Beauty And Her Obsessors

Chapter 57: Forgive & Forget

Freya POV

"Heinry!" I called out to him.

Heinry flew gracefully in the sky, his wings casting a shadow that made both Lucas and me look up from under the shaded tent. The rest of my family, busy playing on the sandy beach, turned their attention to him as he landed on the sand. 

His presence always had a way of commanding attention, but it wasn't long before Shino and Alex lost interest, the cubs quickly distracting them with their playful antics. 

"Dada, play with me!" Noe called out to Alex, tugging at his arm. Noe pointing to the half-built sandcastle.

"Alright," Alex replied, as he turned back his focus back to his cubs creations.

My attention was drawn back to Heinry as he approached us, his red eyes a little bleak. But Heinry had a silly smile on his face.

"Heinry, it's been too long," I said, stepping forward to greet him. His towering form and the familiar, charming features and his silly nature brought back a flood of memories.

"It's good to see you again. Thanks for inviting me, " Heinry said with a cheerful grin on his face.

From behind, Lucas glanced at me, curiosity evident in his eyes.

"Huh? Who's this?" he asked abruptly, a little wary but confused. His large arms were still wrapped protectively around my waist as he took a closer look at Heinry. I heard a hint of jelousy in Lucas's words.

I felt the tension rising and quickly stepped in. "Lucas, this is Heinry," I said. 

"He's an old friend of mine," I added, feeling Lucas's grip on my waist relax. The jealousy and wary glances he directed at Heinry gradually softened a bit into relief. 

Heinry greeted Lucas with a cheerful, "Hello there," but Lucas remained silent, his expression unreadable. Heinry's smile wavered slightly, though he quickly composed himself, determined not to let his confidence falter. 

Despite knowing Lucas was a five-marked orc, Heinry refused to be intimidated. I could sense his unease—he didn't like Lucas, not only because he was a snake beastman, known for their feral nature, but also because of the tension between them. It was obvious that their first time meeting would be the two not liking each other, just like it reminded me of Shino and Lucas's first meeting. 

The air grew thick with unspoken words as Heinry and Lucas started glaring at each other. Hearing Lucas's low hiss could mean his growing hostility.

"Enough, you two," I said firmly, stepping between them.

"You promised me you wouldn't cause trouble," I whispered to Lucas. I scolded him, pinching his left cheek lightly.

Lucas defended himself, "What do you mean? Sweetheart, I didn't break it yet. I was just looking at him. Ain't nothing wrong with staring."

"Besides... I haven't even punched him, at least not yet..." He whispered the last part, and I narrowed my eyes.

"What?" I said, wanting him to repeat his last sentence.

"Uh- ain't nothing wrong with staring," Lucas repeated, now pouting.

I turned back to Heinry and noticed he looked like he had something to say, but not in front of Lucas or my family. His eyes flicked towards the forest, giving me a clear hint. Looked like he wanted to talk with me privately.

I sighed, gently unwrapping Lucas's hands from around my hips. Caressing the side of Lucas's cheek, I said, "Could you start grilling the meat and making the soup? I need to talk to Heinry for a while."

"Fine" Lucas frowned but nodded, giving Heinry one last wary glance. He turned away and started preparing the campfire, then began chopping meat for the soup. I watched him for a moment before turning to Heinry, ready to hear what he had to say.

As Heinry and I ventured through the forest, not too far from my family and the beach tent where Lucas was cooking, a tense silence settled between us. We finally stopped, facing each other.

"You okay?" I asked, my voice tinged with worry. The cheerful expression on Heinry's face faded, replaced by a more somber look. He tried to laugh off my concern. "Of course, I'm okay."

saw through his facade. "Since my return, I've been reflecting on everything, especially the time when I couldn't save you," he admitted, his voice weighed down with regret.

I sighed, processing his words. "I see," I said, understanding what he meant and the reason behind Heinry's change.

He was still cheerful and teasing, but the obnoxious, arrogant bully he once was had disappeared. Still I was relieved that side of him was gone. I looked like going through that and the regret inside had made him mature a little.

"Heinry, I know you feel guilty about what happened. It wasn't your fault. How were you supposed to know I would fall? It was an accident."

Heinry shook his head, interrupting me. "No. You could have died from that fall."

I stepped closer and gently placed my hand over his mouth. "You're right, I could have died. But I didn't. Luckily, I survived."

Heinry's eyes softened as he looked at me, the weight of his guilt still visible. "I... I'm sorry, Freya."

This was the first time seeing Heinry like this.  I was shock to say the least.

"It's fine, Heinry. I'm not angry. Let's just move on. There's no need to worry about this any longer. Let go of it," I said, my voice firm but compassionate. Seeing him with a glum expression on his face I immediately came forward hugging him.

During the hug, Heinry nodded shyly, the tension in his shoulders easing slightly. He tried to hide his face from me, but I could see the tears glistening in the corners of his eyes, slowly trailing down his cheeks.

I sighed, then firmly held his face, turning him towards me as I gently wiped his tears away.

Heinry looked a little surprised by this gesture. "I must admit seeing you like this looks strange. What happened to the cheerful Heinry that I know? Did he leave too?" I teased, trying to lighten the mood.

He managed a chuckle, shaking his head. "Hell no, I'm still here," he said, a hint of his old self returning.

I smiled, untangling my arms from the hug. "Well then, How about we head back and enjoy the beach. I think Lucas could use a hand or two with the barbecue."

Heinry chuckled, the familiar twinkle returning to his eyes. "Alright, let's go"