Gulp!
Aaron swallowed, his heart inexplicably beginning to race.
He was twenty, full of vigor, and Hela happened to be beautiful. With her this close, whether he could keep himself under control was a very serious question.
Hela shot him a vicious glare, sat up as if nothing had happened, then swung her sword at Aaron's neck.
The blade sliced through the air and fell in an instant, but stopped less than a centimeter from its target.
Watching Hela's right hand tremble so badly that she could barely hold her sword, Aaron's lips curved into a provocative smile. "Princess Hela, is your sword-swinging posture improper?
How about I give you another chance? Don't slash at my neck this time. Stab straight for my heart.
I promise I won't resist. If I so much as furrow my brow, I won't count as a man."
"You... If you've got the guts, change the contract!" Hela said darkly.
Heh! Did she take him for an idiot?
Without the contract's restraints, that sword would have come down long ago.
He would not die, but he had no desire whatsoever to experience being beheaded.
"Sorry, but the spirit of contract is carved into Gaius's bones.
Once a contract is signed, it will be carried out to the letter.
I'm a man of principles. I don't alter contracts on a whim."
Seeing Aaron's smug expression, Hela ground her teeth in fury. She then put away the Night Sword and backhanded him across the face.
The slap rang out sharply, leaving a distinct red handprint on Aaron's left cheek.
"Not bad." Hela nodded coolly. "That slap falls within the bounds permitted by the contract."
Aaron blinked blankly. It took him a moment to come back to his senses. "Hela, don't go too far. Don't you know you