Depraved Noble: Forced To Live The Debaucherous Life Of An Evil Noble!-Chapter 164: I Feel Like I’m Living Again

Inside, Cassius turned, his smirk curling with a flicker of devious intent, his mind spinning with plans that went beyond a simple diagnosis. But as his eyes swept the room, those thoughts shattered, replaced by a jolt of astonishment that froze him in place.

Before him, Vivi's large, cushioned bed was a vibrant chaos of color and creativity. Hundreds of origami creations littered the surface, spilling over the edges like a cascade of delicate treasures.

Cranes, tigers, dragons, frogs, tiny chariots—each folded with meticulous care, their vibrant hues of red, blue, green, and gold catching the firelight. Some had tumbled to the floor, scattered like fallen leaves, clear evidence to their sheer number.

Vivi herself had maneuvered from her wheelchair, crawling onto the bed with a practiced ease that spoke of routine. She lay back against the pillows, her frail frame nestled among the origami, her blue eyes bright with a quiet contentment as she adjusted her position, clearly accustomed to Cassius's examinations in this setting.

Cassius stepped forward, his boots silent on the plush rug, his gaze darting from one creation to the next, marveling at the sheer scale of her work.

"Well, damn..." He murmured, his voice low with genuine surprise as he picked up an intricately folded crane, its wings sharp and precise. He glanced at Vivi, his smirk softening into something closer to admiration. "I was going to start today's diagnosis by asking how you're holding up, if everything's alright. But seeing this..." He gestured to the bed, the origami glinting like a small, vibrant kingdom. "Looks like you've been keeping yourself plenty busy just like I told you to...Did you make all these?"

Vivi nodded, her cheeks flushing with pride and excitement, her voice bubbling with enthusiasm as if she were a child eager to show off her favorite toys.

"Yes, I did!" She said, her eyes sparkling as she sat up slightly, propping herself on her elbows. "Aren't they cute? So pretty! I love them so much, I keep them on my bed all the time—sleep with them, even....They're like my little friends."

Her smile widened, a touch of mischief flickering in her gaze as she picked up a tiny origami dragon and a chariot, holding them up like puppets.

"Sometimes, I make up stories with them, little role-plays. Like this"

Her voice shifted, adopting a high-pitched tone for the dragon.

"Oh, brave chariot, you dare challenge the mighty Flamewing?" She wiggled the dragon, then deepened her voice for the chariot, making it rumble. "I fear no beast, for I carry the heart of a hero!" She moved the figures in a mock battle, her laughter soft and infectious as the dragon 'swooped' toward the chariot.

But mid-skit, her eyes flicked to Cassius, and a wave of embarrassment crashed over her, her cheeks blazing as she realized what she'd done.

"Oh!" She gasped, dropping the origami back onto the bed, her hands flying to her face. "I'm so sorry, Young Master Cassius! That was...That was childish, wasn't it? I got carried away, showing you something so silly—

Cassius chuckled, his laugh warm and genuine as he twirled the crane between his fingers, his eyes glinting with amusement.

"Not at all, Vivi." He said, leaning back against the desk, his tone teasing but kind. "That was adorable. Hell, I enjoyed the show—thought Flamewing had the chariot beat for a second there."

"...You've got a knack for storytelling. Nothing childish about that."

Vivi's blush deepened, but her smile returned, her giddiness bubbling up at his approval.

"Really?" She asked, her voice soft with relief. "You don't think it's.....silly?"

"It is silly...But being silly is good." Cassius said, his smirk softening. "Keeps the heart light, so you keep playing with those, Vivi. It's doing you more good than half my treatments."

She laughed, her embarrassment easing as she looked at the sea of origami around her, her fingers brushing a tiny frog that had tipped onto its side.

"We'll, I'm glad you think that what I'm doing isn't meaningless, my lord." She said, her voice thoughtful. "The thing is, I've spent so much time in this bed, unable to go anywhere for so long, so having a hobby like this...It's perfect."

"It keeps my hands busy, my mind too. Most days, when I'm not reading letters or books, I'd just sit here, folding these little things, one after another. It's like...building a world I can hold."

Cassius raised a brow, picking up an origami tiger, its stripes meticulously folded.

"A world, huh?...That's one way to put it."

His gaze then flicked to a particularly intricate piece—a woman riding a horse, the details so fine they seemed almost lifelike.

"This one's different." He said, holding it up. "I don't remember teaching you this. Did you possibly come up with it yourself?"

Vivi's eyes lit up, her voice brimming with pride as she nodded.

"Yes! I experimented a bit, tried new folds. It took ages to get the horse's legs right, but I figured it out. The woman...I imagined her as a knight, riding off to save someone." She ducked her head, a touch shy. "It's not much, but I'm proud of it."

Cassius's smirk faded into a genuine smile, his voice low with respect.

"Not much? Vivi, this is mighty impressive. Most people would've given up after a dozen cranes, but you're out here inventing your own designs. That's talent, plain and simple."

Vivi's cheeks warmed, her smile faltering under his praise.

"Oh, it's not that special." She said, waving a hand dismissively. "I've had so much time to practice, it's only natural I'd learn a bit. Anyone could do it with enough hours stuck in bed."

But her gaze softened, a grateful look settling in her eyes as she met his."But...thank you, Young Master...For teaching me this art."

"You knew I needed something to do, didn't you? Something to keep my mind busy when I was trapped here, so you ended up teaching me all this...I'm so grateful for it, for letting me find this joy, this...escape. It's meant more than I can say."

"Just doing my job, Vivi. A patient's mental state is as important as their body, You were reading books and letters till your eyes crossed—needed something else to keep that sharp mind of yours stimulated. Origami's just a trick I picked up, figured it'd suit you. Looks like I was right."

Cassius said as he picked up another creation—a tiny carriage, its wheels folded with surprising precision.

Vivi's smile widened, her volce earnest. "Even if it was just part of treating me, it made me so happy. For the first time in ages, I wasn't bored lying here. I was excited, creating something, building these little worlds."

"...So thank you, truly. You've given me so much more than you realize."

Cassius's smirk returned, but there was a flicker of something softer in his eyes as he set the carriage down. He opened his mouth to respond, but Vivi's expression shifted, a spark of curiosity lighting her face as she leaned forward slightly, her voice tinged with suspicion.

"Wait a moment." She said, her eyes narrowing playfully. "When you taught me origami, you said you learned it from someone else, that they were the one who showed you."

"But...I asked around, you know, because I wanted to learn more about it. I couldn't find anyone else who knew this art, not the way you taught it. And now, knowing you made my wheelchair, that you're so clever with your hands..." She tilted her head, her pout returning as she fixed him with a knowing look. "...Young Master Cassius, did you invent origami too? Be honest!"

Cassius's smirk faltered, his eyes flicking away as he let out a low chuckle, his voice deliberately vague.

"No need to dig into unnecessary details, Vivi." He said, his tone smooth but evasive as he pulled a chair from the comer and set it beside her bed. "Right now, I'm here to take care of you, not answer a hundred questions about paper folding. Let's focus on that diagnosis, alright?"

Vivi's pout deepened, her voice rising in playful protest. "Oh, that's not fair! You're dodging my question! I bet you did invent it, didn't you? You're too talented for your own good, and you're trying to hide it!" She crossed her arms, her eyes sparkling with mischief, though her heart swelled with a quiet awe.

'He's so much more than anyone knows.' She thought, her mind racing with the realization that Cassius's talents seemed to know no bounds. "And he's here, with me, sharing all of this...I'm so lucky.'

"Alright, Vivi." Cassius said, his voice firm but warm as he leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. "Settle down...Time to play patient for a bit. No more pouting about origami secrets."

Vivi's pout lingered, but she obeyed, her smile softening as she adjusted herself against the pillows, the origami crinkling faintly around her.

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"Fine." She said, her voice playful but compliant, her hands folding neatly in her lap, still clad in his oversized gloves. "I'm settled. Go on, Doctor Cassius—do your worst."

He chuckled, as he straightened, his tone shifting to a practiced calm. "Let's start simple. How're you feeling? Any changes since my last visit? Improvements, setbacks—give me the full report."

Vivi's face lit up, her voice bubbling with enthusiasm as she sat up slightly, her eyes sparkling.

"Oh, I'm feeling so much better!" She said, her hands gesturing animatedly, the gloves flopping a bit. "You can see how active I've been, can't you? I mean, I'm out in the garden now, talking to people, helping them with their troubles. I couldn't have done that a few months ago. Back then, I'd be exhausted just sitting up for an hour."

"...Now I'm...well, I'm living, Young Master. It's like I'm finally me again."