Episode 2 - I Hate That Man

"Name?" Cassian asked me. I turned my face away, showing my reluctance to speak to this golden-eyed man. Openly, I made my face seem as if I despised Cassian's presence here.

"If Leader Cassian asks, you must answer!"

"Argh!"

The aide struck my face, causing me to be thrown to the ground. It hurt, so much. 

My body was already covered in bruises from the daily torture from my adoptive parents. And that blow almost made me lose consciousness here.

"You seem to be no ordinary woman. Because if you knew who I am, you wouldn't be so insolent towards me," Cassian spoke. Our eyes met again, despite the distance gap between us. He was inside his carriage, and I lay helpless on the ground.

Nevertheless, I still looked down upon the ruthless Alpha colony leader. "Ha! Do you think that even if I knew who you are, I would instantly respect you? You're nothing more than an Alpha colony leader who disregards the poor like us!"

Cassian raised an eyebrow, provoked by my words. "What did you say?"

"Leader Cassian!"

The tension between us was broken by the arrival of Reges and Marilyn, who had managed to catch up to us. I snorted in annoyance as I watched my adoptive parents start causing trouble again.

My face turned sour as I saw them approaching Cassian in his carriage. 'Tsk. Now that they've come, I'm truly going to be sold today.'

"She is the last descendant of Luna! She can see the future, My Lord! She will surely be useful to you in the future!"

Hey! At least don't reveal my powers in front of him, okay? How could Reges say that without any mercy at all?

And true to form, my adoptive parents heartlessly ignored me, who was injured on the ground, and chose to discuss how much Cassian could buy me. Buy me as a slave.

I didn't want to listen. I also didn't want to use my powers to see the future; I was afraid that it would ultimately lead me into Cassian's hands.

"Seraphine! Look! Leader Cassian is buying you for five hundred million coins!" Reges, with gleaming eyes, showed a bag of gold beetles carried by an aide and handed it to them.

Their illogical happiness in my eyes was because those gold coins had made my body belong to someone else.

Five hundred million coins, a fantastic price for an Alpha buying a slave from the village. Normally, a virgin omega girl would only be sold for a maximum of ten million coins. That meant Cassian had bought me for a hundred times the usual price.

"Seraphine, don't worry. This won't last long. After we manage to return this money to Leader Cassian, you will be free again! For now, let us use this money to improve the village, alright?" Marilyn persuaded me with her absurd kindness.

"Do as you please," I answered casually.

Even without using my powers, I already knew that Reges and Marilyn would never be able to return that much money. Even if it cost them the rest of their lives.

That meant I was destined to forever be a slave to Cassian.

"Hey, village girl. Your parents have obtained a lot of money. Now your task is to serve our Leader. Get up quickly." An aide pulled my body, and I could only remain silent. Both of my legs were twisted, and my hands were bound.

They soon realized it and hurriedly carried me into the horse carriage. I was officially alone with Cassian now. And it seemed we were heading to the golden-eyed Alpha's residence in the capital.

Throughout the journey, I was tormented by the tension between us, just as Cassian observed me so sharply. His gaze was different from the Alphas in the market earlier, who was aroused by my body.

***

***

"How far can you see the future?"

After healing my wounds, Cassian immediately asked when we were alone in this room. After paying five hundred million coins, Cassian surely didn't want to waste his time on a village girl like me, right?

"As far as no human can imagine," I replied briefly. Cassian then took a chair and sat right in front of me. Our faces truly met each other's gaze.

"Then, can you also read my mind?" he asked. I nodded. Then Cassian asked again with a serious tone.

"In that case, guess what's in my mind. If you're correct, I'll reward you."

"A reward?" I said curiously. But before I could ask further, I did as Cassian wanted. I closed my eyes to concentrate and activated my power to see into Cassian's mind.

"I-it's impossible ..." I was shocked by what I saw.

In Cassian's mind, I saw many memories of his subordinates dying from a mysterious illness. They died with severe bleeding wounds. I used my power again to see the future and find out who spread the disease.

‘A black-haired Alpha ... and he is close to Cassian. But ... What is this? Why do I see that the Alpha is already dead? How can a dead person spread a pandemic in this village?’

"What's the result?" Cassian asked impatiently with my answer. I hadn't finished seeing into the future, so I just told him what I saw earlier. About a village owned by him, which was attacked by a dangerous virus.

Cassian seemed very satisfied with my answer. And he fulfilled his promise.

"This is the reward I promised earlier."

I received an envelope with a golden emblem. It contained many letters. But what made my eyes almost pop out was a picture of a couple with eyes the same color as mine.

"T-this ..." I said in disbelief. And Cassian said exactly what I was thinking right now.

"Yes. That's a portrait of your parents," Cassian said. "They're still alive. And they're in the village where the deadly virus spread."

He continued, "I know you were sold by your adoptive parents for money. And am I not now acting as a hero here? If it weren't for me buying you, you may have ended up in an incompetent Alpha."

I scowled at Cassian's words. He wasn't wrong. It's just that I didn't like the way he spoke the truth which sounded annoying.

"How did you find my parents?" I asked sincerely.

'And how did he know I lost my parents when I was little? Could it be that Cassian had investigated me long before we met today?' Of course, I could only say that part in my heart.

Cassian didn't answer. Instead, the golden-eyed Alpha leader brought out another document in front of me.

“Open it.”

I was reluctant to open it, but Cassian pressed me with his dominating aura.

*gulp*

I swallowed. Just like my trembling hand, I slowly read the new document and try to understand its meaning.