Chapter 31: Cassandra's revenge (R-18)
Cassandra's POV
Lying on the sofa, I let out a slow breath, my gaze fixed on the young man working at the desk. The dim candlelight casts shadows on his face, his hands moving gracefully over the papers, calculating numbers without hesitation.
Who would have thought he'd be this useful?
At first, I only took him in because I heard he was a friend of Lily. A part of me wanted revenge, wanted to sever that friendship, to make her suffer in some way. It was childish, I know. But knowing that Lily was out there, stealing my husband, living shamelessly while I was stuck here—it made my blood boil.
And yet, here I am, trying to break apart a simple friendship between two youngsters, when I should be focusing on something greater. I should be at an age where I take care of children their age, not meddling in such petty affairs.
I have always wondered what would happen if I exposed my husband's infidelity. Would it bring me the justice I desire? I knew the answer was a resounding no. I would be mocked. I would be labeled as a woman who couldn't keep her husband faithful. Some would even blame me. My family would face ridicule. I didn't want any of that.
I sigh, shaking my head at my own foolishness.
Shennong suddenly walks toward me, his steps silent, like a shadow moving through the room. He stops in front of the sofa and holds out a paper.
"It's done, Lady Cassandra."
I take the paper from his hands, my eyes scanning the numbers. Every expense, every transaction, accounted for perfectly. Not a single miscalculation. It's almost ridiculous how efficient he is. He's better than most of the officials we hired before.
"You're really something, Shennong," I say, placing the paper down. "I never expected you to be this talented. You should be working in the capital, not wasting your skills here."
He chuckles softly, tilting his head slightly. "If I can work for a beautiful lady like you, then I'd gladly stay."
I laugh at his words, shaking my head. "Don't tease me like that. You're quite the smooth talker, aren't you?"
It has been two weeks since he arrived, and in that short time, he has managed to win me over—not just with his talent but with the way he treats me. There is something about him, something mysterious, something... alluring.
I look at him closely. His features are almost too perfect. More beautiful than most women and men I've seen in my life. And the way he speaks, the way he carries himself—it's not like a commoner at all. If I didn't know better, I'd say he was a prince in disguise.
He suddenly breaks the silence. "You've been looking grim lately, Lady Cassandra. Does it have something to do with Lily?"
I freeze, my eyes widening as I stare at him. "How do you know?"
He gives me a knowing smile. "I can see it. And so can the other servants. But they choose to turn a blind eye because it's not their business."
I look away, staring down at my hands. "Are you also going to turn a blind eye?"
I hear him move, and before I can react, he gently lifts my chin with his fingers, forcing me to look at him. The touch is shocking—no servant has ever dared to touch me like this.
His voice is soft but firm. "Let me tell you something, Lady Cassandra. I see it in your eyes—a desire for revenge. A desire for justice."
My breath catches in my throat.
"I see what no other servant can. You are hardworking, you are skilled. You are the reason the miners keep going back to their job, because they know their families will be taken care of. You are the reason this fief doesn't fall into rebellion. And yet... what do you get in return?"
I clench my fists, biting my lip to stop myself from answering.
"Do you think revenge is wrong?" he asks.
I finally speak, my voice bitter. "What's the point of revenge? I don't have the power to do anything. Yes, people listen to me, but no one will fight for me. I'm just a powerless woman trapped in this mansion, hoping that by taking care of my people, they won't hate me like my husband does. It's not goodwill. It's desperation."
Shennong laughs softly, shaking his head. "No one does anything out of pure goodwill. Everyone hopes for something."
He gives a few examples—how merchants trade for profit, how clerics help others hoping the faith of their religion would be affected by it. How rich take care of poor hoping to justify themselves standing above the poor.
"It's not wrong to hope for something," he says. "It's not bad."
I grit my teeth, looking away. "Then what are you telling me to do? Why are you saying all this?"
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"Because you have a greater opportunity than you think," he says. "And because I don't like seeing people lie to themselves. So tell me, Lady Cassandra—what do you really want?"
I stare at him, my heart pounding. For a second, I hesitate. But then, something inside me snaps. I meet his gaze and say the words I've been too ashamed to admit.
"I want Lily gone. I want my husband to regret abandoning me. I want to be young and beautiful again. I don't want to be seen as a powerless woman. I want to be seen once again."
A slow smile spreads across Shennong's lips. "Good. Now, do you want my help?"
I scoff. "And what can you do? You're just a servant."
"I'll prove to you that being selfish isn't wrong," he says. "And I'll start by granting one of your wish."
Before I can react, he steps closer. Too close. I press myself against the sofa, trying to avoid his gaze, but he leans in, his voice a whisper against my ear.
"I'll prove to you that you are still beautiful. That no man can resist you. Your husband is nothing more than a fool—a man jealous of his own wife's ability to overcome challenges. It was never about your beauty or age."
My breath hitches. I don't know whether to push him away or stay still. My mind is spinning.
What is this man trying to do to me?
And why... does his voice make me feel like I might believe him?
"How long has it been since you last felt the pleasure of a woman?" Shennong questioned.
At this point, I didn't want to admit it, but I was curious to see where this was going. Such a handsome and young boy seeking me out made my body go weak.
"I have remained faithful ever since my marriage. I've never looked at another man in a lustful way, but... I want to change that."
I was muttering words I never thought I could say. Why was I saying this? Was I being influenced? Was I being controlled?
I tried to think rationally, but the answer came to me quickly—no! No one was controlling me. This was my own free will, my own desire to break free. I wanted to do what I pleased without thinking about the consequences. Why should I remain loyal to a man who never even thought about me? Why should I resist such a handsome young man for an old and wimpy husband?
"Show me. Show me what it is like to be a woman," I whispered, locking eyes with him, not even blinking.
And at that moment, I saw it—he smiled at me like an angel, his expression brimming with pride.
"What a brave woman you are! I will reward your bravery with a secret of my own," Shennong muttered.
Then, suddenly, I felt a soft sensation on my lips. The very lips I had only ever used once—to seal the oath of my marriage.
I was flabbergasted. My mind went blank. Is this what it feels like to kiss a man?
But wait—this was no ordinary kiss! Why was he trying to force his tongue into my mouth?
A whirlwind of questions filled my mind, yet I found myself yielding. The moment our tongues intertwined, we shared a deep, passionate kiss I had never imagined possible.
What was this feeling?
Heat coursed through my body as our mouths danced together, savoring each other. And at that moment, I knew—this was no ordinary man. He was here to show me things, things I had never seen before.
I wished the kiss would never end, but soon, my head grew light. Only then did I realize—I wasn't breathing.
Sensing I was about to pass out, Shennong broke the kiss, his predatory eyes locking onto mine, as if he had just found the most exquisite prey of his life.
"I am no servant. I am no friend of Lily. I am not from this region. I am not here to find a job," he said, his voice sending a shiver down my spine.
Confusion swirled within me. What was he talking about? Who was he? Was this dangerous? Was he an assassin? An enemy?
I barely had time to process before he continued, and with his next words, I felt it—my life was about to change.
" I am here to give you an opportunity—to show you things you have never seen, to let you do things you have never done. You are free to make your own choice. You can call the guards, have me arrested and executed. Or..." His voice lowered, eyes piercing into mine.
"You can take my hand and obtain greatness alongside me."
My breath hitched as he took a step back, leaving me yearning for more of his intoxicating kisses.
"For now," he murmured, "I will leave you to think. But I will return, and when I do, I hope you are ready to embrace the change