Yarra's Adventure Notes-Chapter 1268 - 54: What About My Response?

This time, Pannis was completely at a loss for words, like a fish pulled out of water, his mouth opening and closing, but he couldn’t make a sound. This time, it was Freya’s turn to smile like a fox that had stolen a chicken, squinting her eyes and saying, "What’s the matter? Are you surprised? Isn’t this what you wanted? Why do you look so shocked when you get it? This isn’t like you at all, dear Mr. Pannis."

"This time, you’ve really surprised me," Pannis said, touching his nose and smiling bitterly: "Honestly, I never dreamed you would say something like that, or, I could never have guessed it would be you saying it."

"Oh?" Freya’s eyes sparkled with mirth, her radiant smile made it easy to overlook her voluptuous figure: "So, who do you think should be saying something like that?"

"No one would," Pannis shook his head: "According to my original thoughts, none of you would be so forthright about your feelings, especially you, it’s absolutely impossible."

"Then you can blissfully play dumb because they’re all too shy, so you naturally indulge in pretending to be oblivious, right?" Freya’s smile was not that of a pure princess, but more like a noble queen who had everything under control: "I also know why you think it’s impossible for me because you don’t believe I’d be so impulsive."

"Exactly," Pannis nodded: "Out of all the girls, only you have always maintained a wait-and-see attitude. Whatever the situation, you could always put personal likes and dislikes aside and analyze things coolly, always choosing the most favorable option, no matter how unacceptable it might be, and only when it came to taking care of their emotions did you make choices based on what they liked. You, being so straightforward with me all of a sudden, indeed, it’s hard to imagine."

"Hehe, but you overlooked something, dear Pannis," Freya pointed to her nose: "Did you forget? No matter what, I’m still a woman. Even if I grew up steeped in malice, scheming, utilization, and flattery, I’m still a woman. Maybe calmness and utility have become my instincts, but sometimes, like any ordinary girl, I will impulsively pursue my own happiness for the sake of emotions."

"Alright, maybe you’re right," Pannis sighed: "The truth proves that I had indeed overlooked this possibility, which is why you completely frightened me."

"Is that so? But have you considered another possibility?" Freya’s smile faded as she proudly recited: "Emotions? Impulse? Do you really think such laughable things could exist within me? I took your arm only because it was the appropriate action at that moment, I professed my love tenderly only because I knew you wanted me to express my love in such a tone, even the heartbeat and breaths during physical contact were merely..."

"I hadn’t thought of that, because I was sure it wasn’t what you were thinking," Pannis said helplessly: "Perhaps you can analyze and calculate everything coolly, but I don’t think those words just now were motivated by utility."

"Why is that?" Freya countered: "I understand you, and you also understand me just as well. You should be very clear about the darkness within me."

"Because you are Freya, kind and noble Freya, you’re not the cruel and indulgent Duchess Kermia from the play," Pannis smiled, speaking earnestly: "The lines of Kermia don’t suit you, for your behavior towards the three of them has already exposed your heart. Perhaps there is darkness within you, but like a moth seeking the light, deep inside, you still have the purest soil, a sanctum of friendship and love. Maybe you can manipulate everything, but you would never defile this sanctum, because it is the only path to embrace the light, the only hope in your life."

"Hmm, ’Moth to a Flame’ is indeed a classic drama, and Mamil’s soliloquy playing two roles in the fourth act stunned countless audiences, but you’re really terrible at performing it," Freya said with an implied meaning: "However, it seems you’ve forgotten, when we first met, what I did, I appeared to be playing with emotions or, shall we say, I was using the emotions I showed to achieve my own goals."

"Hehe," Pannis laughed lightly, "Is your affection for Wesker real?"

Freya tilted her head and covered her mouth with a smile, "What does it matter? Since it’s fine for Wesker, why can’t it be for you, for Catherine and the others?"

"Well then, I’ll ask you," Pannis said with a smile that wasn’t quite a smile, "Is your affection for Catherine and the others real? And what about for me, is it real?"

"I’ll consider that answer satisfactory," Freya’s smile grew more intense and tender, and finally, she spoke in a soft voice, "I’ll forgive you for just now ignoring the fact that I’m also a normal girl."

"Well, thanks for that," Pannis said with a wry smile, scratching his head, "Should I feel honored?"

"Honor’s not necessary," Freya said with a beaming smile, "But what about a response?"

"What response?" Pannis blinked, asking in confusion. frёeweɓηovel.coɱ

"Pretending to be dumb again, has this become your instinct?" Freya rolled her eyes, "Actually, you’re conflicted inside, aren’t you? You’ve thought about the things I just said, haven’t you? You want to maintain your original attitude, but when they take the initiative, you can’t bear to reject them, afraid of hurting them, so you’re conflicted inside. On the surface, you play dumb, verbally not giving them a response, but through your actions, you’re giving them the hope they desire. I’m right, aren’t I, hehe. Don’t be so quick to deny it, I don’t believe you recognized the Sinner’s Mark and don’t understand what that prayer meant for Lina, and you appeared in front of Vivian at the moment she was most looking forward to, sharing the joy of success with her. You also must know how important that was for Vivian."

"That was just... an accident," Pannis stubbornly replied with a lie he didn’t even believe himself, "I was just dragged around by them, that’s all."

"Hehe, you can say whatever you want, but actually, what I told you just now doesn’t have much significance after you chose to start responding," Freya said, re-linking her arm through Pannis’s, and tilting her head to ask, "So, what’s your response to me?"

"Ah, there’s a lot you all don’t understand," Pannis sighed, "You’ll know in the future, you really shouldn’t have done this."

"No, actually, the one who doesn’t understand is you, and likewise, you’ll find out why I’m saying this in the future," Freya’s response was cryptic, causing Pannis to frown. In response to Pannis’s reaction, Her Royal Highness seemed quite pleased and said cheerfully, "Never mind, I won’t press you for a response anymore, because I know that by standing here right now, you’ve actually given a response."