Death Would Be Kinder

"I-I…" Isabelle began, her voice faltering as she tried to process his words. She felt her cheeks heat up, not just from the praise but from the sight of this vulnerable, almost childlike side of him that she'd never thought she'd witness. It was…endearing.

Cassius, still holding the spoon, looked at her with wide, excited eyes.

"Seriously, Isabelle, this might be the best thing I've ever tasted...I know you probably hear this all the time, but your cooking is on another level."

Isabelle smiled softly, bowing her head slightly in gratitude.

"Thank you, young master." She said, her voice warm but carrying a subtle note of melancholy. "Your words mean a lot to me." She hesitated, her fingers gently fiddling with the edge of her apron. "But…Truth be told, you're the only one who's ever praised my cooking before."

Cassius froze mid-bite, lowering the spoon as he looked at her in disbelief, unable to believe what he just heard.

"What?" He asked, his tone sharp with incredulity. "You're telling me no one else has said anything about how amazing your cooking is?"

'She is joking, right? Since I have a fond interest in delicacies, I've visited so many restaurants back on Earth before and have probably tasted every single dish that's out there...And even by my high standards, her dishes are unlike anything I've tasted, so how is it that no one has ever said a word about it?' Cassius couldn't help but grumble in his mind, furious that no one acknowledged such godly cooking.

Isabelle gave a faint smile, her eyes lowering to her lap.

"No, not really, young master." She admitted quietly. "Most of the time, I was just expected to cook and serve, without anyone noticing or commenting on the food itself...It was always about getting the task done, never about whether it was good or not."

Her fingers tightened slightly on her apron as a stray thought crossed her mind. Even Edmund had never said anything about her cooking. He ate her meals without a word, as if it was her duty to meet unspoken expectations.

But here Cassius was—a noble, no less—openly praising her food, without a hint of hesitation or pride. It was strange, refreshing even, how different he was.

Cassius's expression darkened, setting the spoon down with a clink. Leaning forward, his tone grew sharp, edged with disbelief.

"That's absurd." He said firmly. "How could anyone eat something this good and not say a word about it? That's not just ungrateful; it's downright criminal!"

"...Honestly, Isabelle, I'd almost say they didn't deserve to taste your food if they couldn't appreciate it." Straightening in his chair, Cassius crossed his arms as if offended on her behalf.

Her cheeks flushed faintly, and she quickly lowered her gaze, feeling her heart stir. His sincerity, his lack of arrogance despite his status, made her realise just how different he was from the rest. Cassius wasn't afraid to voice his thoughts, even if it was something as simple as enjoying a dish.

"You're too kind, young master." She said softly, her cheeks warming at his passionate defense. "But it's all right...Just knowing you enjoy my cooking makes it worthwhile."

Cassius tilted his head, his lips curling into a mischievous smile. "Oh, I don't just enjoy it." He said, his tone lightening. "I'm utterly spoilt now...Don't think for a second I'll settle for anything less than your masterpieces from this point on."

Isabelle chuckled softly, a playful glint in her eyes.

"Well, young master, I'd be honoured to cook for you for the rest of my life." She said, her tone lighthearted. "It's the least I can do after trying to take your life."

Cassius blinked, momentarily caught off guard by her joke, before a smirk spread across his face.

"Ah, so you're offering a lifetime of service as penance for a single mistake? How generous." He teased as he wrapped his hand around her waist.

Cassius leaned closer, his expression softening but with a glint of mischief in his gaze. "You know." He murmured. "What you're saying sounds an awful lot like something a wife would say to her husband. 'Cooking for him for the rest of her life,' 'repaying a debt'...You're practically proposing marriage, Isabelle."

Her eyes widened at his teasing words, and she felt her face heat up immediately.

"Young master! You can't keep teasing me like this!" Isabelle, who was finally fed up with her young master's antics, let out a cute little yelp. She then looked at the look of surprise on his face at her little outburst and said with her narrowed eyes, "You said that you wanted to treat me today, but here you are bullying me the whole time."'

"...That's not expected at all, especially when you're my caretaker right now!"

Isabelle declared with a harumph, turning her noble young master, who had royal blood flowing through him, into a simple butler in a matter of seconds.

Cassius blinked at Isabelle's bold declaration, his usual smirk faltering as he stared at her in genuine surprise.

"Wait…When did I become your personal butler?" He asked, his eyes wide in disbelief.

Isabelle crossed her arms and tilted her head, her newfound confidence making her seem far less flustered than before.

"The moment you decided you were going to feed me, of course!" She replied matter-of-factly, as though it was the most obvious thing in the world. "Only a butler, or perhaps a caretaker, would stoop to such tasks. And since you're clearly neither a maid nor a cook, I'm left with no other conclusion."

"...Or is that serving a maid like me is too low of a job for you, young master, since if it is, I can most definitely feed myself."

Isabelle pouted like a child and turned away in an adamant and spoilt manner, resembling a noble's daughter who did whatever she did on her whims.

Cassius blinked at her pout, then let out a soft chuckle, his usual coldness melting as he relaxed into his normal, playful demeanor. He shifted slightly, adjusting Isabelle on his lap as he looked at her with an amused glint in his eyes.

"Well, we can't have that, can we?" He said with mock seriousness. Then, to Isabelle's surprise, he leaned forward slightly and bowed his head while still keeping her firmly seated on his lap. One hand rested theatrically on his chest as he intoned, ''It would be my utmost honour to serve my young lady for today.''

Isabelle raised an eyebrow, trying to keep her composure, though a small, victorious smile played on her lips.

Cassius lifted his head, meeting her gaze with a playful grin.

"So, my lady, what is your command? What shall this humble butler serve you next?'' He gestured grandly to the spread of food on the table.

"Well..." Isabelle said, pretending to deliberate as she glanced at the dishes. "Since you're offering, I suppose I'll let you make up for your earlier teasing with something sweet." She crossed her arms, her voice adopting a mock-haughty tone. "That is, if you think you can manage it, young master."

Cassius let out a dramatic sigh, one hand pressing against his forehead as though her words had deeply wounded him as he said,

"You doubt my abilities as your caretaker already? I'm crushed, my lady."

Isabelle rolled her eyes, unable to suppress a giggle at his theatrics.

"Then prove me wrong. Feed me something sweet, and maybe I'll forgive you...I wouldn't mind trying the fruit tarts next."

Cassius obliged, picking up a dainty tart and holding it to her lips, feeding her with the same care as before. Isabelle took a bite, savouring the tangy sweetness of the fruit.

"Mmm, this one's really good." She murmured, her eyes lighting up.

"Is it now? Cassius asked with a faint smile, watching her with amused affection.

She nodded eagerly before tilting her head at him.

"But I need you to try it too, young master. I need to know if you agree."

Cassius sighed with feigned exasperation. "Again? You really do enjoy making me break all the rules of propriety, don't you?" But he took a bite nonetheless, chewing thoughtfully. "It's excellent, young lady. The crust is buttery and just the right amount of crisp, the cream's sweetness isn't overpowering, and the fruit adds a refreshing burst of flavor...Your taste in desserts is impeccable."

Isabelle's cheeks glowed with pride, and she clapped her hands together like a child who had just received high praise.

"I knew you'd like it!"

And so the process repeated itself. Isabelle would pick a dish, Cassius would feed her, she would insist he try it as well, and he would offer her his approval with a teasing or affectionate comment.

The atmosphere between them grew lighter, warmer, filled with playful laughter and quiet smiles.

...But not everyone shared in their joy.

Edmund, who had been quietly standing guard in the corner of the room, watched the scene unfold with a face that seemed carved from stone.

His hands clenched into fists at his sides, and his jaw tightened with every shared laugh and every lingering glance between Isabelle and Cassius.

'This…This is torture.' He thought bitterly. 'Death would be kinder than this.'

The woman he loved was here, smiling brighter than he'd ever seen, but not because of him. She wasn't looking his way, wasn't even sparing him a thought. Her entire world, in this moment, revolved around another man—Cassius.

And yet, as much as he longed to intervene, Edmund remained rooted in place, forced to endure the sight of the person he cherished most finding happiness in someone else...Just what kind of life was this?