Depraved Noble: Forced To Live The Debaucherous Life Of An Evil Noble!-Chapter 511: They Weren’t You’re Lovers?!

’This feels right.’ Cassius thought. ’This is what home should sound like.’

But then his eyes drifted toward behind him and amid the whirl of joy and movement, three figures stood apart—Julie, Aisha, and Skadi.

Unlike everyone else, they weren’t laughing. Julie’s arms were folded, though the tight grip around her own elbows gave away her nerves.

Aisha stood beside her, composed on the surface but fidgeting with her sleeve.

And Skadi...Skadi was rocking back and forth on her heels, her big ears twitching in every direction as she stared longingly at Nala’s tail like a child watching candy being handed out to everyone but her.

’Ah, right. I forgot to introduce them properly.’ Cassius sighed quietly.

He knew he had to mention them as well with awkward they were.

"Ladies." He said gently. "Come here for a moment. It’s time I introduced you all properly."

Cassius gestured for the trio to come closer.

Julie and Aisha exchanged a nervous look. But neither moved at first.

"Do we really have to do this right now?" Aisha murmured, lowering her voice. "I feel like the world’s biggest hypocrite."

"Tell me about it." Julie muttered back. "We literally said in front of half the Holyfield staff that we’d never fall for him. That he was—"

"—shameless flirt who’d turn any woman’s head."

Aisha finished for her dryly.

"Yeah." Julie muttered. "And now look at us."

Skadi, however, was having none of their hesitation. She bounced forward with excitement, her tail swishing like banner.

"Come on, Master!" She chirped, grabbing Cassius’s arm eagerly. "Introduce us already! I want to join Nala next and ride her tail—it looks so fun!"

Cassius chuckled, patting her on the head.

"Alright, alright, calm down, you furball. We’ll get there."

Turning back to the others, he raised his voice slightly.

"Everyone, if I could have your attention!"

The crowd hushed instantly. Maids straightening their uniforms, Nala stopping her ride, even Lucius peeking out from behind a column with tears still drying on his cheeks.

Cassius cleared his throat. 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝚠𝕖𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝕖𝚕.𝚌𝗼𝗺

"There are three more people I’d like to introduce to you all." He began, his voice carrying through the high-ceilinged hall. "Though I’m sure you already know them quite well."

He gestured toward Julie, Aisha, and Skadi.

"You’ve seen them around the estate before. The brave Holy Guard captain, Juliet; the brilliant strategist, Lady Aisha; and, well—Skadi."

Skadi puffed her chest out proudly.

"Resident tail fluffer and loyal companion!"

"Yes. That."

Cassius stifled a laugh before he looked around the room with a hint of mischief in his eyes.

"I suppose most of you know them by their titles. But from this day onward, you’ll know them by another."

He paused, enjoying the suspense for a second.

"They are my future wives—new members of our family."

The words echoed in the grand hall.

Julie and Aisha both froze like statues, their eyes wide. Skadi’s tail shot up in excitement as she clapped her hands together.

"Yay! He said it out loud this time!" She squealed.

Cassius had braced himself for the reactions—gasps, whispers, maybe teasing laughter.

Julie and Aisha were visibly ready for it too, shoulders tense, expressions awkward. Both had been dreading this moment.

’This is it.’ Julie thought miserably. ’They’re going to bring up how I said I’d never fall for him. They’re going to laugh, I just know it.’

’And I told half the continent I’d never be one of his girls.’ Aisha thought with horror. ’I’m finished.’

But instead of the judgment they feared, what followed...was confusion.

People looked around at each other, blinking.

Vivi tilted her head slightly, Diana frowned softly, and even Portia mouthed something to herself as if trying to make sense of what she’d just heard.

Finally, Vivi broke the silence.

"Wait...Young Master." She said, blinking. "Aren’t they already your women?"

The trio froze, their brains collectively short-circuiting.

"WHAT?!" Julie and Aisha shouted at once.

Cassius also blinked in surprise.

"Huh? What do you mean by that, Vivi? When did I ever announce that?"

"You didn’t say it, exactly. But, I mean...we all just assumed." Vivi shrugged innocently, petting her cat.

"Yes, you never made any official declaration, Cassius." Diana nodded, a faint smile on her lips. "But given how close the three of them are to you and how they behave around you, it simply seemed...obvious."

"I thought it was common knowledge, Young Master." Isabelle gave a small, apologetic smile. "We all assumed they were part of your extended family already."

Portia adjusted her glasses, adding matter-of-factly,

"Indeed. I’d even informed the head staff to prepare quarters under that assumption."

Behind them, several maids nodded rapidly, whispering.

"We thought they were already a couple!"

"They look like it!"

"He carries her sword for her sometimes!"

"I thought they were one of the original household lovers..."

Julie turned bright red, gripping her sword hilt as she sputtered.

"N-No! Absolutely not! What are you all talking about?! It’s only recently that we—well—! We just—! It’s not like that before, okay?!"

Aisha waved her hands, face flushed.

"Exactly! I used to hate him before! I swear I did! He was insufferable and arrogant and—" She paused, sighed, then muttered. " —and apparently exactly my type."

Their protests only made the women’s smiles grow wider.

"Oh really?~" Vivi tilted her head innocently.

"Well, that’s...quite the turnaround, isn’t it?" Diana chuckled softly behind her hand.

Portia’s lips curved into an amused smirk. "A commendable conversion, I’d say."

Julie groaned, burying her face in her hands.

"Oh gods, please make it stop..."

But Skadi, as always, had no filter whatsoever. She puffed out her chest proudly and announced,

"They’re right! I was in love with Master before either of you!" She declared proudly. "So that means I have seniority! You should both bow down before me!"

Aisha’s head snapped toward her. "Skadi—"

Julie cut in sharply. "You’re not helping!"

"You absolute fluff-brain!" Aisha promptly bonked Skadi on the forehead.

"Ow!" Skadi yelped, rubbing her head. "That’s abuse of the family hierarchy!"

Cassius, torn between laughter and exasperation, pinched the bridge of his nose.

"Alright, alright, enough chaos." He said finally. "Whatever the case may be—official or not—these three are now part of our family too. And I expect you all to welcome them as such."

Almost instantly, everyone broke into delighted smiles and applause.

"Welcome to the family!" Vivi jumped up and down with excitement.

"It’s about time, really." Diana smiled warmly.

"I had a feeling this was coming." Isabelle chuckled softly.

Julie and Aisha could only stand there, blushing furiously as the women crowded around them, offering hugs, handshakes, and affectionate greetings.

"We always knew you’d join us sooner or later!" One of the maids laughed.

"So you did fall for him after all, Captain Julie! We were all taking bets!" Another teased.

Julie’s eyes widened in horror. "Y-You what?!"

Nala too slithered up cheerfully and waved.

"Welcome, sisters! You’re officially part of the family now! Just like I am!"

And just like that, the brave leaders of the Holy Guard were now blushing, laughing, and being hugged by the maids of his mansion, while Nala was circling them proudly like a hostess at her own party.

Meanwhile, Cassius just stood there, watching as the three women were quickly swept into the warm, noisy mess of his household.