Depraved Noble: Forced To Live The Debaucherous Life Of An Evil Noble!
Chapter 302 302: The First Step Is To...Sit On My Lap

Julie crossed her arms and tilted her head, her golden hair catching the sunlight as she stared at Cassius with narrowed, suspicious eyes.

"So..." She began slowly. "If you're really going to teach me, then tell me...which method are you planning to use?"

Cassius raised an eyebrow, his lips quirking upward in faint amusement. "Method?"

"Yes, method." She said with a firm nod, then started ticking off her fingers one by one.

"Are you going to use the 'drill sergeant' method? You know, the one where you stand over me every morning yelling at me like some terrifying military officer until I memorize every etiquette rule and sewing stitch through sheer fear?"

Cassius snorted softly but didn't interrupt.

"Or..." Julie pressed on with a growing smirk. "Are you planning to use the 'sweet and patient grandmother' method? The one where you sit beside me with a warm cup of tea, gently holding my hands and saying, 'Oh no, dear, not like that...let's try again, hmm?' until I get it right?"

Cassius covered his mouth with his knuckles, clearly holding back laughter.

"Or, wait, are you one of those 'mystical sage' types?" She asked dramatically, spreading her hands. "You'll make me meditate under a waterfall until I 'become one' with knitting needles and embroidery threads?"

Her voice turned even more incredulous as she continued, "Or maybe, just maybe, you're going to tie me to a chair in a dark room with one of those creepy porcelain dolls staring at me, whispering, 'Become elegant...or else…'"

At that, Cassius actually laughed out loud, a rich, warm sound that echoed through the camp. Julie stomped her foot lightly in indignation, though her lips twitched upward despite herself.

"Stop laughing! I'm serious! These are all methods that my tutors used in the past!" She said with a pout. "So which one are you going to use, huh? Drill sergeant? Grandma? Waterfall monk? Scary doll torture?"

Cassius wiped a tear from the corner of his eye as his chuckling subsided.

"None of them."

Julie blinked. "None? Then—"

"None at all." He interrupted, his tone growing sharper as his smile faded. "Those fifty tutors who tried teaching you? They were either extremely ignorant...or just plain stupid."

Julie frowned at him, her arms tightening around her chest. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"It means..." Cassius continued calmly, his eyes locking onto hers. "...that they didn't realize you're a special case."

Her frown deepened. "Special?" She repeated, her tone wary. "That doesn't sound like a compliment."

"It's not meant to sound like one." Cassius said bluntly. "You're special because you excel at swordsmanship, at anything involving combat."

Julie's brows furrowed slightly, but her lips curved ever so faintly as pride swelled in her chest.

"I've seen your records." He went on. "Julie...you're a prodigy. Truly one in a billion."

Her chin lifted unconsciously, and she puffed her chest out a little, basking in the rare praise. But then his next words wiped the smugness from her face entirely.

"On the other hand...when it comes to anything else, you're utterly useless."

Julie froze, her mouth dropping open.

"Utterly useless." Cassius repeated mercilessly. "Even a toddler could probably knit a scarf better than you could. And frankly..." He leaned forward slightly, his voice lowering. "...you're about as dumb as Skadi when it comes to this stuff."

Julie recoiled as if he'd slapped her.

"Don't you dare compare me to Skadi!" She shouted, her face flushing crimson. "That's...that's the most insulting thing I've ever heard!"

Cassius only shook his head with an exaggerated sigh.

"I'm afraid it's true. There's no way around it. You and Skadi share the same level of...let's say, creative ineptitude outside of battle."

Julie gawked at him, her jaw working soundlessly. For a moment, she looked genuinely wounded. But then, Cassius's hand suddenly reached out and landed lightly on her shoulder.

"Don't look so pitiful." He said softly, his tone shifting. "You're not alone anymore. With me here, all of that will change."

Julie blinked, startled at his sudden shift in tone.

"Unlike your other tutors." Cassius continued, his voice steady and calm. "I understand you. I understand that instead of ignoring the part of you that's a warrior...we should embrace it."

"We'll use your combat mindset, your instincts as a fighter, and channel them into learning these so-called 'graceful' skills."

Julie tilted her head, confusion knitting her brow.

"Wait...what? How does that make sense? Swordsmanship and knitting aren't even remotely similar. One is about blood and guts and the thrill of combat, and the other..." She waved a hand. "...is about sipping tea and listening to noble music while servants bring you cakes!"

Before she could continue, Cassius suddenly pressed his finger lightly against her lips, silencing her mid-sentence.

"Don't worry about that." Cassius said gently, shaking his head. "Leave it all to me. I've already figured out the perfect way to teach you. All you need to do is follow my lead, and before you know it, you'll be able to learn anything you want."

Julie gulped, her heart giving a strange flutter. Why does he say it so confidently? But the idea of mastering noble etiquette was deeply tempting, so she nodded slowly.

"Alright." She murmured, her voice quiet.

"Perfect." Cassius said with a warm smile. Then his gaze flicked to the pile of books and tools scattered nearby.

"Now, tell me, what do you want to learn first? I can teach you anything right now."

Julie glanced at the pile, her fingers playing with the edge of her sleeve.

"Anything?" She asked. "Even the most complicated, difficult thing?"

"Anything." Cassius said firmly. "It's all the same to me."

She hesitated for a moment, then knelt and picked up a pair of knitting needles and a ball of yarn.

"This." She said softly. "I want to start with this."

Cassius raised a brow, while Julie held the needles tightly, her eyes softening.

"I know knitting is hard...even normal people struggle with it. And I've been trying for years." She admitted, her voice faltering slightly. "But every time I tried, I ended up with nothing but tangled yarn and bloody fingers from pricking myself over and over again."

Her gaze grew distant as she added, "But my mother...she was said to be an incredible knitter. She made the most beautiful clothes."

Julie's hands trembled faintly as she brushed a finger over the yarn.

"Some of my baby clothes...and this shawl I always keep with me...she made those too." She smiled wistfully.

"My father used to say he was jealous. He said my mother made me so many clothes and even gave me a scarf of my own. And so, one day, I want to make something like that for him. A scarf, perhaps. Something simple. Something from me."

She hugged the yarn lightly, her expression tender and Cassius, who had been silent all this time, didn't respond right away.

Julie glanced up timidly. "Is this too much?" She asked softly. "Is it too hard for me to learn?"

Cassius blinked once, then chuckled. "No...not at all."

Julie tilted her head, confused.

"I just wasn't expecting such a wholesome reason." He said with a crooked grin. "You really are too sweet for my heart to handle, Julie."

Her face grew warm at his words, and she looked away quickly, while Cassius stepped closer, his smile softening.

"You know...most people see you as this fearless captain. A warrior who never flinches, never falters. But it's moments like these when your real self comes out. And that...that's utterly adorable."

Julie's cheeks flushed as her heart skipped a beat, and she ducked her head in embarrassment, mumbling under her breath.

Cassius's grin thensoftened, fading into something far more serious. He straightened his posture and looked directly into Julie's eyes, his gaze filled with unwavering determination.

"But..." He began, his voice deep and steady. "If you truly want to master this…" He gestured to the knitting needles and yarn in her hands. "You'll have to go through some of the most tedious...excruciatingly difficult...and soul-breaking training you've ever experienced."

Julie blinked, her fingers tightening around the yarn.

"This isn't just any ordinary practice." Cassius continued firmly. "This will test every fiber of your being. Your patience will shatter. Your resolve will be torn apart. You'll struggle in ways you've never imagined before."

His eyes glinted dangerously.

"Julie...this may very well be the hardest thing you've ever done."

For a moment, silence hung between them like the calm before a storm. The air felt thick and heavy as if Cassius's words alone had created a suffocating weight.

But then…Julie's lips curled upward into a fierce, defiant smile.

Her eyes burned like molten gold as she stepped forward, her boots crunching on the grass.

"That's exactly what I wanted to hear."

Cassius raised a brow, a faint flicker of surprise crossing his face.

"I've trained intensively since I was a child." Julie said, her voice low and brimming with confidence. "I've pushed myself to my limits and beyond. I've trained so hard that my hands stopped working for weeks at a time."

Her fingers flexed reflexively as memories of her past training flashed in her mind.

"I've broken bones, Cassius. Over and over again. Only for them to heal...and then break again under even harsher training." Her grin widened. "So don't hold back. Whatever brutal, grueling training you have in mind, throw it at me. I'm ready. I'll endure anything."

Cassius's lips quirked upward in amusement.

"Really now?" He said in a teasing tone. "You're sure about this? You'll accept anything that comes your way?"

Julie crossed her arms and nodded confidently, her skirt fluttering slightly in the breeze.

"Of course. No matter how intense it is. No matter how much it breaks me...I'll overcome it."

For a moment, Cassius's expression turned unreadable. He gazed at her with the kind of seriousness that made Julie tense, her heart pounding in anticipation.

'This is it.' She thought. 'He's going to tell me to run up a mountain while balancing knitting needles on my fingers...or spar with Skadi while sewing a scarf...or maybe.'

"Fine then." Cassius said at last, his voice calm yet commanding.

Julie braced herself.

"Let's do it."

"Yes!" She said, her voice sharp with determination.

But then,

Cassius suddenly crouched down and plopped onto the ground in front of her. He crossed his legs in a relaxed manner, like someone about to meditate or enjoy a picnic.

Julie blinked, confused.

"Wait...Why are you sitting down?" She asked hesitantly.

Cassius didn't respond at first. Instead, he leaned back slightly, looking utterly casual. And then, to her utter shock, he patted his lap.

"Alright." He said smoothly. "To begin your training...sit on my lap."

Julie blinked before her eyes went wide..

"W-What?!" She blurted out, unable to hear what he had just said.

But Cassius didn't care for her reaction and simply gestured to his lap again, utterly serious.

"You heard me. Sit here. It's the first step to mastering knitting."

Julie stumbled backward, clutching the knitting needles like they were a sword, wondering if the man in front of her had gone crazy or if this was his blatant attempt of taking advantage of her...