CHAPTER 317: COME RECEIVE YOUR PUNISHMENT

Seeing the dramatic performance Skadi was putting on, both Aisha and Julie’s lips twitched.

They knew she was exaggerating.

She wasn’t even pulled that hard. There was no way Skadi’s shoulder could be that fragile. They hadn’t even tugged at full strength. Not even half.

But none of that mattered, because Cassius didn’t seem to care in the slightest.

"Oh, you poor thing." He cooed, pulling her closer, tucking her under his chin. "I can’t believe they’d do that to you. To such a sweet, adorable little puppy like you. How cruel. How heartless. My precious girl...what have you been through..."

"Mmhm." Skadi whimpered softly, her nose nuzzling into the collar of his shirt. "It’s been awful, Master...hold me more...hug me tighter..."

And without hesitation, he did.

His arms wrapped more firmly around her, squeezing her affectionately, rocking her ever so slightly in place. Skadi practically melted in his embrace, her tail practically wagging if she had one. Her eyes shut in pure bliss, as a warm, satisfied smile spread across her lips.

Meanwhile, both Julie and Aisha stared at the scene in stunned silence.

They knew they were at fault. Skadi wasn’t exactly innocent either. But the way Cassius cuddled her like a fragile, wounded creature only made the guilt worse.

And the envy...Even if they didn’t want to admit it.

Just as they were starting to feel the weight of it all, Cassius’s expression slowly shifted.

His eyes left Skadi and drifted back toward them. That gentle look faded, replaced with something a bit more stern, cooler...Not harsh. But serious.

Immediately, both Julie and Aisha straightened.

Their gazes dropped again.

No words were said, but they could feel it. The tension returned, like a hand pressing down on their chests. The threat of disappointment looming.

They were strong women. Proud. Confident. Independent. The kind who didn’t care what others thought. The kind who would brush off lectures and criticism without a second thought if it came from anyone else. Even kings.

But this wasn’t just anyone else.

This was Cassius.

And his opinion mattered.

Too much, maybe.

So much that the idea of him being disappointed in them hurt more than any scolding ever could. That was why they didn’t look up. Why their pride faltered. Why their stomachs knotted.

They were bracing for impact.

But again...it didn’t come.

Cassius let out a soft sigh. Then, slowly, his features relaxed. He looked at them not with anger, but with calm. Quiet understanding.

"You two..." He started quietly.

Julie and Aisha both stiffened.

"There’s a lot I want to say to you right now."

Their hearts dropped, while e paused again, letting the tension stretch just a moment longer. Then—

"I’ll be honest. There’s a big part of me that wants to scold you both. Seriously. I mean, what were you thinking?" His voice was calm, but his words had a weight that made them flinch.

"But..." He exhaled again. "I don’t need to."

Julie slowly looked up. Aisha blinked, confused.

He gave them a small smile. "You’re not kids. You’re full-grown adults. Strong, capable, and more than aware of your own actions. I don’t need to lecture proper ladies like you about how you just acted. You already know what you did wrong."

They blinked again, the tension beginning to ease from their shoulders.

"You’re probably kicking yourselves inside already. Regretting it. And I know you both...so I trust that you’ll reflect on it yourselves." His voice softened as he added. "I don’t want to waste time scolding people I care about."

Julie’s heart thudded in her chest. Aisha swallowed hard.

Cassius smiled a little more. "So no lectures. No yelling. Just...let’s not do that again, alright?"

The sighs of relief that escaped them were quiet, but visible. Their shoulders slumped just slightly, their posture loosening.

And though neither of them said it aloud, the look they gave him, grateful, guilty, and deeply touched, said everything.

He hadn’t scolded them. He’d understood them. And more than that...he’d chosen compassion when they least expected it.

It was a gentle kindness neither of them would forget.

But just as both Julie and Aisha began to feel a cautious relief settle in their chests, thinking they had miraculously escaped with just a lecture, Cassius suddenly broke the silence with a slow, knowing smile.

"Now, now, don’t think you’re getting off that easy." He said, his tone shifting into something deceptively cheerful as he raised his eyebrows. "You two still need to be punished properly."

He clapped his hands once and then beckoned them with two fingers. "Come over here."

Julie and Aisha looked at each other, blinking. That look between them said everything, What’s he planning now?...But there was no fear, no dread.

Whatever punishment he had in mind, it couldn’t possibly compare to the crushing disappointment they thought they were going to receive. So they exchanged a nod and slowly walked over, steps quiet, almost reverent.

They stood in front of him, side by side, ready for anything. If he wanted them to run laps around the camp or clean horse manure barefoot, they’d do it. If he made them stand guard all night, so be it. They deserved it.

But to their surprise, Cassius didn’t order anything. Instead, his hands reached out gently, but quickly, and suddenly latched onto their cheeks.

Each hand pinched one face.

And then...he pulled.

Hard.

"Ow, ow, ow!" Julie flinched, her hands shooting up, but she didn’t stop him.

"Cassius—!" Aisha whimpered, wincing as her face was stretched like dough.

"You naughty little girls." Cassius said, his voice soft but exaggerated, almost sing-song. "Fighting with each other like wild kittens...dragging poor Skadi into your mess...You call this sisterhood? Hm?"

Julie scowled, cheeks still being pulled, and gave him a glare that might’ve been threatening if her face weren’t so warped.

Aisha tried to open her mouth in protest, but the grip on her cheeks left her speechless and drooling slightly.

And the worst part? He wasn’t even scolding them anymore. He was talking like a parent would to misbehaving toddlers.

"This is exactly the kind of behavior that gets you the cheek pinching treatment." He muttered seriously, giving their cheeks another tug for good measure.

Both girls cast him an indignant look, half due to pain, and half due to sheer disbelief.

This, this was their punishment?

It was childish! Juvenile! Insulting!

...So why did it feel so nice?

Maybe it was the familiarity. Maybe it was the warmth in his eyes. But something about the way he handled them, not as soldiers or fighters, but as precious people within his little circle, made them feel comforted.

Even Skadi, who was resting comfortably in Cassius’s embrace, tilted her head curiously at the sight. Her ears perked up, her eyes narrowing in envy. And when she saw how lovingly he pulled their cheeks, she let out a small huff and glared.

She wanted to be pinched too. She wanted to be called a naughty girl and punished gently by her master. With a small pout, she pressed herself even deeper into his chest.

Eventually, Cassius let go of the girls’ cheeks.

They both instinctively rubbed their sore faces, only to realize...they were smiling.

But then he continued, "I’m not going to make either of you apologize to the other. You’re children. You’ll sort it out yourselves."

Both girls blinked, surprised.

"But..." He added, turning slightly serious again. "b

Because of the pain you two caused poor Skadi, she’s going to be compensated."

He paused, then gave a firm nod. "She’ll be riding on the horse with me today."

Aisha and Julie’s expressions fell flat in an instant.

Their shoulders slumped. Their eyes dulled. And for a brief second, they stared at each other in utter, mutual devastation.

But before they could say a word, Cassius raised a hand with a small chuckle. "Hey, hey. Don’t look so heartbroken."

He grinned. "I should’ve said this earlier. Since all three of you want to ride with me...you’ll just take turns."

Their eyes lit up immediately.

"Skadi will go first." He continued. "Then Julie. Then Aisha."

He began walking away with a firm finality. "No changes. That’s how it’ll go for the whole trip."

And with that, he turned his back on them, striding off toward the horse, his coat fluttering lightly with the breeze.

Meanwhile, Skadi, still nestled in his arms, looked back over his shoulder.

A smug grin crept across her face as she stuck her tongue out at the two of them with smug pride before snuggling back into her master’s embrace with the most exaggerated sense of comfort, like she was rubbing salt in their wounds.

Julie and Aisha stared after her with wry, dry smiles.

"Unbelievable..." Julie muttered under her breath.

"She’s doing it on purpose..That little shit." Aisha said, equally deadpan.

But despite the teasing, despite their disappointment...there was something deeply fulfilling in all of it.

They were going to get to ride with him too. That alone was enough.

At least...until reality sank in.

Julie frowned. "Wait...I don’t know how to ride a horse."

Aisha blinked, suddenly remembering. "And I can’t ride behind you, Captain. You always panic and grab onto the other person’s waist and pull them down!"

Julie looked at her flatly. "It’s not that bad."

"You nearly broke my ribs once!"

They stared at each other in silence.

Then, in perfect sync, they both muttered, "We’re doomed" before groaning in unison, dragging their hands down their faces as they continued to hear Cassius coddling Skadi in front...