Depraved Noble: Forced To Live The Debaucherous Life Of An Evil Noble!-Chapter 536: Harvest Festival

Outside the palace, the sun blazed brightly over the grand city roads.

Joy and Maria were already seated in their carriage, as they made their way out of the capital.

Behind them followed three more carriages—filled with sisters from the Holy Order, each carrying the sigil of the Goddess.

News had spread swiftly: Her Majesty herself had approved their mission. And though she had said Cassius was innocent, that declaration only fueled their zeal further.

They would find the truth—and if he was guilty, no divine protection could save him.

Inside the lead carriage, Joy sat by the window, her posture rigid, eyes focused ahead. Maria, seated beside her, was quiet at first—still thinking of Marina’s strange words.

Then Joy turned, pulling a small pouch from her cloak and handing it to her mother.

"Do whatever is necessary, Mother." She said calmly. "You’re better with administration and resource management. Make sure these funds are used properly."

Maria smiled.

"Of course, my dear." She tucked both pouches safely beside her and added, half teasing, "Though I still think you should take a little bit for yourself."

"Maybe buy a few new clothes? It’s been years since you replaced anything."

"I don’t need any." Joy replied evenly. "I have everything I require."

Maria opened her mouth to argue again—but before she could, the carriage door suddenly swung open with a clang.

"Don’t worry about that, Auntie Maria!" A cheerful voice called out.

Maria blinked, startled, as a bright figure climbed into the moving carriage—none other than Aqua, beaming as always.

"I’ve got tons of clothes in my storage ring for this trip! Joy can wear whatever she wants, and I’ll make sure she looks absolutely stunning when we get to the Holyfield estate!"

Maria blinked in disbelief.

"A-Aqua? What are you doing here?"

Aqua plopped down on the opposite seat with a satisfied sigh.

"I needed a ride back home! And when I saw you two leaving, I figured—why not come along? It’ll be more fun with company."

Joy frowned, narrowing her eyes.

"You have your own carriage, Princess. A far more comfortable one, I imagine. Why would you bother cramming yourself into ours?"

"Because going alone is boring!" Aqua shrugged playfully. "And besides, I’d rather not ride by myself when my two favorite people are heading the same way. Surely that’s not a problem, is it?"

"Not at all, my dear." Maria laughed. "You’re always welcome with us. In fact, I was thinking of calling you to join us, so I’m glad you came on your own."

"See?" Aqua grinned. "Auntie Maria gets it!"

Joy sighed deeply, leaning back.

"Fine. If you want to come, then come. But don’t make too much noise. I’d prefer to read the Holy Scriptures in peace."

Aqua’s eyes sparkled mischievously.

"Oh, don’t be so serious, Joy! It’s going to be a trip! We should make it fun!"

Maria clapped her hands cheerfully.

"I was just thinking the same. We can talk, play games—I heard some new ones young folks play these days and maybe even sing together."

"Yes!" Aqua gasped, delighted. "And we can have picnics too! I brought cheese, crackers, and a bunch of other goodies I stole from the royal kitchen!"

Maria giggled.

"Then it’s settled—we’ll stop somewhere nice and enjoy ourselves along the way."

Joy pinched the bridge of her nose. "I specifically told you not to—"

But before she could finish, the troublemakers exchanged a glance and within seconds, Aqua slid across the seat, wedging herself right beside Joy, while Maria leaned closer from the other side.

"Come on, Joy, don’t look so serious!" Aqua teased, nudging her shoulder playfully.

Maria joined in, grinning. "Yes, my dear, relax a little. You’ve been far too tense lately."

Joy groaned, slumping in her seat as the two women giggled around her.

"Goddess preserve me..." She muttered under her breath—though a tiny, reluctant smile tugged at her lips.

—

For three long days, their journey continued across open roads, glittering rivers, and sleepy valleys that passed beneath the wheels of their carriage.

It had been an unexpectedly lively few days and if anyone passing by had looked into that carriage, they’d have thought they were watching three childhood friends on a holiday trip, not a princess, a nun, and a paladin on a royal mission.

Aqua and Maria were particularly inseparable.

Despite the years between them, they talked like best friends—sharing jokes, singing songs from old taverns, swapping stories about everything from divine miracles to embarrassing kitchen disasters.

At every stop, they bought strange snacks from the roadside stalls—crisp honeybread, roasted nuts, or grilled vegetables on sticks—and Aqua made sure Maria tried each one, no matter how strange or spicy it looked.

Joy, of course, remained stoic through it all.

Each time they tried to pull her into their laughter, she’d mutter. "I’d rather recite the holy scriptures."

And each time, they’d drag her in anyway.

At night, when they camped, Aqua and Maria would sit by the fire and tell wild tales—dramatic, romantic, or ridiculous and when Joy refused to participate, Aqua would push her gently, teasing.

"Oh come on, Joy, you’ve lived through half of history through all the books you read. You must have one interesting story!"

By the third day, Joy’s resistance had completely eroded.

And in the present, a card game was going in the carriage with a bunch of cards scattered on the table in the middle and Maria, Joy, Aqua, along with Stella had cards in their hands.

Aqua leaned forward, brows furrowed in concentration, eyes flicking between the two cards in her hand and Joy’s completely unreadable expression.

"Come on, Aunty Maria." She whispered conspiratorially. "She’s your own daughter. Tell me what she’s thinking!"

"Higher or lower? She’s gotta have a lower number this time."

Maria groaned, clutching her own cards.

"I don’t know! Even though she’s my own daughter, I can never read that face of hers! She always looks the same—calm, collected, and impossible to predict!"

Aqua puffed her cheeks. "Ugh! So you’re saying we’re doomed again?"

Maria sighed helplessly. "Maybe divine punishment for gambling with a priestess?"

Across from them, Joy sat as still as a statue, holding two cards with elegance. Her expression hadn’t changed once since the game began—calm, detached, almost holy.

Finally, Aqua’s patience broke. She slapped her hand down on the table.

"I challenge her! Right now! I’m telling you, she’s got nothing! Lesser value than mine!"

Joy raised one brow slightly—the faintest sign of amusement.

"Oh really?" She said quietly.

"Yes!" Aqua leaned forward, her grin sharp with confidence. "Prepare to lose!"

Joy calmly set her cards on the table.

"Two fire dragons..."

"...which means I win."

The table went silent.

Maria’s mouth fell open. Aqua’s grin froze mid-victory. Stella blinked twice.

Then both Aqua and Maria groaned in unison.

"No! No, she actually won again?!" Aqua wailed, clutching her head dramatically.

"Sixteen games. Sixteen! And she’s won every single one of them!" Maria sighed, exasperated.

"It’s not fair!" Aqua pointed accusingly. "It’s because of that face! That damn holy face of hers! How are we supposed to read a person who doesn’t even flinch?!"

But Joy just gave a sly smile before saying,

"All I hear his the cries of a sore loser."

Aqua gawked. "Oh, now you smile? NOW? After crushing our spirits? You really have no shame, Joy!"

Joy’s smirk deepened. "I don’t need shame to win."

That smug calmness only made Aqua flail her arms dramatically.

Maria laughed helplessly while Stella, couldn’t hide a small smile herself.

She had come to realize something important in the last few days: even her stoic commander, who she thought was a reaper could actually show emotion.

And it was all because of Aqua.

Even though Joy never admitted it, she clearly enjoyed being dragged into Aqua’s whirlwind of energy.

Aqua had a strange gift—not just charm, but this stubborn warmth that refused to leave people alone until they smiled. And now, even the Holy Sword of the Goddess was smiling, coldly, faintly, but genuinely.

Stella was still quietly smiling to herself when she suddenly noticed something through the window.

"We’ve arrived." She said softly.

Aqua froze mid-argument. "Wait—arrived? Really?"

Maria immediately leaned toward the window, pulling the curtain aside.

"Oh my...you’re right!" She said with wonder.

Gone were the endless stretches of countryside and forest. In their place rose grand buildings, broad streets, and stone-paved plazas alive with people.

The Holyfield Estate.

It was breathtaking.

Unlike the somber, aging towns they’d passed earlier, this one pulsed with prosperity. The streets were full of laughter and color and massive buildings.

Merchants called out cheerfully to passersby; children darted between the crowds; carriages rolled by carrying nobles, scholars, and even beastfolk dressed in fine silks.

Everywhere they looked, life thrived.

"Oh...Oh wow." Maria whispered, placing a hand on her chest. "It’s been years since I last came here. But it’s changed so much. It’s beautiful."

"Of course!" Aqua puffed her chest proudly. "Unlike most noble estates that rot under lazy lords, the Holyfield Estate keeps improving year after year! The main town flourishes, the outer villages grow, and trade routes are constantly expanding!"

She paused, her tone softening slightly as she added,

"Even though my father may be a terrible man...I’ll admit this much—he’s a good lord. He’s made this place prosper like no other."

Maria nodded in agreement. "He must truly care for his people, at least."

"He does! Or rather his reputation." Aqua smiled brightly. "And guess what—my brother’s helping him now!"

Her eyes lit up with excitement as she spoke faster, unable to contain herself.

"I’ve heard from reports that Cassius has started taking the helm in some estate matters—making bold changes, modernizing systems, investing in local guilds."

"Father even gave him full control over the administration! Can you believe it? Father actually trusted him!"

"You must be so proud." Maria smiled fondly at her enthusiasm.

"I am! He’s finally being recognized!" Aqua nodded eagerly, her entire expression glowing with happiness. "I just...I can’t wait to see him again. To tell him how proud I am, how much I’ve missed him..."

Maria couldn’t help but smile at the warmth radiating from Aqua’s face.

But as she turned her gaze toward the window, something else caught her attention.

The sun had begun to dip low over the horizon, staining the sky in shades of amber and gold.

Along the streets, townsfolk were lighting lanterns shaped like fruits, leaves, and stars.

Wooden stalls were being erected quickly by excited vendors, colorful fabrics fluttering in the evening wind.

Laughter and music filled the air—flutes, drums, and tambourines blending into a vibrant rhythm that made the entire town come alive.

Maria blinked in surprise.

"What’s going on here?" She asked curiously, leaning closer to the window. "Are they setting up some kind of festival?"

Stella, looked at her and nodded calmly.

"Apparently, the Harvest Festival is underway, Sister Maria. Preparations have been going on for the past few days, but it seems the main celebration begins in a couple of days."

Aqua tilted her head, puzzled.

"Harvest Festival? I’ve been to the Harvest Festival before, but..." She glanced out the window, eyes wide at the scale of the celebration. "...it was never this grand."

" It used to be small—a few stalls, a few songs, local dances in the square. This..." She gestured toward the lights, the banners, the enormous crowd gathering around the plaza "...this looks enormous! Has something changed?"

To that, Stella gave a faint, knowing smile.

"Yes, my lady. According to what I’ve heard, your brother, Cassius himself ordered a significant increase in funding for the festival this year. He wanted it to be the largest celebration the estate has ever seen."

"He told the town officials that the people deserve a reason to smile after the hardships of the previous seasons. He’s even been personally overseeing the arrangements and many of the designs were apparently his own ideas."

At that, Aqua’s entire face lit up. She clasped her hands together with pride.

"My brother! My brother is helping with the festival! No wonder everything looks so wonderful!" She said excitedly, her voice bubbling over with affection. "He’s always been so thoughtful! I can’t wait to see it and to see him!"

Maria chuckled softly at her enthusiasm. "Well, it seems we’ve arrived at the perfect time then."

Aqua turned toward Joy with a wide grin.

"Isn’t this great, Joy? I can’t wait to take you to the festival—"

But she stopped midsentence.

Joy wasn’t smiling.

She wasn’t even looking at them. Her usually calm, collected face was slightly pale, her gaze fixed outside the window as if she were staring at something far away—not the festival, not the people, but the memories that lived behind her eyes.

Maria immediately noticed. Her heart clenched.

"Joy...?" She asked softly. "Are you all right, dear?"

Joy didn’t answer at first, her expression shadowed by the orange glow of the lanterns flickering past the window.

Maria reached out instinctively and took her daughter’s hand, squeezing gently.

"Do you need a hug, sweetheart?" She asked tenderly. "You know your mother’s always here. Just say the word."

Joy blinked, pulling herself back into the present.

Her trembling eased slightly, though she didn’t look at them right away. Instead, she took a slow breath, steadying herself, before finally shaking her head.

"I’m fine, Mother." She said.

Then she exhaled deeply, gaze still out the window.

"I just...don’t like festivals." She admitted quietly. "I never have."

Both Aqua and Maria exchanged a knowing look.

They understood without needing her to explain.

For Joy, festivals didn’t mean laughter or music.

They reminded her of that one night—the night when everything had turned red. The night of blood, of fire, of her father’s fall.

The night she became the Saintess.

It was supposed to be a holy day, a celebration—and it had ended in massacre.

Aqua’s expression softened, and though she wanted to comfort her, she knew words wouldn’t help.

Still, she gave a hopeful smile and said gently, 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝙬𝙚𝓫𝒏𝓸𝓿𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝙤𝓶

"Then maybe this one will change your mind, Joy. Maybe this festival will help you remember that they can be beautiful too."

Joy turned her head just enough to glance at her.

For a moment, her cold composure cracked and she gave the faintest smile.

"I doubt something like that will ever happen."