For The Mission...

But as much as Isabelle was trying to be secretive, Cassius noticed Isabelle's look of avid intrigue as she stared at the bulge in his pants long ago.

He had also noticed how Edmund was currently staring at the plate in front of him with bloodthirsty hatred, hearing everything that was going on and how his fiancée had 'accidentatally' managed to make his wood rise.

Seeing these two things happen made him wonder if he should go back to the original plan as to why he came here and fulfil his purpose.

You see, the reason Cassius came over to Edmund's place wasn't just to catch both of the culprits in the act and bring back both of their heads for what they did. He also had another purpose in mind, and that was the mission that the Goddess had given him.

The Goddess had told him to be the messenger of her purpose and spread her gospels all throughout the land.

Yet, unlike the gods of peace or prosperity, his deity demanded something far less noble: acts of debauchery so outrageous, so scandalous, that his name would echo throughout the continent.

He was to be her herald, her agent of chaos, and his actions would serve as a living testament to her philosophy.

It wasn't exactly the life he'd envisioned, but who was he to defy divine will?

When he arrived at Edmund's estate, his plan had been clear: 'humiliate' Isabelle in front of her lover, break their spirits, and ensure their downfall was as public as it was memorable.

The act itself wasn't purely malicious—these two had blood on their hands. They were the reason the old Cassius no longer existed. Ending their lives would be justice, a righteous sacrifice to the Goddess's cause.

...But then, things had shifted.

Cassius had come to realise that Isabelle wasn't the cruel and conniving woman he'd been led to believe...Far from it.

She was earnest, selfless even, throwing herself into danger for others without a second thought. Her mistakes were born of ignorance, not malice, and when faced with the consequences of her actions, she was willing to repent, even if it meant her life.

Her courage, her vibrant spirit—it all struck a chord in him, the side of him which was the reason he was chosen as a peacekeeper in his previous world. She wasn't the type of person he wanted to punish, let alone destroy. She was...intriguing.

So, he'd abandoned the original plan. Taking her life would be a waste, a stain he wasn't willing to bear so early in his journey. But that didn't mean he was going to forgive her for what she did, as even though she didn't mean to take the life of the old Cassius, a sin was still a sin, and her punishment that he had decided for her, which would ruin her life forever, was slowly approaching.

Yet, as much as he tried to convince himself otherwise, the situation before him had presented a unique opportunity.

Isabelle had stumbled into an incredibly compromising position, one where it wouldn't be unusual for a noble like him to exact punishment—or take liberties.

And she wasn't exactly discouraging him. Her lingering glances and the flush in her cheeks told him that much. Beside her, Edmund's silent rage only added to the tableau, practically daring Cassius to act.

Cassius exhaled, his smirk widening as he leaned forward slightly, his eyes glinting with mischief. If the Goddess wanted a debauched noble to spread her gospel, then this was as good a place as any to start.

Isabelle's actions had created a scenario too perfect to ignore—a scenario where her humiliation, witnessed by her fiancé, would send ripples of scandal far beyond these walls.

And so, Cassius decided to proceed. For the Goddess. For the mission...And maybe, just maybe, for a bit of his own amusement.

"Isabelle...You're quite the naughty little maid, aren't you?" Cassius suddenly spoke in a low voice, which made Isabelle, who was kneeling down beside him jump in fright. "I let you peek at my crotch since you looked rather curious. But here you are taking advantage of the situation and sneaking glances at it every second.

"...I didn't expect you to be so lewd."

Cassius said with a little smile on his face as he looked down at the flustered Isabelle and stroked her puffy cheeks that were blushing profusely.

"N-No, young master...I-I wasn't looking there...I was...I-I was-" Isabelle couldn't bear to accept the fact that her master had seen such a disgraceful side of her, and she tried to cover it up with some kind of excuse.

But because she had been staring at his wood for so long and her mind was full of thoughts about what exactly was inside of her master's pants, she couldn't come up with anything at all and just stammered as she looked up at her young master with pitiful eyes.

"Don't lie to me, Isabelle...Be straightforward with me." Cassius suggested in a gentle voice as he wiped away the tears forming in her eyes for being caught in the act and spoke in such a way like he was telling her to confess her sins for the sake of her sanity. "Are you really going to lie to me even after I pardoned your life after you tried to kill me? Even leaving that aside, are you going to deceive me after the time we had with one another tonight?...Did that really mean nothing to you?"

Cassius spoke like he was aggrieved that Isabelle had led him on for nothing and was asking if any of her time with him was special or if it was all to appease him so that he would forgive her for the sins she had committed.

Isabelle, of course, took the bait and immediately refused his words.

"No, young master! Not at all!" Isabelle exclaimed in a panic when her master misunderstood her intentions.

"T-This night..." Isabelle's voice softened, her cheeks flushed as she struggled to articulate her thoughts. "This night... I don't know how young master feels about everything that happened. B-But what I will say is..." She hesitated, then looked up with a sudden surge of courage. "This humble maid of yours will never forget this night."

She paused, her delicate fingers fidgeting with the hem of her skirt as her voice dropped to a whisper.

"Not because I came face to face with death tonight, nor because I was granted forgiveness for trying to take your life... But because of the time I got to spend with you, young master. A time that allowed me to glimpse a side of you that few—if any—have ever seen."

Her blue eyes, shimmering with emotion, locked onto his. There was a vulnerability in her gaze, but also a flicker of resolve, as if she was baring her soul to him.

"So please..." She pleaded, her voice thick with emotion. "Don't say this night means nothing to me. For this lowly maid, it is everything. Though fleeting, it's the most cherished night of my life, and I will carry the memory of it with me always."

As she spoke, her thoughts drifted to the whirlwind of emotions she had experienced. The night that should have marked her end had instead become a moment of awakening. She had faced the man who could have easily ended her life, only to discover his hidden depths—a man who shattered her preconceived notions of nobility, who praised her in ways that made her heart flutter, and who had unknowingly given her a sense of purpose.

And as much as she felt unworthy, she knew in her heart: if fate allowed her, she would gladly devote the rest of her life to him—not out of duty, but out of the quiet, budding affection that had taken root within her.

"Wow, Isabelle...After hearing what you have to say about tonight, I'm starting to wonder if you really want Edmund over there as your fiancée or someone else, who you're obviously so much more interested in."

Cassius looked down at her flustered face and teased, not expecting to hear such a devoted proposal from Isabelle.

"N-No, young master...I wouldn't dare think about taking such an important and prestigious position by your side."

Isabelle quickly informed him as she felt her master play with her cheeks, which she honestly really liked. She then sighed as she recalled the position she was in and looked up at him with a loveable smile on her face as she said wryly,

"I'm simply happy to be your beloved maid, young master, and I would be more than satisfied if I could stay by your side as your servant for the rest of my life...I-I wouldn't dare to ask for anything else than that."

As Isabelle spoke those words, a bittersweet ache welled up in her chest. Her voice was steady, but deep down, she could feel the weight of her own heart's unspoken desires.

A small, hidden part of her yearned for something more—a dream so fragile that she dared not speak it aloud. To be someone truly close to her young master, someone cherished, someone loved, like his wife...It was a foolish thought, she reminded herself, one unworthy of her position.

The reality of her station as his maid loomed like an insurmountable wall, keeping her dreams at bay. Yet, the solace she found in her current role—being by his side, serving him, seeing his smiles, and hearing his laughter—was enough to bring a strange sense of fulfilment. Even if she couldn't have more, she would treasure these fleeting moments.

Her hands clenched slightly against her skirt as she glanced at him, her lovable smile masking the quiet longing in her heart.

'This is fine.' She thought to herself, trying to silence the ache. 'At least I can stay by his side like this, even if it's only as his servant. That's enough...isn't it?'

Still, as his fingers brushed against her cheek, tender and playful, her heart betrayed her, skipping a beat. She knew her devotion to him was far greater than her words could ever convey, but for now, she convinced herself that the distance between them was one she could endure. Even if it meant hiding her feelings forever...