Chapter 893: Lewd Hand Holding

Ragnora didn’t know what to say.

Finally, she dropped her gaze to the paper and began to read it properly. It was handwritten and it was organized like a menu as though she were ordering dinner rather than...whatever this was.

Her eyes moved down the list:

---

CASSIUS’S LOVE SIMULATOR SERVICE

Hand-Holding — 50 silver

Hug (Standard) — 100 silver

Pat on the Head — 150 silver

Hug (Deep & Affectionate) — 250 silver

Hair Stroking — 300 silver

Kiss on the Cheek — 350 silver

Cuddling (Seated) — 400 silver

Forehead Kiss — 450 silver

Horn Polishing — 500 silver

Cuddling (Lying Down) — 600 silver

Whispered Compliments — 100 silver per compliment

Hand-Feeding (One Meal) — 800 silver

Stargazing Together — 1000 silver

Sleeping Beside (No Contact) — 2000 silver

---

Ragnora’s eyes snagged on Kiss on the Cheek and stayed there. And stayed there. Her brain, entirely without her permission, conjured an image:

Cassius standing on his tiptoes, maybe dragging over a stool. Reaching up toward her face with that mischievous grin of his. Pressing his lips to her scarred crimson cheek.

Her entire body flushed hot. Her heart, that traitorous organ, began hammering against her ribs like a war drum.

She shoved the paper away as though it had bitten her.

"No." She said, her voice coming out more strangled than she’d intended. "Cassius, I cannot accept this."

Cassius’s eager expression dimmed.

"Why not? I’m offering you a solution. A genuine, practical solution to everything you just told me. You want to experience romance—here it is. All of it. On a menu. Pick what you like."

Ragnora shook her head firmly, though her hand had instinctively drifted toward the coin pouch at her belt before she caught herself and yanked it back.

"It’s...It’s a thoughtful gesture." She managed. "Truly. And I won’t forget that you offered this. But—"

She pressed the paper flat against the table, her massive fingers splayed across the list as though to shield herself from its temptations.

"I cannot do anything that would betray Isabelle."

Cassius went quiet.

"She adores you." Ragnora continued, her voice growing steadier now that she’d found her moral footing.

"I saw the way she looked at you tonight. The way she spoke about you. The way she defended you when Sisi called you a fraud—she transformed into an entirely different person. That woman loves you with everything she has."

She shook her head. "I won’t be the reason her trust is broken. I won’t stamp on another woman’s happiness just to chase my own foolish dreams."

She squared her shoulders, a note of finality in her voice.

"So no. I appreciate it, but I cannot accept."

She expected Cassius to look disappointed. Maybe even annoyed. She braced herself for the awkwardness that would follow—the polite retreat, the mumbled goodbyes, the long night of lying awake wondering if she’d made the right choice.

Instead, Cassius leaned back in his chair, tilted his head, and waved his hand as though she’d just told him there was a slight chance of rain tomorrow.

"Oh, that." He said. "Don’t worry about Isabelle."

Ragnora’s eyes narrowed. "Excuse me?"

"I’m serious. You don’t need to worry about her at all."

The words hit Ragnora like a slap. Her expression hardened from apologetic to something much colder.

"Cassius." She said, her voice dropping to a dangerous register. "What exactly are you saying? Imagine what your wife would feel if she learned about this. Her heartbreak."

She stared at him with something approaching disbelief.

"I did not take you for the kind of man who would speak so carelessly about betraying his own—"

"No, no, no!" Cassius practically launched himself forward in his chair. "Commander, you’ve completely misunderstood!"

"Have I?"

"Yes! Absolutely! One hundred percent!" He slapped his palm against the table. "I’m not saying I don’t care about Isabelle’s feelings. What I’m saying—"

He leaned closer, his blue eyes earnest and bright.

"—is that Isabelle genuinely, sincerely, wholeheartedly would not mind. Not even a little bit."

Ragnora stared at him in bafflement.

"I...don’t understand."

Cassius settled back in his chair, swirling the tea in his cup with a thoughtful expression.

"You see, Isabelle and I have a very...unique relationship. We trust each other completely. There are no secrets between us, not about things like this. And I can tell you with absolute certainty: if Isabelle were here right now, listening to everything you’ve told me tonight, she would be the one pushing you toward me."

"That’s..." Ragnora shook her head. "That’s absurd. You’ve written things on this list that—"

She grabbed the paper and held it up.

"A kiss. Cuddling. Even sleeping in the same bed—even if nothing happens, it’s still—"

"And if I told her about it..." Cassius interrupted gently. "...she would not only approve. She would be excited for you."

Ragnora’s mouth opened. Nothing came out.

"Think about it, Commander." Cassius set down his cup. "Isabelle has been your fan since she was four years old. She knows every battle you’ve ever fought. She dressed up as you for a school play. Her bedroom walls were covered in your posters. She memorized your exploits the way scholars memorize ancient texts."

He spread his hands.

"Do you honestly believe that devoted, adoring woman would deny you a chance at experiencing something you’ve wanted your entire life?"

Ragnora’s resolve flickered.

"And more than that." Cassius continued, pressing his advantage. "Isabelle is not a jealous person by nature. She’s...generous. Open-hearted. If she knew how lonely you’ve been, how desperately you’ve wanted this, she would be the first person to grab my arm and physically drag me to your doorstep."

He met her eyes.

"If you don’t believe me, Commander, then test it. Tomorrow morning, go to Isabelle yourself. Tell her everything I’ve proposed. Tell her about the list and ask her if she minds."

He placed his hand over his heart, his expression utterly sincere.

"I promise you, she will not only approve. She will be thrilled."

Ragnora searched his face for any sign of deception.

She found none.

"You’re...serious." She breathed.

"Deadly serious."

"She would truly...?"

"Isabelle would probably ask if she could watch." Cassius paused. "Actually, knowing her, she’d probably ask if she could join!"

Ragnora’s face went from crimson to something approaching a small inferno. "Th-that’s—I don’t—"

"My point..."

Cassius said, mercifully steering the conversation back to safer ground.

"Is that you have nothing to feel guilty about. Not where Isabelle is concerned. She trusts me. I trust her. And both of us would be honored to help you experience something you’ve been denied for far too long."

He leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table.

"So. Now that we’ve cleared that up..." His grin returned, softer this time. "What do you say, Commander? Will you go through with it?"

Ragnora was silent for a long moment.

Her mind was a battlefield.

On one side stood her sense of dignity. The leader who never showed weakness, never asked for help, never indulged in frivolous desires.

On the other side stood...everything else.

The little girl who used to watch Agnora and Diami slow-dance in their kitchen.

The teenager who walked through villages and stared longingly at couples holding hands.

The commander who went home every night to an empty house and wrapped her arms around a pillow, pretending it was someone who loved her.

She looked at the list.

She looked at Cassius.

The list.

Cassius and her mind was in chaos.

’Deny it!’ One voice screamed. ’Deny it and walk away! Preserve your dignity! You are Commander Ragnora Titanborn. You do not pay for affection like some desperate—’

’Accept it!’ Another voice whispered. ’When will you ever get another chance? When will you ever feel what it’s like to be held, to be touched, to be wanted—even if it’s just pretend?!’

Finally, Cassius reached for the paper, his fingers brushing the edge.

"If you’d rather not, Commander, I completely understand. I won’t press—"

"NO!"

The word exploded from Ragnora’s mouth with such force that Cassius physically jolted backward.

"I mean—" She swallowed hard, her hand still pressed flat against the paper as though protecting it from being taken away.

"I mean...I’ll accept it."

A grin spread slowly across Cassius’s face.

"Wonderful!" He clapped his hands together. "Commander, you’ve just made the best decision of your entire evening. Possibly your entire week. Maybe your entire—"

"Please stop talking." Ragnora muttered, her face burning.

"—life! Truly, this is a momentous occasion. I should mark it on a calendar. ’The Day Commander Ragnora Agreed to—’"

"Cassius."

"Right, right. Professionalism. I can do that." He cleared his throat and straightened in his chair, though the grin didn’t fade entirely. "So! Let’s begin. Which service would you like to try first?"

Ragnora looked down at the list. Her eyes skimmed over the options—some were far too intense, others far too intimate.

She needed something manageable. Something that wouldn’t make her heart explode out of her chest.

She cleared her throat.

"This one." She said, pointing at the first item on the list. "I think I’ll...start with this."

Cassius leaned over to look. His grin softened into something gentler.

"Hand-holding. An excellent choice! Classic. Timeless. The foundation upon which all great romances are built."

"It’s just...holding hands." Ragnora said, suddenly feeling foolish. "It’s such a small thing. Children do it. Parents and children do it. It’s not even particularly—"

"In some cultures." Cassius interrupted, his voice taking on a mysterious quality. "Hand-holding is considered the most scandalous, intimate act two people can engage in."

Ragnora blinked. "What? That’s absurd. It’s just—"

"Is it?" Cassius rose from his chair and gestured for her to do the same. "Come. Let’s move to the living room. More space there."

Ragnora rose hesitantly and followed him to the spacious living area. Her house, built to accommodate her size had plenty of open floor space, and the firelight from the hearth cast warm, dancing shadows across the walls.

Cassius turned to face her. He was so much smaller than her, barely reaching her chest and yet he looked up at her with absolutely no trace of intimidation.

"Your hand, please." He said, extending his own.

Ragnora stared at his outstretched palm. It was pale, elegant, the hand of a scholar rather than a warrior. So different from her own massive, scarred, crimson fingers.

"I..." She hesitated, her hand hovering in the air. "Cassius, look at the size difference. Your hand is barely a third of mine. This is ridiculous. I shouldn’t have—"

Cassius reached up and gently caught her fingertips before she could withdraw.

"It doesn’t matter." He said quietly. "Size, shape, color—none of it. What matters is that two people are choosing to connect. That’s all. Just...connect."

Ragnora swallowed hard.

"Now." Cassius continued, his voice dropping to something almost instructional. "Slide your fingers between mine. Slowly. There’s no rush."

With trembling fingers that had torn apart S-class monsters without hesitation, Ragnora carefully, delicately, threaded her fingers between Cassius’s.

His hand was warm. So warm. And despite how absurd they must have looked, this towering crimson warrior and this lean white-haired man—their hands fit together in a way that felt...right.

"There." Cassius said softly. "Now hold me back. Gently. Just enough to feel the connection."

Ragnora closed her fingers around his hand. She could feel his pulse through his palm.

"There we are." Cassius smiled up at her. "We’re holding hands. How does it feel?"