"How do you feel now?" A voice, distant yet familiar.
Anna groaned, a dull ache pulsing through her body.
'What happened?' she wondered as her eyes fluttered open, struggling against the blur clouding her vision.
"Anna." That voice again. Slowly but surely, her sight cleared—until suddenly—
"Haa!" She gasped, breath hitching as clarity returned. And with it, the memory of what had happened just before she lost consciousness.
"E-Eren..." she muttered, dread coiling in her gut. Her gaze darted around, searching, until it landed on the young man seated beside her. He was watching her, his expression unreadable behind the mask he now wore.
"You were really lucky this time," he said. "I managed to save you at the last second."
Her fingers curled into the sheets. "I… I didn't die," she murmured, eyes still locked on him.
Eren exhaled. Then, for the first time since his change, his voice softened—almost gentle.
"Listen."
A sudden tension seized her limbs.
"I'm going to give you two options," he continued, his tone measured. "You're nothing more than a pawn in a much bigger game—a small one at that. So, I'd rather make things easy for both of us. But don't mistake that for kindness… I can handle things either way."
Anna swallowed. "W-what do you mean?" she asked, instinctively shifting back on the bed. Fear prickled at her skin.
His eyes darkened. "Do as I say. Obediently. I don't want you pulling another stunt like earlier. If you do, I'll dispose of you and find another pawn."
A shudder ran through her.
"By now, you must understand what that slave contract means," he said, his voice chillingly even. "It doesn't matter how strong you are now or how powerful you become. With a single word, I could make you slit your own throat with your own weapon."
Her breath caught. "I-I understand."
Eren nodded. "Good. If you remain obedient until your role in all this is fulfilled, I'll grant you the one thing you desire most."
Anna's eyes widened. "R-really?" she stammered.
He stared at her for a long moment, his expression unreadable, before finally speaking.
"In all honestly, I care little about any of you." His voice was calm, almost indifferent. Leaning back, he clasped his hands together.
She said nothing, just stared at him, lips pressed into a thin line.
"My enemy is far greater than any of you combined," he continued, his hand moving toward his tumbler. He took a slow sip of wine before adding, "But you—you are important to that enemy of mine." His gaze flickered with something unreadable before he exhaled sharply. "Make no mistake, though. I hate you all. And you—" his eyes darkened, "—you definitely know the ones at the top of my list."
Her mind drifted back to the past. There was a time when Eren had been one of them—on the outside looking in. No one, except Angelica, had ever spoken to him without disdain lacing their tone, without demeaning him with every word. As for Angelica, she never belittled him, never laced her words with scorn. But Anna had always suspected it wasn't out of kindness—Angelica enjoyed toying with helpless young men, using them to provoke Jason's jealousy. However, Eren had never seemed to care, only responding when spoken to, keeping to himself otherwise.
"I… I'm sorry." The words felt foreign on her tongue. For the first time in her life, she apologized. And it wasn't to Jason.
"I don't need your apology." His voice was cold, dismissive. "I won't accept it. Your retribution will be the tasks I assign you while you remain under my control."
"Please…" Tears welled in her eyes, spilling down her cheeks. "I love him too much. Take anything you want—my body, my freedom—I don't care. Just spare his life."
His expression didn't change. "Your body?" He let out a dry chuckle, looking disgusted. "That doesn't interest me. It doesn't arouse me in the slightest."
Anna gripped the sheets beneath her, her fingers trembling. For some reason, his words stung, but she refused to let it show.
"Maybe once, a long time ago, I would've considered it," he admitted, swirling the wine in his glass. "But now? The only thing that would truly satisfy me is…" He trailed off before smirking. "Since Jason is what you desire most, he will be your reward when all of this is over. But don't think for a second that I won't torment him till my heart's content."
She swallowed hard. "But… if you destroy this world… how am I supposed to live with him?"
A faint chuckle escaped his lips. "When I say I'll destroy this world, I don't mean it literally." He leaned back, saying nothing more.
Of course, he wasn't about to blow up the planet. He wasn't that stupid. But he would see to it that this world lost all hope of survival. He would destroy the so-called heroes destined to save it—one by one. That much, he was certain of.
For now, his words were meant to keep Anna compliant. He would be gone for a long time, and he couldn't risk her revealing the truth.
All he truly wanted was to spite that wretched goddess—to drive her to the point where she descended from her throne just to kill him herself. And he already knew exactly how to make that happen.
'But… isn't that still the same as destroying the world?' he mused. If he erased every last chance of salvation, wasn't that the same as ensuring its demise?
A long silence stretched between them before Anna finally spoke.
"…I understand." Her voice was quiet, uncertain.
She didn't know if he was telling the truth, but at this point, she clung to whatever sliver of hope she had left.
"Good." He grinned.