I Want To See More...

Cassius's grin turned wicked, his gaze flickering with delight at her submission.

But at the same time he didn't expect her to surrender so easily, as she most definitely wasn't someone who would be pushed around without putting up a fight.

To be honest, Cassius felt a twinge of disappointment. He was a man who admired strength and bravery in a woman—the kind who could hold her ground and face even the harshest realities with resolve.

Isabelle, for all her sweetness and devotion, had shown glimpses of such qualities before. A woman who had dared to plot murder to protect others from harm, even at the cost of her own soul, and then confessed her sins, fully aware that death might very well be her final judgement.

That sort of courage intrigued him. It hinted that she wasn't just some simple maid destined to be crushed under the weight of noble expectations or toyed with as a fleeting diversion.

No, Isabelle seemed more than that.

She was a puzzle, a contradiction. A woman capable of such daring acts shouldn't fold so easily under a bit of teasing pressure. Yet here she was, stammering and flushing, obediently submitting to his provocations.

Cassius sighed inwardly, the faintest hint of disappointment creeping into his thoughts. Somewhere in the exchange, he felt he had lost sight of that unique spark she had shown before—the very spark that had drawn his attention in the first place.

Still, Cassius was not one to reveal his inner thoughts. His eyes gleamed with feigned amusement, and the familiar smirk remained firmly in place. Whatever dissatisfaction he felt, he buried it deep beneath his mask of playful arrogance, and he continued with his antics.

"Such dedication to your role...Truly, the Holyfield household has outdone itself in selecting the perfect uniform and the perfect maid to wear it." He said some half-hearted words while thinking that it was a pity that she gave in so easily. "I should write a letter of thanks to my family for their exquisite taste in accessories and..."

'Such dedication to your household.'

Isabelle's trembling hands clutched the edges of her skirt as she tried to steady her breath when she heard Cassius utter those words, completely misunderstanding her intention.

She avoided his gaze at first, but something within her stirred—a strange courage she couldn't quite explain. She didn't want her young master to think she was willing to go so far simply because of her duties as a maid.

'It wasn't just that...It wasn't just obligation.'

Finally, she looked up at him, her lashes framing eyes that glimmered with both hesitation and determination.

"I-I'm not willing to take it off for the household's sake, young master...Please don't think that I'm some sort of easy woman who would bend her principles just because she's forced to." Isabelle murmured, her voice trembling but steady enough to carry the weight of her words.

She hesitated, her fingers tightening around the fabric of her skirt as her cheeks burnt a deeper shade of red. Her heart pounded in her chest, but she refused to let the moment slip away without saying what she truly felt.

Finally, she took a deep breath and pushed herself to continue, her voice soft yet laced with unshakeable sincerity as she said,

"I-I want to do it for you....Not because it's my duty or because I'm expected to, but because I want to please you, young master...I-I'm willing to reveal myself to you if that's what it takes for you to reveal your true self to me, which you are hiding."

Her gaze wavered but didn't falter completely, her emotions laid bare in her trembling voice and the vulnerability in her eyes. It wasn't just submission; it was an earnest desire to matter to him in a way that went beyond her role as a servant.

The moment the words left her lips, Isabelle froze, her heart pounding wildly.

'What am I saying?' She thought, barely able to process the boldness of her statement.

She had always been careful to keep her composure, to act with propriety, yet here she was, openly admitting her willingness to bend to Cassius's whims—not as a servant, but as something far more personal.

Cassius's teasing smile also faltered for the briefest of moments, his eyes widened slightly in surprise.

He had expected her to play along, perhaps stammer an excuse or feign innocence, but this—this honest and provocative confession—had caught him off guard. For the first time, he was the one rendered momentarily speechless.

"Well, well." He said finally, recovering his usual composure, though a hint of intrigue lingered in his gaze. "You're full of surprises, Isabelle. I wasn't expecting such...sincerity, I guess."

'She's still the same intriguing woman I always thought she was.' Cassius thought as a fire to claim this woman before him grew even more than before.

Isabelle couldn't meet his gaze now, her face burning with embarrassment. She bit her lip, cursing herself for letting such a thought escape aloud, but part of her couldn't help but notice the shift in his demeanour.

His usual playfulness seemed tinged with genuine curiosity now, as though her words had managed to crack through his facade.

Isabelle's heart raced, but amidst the whirlwind of embarrassment, a new feeling began to take root—delight.

Her young master, always so composed, always wearing that playful yet detached smile, had faltered. Even if just for a moment, she had seen something raw beneath his carefully crafted mask.

The faint flicker of surprise in his eyes, the way his teasing words momentarily stalled—it was enough to make her feel as though she'd stumbled upon a treasure no one else had discovered.

'So even he can get flustered.' She thought, a small, genuine smile tugging at her lips despite her reddened cheeks.

She couldn't deny how curious it made her. For all his cold and commanding demeanour, there was something endearing—cute, even—about seeing Cassius caught off guard.

And she wanted to see more.

She wasn't sure why, but a part of her longed to uncover more of the man behind the mask.

Perhaps it was because he always seemed so unreachable, so distant even in his moments of teasing warmth. Or maybe it was simply the fact that, for all his power and authority, he was still human—capable of vulnerability like anyone else.

Whatever the reason, Isabelle couldn't help the spark of curiosity that lit within her.

Of course, Cassius's sudden voice broke her out of her daydream and brought her back to the present.

"You're smiling, Isabelle." He said, his tone teasing yet laced with genuine interest. "What's going on in that little head of yours?...Have I possibly become a source of amusement for you, seeing as to how you can't help but smile when you look at me?"

Isabelle was startled, realising she had indeed been smiling. Her hands flew to her cheeks in a futile attempt to hide her expression.

"N-No, young master! I wouldn't dare-"

Cassius chuckled, cutting her off with a wave of his hand.

"Relax, my Isabelle. I'm not offended. In fact..." His eyes narrowed slightly, though the corners of his lips twitched upward. "...I'm curious as well."

"...What is it about this moment that managed to brighten your face like that and made you let out such a gentle smile that it almost seemed like you were at peace?"

Isabelle hesitated, her heart pounding.

She could deny it, could deflect as she always did. But something in the way Cassius looked at her now made her feel bold again.

"It's just... I didn't expect to see this side of you, young master." She admitted quietly.

"This side?" Cassius repeated, arching a brow.

"Yes." She lowered her hands, fidgeting with the hem of her skirt. "You were always so composed, so in control. But just now, I think...I think I saw a glimpse of the real you. And it was..." She hesitated, her cheeks flushing anew. "...It was rather cute."

For the second time that evening, Cassius appeared genuinely taken aback. His eyes widened briefly before his grin returned, though this time it carried a hint of self-awareness.

"Calling the same man who was thinking about how to slaughter you a little while ago, cute...How endearing."

"Perhaps it is, young master...But as scary as you seem, I can attest that you have your charming sides as well that make me want to coddle you because of how cute you are." Isabelle's blush deepened, but she found herself laughing softly despite her nerves.

Cassius leaned closer, his glaring eyes searching hers, as he said, "Careful, Isabelle...Keep talking like that, and I might start to believe you're trying to win my favour."

Her smile wavered, but her gaze didn't falter.

"Maybe I am." She said, surprising even herself with the honesty of her words.

Cassius stilled, his grin softening as he regarded her.

For a moment, the playful banter between them faded, replaced by a quiet intensity that made Isabelle's breath stop.

She had no idea what he was thinking, but she couldn't help but feel that, somehow, she had reached him in a way few ever had.