Depraved Noble: Forced To Live The Debaucherous Life Of An Evil Noble!-Chapter 503: It’s Time To Go Back Home

Cassius paused, looking at her for a long moment, then gave her the most innocent look imaginable.

"Huh? Did he say that? I didn’t catch anything. He was babbling a lot before he, uh...lost his head."

Julie’s eyes narrowed even further. "Cassius..."

He held up his hands defensively, grinning.

"What? I’m serious! He was mumbling nonsense! I could barely make out a word. You know how cult leaders get near the end, lots of weird chanting, not much coherence."

But Julie didn’t look convinced. She opened her mouth to press him further—only to stop when a weak groan came from Skadi’s arms.

"Ah! She’s waking up!" Aisha said quickly, stepping closer.

Carmela stirred, her eyelashes fluttering before her crimson eyes slowly opened. She blinked in confusion, her gaze darting between them all before she stiffened.

The memories came flooding back—the ritual, the blood, the screams, her loss of control.

Her breathing quickened.

"The children..." She whispered hoarsely. "The children—are they alright? Did I—"

Cassius immediately stepped forward and placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder.

"They’re fine." He said gently. "You can see for yourself."

Skadi pointed toward the clearing where the children were gathered at a distance, safe and sound, peeking curiously from behind the dome Aisha had raised.

The sight made Carmela’s shoulders relax in visible relief.

"Thank goodness..." She murmured, closing her eyes for a moment.

After a pause, she opened them again, her voice weak but steady. "And Xerath...what of him?"

Cassius’s tone turned casual again, almost too casual.

"Let’s just say he’s not your problem anymore."

Carmela’s gaze dropped to the faint red smear on the rocks nearby, and she didn’t ask further.

When she looked back up, however, her eyes caught on Cassius’s neck—and she froze. The wound that had been there earlier was completely gone.

Her lips parted in disbelief, realization dawning on her of what she had done. She hesitated before finally saying

"I...I need to apologize."

Cassius raised an eyebrow. "Apologize? For what?"

"For what I did." Carmela said, her voice trembling faintly. "I didn’t mean to harm you. My body...it just moved on its own. I had no control. I attacked you and the others. I’m...sorry."

Cassius waved his hand dismissively. "Oh, it’s alright, it’s alright. It’s not like you did it willingly. No harm done."

Then a mischievous grin spread across his face.

"Well, maybe I should apologize too."

Carmela blinked, confused, while Cassius rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly.

"The thing is, while you were, uh, sucking on me, I might’ve...um..." He coughed lightly, then grinned. "Accidentally grabbed your butt. So, sorry about that."

For a moment, everyone just stared at him.

Then Carmela’s face flushed crimson—not from hunger this time, but from outrage. Her lips parted, her fangs twitching slightly.

"You—you what?!"

"Unbelievable." Julie buried her face in her hand.

"He’s hopeless."

Carmela’s glare could have melted steel.

"You—!"

She began, trying to sit up, but the instant she moved, a sharp wave of pain tore through her body. Her muscles seized, and she let out a low, pained moan as she clutched at her chest.

Cassius immediately lowered himself down beside her, his teasing expression softening into genuine concern.

"Easy there, easy. You overused your strength back there." He said quietly. "Your body’s still recovering from all that power running through it. Just rest for now."

Then he added awkwardly, "And honestly...I don’t think a little rest will be enough for you this time."

Her tired eyes flicked toward him, uncertain as continued, his tone growing more serious.

"You overexerted yourself to the point your body’s practically screaming for mercy. The kind of energy that surged through you back there—what Xerath did, what you did—it wasn’t natural."

"You forced open parts of your bloodline that were never meant to wake up so suddenly. You’ll need days, maybe even weeks, before your body’s stable again."

Carmela frowned faintly, trying to shift again but immediately wincing as her limbs trembled.

"I’ll manage."

Cassius gave a short laugh.

"Oh, I’m sure you could manage...if you weren’t collapsing every time you tried to stand."

Her lips pressed into a thin line, but she didn’t respond. But then his expression shifted, the humor fading.

"That’s exactly why we can’t leave you here." He said simply. "If we walk away now, a pack of wild beasts could find you in a few hours, and you wouldn’t be able to fight back. You might be strong, Carmela—but right now? You’d be easy prey."

Realising what he was trying to say, her eyes flicked toward him sharply, her pride bursting out.

"I don’t need—"

"—help?" Cassius finished for her, raising an eyebrow. "Yeah, yeah, I know. You’re a lone wolf. You don’t trust anyone. I get it."

Her lips tightenes, but he pressed on, his gaze unwavering.

"But trust or not, this isn’t about pride. It’s about survival. And the safest place for you right now is with us."

Carmela gave him a withering glare, but he didn’t back down.

"So, that’s why I want you to come back with us. We’re heading to the Holyfield estate next. We’re taking all the children along too—it’s safe, well-protected, and it’s got a decent healer. You can rest there until you’re back to full strength."

Hearing this, she immediately wanted to refuse. She had always worked alone, always survived on her own. The idea of being under someone else’s protection grated on her pride like sandpaper. 𝒻𝑟𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝑛𝘰𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝘤𝘰𝘮

And Cassius, reading her perfectly, sighed. "I know what you’re thinking right now. I know that you don’t want to come with us. But it really is the only safe way for you."

She clenched her fists weakly, her pride warring with reason, before Cassius sighed and said,

"Look, I could promise you that it’ll all be fine, that you’ll be safe with us—but promises are cheap. Anyone can make one."

Then, suddenly, his lips curved into that dangerous, smile again.

"So how about I make something a little stronger than a promise?"

Carmela blinked, unsure where this was going, while Cassius leaned forward and said in a tone that was almost casual for the absurdity he was saying

"I gouged out my eyes for you, remember to make you trust me? So if it’ll make you feel any better—if you need proof that you can trust me—I’ll gouge out my heart for you."

The silence that followed was absolute.

Aisha’s mouth fell open. Julie blinked rapidly. Skadi choked on her own spit.

Even Carmela stared at him in disbelief.

"You...what?"

"You heard me." Cassius grinned wider, eyes glinting like molten rubies. "I’ll rip it out myself. You can drink straight from it if you like—get the freshest blood possible."

"All you have to do is come back with us."

For a moment, Carmela just stared, completely dumbfounded.

If anyone else had said something like that to her, she would have slapped them—or torn their throat out for saying such lies

But the look in Cassius’s eyes told her he wasn’t joking and the terrifying part wasn’t the words—it was that he meant it.

This man was insane enough, stubborn enough, and powerful enough to do exactly what he said.

"...You’re completely deranged." She muttered finally.

"You’re only figuring that out now?" Cassius chuckled.

For a moment, she said nothing. Her pride screamed to reject him. To stand up, limp away, prove she didn’t need anyone.

But...after everything he’d done, after how far he’d gone to save her, to save the children, she knew refusing him now would be nothing more than empty pride.

So, finally, thinking that if there ever going to be noble that she was going to trust, then it was probably the one who didn’t act like a noble at all as she then took a slow, shaky breath and said

"...Fine."

"Fine?"

"Im saying I’ll come with you." She said, her tone weary but resolute. Then, with a faint glare, she added, "Not because I need your help or care for my safety. I’m coming to make sure the children are really safe and that you’re not taking them somewhere shady."

Cassius laughed softly, relief and amusement blending in his voice.

"Of course, of course. The noble vampire protector, watching over the little ones."

Then, with a playful smile, he added,

"Although I do find it amusing that the vampire who can barely stand is going to guard an entire group of kids on her own."

Carmela shot him a death glare that would’ve made a lesser man crumble, to which Cassius raised his hands, laughing.

"Alright, alright, no more jokes."

He stood up and glanced at the others, his tone softening.

"Alright, everyone. Let’s pack up. It’s about time we head back home."

"Finally." Julie sighed in relief.

Aisha nodded, stretching her arms. "I’m taking the longest bath of my life when we get back."

"I want meat! Big, juicy meat!" Skadi wagged her tail eagerly.

"See?" Cassius laughed. "Everyone’s got their priorities sorted."

He then turned toward the children in the distance, who were watching them uncertainly, and then back to his team. His expression softened, a rare calm settling in his eyes.

"Let’s go home..."

He said before he thought of someone and fondly added,

"But of course, only after stopping and picking up a little snake who’s probably waiting for me."