Chapter 508: You Swing That Way?!

The moment the confetti rained down, a cloud of glitter and color danced through the air. When it finally settled, the sight before Cassius was so heartwarming that Cassius couldn’t hold back the grin that spread across his face.

Right in front of him stood his family.

Isabelle was the first he saw, standing tall and poised as always, her soft golden hair tied back neatly, and her intelligent eyes glowing with relief.

Her usually calm and composed demeanor couldn’t quite mask the joy on her face as she clapped with a faint, proud smile.

Beside her stood Portia, the sharp-eyed, dignified head maid of the Holyfield estate. She was clearly trying not to smile too much in front of everyone, but the corners of her lips betrayed her, twitching upward as she clapped.

Next to her was Vivi—bright, bubbly Vivi—whose hands were clapping faster than anyone’s as she hopped slightly on her toes, her hair bouncing with every motion.

"You’re back, Young Master!" She cheered, her voice as radiant as ever. You’re back!

And finally, Diana, stood at the center of the group, tears already welling up in her kind eyes as she clapped slowly, her smile full of warmth.

Beside them, every other maid and attendant stood in rows along the sides of the hall, all smiling, all clapping, all bowing their heads respectfully as they called out in cheerful unison,

"Welcome home, Young Master Cassius!"

It was a sight so full of warmth and love that Cassius couldn’t help but feel his heart race.

Even though it had only been a few days since he’d last seen them, it felt like much longer—as though he’d been gone for months, years even.

He could feel that deep sense of homecoming settle over him, comforting and grounding, reminding him of everything that was worth returning to.

"I missed you all." He exhaled slowly, a relieved smile tugging at his lips.

Julie, Aisha, Skadi, and Nala all also looked around, smiling softly themselves.

They could feel the affection radiating from the scene and each of them, for a fleeting moment, understood why Cassius always spoke of his estate like it was something alive.

Cassius then took a step forward, ready to greet them properly—and the girls beside him looked like they were about to follow, ready to throw themselves into a group hug.

But before any of them could take another step—

A high, breathless voice rang out across the room.

"YOUNG MASTER! YOU’RE FINALLY BACK! YOU’RE FINALLY BACK!"

The voice came with such intensity and emotion that everyone—Cassius included—turned toward it at once.

From the far end of the hall, something dark and fast shot forward—a blur of black and white uniform, streaking toward him like a shadow.

Cassius barely had time to blink before the ’shadow’ slammed into his chest with full force, knocking the air out of him.

"Wha—?!"

Before he could even register what was happening, Lucius, his ever-loyal butler, had wrapped his arms tightly, too tightly around his waist, burying his face into Cassius’s chest as tears streamed down his cheeks.

"YOUNG MASTER!!!" Lucius cried out dramatically, his voice trembling with emotion. "You’re finally back! You’re really back! You finally came back to me!"

Cassius froze mid-breath, his mouth slightly open, his arms awkwardly half-raised as he looked down at the black-haired butler who was currently sobbing into his shirt.

"Lucius—"

"You have no idea, Young Master!" Lucius continued loudly, completely ignoring him. "The nights were so empty without you! I dreamed of you every night! Every single one!"

"...Lucius." Cassius said through clenched teeth, already looking irritated.

"I missed your presence so much!" the butler wailed, clutching him even tighter. "I cried myself to sleep on your bed, Young Master! Every night, I hugged your pillow and prayed to the stars that you would return to me! I can’t believe you’re actually here! I can finally die in peace!"

Cassius just stood there, eyes wide, looking like he was having an out-of-body experience.

"Lucius..." He began slowly, his voice shaking slightly from the sheer absurdity of the moment.

"Get. Off. Me."

But Lucius only clung tighter, burying his face against Cassius’s chest.

"No, Young Master! Let me stay like this for a moment! Just a moment! Let me feel the warmth of your mighty presence again! Without it, I thought I would perish!"

Cassius’s eye twitched violently.

"Lucius. I swear to every god listening—GET OFF ME!"

The rest of the room had completely lost it.

Julie was trying so hard not to laugh that her shoulders were shaking.

Aisha was hiding her face behind her hand, muttering. " Oh, this is...this is amazing."

Skadi had already fallen to the floor, howling with laughter.

And poor Nala—poor, innocent Nala—was staring wide-eyed in utter horror.

She gasped, clutching Cassius’s arm dramatically.

"Cassius! Don’t tell me—! Are you...are you into men?!"

The entire hall went dead silent for half a second.

Cassius froze mid-motion, his face twitching, and then turned his head slowly toward Nala with a look of sheer disbelief.

"...WHAT?!"

Nala looked genuinely disturbed.

"I-I mean, I knew you were depraved, Cassius, but I didn’t think your depravity went this far!"

"WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?!"

Cassius snapped, his composure officially shattered.

"No! Absolutely not! I don’t swing that way, Nala! This lunatic—" He pointed furiously at the butler still wrapped around him. " —is just saying random crap again! Don’t listen to him!"

"But it sounds so heartfelt." Vivi murmured with a mischievous grin.

"Vivi!" Cassius snapped. "You’re not helping!"

"He’s just emotionally expressive." Diana said softly, trying not to laugh.

"Emotionally deranged." Cassius muttered, still trying to yank Lucius off. "Let go, damn it!"

Lucius, however, only looked up at him with trembling lips and watery eyes.

"Random crap? Young Master, how could you say that? I poured my heart out for you!"

But hearing this, Cassius’s face only turned bright red from rage, embarrassment, or both, no one could tell.

Until finally—

"You—You’re ruining everything, you bastard!"

He yelled, grabbing Lucius by the shoulders and trying to pry him off.

"I just came back from a heroic mission! I earned my cool, mysterious reputation! I had four women thinking I was the perfect gentleman! And you—you leech—you’re DESTROYING IT in five seconds flat!"

"Young Master, don’t say that!" Lucius sniffed, still clinging. "To me, you’ll always be magnificent, no matter what anyone says!"

"You’re not helping your case either!" Cassius barked, trying again to push him off. "Now let go, before I throw you into the fountain!"

"Throw me, Young Master! If that’s what you really want, throw me straight into bed with you!" Lucius cried dramatically.

Half the women in the room blushed crimson.

Isabelle covered her mouth.

Vivi wavesd her hand at her steaming face.

"Oh dear heavens." Portia whispered under her breath.

"I-I’m going to slap you straight to heaven."

Cassius muttered under his breath, looked like he was two seconds away from throttling his butler.

But behind him, Nala blinked at the scene.

Cassius, the unflappable, cool-headed hero who had handled cultists, monsters, and vampires without breaking a sweat—now completely red-faced and flustered, wrestling with his overly emotional butler.

She didn’t know whether to laugh or feel sorry for him.

Finally, she turned to Julie, whispering under her breath.

"So...is this normal?"

"Completely." Julie exhaled, rubbing her forehead.

"Welcome to the family." Aisha grinned.

And as Cassius finally managed to pry Lucius halfway off, glaring daggers down at him while Lucius sniffled and refused to let go of his sleeve,

Nala realized something—

Cassius might have looked like the picture of composure most days, but around the people who truly loved him...he was just as human, just as ridiculous as the rest of them.

And somehow, that made her love him even more.