Nicholas Pov
' It was necessary '
The " duel " had long since ended with Garfield being taken to the hospital for immediate treatment. The results was an overwhelming victory to the Arcane family, word of what happened here will soon spread across the empire acting as deterrent for all the other households who thought of messing with us.
' As such it was necessary '
That motto that I carried with me from my previous world, I repeated that notion endlessly in my head.
For over 500 years the Arcane were intertwined with the underworld not to mention it currently became the centre of the black market, as the head having to set an example or two was the standard.
' Was it during the integration of the black market to our estate I can still remember the first time I tortured someone '
At the time while most things went smoothly with the help of the five heads, there was still some idiots who wanted to oppose the new order, well they served as good examples at least, though I got a rather nasty reputation because of it.
' The crazy bastard who smiles while he is killing people, is that how it went? '
I thought that now that I was in another body, that bad habit of mine would disappear but it seems to have transferred alongside me
' How stupid, what right did I have to tell Christine not to smile '
Thankfully my thoughts didn't get time to grow any more as familiar voice reached my ears
" Did the show please you master? "
Bringing me out of my reverie was Albert who appeared at my side, neat as always wearing his usual soft smile no one would ever think that he was torturing someone else just a while ago, staring at him images of the duel painted my mind again
" Yes, it was quite splendid "
Normally I would have just told him that he did well as I wasn't someone to indulge in such things but this time, I really had to give to him. Not to say I enjoyed what I saw, it is simply that I had promised merlin not to kill him which hindered the torturing methods in my mind by a lot which is why I told albert to stick to his arms and legs, but I guess I was worried for nothing
' Albert was able to inflict even more pain without using the standard ways '
As if he was an artist with a brush, he left wounds that left no actual lasting damage but caused unimaginable pain striking were the body would react the most the old man before me continually attacked the nerve points inside Garfield's body
' What a monster, how could he be so accurate even at such an age '
Just to clear some things a single mistake and Garfield would have probably had a stroke and died but he was so confident in his skills that he actually went for it.
" This time you were really able to showcase your skills "
Seemingly pleased by my compliments Albert genuinely smiled for a bit before going back to his usual soft smile.
" I am glad that you were pleased, though don't you have an appointment "
Reminded by him I remembered Christina who I had stay at the dorms instead of coming here, I had promised to go see her after the duel was over.
Finally standing from my chair I gestured to albert as we went to visit Christine, we must have worried her quite a bit though as when she saw us, she started crying and asking about our wellbeing.
Seeing her like that it only reinforced my previous thoughts, if I had not done what I did then endless problems would have come my way, and Christine would have continued getting worried
' It was necessary '
.....
While I wanted to continue spending time with Christine, I had to excuse myself to close some unfinished business and so leaving her with Albert I made my way towards Merlin's office
Standing in front of the now familiar office I was about to reach for the doorknob when it suddenly swung open inviting me to enter,
Once inside I could not help but grimace at the gut-wrenching sight I had witnessed, there right in front of me was Merlin buried in an endless paperwork caused by the incidents of today.
Reaching his desk, I sat in the chair beside it as I waited for him to speak first.
' That poor man must be in agony '
" Don't you dare pity me "
' Eh did I say that out loud?? '
" You don't need to speak when that expression on your face says it all "
Realizing that I had dropped my poker face due to the massive shock I quickly fixed my expression as I replied to him.
" No, you misunderstood I was simply at awe by how much of a hard worker the headmaster is "
I said trying to salvage the situation but just like with me I didn't need to hear Merlin's words his expression said it all and in a rather rude way if I may add.
" Hah... I guess this is what I get for letting such a mistake to occur "
Lamenting that fact Merlin looked at me again before continuing
"As you can see, I have my hands full with all of this so you can just go back to your estate to finish your own share of paperwork there and take Christine with you the mood in the academy isn't good for some reason
I should have the important documents finished by tomorrow and the executive from the high council should arrive by three days so you can go and start scheming with your vassals or whatever"
Hearing him say all that he may seem like he doesn't care but here he is letting me know when the executive will arrive so I could prepare while also ensuring Christine's safety so I wouldn't get worried
" Thank you "
" What are you saying just leave "
Smiling again lightly I turned around and was about to leave that was until he suddenly spoke up again
" You should go inform Teacher Isabella that you won't attend, I am stuck here so you should go in my stead "
Freezing for a sec at his absurd excuse, I simply decided to let it go when I saw that knowing look on his face for some reason it kind of irked me.
As I walked the staff who saw me all froze in fear moving away the second I spared them a glance, as this cycle repeated, I reached her office knocking on her door only entering when Isabella's soft voice echoed from the inside.
Sitting at her desk she looked as beautiful as always yet instead of her usual kind eyes one mixed with a strange hint of sadness greeted me as I sat in the sofa in front of her.
" Lord Merlin wished for me to inform you that Christine and I will be absent for the next few days "
" Don't lie lord Merlin could easily send a telepathic message and if not, then just a flying note, such a thing is Childs play for someone like him "
" That is true however he asked me to do so and so I am here "
After that silence fell upon us for a while as we both kept silent but like always, I was not someone who liked that
" You know while sending me here he kept giving me these knowing glances, I honestly feel bad for Jake now with all that I did to him "
I spoke with a smile on my face but just as I was about to explain more Isabella interrupted me her voice holding an edge hand covering her face
" I don't understand, here you are smiling and talking to me yet with that very same smile you sat there and tortured someone like it was some sort of entertainment
But you are not a bad person I may have not known you for long, but you are not such a person " she said her voice softening at the end
At her words, for the first time entering this world I found myself speechless, what could I say to the woman who even though saw me do such a thing still called me a good person
" W... why do you believe that? "
and stupidly I ended up asking something while still struck by that daze yet before I could correct it she replied before I could do anything
" You looked sad "
" What... "
" You kept smiling but your eyes looked like you were crying like a child forced to do something they don't want to "
My face stiffened immediately, I don't know why it just did, this wasn't right I was the head of Arcane; I had an image to uphold, it was to teach them a lesson, all those where things I could have said but instead something else came out
" It was a necessary "
The worst words I could have said but this what I decided to go with, standing up Isabella walked over to me, to tell you the truth I was expecting a slap for such a half-hearted reply but all I felt was her soft hands on my face. Her voice wrung out again this time though filled with worry
" Why are you smiling? "
' Smiling... me... I am smiling... WHY THE HELL IS IT DOING THIS KNOW!!! '
But no matter what I did I just kept smiling like a fool, unable to stop myself and the more time we spent like this the more Isabella tried to grow closer, I would normally be fine with that but not know
" I am fine... I am fine... I am The Head of Arcane this is simply how we are, so you don't need to get worried "
Yet even then that changed nothing she still looked at me the same way and yet as if obliging me she let go turning and sitting at her desk again, taking the chance, I stood up preparing to leave before stopping again
" Next Saturday I will visit the Arcane Estate, that is where I want to have our date is that ok? "
Hearing her suddenly bring up our date I was dumbfounded, with how everything was I had assumed the date was a no go but here she is bringing it up again even as her face is burning up
I didn't know how to feel but one thing was certain was that Isabella didn't hate me even going so far by trying to get to know me better that alone drove away everything else I was experiencing
So, for the first time in a while genuine smile bloomed on my face, one that I could control as I nodded before leaving the office behind.