Chapter 93: My Promise to Freya
I watched as Freya reluctantly endured Cain’s embrace. Her body stiffened, her arms hung limply at her sides. She wasn’t reciprocating, yet Cain didn’t seem to care. The sight of it made my chest tighten with irritation.
"Come on, Nao! Are you seriously just going to stand there? Go out there and say something! You can’t let Cain have her!" Envi’s voice rang out in my head, filled with urgency. It was as if he could feel my frustration, fueling it further.
I clenched my fists so tightly they trembled. I wanted to act, to march over and tear her away from him. But then, Freya took a step back, pulling herself free from Cain’s hold.
"It’s getting late, Cain-sama. I need to rest now. Please excuse me," Freya said softly, her gaze lowered. Without waiting for his reply, she turned and walked away, leaving Cain standing alone under the dim moonlight.
But Cain only chuckled, his smile wide and triumphant. "Come out, Naoki. It’s impolite to spy on a man’s intimate moments," he called out, his eyes narrowing as he looked straight at the tree I was hiding behind.
I froze, my heart skipping a beat. He knew I was there? How long had he noticed?
Taking a deep breath, I stepped into the open. "Intimate moments? That looked more like harassment to me. What lies did you tell Freya to make her listen to you?" My voice was steady, but my glare carried all the venom I felt inside.
Cain let out a booming laugh, clearly amused by my words. "What are you implying, Naoki? All I did was offer to teach her Flamemore Swordsmanship. Freya’s talented—more than I expected from someone in a branch family. I only thought it fitting to help her grow stronger. Of course..." He paused, a sly grin spreading across his face, "...I’ve decided to make her my future wife. A talent like hers deserves to be kept close."
"Future wife?" The word left my mouth, dripping with disbelief. "You’re insane. That so-called relationship isn’t built on love—it’s nothing but your one-sided coercion! I could see the sadness in her eyes from here."
Cain’s smile twisted into something darker. "Coercion? She agreed to my terms! I only told her the truth: that friendships are pointless and only make people weak. I advised her to cut ties with her so-called friends, and she listened. She understands strength is all that matters."
"And love?" Cain scoffed. "Who needs it? I just need a strong woman to bear strong children. That’s all that matters in the end."