all I ever wanted."

Her fingers curled into small fists in her lap, her posture stiffening slightly as a flicker of sadness crossed her features. "But…"

Cassius's eyes narrowed slightly in concern as he watched her hesitate.

"…But the truth is." She said quietly. "even though I'm her daughter, I didn't inherit her elegance or her etiquette."

"Ever since I was a little girl, I tried my hardest to do the things noble girls were taught. Ballroom dancing, calligraphy, singing...but no matter how hard I worked, no matter how many sleepless nights I spent practicing…"

Her lips trembled slightly, and she let out a shaky laugh.

"...I always ended up screwing up because of my clumsiness. I dropped ink over calligraphy paper. I stepped on my own dance partners' toes. I sang so off-key that even the birds flew away. It didn't matter how much effort I put in, at some point, I would always fail."

Cassius frowned softly, listening intently as the part that he really wanted to here was approaching...