Depraved Noble: Forced To Live The Debaucherous Life Of An Evil Noble! Chapter 424: Woman Of Purpose

Under the bright morning sun, the lake shimred like a sheet of glass, reflecting the sky in rippling silver and blue. Nala brought Cassius to the shore, where a dium-sized wooden cabin stood, sturdy, well-built, and practical, its clean lines contrasting beautifully with the natural scenery.

Nala slithered ahead, her expression bright with pride as she gestured grandly at the cabin.

"Well, Cassius, here we are." She said, her chest swelling as though she were about to reveal a great treasure. "This—" She stretched her arms wide "...is my warehouse! What do you think? Pretty great, huh?"

"This is where I keep everything I’ve made, all the inventions I designed for the villagers. Anyone who needs them can co take what they need and then bring it back here when they’re done. It’s...it’s basically a sanctuary." Her voice carried a warm pride, like she was presenting a piece of herself before cheekily adding, "...Not to ntion I built it myself."

Cassius blinked, genuinely taken aback. "You built this building?" He asked, staring at the cabin, then at her.

"Of course I did!" Nala said, grinning wide. "You think I’d let soone else build sothing that represents ?..Not a chance."

"And a cabin like this? Nothing for ! I’m Nala, the girl who invents things that even old n can’t wrap their heads around, naturally, I can build a cabin. My tail’s as good as a crane, y’know." She added with a playful flick, slapping the ground with her thick coils. "Easy to move beams, easy to haul logs. It’s like cheating at construction!"

"You never cease to surprise ." Cassius couldn’t help but smile, shaking his head.

That only emboldened her. She bead, eyes glittering with mischief, and pointed upward at the cabin roof.

"Then look up there! Do you see that sign? Go on, take a closer look."

Cassius followed her gesture, and sure enough, painted on a board nailed above the doorway was a bold red fish crowned with gold. The design was simple yet elegant, striking in a way that made it instantly recognizable.

"That’s..." Cassius blinked. "That’s the brand logo the grannies were telling about, isn’t it? The one you created for the fish trade."

Nala nodded proudly, hands on her hips.

"That’s right! It’s called Marina’s Net. Marina’s the God of Fishing, the one everyone here prays to before casting their nets. I figured, why not give our brand a divine touch?..So, what do think of it?"

Cassius studied the board again, nodding slowly as he said,

"It’s good. It’s really good in fact. The fish looks cute, easy to rember, and the crown makes it feel official, like sothing special. It feels both approachable and prestigious."

"...You also managed to balance cute and regal and made it seem as if the fish yo’re selling is not just another catch of the day—but Marina’s blessing itself."

Nala’s whole face lit up like fireworks.

"Exactly! You get it!" She squealed, slithering in circles, clearly thrilled that he understood. "The villagers thought I was being silly when I made it—but you, you actually get my vision! Ugh, Cassius, you’re the best."

Cassius laughed softly at her antics, but then tilted his head, his expression curious. "I do have a question, though..."

She paused, blinking. "What is it?"

He studied her carefully before saying, "Just who are you, Nala?"

Caught off guard, she gave a cheeky little pose, winking as she curled her tail around herself. "I’m Nala, the adorable little snake, of course!"

He chuckled, reaching forward to tug gently at her cheeks. "Yes, you most definitely are an adorable little snake."

Her giggles rang out, but his face soon grew more serious.

"No, what I an is...what exactly are you? One mont you’re a marketer, building brands and selling ideas like a seasoned rchant. The next, you’re a businesswoman helping your village prosper. Then you’re an innkeeper’s daughter, dutiful behind the bar. Then a dancer, stealing the show with moves that could outshine professionals. And now here you are, an inventor, building strange contraptions to make life easier. And an artist too, apparently, with that logo."

"You wear so many hats, Nala...So tell , what do you really consider yourself to be?"

The question made her pause. She tilted her head, tapping her chin thoughtfully. "Hmmm...that’s actually a good question. I’ve never really thought about it before."

She went quiet for a mont, her eyes darting as though sifting through years of mories. Then, all at once, her face brightened.

"I’ve got it, Cassius! I know who I am."

She leaned forward, her smile brilliant before saying,

"I’m a woman of purpose!"

Cassius raised an eyebrow. "A woman of purpose? What does that an?"

"It ans..." She said, her voice steady but brimming with passion. "...that everything I do, every role I take on, is driven by purpose. By the need to accomplish sothing, to help soone."

"Like when I learnt to dance, it wasn’t because I dread of being a dancer—it was because I wanted to win the dance competition in the lamia clan and sar mud in their faces."

"And when I worked behind the bar and learnt how to serve drinks, it was because I wanted to help Grandma. When I made these inventions, it was because I wanted to help the old folks in our village. And when I branded our fish, it was to save the village’s economy. Every ti, the purpose ca first, and I just...did whatever it took to achieve it."

Her hand drifted up to push back a loose strand of hair from her face as she then went on shyly,

"People here call a genius sotis. But the truth is, I’m not. Not even close. Every single thing you see here...it took work." She pointed at the logo above them. "That? I drew it hundreds of tis before I finally made one I was satisfied with."

"My inventions?...I scrapped dozens of failed prototypes. Months of trial and error, frustration, and late nights before I finally had sothing worth sharing."

"Even my dancing, do you think I was born good at it?..No. I trained every day in the forest, alone, practicing until my legs hurt, because I wanted to win, because I wanted to prove those who mocked wrong."

Her eyes softened, though the pride in her tone never wavered.

"What I’m saying is that I’m not talented. I’m not gifted...I’m just stubborn. When I set a goal, I don’t stop until it’s done. That’s why I call myself a woman of purpose, because with purpose, I’ll find a way."

Then, with a tilt of her head and a glimr of expectation in her eyes, she asked softly, almost playfully.

"What do you think, Cassius? Doesn’t that title suit perfectly?"

She was braced for teasing, or maybe a smug remark, sothing that would let her laugh and puff herself up even more.

But instead of words tumbling right back at her, she found him silent.

His gaze lingered on her, not casually, not even with amusent, lovingly. It was a loving, tender stare that made her skin prickle with heat, her breath catch in her throat.

"What? Why are you—" She started, flustered by his expression, but before she could finish, he spoke, calm and certain.

"I love you, Nala."

The words hit her like a jolt. She blinked, slithering back a few feet without thinking, her coils tightening around themselves.

"Wh-What?!" She sputtered, her face going scarlet. "What did you just say?"

Cassius didn’t hesitate. He smiled and repeated, slower, firr.

"I love you, Nala. I love you so damn much."

Her cheeks burned hotter, her voice stumbling into frustration. "W-Why would you say sothing like that? And out of nowhere?! You can’t just, just drop confessions like that without warning! You almost gave a heart attack!"

Cassius chuckled softly at her fluster, leaning against one of the wooden posts inside her warehouse.

"The thing is...with my wives back ho, it’s beco a habit. I tell them I love them whenever they do sothing that makes see them in a new light. Sotis it’s little things, sotis it’s big, but I never hold it back. I want them to hear it, right in the mont." His grin turned wry. "And you wouldn’t believe the results. They’ll pick up new hobbies, or learn sothing unexpected, all just to hear say it again. It’s adorable."

He stepped closer, lowering his voice.

"And when I heard you speak just now, about how you live, how you persist, how you carve your place with sheer will...I couldn’t stop myself. It made admire you even more. So yes, I had to tell you. I love you."

Nala swallowed, her heart hamring. The warmth of his voice wrapped around her chest like a coil of its own. She looked away quickly, muttering. "Y-You idiot...don’t just say things like that." But her tail betrayed her, twitching happily against the floor.

Cassius ran a hand through his hair with a sheepish smile. "Honestly, right now I feel like I’m the inferior one here. Compared to everything you’ve done, everything you’ve achieved...I feel like bowing down in your presence."

And he really looked like he ant it, half-lowering himself as if to kneel. Nala panicked instantly, darting forward to grab his shoulders.

"No, no, no! Don’t you dare! There’s no need for that!" She stamred, her face burning. She hesitated a beat, then added more softly. "I...I’d rather you just keep saying ’I love you’ from ti to ti. That’s more than enough."

His grin softened into a gentle smile, and he nodded. But then her confidence returned, and with a proud little smirk she added,

"Besides...you’re going to fall even harder for once you see all the inventions I’ve made."

Before he could reply, she grabbed his hand and eagerly pulled him toward the warehouse door. She swung it open with a flourish, and Cassius’s eyes widened in awe at her workshop...