novelraw Chapter 712: A Scene Out Of A Movie
Chapter 712: A Scene Out Of A Movie
They hadn’t gone far when they reached another lively area.
A group of performers stood ready with instruments—drums, guitars, flutes, violins, and even a few unfamiliar stringed instruments Maria had never seen before. It looked like a full band, vibrant and energetic.
Cassius gestured toward them proudly.
"These gentlemen and ladies are the Melody Wanderers, one of the most popular bands in these parts. They travel from town to town, playing on the streets and bringing joy wherever they go. They’re incredibly talented."
The band members puffed out their chests, basking in the praise.
"They’re so talented, in fact, that they can play any genre you request. They don’t limit themselves to one style."
Cassius turned to them with a mischievous smile.
"For example, can you play something heroic and epic? Something that gets the blood pumping like war music that makes you want to charge into battle?"
The band leader nodded once. Instantly, the music swelled into a powerful, cinematic piece—drums thundering, strings soaring, brass-like notes ringing out.
The guards stationed around the perimeter unconsciously straightened their posture, looking pumped and ready to march. Even Maria felt her heart race from the sheer energy of the tune.
Cassius waited a moment, then called out.
"Now, something sad and tragic like a lament for someone who has passed on."
The music shifted seamlessly—slow, mournful, aching. It pulled at the heartstrings, made your chest feel hollow.
The babies in the nearby stall, who had been happily giggling moments ago, began to whimper.
Maria panicked.
"Stop, stop! Play something happy! Cheerful! Uplifting!"
The band grinned—clearly, this was their favorite genre and launched into a bright, bouncy melody that felt like sunshine and cotton candy.
The babies stopped crying immediately, gurgling with delight. The adults around them smiled, some even swaying to the beat.
Cassius turned to Maria. "You can choose any song you want. I’m sure they can even play gospel hymns, if you’d prefer."
Before she could respond, his eyes glinted with mischief.
"Actually, there’s one song in particular that I love. I ask them to play it whenever I see them."
He looked at the band leader with a knowing gaze.
"Play ’that’ song."
The band leader smirked back and raised his hand.
A new tune began—slow, romantic, and undeniably seductive.
The melody was rich and intimate, the kind of song played when lights are dimmed and passions run high.
It made the blood feel hot in an entirely different way.
Maria’s face flushed bright red. "Stop! Stop playing such a dirty song! There are children all around us!"
"What dirty song, Maria? I think it’s a beautiful melody."
Cassius looked at her innocently.
"Not to mention, music can be interpreted in many ways, so if you think it’s vulgar, perhaps the issue is with your own mind."
Maria’s embarrassment turned to anger. She reached over and pinched his waist hard.
"Change it! Change it right now to the happy and cheerful one. I want that!"
Cassius rubbed his side, wincing, but nodded to the band. The music transitioned smoothly back to the bright, uplifting melody.
Maria let out a relieved breath, then looked at Cassius with curiosity.
"Even though that last song was quite strange...I don’t think I’ve ever heard it before."
"I’ve traveled a lot and heard many songs, and the earlier ones sounded familiar, but that one was completely new."
She glanced at the band.
"Did they compose it themselves? If they did, they must be incredibly talented."
She had to admit that the song she’d heard earlier was really quite enchanting and pulled on one’s heartstrings. It had made her feel quite flustered.
She knew for sure that even two people, a man and woman who didn’t know much about each other would feel something if they heard such a song together.
Hearing this, Cassius was quite proud.
He couldn’t help but say. "Oh, you’re praising me so much, Maria! I can’t handle it!"
This confused Maria for a moment.
Then the realization settled in.
"Wait, Cassius—you’re the one who created that song earlier?"
"Of course." He nodded boldly, chest puffed out.
"Who else could create such a passionate song other than someone like me, who has women swooning left and right wherever he goes?"
He said it in a haughty, theatrical manner.
Maria should have rolled her eyes. Should have scoffed at his arrogance.
Instead, she looked at him with something like wonder.
"Wow. I didn’t know you were so skilled at...at this. At creating music."
Cassius shook his head with a playful grin and pulled her along again.
"I’m like a very thick book, Maria. It will take a while to thoroughly know me inside and out."
Even though the statement sounded arrogant, Maria had no choice but to agree. Every time she thought she understood him, he revealed another unexpected side.
He kept giving her surprise after surprise—just like the next stall they reached.
It was a garden.
A small, carefully cultivated garden filled with flowers of every color, arranged in elegant clusters.
Maria’s eyes went wide in joy.
"Oh my God!" She dropped to her knees beside a cluster of golden blooms. "Golden ratchelas! I haven’t seen these in years!"
She scrambled to another section. "Magnolia! Bavarian magnolia! How did you even get this here? It’s not supposed to grow in this climate!"
She spun around, spotting another flower. "The six-kissed lily! It’s as beautiful as the last time I saw it!"
She hopped and skipped through the garden, naming flower after flower, her voice bright with delight. Cassius followed behind her, watching her joy with a soft smile.
Finally, she turned back to him, eyes shining. "How did you know, Cassius? How did you know I love flowers so much? These are all my favorites!"
He gently caressed one of the blooms.
"I noticed it earlier while you were at the estate, walking around and looking at the flowers with such fondness. I asked one of the sisters about it, and she told me how much you adore them."
"My own family betrayed me!" She said playfully before looking at the flowers with quiet affection.
"To tell you truth, I didn’t have much appreciation for them at first." She gently caressed one of the flowers. "But when I started running my own church alone, I noticed the place felt so gloomy and dark."
"It was supposed to be a place of worship and hope, but it almost seemed haunted and scared the children away."
She looked around the garden, her eyes distant.
"So I started adding flowers. At first, just a few. Then more. I arranged them around the entrance, along the windowsills, by the altar. And it worked—the church became warmer, more inviting. More people started coming." She smiled. "I’ve loved flowers ever since."
Cassius listened quietly, storing away every word.
She was about to thank him, to tell him how much this garden meant to her—when she noticed a small platform at the edge of the garden.
It had steps leading up to a raised viewing area, just big enough for two people.
"What’s that?" She asked. "A viewing platform?"
Cassius’s face lit up.
"Come, come! I’ll show you." He grabbed her hand and pulled her toward the stairs. "What you’ll see from up there is more beautiful than any flower in this garden."
"...In fact, more beautiful than any flower in the world!"
Maria’s curiosity burned.
What could possibly be more beautiful than this?
They climbed the stairs together, her hand still in his, and stepped onto the platform.
Cassius spread his arms wide.
"Look down, Maria. Feast your eyes on the incarnation of beauty itself."
She looked.
And gasped.
The flowers below weren’t arranged randomly.
From this height, she could see the pattern—the careful, deliberate placement of each bloom, each color chosen for a specific purpose.
They formed a portrait.
A portrait of her!
She was smiling in the image, wearing her sister’s robes, her hair loose around her shoulders. The flowers captured every detail—the curve of her cheek, the softness of her eyes, the gentle slope of her neck.
And when the wind passed through the garden, the flowers swayed, and it looked like the portrait was moving. Like her eyes were twinkling. Like she was laughing.
It was magic.
Pure, impossible magic.
She just stared at it in a daze.
Cassius said enthusiastically. "What do you think, Maria? I wasn’t joking when I said it was the prettiest thing—more beautiful than any flower."
She turned to him slowly.
"I don’t know what to say, Cassius." Her voice was barely a whisper.
"This is...This is too much. I don’t think I’m worth all this effort."
She knew how much time and care this must have taken. The fact that he had gone to such lengths left her overwhelmed, her heart pounding.
But hearing this, Cassius looked slightly offended.
His voice turned firm and solemn. "Maria, don’t you dare talk about whether you’re worth it or not. I am the one who decides that—not you."
She blinked at him.
"Your happiness is the most important thing to me. Nothing else matters." He held her gaze. "So tell me—do you like it or not?"
Her eyes were wet.
"Of course I like it, Cassius. How could I not?" She laughed softly, shaking her head. "After all these pretty words, after showing me something so amazing...I’m pretty sure even the most noble princess would fall in love with you."
He stepped closer.
"And what about you, Maria?"
Her breath caught.
"Have you fallen for me already?"
She opened her mouth to say no. To deny it, to deflect, to protect herself.
The words wouldn’t come.
She struggled, caught between denial and the undeniable truth blooming in her heart. Cassius noticed her hesitation and smirked.
Maria’s cheeks burned. She spun around and fled down the stairs, her heart pounding.
"Wait, Maria!" He called after her, laughing. "I made something for you! A flower crown! Hold on, let me put it on you!"
Maria froze halfway down, then slowly turned around. Cassius was holding a delicate, beautiful flower crown woven from the very blooms in the garden.
Her eyes lit up with happiness. She climbed back up, lowered her head shyly, and let him place the crown gently on her hair.
The moment it rested on her head, she looked up at him with a soft, flustered expression.
Before he could even fully appreciate how lovely she looked, Maria turned and ran down the stairs again, glancing back at him shyly, as if she was suddenly too scared to stay close to him any longer.
Cassius stood there for a moment, smiling to himself, before hurrying after her with a fond laugh.
"Maria, wait for me!"
But Maria did not wait. Her heart was racing far too fast, and the embarrassment flooding her cheeks was simply too much to bear.
She continued running away through the colorful paths of Maria Land, while Cassius chased after her.
The scene they created was utterly bizarre yet strangely beautiful.
Maria looked like the embodiment of a pure, optimistic girl-next-door—her white dress fluttering around her legs, the delicate flower crown nestled in her pink hair making her appear even more radiant and ethereal.
And Cassius in his priest’s vestments looked like a man who had seen heaven and was willing to throw away every vow, every shred of faith, just to chase it.
The band, watching the chase, grinned at each other.
Their music shifted seamlessly, transforming into something soft and yearning, a melody that spoke of longing and love and the desperate hope of catching something precious before it slipped away.
With the added music, it was like scene from a romantic movie.
The kind the audience holds its breath and everyone knows that these two people belong together.