Chapter 556: Love At First Report

At first, Maria was completely stunned. Her mind spinning as if the ground itself had slipped away from beneath her.

"Y-Young Master..." She stammered, her voice faltering as the weight of the moment hit her. "I—This...This is absurd..."

Embarrassment hit her first, sharp and overwhelming.

How could she not be?

She had just met the man properly for the first time, and he was already proposing marriage.

Not to mention she was a sister, bound to the Church, and a mother of a daughter who was already in her twenties.

Any sane woman would be flustered.

But her? She was mortified.

It felt wrong, awkward, almost scandalous.

But then, as the seconds stretched on, that fluster began to shift.

The embarrassment turned into a confusing mix of curiosity and disbelief. Her heart was still racing, but now not entirely from shame from wonder.

Why would a man like him do something like this?

Was he teasing her?

Pulling a prank to see her reaction?

Or was this part of some elaborate game?

But then she saw his eyes.

There was no playfulness there.

No sly amusement.

No cunning grin like he often wore when teasing others.

His expression was composed, yet nervous—the quiet, anxious kind that only a man proposing for real could have.

Maria felt her heart skip a beat.

That...wasn’t a lie. That wasn’t manipulation.

He was serious.

She cleared her throat, trying to steady her voice.

"Forgive me, Young Master Cassius." She began carefully, forcing a small, polite smile. "May I...ask something?"

Cassius tilted his head slightly. "Of course."

"Well..." She glanced at the ring, then back at his eyes, struggling to phrase it without sounding rude. "Why exactly are you proposing marriage to me? I mean...it’s quite a strange question, I know, in this situation, but I really can’t make sense of what’s happening right now."

Her nervous laugh trembled slightly.

"If you had fallen for some young noblewoman or a princess, that would make sense. But me? I’m an old woman. A sister of the Church. And a mother. My daughter is already in her twenties."

She looked up, her eyes shimmering but uncertain.

"So please...tell me, why in the world would you propose to someone like me?"

Cassius didn’t hesitate. He closed his eyes, took a slow breath, and then opened them again—his crimson gaze steady and filled with quiet intensity.

"It’s exactly because you’re older than me." He said calmly. "Because you’re a woman of faith. Because you’re selfless. Because you’ve lived, suffered, and endured and still stand strong. That’s why I like you, Lady Maria."

Maria blinked rapidly, her lips parting in disbelief.

"W-What?" She stammered. "What do you mean by that?"

She looked utterly flustered. To her, those were reasons why any reasonable man wouldn’t be interested.

But Cassius only smiled faintly, his tone unwavering.

"I know it sounds strange." He said softly. "But my preferences have never been...normal."

"Preferences?" Maria blinked again, her confusion deepening.

Cassius laughed faintly. "Most men, you know, prefer young, petite girls. Full of energy and innocence. But I’ve always been a little different. My taste..."

He smiled, tilting his head.

"..leans elsewhere."

Maria raised an eyebrow, curiosity flickering through her embarrassment.

"And what sort of woman would that be, if I may ask?"

Cassius didn’t even hesitate.

"Older women." He said without missing a beat. "Strong, mature women."

Maria’s face turned scarlet in an instant.

"O-Older...?" She stammered, completely caught off guard.

"Yes." He nodded earnestly. "I don’t know why, really. Maybe it’s because I was raised by maids most of my life with every single one of them older than me."

"Maybe it’s because I lost my mother at a young age and never really got to know her."

"Or maybe..." He smiled faintly, with almost disarming honesty. "It’s just that I’ve always been...a lover of older women."

Maria’s ears went pink—the way he said it, so casually, yet so boldly, made her feel dizzy.

He continued, shrugging lightly.

"Whatever the reason, it’s been that way my whole life. I can’t help it. Whenever I see a mature woman walking by—confident, graceful, elegant—I can’t help but admire her. Respectfully, of course."

His lips twitched upward in amusement.

"But I suppose you could call me something of an...enthusiast."

Maria stared at him, completely speechless, her cheeks burning so hot she thought she might faint.

Cassius looked at her with the same sincerity, then spoke gently. "So that’s why, when I looked at your report and learned who you were, what kind of person you were. I was absolutely blown away."

"My...report?"

"Yes. When I read about you, I literally whispered to myself: ’She’s the perfect woman.’" He said as if he was speaking about a dream.

Her lips parted, but no words came out, while Cassius stepped closer, his expression almost reverent as he spoke.

"You’re not just mature. You’re a mother. A woman who carries herself with quiet dignity, who nurtures and protects. You have that kind, gentle, maternal aura about you that...strikes right into my heart."

"It’s right in my strike zone, so to speak."

Maria gulped, torn between laughter and disbelief as he continued passionately.

"And then there’s your compassion, your empathy, your kindness—all written there in those reports. Every line about you felt like an arrow through my heart."

He mimed being struck, clutching his chest.

"Like this—ah! Just reading about you hurt!"

Maria’s lips quivered, trying not to laugh, but her heart fluttered at his earnestness.

Then his voice lowered, sincere again. "But what struck me most wasn’t your kindness. It was your strength."

At that, Maria flinched a little, waving her hands quickly.

"Oh, no, no. I’m not strong at all." She said with a flustered smile. "I don’t have any blessings or powers. Look!"

She curled her arm, flexing what little muscle she had, her tone almost self-deprecating.

"See? No strength here. It’s all fat." She chuckled awkwardly. "You can even touch it if you don’t believe me."

Cassius’s eyes lit up in amusement and before she could retract the offer, he reached out and actually did.

His fingers gently pressed against her arm, feeling along where her biceps and triceps should have been. Maria gasped softly, eyes wide as she froze in place.

He hummed thoughtfully. "Wow." He said with genuine wonder. "You’re right. There really isn’t a trace of muscle here. It’s so soft...and springy, like a bed."

"Y-Young Master!" She squeaked, face beet red.

"It’s almost like pure silk wrapped around the softest cushion." He mused, prodding lightly again before she yanked her arm away, covering it with both hands in mortification.

"You don’t have to say it so openly!" She cried, her voice small and flustered. "This is exactly what I meant—I’m not strong!"

Cassius only smiled gently, his teasing melting into a softer expression. "That’s not what I meant, Lady Maria."

She blinked, startled by his tone.

"I’m not talking about the kind of strength where a woman is all powerful and mighty, with muscles all over and a six-pack that could crush a man’s pride."

Maria blinked, as she processed what he’d just said, before he added, with an utterly thoughtful expression.

"Although..." He tapped his chin with exaggerated seriousness. "I wouldn’t mind that either."

Cassius nodded solemnly, continuing as if he were discussing the most serious matter in the world.

"Honestly, you’re already incredibly beautiful as you are. But if you told me you had a six-pack under those robes, I think I’d faint on the spot."

Maria could only stare at him, her mouth slightly open, utterly thrown off.

’This man...has very peculiar tastes.’ She thought, not sure if she should laugh or cover her face.

Cassius then chuckled softly and waved a hand.

"But that’s not the point." He said. "The strength I’m talking about is something much deeper."

He straightened slightly, his playful tone fading into one of calm sincerity.

"It’s the strength you carry inside you, Lady Maria."

"The kind that keeps you moving forward even when life tries to tear you down. Even when the world gives you pain after pain, you keep believing, believing that one day, things will get better. That there’s still goodness left in people."

Maria’s breath slowed as she listened.

He continued, his voice lowering as if he were speaking directly to her soul.

"You’ve lived a life that would’ve broken most women. I read your record, your past, what you endured and even if another woman had survived it, she wouldn’t be the same anymore. But you..."

His gaze became loving.

"You’re still you. Still compassionate. Still gentle. Still trying every day to make life a little brighter for others."

Maria felt her heart tighten as those words sank in.

She wasn’t used to being seen like that—understood like that.

Cassius smiled faintly, sincerity glowing in his eyes. "That’s what I admire most. The strength to endure suffering without losing yourself. To keep giving love even when the world’s only given you pain."

"That’s what true strength is, in my eyes. Pushing through challenges, facing impossible odds, and still coming out with a smile."

He exhaled softly, then gave a small laugh, rubbing his hands as if realizing how serious he had gotten.

"And when I read your reports, when I saw what you’ve done and how you live—I realized I couldn’t just ignore that. I didn’t want to let you go. So I made my decision right then and there."

Maria gasped, her eyes widening slightly.

"Y-You mean...that’s when you decided to—?"

"Yes." He nodded simply. "To propose."

"Just like that?" Maria couldn’t believe how decisive he was. "You made such a decision only from reading about me?"

Cassius shrugged lightly, smiling. "Well, when something feels right, it feels right. I’ve never been one to overthink when my heart has already made the choice."

He paused for a moment, and then, to her surprise, a faint blush appeared on his cheeks as he looked away slightly.

"W-Well, and it’s not just that." He mumbled. "I was already thinking of doing this before I even met you, but then when I saw you, I realised that you were drop-dead gorgeous."

"A-And basically, what I’m trying to say is, who wouldn’t want a wife as beautiful as you by his side?"

Maria froze for a second, and then, to her own surprise, a small giggle escaped her lips.

It was almost strange to see him like this.

Just a moment ago, this same man had stood fearlessly against her daughter, who the entire kingdom feared with that sharp tongue and unshakable arrogance.

He’d spoken with confidence, charm, and even defiance, as though nothing could faze him.

But now...he looked so shy. So flustered. So cute.

The great Cassius Vindictus Holyfield, bold as a lion before the world, was blushing over telling a woman she was beautiful.

And Maria found the sight utterly endearing.

Her heart mellowed instinctively, and for a brief moment, she even wanted to reach up and ruffle his hair like a mother doting on a sweet, bashful boy.

But she held herself back, instead simply smiling with amused tenderness thinking that if she had a son she would want him to be just like Cassius.