Chapter 238: The Mother As Well?!
Aisha's ears twitched, her face twisting with outrage as she whirled on Skadi, grabbing her arm.
"You knew?" She hissed, her voice full of disbelief and betrayal. "You knew what was happening under there and didn't tell me? Why'd you leave me out of this juicy gossip, you mutt? I was standing here like an idiot, and you just let me flounder!" Her tail lashed, her claws flexing as she glared at Skadi.
Skadi smirked, giving Aisha a condescending pat on the head. "Well, aren't you just a little girl who hasn't even had her first kiss?" She said, her tone dripping with pity. "I just thought that there's no need to bother you with grown-up stuff, Aisha, since you wouldn't even get it." She grinned, her tail swishing smugly, clearly enjoying the chance to needle her friend.
Aisha gasped, her face flushing with indignation.
"Little girl? Me? I'll have you know I'm plenty grown-up, you smug pup! How dare you—" Her voice rose, but Cassius's warm laugh cut through the squabble, drawing all eyes back to him.
"See, Vivi?" He said, his voice rich with amusement as he held her close, his hands resting on her hips. "Didn't I tell you? Nothing's wrong here. Everyone's fine with it...It may take some time to get used to the antics in our family, but you'll eventually get used to and fully become one of us." His smile was reassuring, his tone carrying that effortless charm that seemed to bend the room's tension to his will.
Vivi nodded, her cheeks still flushed but her expression softening as she glanced at the trio.
"I...I do feel a little better." She admitted, her voice small but sincere. "It's still embarrassing, but...hearing everyone say it's okay helps." Her eyes flicked to Cassius, a shy smile tugging at her lips. "Thank you, Young Master. For...for making me feel like I belong."
The words 'our family' also echoed in her mind, warming her heart and deepening her flush as she realized how close she was becoming to him, a part of his world in a way she'd never imagined.
The moment swelled with unexpected tenderness, and to everyone's surprise, Vivi acted on impulse.
Emboldened by her newfound calm, she leaned forward, pulling Cassius closer, and pressed a quick, soft peck to his lips.
"Kiss!♡~"
The room froze, even Cassius blinking in surprise, his smile faltering for a heartbeat before widening with delight.
"Well, now." He said, his voice low and teasing. "What's this? A kiss in front of everyone? Aren't you embarrassed, my dear?"
Vivi's cheeks blazed, but she held his gaze, her voice a mix of defiance and joy.
"You're the one who said intimacy's no big deal!" She retorted, her smile growing despite her flush. "I was just...too happy to let the moment pass. You can't blame me for that, Young Master!" Her boldness caught him off guard, and he laughed, pulling her into a tight embrace, his arms wrapping around her as he nuzzled her cheek.
"Oh, Vivi, you're too much." He said, his voice brimming with affection as he hugged her close. "My perfect, precious girl." Vivi giggled, snuggling into him, her embarrassment fading in the warmth of his embrace.
The scene was unexpectedly wholesome, Isabelle and Portia smiling softly at the loving display, their earlier tension melting away. Even Aisha, despite her earlier outrage, felt a pang of warmth, though she averted her gaze, muttering.
"Ugh, too wholesome for me."
"Aww, that's so cute!" Skadi on the other hand clapped her hands, her tail wagging as she cheered.
But the tender moment shattered when Cassius's gaze dropped to the desk, his expression shifting to one of sudden realization. His eyes widened, a snort escaping him as he shook his head.
"Oh, for the love of—...I can't believe I almost forgot about you." He said, his voice full of amusement and exasperation. He then leaned forward, peering beneath the desk, his tone turning apologetic. "Oh my, I'm so sorry for keeping you down there so long, darling."
"...But you can most definitely come out now. Vivi's faced the flames and doused them herself, so it's safe, I promise. It won't be half as bad as you think."
The room froze again, every head turning to the desk.
"Wait, there's someone else under there?"
Aisha demanded in disbelief, stepping forward. Julie's posture also stiffened, her mind racing as she braced for another revelation.
No sound came from beneath the desk, but Cassius tilted his head, as if sensing hesitation.
"Come now." He said, his voice coaxing but firm. "No need to be embarrassed. Your daughter's already out here, facing the music like a brave girl. You don't want her thinking her mother's a scaredy-cat, hiding away like that, do you?"
"...It's not exactly a shining example." His tone was teasing, but there was a provocation in it, a nudge to provoke action.
And it seemed as if his provocation worked, as a faint rustle came from beneath the desk, followed by a pause, as if the person inside was wrestling with their pride.
Then, as if the person finally made the brave decision of coming out, slowly, a figure emerged, graceful and elegant, rising like a queen despite the compromising circumstances.
She was taller than Vivi, her curves accentuated by a sheer, scandalously see-through dress that left little to the imagination, her full breasts and rounded hips barely concealed.
Her light greyish-brown hair cascaded in elegant waves, framing a face that was both noble and striking, though flushed with a deep blush.
It was shockingly Diana, the Saintess doctor, and Vivi's mother, standing before them, her composure a fragile mask as she straightened, trying to reclaim her dignity.
The room erupted in gasps, Aisha's eyes going wide as she pointed at Diana, her voice trembling in shock and outrage. "L-Lady Diana!? You too!? Under the desk!? In that outfit!?"
She clutched her book, her cheeks flaming as she glared at Cassius.
"What is this, a family affair!? You've got to be kidding me!!"
Julie, however, stood with a hardened expression, her flush betraying her struggle to reconcile the Diana she knew, a saintly doctor and proud noblewoman, with the woman now entangled in Cassius's provocative household.
Skadi, however oblivious to the room's weight, piped up with her usual blunt cheer, her voice cutting through the silence.
"No wonder I heard two different sounds down there!" She said, her tail swishing as she grinned at Diana and Vivi. "Two kinds of lickin' noises, makes total sense now! It was a mother-daughter duo workin' together!"
Her words were so brazenly candid that Diana's composure faltered, a deeper blush creeping up her neck.
The blunt description of their actions stung, but she quickly realized that lingering on her embarrassment would only make the scene more awkward. Clearing her throat, she straightened, forcing a graceful smile as she turned to Julie, determined to salvage some dignity.
"Julie..." Diana said, her voice calm and measured, carrying the poise of her noble upbringing. "It's been a while since we last met."
Her wry smile softened the tension, though her eyes flickered with self-awareness.
"Though I must say, we've crossed paths in many places, hospitals tending to the wounded, battlefields thick with chaos. But this..." She gestured vaguely at the office, her blush deepening. "This is perhaps is the worst possible place and situation for a reunion."
Julie's lips twitched into an awkward smile, her voice tinged with reluctant agreement.
"I'll admit, Lady Diana, I never expected to find you here, of all places." She said, her tone careful but sincere. "And I...apologize for interrupting your, uh, time with Cassius." She paused, her words faltering as she searched for the right way to address their relationship. "He's your..." She trailed off, leaving the question unspoken, hoping Diana would clarify what Cassius was to her, lover, partner, something else?
Before Diana could respond, Cassius acted, his arm snaking around her waist as he pulled her close, his voice brimming with pride.
"She's my woman." He declared, his smile bold and unapologetic. "My love. And if you're wondering how to address me in her context, Captain, just call me her future husband!"
His words were a proclamation, delivered with a possessive warmth that made Diana's cheeks flush anew. But she didn't deny it, instead letting herself lean into his embrace, her body softening against him despite her embarrassment.
Julie's gaze flickered between them, noting how Cassius held Vivi in one arm and Diana in the other, a mother and daughter, both utterly captivated by him.
The realization hit her like a quiet thunderclap: Cassius had truly seduced them both, not through force but through a charm so potent it defied reason.
Was he genuinely devoted, or was this the work of a reckless hooligan reveling in his conquests?
Aisha, meanwhile, had a darker thought, her tail twitching as she muttered under her breath. "For once, I'm glad I don't have a mother and am a orphan. This guy'd probably try to charm her too."
Skadi, ever the optimist, tilted her head, her tail wagging as she mused aloud. "Huh, he's into the mother too? Wonder if he'd like my mama. She's pretty fun!"
The room's awkward silence in the room was broken by Vivi, her voice bubbling with sudden excitement as she turned to her mother, her eyes sparkling.
"Mother, you know Captain Julie?" She asked, her tone an excited murmur. "Like, actually know her? The captain of the Holy Guard? That's so cool!" She bounced slightly in Cassius's lap, her earlier shame forgotten in her awe.
Diana coughed, her smile softening as she nodded.
"Yes, Vivi, I do." She said, her voice warm but tinged with amusement. "We've met several times, mostly in less...colorful circumstances. Whenever Julie's knights were injured, they'd come to my hospital, and I'd treat them. We've worked together on battlefields, tending to the wounded. She's a remarkable woman." Her eyes flicked to Julie, a touch of gratitude in her expression.
Julie nodded, her smile genuine as she addressed Vivi.
"Your mother's a lifesaver, Vivi." She said, her voice kind. "Without Lady Diana's skill, I'd have lost countless soldiers. You should be proud to have such a mother." Her words were heartfelt, a bridge to ease the room's tension.
Vivi's chest puffed out, her smile radiant as she beamed at Diana.
"I am proud!" She declared, her voice brimming with pride. "She's the best mother in the world and I'm the proudest daughter ever!"
Her enthusiasm was infectious, drawing a soft chuckle from Diana, whose eyes shone with love for her daughter...
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