Chapter 75: Confronting Xenovia.

"Stop pursuing the Assassin's Guild that tried to attack me," Strax said, startling Xenovia, who dodged the blow despite her surprise. They were training again, and since Strax had increased his cultivation, Xenovia felt that now he could potentially break the wooden swords they had been using due to his increased strength.

"I don't know what you're talking about," she responded, running diagonally along the wall to attack him. But she was stopped by Strax throwing an Ice Sword in her path and another close to her step to throw her off balance.

He had analyzed her movement patterns many times. He knew that at this moment, "Not today," he said, jumping before she could use the swords to propel herself forward. "Enough with the pursuit," he said, summoning more than twenty ice swords and throwing them toward Xenovia.

She sighed heavily once, "Shadow Cut," she whispered, and Strax barely noticed it. Within milliseconds, his entire body was hit by a gust of wind resulting from the small movement of Xenovia's sword. All the ice swords were cut and destroyed before he even saw where the impact came from. When he thought he could defend himself, Xenovia vanished from his sight.

His poorly trained Dragon Eyes faltered. They hadn't detected the trace of Xenovia's change; her mana trail didn't exist!

He looked around frantically, as if she had disappeared. "Xenovia, I asked you to stop, so you will stop and listen to me. Enough of dodging the issue!" he said, his demeanor changing. This was really starting to anger him. Xenovia always used her strength to evade the topic or didn't respond directly when confronted.

"You're a fool. They tried to kill you, and you want me to stop going after the people who, again, tried to kill you?" she said, appearing in front of him like a ghost, with her sword passing over his shoulder and pointing at his neck. "You let your guard down," she said, and Strax retorted, "And are you an enemy for me to need to stay alert? We're training.

Stop being an emotionless shell," he said, his eyes glowing red, something Xenovia had never seen from this man. She took a small step back in surprise, but her body was caught. "You let your guard down," he said while advancing, holding her waist and wrist down. They stood face to face, very close.

She could feel his breath, but he didn't retreat. "What is this?" she murmured, quickly losing herself in his touch. She became embarrassed, and for a second, her arms pushed him back, but Strax had already grabbed her back and pulled her close to his body.

"Are you training me because you want me to save you from the Prince?" She trembled at hearing this, and Strax just smiled. "You may want many things, but you never go after them. I know you well enough for that. Now you, a cold woman, are training someone you despised many times and don't even explain why," he murmured. Xenovia took a step back but was stopped.

"I'm tired of you," he said, hugging her tightly. "What's worrying you so much? I already know a lot," he murmured.

"L-let me go!" she roared, her face slightly flushing at feeling the man's body against hers. This was really too much for her... "Let me go!" she roared again, but Strax just laughed. "If you really wanted me to let you go, you would have freed yourself already. You are many times stronger than I am," he said in a mischievous tone while continuing to squeeze her.

He could feel her completely, her breasts flattened against his chest, and he could sense how soft they might be.

"Is that what you think of me?" she said, coldly, much colder than usual, but... when she looked at him. "Idiot!" she said, pushing him back. He saw... her eyes welling up, ready to cry.

An expression that... he had never seen in his whole life.

He ended up losing his balance and falling to the ground from the force with which she had pushed him back, but was it over? Of course not.

"Do you really think that? Or are you testing me?" she asked, but she never let him answer, cutting him off completely. "Do you really think I'm just trying to run away from a marriage?" Xenovia shouted, her body burning with black flames. "You idiot!

I brought you here because if I were to marry someone, it would be you!" she shouted so loudly that it echoed through the whole room, making Strax freeze...

"W-What!" he shouted, startled. He had some idea about a few things, but...

"Yes! I brought you because I want to marry you! Not to run away from a marriage! But if you aren't strong enough, do you think anyone would accept the 'future of the Vorah family,' as they call me, in the hands of someone they call the 'Family's Failure'? Of course not!" she shouted, devastating Strax for a second. What?

She wanted to marry him!

"You~" Strax tried to speak, but was interrupted again. "Yes! I like you so much that I want to marry you! But I can't show that! It's embarrassing! Very embarrassing!" she shouted.

She looked like a... little girl.

"Is she... confessing like this?" Strax wondered. He was already seeing more than twenty notifications on his screen ahead, while still on the ground, with Xenovia looking at him, almost crying.

"Do you understand now?! I'm not using you to escape. I want more than anything for this family to be erased from the continent. Since they sent you away, I feel alone! I only had you; only you talked to me, tried to stay by my side. Even though you were weak, you endured Xyn's strength when she awakened in front of me!

You cared about me, unlike all these people! Of course I'd fall in love with you, you idiot!" she shouted again. Her cries of embarrassment turned into anger. She was really furious, and Strax was... at a loss for what to do.