Chapter 233
Nina smiled gently. “I’m willing to listen p>
Zena sat down beside her, her expression quiet, almost distant. “Nina…do you know why I was exiled p>
“I heard from my father that you carved away your mates’ beast marks…even though they hadn’t committed any serious wrong,” Nina replied.
Zena’s gaze dimmed. “Do you think I’m cruel? Impulsive? That I destroyed their marks on a whim p>
“No,” Nina said softly. “I don’t think you’re that kind of female. You must have had your reasons p>
A complicated look flickered across Zena’s face. “I wasn’t without reason…but I was impulsive p>
She paused, then continued.
“I used to be a noble female of Jade Fox City. I grew up pampered, carefree, with everything I could ever want. My favorite thing…was listening to my father tell stories about his travels beyond the city p>
A faint smile touched her lips.
“Every story he told was vivid, thrilling. After each one, I couldn’t help imagining what the world outside the city was really like p>
Her eyes softened with longing.
“I listened…and listened…until I began to yearn for it. One day, I finally told my mates that I wanted to go out and experience the world p>
She turned slightly toward Nina. “Can you guess how they reacted p>
“They refused?” Nina guessed.
Zena nodded. “They all opposed it. Strongly. They said I was a female who knew nothing of the world, that I should stay safely inside the city. That going out would bring me no benefit at all p>
Her gaze darkened.
“But since the day I was born, I had never truly left the city. The farthest I’d ever gone was just nearby areas—and even that, only a few times. Every time I wanted to go out, they were reluctant p>
Nina gently covered Hu Ji’s hand. “I understand. You were just curious. You wanted to see more of the world p>
Zena clasped her hand in return.
“I just wanted to walk beyond those walls…to see the world my father described. Not spend my entire life inside a city, repeating the same days over and over p>
Her voice grew quieter.
“But every time I brought it up, they told me how dangerous the outside world was. How harsh. They wanted me to give up. And yet…they were all strong. Strong enough to protect me p>
She lowered her eyes.
“I told them I wasn’t afraid. I even compromised. I said they didn’t have to take me far—just occasionally, to different places. I wouldn’t wander too far. I wouldn’t stay out long. But even that…they refused p>
Nina sighed softly. “I understand p>
A life that looked free on the surface, yet was nothing more than a beautifully decorated cage.
“Do you know what they did next?” Zena’s lips curved bitterly. “To make me give up the idea, they started mating with me constantly. Day and night. They wanted me to get pregnant as soon as possible p>
Disgust flickered across her face.
“When I realized what they were doing, I secretly took medicine p>
She let out a quiet, self-mocking laugh.
“That was when I began to understand…why they had taken me as their mate in the first place p>
Yes, they treated her well.
But what they wanted…was her body.
Her womb.
If they had truly loved her, they would have helped her chase her dreams—not cage her, not reduce her to a tool for bearing children.
“After that, I refused to mate with them again. I wouldn’t let them touch me. They were angry…but they didn’t force me p>
Nina squeezed her hand gently.
Zena shook her head, signaling she was fine, and continued.
“So I started sneaking out whenever I could. When they weren’t watching, I searched for males willing to take me beyond the city p>
A faint trace of nostalgia appeared in her eyes.
“Maybe because I’m…pleasant to look at, some strong males were willing to take the risk. Soon, I found three who agreed to help me p>
“For a while, everything went smoothly. They helped me escape the city p>
Her voice faltered.
“But…once we were outside, my mates caught up p>
Pain surfaced in her expression.
“They were stronger. They killed them. All of them p>
That moment—when she thought she had finally stepped into freedom—had instead become the moment she doomed those who had helped her.
“They warned me,” she said hoarsely. “If I ever tried to escape again…for every male I sought out, they would kill one p>
Her eyes grew hollow.
“They locked me away. I wasn’t allowed to see anyone. Not even my father p>
Nina frowned, anger stirring faintly in her chest.
“They went too far p>
Zena steadied herself before continuing.
“Later…I tried to escape again p>
Her voice trembled slightly.
“And again…I watched those males die in front of me p>
A shadow of sorrow passed through her eyes.
“I was devastated. Furious. In that moment, I lost control. I carved away their beast marks without thinking…some of them died on the spot p>
Tears welled in her eyes.
“Nina…was I wrong? Did I go too far? I…I regretted it afterward. But by then…there was no undoing it p>
She hadn’t meant to kill them. They had been her mates, after all. She had simply…lost control.
And she understood, deep down, that if she had been harmed outside, they would have suffered as well. Their refusal had not been without reason.
But her longing for the world beyond the walls had been just as real.
They had their selfishness.
And she had hers.
Nina gently wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes.
“Wanting freedom isn’t wrong p>
As for the rest…she couldn’t judge. She was, after all, an outsider to that pain.
But that yearning—for freedom—was never a crime.
Zena sniffed softly. “So I don’t blame the City Lord for exiling me. It was what I deserved p>
She lowered her gaze.
“I didn’t bother explaining. It wouldn’t have changed anything p>
After a pause, she continued.
“Then I came to Barbarian City. When I first arrived…because I was alone, and because of how I looked, I was often harassed by males p>
A flicker of humiliation crossed her face.
Nina immediately covered her hands with both of hers, warm and steady. “If you don’t want to talk about it, you don’t have to p>
Zena shook her head gently. “It’s alright. It’s all in the past p>
She took a breath.
“I was desperate. Full of hatred. So I made a deal with that being. I got my revenge…but from that moment on, I could never leave this place again p>
Her voice softened.
“No matter how I try, there’s always an invisible barrier. I can’t step out of this city—not even a single step p>
The freedom she had once chased with everything she had was now forever out of reach.
A bitter smile curved her lips.
“Maybe this is my punishment p>
She exhaled softly. “That’s my boring story p>
“It’s not boring at all,” Nina said.
She reached out, gently brushing away the lingering sadness at the corner of Zena’s eyes.
Zena leaned into her palm, eyes closing for a moment.
“Nina…why is it that females find it so hard to awaken abilities?” she murmured. “Why is it that if we want power, we have to pay such a heavy price…while males can gain it so easily p>
Nina fell silent.
She didn’t have an answer.
“Do you think the Beast God is unfair?” Zena asked quietly.
Nina let out a soft laugh. “The Beast God is probably male p>
“I think so too,” Zena said with a faint smile. “And a biased one at that p>
She closed her eyes.
“If I had been able to awaken an ability back then…one that let me protect and provide for myself…then I wouldn’t have needed mates. I wouldn’t have needed to rely on anyone. I could have gone out and experienced the world on my own p>
Then she wouldn’t have owed anyone.
Wouldn’t have carried this guilt.
But she knew p>
That was nothing more than a dream.
Somewhere far away, a certain Beast God suddenly sneezed.
He rubbed his nose, muttering, “Someone’s talking about me again p>
A heaviness settled in Nina’s chest.
If only females could all awaken abilities… If only they could protect themselves.
Around them, the males fell into thoughtful silence.
Perhaps…a life of comfort wasn’t what every female truly wanted.
Perhaps what they thought was protection…was sometimes just another form of confinement.
Sal and the others exchanged glances, then looked at Nina.
From now on, wherever she wanted to go, they would go with her.
They would never cage her.
And as for children… That, too, would be her choice.
If she didn’t want more, then they wouldn’t ask for any.