19 Unfulfilled promises

Elisha looked with satisfaction at Edmund, who within seconds went into a trance. "I didn't expect him to actually write his original name." She snapped her fingers in front of his face a few times to make sure he had no reflexes and looked at the signed contract curiously, "Xiao Xun? It's pronounced so strangely, it's from another continent? What do you think, student council's president?"

The man, whose face was covered with small pieces of flesh and blood stains knelt in front of her, his gaze blank.

"I like you so much more like this, without that rebellious look of yours. Developing the skill from 'Instinctive Affection' to 'Absolute Obedience' is so convenient, and totally worth the sacrifice. That reminds me, vice president, I need a new shipment of pack animals tonight, there's a full moon tonight."

The vice president nodded, already used to the way his new boss chattered to herself.

He lifted the dying Iris onto the sofa, casually muttering a light healing spell. There was not one on the council who did not master his area of expertise to perfection, and the vice president's specialty is to understand the environment and act accordingly.

Making him hypnotized would only make him as useless as the rest. When he realized what was happening, he found the source of the issue by himself and swore loyalty to the new power holder.

That's how you always survive, that's how their family lineage remained strong for generations.

He tied her with leather straps to the sofa, practiced as if he had done this dozens of times before.

He slapped her not-so-gently back and forth across her face until he got a response.

"Ahh..." Her eyebrows scrunched into a hurt expression, still trapped in her mind by the dog-man who had attacked her.

"Hi, Iris?" He patted her face with an apparent softness compared to before with something cold and metallic. "Can you tell me your name?"

"What?"

"Your name, ma'am." He twisted the metal thing slightly so what turned out to be a knife left a thin scratch on her cheek. "Or will I have to take it out of you by force? I can heal you as many times as you wish."

★

Cecil was sitting on the floor in the corridor outside the classroom, like a little baby having an extremely long tantrum.

As an apex predator, he was supposed to take what he wanted by force, but the twisted way Edmund had raised him turned instinctive desire and actions into waiting for Edmund's approval.

No one, neither the teacher nor the students, thought to ask him to come to class or even to move a little to the side so that he would not block the corridor with his body.

Everyone had already learned not to mess with Daniel.

Especially in the last few days, Daniel seems to be walking around with an expression that constantly changes from that of a demon to the crying of an infant.

He was already expecting Edmund to come back to coax him, or at least talk to him normally. In the last few days, he has not seen even his silhouette at all.

After days when no one could enter the classroom, one of the braver students opened to him: "Hey! How do you feel? Do you need something...?"

"Go away."

"Do you want me to call Danny maybe?"

"I SAID GO!" The student hit exactly on his sensitive spot.

If he had caused such a commotion in the past, Edmund would have found him by now. Furthermore, he was around him so he didn't have a chance to cause a commotion.

Was he abandoned?

"He's such a disturbance."

"How come they haven't expelled him yet?"

Although there was an instinctive fear of the mighty and giant Daniel, after such a long time that he did nothing the elite students with pride in their bones already started gossiping around him without fear, secretly mocking his clearly plain self.

Although he was registered as a baron, anyone with eyes could see that he was completely devoid of manners or noble education at all.

"I heard the more normal son - that Danny man - joined the student council so he won't get expelled."

"Who does he think he is joining the council with conditions, why do they even want to-"

"What did you say?" For the first time in days, Cecil got up from the floor, only to grab the collar of the other's shirt.

The students may have had the courage to gossip about Daniel in front of him, but they certainly did not have the courage to say bad words about Danny.

Dozens of violent incidents have proven that contacting Danny in general is not the greatest idea.

"I just said, cough, he joined the council..."

He joined so he won't get expell? Why didn't he say that in their previous conversation?

It's true that he didn't really attend classes and there were a few cases where he broke the school rules, but he could solve everything on the page as long as he knew.

Cecil's cold and depressed heart until a moment ago is a hot mess right now, he didn't know whether to feel guilty for letting Edmund sacrifice for him or be glad that he was willing to do it.

The only thing he knew was that he had to find Edmund now, he didn't have to let him hang out with these dirty people.

He stood up, stumbling slightly the people around him naturally thought it was because he hadn't eaten or drunk in days, but only Cecil knew it was because he hadn't taken his special 'supplements'.

He remembered that since they had arrived at the academy, there had never been a chance to cook a meal for Edmund.

If Edmund's animalistic temper flares and he kills someone, they be able to leave and go home together?

Although he doesn't want Edmund to eat meat that isn't his...

Better to keep him under control, especially when he was so nice to him.

Cecil blushed as the words the clueless student said echoed in his mind: "Danny joined the student council so he won't get expelled..."

"Danny joined the student council so I won't get expelled."

Edmind joined the student council so I won't get expelled!

He left quickly with renewed strength for the student council room, vaguely remembering that their meetings were supposed to take place at noon.

He tapped with restrained excitement on the door, still making a noise equivalent to a small herd of elephants.

"Please come in." The secretary opened the door for him.

As he entered, all but two pairs of eyes turned to him.

Insignificant man, insignificant woman, Edmund's vile relative, insignificant man...

His gaze finally landed on Edmund, who was among the two who didn't bother to look at him.

"Edmund? I've heard what you have been doing, that-"

The words stuck in his mouth as Edmund looked at him- his eyes empty and lifeless, his tone Monotonous and robotic (if he knew what robotic meant):

"I don't know what you're talking about, but as a student of this academy I advise commoners like you not to poke your nose into the business of higher-ranking nobles."

The world was silent for a moment and Cecil's mind went blank.