Emilia wasn’t joking.
She wished she was, wished that this was just some impulsive bluff, but she wasn’t joking at all.
This was her reality — an ugly one.
She needed power.
And her father, as noble and frighteningly skilled as he was, despised killing a lot... for as long as she knew him, even though he did it... he hated it.
He wouldn’t take the lives she wanted gone.
So she went for the next best option.
Azel.
The man who, in her mind, carried an aura that was as sharp as the swords he wielded.
He was the type who wouldn’t hesitate when it came to striking down enemies.
The type she needed right now.
"If you help me eliminate every single person that’s involved in slavery in that town and the place they wanted to transport me to, I’d gladly become your wife," she said, clasping her hands around his with desperate firmness.
Her voice didn’t tremble — not outwardly.
Inside, her heartbeat was pounding like a drum in the hands of a war caller.
"Mother has already told you what I can do," she continued, eyes locked onto his. "I can cook, clean... and I’m loyal as well."
One of her hands slipped free and moved up, fingers brushing across the solid muscle of his chest.
She had to bite back the urge to let her blush show.
No, she couldn’t look shy right now.
Rain had told her in the one hour lesson that men liked women who knew how to seduce without hesitation.
She was going to use that advice... in her own way.
Not to tease or play, but to secure a deal.
"I can even offer you my body," she whispered, leaning in just enough that her breath brushed against his neck, "after all... we’ll be married."
Her voice was barely audible, yet every word was heavy with intent.
She could feel his heartbeat, rapid and strong.
For a fleeting moment, her confidence wavered.
She was beautiful, yes — she knew that.
She had the figure to match, and any man’s eyes would linger.
But beauty alone was a fragile currency.
She had nothing else tangible to offer.
She couldn’t sell anything that belonged to Elga, her mother in all but blood and she couldn’t fight in Azel’s league.
And between becoming the wife of a man like him or being enslaved again or even continuing her life as how she had been... she’d choose the former without hesitation.
Then his hands moved.
They rose, firm but careful, and came to rest on her shoulders.
The sudden closeness made her cheeks grow hotter.
Was he about to kiss her?
Here?
Now?!
’Damn men!’ Rain screamed in her head, she was watching her friend about to get taken advantage of... but she couldn’t do anything.
She couldn’t intervene, a Saintess against a Swordman in physical power... it was like asking for a beating.
[ Sigh... your inner rants are getting more annoying by the second, ]
The Goddess’s dry voice sounded in her head, the goddess was getting used to this and it was tiring... she would accuse him of being like others and now he would prove her wrong.
Then he said it.
"I refuse."
The words hit Emilia harder than she expected.
He gently pushed her back, but didn’t remove his hands entirely from her shoulders.
"W-what?" Her voice cracked as her composure splintered. "Is it because I’m not pretty enough for you?"
"What are you talking about?" His brows furrowed.
"Or is it because I don’t have a body like Rain’s?" she pressed, her voice climbing in pitch.
His lips parted in disbelief.
’This is what you’re worried about?’
"No, you’re beautiful," Azel said, ignoring her wounded expression.
His tone wasn’t flirtatious, just factual. "It’s just that... there’s nothing to deal with."
The words didn’t sink in right away. Then they did — and her eyes widened.
"What?"
"A year ago," Azel began, leaning back slightly with a sigh, "the old man and I decided to work together and clear out the place as training."
He ran a hand through his hair. "We had to wait a week for the king to give us the permit. When we got it, we started with the city. We took down everything we could see. There might still be a few slavers crawling under rocks, but we destroyed every major operation we found."
His gaze sharpened. "We even went down the path you mentioned from your memory. That small settlement that served as their base? We decimated it."
The room was silent except for Emilia’s shallow breathing.
Azel reached into his storage ring, his fingers brushing something smooth and cool before pulling it free — an orb, faintly pulsing with a dim light.
"It seems like you forgot who your father is," Azel said, holding it up between them. "If I touched you like that, he would kill me."
Her cheeks cooled instantly, embarrassment replacing the earlier heat.
The tension in the room thinned, and the other women seemed to relax, though Rain still eyed Azel like she might throw a cushion at his head.
Azel rolled the orb in his palm. "We had a communication orb for emergencies. I guess this counts as one."
Pouring his aura into it, the orb’s surface shimmered, and a soft hum filled the air.
Slowly, the shimmer expanded outward, projecting a faint holographic image that wavered in the air like smoke.
At first, it was blank. Then his voice cut through the room.
"Old man."
The screen flickered but there was no reply, Azel stared at the blank screen for a bit, his expression gradually changing... it was darkening.
"Old man."
It flickered once again and then the holographic screen revealed a middle aged man sitting under a tree, his hair had traces of white hair in them and he had an apple in hand.
"Oi, Boy... whats the emergency?" He said taking a bite of the apple, he looked so carefree now that Azel wanted to punch him.
He was lazing around like always.
Then Steven’s eyes gradually moved across the room, he could see it through the screen and his eyes landed on Emilia.
For a moment time seemed to slow as the apple dropped and the man’s eyes widened.
"Emilia?"
And after hearing that, Emilia’s racing heart calmed.
’He still remembers me.’