fanmtl Chapter 345: Bewitched
Chapter 345: Bewitched
Setan dodged the incoming punch with practiced ease.
"So what if I’m a lover?" he shot back. "Being Nina’s lover would be an honor."
In truth, he wished he could claim even that title.
Unfortunately, Nina had not given him the chance.
Yian nearly choked on his own rage.
"You little brat, say that again!"
His entire face turned red.
Since when had becoming someone’s unofficial lover become something worth bragging about?
Yet here was his son looking positively proud of it.
At that moment, Yian seriously questioned every decision he had ever made as a father.
How had he raised such an infuriating child?
With another roar, he charged forward.
Setan immediately sidestepped.
Behind them, Yuna stared in utter disbelief.
Was this really her son?
The same son who had always followed every rule, respected every tradition, and conducted himself with perfect decorum?
For a fleeting moment, she wondered whether someone had stolen his soul and replaced it with another.
She could understand a moment of weakness.
Setan was a healthy young male in his prime. Making a mistake in a moment of passion was not impossible.
But proudly declaring his willingness to be someone’s lover?
That was a level of shamelessness she had never imagined hearing from him.
Maya’s feelings were equally complicated.
Part of her image of Setan shattered on the spot.
She had always viewed him as proud, noble, and unattainable.
Now she discovered he was willing to throw away his dignity for a female.
The revelation infuriated her.
Yet what angered her most was the simple truth beneath it all.
He would rather be an unnamed lover to Nina than become her first mate.
That stung far more than she wanted to admit.
Sulking, she retreated to a corner and nursed her wounded pride.
Atao wisely stayed out of the chaos altogether.
Setan continued weaving around the room, effortlessly avoiding every attack.
"Stop running!" Yian shouted between breaths. "Stand still so I can beat some sense into you!"
Setan ignored him completely.
Why would he stand there and let himself get hit?
He wasn’t stupid.
After several more failed attempts, Yuna finally stepped between them.
"Enough."
She caught hold of Yian’s arm before he could launch himself forward again.
"Stop chasing him. You’re only exhausting yourself."
She loved her mate and worried about him overexerting himself.
At the same time, she could not bear to see her youngest son beaten either.
Her eldest son had already been imprisoned in Sin Beast City.
Setan was all she had left.
She had no intention of letting either of them hurt the other.
Panting heavily, Yian finally stopped.
Then he pointed at Setan.
"Make that female leave the City Lord Manor immediately."
His voice carried the force of a command.
"Starting today, you are forbidden from seeing her again."
Setan’s response came without hesitation.
"No."
The firmness in his tone was absolute.
"My relationships are my own concern. You don’t have the authority to control them."
His gaze sharpened.
"And Father, don’t forget something."
A faint smile appeared.
"I am the City Lord now."
Yian nearly suffered another attack.
"Are you trying to kill me?"
He pointed a trembling finger at his son.
"You are the ruler of an entire city. How can you willingly become someone’s lover?"
His anger reignited instantly.
"What will the citizens think of you?"
Setan remained unmoved.
"I don’t care."
His answer was simple.
"This is my choice."
If his father ever learned that he had not even achieved the status of lover yet, he would probably collapse on the spot.
"The female must have bewitched you somehow."
Yian looked genuinely bewildered.
He could not understand what had happened.
The son who once devoted himself entirely to cultivation and city affairs now seemed like a completely different person.
Not only had he changed his behavior, he even spoke to his father in ways he never would have before.
"Nina didn’t do anything."
Setan’s expression softened.
"I chose this willingly."
Yian opened his mouth, only to find himself speechless.
Yuna stepped forward again.
"Setan, how can you throw away the dignity of a City Lord for a female?"
She truly could not understand.
Even ordinary males would reject such a role.
"Mother, this is my decision."
Setan’s voice remained calm.
"Please stop interfering."
He met their eyes steadily.
"I know exactly what I’m doing."
A gentle warmth entered his expression at the mention of Nina.
"Nina is an extraordinary female. She is nothing like the image you’ve imagined."
His eyes softened further.
"I would do anything for her."
"But why?"
Yuna demanded.
"Can she truly compare to a noble Holy Female like Maya?"
She gestured toward Maya.
"Maya is willing to take only you as her mate."
Setan smiled.
To him, the comparison was absurd.
"Nina is ten thousand times better than Maya."
The certainty in his voice left no room for doubt.
"She’s beautiful, kind, gentle, and incredibly powerful."
His expression grew almost tender.
"There isn’t another female in the Beast World who can compare to her."
His gaze drifted toward the manor as though he could see Nina through its walls.
"I don’t care how many mates she has."
Maya stood frozen.
Ten thousand times better?
Was she really that terrible?
She was a Holy Female.
Countless males dreamed of marrying her.
At this point, she genuinely considered abandoning Setan out of sheer frustration.
Yuna rubbed her temples.
Her son was hopeless.
Completely and utterly hopeless.
Yian felt a headache forming.
The boy was beyond reason.
Whatever spell Nina had cast over him, it had taken hold completely.
"Fine."
Yian crossed his arms.
"Then take me to meet her."
He narrowed his eyes.
"I want to see for myself what kind of female managed to turn my son into this."
"No."
Setan refused instantly.
"Nina doesn’t like being disturbed."
His expression became guarded.
"I won’t take you to meet her."
The answer only fueled Yian’s frustration.
What if he said something wrong?
What if Nina became angry?
Setan refused to take that risk.
"So you’re planning to hide her from me forever?"
Yian asked incredulously.
At this point, he felt too exhausted to remain angry.
The brat would not even let him see her.
"We’ll discuss it later."
Setan remained firm.
"If Nina ever wants to meet you, I’ll introduce you."
Yian stared at him for a long moment.
Then he pointed accusingly.
"Fine. Then don’t bring her to meet me."
Setan merely raised an eyebrow.
"If you’re done, you should all go home."
He turned toward the door.
"And please stop coming here."
With that, he left the room and headed back toward the City Lord Manor.
Yian watched him leave and groaned.
"That brat is going to be the death of me."
Yuna sighed.
"Let it go."
Her voice softened.
"He’s grown up now. We can’t control every part of his life forever."
She understood something her mate had not yet accepted.
Their son truly loved this female.
Yian rubbed his forehead.
"But we don’t even know what kind of female she is."
How could they possibly feel reassured?
In his mind, any female willing to let a powerful male become her unofficial lover couldn’t be entirely trustworthy.
What if she only wanted Blaze City’s resources?
Yuna turned toward Maya.
"Maya, I’m sorry."
She looked genuinely apologetic.
"It seems the engagement won’t happen."
If Setan refused, they could hardly force him into marriage.
Maya clenched her fists.
"You really intend to let Lord Setan marry some stranger?"
The bitterness in her voice was impossible to hide.
If necessary, she would ask her father to intervene.
Yuna hesitated.
"I don’t know what to do anymore."
After a moment, Yian cleared his throat.
Though reluctant, he asked the question that had been nagging at him.
"Maya, what is that female actually like?"
Maya thought for a moment.
"I don’t know much about her character."
Then she reluctantly admitted the truth.
"But she’s very beautiful."
Yian frowned.
"More beautiful than you?"
Maya’s expression twisted.
"Only a little."
The answer was clearly painful for her to admit.
Yian’s brows drew together even more tightly.
Was his son simply dazzled by a beautiful face?
Or perhaps the female possessed some kind of charm ability?
Whatever the reason, his curiosity had only grown stronger.
Sooner or later, he would find a way to meet her.
"Let’s put the engagement aside for now," he said to Maya.
"Setan’s attitude is too firm. We can’t force the issue."
Maya nodded unhappily.
"Fine."
Although she hated admitting it, Nina was undeniably beautiful.
Still, she refused to concede defeat.
"Even if she’s prettier than me, there are plenty of things she can’t compare to."
She grabbed Yuna’s arm.
"Aunt Yuna, you have to help me."