Depraved Noble: Forced To Live The Debaucherous Life Of An Evil Noble!

"Are you serious, Skadi?!" Aisha's jaw dropped so hard it was a wonder it didn't hit the ground. "You bit the hog?! Raw?!"

Her voice cracked in disbelief as she pointed at the missing chunk.

"That's beyond barbaric! Who even does that? You couldn't wait five minutes for us to cook it?!"

"...This is exactly why I keep calling you a mutt!"

Skadi puffed up indignantly, her cheeks ballooning as she planted her hands on her hips.

"Oh, come on, Aisha! You just don't get it!" She shot back, her voice high with conviction. "Raw meat has this...this charm to it! If you tried it, you'd understand! It's juicy and fresh and...Mmph!" She licked her lips as her face brightened at the memory, looking far too pleased with herself to be sorry.

Aisha groaned loudly, spinning away with an exaggerated wave of her hand.

"Over my dead body, you absolute weirdo." She muttered, her shoulders shaking as she fought not to laugh. "You're hopeless, Skadi. Just do us all a favor and stay away from the food until it's actually cooked, okay?"

Cassius chuckled, his voice warm as he noticed the faint blood smears on Skadi's lips, confirming her story. He then pulled a handkerchief from his pocket, his tone gentle as he stepped closer, wiping her mouth carefully.

"Alright, puppy, it's fine if you wanna take a bite out of animals, it's what Fenrirs do, right?" He said, his eyes twinkling with amusement as he cleaned her face. "But at least carry a handkerchief. You go into town looking like this, and people'll think you're a vampire or something and run screaming."

His tone was teasing, his hands gentle as he finished wiping her lips.

Skadi let him clean her face, her voice proud as she puffed out her chest, her eyes sparkling.

"I'm no vampire, Master! I'm a proud Fenrir!" She declared, her tone hearty as she spun around, showing off her fluffy tail. "See? See? Fenrir tail, not vampire fangs!" She wagged it enthusiastically, her face beaming as she struck a playful pose.

Cassius nodded, his voice indulgent as he ruffled her hair again, his smile wide.

"Yeah, yeah, I see it, puppy...Proud Fenrir, got it."

He said, his tone humoring her whims as he turned back to the hog, inspecting it for cooking.

Julie also approached, her voice light with amusement as she sheathed her sword fully, her smile warm as she looked at Skadi.

"So, Skadi, did you have fun chasing those squirrels out there?" She asked, her tone teasing as she leaned closer. "Catch any of those sneaky little things?"

Skadi's eyes lit up, her voice bubbly as she nodded, her hands clapping.

"Oh, it was so fun, Captain! Those squirrels were fast, though they got away!"

She said, her tone disappointed but cheerful. But then her face suddenly shifted, her eyes narrowing with confusion as she tilted her head as if she realised something.

"Wait, how'd you know I was chasing squirrels? Did you see me?" Her voice was curious, her posture perking up as she stared at Julie.

Julie chuckled, her voice soft as she waved a hand, her expression playful. "I just know my little sister, that's all." She said, her tone warm as she winked. "I know you can't resist chasing anything that scurries. It's just who you are."

She thought Skadi would realise that she was simply joking. But to her surprise, Skadi's face lit up, her voice bursting with enthusiasm as she clapped her hands, her eyes shining with admiration.

"You really know me the best, Captain! You're the best captain in the world!" She declared, her tone earnest as she bounced on her toes, completely believing Julie's words.

Julie's cheeks flushed, her voice faltering as she looked away, her embarrassment evident in her shy smile. "Okay, okay, don't get all sappy on me."

Skadi was about to go on about his amazing Julie was but she suddenly froze mid-bounce, her eyes going wide as though she'd just uncovered the secrets of the universe. She then gasped so loudly it startled a bird out of a nearby tree.

"Oh...Oh!! Speaking of squirrels, you guys are not gonna believe what I saw out there!"

She blurted, her hands shooting up and flailing wildly like she was trying to flag down an airship.

"What'd you see, Skadi? What's got my little puppy so excited?" Cassius glanced up from the hog, wiping his hands on a rag as his brow arched in mild curiosity.

Skadi practically vibrated with excitement as she leaned in close, her voice climbing with childlike wonder.

"Okay, okay, listen! So I was chasing some squirrels, right?" She began, her hands miming the tiny creatures darting around. "And then this other squirrel pops out of nowhere...like BAM!...hauling a whole packet of sugar on its tiny shoulders!"

She gestured wildly, mimicking the creature scampering with exaggerated little hops.

"It was like...this squirrel was on a secret mission from the squirrel king or something to carry this packet of sugar or something!"

She suddenly slapped her hands over her mouth, her voice dropping to a stage whisper as she added dramatically.

"Do you...Do you think squirrels...are making sugar now? Like...bagging it and everything? That's so smart!"

But then her face fell, her shoulders drooping as her voice softened into a pitiful whimper.

"But...if squirrels are out here making and packaging sugar...and I can't even figure out how to boil rice without burning it...am I...dumber than a squirrel, Master?"

The campsite went dead silent.

Julie froze, her cheeks flushing crimson as her eyes darted away guiltily, as she knew exactly where that sugar packet had come from. Aisha let out a sound that was somewhere between a groan and a laugh, her hand smacking against her forehead.

"Yup." Aisha muttered under her breath, crossing her arms with an exaggerated sigh. "She's a dumb mutt alright...Wonder if she dropped herself on her head as a baby."

Skadi's head snapped up at that, her cheeks puffing out like an offended chipmunk. "Hey! I'll have you know my head is perfectly fine! And big!"

Cassius caught Julie's panicked expression from the corner of his eye but wisely decided not to press it. Instead, he reached out and gently patted Skadi's shoulder, his voice warm and soothing as his lips curved into a soft smile.

"Not at all, puppy." He said reassuringly, suppressing a laugh as he ruffled her hair. "Everyone's got their own skills. Sure, some squirrels might be good at...uh...carrying sugar packets, but you? You can fly through the sky and take down a hog like it's nothing."

"...That's your gift. Leave the sugar to the squirrels."

Skadi's face lit up like a lantern, her previous existential crisis vanishing in an instant.

"You're right, Master!" She chirped, bouncing on her toes as her hands clapped together with glee. "I'm a hog-hunting champ! Squirrels can keep their dumb sugar—I've got this!"

She struck a triumphant pose, fists planted on her hips, chest puffed out, and tail wagging behind her.

Cassius chuckled, shaking his head as he turned back to the hog, mixing the marinade. "That's the spirit. Now let's focus on making our hog, I bet you're hungry from all that running and flying."

Aisha, still glaring, muttered under her breath. "If she starts chewing on raw meat again, I swear…"

Julie covered her mouth to stifle a laugh, but when Aisha glanced at her she realised she had no right to laugh as she was the reason her little sister thought that even squirrels were smarter then her because she thought that they could make sugar...