Depraved Noble: Forced To Live The Debaucherous Life Of An Evil Noble!-Chapter 509: I’ve Got Gifts!

Now that Lucius was finally pried off and standing a safe distance away, Cassius straightened his coat and glared down at him with the kind of look that could make a demon flinch.

"If you ever pull a stunt like that again, Lucius." He said slowly. "I swear on everything holy, the next time I pass a circus, I’ll sell you to them for the cheapest price they’ll offer."

Lucius froze, his face draining of color, and let out a pitiful whimper.

"N-No, Young Master, please! You wouldn’t really—"

"Oh, I would." Cassius cut in sharply, his crimson eyes narrowing. "And I’ll make sure you’re performing next to the juggling monkeys."

The butler let out a small, strangled noise that sounded halfway between a sob and a squeak.

Cassius ignored him completely, turning his back as if the butler no longer existed. He let out a slow sigh, then lifted his gaze toward his family who were still standing patiently in front of him, their eyes full of warmth and affection.

"Ladies, please." He said, rubbing the back of his neck in mild irritation. "Because of this little brat over here, everything’s been delayed."

"But I would very much like to feel your embrace now. It’s been a long journey...and after being smothered by him." He gestured toward Lucius. " I need something to wash away the memory."

"Young Master...how cruel...!" Lucius sniffled dramatically from behind him.

"Quiet, Lucius." Cassius muttered.

The women exchanged smiles, understanding immediately what he meant. They didn’t rush him at once—instead, they moved together, letting Vivi lead since she walked the slowest.

Once Vivi reached him, the rest followed, and together, they wrapped their arms around him in a warm, all-encompassing hug.

For a moment, the hall fell completely silent except for the sound of breathing, soft sighs, and the rustle of fabric as everyone pressed close.

Portia’s voice, cool and steady but edged with genuine feeling, was the first to break the silence.

"Welcome back, Young Master. The household hasn’t been the same without you. It’s good to have our lord return."

Even she couldn’t stop the faint smile tugging at her lips, her sharp composure softening for the first time in a while.

Vivi, on the other hand, buried herself into his side, her arms squeezing tightly around his waist.

"I’m so happy, Young Master! I’m so, so happy you’re finally back! There’s so much I want to do with you now that you’re home!" She said breathlessly, smiling so wide it made everyone around her laugh softly.

Cassius chuckled and rested a hand gently on her head, ruffling her curls. "I can imagine, Vivi. You’ve probably planned a whole parade, haven’t you?"

"Maybe." She said with a playful grin, her cheeks glowing pink.

Then Diana, ever gentle, brushed her hair back and placed a hand on his arm, her voice soft and full of warmth.

"I’m so glad you’re safe, Cassius. I prayed every day that you would return without injury. Seems the heavens heard me after all."

He smiled at them all, his heart squeezing in quiet affection before they pulled back slightly, all still smiling.

"There really wasn’t any need for all this fanfare, you know." He said lightly. "It’s only been a few days."

But Isabelle stepped forward, her expression calm but her tone full of quiet devotion.

"Even if it was a single day, Young Master, the household feels empty without you. It’s not the same when you’re away."

"Yeah!" Vivi added cheerfully. "Every meal felt boring without you sitting at the head table!"

"It’s true." Diana nodded, her expression tender. "Even the children at the hospital asked when you’d return."

"And the halls were too quiet." Isabelle said fondly. "Even Lucius wouldn’t stop pacing around and sighing."

"My sorrow was unmatched!" Lucius sniffled again dramatically from the corner

"You’re about to be unmatched from employment if you don’t stop talking." Cassius shot him another glare.

That made the maids giggle softly before Cassius let out another breath, his shoulders relaxing as he looked around at the faces that had been waiting for him.

The affection that welled up inside him almost made his chest ache before he cleared his throat, forcing back the warmth before it turned too sentimental.

"Alright, alright, before I start tearing up like Lucius over there...I’ve brought gifts for all of you."

Immediately, Vivi gasped, her eyes lighting up.

"Gifts?! Oh my gods, you brought gifts? Thank you, Young Master! What is it? What is it?!"

Cassius chuckled. "Patience, Vivi."

"As long as it’s from you, Young Master, I’ll cherish whatever you give me." Isabelle smiled serenely.

He grinned softly. "You always say that."

One of the attendants brought forward a large velvet-lined bag filled with wrapped parcels.

Cassius crouched down, rummaged through it, and pulled out the first one—a small, elegant box wrapped in pale blue ribbon.

He approached Portia first.

"For you, Portia." He said with a small grin. "I know how much you’re obsessed with hand-embroidered handkerchiefs. You keep telling me it’s a man’s duty to always have one in his pocket and you replace mine every time with a different design."

"So I found these on my way back. Made of fine silk from the western regions. A famous tailor crafted them himself."

Portia’s carefully constructed composure cracked instantly. Her eyes widened as she gently took the handkerchiefs, brushing her fingers over the delicate patterns.

"This—this is from D’Haven Atelier, isn’t it?"

Cassius nodded, smiling knowingly.

She looked up at him in pure disbelief before bowing slightly, her voice soft for once.

"Thank you, Young Master. I’ll make sure to...to put them to good use." Then, realizing what she’d said, she shook her head hurriedly. "No, actually, I won’t use them. They’re far too beautiful to risk staining. I’ll...keep them safe instead."

Cassius laughed quietly and reached out to gently press a kiss to her forehead. Portia, usually so stoic, blushed faintly and glanced aside, pretending to cough.

Next, he turned to Diana, who was watching with patient fondness. Cassius smiled warmly at her.

"And you, Diana. I know you’d rather share your happiness with others than keep it for yourself. So I thought this would suit you best."

He gestured to two maids behind him, who carried in several large boxes and set them down. When they opened the lids, the scent of freshly baked pastries, sugared breads, and delicate sweets filled the air.

"They’re from different bakeries across the regions I passed through." Cassius explained. "I figured the patients at the hospital could enjoy something sweet, along with the nurses and doctors."

Diana’s eyes softened immediately.

"Oh, Cassius, you thought of everyone." She clasped her hands together, nearly tearing up as she gasped in delight. "Thank you. I’ll make sure everyone knows who these came from..."

"...from my husband." She said teasingly, a twinkle in her eyes.

"Oh, ’from my husband’ I really like the sound of tha—"

But before he could finish, she stepped closer, reached up, and kissed him softly on the lips

Cassius smiled at that and as a final touch, pulled out a small, elegant hat pin inlaid with sapphire. He carefully placed it behind her ear, where the blue gem gleamed softly against her grey hair.

"And this..." He said. "...is something just for you. I thought it would suit you."

Diana’s fingers drifted up to her hair, gently brushing against the pin before shyly saying,

"Should I...give you another kiss for this, Cassius?"

Before he could even answer, however, a loud and sweetly indignant voice interrupted them.

"No, Mother, no!" Vivi protested, stepping forward with her curls bouncing. "It’s my turn now! You already had your kiss. You have to wait for your next one."

Vivi turned toward Cassius, clapping her hands together excitedly.

"So, what did you bring for me, my dear Young Master? Come on, tell me, tell me! I’m so giddy right now that my hands are shaking!"

She held them up dramatically, and then paused, blinking.

"Or maybe that’s just because I’ve been standing too long and my body is reacting this way."

He smiled, but instead of reaching into the gift satchel like before, he turned around and started walking toward the mansion’s doors. Everyone blinked in confusion.

"Huh? Where’s he going?" Vivi tilted her head.

"Probably forgot the gift." Skadi muttered quietly.

A few moments later, the large doors creaked open again and Cassius walked back in, his coat fluttering slightly as he stepped across the polished marble floor.

But this time, he wasn’t holding a wrapped box or any ornament.

He was holding a small, black kitten.

Its fur was sleek and glossy, its tail curling lazily as it blinked up at the light. The little creature meowed once, softly, as Cassius approached.

Vivi gasped, her entire face lighting up.

"A-A cat?! You brought me a cat?!"

Cassius grinned, kneeling slightly as he held the feline out to her.

"That’s right. A little friend for you."

Vivi immediately took the cat into her arms, her eyes misting with joy as she began to cuddle it, pressing her cheek to its soft fur.

"Oh, she’s perfect! She’s so small and fluffy and—ahhh—look at her paws!"

Cassius laughed gently, watching her delight.

"Ever since you’ve recovered your health, I know how fond you’ve been of cats and puppies. When you were younger, you weren’t allowed to play with them—something about allergies. But now that you’re all grown up and free to indulge, you’ve practically turned the garden into a zoo with how many animals there are back there."

He smiled, glancing briefly toward the courtyard beyond the windows.

"So I thought...one more wouldn’t hurt."

And in response, Vivi was beaming so much her face might’ve glowed.

"She’s adorable! What’s her name? What should I name her?"

"I’ll let you decide. But look closely at her eyes."

Vivi blinked, then angled the cat toward the light. When she saw the colors, her mouth parted in wonder.

"Blue...and green. Oh! That’s—"

"Heterochromia." Cassius finished for her, smiling faintly. "A rare sight. I found her on the road, a stray it seemed—but her eyes caught my attention. I thought you’d appreciate her uniqueness."

"She’s so beautiful." Vivi’s voice softened, awe in every word. "Thank you, Young Master...thank you so much."

Cassius waited for her to say more—to look up, maybe to even give him one of her usual quick kisses on the cheek.

But Vivi was far too busy.

"Oh, look at you." She cooed to the cat, gently rubbing its head. "You’re the cutest thing I’ve ever seen! Look at your two different eyes, your tiny little nose—oh, you’re perfect. Who’s a good girl? You are! Yes, you are!"

Cassius sighed, crossing his arms.

"I see how it is." He said dryly. "The moment you get a gift, I’m immediately forgotten. Completely overshadowed by a cat."

Vivi finally looked up, smirking teasingly.

"Of course not, Young Master." She said sweetly. Then, in one graceful motion, she stood on her toes and kissed his cheek. "I’ll treasure her forever."

Cassius chuckled before he corrected, "Actually, it’s him. You might want to look again, he’s got quite a set of big ball—"

"Young Master! Don’t say that in front of everyone!" She hid her face behind the cat, mortified.

The maids nearby giggled quietly and Cassius smiled smugly, then turned his attention to Isabelle, who had been watching the entire exchange with her usual calm, polite smile.

"And now for you, Isabelle." He said. "Well...actually, I don’t have a gift for you."

At once, there was a collective gasp.

Cassius smirked slightly at their reactions before arrogantly saying,

"My presence itself should be enough of a gift, shouldn’t it?"

A few maids whispered among themselves, and Nala muttered. " Oh, wow, he’s serious..."

But Isabelle didn’t flinch, didn’t pout, didn’t even look disappointed. Instead, she gave him the same serene smile she always did—gentle, warm, and loyal.

"Thank you for coming back to us, Young Master." She said softly. "Your safe return means more to me than any trinket or jewel ever could. Your presence...is the greatest gift I could receive."

Cassius blinked at her, genuinely taken aback by the sincerity in her tone.

"Come on, Isabelle." He finally let out a deep sigh, shaking his head. "You’re supposed to scold me right now. Say something like, ’Why do they get gifts and not me?’ or maybe complain a little. You’re not supposed to just accept it like that."

Isabelle chuckled quietly.

"I’m happy as I am, Young Master. I don’t need anything more. As long as you’re willing to spend a little time with me and perhaps talk over tea, I’m content."

Cassius stared at her for a moment, his heart swelling with genuine affection.

Then, impulsively, he pulled her into a deep embrace, surprising her completely. Her cheeks flushed a deep rose as he leaned close, his lips brushing against the edge of her ear.

"I’m so lucky to have someone like you, Isabelle."

Her heart fluttered wildly as she hesitated, then shyly returned his hug.

When he finally stepped back, Cassius smiled again.

"Still...even if you don’t want anything, there’s no way I’m leaving you out."

He reached back into the satchel and pulled out a small, oddly-shaped knife. Its blade had a unique curve, the steel gleaming faintly. He handed it to her carefully.

"I found this in a fishing village on my travels. It’s a specialized knife—designed for filleting fish cleanly and quickly. I know how much you enjoy experimenting with new kitchen tools, so I thought of you."

Isabelle’s eyes lit up immediately. She turned the blade in her hand, admiring its balance and craftsmanship.

"You’re right, Young Master." She said with genuine excitement. "With a blade like this, I can debone and fillet fish with perfect precision. It’s an ideal tool and to think it came from a village like that..."

She trailed off, which made Nala quite prideful as it came from her village.

Around them, the rest of the maids and attendants, several dozen in total watched with visible envy. They too wanted something from their lord even if it’s was a single scrap or trinket, though none dared to say a word.

But Cassius, noticing their glances, smiled slyly and straightened up.

"Don’t think I’ve forgotten about all of you, either." He said loudly enough for everyone to hear. "You guys are all my family as well. So, of course, I’ve prepared plenty of gifts waiting for you as well, stored in the carriages for now."

A wave of excitement rippled through the staff.

Several of the younger maids looked like they were about to burst from joy, though they tried to keep their composure.

But before they could rush off, Cassius raised a hand.

"Hold on. Before you all go diving into your surprises, I want to introduce someone very important."

He turned slightly and gestured behind him.

"Nala, come forward."

The snake girl hesitated for a moment, clearly nervous, before she slowly slithered forward. Her tail curled slightly behind her as Cassius placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder.

"This..." Cassius said proudly, looking around at the gathered household staff. "...is Nala Vashira. A brilliant, beautiful young woman from a small fishing village far to the south. She’s been through a lot, and yet she’s proven herself time and again to be courageous, resourceful, and kind."

He smiled faintly, glancing down at her.

"And from today onward, she’s one of us...a member of our family."