FLBE Chapter 2 Part 3

“Why is your face so red?”

 

 

 

She side-eyed him while he spoke with a slightly teasing tone. Observing his crooked grin, Liena shot him an irritated look. However, it was clear that he was teasing, as one corner of his mouth curled playfully.

 

 

 

“It’s, it’s because… it’s hot. Ugh, why are these clothes so warm?”

 

 

 

Anyway, it was true that she had stolen a glance at him, so she had nothing to say. Liena fanned herself appropriately while turning her gaze toward the window. However, she couldn’t really enjoy the view outside, as her gaze returned to him. His hand under her chin had lifted her head back to its original position.

 

 

 

“Last night seemed quite enjoyable. Judging by how openly you mentioned wanting to undress?”

 

 

 

“Ah, no!”

 

 

 

“It doesn’t seem like you’re as frightened as last night.”

 

 

 

“….”

 

 

 

“It’s good that you’re not trembling. But do something about that damn pheromone. Do you really want to gather all the alphas in the neighborhood?”

 

 

 

Liena’s flickering eyelids widened suddenly. She had sensed something odd in his words.

 

 

 

All the alphas in the neighborhood…? There are more alphas? Wait, why? There’s supposed to be only one alpha, which is Rhetrik!

 

 

 

In the world with alphas and omegas, she hadn’t even considered the possibility of other alphas. The novel she had read, a hardcore dystopian romance between the male lead Rhetrik and the deceased saintess, didn’t involve any other alphas or omegas. So, she had naturally assumed that in this world, there was only one alpha – Rhetrik.

 

 

 

But now he mentioned “all the alphas in the neighborhood.”

 

 

 

What on earth… How does this work?

 

 

 

She was puzzled. Just as she was about to ask what he meant, he suddenly turned and began walking again, leading her to hurry along.

 

 

 

* * *

 

 

 

As they entered the dining room, Liena’s mouth fell open. How could a restaurant be this huge? She never imagined that she would freeze inside a restaurant meant for dining.

 

 

 

Casually seated at the head seat of a long marble table, Rhetrik rested his chin on his hand as he gazed at her. He observed Liena’s fluttering eyes and her restless demeanor with a certain novelty.

 

 

 

Seeing her hesitating to take a seat, he signaled to the steward standing nearby. The quick-witted steward approached her and spoke.

 

 

 

“Saintess, this way please.”

 

 

 

“Huh? Ah, yes.”

 

 

 

Following the steward’s lead, Liena was still so captivated by the scenery that she didn’t even realize she had taken a seat in the dining room.

 

 

 

The spacious room could accommodate over a hundred people, and it felt like a museum displaying a piece of medieval history. Even at a glance, the sculptures and artifacts seemed far from ordinary, and the wall was adorned with antique paintings that seemed valuable enough to sustain a lifetime if sold.

 

 

 

Liena continued to look around, her eyes wandering, until she found herself making eye contact with the steward, who had been waiting for her. With a somewhat awkward smile and a gesture of gratitude, she reluctantly took her seat. Yet, her gaze continued to dart around the room.

 

 

 

“Why do you seem to like it so much?”

 

 

 

“Huh?”

 

 

 

Rhetrik tilted his head and raised an eyebrow inquisitively, his expression genuinely curious. Feeling embarrassed about her earlier behavior like a country bumpkin, Liena lowered her head feeling ashamed. It seemed like he wasn’t genuinely curious as he didn’t press further, and instead just chuckled lightly.

 

 

 

“Let’s start the meal.”

 

 

 

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

 

 

 

During the momentary silence, Liena nervously fiddled with the glass in front of her. This unfamiliar yet intriguing situation made her feel awkward and uncomfortable. Absentmindedly looking around again, the man seated before her calmly crossed his legs and casually spoke.

 

 

 

“Do you want anything? If you do, just tell me. I’ll give you anything you desire.”

 

 

 

“Huh?”

 

 

 

“Everything in this place belongs to me.”

 

 

 

He spoke arrogantly, even adding a superfluous touch to his statement.

 

 

 

“Of course, you too.”

 

 

 

Feeling like she was treated the same as the objects in this room left Liena feeling offended. She clenched her teeth around the rim of the glass she had been holding to her lips, her displeasure evident in the way she chewed on it.

 

 

 

“Looks like you’re in a sour mood. But what can you do? That small, insignificant piece of artwork is worth more than your body, after all.”

 

 

 

Ha! Who said that? Although she felt annoyed, she couldn’t argue back. Despite her sour mood, she knew that if she were to put herself up for sale, even in her small village, she wouldn’t fetch the price of a single house.

 

 

 

Even if that’s the case, how can he not value a person and even assign them a price, treating them worse than an object? Not only that he was being outright disrespectful, but still she wasn’t in a position to pursue it.

 

 

 

“Still, to me, you are the most valuable. If someone were to haggle over those items and you, I would choose you without hesitation.”

 

 

 

His firm words made Liena’s head lift slightly. However, she wasn’t moved by his words. Those expensive items wouldn’t solve his crazy desires. No matter how expensive they seemed, to him, they were just valuable trash. In the end, his words were merely implying that her cheap body would be more useful in satisfying his desires than the expensive trash.

 

 

 

The long table was now filled with dishes, and with a gesture from him, the people who had been standing in line disappeared like shadows. The vast space fell into silence. Even though a sumptuous feast was laid out in front of her, Liena hesitated to pick up her fork.

 

 

 

“Is there something you like?”

 

 

 

“Yes…?”

 

 

 

While her hunger had abated, her appetite had decreased due to her earlier humiliation. The thought of eating this meal and then obediently waiting in her room for him to come, knowing that she would have to submit to him, passed through her mind.

 

 

 

Domestication. Yes, this was domestication. She had fallen into a horrible situation overnight and had no appetite for anything. Yet he wouldn’t even allow that.

 

 

 

“If you don’t like it, just say so. I’ll have the head chef’s neck on a chopping board.”

 

 

 

“Huh?….. Well, everything is delicious!”

 

 

 

With a cheerful smile, she casually said whatever came to her mind, forced by the man’s cruel words threatening the chef’s life. She knew better than anyone that he would carry out such threats if necessary, so Liena decided to spare the life of the kitchen staff she had briefly seen earlier. While chewing the well-cooked beef, she frowned in thought.

 

 

 

Why was I curious about his backside? I must be truly losing my mind to entertain such thoughts. 

 

 

 

Liena mechanically picked up each piece of food and put it in her mouth. Then, she chewed as if by habit. Even though the food should have been melting in her mouth, she couldn’t truly taste it. Looking at the man in front of her she wasn’t in the mood to eat. How could she feel at ease eating when she had a man before her who might kill her at any moment?

 

 

 

The fleeting sense of satisfaction she had felt about her newfound beauty faded quickly. It was absurd to feel as though she was experiencing heaven while she was plunged into hell. She clicked her tongue in irritation at her fleeting sense of contentment.