I Am The Game's Villain

[<She's not Freyja's Twin Soul… She's Freyja herself.>]

"Eh?"

I blurted loudly at Cleenah's shocking revelation.

"Is something the matter, Loki?" Freya blinked her eyes, noticing me frozen.

I quickly masked my reaction, forcing a smile. "No, Your Highness. I was just… admiring your necklace. It's exquisite."

Freya smiled widely, and she absentmindedly touched the necklace, her fingers brushing over its sublime design. "You have a good eye, Loki. This is Brisingamen, the most beautiful necklace in existence, befitting the most beautiful woman in the world I would say."

Her words sent a chill down my spine.

She wasn't even hiding it.

[<This isn't just a trinket, Loki. Brisingamen is infused with divine magic—magic only the real Freyja could wield.>]

'Why the hell would Freyja be here pretending to be some princess?'

[<Because it is prohibited to take over the body of a mortal and Freyja had broken this law clearly. I can't believe she had done it…>]

"You seem unusually quiet. Do I intimidate you, Loki?" Freyja asked, her head tilting slightly as she observed me with a seemingly innocent look.

I quickly shook my head, forcing a chuckle that I hoped sounded natural. "Not at all, Your Highness. I'm merely in awe of your beauty and presence. It seems I'll need some time to adjust."

The words left my lips smoothly, though my pulse quickened with every syllable.

'Cleenah, I can feel your judgmental gaze boring into me. But I'm just trying to blend in and not get killed here!'

[<You need to tread carefully. If she truly is Freyja, any mistake could cost you dearly.>]

'You're not helping, Cleenah. Stop freaking me out!'

Freyja's smile widened, at my smooth buttery answer. "Good. In time, you'll come to understand your place by my side."

I managed a polite smile, though inwardly, I was sweating bullets.

I was standing in front of a true Goddess with a real body for the first time then.

This wasn't like Layla and her Twin Soul connection. Freyja was no mere fragment. She was the real deal, and I had no idea what game she was playing by taking this High Elf Princess persona.

"Since this is the first time," Freyja spoke, her voice suddenly taking on a colder edge, "I'll forgive you for being late. But I won't be so lenient next time. Do I make myself clear?"

What exactly would she do if I tested her patience again?

[<Anything she desires with Brísingamen. Frankly, I'm surprised she hasn't used its power on you already.>]

'Thank you for reassuring me!'

"Understood…" I replied quickly, my voice softer than I intended.

Her smile returned, even sweeter. "Good answer," she said, stepping closer. Before I could react, her fingers brushed against my cheek. She stroked my skin with care and gentleness.

My body stiffened, a shiver running down my spine. My heart thudded in my chest, and my face burned hotter with each passing second.

'Why the hell am I reacting like this? Like a damn virgin?'

"Cute," she commented, her golden eyes narrowing ever so slightly as if she were dissecting my every reaction.

My cheeks flushed deeper—embarrassment and self-loathing warring within me.

The last time I remembered feeling this way was with Ephera and Layla, though I'd hoped I had grown past such reactions. I had faced gods, demons, and everything in between—surely I'd matured in these matters since then.

[<You're Human, and she is the Goddess of Beauty. I think this reaction is to be expected.>]

'Yeah, but you're also a Goddess of Beauty. I thought I'd built up some immunity by now,' I retorted, hoping to salvage a shred of my dignity.

[<You're overestimating yourself and underestimating us.>]

'What's that supposed to mean? That you could seduce anyone if you tried?'

[<Of course, if I wished to. But I am not Freyja. While I am a Goddess of Beauty, I am mainly the Goddess of Banshees. Freyja, on the other hand, is Beauty and Love incarnate.>]

'So, you're admitting she's far more enchanting than you, Cleenah? How humble you've become, I am impressed.' I smiled inwardly.

Her response was a low, unintelligible grumble.

At least things were clearer now. The gap between a mortal like me and a full-fledged goddess was vast enough, but Freyja's innate allure was something else entirely. It wasn't just her looks; it was an overwhelming presence that seemed to pull at the very essence of my will.

[<And you're fortunate she isn't in her full divine form. Everyone should be grateful for that.>]

'I don't feel particularly lucky. But…are you absolutely sure I'm safe? I mean, no brainwashing from her necklace or her…uh, beauty?'

The thought of being manipulated without realizing it scared me honestly.

[<Freyja doesn't brainwash anyone. Those who join her 'collection' do so willingly. If you find yourself falling for her, you'll have no one to blame but your own libido.>]

'Libido?'

The word made me grimace.

Use this kind of word for Jayden.

It wasn't like I was already throwing in the towel, but Cleenah's bluntness didn't help.

I could feel her being a bit upset, as if my surrender to Freyja's charm was some sort of betrayal. There was, no doubt, an unspoken rivalry among goddesses of beauty, and Cleenah wasn't pleased to see me falter.

Still, there was no denying the effect Freyja had on me. Her golden eyes seemed to pierce into my very soul, and the longer she stared, the more exposed I felt. It was an almost predatory gaze, though cloaked in elegance and warmth.

I took an unconscious step back, desperate to regain some semblance of control.

"Are we heading outside today?" I asked, as I scrambled to shift the subject.

Freyja took back her hand and nodded. "We are. The carriage is ready and waiting." With that, she turned as she walked past me.

I hesitated for a moment before stepping forward, trailing after her. As Cleenah said I will have to be careful.

Yet, questions lingered at the back of my mind.

Why did she need protection?

If she truly was a Goddess, surely she could defend herself against any threat with a flick of her wrist. Or was this all a facade? An elaborate excuse to drag me into her collection.

Once outside, Freyja paused, turning toward me with a radiant smile. "Here is my gift for you, Loki."

A moment later, she gestured, and my eyes widened. A sublime white horse emerged. The creature stood tall, its appearance exuding both vitality and youth. It was a really beautiful horse, the most beautiful I had ever seen.

"A horse nurtured by the finest hands in Elyen Kiora," Freyja said, watching me intently for my reaction.

I stepped closer, the horse shifting nervously at my approach. Slowly, I extended a hand toward it. The horse's ears twitched, and it took a cautious step back. Its dark eyes watched me warily.

"It's okay," I muttered softly, meeting its gaze directly.

The horse's muscles relaxed, its stance softening. With a small tilt of its head, it leaned forward, allowing me to stroke its mane—a cascade of silver-gray, as smooth as silk beneath my fingertips.

"Impressive," Freyja said. "It seems she likes you already."

"Thank you for the gift, Your Highness," I said genuinely. Despite my gratitude, I couldn't shake the suspicion.

Surely she doesn't think a horse however beautiful it was would be enough to win me?

"As I said, I offer only the best for my people." Freyja replied.

That's quite admiring but I am not 'your' people.

Thinking that, I mounted nonetheless the horse, settling into the saddle. I adjusted my grip on the reins as the horse fell in beside Freyja's carriage, like the day before.

Freyja leaned out of her carriage once more, her wavy golden hair blowing a bit. There was an otherworldly quality to her—a unique beauty that seemed out of place in this place.

Unlike the other High Elves, Freyja seemed utterly devoid of racism. Perhaps her being a Goddess elevated her above such petty concerns. Or maybe it was a calculated act, meant to disarm and manipulate.

But what were her true goals? What was she hiding beneath that serene facade?

"Are you perhaps worried about something, Your Highness?" I asked, deciding to break the silence.

"Worried?"

"Yes. Otherwise, why would you have hired me?"

She gave a soft laugh.

"Indeed, that is one way to see it." Her gaze drifted ahead, but her expression grew distant. "I am a princess, Loki. Worry is my constant companion. Threats to my life are as routine as the sunrise. It has happened before, and it will happen again—especially now, with war."

Her words were convincing, but I wasn't fooled. There was something more, something unspoken. Could it be connected to my mother?

"But you will protect me, won't you?" Freyja asked, her smile returning.

I straightened in the saddle. "I will. It is my job, after all…"

"The next time, Loki, you will only say: 'I will', okay?'"

She kept the same smile but there was something a bit scary this time.

"Yes…"