Chapter 64 - contract
"Y-you... you're serious?" I asked, my voice shaking with disbelief.
"Completely serious," Freya nodded with what looked like sincerity.
I was so happy...
This was an opportunity I never could've imagined.
Not only could Kaen be free, but he'd also get incredible power (grimoire).
"Alright," I said, my voice starting to steady.
"I... I'm begging you, Freya. Name whatever you want."
The corner of Freya's mouth lifted slightly when she heard my pleading tone.
"Oh Hestia, shouldn't this be an equal negotiation? You have the right to make requests too."
"I..." I glanced at Eina who nodded encouragingly, then took a deep breath.
"I only ask for a few simple things."
"Go ahead," Freya said with a gentle voice that still had a condescending undertone.
"First," my voice was almost a whisper.
"Please free Kaen. He's truly innocent."
"Of course, that's already obvious," Freya nodded like it was trivial.
"Second," I gathered my courage,
"The grimoire you promised... It has to be given to me without hidden conditions."
"I already said, that's a sign of my good faith."
"Third," I looked at the floor, feeling embarrassed to have to ask this.
"Could you make sure Kaen is safe from public harassment? I'm afraid people will..."
"Spread rumors to ruin his reputation?"
Freya finished my sentence with a tone that sounded like she was reading my mind.
"Of course, Hestia. I'll protect him."
"And..." I hesitated.
"If possible... could there be some kind of compensation? Kaen got hurt, and we're..."
"Poor?" Freya tilted her head with a pitying expression.
"Fine. I'll give high-level potions. Enough to heal him."
Eina's eyes widened hearing that, but she didn't speak.
"And fifth," I could barely bring myself to say it.
"Please don't bother us again after this. We just want to live peacefully, I mean... I owe a debt to the Freya Familia... And I'll definitely repay it so you don't need to bother us."
Freya was quiet for a long time, her purple eyes staring at me with an intensity that made me feel slightly uncomfortable.
Were my requests too much?
"That's all?" she finally asked.
"Five very... simple requests."
I nodded anxiously.
"Alright, Hestia. I agree to your requests," Freya rose from her throne with graceful movements.
"But of course, there are conditions that must be met."
The atmosphere in the room changed.
Her fake smile disappeared.
Her real face finally emerged...
cold and dangerous.
It seemed Freya considered this negotiation important.
"First," her voice became firm, "That man must have dinner with Syr every three days for the next six months."
"Six months?" I was shocked.
"Isn't that too long?"
"Dear Hestia," Freya smiled thinly.
"You don't want your familia member to stay in prison, do you? Six months is very short compared to a life sentence."
That subtle threat made my chest tight.
"But why does it have to be with Syr? Isn't she traumatized?"
I was a little jealous—I haven't even had a dinner date alone with Kaen outside yet!
"That's exactly why," Freya explained patiently as if speaking to a child.
"Syr needs to see that Kaen isn't a perverted man. And that man needs to learn to take responsibility for his actions. You don't want him to repeat the same mistake, do you?"
"No, but... but—"
"Second," Freya continued without giving me a chance to protest.
"That man must report to Syr every two weeks about his mental condition. I don't want him to suddenly 'explode' again and hurt someone else."
"What kind of reporting?" Eina finally spoke, worry clear in her voice.
"Oh, nothing complicated," Freya waved her hand lightly.
"Just telling her how he feels, whether he still gets lustful for no reason, things like that."
I went quiet hearing Freya's words.
What did she mean by lustful? Obviously Kaen wasn't lustful.
It seemed like Freya thought Kaen was thinking with his lower body.
"Third," Freya's purple eyes gleamed, "As a sign of sincere remorse, Kaen must give Syr a handmade gift every month. Nothing expensive needed. Maybe a small wood carving or simple jewelry."
"Every month?" I was starting to feel trapped.
"Wouldn't once be enough?"
Hmm... Wait, why were Freya's demands so weird?
Shouldn't she be demanding money from me?
Why did it feel like Freya wanted to set up Kaen with Syr?
Had Freya switched roles to become cupid now?
I was confused.
But Freya's voice sounded again, pulling me from my thoughts.
"Hestia," Freya's voice became slightly harsh.
"Are you forgetting that I'm providing help to someone who almost raped a girl? A little effort as a form of remorse isn't an excessive request."
The word "raped" hit like a slap.
I fell silent.
Freya's words made me realize my position as the one asking for help.
"Fourth," Freya continued with an increasingly dominating tone.
"I'll assign Hogni and Ottar to 'watch over' Kaen's development. He'll train with them every day for six months. Of course this is for his own good."
"Watching over or training?" Eina asked skeptically.
Eina's question made me realize.
Why was Freya making that condition?
"Both," Freya smiled coldly.
"That man needs guidance so he won't repeat his mistakes. And if he shows signs of instability... well, Hogni will know how to handle it."
The threat was crystal clear.
My blood boiled, but Eina's hand on my arm reminded me that I didn't have a choice.
I clenched my hands on my thighs.
"And lastly," Freya walked closer to me, her voice becoming a whisper as she even blew on my ear.
"All forms of investigation about this case must be stopped. Completely. If I hear you're still looking for evidence or other 'truths,' then this agreement is void. And Kaen will go back to prison to face the punishment he deserves."
Despite the disturbing feeling, I forced myself to look ahead.
"But what if—"
"There are no what-ifs," Freya cut in with a very cold voice.
"Accept or refuse. If you refuse, the exit is behind you. That man can enjoy prison food for the rest of his life."
The room fell into suffocating silence.
Freya stared at me with intensity that made my knees almost weak.
Somehow those eyes made me a little nervous.
"So, Hestia," her voice returned to gentle but threatening, "What's your choice? Accept my conditions and the young man goes free today. Or walk out of here and let him rot in prison."
Eina tugged my arm, whispering in panic.
"Goddess, this is too much. She's making Kaen like a slave—"
"Slave?" Freya laughed softly hearing Eina's whisper.
"I'm providing free training from elite adventurers, a rare grimoire, and freedom. What slave gets treatment that good?"
"But six months—"
"Or a lifetime in prison," Freya cut in with a gentle smile.
If I were a man, I probably would've already fallen in love with Freya's smile.
A smile that could make men go crazy.
But to me, it was a terrifying smile.
"The choice is yours, Hestia."
I stared at Freya's face, smiling slyly as she waited for my decision.
Her eyes gleamed with certainty that she'd already won.
And she was right...
she had already won.
There was no other choice.
Kaen wouldn't survive a lifetime in prison.
And I didn't have the power to fight Freya.
"I-I..." my voice trembled, almost inaudible.
"I accept."
Freya's smile widened...
maybe she didn't expect me to agree.
If this wasn't about Kaen, I definitely would've refused.
But for him...
I was forced to accept.
"A wise decision, Hestia."
Ganesha, who had been silent all this time, finally spoke.
"Well then, if both parties have agreed, I'll process Kaen's official release."
"Thank you, Ganesha," I said with relief in my voice.
For the first time, those prison bars felt like they were starting to open.
Taking a deep breath, trying to calm myself.
I saw Ottar step forward a few paces, pulling out a parchment and pen from who knows where.
"The contract will be prepared right now. Both parties must sign."
"Contract?" I was surprised.
"Isn't a verbal agreement enough?"
"Dear Hestia," Freya laughed softly.
"Of course we need an official document. After all, we're now in the mortal world... so we follow mortal rules."
"Hestia... You won't refuse it, will you?"
Hearing what Freya said, I felt it made sense.
After all, this wasn't Tenkai.
In a few minutes, Ottar had written down all the conditions Freya mentioned with detail that made me slightly worried.
But when I reread the requirements...
Actually, this wasn't as bad as I'd imagined.
Dinner with Syr?
Kaen really did need to learn to socialize again after this trauma, though I doubted whether Syr was right for that.
I hoped Syr was a good girl who could help Kaen recover.
It had to be that way.
Training from Hogni and Ottar?
That was actually a huge advantage!
Hogni was an elite adventurer training from him was worth millions of valis.
Especially Ottar... he couldn't be valued with money!
Regular reports about mental condition?
That was reasonable considering Kaen really did need supervision after this incident.
Even the ban on further investigation...
well, if Kaen was already free, why dig up old problems anyway?
Let the past be the past... Or at least, that's what I wanted to believe.
"Actually," I said while reading the contract.
"These conditions are more beneficial to Kaen than I imagined."
Eina looked at me with confusion.
"Goddess?"
Seeing Eina's confusion, I realized she hadn't read this contract yet.
So I showed her.
"Look..." I pointed to several points in the contract.
"Free training from a Level 6 adventurer, rare grimoire and a chance to repair his relationship with the victim. All of this will help Kaen."
What made me slightly annoyed was just one thing...
Kaen had to be close to another woman.
However...
"I just hope Kaen doesn't get too close to Syr," I muttered while signing the contract.
"This is all for Kaen's future," I said, trying to comfort myself.
Freya signed with elegant movements, and Ganesha added his stamp as witness.
"Done," Freya said while handing me a copy.
"Kaen will be released tomorrow morning. And the grimoire will be sent to your residence today."
"Thank you," I said sincerely.
"I know this isn't easy, but thank you for giving Kaen a chance."
"Everyone deserves a second chance," Freya smiled warmly.
"I'm sure that man named Kaen will learn from this experience."
Ganesha rose from his chair.
"Well then, I'll handle his release documents now. Hestia, Kaen will be able to go home tomorrow morning."
"Really?" my eyes sparkled.
"He'll really be free?"
"Of course," Ganesha nodded.
"The agreement has been made, documents have been signed. Nothing can stop it anymore."
For the first time in days, I felt a heavy burden lift from my chest.
I could picture Kaen's face standing in front of the door, free... alive.
We got up from our chairs to prepare to go home.
Even though the conditions were a bit complicated, what mattered was that Kaen was free and got a chance to start a new life.
"Oh, and Hestia," Freya's voice called me when we almost reached the door.
"Give my regards to Kaen."
"I will," I answered with a smile.
"Thank you again, Freya."
Just like that...
The elevator door closed with a gentle sound.
I still found it hard to believe that everything went better than I'd imagined.
"Goddess," Eina spoke with a hesitant tone.
"I'm glad Kaen will be free, but..."
"But what?" I asked while looking at the contract copy in my hand.
"I feel like something's wrong with all this, but I don't know what," Eina shook her head in confusion.
"Is this really okay?"
I looked at Eina's face full of worry.
"Eina, I also feel something's strange. At least Kaen will be back soon."
"Yes, but—"
"I'll think about it slowly later," I cut in gently.
"For now, my focus is welcoming Kaen home and making sure he can handle these conditions well."
The elevator stopped on the ground floor with a ding.
We stepped out with mixed feelings.
Ganesha walked with us toward the exit.
"Hestia, I'll make sure his release process goes smoothly."
"Thank you, Ganesha. I'm really grateful for all your help."
Seeing Ganesha disappear from my view, I looked outside Babel Tower. Nighttime Orario looked brighter to me.
Street lamps glittered like stars, and the bustling sounds of adventurers just returning from the dungeon sounded more festive.
My chest felt tight.
Even though there was a slight uncomfortable feeling in my heart...
I tried to ignore it.
This was all for Kaen's good, right?
And besides, with the grimoire we'd receive, Kaen could become much stronger.
Hestia Familia's future really did look promising.
But this uncomfortable feeling...
it wouldn't go away either.
I could only hope it wasn't a sign of new disaster coming.
— Freya's PoV —
Ganesha had left to handle the release documents.
leaving me and Ottar alone in this luxurious room.
Silence filled the space after the door closed.
I stood still for a moment, my purple eyes staring at the faint reflection in the large window facing nighttime Orario.
In that glass mirror, I saw the thin smile still attached to my lips...
a smile of victory I'd been waiting for so long.
"Did everything go according to plan, Goddess Freya?" Ottar asked carefully from behind me.
I turned to face him, my smile widening to become more natural.
More...
authentic.
"Better than I imagined," I answered while walking gracefully toward the throne.
Ottar stood straight behind me, as usual.
His unwavering loyalty always made me feel safe to speak freely.
"Goddess Hestia looked very... cooperative," he commented with a flat voice.
"Of course," I laughed softly, the sound echoing in this luxurious room.
"When someone's desperate, they'll agree to almost anything. And that little goddess... was very desperate."
"Poor little Hestia," I whispered to the night wind, my voice as melodious as a lullaby but containing deadly poison.
"She thinks she just saved her lamb from a hungry wolf."
I laughed softly... a beautiful sound like crystal bells, but would make anyone who heard it shiver with fear if they understood its meaning.
"She doesn't realize she just handed that lamb over to the wolf in exchange for greener grass and a bigger cage. She signed her child's ownership papers with a wide smile on her face."
My purple eyes gazed out the window, observing the small lights twinkling from houses below.
Somewhere out there, in a small church nearly falling apart, that goddess of poverty might be happy right now.
How naive.
"But Goddess Freya," Ottar spoke with a tone that remained respectful but slightly hesitant.
"Aren't your requests a bit... unusual? Usually you ask for more... substantial compensation."
I turned to face him, sitting back on my throne gracefully, tilting my head with an expression as if surprised by his question.
"Unusual?" I repeated with a mysterious smile.
"Ottar, sometimes the greatest goals are achieved through the simplest means."
I rose from the throne, walking around the room with graceful movements.
I was so excited I could hardly sit still.
"Money can be earned easily. Political power? I already have it. But an interesting man... who has unlimited potential..."
I stopped and looked directly at Ottar, my purple eyes gleaming.
"That's far more valuable."
"You mean, that man named Kaen?" Ottar asked, though his tone stayed flat, I could hear slight curiosity in it.
"Exactly, Ottar."
I walked back to the throne and sat gracefully, crossing my legs elegantly.
"A man interesting enough to make even me... Freya, interested. And most importantly..." my purple eyes gleamed with anticipation I'd held back for so long.
"He'll soon become... close to me."
I leaned against the throne's backrest, my fingers tapping the armrest in a slow rhythm.
"Kaen... that man has something different. There's a gleam in his soul that..." I paused, searching for the right words, "...makes me want to possess him."
"And through Syr's identity, you can approach him without him realizing who you really are," Ottar concluded with understanding.
"Exactly right."
My smile widened, showing satisfaction I'd held back for so long.
"Imagine, Ottar. A man who doesn't know he's dating the Goddess of Beauty herself. He'll see me as innocent, simple Syr, not as the frightening and powerful Freya."
I rose from the throne and walked to the window, gazing at Orario's glittering lights below.
"For the first time in thousands of years, I can feel... what it's like to be loved not because of fear or admiration for my power, but because he's genuinely interested in me."
"Isn't this somewhat... risky, Goddess Freya?" Ottar asked carefully.
"If he discovers your true identity..."
I laughed softly, the sound echoing in this luxurious room.
"Risk, Ottar? That's exactly where the fun is."
I turned to face him, my purple eyes gleaming with excitement I rarely felt.
"All this time, every man immediately kneels before me once they know who I am. Boring. But Kaen... he'll interact with me as Syr. I can see his real side, not the mask they put on to please me."
"And if he doesn't like 'Syr'?" Ottar asked the practical question.
My smile became slightly cold.
I hadn't considered the possibility of being rejected.
"Then I'll make him like Syr. By any means necessary."
I walked back to the throne, but this time didn't sit.
My hand rested on the armrest while staring at Ottar.
"The conditions I made earlier weren't just to get close to him, but also to control his environment. Dinner every three days, mental condition reports, handmade gifts..." I counted with my fingers.
"All of that will force him to think about 'Syr' consistently."
"Psychological manipulation," Ottar concluded flatly.
"Not manipulation," I corrected with a slightly sharp tone.
"This is... emotional investment. I'm giving him a chance to know me without prejudice. Isn't that more fair?"
Ottar fell silent, and I knew he was considering my words.
"And if in the end he's still not interested, even after getting to know 'Syr'?"
That question made my heart sink a little, but I didn't show it.
"Then at least I'll know he rejected me based on who I really am, not because of my reputation or fear of my power."
I sat back on the throne, this time with slower movements.
"Ottar, how long have I lived? Thousands of years. And in those thousands of years, there's never been anyone who truly knew me as... me. They all see the Goddess of Beauty, powerful Freya, frightening Freya. No one's ever seen..."
I paused, searching for the right words.
"...the woman behind all those titles."
"Goddess Freya..."
I didn't respond to Ottar's words.
I stared out the window, toward the small church invisible from here but whose location I knew.
"And now, thanks to little Goddess Hestia's 'kindness,' I have six months to prove to myself... whether he can see more than just Syr's pretty face."
"What if in the process, Goddess Freya ends up... hurt?" Ottar asked very carefully.
That question made me laugh, but this time it was bitter laughter.
"Hurt? Ottar, I've been hurt for thousands of years from loneliness. At least this time, if I have to be hurt, it's because I genuinely tried."
I rose from the throne for the last time tonight, walking toward the door.
"Tomorrow, Kaen will be free. And tomorrow, Syr will begin playing her role."
I stopped in front of the door and looked back at Ottar.
"Oh, and Ottar... never tell anyone about this conversation. Just the two of us need to know."
"Of course, Goddess Freya."
"Good."
With one last mysterious smile, I left the room, leaving Ottar alone.
For the first time in a while, I felt...
excited about something unusual.
And maybe, that's exactly where the beauty lay.