Depraved Noble: Forced To Live The Debaucherous Life Of An Evil Noble! Chapter 264: Thieving Cat

The campfire crackled, casting a warm glow over the makeshift campsite where Julie and Skadi sat, the flickering light dancing across their faces.

Two tents stood nearby, their canvas flaps rustling faintly in the cold winter breeze, while a kettle bubbled over the fire, steam curling into the night air.

Julie sharpened her sword with slow, careful strokes, her eyes occasionally flicking toward the trail, while Skadi fidgeted, her tail wagging restlessly as she peered into the darkness, her ears twitching for any sign of Cassius and Aisha.

Skadi's voice broke the quiet, her tone impatient as she leaned forward, her hands clasped tightly.

"Captain, why're they taking so long? It's been forever since we got here!" She whined, her tail flicking as she glanced at Julie. "What if they got attacked by a demon or sothing? Or bandits? Or...Or a giant wolf?" Her eyes widened, her heart racing with worry as she imagined all sorts of dangers. "Master's strong, but Aisha's all...prickly. What if she's yelling at him and they're lost out there? Master surely can't handle Aisha's pestering."

"Relax, Skadi. It's not them being late it's us being too fast." Julie chuckled, her voice calm as she set her whetstone aside, her lips curving into a fond smile. "You rode that horse like the wind and didn't even give it a single break. Snapped the reins and let it fly full speed to get us here, while they're probably just pacing themselves, taking it easy."

She shrugged, her heart ward by Skadi's concern.

"Besides, it's good we got here early. Gave us ti to set up the tents, get the fire going, boil so water...They'll thank us when they show up."

Skadi's ears twitched, her voice brightening as she nodded eagerly.

"Yeah, my horse is super strong! It can run all day and not even blink!" She chirped, her tail wagging faster. "It'd be a waste not to use all that power, right? I an, why trot when you can gallop?"

Her grin then faded slightly, her brow furrowing as a new worry crept into her mind. She turned to Julie, her voice dropping to a hesitant murmur.

"But, uh, Captain...do you think sothing else might've happened? Like, you know...what if Aisha and Master got...closer?" Her tail slowed, her heart tightening with unease as she fidgeted. "I an, they're all alone out there. What if they're...I dunno, getting all lovey-dovey or sothing?"

Hearing this absurd statent, Julie burst into laughter, her voice ringing through the campsite as she shook her head, her eyes sparkling with amusent.

"Lovey-dovey? Aisha and Cassius?...Oh, Skadi, that's rich!" She exclaid, her heart bubbling with disbelief.

"We're talking about Aisha here. The girl who'd rather build her own castle and live alone than share a campfire with soone she doesn't like. You think she'd get cozy with Cassius of all people? The guy she's always snapping at, calling him a playboy and threatening to drag him into the earth?"

She waved a hand, her tone confident as she leaned forward.

"No way. She's too stubborn, too much of a loner, You could strand her on an island with just one other person, and she'd still ignore them and start her own civilization."

"...Trust , nothing's happening out there."

Skadi's ears drooped slightly, her voice insistent as she leaned closer, her hands gesturing wildly.

"But Captain, she let him ride on her horse! Her horse! Aisha never lets anyone near her stuff, let alone a guy like Master!" Her tail flicked, her heart stinging with worry and jealousy. "We teased her about it, sure, but that's a big deal, right? I an, it's the first ti she's ever done sothing like that! What if...what if she's falling for him or sothing?"

"Oh, please, Skadi." Julie rolled her eyes, her voice nonchalant as she picked up her sword again, running her thumb along the blade.

"We teased her because it's fun to rile her up, not because we thought anything would actually happen." She said, her tone dismissive but fond. "Aisha probably just felt bad for Cassius, not wanting to slow down the mission. You know how she is always acting like she's gotta carry the whole team on her back."

"...She'd never fall for his charm, no matter how much he flashes that grin of his. My little sister's got a spine of steel. No way she's falling into Cassius's traps."

Skadi's tail drooped further, her voice wavering as she hugged her knees, her eyes fixed on the trail.

"But...it's Master we're talking about, Captain." She said, her tone earnest as she glanced at Julie. "He's, like, really good with won. You've seen him! He's all charming and sweet, and he's got that way of making you feel all special and stuff."

Her heart twisted, her voice dropping to a worried murmur.

"What if Aisha's out there getting all swoony? I an, I know Master's a good guy, but...what if she steals him away with her smarts?"

"She's so tricky, always setting traps and outsmarting ! I don't wanna have to fight her for him. That'd be so hard, she's like a sneaky cat, and I'm just...."

Julie paused, her lips twitching into a thoughtful smile as she set her sword down, her eyes softening.

"Okay, I'll give you that, Cassius is one hell of a playboy. The guy could probably charm a dragon into giving him its hoard." She admitted, her voice laced with amusent.

"But Aisha? She's different. She's not so starry, eyed noble girl who lts at a few sweet words. My little sister's got walls higher than a fortress, and she's not about to let Cassius waltz through them." Her tone turned proud, her heart swelling as she leaned forward. "Trust , Skadi. Aisha's too stubborn to fall for his tricks. She'd rather blast him with a spell than let him get under her skin. You've got nothing to worry about."

Skadi nodded slowly, her voice hesitant as she chewed her lip.

"I hope you're right, Captain." She murmured, her tail flicking nervously. "I don't want Aisha as a rival. She's too clever, always got so plan up her sleeve. It'd be like trying to catch a cat in a storm, she'd just slip away and laugh at while she's cozying up to Master."

Her heart ached with a flicker of jealousy, her eyes darting back to the trail.

"I just want him to keep giving head pats and calling his favorite puppy, you know?"

"...Is that too much to ask?"

Julie chuckled, her voice warm as she reached over, ruffling Skadi's hair.

"You're plenty cute enough to keep his attention, Skadi. Don't worry about Aisha stealing your spotlight." She said, her tone reassuring. "Besides, Cassius is probably driving her up the wall right now, and she's lecturing him into the ground."

"...I wouldn't be surprised if he's hacking along behind the horse, banished for saying sothing stupid. Or maybe she left him to walk the whole way as punishnt for flirting too much."

Her eyes sparkled, her heart light with the thought of Aisha's usual fiery antics.

"Oh, yeah!" Skadi giggled, her voice brightening as she clapped her hands. "I can see it now, Master trudging behind, all sad and pouty, while Aisha's yelling at him to keep up!"

Her tail wagged, her heart easing as she imagined the scene.

"Poor Master, probably tried one of his fancy lines, and she just shut him down cold. That's so Aisha, right? She's always so prickly with him!"

Julie nodded, her voice confident as she leaned back, her eyes glinting with amusent.

"Exactly. No way my sister's letting Cassius get the upper hand. She's probably got him groveling by now, apologizing for whatever dumb thing he said. They'll show up any minute, and you'll see, nothing's changed."

"...Aisha's still Aisha, and Cassius is still...well, Cassius." She smirked, her heart certain as she glanced at the trail, expecting to see Aisha's usual scowl and Cassius's sheepish grin.

But then, the faint sound of hooves reached their ears, growing louder as shadows moved in the moonlight and Julie's smile froze, her eyes narrowing as she stood because of the uneasy feeling she had for so reason.

Skadi's ears also perked up, her tail wagging as she scrambled to her feet, her voice bursting with excitent. "They're here! Finally!" She bounced, her heart racing as she peered into the darkness, eager to see Cassius.

But as the figures ca into view under the campfire's glow, Julie's jaw dropped, her eyes widening in disbelief, while Skadi's tail froze mid-wag, her voice erupting in a panicked squeak.

Why?...Well, there, on the horse, was Aisha, not riding upright with her usual fierce posture, but leaning back against Cassius, her body relaxed and cozy, her head resting casually against his chest like it was the most natural thing in the world.

Cassius also held the reins, guiding the horse with ease, his posture calm and confident, while Aisha looked...content, almost smug, her lips curved in a satisfied smile.

It was as if she were a princess being escorted, and Cassius was her devoted knight.

Julie blinked, her voice stamring as she pointed at them, her heart reeling with shock.

"W-What the—? Aisha? Leaning on Cassius like that? Am I seeing things?"

Her eyes darted between them, her mind struggling to process the sight of her cheeky little sister so comfortable with the man she supposedly despised.

"That's...that's not possible. She's supposed to be yelling at him, not...not cuddling up like they're lovers or sothing."

Skadi's hands also flew to her mouth at this sight, her voice bursting out in a frantic wail as she rushed toward the horse, her tail thrashing.

"Captain, I told you! I told you sothing happened!"

She cried, her heart pounding with panic as she pointed at Aisha.

"Look at her! She's all cozy with Master, lying on him like she's his lover or sothing! You said it was impossible, but she's gone and fallen for him!"

Her eyes narrowed, her voice turning accusing as she glared at Julie.

"You lied! You said Aisha wouldn't fall for his tricks, and now she's stolen him right under my nose!...That damn thieving cat!"