Depraved Noble: Forced To Live The Debaucherous Life Of An Evil Noble!
Chapter 313: Man Of Principle

Chapter 313: Man Of Principle

Julie was still blaming herself in her head, of all the days, why did her cooking have to be a biological hazard today, thinking that if only her stew hadn’t been so atrocious, they could have spent a few more cozy moments together, wrapped up in each other on the ground instead of dealing with the aftermath of her culinary war crime.

Meanwhile, Cassius had strolled back over to the cooking setup with the swagger of a man walking to his execution.

"Speaking of cooking..." He said, peering down at the pot. "The stew...or whatever this was...is still here."

He grimaced.

There it was, still bubbling faintly like a cursed swamp, with the texture of sludge and the color of regret. He picked up the pot with two fingers, holding it like it might bite him. The viscous goo inside swirled ominously.

"We should throw it away." Julie said quickly. "And dispose of it properly. Like, in a deep hole. With a sign that says ’Never Touch.’ I don’t want some poor animal stumbling onto it and...dying. Or worse."

Deep down, she was still hurt. She hadn’t meant to create a weapon of mass destruction. She just wanted to make something warm and filling. Something that brought people together, not something that cleared a thirty-foot radius and made birds fall from the sky.

She fully expected Cassius to nod in agreement, maybe even help her dig the stew its own grave.

But instead, Cassius held the pot up like he was examining an ancient relic.

"That was the plan." He said gravely. "Containment. Quarantine. Maybe a shrine to warn future generations. Because this stew...it’s not food. It’s a cursed object."

Julie’s frown deepened. ’Okay, that was rude, but also fair.’

He let out a long sigh. "But...my principles won’t let me."

Julie blinked. "Principles? What principles?"

Cassius stood tall, eyes still on the bubbling horror in his hand. "As a man. As a gentleman. I’ve always held fast to one sacred rule...If a woman cooks for me, I eat it."

He nodded, like this was an ancient code passed down through generations.

"Everyone likes their cooking to be appreciated." He continued, with the solemn air of a man delivering a eulogy. "And as someone who respects all women...no matter what they serve, no matter what chemical warfare lands on my plate, I eat it. With a smile."

Julie stared. "Wait. You’re not saying..."

But he cut her off, raising the stew like a chalice of doom. "So even though every fiber of my being is telling me to hurl this pot into the sun, I can’t. I must drink this...this evil. As a matter of honor."

He paused.

"Also, last time I did this, I passed away. Literally died. Shit myself to death. Saw the light. And moved onto another world full of magic...But rules are rules."

Julie screamed inside. "No, no, no, you cannot be serious, Cassius!"

But it was too late.

He tipped the entire pot into his mouth.

Julie gawked in horror as he forced it down. Gulp. His face contorted instantly like he’d just licked a toilet. His knees trembled. His eyes welled up.

Veins bulged from his neck like he was trying to survive a venom extraction. Yet somehow, he kept drinking, each swallow more pained than the last.

Julie took slow, horrified steps closer. "Cassius, stop! Stop!! I don’t want you to actually die!"

But he powered through like a man possessed. Tears streamed from his eyes. His jaw clenched. A full-body shudder wracked him every time the stew touched his tongue.

It was like watching someone chug acid while trying to maintain eye contact.

Then...silence.

The pot clattered to the ground, empty.

Cassius dropped to his knees dramatically, clutching his stomach and panting like he’d just run a marathon through a volcano. Julie dropped beside him, grabbing his shoulders in a panic.

"Why did you do that, you idiot? Why did you do that? Are you trying to kill yourself?" She cried, shaking him slightly. "That stuff was basically poison! Are you suicidal or something? Why, why would you do something so utterly, completely stupid?!"

Cassius was clearly in pain, a pale grimace spread across his face as he doubled over, his hands pressed hard against his abdomen like he was trying to hold his insides together.

His breaths were short and shallow, and sweat dotted his forehead as if he were bracing for an explosion from within.

Still, with a pained, wry smile that barely masked his agony, he gave a shaky nod.

"It’s true...I kinda...really regret it right now." He wheezed, his voice straining through clenched teeth. "I think I might’ve just summoned the worst stomachache in the history of mankind...the kind that’ll leave the toilet in ruins for years to come."

He chuckled weakly, like a man already mourning his own gastrointestinal demise, but then his gaze slid toward her, softening, warm.

"But...still...it was worth it."

Julie blinked at him, confused, while Cassius nodded again, clutching her sleeve.

"It was worth it...to follow my principles to the bitter end. No matter how gruesome that end may be...that’s just the kind of man I am."

Then, with a slightly teasing, affectionate look, he added, "And I can’t exactly lie to you and say that was delicious like some guys would just to flatter a girl. I mean, it’s very obvious it wasn’t."

Julie let out a breathless laugh despite herself, the tension in her shoulders easing just a little.

"But..." Cassius continued, eyes softening. "even though it was awful...I could still taste how much effort you put into it. That part came through clear. And...today might’ve been a disaster, yeah, but I’ll be here waiting for the day you get better."

"...And when that day comes, when I take that first spoonful, I’ll smile, and I’ll say it properly..."

He squeezed her hand gently.

"...I’ll say it’s delicious. I promise."

Julie stared at him, overwhelmed. He was still clinging to her even though he was in the middle of some sort of culinary-induced internal crisis, but even now, he was thinking about her.

Smiling for her. Willing to endure that for her sake. Her heart squeezed.

And at that moment she didn’t even think about anything else other wanting to do something for the man who made such a sacrifice for her happiness and her body moved on it own

Suddenly, she leaned forward and planted a quick, firm kiss on his cheek, then pulled back just as quickly, face flushing red.

"Kiss!♡~"

Cassius blinked, stunned by the warm little press still lingering on his cheek. Then he gave her a sly grin.

"Oh? And here I thought you weren’t the type to give out kisses as favors. Wasn’t it you who said you were a high knight? A noble lady? Not so easy to kiss?"

"I-I am all of that!" Julie sputtered, her face going redder by the second. "I mean, I still stand by it! But—!"

She looked away, crossing her arms and huffing.

"But I’d be a cruel woman not to give a man a kiss after he put his life on the line for me. I owe you that much. So don’t get any weird ideas, it didn’t mean anything!"

Her voice cracked slightly, clearly flustered, while Cassius’s grin widened, and for a moment he looked like he was about to say something flirtatious again.

But then his stomach gave a low, ominous growl that echoed like thunder between them.

"I know I shouldn’t be asking you this right now since it would be really uncool." He winced, placing a hand over his gut. "But Julie, could you help me back? I don’t think I can make it on my own."

"...My knees are shaking like crazy. I feel like I’m dying."

Julie stared at him, half-worried, half-amused. This was Cassius, the ever-confident, unstoppable man who seemed to take everything in stride, and now he looked like he’d been bested by a single spoonful.

She sighed, smiling. "Fine, fine. I’ll help you back."

But just as she reached for him, she paused.

"Wait a second. Stay here."

She quickly jogged back to where they’d been, gathering up the mess of supplies she’d brought. Her eyes softened when she saw the ladybug he’d made for her earlier still sitting beside the pot. She picked it up carefully, smiled, and tucked it into her bag.

Behind her, Cassius called out in a half-moan.

"Julie...please. I beg you. If we don’t move now and I don’t reach those herbs I saw near the camp, I promise you that your strew is going to become the second most horrible smelling thing in this forest and this world isn’t ready for something like that."

"I’m coming, I’m coming." Julie called back with a laugh. "Just one second!"

Once she was packed, she returned and slung his arm around her shoulder, supporting him as they began the slow walk back.

As they walked, Julie noticed something just out of the corner of her eye, the same father squirrel that she had thought died earlier, was now shakily standing with help from his partner and walking back to its tree.

It seemed to have survived just like Cassius which made her let out a sigh of relief and chuckle.

The baby squirrels were also fussing around him, trying to help, and the whole sight looked...strangely familiar.

She glanced at Cassius leaning against her, limping beside her, just like the father squirrel.

And in that moment, she couldn’t help but wonder.

’Maybe, someday...They’d have a little gang of baby squirrels trailing after them, too.’

But the moment that thought came into her mind, she immidietly shook her head in a fluster thinking that the fumes from her stew was making her have crazy thoughts and instead continued to smile, as she heard Cassius’s stomach gurgle while they walked back hand-on-hand...

—

(This next part was supposed to be in the next Chapter, but I kind of screwed up the upload... Apologies)

Aisha had quite the good morning.

As she made her way toward the horses, her steps were light, a clear, radiant expression blooming across her face.

It wasn’t often she got to start the day like this, last night hadn’t felt like any of the usual camp nights, where she would curl up inside a tiny, crammed tent, trying not to roll over a rock or tree root.

This time, she’d been treated like royalty, fed the most delicious food, the kind that made her eyes widen and her cheeks puff up from stuffing too much at once, and then sleeping on a bed so soft and warm that she’d completely melted into it. The comfort lingered in her bones even now.

She hadn’t just rested, she’d truly slept.

Waking up also had been wonderful. The sun greeted her like a friend. The air was fresh.

And most importantly, Cassius had been there last night...He had been there, with her.

They had grown closer, noticeably so. And not just in casual conversation, but in that warm, loving, tender way that left her giggling to herself when no one was watching.

For so long, she’d wanted to get closer to him, but something always came in the way. Petty arguments, misunderstandings, that constant banter they could never seem to avoid.

But now, now it felt different.

They’d crossed some kind of invisible line, and just remembering how close they’d been, how they’d kissed, how he kissed her, made her press her fingers to her lips with a dreamy little sigh.

That kiss...it had done things to her. Made her body feel hot all over. Left her squirming in her bed even after it was all over, unable to get rid of the sensation of his lips, of the way he held her, of the way he made her feel wanted.

She wanted more of that...More of him and the thought made her shake her head, cheeks flushed now for a completely different reason.

Still, her heart was dancing. She was eager to spend more time with him today too, she had packed a few of her favorite books in her bag, thinking she could show him the kinds of stories she loved.

Maybe he’d find them boring, but maybe, just maybe, he’d like them too. That’s what she hoped for, anyway. She just wanted to share more of herself.

Let him in. Let him see how thoughtful and smart and passionate she could be, not just when swinging a wand, but when talking about the things she loved.

And maybe, just maybe, if they had a bit of time alone again...they could have another private moment. Like last night. More kissing. More touching.

Just the thought made her clutch the strap of her bag tighter and press her lips together in a silent smile. Her face turned bright red, but she couldn’t stop grinning.

She was sure Cassius would be waiting by the horses. He’d probably be leaning on the saddle of the one they usually shared, waiting for her to hop on so they could start the day.

But then,

Her steps slowed.

She blinked. Confused...Then horrified.

There was Cassius, alright, but he wasn’t alone.

Julie was there. Standing beside him. And...was he trying to get on the horse that she rode...?

Her eyes widened.

’Was she about to ride the horse with him?!’

’Together?!’

She blinked again, in disbelief. But no, there was no mistaking it. Cassius was already lifting his foot up to the stirrup of the very horse she usually rode, and Julie was holding onto the reins like she was preparing to mount right in front him.

’What the hell...No. No no no. Absolutely not!’

Aisha dropped all her calm and took off running.

"Hey! Stop! Stop right there!" She yelled, waving her arms as she ran across the clearing like a lightning bolt of fury. "Don’t you dare get on, Captain!"