The moment they reached the large, dark door, the maid gave a quick bow and excused herself, leaving Freya standing alone.
She hesitated, taking a deep breath to calm her racing heart before lifting her hand and knocking lightly.
A voice answered almost immediately, deep and commanding.
"Come in."
Freya slowly pushed the door open and stepped inside. The room was dimly lit, shadows clinging to the walls, but she could clearly see Vladimirios sitting on the edge of the bed.
Quickly, she bowed her head respectfully.
"My lord, you called for me," she said softly.
He didn't answer right away. Instead, he sighed and rose from the bed, moving toward her with steady, unhurried steps.
Freya instinctively backed away, her back hitting the door behind her with a soft thud.
But he didn't stop. He kept coming, until he stood right in front of her, trapping her between his body and the door.
One of his hands pressed against the wood beside her head as he leaned closer. His voice was low, rough with something she couldn't name.
"Tell me… what did you do to me?" he demanded.
Freya blinked up at him, confused.
"Huh? I don't understand, my lord," she said in a shaky voice.
Without warning, he dipped his head toward her neck, inhaling deeply.
Alarmed, Freya lifted her hand to cover the spot where he had bitten her, but he caught her wrist swiftly, holding it in a firm but gentle grip.
"Don't cover it," he murmured. His next words were cold, though a small smirk tugged at the corner of his lips. "Besides... your blood is disgusting."
Of course, that was a lie. He didn't want her to know the truth — he didn't want her to feel self-conscious or afraid of the power she carried within her.
Freya's eyes widened at his words, anger flaring inside her chest.
"Really? My blood is disgusting?" she snapped, her voice rising.
"Then why did you drain me so much that I collapsed?"
She shoved him away with all the strength she had, stepping back with a sharp glare.
Vladimirios let her push him without resistance. A low chuckle rumbled from his throat as he casually moved toward a wooden chair near the center of the room.
He sat down gracefully, crossing one leg over the other. Resting his elbow on the armrest, he curled his hand into a loose fist and leaned his cheek against it, his sharp gaze never leaving her.
"You do know," he said slowly, "that I am your king, right?"
Freya clenched her fists at her sides, her chest rising and falling quickly with anger.
She refused to bow her head again.
"Then tell me," she said, her voice trembling, "why did you bring me here, Lord Vladimirios?"
A slow, wicked grin spread across his face.
"Why I brought you here?" he repeated, almost mockingly.
"Because I have every right to, Freya. I can do whatever I wish."
He paused, watching her carefully.
"I still can't believe the Moon Goddess favors a little girl like you," he added with a slight tilt of his head.
Freya's heart skipped a beat.
She staggered back a step, her hand flying to her chest.
"W-What did you just say?" she whispered, her voice barely audible.
Vladimirios chuckled darkly, the sound echoing off the stone walls.
"I said," he repeated, each word slow and deliberate, "I can't believe the Moon Goddess favors someone like you."
His grin faded quickly, replaced by a colder, more sinister expression.
Without warning, he rose from the chair, the movement so sudden that Freya flinched.
"What do you mean… she favors me?" she demanded, her voice cracking under the weight of fear and confusion.
Vladimirios smiled again, but this time there was no warmth in it. Only cruelty.
"Don't play dumb, Freya," he said, stepping closer until the shadows seemed to follow him.
"I know you're reincarnated."
Freya's eyes widened in horror. Her knees felt weak.
"H-How… that's impossible," she stammered, backing away until she nearly tripped over the edge of a rug.
Vladimirios didn't stop.
He reached out, gently tilting her chin up with his fingers so she would meet his cold, knowing eyes.
"I know," he whispered, his voice low and dangerous, "more than you think, Freya."
Freya stumbled back, her legs feeling too weak to hold her properly.
She struggled to stand, her chest rising and falling with heavy breaths as she stared at Vladimirios in shock.
He stared back at her with a cold, unreadable gaze.
"Honestly," he said, his voice sharp and cutting, "I don't know why the Moon Goddess would mate me with a little girl like you."
His eyes narrowed slightly, almost in disgust.
"You're barely eighteen."
Freya's lips parted, the words hitting her harder than any slap.
"Mate me with you?" she repeated, her voice barely above a whisper.
"Wait… I'm your mate?"
The room seemed to fall silent for a moment.
Vladimirios didn't answer right away. He only stared at her, his face empty, no trace of a smile.
"Does that excite you, Freya?" he finally asked, his voice dripping with bitterness.
"Are you happy thinking you'll escape your miserable fate by becoming my wife?"
Freya's body stiffened. The cold look in her eyes sharpened as she glared at him.
"Why do you sound like such a proud bastard right now?" she snapped, her voice filled with anger and hurt.
Vladimirios raised an eyebrow, clearly taken aback by her sudden outburst.
No one ever spoke to him like that.
Freya didn't care. Her heart was breaking too much to stop now.
"Why would I be excited to mate with an arrogant emperor like you, Lord Vladimirios?"
Before she could pull away, he reached out and grabbed her hand tightly.
His grip was firm, almost bruising.
"Because you have no abilities," he said cruelly, his voice low and harsh, "and you're just as worthless as your father said you were."
Freya yanked her hand out of his grip, her heart pounding painfully in her chest.
Vladimirios only laughed bitterly.
"If not for the Moon Goddess," he said with a mocking smile, "do you really think I would have ended up at that pathetic place?"
He smirked, taking a step back.
"Your father's house," he added.
"I'm sure the rumors have already started — about how I brought home a cursed girl."
Freya stood there, staring at him as the first tear slipped down her cheek.
She quickly wiped it away, but more followed, blurring her vision.
"If you see me as worthless," she choked out, her voice trembling with anger and pain, "then why didn't you sever the bond between us, Lord Vladimirios?!"
For a second, something flashed in his eyes, but Freya didn't wait to see what it was.
She turned sharply, her hands shaking as she grabbed the door handle.
Without looking back, she yanked the door open and ran out, her sobs breaking free as she disappeared down the hall, leaving him standing alone in the cold, heavy silence.