Cassius saw the way she clung to that tiny crocheted ladybug like it was something priceless, and for a long second, he just gazed at her in silence. Her joy felt so soft, so pure, it stirred something unfamiliar in him. Something warm. Something terribly soft.

And then, as if a little devil whispered into his ear, an idea sparked.

A teasing smile curled on his lips as he leaned forward, slowly wrapping his fingers around her wrist. Julie blinked, surprised as he gently pulled her in, their faces only inches apart.

"What are you doing now…?" She asked, narrowing her eyes warily.

He tilted his head, still smiling, and said. "You know, after making that ladybug...I don't mind making a few more things."

Julie's brows shot up in delight.

"I mean it." He went on. "I could make a couple more ladybugs too. Different colors. Maybe a red one, a green one, maybe even a striped one. As companions for that one you're holding."

Her eyes went wide, sparkling in real-time as the idea bloomed in her head.

'Companions...A whole ladybug family.' The thought made her heart race with anticipation.

But before she could say a word, Cassius raised his brows and grinned a little more evily.

"Of course, those won't be free. Not like this one."

Her entire body stiffened.

"If you want more ladybugs…" He said, tapping a finger against his cheek with mock seriousness. "...you'll have to give me a kiss. Right here. Just one. A simple little kiss on the cheek. That's all."

Julie stared at him, mortified.

He added with a chuckle, "I could charge gold, you know. My skills are worth plenty more than a kiss. But I'm feeling generous. For you, a kiss will do."

He gave her a hearty look, smug and amused, clearly enjoying every second of her inner meltdown.

Julie panicked. Her mouth opened, then closed. Then opened again.

"I...I mean...that's...that's not fair!" She stammered. "I really do want more ladybugs. I think she, she would be lonely without them. If she had friends, a whole family even, that would make her so happy!"

She clutched the little crocheted bug to her chest, glancing down at it and then back up at Cassius.

"But I can't just kiss someone for something like that! I'm a knight! And a noble lady! And—" She paused, flustered beyond words. "And I don't just hand out kisses for...for crocheted insects!"

"But…" She whispered to herself. "They would be such cute little friends. A family...maybe a dad ladybug, and a mom, and babies…"

Her eyes drifted to his face again, and suddenly, an entirely different kind of thought entered her mind. One she wasn't prepared for.

She imagined Cassius kissing her.

Or her kissing him.

And for some reason, it didn't make her recoil in horror. It made her heart leap. It made her cheeks flush bright red.

She shook her head violently. "No! No no no no, I will not fall for that!"

Then she spun around dramatically and declared with forced pride. "No! Absolutely not!"

Cassius blinked.

"I refuse your offer!" She said with a huff, lifting her chin high. "As tempting as it is..." She muttered under her breath. "...and it is very, very tempting. So much so I considered closing my eyes and just getting it over with, "

She shook her head harder.

"But I cannot. I'm a noble knight of the Holy Guard! I must carry myself with dignity! People look up to me! I cannot throw away all that pride and discipline...just for...material things!"

She clenched her fists, visibly pained by her own decision.

Seeing her resolve, Cassius leaned back slowly with an exaggerated sigh.

"Damn...I really thought I caught you with that one." He said with a grin. "Thought I'd finally get a kiss from you. That honestly disheartened me quite a lot."

"What do you mean by that?" Julie asked in confusion.

"I mean..." He said dryly. "Even with all these cute little objects, I still can't get a kiss from you. Makes a guy feel like he's losing his touch."

Julie flushed again, unsure how to respond. Then, after a moment of silence, she looked at him shyly and asked in a softer voice.

"Will you...ever make something like this again?"

He blinked. "Hm?"

"I mean...something like this." She repeated, holding up the ladybug gently. "Something handmade. Something small and...and cute."

"Probably. I get restless sometimes and tinker around." Cassius shrugged lazily. "Might be knitting something, sewing a little pouch, trying to create a mini church out of toothpicks and glue, who knows. I get ideas. I like making things. It helps me focus."

Julie's eyes lit up with subtle anticipation.

And then, after hesitating just a bit, she looked away and mumbled. "If you do...make something like this again…"

She clutched the ladybug tighter.

"…Then I want to be there."

Cassius raised a brow, intrigued. "Be there?"

She nodded, cheeks red. "I want to...I want to see it happen again. The way your hands moved...the way it slowly came to life...it felt like magic and it makes me really happy to witness. So, I want to see it again."

And then she whispered. "And I don't mind...sitting on your lap again. Like this. If you'll let me."

Cassius's eyes widened slightly.

She turned to him, still shy but braver now, and said, "Call me over. If you're ever making something like this again. I want to be there. I want to...participate."

"...T-That is of course when I'm free and not when I'm on duty, since there's no way I'm skipping out on my duty to spend time with you."

For a second, he was genuinely surprised. Then, slowly, that familiar smile of his returned.

He leaned in close again, voice dropping to a soft whisper right against her ear. "So basically, what you're saying is...you don't mind sitting on my lap like this...as long as I'm crafting little things like this for you."

Julie turned stiff, blushing madly.

"…That's what you're saying, right?" He murmured.

She bit her lip, trying to suppress a noise that escaped her throat.

Cassius grinned, whispering even lower. "In that case...next time I'm home and decide to make something, I'll call you over. Just the two of us...in a quiet room...sitting just like this…"

His breath tickled her ear, and she felt heat crawling up her spine.

"We can take our time..." He finished. "...and spend some quality hours together. I make something...and you...sit right here on my lap, cheering me on."

Julie buried her face in her hands, her voice muffled. "Stop talking like that…"

But she didn't move away, not even a little...